Naruto: Thrown Into the Leaf

And then — a sound.

A low cry.

Not loud. Not angry. Just… empty.

He looked up.

At the center of the road stood a woman.

Naked and Pale.

Her face was calm, eyes hollow, and her mouth sealed shut with black threads.

Blood dripped from between her legs.

Her umbilical cord dragged across the ground like a snake, still pulsing, staining the dirt black behind her.

And in her arms…

She held nothing.

The baby wasn't there.

Because its handprints were everywhere else.

(Pic)

Hiruzen stumbled backward, breath caught in his throat.

she whispered:

"You promised."

The handprints surged now — reaching his feet, crawling up his robes, across his chest, onto his face, and finally his neck.

"I tried," he breathed.

More hands.

"I did what I could…"

The woman stepped forward. Umbilical cord trailing behind her like a leash from hell.

"I saved what I could…"

Her hollow eyes stared directly into his.

"I kept my word…"

The hands pulled at him.

Dragged him down.

He didn't scream — as if it finally relieved him of this pain.

The last thing he saw before the hands swallowed him — was the woman kneeling beside him.

Placing her arms around nothing.

The space where a baby should have been.

And whispering:

"You're too late… again."

Snap!

Hiruzen awoke at his desk, chest heaving, sweat soaking into the collar of his robe.

The pipe had burned out.The room was quiet.

He looked down at his palm.

No handprint.

***

Hokage Tower – Before sunrise

The candlelight barely reached the corners of the room.

Hiruzen stood near the window now, robes loose, hair messy, pipe unlit in his hand. His fingers still trembled faintly.

Outside, Konoha was quiet. From here, the world seemed at peace.

But it never was.

Not really.

"Hashirama-sama would've crushed them," he whispered. "And smiled while doing it."

He looked up at the Hokage monument. The First's face carved into stone — eyes proud, lips calm. Unshaken.

"Tobirama would've… made them disappear in the dark. Quietly."

He chuckled dryly to himself. "And me?"

His reflection stared back at him in the glass.

"I write laws for devils… and pray the children survive them."

He turned back to his desk. Dozens of scrolls — some stamped with noble crests, others sealed in red wax from the Fire Daimyō's court.

So many promises. And So many restrictions.

"Danzo's filth walks free because they sign his name into funding reports.

Because the elders feed the nobles' fear.

Because the moment I act—

the money stops flowing, the jōnin start disappearing, and the clan meetings turn into whispers of rebellion."

He sat heavily in the chair. He regrets giving Danzo power — in the name of friendship and let him grow this much.

"Because my hands are tied with paper." he said

A pause and then he said softly

"I'm not strong like Hashirama… not sharp like Tobirama. I can't tear the roots out." 

"But maybe…"

"I can shelter a seed."

He leaned back.

"If he grows tall enough… maybe he'll cast a shadow over them all."

He finally lit his pipe.

Smoke curled into the early light — and vanished

***

Riverside clearing, just outside the edge of Konoha.

Morning haze drifted low across the trees.

Otis stood waist-deep in the river.

The water shimmered around him, swirling slightly as he focused. His massive body was still, eyes closed. 

A flat, smooth stone sat in his palm — His chakra gathered beneath it like a ripple through his arm.

Then—

Thwip!

He threw it without even opening his eyes.

It whistled past the riverbank, skipped once across the water, and passed through three thick tree trunks before it embedded itself into the fourth with a dull thunk.

Otis exhaled.

On the riverbank, a small figure shifted.

Hinata.

She had arrived silently and now sat cross-legged in the grass, watching intently. A small cloth bundle sat beside her — lunch, probably. Otis didn't ask.

"You're here again," he muttered.

"Y-yes," Hinata replied, fiddling with her fingers. "I won't get in the way."

"You say that every time."

Otis raised an eyebrow and turned back to his stone bag. He selected another — heavier this time — and began balancing it on the tip of his finger while channeling chakra into his arm.

Hinata stood slowly and walked a few paces away, pulling on her gloves. Then, quietly, she began practicing her gentle fist katas. Her movements were slow but precise. 

She stumbled once. Twice. But always reset her stance.

But every so often, she glanced sideways — just a little — to catch a glimpse of him. How quiet his breath was. How his body seemed like… 

o.. No… what are you thinking, Hinata? Focus. Focus on yourself. Become stronger.

After some time hinata paused to catch some breath

"You always train like that?" she asked between breaths.

"Only when I'm bored," he muttered, the stone still floating an inch above his palm as he fine-tuned his chakra.

She smiled at that.

"And when you're serious?"

"I train with two stones." Otis said, completely serious.

Hinata giggled. Then quickly straightened. "S-sorry."

"Don't apologize for laughing."

"Right."

Then looking down, she softly whispered.

"I just… want to catch up."

Otis turned to her finally. His eyes weren't cold — he was really looking at her

"Then train."

"I am."

"Then stop worrying." otis said

"Either you become the strongest, or you die trying. But it's better than doing nothing."

She opened her mouth, then closed it again.

"…Yes, Daddy." she murmured to herself

"What did you say?"

"N-nothing" She gasped, slapping both hands to her mouth in horror.

Otis gave her a long look.

Hinata turned red instantly,

Otis didn't say anything.

Then he bent down, picked up a wet leaf… and flicked it at her. It slapped harmlessly onto her forehead.

She blinked.

"Ow."

" Your Reflexes need work."

She burst out laughing.

"You're the worst!"

"So I've been told."

And as the wind moved through the trees, they kept training — not together, but near each other. Quiet company in a world that was never quiet.

And for now, that was enough.

...

(A/N)

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