Mayu froze, her eyes widening. Unable to move, she watched as Fū took a deliberate slow step towards her.
It was just her and the monster again.
The monster took another step towards her. And then another. And another.
...
Mayu couldn't move. All she could do was stand there, watching the sand below the monster's sandals billow in all directions with every step closer to her.
Another step. The pause between each step was growing shorter. Step. Step. The monster would be here soon.
Move!, she tried to scream at herself. Move, or you'll die!
Mayu whimpered, but she couldn't move. There was a glass tunnel, long and narrow, that was trapping her there in with the monster. She couldn't move nor breathe; the only way to move was forward, where the monster was waiting. The monster was close now. The monster was raising her hands; the corners of her mouth were turning upwards, and she could see a glimpse of sharp, glinting teeth.
I'm scared.
Mayu's lips cracked open. She wanted to cry out for help – where were her teammates? Her gaze searchingly flicked sideways to the jeering audience. But she couldn't see anyone she recognized. It was a sea of blank faces.
I'm so scared.
The monster had taken out a kunai now. But she still couldn't move. All she could do was watch the kunai, so reminiscent of a fang, make its way towards her in a slow, downward arc.
I'm scared.
"Mayu!" a voice bellowed, cutting through the haze.
As though she'd been splashed in ice cold water, Mayu jerked in surprise, and finding she could move again, just barely managed to throw herself out of the way. As soon as she hit the ground, Mayu somersaulted back onto her feet, pulling a kunai out of her pouch and holding it above her with a shaking hand.
Fū looked at her with a bemused expression and in the moment of stillness, Mayu glanced back at the spectators again. She found Rai immediately; his face was stark white as he stared back at her, the thick scar on his cheek standing out prominently. Naruto and Kakashi-sensei were gone, and somehow, she knew that Naruto must have collapsed again; the memory of finding him unconscious in his room several days ago suddenly flashed through her mind.
She had been scared then, too.
"Are you always this scared when your teammates aren't around?" the girl asked, casually tossing the kunai around in her hands. Her orange eyes flashed dangerously, and her smile grew a little more strained. "Or do you know what I am?"
To her surprise, Mayu found herself opening her mouth to speak. "I'm always scared," she replied in an unexpectedly calm voice. "I've been scared of everything for years..."
Fū cocked her head. "What kind of way to live is that?"
Mayu's grip on her kunai tightened painfully. "It's no way to live," she said, and threw the kunai. Fū jerked back, but the kunai never even went near her. Instead, it pierced through the air with a shattering sound before landing harmlessly on the ground at the other side of the arena. "I'm scared but...I'm tired of being scared."
...
"Naruto, what's wrong?" Kakashi asked, watching in alarm as the genin's face turned an ashen gray. Naruto stumbled. Reacting instinctively, Kakashi caught him before he fell.
"Sensei, my head..." Naruto's eyes rolled back, and his body went limp in Kakashi's arms. His free eye widened in shock.
"Naruto!" Rai was finally back. Looking worried, he raced forward to help, but stopped in his tracks at Kakashi's expression.
"No...it couldn't be..." Kakashi murmured to himself, shaking his head. He anxiously stared down at Naruto's slack face. Over the years, as he watched the boy grow up from afar, he'd sometimes had his doubts and wondered about its possibility before. Even just today, he had felt uneasy when he heard about Naruto's recent sudden illness. After some contemplation however, he'd dismissed it all as simple paranoia. But just now, the boy had fainted as soon as he broached the subject. This wasn't some psychological issue – it went far beyond that. This was an external cause.
And it sounded very similar to the effects of something he'd once been very familiar with during the war.
"It couldn't be..." he repeated miserably. "That couldn't be what he meant."
"What're you talking about, sensei?" Rai said, sounding upset. "What's wrong with Naruto? Is he sick again?"
Kakashi straightened up, lifting up Naruto in his arms.
"I'm going to take Naruto to a medic, Rai. I want you to stay here to cheer Mayu on," he said quietly. "But when I come back, I want you to tell me everything you know about jinchūriki."
...
Many miles away in the Fire country, the venerable Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi looked outside at the setting sun from his office, his trusty pipe smoking in his hand. He hummed, watching the last rays strike the familiar busts of the past Hokage. The days were growing longer as spring approached, and he was glad. The past winter had been a long and severe one.
His thoughts turned toward the Chūnin exams that were currently taking place in Sunagakure. Several of Konoha's promising genins were participating this year, including Gai's rookies. Hiruzen was quite looking forward to seeing how they would be performing, particularly the Hyūga genius.
There hadn't been a user of the Byakugan with as much promise in so many years. It was just a pity that he was from the branch house...unless the main house changed their ways, then the boy's talents would never be used to their full extent.
Knowing Gai's way of instructing his students with the greatest care however, Hiruzen hadn't expected them to participate this year. He smiled, his temples wrinkling. It was probably because Kakashi, Gai's greatest rival, had entered his team in the exams this year. And on Kakashi's team was...
Hiruzen stilled. The smile faded, and he turned away from the window. He couldn't bear to look out and see Minato's face staring accusingly back at him. Sitting down at his desk, Hiruzen steepled his hands together.
Every day, he wondered if he had made the right choice. Granted, it had been the only choice at the time. Such was the way of fate. And yet, he wondered, was fate really such an unmovable force?
Eleven years ago – and then five years ago – ...
"Hokage-sama!" A silver-haired ANBU stumbled into the Hokage's office. There were several chūnin standing in front of the Hokage, but ignoring protocol, he ripped off his animal mask to reveal his face.
"Dog!" Hiruzen admonished. The chūnin beside him immediately averted their eyes. Hiruzen signaled for the chūnin to leave before turning to face the upset young ninja standing before him. "What is the matter?"
"Is it true?" Kakashi demanded, once all of the chūnin had filed out of the room. "That the Nine-tails attacked? And that there were casualties?!"
"Yes," said the elder shinobi heavily.
"But – how – "
Hiruzen raised his hand. "Now is not the time. It will all be explained soon. For now, know that it has been subjugated and resealed back in its host."
Kakashi's eyes narrowed. "And what have you done with him...?"
"The boy was understandably distraught when he reached consciousness. For now he's been put to sleep, while the councilors and I discuss what to do with him."
"It's true then?" said Kakashi quietly. "That the council wants him dead?"
"There have been some...suggestions concerning different ways of quelling the host."
Kakashi slammed the wall with his fist. "Naruto's still just a child! You can't blame him for something like this!"
"And I don't," said Hiruzen gently. "You need not worry for him; he has been put under high-security guard to prevent anything from happening to him."
"More like you're putting him under guard so to make people feel more at ease..." Kakashi muttered.
"Even though the Nine-tails has been resealed, he is still a danger, Kakashi," Hiruzen shook his head wearily. "Especially with the state his mind is currently in...most likely, he and the other witnesses will have to have their minds wiped of the memory."
"And then...?"
"The boy turns six tomorrow, yes?" said Hiruzen, clasping his hands behind his back. He turned to Kakashi. "I think it is about time he has begun to be trained. He will be placed back in his apartment by tomorrow morning, with no memory of today's events. Could you bring him to my office then?"
Kakashi numbly nodded. He didn't seem altogether pleased, but he seemed reassured that the Hokage had not given into village pressure and dealt with his teacher's son much more harshly. Turning around, the ANBU left without another word.
Hiruzen sighed as the door slammed shut. As upset as Kakashi already was, he hadn't thought it prudent to fully clue him in on everything that was to be done regarding the boy. He himself would have preferred any other possible alternate method. But it had been the only way to pacify the councilors while giving him as normal a childhood as possible.
"Such a potent seal," he murmured to himself. "Minato would be furious to know his own creation would be used on his son..." He looked down at his lined hands silently – he would do the deed himself. All the blame would be his.