Capítulo 180: Message
The late afternoon sun streamed through the windows of the lavish apartment shared by Alice, Jada, and Margaret. William was the only male present among them, as Jasper and Alexander were off on secret missions.
Although everyone had gathered numerous times to discuss recent events, the return of Hiruzen merited a deeper conversation. Alice settled herself comfortably on the floor, sitting cross-legged as she reached for Margaret's hair, admiring its beauty.
"You know, Marge," she said, her fingers gently brushing through the silky strands, "your hair is just so pretty. It's like a red waterfall."
Margaret gave a faint smile and said, "I don't do much with it, though."
"I think you should let me brush it more often," Alice smiled brightly. She grabbed a hairbrush from a nearby shelf and began working through the tangles. William was seated at the edge of a table, resting his elbows on his knees.
"It's crazy to think we're discussing that now," he began, glancing at the girls. "Hiruzen's back, and everything feels like it's about to change. What if he never died in the real story? Things would be so different in Konoha."
"Ugh!" Margaret said with disgust. "Did you just call it 'Konoha'?"
It was clear that when it came to English and Japanese phrases, not all Naruto fans agreed on the same thing. Jada, sitting on the couch with a notebook in her hands, nodded in agreement regarding Hiruzen's change.
"It's a little weird to think about," she said. "If Hiruzen had survived, he would have definitely continued to lead the village and guide it. I mean, think of the things everyone could have learned from him!"
Alice, pausing her brushing momentarily, chimed in and said, "Hiruzen was all about tradition and the philosophy of being a Leaf ninja, right? I think he believed in understanding and guiding the younger generation. One can only imagine how he'd help us grow."
Margaret smiled gently, leaning back into Alice's careful strokes. "And he would've trained Naruto more," she added. "That's something Hiruzen missed out on."
Thinking about the matter brought a sense of nostalgia to the group. Hiruzen was meant to die during the invasion, only to be resurrected by Kabuto during the next war. Having Hiruzen here now opened up a lot of possibilities.
"Yeah," William continued his thought. "Since Hiruzen survived, we might not have to deal with the Akatsuki like we talked about. I mean, he could be right in the center of it, rallying the other Kages and making decisions."
"I guess that makes sense," Alice commented. "But we're not trying to get him killed again. Haha."
Jada jotted down some mental notes, contemplating William's words.
"Hiruzen would have brought some stability to the village, now that I think about it. He would have trained a new generation to fight against those dangers too. Maybe Naruto would have had more guidance, allowing him to mature quicker in the process."
"And what about Konohamaru?" Alice asked. "Hiruzen would've definitely trained him too. Imagine how strong he could have become!"
Margaret chuckled lightly and said, "The grandson of the Hokage trained by the Hokage—what a story that would have been. We sort of screwed up, though, since Konohamaru barely knows Naruto."
William leaned back to consider more. "That's the thing with Hiruzen," he said. "The third Hokage believed in passing down tradition. The legacy of the Sarutobi clan would have continued through Konohamaru, and with Hiruzen nurturing him, he could've become pretty strong for the village. Maybe with Hiruzen around now, I don't know if he'll reach that potential fully."
Their conversation faded slightly as they continued to brainstorm possibilities. What if Hiruzen had seen through the motives of Orochimaru and somehow managed to reach out to Sasuke before the boy's desertion? The room was filled with 'what-ifs' and a sense of longing for what could've been.
Alice resumed brushing Margaret's hair, lightly detangling it as she spoke. "And, you know, Hiruzen wouldn't have just stopped at training; he would have ensured that everyone understood the 'Will of Fire.' He would have taught the importance of connection—the bonds of friendship and the responsibilities that came with being a ninja."
"Sometimes you sound like a record player," Margaret teased.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Alice wondered, playfully nudging her hair.
"Ow! Okay, I'm sorry! Haha!"
Jada felt the need to add, "We saw this in the early arcs of Naruto, where Hiruzen valued those connections. If he were still present during the times of the Akatsuki and the eventual Fourth Great Ninja War, he would have made sure we all knew how to protect our bonds—and each other."
As Alice's gentle touch enveloped Margaret's hair, she commented, "It's not like we need him around, right? I mean, we have Tsunade as the Hokage, and she's doing an okay job. Then again, Hiruzen should be able to guide her."
"Right!" William agreed with an urgent tone. "Hiruzen could've led the village for some more years. What if now he takes a more active role during later attacks? How many do you think we can save now?"
Alice set the brush down and turned to face her friends. "Even if he couldn't have led forever," she said, "think about how he would have prepared the Leaf for the future. He would do everything to ensure we were ready for most of the conflicts in the story."
Margaret sighed, considering the vital role Hiruzen had played in the narratives. "At least he's okay with Tsunade leading," she said. "I actually tried to get Jiraiya to do it, but you guys were right; he's too much of a pervert."
"That's not what we said," William defended. "He wanted to—"
"Pervert!" she interrupted.
"Let's be real and get back on topic," he said, leaning forward without mentioning her magazines. "If Hiruzen had stayed longer, I think he would have helped Naruto grow into a much more mature and skilled shinobi than he is today. He had that kind of intuition and ability to recognize potential when he saw it."
"Was that before or after he let a five-year-old kid fend for himself alone in an apartment?" Jada wondered.
"Ugh…" William couldn't explain that one.
"I can at least imagine Hiruzen witnessing Naruto's growth firsthand," she continued with more excitement. "He would've taken on that role of mentor—teaching him techniques and maybe even how to control the Nine-Tails."
"That would be amazing," Alice agreed. "Naruto learning from Hiruzen—that could really help the Leaf."
As the group collectively reminisced about potential scenarios that could unfold, Alice couldn't help but smile at everyone's enthusiasm. This had become really gloomy after Sasuke had left.
They all understood the weight of their responsibilities. They were not just players in a game; they were part of a legacy that was helping them connect. And with Hiruzen now able, they knew that their efforts were paying off.
Alice continued to brush Margaret's hair, and the group finished discussing what they would urge Hiruzen to do. They had tossed around ideas and musings about their time here, hoping that their acts would continue to produce results.
Without warning, a messenger bird flew through the apartment window, startling everyone with its sudden arrival. The little creature flapped its wings, circling the room before settling on the coffee table.
Margaret squealed in fear. She wasn't exactly fond of birds—in fact, she preferred to keep her distance. The small avian had truly scared her.
"Whoa," William wondered. "Who left the window open anyway?"
He tried to swipe at the bird playfully, but it hopped back and neared Margaret.
"Get it away from me!" Margaret exclaimed, recoiling slightly as she clutched Alice's arm for comfort.
"Marge, it's just a messenger bird," Alice said, half-laughing, half-reassuring. "It won't hurt you."
"You tell it that!" Margaret retorted as she watched the bird flutter some more.
Jada lifted an eyebrow as she examined the bird with curiosity and mused, "I've never seen one come here before. We don't usually receive messages like this in the apartment."
"I wonder who it's for," William pondered.
Alice moved in closer, and the messenger bird, sensing her calmness, allowed her to carefully unfurl the letter from its talons. She held the parchment before her. The moment she glanced over the contents, she furrowed her brows in confusion.
"Jada, this letter's addressed to you," she said.
"What? Me?" Jada was clearly surprised as she reached for the letter. "I've never received a letter through this before!"
William's expression transformed dramatically at this revelation. His eyes widened comically, and an unmistakable show of jealousy could be seen on his face. If anything, he thought it was some sort of secret love letter.
The moment wasn't missed by Alice and Margaret. After receiving the letter, the bird flew away, letting the latter finally calm down.
Everyone knew Jada had garnered quite a bit of favor in the Leaf Village. The idea of a love letter was not entirely out of the question, and William's reaction added another layer of lighthearted tension to the room.
She carefully unrolled the letter and began to read. After deciphering the script, she smiled and announced, "It's from Hoshikaze!"
"Hoshikaze?" Alice repeated, intrigued. She had heard about him after the tournament ended. "How does he know where you even live? Don't you think that's kind of creepy?"
"I think it's romantic," Margaret said, daydreaming.
She only said that to spite William, and it worked.
"I don't know," Jada admitted, tilting her head, perplexed. "He might have read the tournament records and thought William lived here or something. I mean, it was pretty obvious that we were from the Leaf Village."
William chuckled, crossing his arms as he leaned back, pretending to be dismissive. "I guess I'm famous now."
"You are so not," Margaret retorted, shaking her head.
"Oh wait, look!" Jada exclaimed. "It says that in the event this letter arrives in the wrong hands, it's to be delivered to Jada Uchiha in the Leaf Village. That makes it official, I suppose."
"Well, what does it say?!" Alice urged.
Clearing her throat, Jada began to read aloud: "Dear Jada Uchiha, I hope this letter finds you well. I would like to extend an invitation for you to meet with me at the outskirts near the Land of Hot Springs in eighteen days to discuss mentorship opportunities. I look forward to your response. Regards, Hoshikaze."
Excitement filled the room.
"A mentorship opportunity?" William exclaimed. "What is this about?"
"I… um, I asked him if he would consider being my teacher after the tournament. I didn't think he'd send a letter like this," Jada sheepishly admitted, her cheeks flushing as she spoke.
"Oh wow, that's pretty cool!" Alice said. "You have to go!"
"He was alright, I guess," Margaret commented. "I mean, I could have taken him."
William's eyebrows raised, processing the revelation. Jealousy resurfaced, but mixed with an earnest desire to support Jada.
"When are you leaving?" he asked.
"Taking traveling into account," she answered, "I think a week or something."
"Do you want any company?" Alice offered. "I don't mind going with you. You know, just to make sure you're okay."
Before Jada could respond, William interjected, "I'm coming too!" The assertive tone of his voice caught everyone off guard.
Both girls, Alice and Margaret, gave William quizzical looks.
"Seriously? Why?" Jada asked, feeling a tad amused as she studied him.
"I just want to make sure you're safe, that's all!" he stammered, hoping that his cheeks weren't red.
They were.
The room erupted into laughter while Margaret and Alice couldn't help but giggle behind their hands. Alice teased him, "Oh, how noble of you! Just trying to keep our dear Jada out of trouble, huh?"
Jada smiled and thought it was sweet. But she wasn't so positive about letting anyone come. So she said, "Well, if you think you can keep up, then maybe?"
"Of course I can keep up!" William exclaimed, his certainty returning.
Giggles erupted again from Margaret and Alice, who were both now thoroughly entertained by William's declarations. Jada, still objecting slightly, said, "On one condition then. Since you're always with Naruto, I don't want to put him in a bad spot, so he can't come."
It was evident that after Sasuke's departure, the Akatsuki were also likely to make their move on Naruto. No one wanted to jeopardize the main character's safety, even if he had matured far faster than his original counterpart.
On top of that, the boy had rejected Jada's flying raijin paper, claiming that he was strong enough to handle himself. He had become a bit too prideful.
William waved his hands dismissively and agreed, claiming that he was content with just the two of them.
But before he could correct himself on what he had just said, Alice piped up, "Honestly, I think it would be sweet if you two went together."
"Fine," Jada conceded. "If it makes sense for you to come along, then I guess it's settled. But I want to be clear: this isn't a vacation or anything."
William nodded eagerly, pleased that she didn't use the word "date."
"I won't cause any trouble!" he announced.
"Okay then!" Alice clapped, interrupting their moment. "You two do your thing while Marge and I will talk with Hiruzen later!"
Unbeknownst to them, the invitation carried deeper implications. It wasn't just a simple mentorship; it was Arthur planning ahead.
Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder