Howl of Konoha Book II

The Truth Behind The Name

I stood staring at the aged wood. Half the door was rotten and the hinges were covered in rust. I tried to open it by turning the knob only to have the door groan in disagreement. Yep, it was definitely locked. I turned to look at Konoyumi who stood beside me staring at the door. She looked up at me and seemed to shrug.

If I remember correctly the letter mother left me said it was this door I needed. I racked my brain trying to remember what else was said in the letter, of course it completely slipped my mind to bring the damn thing along with me.

"Milady, if I may." Konoyumi's gruff voice said. "Didn't you say before that the Great Mountain Dog would know how to get in?"

I snapped my fingers when I remembered, "You're right! Thanks, Konoyumi."

I closed my eyes and focused. Okami. Okami.

"You called?" Okami's voice boomed in my head.

"Tell me how to enter this room. Mother said it was sealed with some kind of jutsu only us Himura's know. She said you would know how to undo it." I explained what I needed him to do.

There was a moment of silence before he spoke again."Yes, I know the jutsu."

"Tell me how to get in."

"Are you sure about this? The truth isn't always a good thing."

"Yes, I'm sure. I've lived pretty much my whole life in a lie and I'm over it. I want to know everything. And it was your idea to come here."

Okami hummed in agreement. "Okay then. First place both hands on the door."

I did as he asked placing both my palms onto the cool, damp wood.

"Focus your chakra into your hands, create a steady stream and push it into the wood. Then repeat after me."

I focused. I felt my chakra swell inside my body as I tried to direct it towards my hands. I felt the wood begin to heat up, now it was lukewarm as my chakra flowed into the wood work.

"Secret Ninja Art; Himura Gate"

I repeated the jutsu and felt something like a barrier dissipate. I opened my eyes when I heard the door click open. I glanced over at Konoyumi with a childish smirk. "That wasn't too hard."

I gently pushed open the door with the tips of my fingers, the hinges squeaked and groaned. Looking inside there was a long, winding, stone stairwell leading underground. I walked inside and took the stairs one at a time, Konoyumi following me behind. The air was musty and dusted tickled my nose. I sneezed only making the dust problem worse. When we finally reached the bottom there was another door, much like the one at the top. I placed my hands on the wood and repeated the jutsu. The room was about the size of the lounge back at the Akatsuki hideout. Bookshelves going from floor to ceiling circled the whole room. There was a long table that stretched down the middle of the room dividing it in half. Papers, books and loose scrolls littered the table and floor. The room had only one tiny window at the back and my first mission was to air out this room.

Konoyumi began looking through the books and scrolls on the floor and lower shelves while I opened the window and looked through the documents on the table. They were mostly about things I had no interest in or that I already knew.

I came across a black book with leather trimmings around the edges. I picked it up and begun to flick through it. It was hand written and the pages we worn with age. I opened up to a random page and begun to read.