The next morning, it was like the entire village knew what was to come. The sun didn't peak as brightly as it did yesterday—Its shine dimmed by a thin, creeping shadow that began to settle in from the south.
Eidolon and Hiruzen had both fallen in step with each other rather quickly. Sitting in the Hokage office, Eidolon across from Hiruzen's Hokage seat, the two had piles of papers sprawled all over the room, notes written on each of them.
"You said last night there were already signs of influence—Or at least you suspect so," Eidolon murmured, his tone indicating he was simply in thought. "The Sand-Nin have been moving rather strangely… You say that their Kazekage had been moving differently—even sending one of your rogue ninja packing with serious injuries." Eidolon frowned.
Orochimaru failed in taking over the Kazekage position. But that's too soon. Ah, I don't even know where Canon is exactly.
Eidolon perked up, his gaze tracking over to Hiruzen's old, wrinkled face. "Hey, do you think you can take me by the Ninja Academy here in this village? I need to get a timeline structured." Hiruzen raised a curious brow, his fingers interlocking as he leaned back, puffing a cloud of smoke.
"The academy? How would that be useful for your timeline?" His question was expected, to which Eidolon rose from his chair and walked towards the door. "I know things you couldn't possibly understand—Just be helpful." He looked over his shoulder, "You agreed to my conditions last night. Things will make more sense once I get my timeline established."
Ugh, such tedious work. But, I might as well immerse myself while I'm here. My bigger goals will have to wait until after I gather my strength. His eyes glazed over with a sense of purpose and power, Hiruzen sighed, seeing the Traveler's expression, muttering his frustrations as he led stiffly to the academy. Bidding farewell to the office attendees and staff along the way.
Eidolon enjoyed the fresh air. His newfound power thrumming within him—His blade just thirsting for action. But his own excitement had to be managed, and so did theirs. The various villagers and ninja that he never would've come to see by just reading the manga or watching the anime made him feel a little surreal.
My lives up until now wasn't all this close to home. His eyes went distant, weaving through excited crowds as kids, parents, and grandparents alike came to greet their Hokage.
"Hoho! How are you all? I see the will of fire burns as strong as ever!" Hiruzen chuckled. To which Eidolon ignored. Cheers and bouts of agreement scoured the atmosphere, but Eidolon moved swiftly. Deafly avoiding attention and narrowly escaping close calls.
He moved like a ghost through the earth.
Eventually, though, in the heart of the village, a pristine and well-maintained dome of a building came into sight. Decorated with well-placed and beautifully rowed trees, whose leaves fell softly to the ground amidst the lackadaisical wind.
Children piled in, leaving their parents behind as they moved eagerly.
Eidolons' eyes scanned the scene—His presence drawing strange looks, which quickly shifted to awe and excitement as Hiruzen appeared right beside him. His smile reached his eyes as he routinely waved at all of his subjects.
"Have you found what you're looking for? Perhaps if you fill me in I could be of some assistance." His words hung dry, much to his dismay. A vein bulged in his temple, but his irritation remained a mystery to the ever self-absorbed Eidolon.
"Mm, just give me a sec… There's one… Two… Ah—" His eyes landed upon the heads and faces of several children—A young girl with black, silky hair cut and styled into a bob. Pale white eyes that evoke the sensation of perversion—Self-consciousness so powerful you feel disgusting.
Hinata… That's Kiba—The only kid with a white pup on his head… Ah, Shino too. Okay, good. "Hey, Hiruzen, when do these guys graduate?" The hokage's brow perked up. His hands slipped behind his back. "The current last year's graduates will graduate today—If they pass their final exam, that is. For those that don't, they have three initial tries before they are forced to retake the entire year."
Eidolon hummed, opting to wait—For what? Only he knew… But after a quick thirty minutes passed by, Hiruzen was full of small talk and grumblings. "Ah! There he is…" A bundle of sulking, bumbling motivation and potential for greatness—A blond bound of hair bobbed up and down out of the last small group of children entering the academy.
"—leve it! Today is the day I pass this damn exam!" Eidolon was vaguely capable of making out his nonsensical words. Sighing, he shook his head, turning towards his partner in crime. "Alright, mister Hokage. I got my timeline settled. Let's head towards a secure spot where we can discuss your next moves and where your objectives should lie." Patting the man on the shoulder, he shoved past him and excused himself through the dwindling crowd of parents.
Hiruzen flashed fake smiles full of hidden irritation and rising rage. But he swallowed it once more—His reasoning flashing through his mind as he released his tension with a sigh. Patting his Hokage robe with tenderness.
Just until this threat is dealt with… This isn't forever. He repeated to himself over and over like a sacred mantra. He followed loosely behind and let his extraterrestrial guest lead him around his village.
Even as they managed to find themselves leaving the marketplaces and passing the academy grounds, they passed the training grounds—The old and forgotten ones, too, until they reached one that Hiruzen himself had forgotten even existed.
His eyes widened with surprise, a mysterious smile on his face as he stepped side by side with Eidolon, stopping as he did in front of a beaten old log that stuck straight up from the earth like a pole. "…Training Ground X—H-How did you even know this place existed?" Hiruzen questioned, half serious, half rhetorical as he figured his mysterious new companion wouldn't answer.
Eidolon shrugged. "Danzo has a secret entrance to all facilities within Konoha—I figured this out after visiting his place last night while you were busy drinking your sorrows away." He snickered.
Hiruzen looked skeptical and confused at the same time. "…What…?" Eidolon remained quiet, "No, seriously. What do you mean?" He pressed, his face uncharacteristically serious. Eidolon glanced over awkwardly. "U-Uh. I don't know, man. Your friend is seriously deranged."
Stepping to the side, he pointed towards the log, "Here. Pour some chakra into this." Hiruzen did as instructed and was amazed when the earth beneath their feet gave way and began moving downwards, like an earthen elevator. He shot a curious, concerned glance towards Eidolon. "Stop looking at me like that—It's so disturbing." He huffed, his locs dancing as he shook his head.
"Are you familiar with the Raikage?" Hiruzen suddenly asked. Eidolon scoffed, "Why? Cause his skin's dark?" He glanced towards the Hokage, only to see the man nodding thoughtfully. "Well, yes. It's a trait we've seen only in the people residing in the land of lightning. It was simple curiosity, I promise."
The elevator suddenly stopped, the earth in front of them shattering and crumbling before them, and giving way to a solid polished stone hallway that sprouted in two directions—left and right. Pockets deeply entrenched in the earth brought a cool breeze wafting through the otherwise sealed circuit.
"After you." Eidolon presented, his words being nothing but hypocrisy, Hiruzen's shoulder being attacked by a moving mountain as Eidolon pushed past him. "Anyways, tell me more about these weird occurrences you think are taking place within your continent." The two fell in step quickly, their paces matching one for one almost seamlessly—Even though the Hokage fell a step or two behind.
"The Kazekage is the only change I've personally experienced." His eyes glazed over, turning downtrodden. "To be able to repel Orochimaru… That's truly unexpected." A silence passed over them. "I'd say that another thing would be the establishment of this unruly bunch—The Akatsuki. A group of fifteen Rogue and powerful shinobi…" His brows furrowed, his distracted mind still being able to guide him down the arduously long path Eidolon is taking.
I recognize these tunnels. To think they carried on for so long. He quickly reeled himself back in, though. The sound of insistent snapping is the cause. "Focus, Old man. These are important details. The Akatsuki? Fifteen? Like, ten, plus five more? Are you positive?" Eidolons' questions agitated Hiruzen. His jaw clenching, petulance flashing in his thin-lipped grin.
"Yes. I'm positive. I wouldn't say nonsense when the safety of my village and people is at stake. What do you know about these people? Why is that number so surprising?" Hiruzen's questions were halted when the duo were met with two doors. They passed many on the way, but these were blended into the wall.
"Hoh—You even know our secret communion space." Hiruzen's eyes narrowed. "You truly are from beyond these stars. Knowing secrets like this." Eidolon shrugged. "The number the Akatsuki has is an anomaly in and of itself. There were only ten." The two walked through the engine-operated doors, a half-circle railing preventing them from stepping onto a thirty-foot drop. Two rows of stairs encircled the dome room's walls, leading directly to a giant table with twelve seats, all inscribed with a clan's symbol.
At the head of the table were two chairs seated right next to each other—the symbol of the Senju, and the other—"These extra five? Do you have any information on who they are? Anything will help." Shit, I might get my first taste of action soon. Eidolon bites back a grin, pretending to cover his mouth for a yawn.
Hiruzen leans on the table, his two palms holding him steady as he lets his body weight tussle with the stone table. His head was down, his large hat preventing Eidolon from entirely making out his expression.
"…Sadly, no. They've never actively left any traces of their existence—They're that powerful." He shakes his head with dwindling hope. "Anyone who crossed paths with those rogue shinobi never lived to tell any tale." Eidolon raised a brow.
"Then how are you certain these entities exist?"
Hiruzen scoffed, almost ironically. "Well, that rogue ninja that the Kazekage whipped into shape for me got the same treatment from this same group. How he managed to get accepted and leave with little to no consequence is a mystery I wish to know before I pass away. Hoho!" He chuckled, rubbing his beard as he stood up straight, his eyes locking onto his partners across the table.
"So, what's our next move, Traveler? I assume you wish to gather more information, yes?" Eidolon hummed. "Right. Is Amegakure still their hideout? Or is that not established yet?" He carelessly let loose. The Hokage's reaction wasn't lost on him—Man, I love doing that. Hooray for knowing the future! Hehe! Shaking his head, "Never mind."
PSSSSHHH!*
The duo's head snapped up towards the very door they entered from. Eidolon stood stoic as ever, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly as he instantly recognized who it was who intruded upon them. Great. What do you want now… He snarled mentally.
Hiruzen, however, was less restrained. "Danzo!" He barked, more surprised than anything. Eidolon saw the wave of tiredness fall upon the old man's face, and he hummed but kept silent. Simply watching as two more visitors popped up from behind the olden hoot.
The entire squad is here… How nice—Guess it's senile old people meet up day today. He scoffed at the sight of Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado. The old duo was inseparable. "Hiruzen!" Koharu barked back, and both she and Homura glared daggers at their leader.
"What is the meaning of this!?"