The Hokage's Tower was quiet.
Despite the bustling energy outside, inside the stone walls of the tower, the air felt heavy with authority and order. Arashi could feel it in the way the shinobi they passed stood straighter, how their eyes flickered toward him with wariness, their eyes lingering on his hair.
Minato led the way up the stairs, his steps even and measured, like a man who had done this countless times before. Arashi, in contrast, moved like the outsider he was. His hands were in his pockets, his posture relaxed, but his sharp green eyes scanned every hallway, every corner.
Not because he was nervous.
But because he usually never stepped into a place without knowing how to get out.
At the end of the corridor, double doors stood closed, two ANBU guards stationed on either side. Their porcelain masks revealed nothing, but Arashi could feel their chakra signatures were sharp and coiled, ready to react if necessary.
Minato stopped in front of them, nodding once. "I'm here to report."
One ANBU nodded in return. "Lord Third is expecting you."
Without another word, they stepped aside and opened the doors.
Inside, the room was large but simple with bookshelves lined the walls, scrolls stacked neatly across the Hokage's desk. And behind that desk sat a middle aged man, Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage.
The moment Arashi stepped inside, he felt the weight of the man's presence.
Hiruzen wasn't old yet, but he was getting there. Lines had begun showing themselves around his eyes the past couple of years and he also had creases beginning to form around his mouth.
His eyes however were still as sharp and calculating as ever.
Minato moved forward to initiate the conversation first first, offering a respectful nod. "Lord Third."
Hiruzen nodded back, but his gaze never left the stranger in his office. "Minato," he greeted before exhaling a slow smoky breath. "You returned faster than expected. I assume the mission was a success?"
Minato nodded. "It was. But I ran into Iwa scouts near the northern border. They were gathering intelligence."
The Hokage's expression darkened slightly. "How many?"
"Three," Minato said. "And one higher-ranking operative. The three scouts didn't make it back."
Hiruzen hummed, fingers interlacing as he leaned forward. "Troubling. Iwa's movements have been way too bold as of late considering the looses they've sustained."
Minato nodded. "We should expect more activity in the coming weeks."
Silence settled for a moment. The business of war still looming within the office.
But then, the Hokage turned his attention back to Arashi.
Minato took that as his cue. "On my way back," he said carefully, "I ran into… an interesting individual."
Hiruzen raised a brow. "I gathered as much."
Arashi, who had been silent this whole time, grinned. "Oh, don't mind me. I'm just here for the show."
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed.
Minato sighed internally. "This is Arashi, a wanderer with no known ties to any village."
The Third Hokage studied him, his gaze weighing, measuring. "A wanderer?"
Arashi shrugged, unbothered by the current scrutiny. "That's me."
"You have no home? No allegiance?"
"Nope."
The Hokage's fingers tapped against his desk. "Then why are you here in my village?"
Arashi tilted his head slightly, smirking. "Your golden boy here invited me and I was bored. One thing led to another and bam, here I am."
Hiruzen glanced at Minato, one brow raised. "Is that so?"
Minato, ever composed, nodded. "That's the general gist, I invited him because his abilities are… unique."
Hiruzen's eyes sharpened at that. "Elaborate."
Before Minato could explain for him, Arashi cut in.
"I can use Wood Style jutsu."
Minato turned to look at him, expression unreadable, but internally, he frowned. That wasn't entirely the truth. But Minato didn't sense any ill intent from it so he let it slide, at least for this moment.
Hiruzen's fingers paused.
For the first time, his expression shifted into something resembling shock.
"…Wood Style?" he repeated slowly.
Arashi nodded, grinning like it was no big deal. "Yep. Grew up in the wild, figured it out on my own. Turns out making trees and wood do what I want is pretty handy."
Minato didn't interrupt, watching the conversation unfolding.
Hiruzen leaned forward slightly, his sharp gaze digging into Arashi like he was trying to see through him. "Wood Release is an extremely rare kekkei genkai." His voice was carefully neutral, but Minato could tell that internally, the Hokage was already running through a thousand possibilities.
Arashi shrugged. "Guess I'm just that special, huh?"
The ANBU standing by the door shifted.
Hiruzen remained silent for a long moment. Then, slowly, he leaned back in his chair, exhaling. "And what do you intend to do with this ability?"
Arashi grinned. "Right now? Absolutely nothing. Just going with the flow, really."
Both Arashi and Minato could feel that the ANBU didn't like the non-answer.
Minato, however, finally decided to speak. "I've seen it firsthand," he said, voice measured. "His ability isn't just like the First Hokage's. It seems… different."
Hiruzen's eyes flickered back to Minato. "Different how?"
Minato hesitated for a fraction of a second. He could easily explain what Arashi's abilities truly entailed—his control over all aspects of nature, not just trees. But if Arashi had purposely chosen to only reveal Wood Style, there had to be a reason.
Instead, Minato simply said, "He didn't create any hand seals while using the jutsu."
That was enough to make the Third Hokage's eyes narrow. "No seals?"
Minato nodded. "None. He commanded the trees in the forest as if it were a natural extension of himself."
Hiruzen was silent for a long moment, lost in thought. Then, finally, he turned back to Arashi. "And why did you agree to come here?"
Arashi smiled. "like I said, boredom and also a mild interest in Minato."
Minato sighed.
Hiruzen gave him a long, considering look. Then, finally, he exhaled. "I will allow him to stay. However…"
His sharp gaze locked onto Arashi.
"You will not leave the village unsupervised. You will not engage in any shinobi activity without approval. And if you so much as think of acting against the village…"
Arashi lifted his hands. "Yeah, yeah, I got it. Play nice, don't start fights, don't commit war crimes. Anything else?"
Minato swore the ANBU were ready to throw him out a window.
Hiruzen, however, simply exhaled. "From my short time interacting with you I can already say that you are… an unusual one."
Arashi grinned. "You have no idea."
The Hokage shook his head before looking at Minato. "This will be your responsibility and problem. Make sure he doesn't cause trouble."
Minato sighed. "Understood."
Arashi smiled. "Don't sound too excited."
Hiruzen nodded. "Then we're done here."
As Minato turned to leave, Arashi fell into step beside him, hands still stuffed into his pockets.
"Well," Arashi mused as they stepped into the hallway, "that went well."
Minato gave him a flat look. "You're lucky you didn't get arrested."
Arashi smirked. "What can I say? I have a charming personality."