A Ninja's Path (Kakashi X Reader)

Chapter Forty Eight

The rain had slowed to a light patter as you exited your apartment, walking briskly towards the archives. By the time you reached the building, the rain had stopped, the clouds starting to part as you entered the front entrance.

The strode up to the desk worker who immediately tensed up as you approached.

"I need access to your lower levels."

The man gulped. "I-is there anything in particular I can h-help you find?" He stammered.

You shook your head. "Just get me the access."

He nodded, grabbing a key from a drawer before gesturing for you to follow him.

You wove through the archives, going to the wall farthest back. You approached a dark door, unadorned and plain.

You were surprised that it was the entrance to the lower levels, had always thought it to be a janitor's closet.

You had expected the real entrance to not be so... hidden in plain sight. Although, it made sense for the secret levels of the archives to be just that- secret.

The worker unlocked the door, opening it up to reveal a flight of stairs winding down into darkness.

It looked like the set for some sort of horror movie. Whatever those were....................🤔?

"There aren't any lights in the stairway, but each level has a light switch near their entrances." He gestured down the stairs. "And this door," he patted the one he was holding open ,"only locks from the outside. You will be able to leave whenever you like." He glanced back. "I need to return to my desk, but if you need anything, just come and get me."

"How many lower levels are there?" You asked.

The man shifted on his feet. Impatient to return to his shift. "A dozen."

You raised a brow. That was a lot of hidden documents. And a lot of ground to cover. You might be here longer than expected.

"Good luck finding whatever it is your looking for." The man blurted as he bowed hastily, then receded behind rows of bookshelves.

You chuckled- what a skittish man. You peered down the staircase, not being able to help the twinge of anxiety that ran through you. The thought of being trapped underground...

You shook your head. Dwelling on irrational fears would help no one. You needed answers. And a dark staircase wouldn't stop you from finding them.

The door shut behind you, leaving you in utter darkness. You activated your Hikarigan, thankful that night vision was one of your mysterious Kekkei Genkai's capabilities.

You stepped onto the first landing, approaching the metal door leading to the first hidden level of the archives. Hopefully, the information you needed would be held on one of the first few floors, as you weren't looking forward to descending to the lowest levels.

The door opened with a creak and you flipped the light switch on, artificial lights flickering to life. It was dank and dusty, clearly no one came down here often. It was a shame, seeing as how many hundreds of old documents were stored in the lower levels.

You traced a finger along a shelf, pulling it away to find the pad of your finger dark with decades of grime. You weren't looking forward to rummaging around with ten-year-old dust for the next several hours, but you knew it was a necessary task. Whatever secrets you uncovered regarding your eyes could possibly change the future of your country.

It was wishful thinking to believe that your Kekkei Genkai could somehow destroy the Council and keep you and the rebellion alive, childish to have the hope of somehow surviving a full scale attack against the government.