Second Chances Exist •Naruto Fanfic•

Enter: Rinai Takeshi!

"Recovery time, a condition like mine, what are we talking here? Getting so close I can taste the hope... But I still feel the fear."

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Suddenly, Ryoku appeared out of nowhere in the room. "Lord Hokage would like to see her." He said, his voice slightly muffled behind his mask. "Immediately."

"Hmph, not before I speak to him first." Ibiki stated before disappearing in a cloud of smoke.

Ryoku came over to help me stand. "Are you alright?"

I nodded. "Yeah," I breathed out, realizing Ibiki was most likely going to tell the Hokage everything I and Inoichi told him. "I'm just great."

My head whirled with questions and possibilities. What's the Hokage gonna do when he finds out I'm not from around here? Is he gonna make me leave? Kill me? I mentally scoffed. Maybe this really is a dream if it's gonna end so soon. A really fucked up dream.

"You're bleeding." Ryoku pointed out.

I shook my head. "I'll be fine, it's just a scratch. I've had worse." I finished, flashing a reassuring smile.

Ryoku, regardless what I said, wiped away the blood that dripped down my cheek. He then held his hand over the cut and it glowed a green hue and in a few seconds, my cut was gone. Ryoku grabbed my arm, a lot more gentler than Ibiki, after undoing the cuffs to the chair. However, my hands were still linked to each other. 

"Let's get going to meet Lord Third." I could picture him smiling underneath his deer-like mask. I bobbed my head. "Okay, get ready."

In a blink of an eye, we disappeared from the small interrogation room and into a completely different room. The transition left me lightheaded and a bit nauseous. This room was larger than the previous one we were in; there was a desk at the front with stacks of paper scattered across. A large window behind it, having a view of the village although the room was dimly lit by the sunlight. In the room stood Ibiki and Inoichi by the desk. Behind the desk sat an elderly man. He wore a white robe like jacket with a wide hat on his head with the kanji for 'Fire' on it. He had some age spots around his eyes along with some wrinkles, giving away his age. He had a pipe in his hand and was currently puffing on it.

I cocked my brow at him. This is the Hokage? Isn't he a bit too old to be running the village..? And what the hell is he smoking?

"My Lord," Ryoku greeted. "you requested her." He gestured towards me.

The Hokage closed his eyes and slowly bobbed his head. "Mm, yes... so you are Rinai."

I wasn't sure if it was a question or a statement. I eyed him a moment before answering anyway. "Yeah."

I watched him as he continued to stare at me. There was something that sparked in his eye. I couldn't tell exactly what it was though. I shifted my weight onto my right leg, beginning to feel uncomfortable under his gaze. Then he cleared his throat.