章 9: BY THOSE WHO WILL BE TRUSTED ONE DAY.
The saloon was vast, spacious enough to comfortably accommodate forty people around a central table. Although the light was dim, a single light bulb hung from the ceiling, casting a white glow that barely illuminated the faces on the table.
"Are you sure you can handle it?" The voice, though not very loud, resounded with a slight harshness and disinterest in the room.
An old woman, her face almost completely wrinkled and her eyes closed, sat with dignity. Her hair was sloppily pulled back into a bun, a sign of her practical and unassuming approach. For years, she had been a loyal and cautious advisor to the third village leader, bringing her objective and wise perspective.
"Don't get me wrong, Tsunade, but I think you should reconsider." The old woman's voice became firmer, like a thud.
With her fists clenched on the table, her countenance wrinkled even more, the old lady expressed her concern.
"Konoha is in crisis!" Not only because of this issue, but because of other factors. He made vague gestures, limited by his mobility. "Akatsuki is against Konoha. It's only a matter of time before we are attacked when we are unprepared."
The second old man next to him, the second advisor, nodded once before adjusting his glasses gently. Although he appeared to be more tolerant than his colleague, he clearly disagreed with the Hokage.
"We must act without delay." He declared. "To open investigations, to determine if neighboring villages have experienced similar situations. And once we are sure that this only affects Konoha, we must strengthen security. We cannot allow them to come for the legacy of the fourth Hokage."
"And that's not all." The old woman continued, gesturing to the other people present at the meeting. "Other clans have also been affected. This has disrupted their daily routine, and now many with limited information in the clans are aware of the situation. We must act before they find out about the chaos that reigns outside our borders."
The rest of the people in the room, mostly Chunin and high-ranking Jōnin, were watching the blonde leading the meeting. He stood motionless, his elbows resting on the table and his fingers intertwined, while his chin rested on them.
Her eyes were fixed on the documents in front of her. Everything was reports and testimonies of the events. Bills, property damage, physical injuries, and warrants for investigations.
Tsunade frowned slightly as she checked them out. He took pains not to do so too obviously, aware that his advisers would soon comment on the matter. He would rather face the mountain of paperwork in front of him than tolerate his criticism.
This official meeting offered a space to discuss without interruptions or worries. Now that the danger had passed, they could freely deliberate on how to approach the problem. However, the main disadvantage was clear from the beginning: no one, not even the clan leaders, had any idea what could have caused the event.
The smell of blood came suddenly, spreading throughout the village. Inuzuka, the leader of her clan, reported that her keen sense of smell was unmatched even among her own. Everyone trusted his words.
"It was impossible for us to detect any anomaly." Hiashi, chief of the Hyuga clan, testified with a serenity of a rock. "We couldn't see the root of the summons. And since the people were undetectable, we can assume that they were already dead when they were summoned."
The prospects of the Yamanaka and Nara clans also offered no hope. The Yamanaka were unable to detect any abnormal state in the village, while the Nara found no suspects on the outskirts.
The Nara, known for their penchant for quiet living and observing nature, were considered the least warlike clan in the village. Tsunade admired them for their intelligence and analytical skills, though deep down he considered them more cunning than peaceful.
"I will not change my decision." Tsunade declared, causing an obvious surprise among the ninja gathered at the table.
He looked up to meet the gaze of his advisers.
"I contacted Jiraiya to help me with this problem." He continued. "It will depend on your answer whether or not you inform the Sand Village about it."
"Outrageous! Do you know how embarrassing that request will be?" The old woman rebuked, showing her disagreement vehemently.
Tsunade struggled to remain calm, feeling a twitch in her eyebrow that threatened to betray her frustration.
"We don't know who is involved or what their objective is." The advisor whispered in a harsh tone. "If Jiraiya doesn't succeed, will you put the village to shame? At times like this, we must put aside relations of peace."
"And can you tell why you are so obsessed with 'the dignity of the village'?" Tsunade asked, raising an eyebrow.
The reaction of his advisor, shrinking in her seat, made her feel a slight discomfort. It wasn't because he was principled, but because he knew that this misplaced reaction revealed the inner fear his advisers were experiencing. There was something they feared, something they hadn't told him.
That old woman who used to hold the reins of the village through Tsunade, now looked like a cornered mouse. There it was, under everyone's spotlight. Tsunade knew that if he refused to answer such a suggestive question, the meeting would be unnecessarily prolonged.
He settled into his seat, ignoring the stares he was receiving, including Shizune's, whose eyes were fixed on his back.
"What are you looking for so much?" Tsunade asked.
"I just want to secure our position as a hidden village. That's all." The old woman replied firmly.
"I don't see it that way." Tsunade refuted. "There is a reason why we have a good relationship with the village of the Sand. Is there any other reason why I shouldn't ask for help?"
Koharu, the elder of the council, maintained her silence like a statue. It was like prey cornered by a larger predator. He had no escape, but he also did not want to reveal too much in a meeting of such magnitude.
Perhaps he considered it inappropriate to intervene, knowing his aversion to indecency. But, quite possibly, the main reason was Tsunade.
There was a brief clash of glances, with Homura, the second old man, exchanging glances with both of them.
He was a third party in discord, aware that it would be useless to intervene and would only add more problems.
The conflict between the two women was an old story, a problem that brewed from the moment Tsunade took over as Hokage.
Like that time she was reprimanded for resting her arm on the back of the furniture and replied simply to Koharu:
"I'm comfortable like this. It's okay if you're the only ones who see me this way."
Koharu let out a resigned sigh.
"Listen, Tsunade. There will be obstacles if you come to our ally for help." Koharu warned.
"And what is that "obstacle"?"
"They are everywhere." Koharu revealed, as his fellow council member closed his eyes, aware of this truth. "I'm not against Jiraiya going and investigating. It would be a great help if no ninja left the village. However, Tsunade..."
Tsunade bit her lip, paying attention to Koharu's every word. Her concerns were always well-founded and there were always solutions she could turn to, but the old woman never hid the truth.
"We've been ignoring requests for help from neighboring villages. For understandable reasons." Koharu clarified when he noticed Tsunade's frown. His eyes inquired about these requests. "They were about disappearances and other issues, but we never paid attention to them. These villages are small and do not have the resources to pay."
"Why was I never informed of this?"
"There are more urgent matters to pay attention to." Homura, the second elder of the council, intervened. "We can't always please everyone. We are a hidden village with priorities. At first, we sent a few Chunin in response to their insistence, but we stopped when we realized that they were only bringing us unnecessary demands."
"How long has it been since then?" Tsunade asked as she flipped through the documents on the table.
Both Shizune and the other Chunin present at the meeting did the same. Everything the elders said was supposed to have already been documented and subsequently ignored.
"It's been five days now." Koharu announced, holding his face up to emphasize the seriousness of the matter. "If we come to our allied village for help, we will not only appear hypocritical, but we will also expose ourselves to repudiation. There is no time to correct this problem; The main thing is to protect our village."
"Let me see if I understand correctly what you are saying, Koharu-sama." Interrupted a young Chunin, specially selected by the council for his skill in documentation. He raised his hand in respect. "Do you mean that, by asking our allied village for help, we will reveal that we have not helped the villages in need?"
The old woman nodded once.
If we seek help, we must first make amends for our mistakes. But time is of the essence. Homura added, ending the discussion.
A heavy silence filled the room. The perspectives of both elders were not entirely invalid or selfish. From an objective point of view, the situation seemed useless in practical terms.
However, there was a logic to his approach. Konoha was in Akatsuki's sights because of Naruto, the Demon Fox's vessel. Tsunade had worked hard to forge alliances with other villages, however small, in an effort to strengthen Konoha's defense.
But, just as there were grateful and just villages, there were also other hypocrites, whose loyalty was based solely on obtaining a certain power through unwritten agreements. This was the reality in the current case.
Some of these smaller villages were part of the Land of Fire, while others were hardly considered an independent country, although they maintained alliances with the Elemental country.
One example was the Land of the Ladders, whose building materials and labor were primarily contracted by the Land of Fire. These cases were the most developed and solid.
However, there were also deals that seemed to be meaningless, similar to the current case: a village would ask for help of any kind, go to the hidden village to negotiate an agreement, and finally it would come to fruition. But, invariably, it ended the same way.
When it was a small village or a country without power, they always found a way to twist the law in their favor.
Some villages did not have the resources to pay and offered their export products as compensation. However, these deals were often abruptly canceled when the leaders of those villages or countries refused to fulfill their end of the agreement after they had gotten what they wanted.
Other, more painful, but unfortunately more realistic cases were those in which the villages had no power over Konoha or were not even close to it. They asked for help and, when it was offered, in one way or another, Konoha ended up unfavorably committed to third parties. In cases like these, Konoha became the scapegoat.
Tsunade dismissed several cases for the same reasons, but she was still surprised that the advice hid this particular one from her.
There was only one reason why they would have hidden that information from him.
"Who was the sender?"
"He was one of the men who serves the leader of that village." Koharu replied to Tsunade. - The recipient was not you, that's why we didn't inform you.
"And why doesn't a village in need of Konoha contact the Hokage directly?!"
"This case is very special. I can't leave it in your hands." Said the old woman. This time, he softened his tone as if he could calm the blonde's temper. "The third Hokage left many cases unsolved, and you have successfully completed them. But sadly, this is not one of them."
The atmosphere became tense. The Hokage bit her lip to contain her anger, while the two old men seemed oblivious to the reasons for her irritation. Everyone lowered their eyes, as if they preferred to recapitulate what was discussed rather than face the discomfort of the moment.
The tension in the room eased when the Hokage announced the end of the meeting. They all clearly understood their responsibilities: to keep an eye on their clans and document anything unusual. It would be Tsunade who would assign the corresponding tasks to each one.
When the Hokage rose from her seat, those present took the opportunity to exhale the trapped air.
"The meeting ends here. Give Shizune the relevant documents for everything related to space-time abilities." Tsunade announced, with a slight frown directed at the elders beside him, who avoided his gaze.
A barely perceptible growl escaped the Hokage's lips.
"I'll be busy for a few minutes." Make sure you have everything ready for when you return.
His statement echoed through the room, marking the end of the meeting. The ninjas rose from their seats and bowed before retreating.
Only the Hokage and part of the council remained in the room, plunged into the silence that took hold of them as the minutes passed.
(~~~)
Sitting like two hand-carved marble statues, the elders stood at the back of the meeting room, unperturbed. The woman, her hands folded in his lap, breathed with a meticulously controlled calm, as if she feared that any break in the apparent tranquility of the surroundings would give them away.
In front of them, Tsunade stood, her hands clasped behind her back and a look of frustration marked on her face. He was desperately looking for some hint of guilt in the elderly, some crack in their impassive façade that he could use against them.
But every time he thought he had found something, he was met with an impenetrable wall. The elders were as impenetrable as Danzo himself: narcissistic and falsely wise, clinging to an outdated belief in their own infallibility.
"I don't think we deserve that look from you, Tsunade." It was Homura who broke the silence, crossing his arms defiantly.
Tsunade clenched her fists, hoping for some reasonable explanation that might justify the situation, some misunderstanding that might melt the tension in the air. But Koharu simply shook his head, rejecting any possibility of apology or explanation.
"If the letter was addressed to us, not even you, as Hokage, have the power to force us to reveal its contents." The old man declared firmly. "If the Third Hokage didn't leave any indication on that matter in his documents, then it wasn't something that the next Hokage was meant to address."
"And why can you know? How much do they know?" Tsunade asked with growing frustration.
"Enough to warn you one last time: don't meddle in our affairs. The old man replied calmly. —
The old man's response provoked an instinctive reaction in Tsunade, who opened his eyes wide. What important secret did these elders keep that led them to refuse help from the Arena village? Tsunade understood that she couldn't just let the matter go. I needed to know who was involved and what they were hiding.
But the matter went deeper than it seemed, and Tsunade realized that she couldn't uncover the truth with her own insistence alone.
"I would ask you to reconsider your position." He begged, although his tone sounded more aggressive than he intended. "What are you waiting for? That we suffer a surprise attack? Or that Akatsuki will finally capture Naruto?"
The elders did not respond explosively to Tsunade's demand. However, something seemed to resonate in their minds as Tsunade turned briefly to stroke the bridge of her nose.
The tension in the room was palpable as Tsunade pondered how to approach the situation. He had planned several formal strategies to get the answer he needed, but all of them ended in inelegant confrontations. He decided to discard those plans and trust his gut in the moment.
Sighing in resignation, Tsunade folded her arms, seeking a bit of comfort amid the discomfort of the situation. Although they were alone, he knew that his informality was not to the liking of the two old men.
"I don't always disagree with you." Tsunade began, trying to establish common ground. "I could easily ignore your advice and make decisions for the good of the village at my discretion. But I have followed all his instructions. I have passed laws, implemented new measures, even agreed with you on certain matters related to Naruto. And they know that I don't always act that way."
For the first time since the conversation began, the elders seemed interested in what Tsunade had to say.
They watched her carefully, as if they were evaluating her words. Tsunade perceived this as a fulcrum. Maybe they were hiding the secret to test her, but she wasn't going to be manipulated by anyone.
He would not give in to such an insignificant secret.
What do you hope to achieve with this silence? Tsunade asked, softening his tone. "I have no intention of divulging it to anyone else. I just want to understand why they keep this secret, so I can find more solutions.
The elders exchanged glances at Tsunade's question. Were they beginning to see things from their perspective? That was what she expected. I no longer wanted to try to extract information from them. Deep down, Tsunade came to regard his current attitude as a form of revenge.
How many times had Tsunade asked for time to solve problems, only for these two elders to run to inform Danzo about their affairs? It was something unheard of for her. His adult side was not willing to accept that reality, but he understood that it was part of this interrogation.
"Tsunade..." The old woman began, her eyes lowered as she organized her thoughts.
The blonde put aside her own thoughts and focused on the old lady. It was the first time in a long time that Tsunade had seen those eyes, and that piqued her curiosity.
"If this incident had happened elsewhere and we had been the ones providing help, we would not be in this situation." The old woman declared with an audible lament. "But the inhabitants of that village know that we are aware of their existence, and they in turn are aware of ours. Even if they ask for help from other villages, they will always have their eyes on us."
"And what village is it?" Tsunade asked, interested.
"It is an unregistered village, hidden in the forests of the Land of Fire." Finally Homura spoke. He kept his arms crossed and his gaze fixed on the ground. "They prefer to remain anonymous due to their sealing abilities very similar to those of the Uzumaki clan."
The revelation left Tsunade dumbfounded, a drop of sweat running down her forehead as she processed the information. The Uzumaki clan had been all but wiped out, with only a few survivors scattered.
However, those who remained possessed unique abilities, as Naruto demonstrated with his extraordinary Chakra, even without the Nine-Tails.
Was it possible that there were people capable of matching the legendary sealing skills of the Uzumaki clan?
"They are not persecuted with such fervor because they were relegated and forgotten by the village." The old woman continued in a somber tone. "Hiruzen... He did not take action against him. Many from other villages joined them and founded their own, hidden in a crater deep in the forest."
"But Hiruzen was always aware of them." Homura added. "He always kept a close eye on him, and honestly, I think he feared one in particular."
"Sarutobi-sensei?" Tsunade could barely articulate her surprise. "How dangerous must that person be for the Third to fear him?"
"We do not have precise information about it. We only know when the order not to pursue them was issued, and why they are considered dangerous." Koharu clenched his fists into her lap, slightly wrinkling her dress. "The letter we received... He mentioned the disappearance of many of his best men, and they were suspicious of us. They urged us to help them discover the reason for this, if we were sure we were not responsible."
"And what was our response?" Tsunade asked, intrigued.
"We didn't answer." The old man revealed. "We burned the letter as soon as we remembered that they were experts in space-time techniques."
At the mention of that ability, Tsunade's eyes widened, revealing her surprise at the revelation.
"Did you just hint..." He pointed his trembling finger at the council elder. "That you specialize in space-time techniques? Is that what you're saying?"
"Hm?" He looked at her calmly. "Of course. I thought it was clear when we mentioned their similarity to the Uzumaki."
"I didn't mean that." Tsunade raised her hand in a halt, her mind working at full speed. "If they are so skilled... and you burned the letter... Could they be responsible for what happened in Konoha? Could they have summoned those people?"
The silence of the elders was the answer Tsunade needed. There was no need for violence or threats. The truth was before her, naked and raw.
Petrified and confused, Tsunade plopped down on the massive meeting table. No one reprimanded her for doing so.
With a mixture of anxiety and amazement, the blonde fixed her gaze on the old men who lay on the couch, waiting for her next moves.
"Do you think they sent those dead people as a warning?" Tsunade asked, seeking confirmation.
"It is quite likely." Koharu nodded solemnly. "It's been five days since we ignored your insistent requests, and then this happens. It is clear that it is a threat."
"..."
"And if you ask the Arena Village for help..." Homura added. "They may find out about our suspicions of them. They will think that we are looking for help to face them, and that could trigger an unnecessary war."
Now everything was clear to Tsunade.
They had used the pretext of prestige and pride to hide the truth. Despite their differences, these elders shared a desire to avoid war and protect Konoha from misfortune.
However, they were in a dilemma along with the Hokage.
What would be the best option for Konoha?
All that remained was to wait for Jiraiya, yes. However, even if they failed to obtain information, Tsunade would go ahead and request help from the Arena village.
They needed to expand the search for information, but now it seemed that it was no longer necessary, considering what the elders had revealed.
Helping the mysterious village could lead them to the bottom of this enigma. However, Tsunade was unwilling to submit to a village that acted only because Konoha did not comply with her demands.
This situation set off a red alarm. Why had they contacted Konoha exclusively? The Third must have promised something. But the answer was not long in coming.
If the allied villages or the great nations discovered that the Third had allowed escape and created a village, full of dangerous people, there would surely be trouble. They had forgiven Orochimaru because of his power, but what would be expected of a hidden village, unknown to all?
"We have to make a decision." The old woman spoke. The previous tension had dissipated.
"Tsunade, this will be the only time I beg you for your attention. But please, don't look for help in the Arena village." The old woman pleaded, in a tone that denoted genuine concern.
"I need your help anyway." The blonde replied, without any intention of confrontation. "Naruto is the person who guards the Nine-Tails. Everything related to your protection... Gaara will be the first to know. He is willing to protect Naruto."
"Impossible... That will bring us to the edge of the abyss." Homura interjected, while Koharu let out a resigned sigh. "What will we do if they carry out their threat?"
"And what will we do if we don't seek help in the Arena?" Tsunade counterattacked, changing the course of the conversation. He crossed his arms, showing his determination. "I would agree with you if we had any other choice. But if we do not warn, what alternative do we have? They will attack us anyway."
"That..."
"You're right..."
"Haven't we really considered all the possibilities?" Tsunade commented despondently.
She joked to herself. Was that person so afraid of you? To the point of clouding his judgment? Tsunade was not always the most sensible. Sometimes the elders were right, but she was still stubborn. However, this time...
They were just two old men trapped in uncertainty, eager to exert a control that no longer belonged to them.
"The best solution for this..." An idea began to take shape in Tsunade's mind. He captured the attention of the advisors, speaking quietly as he crafted his plan. "It's creating bait, one that can defend itself. I am not going to miss this opportunity to talk to Gaara."
"A bait?" One of the elders asked, intrigued.
"Exactly." Tsunade confirmed with a nod. "We will send a strong team to respond to calls for help, while another team will inform Gaara about the situation. In addition, we must consider what happened with Asuma. We need support, because according to the squad's reports, it won't take long for the members of Akatsuki to go after Naruto."
"It's a real mess!" The old woman exclaimed, lamenting.
With a frown, Homura pondered for a moment before turning to Tsunade curiously.
"What do you have in mind? On closer consideration, your idea doesn't seem bad at all." He commented. "Protecting the Nine-Tails is essential, but we can't leave the village unprotected either. How do you plan to approach the call for help and the village mission at the same time?"
The Hokage rose from her makeshift seat, ready to put her plan into action.
If we put it that way, then the decisive vote would be mine. Tsunade announced with authority, causing the elders to sink a little deeper into their seats.
"We don't know if Akatsuki will send another pair of members for Naruto. Therefore, we must move him away from Konoha for the time being."
"Aren't you thinking...?"
With the two old men dumbfounded on the couch, Tsunade made her way to the door of the living room. Upon opening it, she found Shizune waiting for her outside. The young woman had delivered all the documents to the corresponding departments and was ready to accompany her teacher.
Seizing the opportunity while the elders were stunned, Tsunade confirmed her suspicions with her words.
"I'll send Naruto to the village that asks us for help." He declared, turning his back on them. "I've already decided which team will go to the Arena Village. With Naruto away from the village and distracting potential attackers, the other team will not only be able to accomplish their mission, but also inform Gaara personally about what happened."
"What do you mean by "distracting"?" Homura asked.
"What are you up to, Tsunade? We were doing so well..." added the other old man, visibly worried.
Tsunade glared through the air. I had been pondering this since the funeral, but I knew I couldn't protect those young people forever. They were ninjas, and they had to face the challenges that the real world had in store for them.
But... if there were the possibility of sending them on a mission... Maybe, just maybe, they could find what they're looking for.
However, she wasn't entirely sure about it. Asuma's death was still too recent. His students were still dealing with loss.
"Tsunade-sama?"
With Shizune's call, Tsunade returned to reality and continued walking, leaving the two elders in the meeting room behind.
"Gather the Ino-Shika-Chou team in my office." He ordered. "Then go find Team Kakashi urgently."
"Huh?!" Shizune exclaimed, almost losing his balance. "Are you going to send Naruto-kun to the Sand Village?"
"Don't be naïve." Tsunade replied calmly. "Naruto is Akatsuki's target. If we send him to the Sand, there's a good chance he'll run into them."
Shizune evened his pace, walking beside Tsunade. "If Team Kakashi doesn't go to the Arena Village... Will Team Ino-Shika-Chou go alone?"
"No. Yamato will be enough." Tsunade continued to give orders as they moved down the hallway. "Akatsuki warned them that they would return. Thanks to Jiraiya and Gaara, we know that it takes three days to a week to extract the entire Biju. So it's not likely that they'll cross paths with Akatsuki on the way to the Arena. But we have to be careful, in case they are one step ahead of us."
"I understand..." Shizune muttered.
The exchange of words ceased as Tsunade continued to walk with determination. He had made his decisions and this time he would ensure that no one else died.
I would be more cautious.
(~~~)
"Why are you so cautious?!" Boruto's exclamation echoed through the air, capturing the attention of everyone present.
It had been three hours since they had set foot on the first ground of the Arena, and the relentless heat was already beginning to exhaust them.
Despite having run like true ninjas for much of the way, they were forced to walk on Mirai's orders. The reason was obvious to everyone: they would draw too much attention if they moved too quickly, revealing their identity as Shinobi and attracting unnecessary trouble.
For this very reason, Mirai had also ordered the headbands removed, thanking any relief they might get from the scorching heat of the ground.
However, Boruto was not satisfied.
For two hours he had been complaining about the slow pace of his walk; An hour ago he had mentioned how uncomfortable it was to wear the extra layers in the scorching sun; and for twenty minutes now, despite Sarada's warnings to stop, he had continued to express his discontent almost compulsively.
His tiredness was palpable, like that of everyone present, and since he had no choice but to obey orders, his only way out was to express his grievances with obvious sadness and exhaustion.
Meanwhile, Mirai continued to protect the group's rear, hiding a nervous laugh at the situation.
"Honestly, Boruto-kun is absolutely right. This outfit is wearing me out..." She complained with a forced smile. "With the uniform, the vest and the cape... I feel like I'm cooking alive."
The children's cloaks were an almost dark hue, designed to allow their bodies to breathe in the scorching heat. However, Mirai wore one with sleeves... quite long. A garment that any cold-sensitive ninja would wish they had in their possession.
"Doushu-kun feels better now that I don't have to carry him on my back." He thought. "But I'm really exhausted..."
His thoughts were focused on the same thing. Mirai felt like she was on the verge of fainting, and she longed to fall into a deep sleep that would last for seven days straight.
However, he did not allow himself to be distracted for long, aware of the possibility of an ambush at any moment. He lifted his chin, forcing himself to look directly at the sun.
Perhaps, she thought, if she allowed the sunlight to penetrate her eyes, she could stay awake a little longer.
But there was someone who noticed her discomfort. It was impossible to overlook his apparent fatigue. Mirai walked with difficulty, carrying Doushu's belongings under her robe so that he could walk without additional weight.
Shikadai frowned from his spot, surrounded by the other teams, particularly Metal and Doushu.
"Oi."
Shikadai's call attracted the attention of Mirai, who quickly tried to hide her discomfort. She looked at him from her position, feeling the sweat slide down her temple.
"What do you have in your pocket?" He asked.
"That? It's just a compass..." Mirai replied vaguely, leaving everyone surprised, except for Shikadai.
He was surprised at first, but frowned slightly when he saw the reaction of the others. For some time, I had suspected it. Mirai was quite easy for him to decipher.
Although everyone was looking at her in amazement, Mirai didn't seem to grasp the gravity of what had just happened. It wasn't until Tsubaki repeated the answer she had given that the Sarutobi's expression changed dramatically. The blush and sweat disappeared from her face, leaving her pale as paper.
"Oh! No! That's not what I meant! I meant...! This... This..."
"Compass." Iwabee said mechanically.
"You said 'compass'." Boruto added, in an equally cold voice.
They stopped their steps, surprised. Mirai studied the expressions of others, desperately looking for an excuse. But when her eyes fell on Doushu beside her, she was overwhelmed with embarrassment.
He stared at her with his mouth half-open, a look of confusion on his face.
I had warned him before, but now it was a shameful reality. She was terribly bad at lying.
"You're very brazen, Sarutobi..." She scolded herself silently, keeping her composure in front of the children. "Shameless, shameless, shameless, shameless..."
"Shameless." Nara repeated the insult, with a look that seemed to pierce her. "You're very brazen."
Mirai felt like she was breaking in two. It was impossible for him to bear that look.
Finally, she was forced to tell the children the whole truth. Otherwise, she would become the object of ridicule and would not be able to continue to be the leader she was supposed to be.
All of Mitsuki's effort to cheer her up vanished in the desert breeze.
Or maybe... they were absorbed by the Machiavellian gaze of the caped Nara.
"Look who says it!"
Mirai's inner cry echoed in the paths of fear. Maybe your ancestors heard it...
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