Capítulo 37: Decisions and Divisions
As I sat in the dimly lit chamber of my office, my eyes scanned over the reports spread out before me. Each parchment held valuable information, snippets of intelligence gathered from my network of spies and informants scattered throughout the village and beyond. But one report, in particular, caught my attention.
It detailed the events that had transpired in the Land of Waves, where Team 7, led by Hatake Kakashi, had been dispatched on a mission to escort someone who turned out to be a bridge builder. However, it was not the success of the mission that intrigued me, but rather the unusual occurrences that had unfolded during their time there.
According to the report, Ayumi, a promising young ninja under the tutelage of Izumi, had displayed remarkable abilities on the battlefield. She had tapped into a power previously unseen, her eyes blazing with an otherworldly light as she drained and killed a few rogue Shinobi's, that's what the reports had detailed.
But what intrigued me most was the mention of Ayumi's mysterious lineage. Rumors had long circulated about her family's ties to ancient clans and forgotten bloodlines, Some claiming her to be the daughter of Orochimaru, that one being my handy work to isolate the girl, but it had backfired and ended with her and Naruto forming a friendship. One that I could exploit. But now it seemed those rumors had been confirmed. Could it be possible that Ayumi possessed the blood of a tailed beast running through her veins? Such power, if left unchecked, could pose a significant threat to the stability of the Hidden Leaf Village. What Secrets could the Kure clan be hiding? I had wiped almost all of them out when I had leaked the information of what was happening in the Uzumaki village to them, fools were all too eager to join and help them.
And then there was Izumi, whose eyes had undergone a transformation of their own. The report spoke of a new level of power awakening within her, an evolution of her ocular abilities. Though the reports didn't have much information on her new abilities, perhaps I'd hold off on collecting her eyes for now. With Izumi's potential growing by the day, she too could become a great tool.
As I pondered the implications of these developments, a sense of unease settled over me. It was clear that I could no longer afford to ignore the possible threat posed by Ayumi and Izumi. If their powers were left unchecked, they could become powerful assets in the wrong hands, or worse, they could turn against the village itself.
With a decisive nod, I made up my mind. I would keep a close eye on Ayumi and Izumi, monitoring their every move and gathering as much information as possible. And if it came to it, I would not hesitate to eliminate them, for the sake of the village's safety and security.
As I rose from my seat, the weight of my decision hung heavy on my shoulders. The shadows of the Leaf Village were vast and ever-shifting, but as its leader, it was my duty to ensure that they remained under my control. And if that meant sacrificing a few wayward shinobi for the greater good, then so be it.
As the shadows of the Leaf Village grew longer with the rising sun, I went through the winding streets toward the Hokage's residence. The events in the Land of Waves weighed heavily on my mind, and I knew that I could no longer afford to sit idly by while potential threats to the village lurked in the shadows. One that I wasn't in control of.
Upon reaching the Hokage's office, I was greeted by the sight of Hiruzen, deep in thought as he reviewed a stack of paperwork. His expression was one of weariness.
"Donzo," he greeted me with a weary smile as I entered. "What brings you here at this hour?"
I wasted no time in getting to the point. "I need to discuss a matter of great importance with you, Hiruzen," I said, my tone serious. "It concerns the recent events in the Land of Waves and the members of Team 14 and Team 7."
Hiruzen's brow furrowed with concern as he set aside his paperwork, his attention fully on me now. "What about them?" he asked, his voice tinged with apprehension.
"It has come to my attention that there may be a potential threat to the village lurking within their ranks," I explained, choosing my words carefully. "Ayumi, in particular, has displayed abilities that are... concerning."
Hiruzen's expression hardened at the mention of Ayumi's name, his gaze narrowing with suspicion. "What kind of abilities?" he asked, his voice low and cautious.
"It's difficult to say for certain," I admitted, "but there are reports that she may have inherited the blood of a tailed beast. If that's true, then she poses a significant risk to the village."
Hiruzen regarded me with a skeptical gaze, his lips pressed into a thin line. "Donzo, you're known for your caution, but I fear you may be letting your paranoia get the better of you," he said, his tone gentle yet firm. "We can't act on rumors alone."
I bristled at the implication that I was being paranoid, but I knew better than to challenge the Hokage's authority. "I understand your concern, Hiruzen," I said, my voice carefully neutral. "But I urge you to consider the potential consequences if we ignore these reports."
Hiruzen sighed, running a hand through his graying hair. "Very well, Donzo," he conceded, his tone resigned. "I'll keep an eye on Ayumi and her teammates, but I won't take any drastic action without concrete evidence."
I nodded in acceptance, knowing that I would need to find a way to gather that evidence on my own. "Thank you, Hiruzen," I said, my voice sincere. "I appreciate your willingness to consider my concerns."
With that, I took my leave of the Hokage's office, my mind already racing with plans to uncover the truth about Ayumi's abilities. If I couldn't rely on Hiruzen to act, then I would need to take matters into my own hands. And if that meant bending a few rules along the way, then so be it. After all, the safety of the village was at stake, and I would do whatever it took to protect it.
Elsewhere a few days later
As the first light of dawn filtered through the paper screens of my humble home, I sat at my wooden desk, the soft glow of a single lantern casting long shadows across the room. Piles of scrolls and ancient tomes cluttered the space, their worn pages filled with the accumulated knowledge of generations past. But my attention was focused on the report that lay before me, the ink still fresh upon the parchment.
My mind wandered to my granddaughter, Ayumi, and the events that had taken place in the Land of Waves. Izumi brought news of Ayumi's transformation, a development I had been expecting for a long time, a sign that the time was approaching. The egg within Ayumi was stirring, its presence growing stronger with each passing day. It was only a matter of time before it hatched, and now I could only conclude it had.
Izumi's voice echoed in my mind as she recounted the events of the mission, her words tinged with worry. Ayumi had tapped into a power unlike anything they had ever seen, her eyes blazing with an otherworldly light. But it was short-lived, cut off by the stone necklace I had given her, the one the first lord gave to his niece, my wife all those years ago.
As I listened to Izumi's report, a sense of unease settled over me. With a heavy sigh, I rose from my desk and made my way to the small shrine that stood in the corner of the room. Bowing my head in silent prayer, I offered up a silent plea to the spirits that watched over us, asking for guidance and protection for my beloved granddaughter. And wish my late wife and daughter were still here, maybe they would know how to deal with this, even in all my years as a ninja I couldn't help but feel lost.
As I stood before the shrine, the soft sound of footsteps echoed through the quiet morning air. Turning, I saw Izumi standing in the doorway, her expression drawn and weary.
"Sensei," she greeted me with a respectful bow, her voice soft with concern. I had allowed her to stay in my home "today is the day that lord Hokaga will decide where to move Ayumi, as I am being removed as her teacher."
I nodded, gesturing for her to join me by the shrine. "Izumi, I take it that they learned of your blood relation," I said, my voice gentle yet firm.
And so, as the first light of dawn bathed the room in a warm golden glow, Izumi recounted the events of her talk with the elders of the village and with lord Hokage, her words filling me with a sense of foreboding. Ayumi's transformation was a sign of things to come, a harbinger of the power that lay dormant within her. It was a power that could change the course of history, for better or for worse. And now this, It seemed too much of a coincidence.
As Izumi finished her tale, I placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, my gaze fixed on the horizon. "Thank you, Izumi," I said, my voice filled with gratitude. "You've done well teaching my granddaughter. Now, I will do my best to speak with the elders and see if I can sway where she will be placed."
A few hours later, I found myself standing before the other elders of the village, my heart heavy with the weight of the task before me. I knew that I would need to tread carefully, for the decisions made here would shape the future of my granddaughter and her sister.
"Hayai," one of the elders greeted me with a nod as I entered the chamber, his voice gruff and stern. "What brings you here at this hour?"
I returned the nod, my expression serious. "I come to speak on behalf of my granddaughter, Ayumi, and her friend, Izumi," I said, my tone steady. "I believe that they should be allowed to remain together as a team."
The other elders exchanged wary glances, their expressions guarded. "You know as well as I do, Hayai, that the village cannot afford to have two blood-related shinobi on the same team," one of them said, his voice firm. "It's a risk we cannot take."
I bristled at the implication but I knew better than to challenge the elders' authority. Instead, I chose my words carefully, knowing that I would need to persuade them to see things my way.
"With all due respect, I believe that Ayumi and Izumi have proven themselves to be valuable assets to the village," I said, my voice calm yet firm. "They have faced countless challenges together and have emerged stronger for it. To separate them now would be a disservice to both of them."
The other elders remained unconvinced, their expressions skeptical. But before they could voice their objections, the Hokage spoke up, his voice calm yet authoritative.
"I understand your concerns, but I believe that Hayai has a point," he said, his gaze steady. "Ayumi and Izumi have been through a lot together, and I believe that they would be better off remaining on the same team."
The atmosphere in the room grew tense as the other elders exchanged wary glances, their expressions reflecting their internal conflict. Despite my fervent pleas, they ultimately shook their heads in disagreement. "I'm sorry, Hokage," Donzo said, his voice unwavering. "But the rule is in place for a reason. We cannot afford to make exceptions."
A sinking feeling gripped my stomach as the realization set in that my appeals had fallen on deaf ears. Before I could voice my protest, the Hokage spoke again, his tone gentle yet unwavering.
"I understand your concerns, but I believe that there may be another solution," he said, his gaze thoughtful. "Ayumi will be moved to a new sensei, Anko Mitarashi, one who can help her harness her abilities and keep them in check."
The mention of Anko Mitarashi caught my attention, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. Anko was known for her unorthodox methods and her willingness to push her students to their limits. She was a formidable shinobi in her own right, and I knew that she would be able to handle whatever challenges Ayumi might face.
"As for Izumi," the Hokage paused for a moment before continuing, "I would like to extend an offer for her to join the Anbu."
The other elders exchanged wary glances, their expressions guarded. But ultimately, they nodded in agreement. "Very well, Hokage," one of them said, her voice resigned.
I nodded in acceptance, knowing that I would need to keep a close watch on my granddaughter and her sister. But for now, at least, I was grateful.
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