IV

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Arc IV Chapter 13

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"Are we there yet?"

"No."

"Are we there yet?"

"No."

"Are you strong, Anko?"

"Who knows."

"Are we there yet?"

"No!"

"Are we not there yet?"

"No ... Yes."

"Are you stronger than me?"

"Yes."

"Really? I doubt it.“

“How about now? Are we there yet?" Asami tilted her head, tormenting Anko further. Revenge was sweet, wasn't it?

"NO!"

"Does that mean we are not there yet?"

"Yes."

Asami squealed, tugging on Anko's clothes. "Anko, Anko, Anko, Anko ..."

"What?!” Anko exploded. Why was this assignment so complicated? Did the Hokage want to punish her for something?

Asami greeted her with a smile full of innocence. "Anko, do you even know where we need to go? Maybe that's why we are not there yet?"

Anko ignored her, which was the right choice. Asami played with her. She wouldn't give in to her stupid questions.

Asami "Anko, are we there yet ..."

"Shut the fuck up!" Anko fumed. Enough was enough. This had to stop. The girl was annoying as hell!

The little demon in black tormented her without mercy. Was she some kind of malevolent spirit in human form?

Asami tilted her head, feigning ignorance. "What's the problem, Anko?"

You are the problem! Anko's eyebrow twitched. Asami's endless question drove her insane. Normally, it was her who teased people, and not the other way around. Teasing was her favourite activity.

Anko faced her nemesis. Asami didn't back down, reciprocating with her own stare.

Anko had to concede, the girl had steel.

"Listen, you insufferable brat, I don't like you, and you don't like me. So shut the fuck up!"

Asami protested. "You break my fragile heart, Anko. That's not true.“

“Contrary to what you might believe, I actually enjoy your presence ...“

Asami panicked. “Hey, stop! Don't run away! You can't do that! Don't you know anything about sportsmanship?“

“I have invested much time and effort in teasing you, Anko. You can't just run away now! That's against the rules!"

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Anko guided Asami to the Hokage's office.

Asami didn't know why, but apparently, this godforsaken tower had an office.

They entered and Asami caught a glimpse of this so-called office which she suspected to be a repurposed restroom. Her eyes spotted some unused brooms in the corner, covered by an abundance of spider webs.

Behind a heavy desk, sat Hiruzen occupied with fighting a mountain of paper, as usual.

Next to him, stood a poor chunin who carried an equally impressive pile of paper that kept growing and growing. The poor boy had her sympathy.

Hiruzen sighed, visibly frustrated. "I think this should be enough for now, Takahashi. Bring the rest into my office. I will go over them later."

Hiruzen turned his attention to them while Takahashi departed, nearly bumping into a wall in the process.

Anko reported, " I brought you Asami as ordered, Hokage-sama."

Hiruzen merely nodded. "Excellent. I hope you two didn’t cause any further trouble on your way here."

Anko glanced at her partner in crime with mutual understanding. "Not that I know of."

Hiruzen gave Asami a questioning look. "Is that true?"

Asami smiled. "It is. Nothing noteworthy happened."

Hiruzen puffed on his pipe. "I am pleased to hear that." He really was.

Powerful pubescent ninja were a source of constant worry. Fortunately, most child prodigies exhibited a high degree of self-control and maturity for their age.

"Thank you, Anko, for escorting Asami here. You are dismissed."

Anko nodded and left.

Hiruzen invited Asami. "Please, take a seat. We have much to discuss."

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Asami sat down, crossing her legs leisurely. "And what exactly, Hokage-sama?"

Hiruzen exhaled a cloud of smoke. “I think you know precisely what I mean."

"I don’t." She didn’t. Asami had many talents, but she was certainly not a mind reader.

Hiruzen laughed. "I see.“

“I have to congratulate you on making it through the preliminaries though. If you perform well in the tournament, you might even advance to the rank of chunin."

Asami furrowed her eyebrow. Was this supposed to be a joke?

"With all due respect, Hokage-sama, you are only half as funny as you think." Her sarcasm was tangible.

"Really?" Hiruzen wondered.

Asami nodded, resisting the urge to roll her eyes.

"Anyway, does the name Orochimaru ring any bells?”

Asami tensed up out of reflex. Admit nothing, deny everything.

"Orochimaru, Orochimaru, Orochimaru ... The name sounds familiar." Asami stroked her imaginary beard.

Hiruzen chuckled, already used to Asami’s omissive nature. "Strange. And I thought you knew my former student. Especially, after your encounter with him today."

The secretive route was blocked. Hiruzen knew.

"Today you say? Possible, but where did you get this information from?“ Asami suspected Kakashi. He talked.

Hiruzen puffed on his beloved pipe. "Kakashi was certainly more cooperative than you, but I expect nothing less from my little princess."

"What did Kakashi tell you?"

"Not much. Kakashi isn't much of a talker, but what he told me was ... interesting."

"Your performance surprised Kakashi. He was impressed by your capabilities.“

“You had the courage to face Orochimaru on your own, without fear, without doubt, without hesitation. Quite impressive. My former student isn’t an opponent that should be taken lightly."

Hiruzen doubted he still stood a chance against Orochimaru. In his prime he did, but not anymore. His body declined, his strength diminished.

"Do you think you are able to beat Orochimaru in combat, Asami?"

"Maybe, maybe not, but why should that matter?"

Hiruzen leaned back in his seat. " You don’t know, but Konoha is facing a major crisis.“

“We are not sure yet, but we suspect that Orochimaru and Sunagakure are planning to attack the village during the final round of the chunin exams.”

“It would calm my mind if the village could call upon you in these trying times, a kunoichi powerful enough to stop this threat should I fall."

...

...

...

Asami took her time. This question required a careful answer. This was not just a question. This was a test.

"You ask me a difficult question, Hokage-sama. Strength and power are relative, and victory is never assured.“

“I can't say for sure, but I believe I am able to defeat Orochimaru."

Hiruzen folded his hands, studying Asami carefully.

"Thank you for your insights, Asami. You may go now." Hiruzen smiled, but his smile was weak. It was the smile of an old man on whose shoulders the fate of the village rested.

Asami nodded and left.

The door closed and Hiruzen was alone now.

He stared at the file on his desk as time passed. The document only needed to be approved by the village council, but was this the right step?

Was Asami the right candidate? Could she be trusted with this kind of responsibility?

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