Chapter 43.4- One Thousand Hands

I made my way to the office. Maybe if I was Jiraiya, I would have risked jumping in through the window but I landed on the ground floor and made my way into the tower like everyone else. There was a consistent stream of traffic moving in and out of the tower even as the rest of the village seemed to be standing still. The War wasn’t coming anymore. It was here.

I walked into the waiting room, and despite the fact that the room was full, upon seeing me, the Secretary directed me to move inside. I’d deactivated my byakugan outside once I’d seen Kushina. Having the doujutsu active while walking around Konoha was seen as extremely rude, and could land one in T&I if you had it active in somewhere with as much sensitive information as the Hokage Tower.

I had no idea what was waiting for me behind the door so I took a deep breath and pushed it in. It was Hiruzen, behind the desk in his robes, and with his hat off to the side. Seated opposite hum was Danzo, the darkness of shinobi. I went on one knee and bowed as was custom.

“At your service, Hokage-sama” I said.

“Shorirama-kun, please stand up stand up. Congratulations one your successes in the Land of Rivers. If the world did not know your name before, they know it now.” He said. I nodded even as I rose to my feet. What did he want? Could he just go straight to the point.

“I am sure you are wondering why I summoned you here. And you did well to arrive so quickly” He said. I nodded.

“The Council and I have come to a decision regarding the Kyuubi no Kitsune.” He said, making me freeze in place.

“As you know, Kushina Uzumaki was slated to be the Jinchuriki after your Grandmother but she already contains the Hachibi. One body can not contain two tailed beasts no matter how compatible it might be so we have to move on with other options. You are one of them” he said. Me? At my age? That was dangerous.

“I’m Sixteen” I pointed out.

“You are compatible enough, and your Grandmother assures us that Uzumaki chakra networks become fully developed much later than with other shinobi” He said. Well, that was a point he had.

“Of course, we tried with other possibilities, but you are the most compatible for the beast. The second most compatible target is a young Uzumaki boy of twelve, and we are loathe to bestow Konoha’s greatest weapon on someone not raised here.” He continued.

“Has my Grandmother been consulted on this matter?” I asked.

“Your Hokage gives you an order, boy” Danzo cut in, but Hiruzen lifted a hand. I noted that he hadn’t done it until Danzo had finished speaking.

“She has. She has given her consent” He said.

“Is this an order?”

“If you must see it as such, then yes. I would, however, rather you saw it as doing your duty to the village” He said.