awaken.

ch. ii | and so it begins

and there only remained a memory that was shared with everyone but her.

         Hokage. The title given to the torch of Konohagakure. The flame that ignited the hearts of the most shadowed beings. A powerful title, one that can part crowds and fill the people's hearts with a mixture of hope and fear. A position everyone strives to be, or at least has considered at one point in their life. However... While it seems like the ideal job, it carried so, so many burdens.

         Hiruzen Sarutobi has seen much, heard much, and knows much, much more than what some people may think. He's seen the weakest of shinobis rise to become Kages, and he's seen the strongest of heros die from the most horrifying events. [Name] being one of many... The many losses were burdens, painful memories of friends and foes, revenge and pain. Being a Hokage means to know everyone that died, knowing that he was the one who sent them to their deaths. Being the Hokage will never be an easy task.

       He remembered [Name]. A mature woman, kind, loving, beautiful, and possessing a strong, strong will of Fire. He sent Konoha's spark her to her death. Hiruzen remembered that he had grown quite fond of the girl at a young age, ever since she had moved to Konoha with that determined grin on her face. She got along well with nearly all of the people in the village, and had solved some of the most dangerous battles with nothing but words. It was a shame that she had died at such a young age.

       After all these years, that was what was left of her legends and tales. That her death was only a shame to Konoha.

       However... Konohagakure could finally get their spark back. The spark that was snuffed just as it started to kindle. The flame was roaring again as word of her reincarnation spread like wildfire. She was back. While Hiruzen thought reincarnation was far-fetched, he believed in miracles. A force larger than what humankind could imagine has pushed her back. Her essence was still in Konoha. Her old friends began to stir up memories, Kakashi being one of many who had volunteered to rescue her back. Rescue her from one of his previous students.

      Hiruzen took a long drag from his pipe. He was tired. Oh so, so very tired. While he was happy that there would be one less person haunting him at night, he also now had to figure out just what sent her back, and how it was even possible.

      What if his snake-tongued student was tricking him? Was sending Kakashi, a former admirer of Konoha's spark, a good idea?

       Life comes and goes so fast. Too fast. While [Name] was lucky, Hiruzen was afraid that Kakashi had become too attached to that luck. He remembered how Kakashi had lost his patience, nearly attacking the Hokage out of his own broken desperation. How could Hiruzen blame him? The poor boy had lost more people than the years he's lived. Hopefully both [Name] and Kakashi made it back safely--

      "Hokage-sama!" One of Konoha's chūnins burst through the door. Ah, he was evidently young and inexperienced, considering the unannounced entrance. [Name] used to be the same.

      "Maa, I'm assuming Hound and Weasel have returned with the objective?"

      "Hai, Hokage-sama. Weasel shall come to report to you soon. Hound has ordered me to relay that he has taken the girl to do a physical check-up."

      Kakashi... Always worrying, always moving. Hiruzen was concerned that it could end up getting the silverette killed. Hopefully Kakashi could get himself together. He was in the ANBU, for kami's sake.

     "Greetings, Hokage-sama. Weasel reporting. Team Hound has returned successfully with the objective, but Orochimaru and his other experiments have gotten away before we arrived."