the last student The Child Arc

chapter 76

*it was the next day, early in the morning, we see the real Hiruzen in his office, smoking his pipe this early in the morning, something his late wife would scold him for, but given what was coming, Hiruzen feels like he earned the right to smoke some of that high quality stuff that he keeps for emergencies, aka whenever he has to deal with Danzo's annoying ass. Just as Hiruzen blew smoke out of his lungs, the door opened, and in walked Anko, fresh from having dropped Naruto off at kindergarten. Anko smiled at her friend as she sat down in the chair in front of the desk.*

Anko: You wanted to see me Hiruzen?

Hiruzen: Yes. Sit down please. There are some things I need to discuss with you.

*Hiruzen said with a heavy breath as he took a very long drag of his pipe. The anbu of course told Hiruzen everything that Kushina spoke to Mikoto about so he knows why she wanted an audience with him. It would be unfair if he didn't warn Anko that Kushina was around and was going to cause trouble. Anko nodded her head slowly, thinking that this was just a social visit and that he just wanted an update on Naruto's mental health, well that's something Anko can be very proud to talk about since her baby is doing such tremendous work.*

Anko: ok. Is this about Naruto? His therapy sessions are going great, he's still not completely back yet, but he is spending time with his friends again.

Hiruzen: That is nice to hear. But that is not why I called.

*Hiruzen said as he blew the smoke out, enjoying the chemicals of the tobacco hitting his brain and getting him nice and relaxed, yes. He knows the dangers of it, but he survived literal wars, Hiruzen thinks he earned the right to smoke. Anko looked at Hiruzen confused, if this wasn't about talking about Naruto then why was she here? Was he gonna send him to another shinobi mission? Cause if that's the case Anko will decline, he can't leave her boys when their therapy has just started and progress was beginning to show. But anko was getting ahead of herself.*

Anko: ok. Then what's up? You seemed more serious than usual.

Hiruzen: I got word from my anbu. Kushina is back in the village.

*Hiruzen said, not telling her everything yet, like boiling a frog, Hiruzen was slowly raising the temperature so that the frog that in this case is anko, doesn't jump off the pot before it's done cooking. Anko gave a slow nod as she sat up straighter. So that's why she's here instead of work. Anko appreciates that Hiruzen is giving her a heads-up so that she's not surprised if she sees her in passing, but apart from that? Anko honestly is fine with her here, as long as she stays far away from her son.*

Anko: Ah. What did she forget?

Hiruzen: She thinks she does. There is no way to say this without it making you angry. So I'm gonna rip it off like a Band-Aid

*Hiruzen said with a nod to himself, if he delayed this any longer, he would just make things worse for everybody involved. Hiruzen needed to at least give Anko the time necessary to calm down over the news she would be receiving. Anko hearing what Hiruzen said and how he said it looked at the old man confused. What did Kushina have to do with this news? Did she make a mistake in removing the curse seal? If that's the case yeah she'll be annoyed, but as long as Kushina can fix her mistake, Anko won't care. Anko just confirmed to continue the conversation.*

Anko: Ok?

Hiruzen: Kushina came here to take Naruto back.

*It was a good thing that Anko was sitting, because if she weren't she would've stumbled and collapsed, over what she just said. She couldn't feel her legs, her heart gave her one of those heartbeats that beat so hard that it's legitimately painful, the pupils in her eyes turned as small as a pin needle. Anko felt terrified for a moment, before that fear became anger, anger that was quickly bubbling over, since she hoped she had heard wrong, or that Hiruzen had misspoken, since why would Kushina want to be anywhere near Anko's son? No. No. She must've misheard.*