It had been almost half an hour since Reito acquiesced to returning to the hospital with Sakura. She had remained with him in his room, but they had spent much of the time in silence. He found that he needed the quiet in order to keep a handle on his emotions while processing. After a nurse brought in drinks for the two of them, he couldn’t wait any longer to ask his questions.

“How did they die?” Reito asked, gripping a hot cup of tea, the heat burning his fingertips serving as a reminder that this was no illusion.

“There was an attack on Konoha around this time last year by a group called Akatsuki, the same group that Kakuzu and Hidan belonged to,” Sakura explained. “Since you’ve faced them, you know that they have abilities beyond comprehension. So, when I tell you that the damage to the village was catastrophic, you’ll understand that I’m not exaggerating. We’ve had to rebuild from scratch.”

So, that was why everything looked different, Reito thought. That was why there had been scaffolding everywhere. For them to still be building a year later, the attack must have been as devastating as Sakura suggested.

“The village was lost, but thanks to Naruto, our casualties were drastically reduced.”

Reito frowned at this odd comment. “Naruto? What’s he got to do with anything?”

Sakura smiled softly, shaking her head. “A lot has changed. Naruto’s no longer the screwup we both knew at the academy. He was the one who defeated the enemy. On top of that, he convinced them to use their strange abilities to revive those killed in the attack.”

His brow still furrowed in confusion, Reito responded impatiently, “Revive…? You’re saying that Naruto…? That’s… So, what happened to my family?”

Lowering her head, Sakura continued, “All of the villagers who perished were revived by the enemy’s Jutsu. However, many of them were still buried under the rubble, and we couldn’t get to everyone in time. Your family was among those we lost that day. I’m so sorry.”

Reito’s eyes stung with tears. His mother and father, and even his little sister. They were really dead, and to go in such a horrible way… It wasn’t fair. By that point, he had already been missing for four years. How had they coped with his loss? Had they given up on him? Had Reika pursued her dream of becoming a ninja, or had his disappearance shattered it? He would never know.

“Do you want some time alo—?”

“No,” Reito started, his voice cracking. He coughed to clear his throat and drank some of his tea before continuing. “No. I still have questions. Where are they buried?”

“Since that incident, there’s also been a war, another event masterminded by Akatsuki. It’s only been three months since the Allied Nations’ victory. Because of the number of losses we’ve sustained in this short period, the village has adopted a policy of cremating our dead. There’s a memorial garden and a monument to honor the fallen, though. I’ll take you there in a day or two.”

“What about Kazuki and Yuji’s families? Are they alive?”

“They are,” Sakura hesitated, “but I should tell you that they have been notified of your presence. The Torimotos have expressed concern for you, but the Saitos have been very vocal about getting answers from you, and they command a lot of respect in the village. You’ll need to be prepared.”

“What? But I don’t know anything! How can I tell them what happened when I don’t know myself?”

“I know, Reito,” Sakura assured him as the pitch of his voice increased exponentially. “In the spirit of transparency, the Hokage has permitted me to inform you that we have been running tests on you since your return.”

“Tests?”

“A full medical workup and other investigative procedures, including a mind scan. I’ve seen your memories myself. I know what you went through, and if it’s any consolation, there’s nothing you could have done differently. It took some of our best and brightest to bring down Hidan and Kakuzu.”

“You’ve seen…? Why did I need all that?”

“Well, it’s a standard response, given how we found you. You were discovered on the border alone, on the brink of death from unusual wounds, and with an unexplainable condition. We would have had to assess you as a potential threat, even if you hadn’t also been suspiciously MIA.”

Reito shook his head, feeling foolish for asking such a silly question. Of course they had investigated him! It was only natural for them to consider him a threat in such circumstances. An enemy could have turned his body into a weapon or turned his mind against his allies. Considering what it sounded like the village had been through in his absence, he was surprised he wasn’t being detained as a precautionary measure.

“We haven’t found any evidence to indicate that,” Sakura told him, perhaps seeing his thoughts reflected on his face. “As far as we can tell, you’re the picture of health, with no signs of mental or physical torture or manipulation.”

“Then why can’t I remember? Where have I been? How did I get back? And what about this?” Reito snapped, gesturing wildly at himself with his hands. “What’s wrong with me? If it’s been five years, why haven’t I grown? I feel the same as I did yester—I mean—back then!”

Still trying to wrap his head around the idea that the memories so fresh in his mind—of the battle with Kakuzu and Hidan, of Amaya Sensei’s death, of his friends—had taken place so long ago, Reito leaned back on the headboard of his bed and pinched the bridge of his nose. The absurdity of his predicament was giving him a headache.

Sakura sighed, “I wish I had answers for you, Reito, but I don’t. It’s obvious something was done to you, but there’s no evidence to suggest what. I’m a Medical Ninja now, and after reviewing your test results, neither I nor my teacher, Lady Tsunade—who incidentally is the fifth Hokage—have any idea why you haven’t aged. We’re stumped!”

Reito chuckled in spite of himself. “Is that your official diagnosis as a Medical Ninja?” he quipped.

“Yep!” Sakura replied with a smile.

After pausing to drink the rest of his tea, Reito instinctively drew his knees up to his chest and wrapped his arms around them. “So… What now?” he asked with trepidation. “If you’re not locking me up and my family are… What’s going to happen to me?”

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

Sakura got to her feet and placed her teacup down on the nightstand. “Well, I’ve arranged a place for you at the orphanage,” she began. “It’s not as bad as you’re probably imagining. It’s a brand-new facility, and there are a lot of other children there in similar circumstances.”

“Other kids that have been missing for five years with no idea where they’ve been, you mean?” Reito mumbled sarcastically.

Sakura looked like she was unsure whether it was okay to smile at this remark. “Not quite,” she said. “I’ll take you there this afternoon. I’ll bring you a change of clothes. Nothing special, but you can pick something more to your style from the orphanage donation bin tomorrow.”

“What about what I was wearing yester— What about what I was wearing when I was brought in?”

“Actually, you weren’t wearing anything when you were brought in,” Sakura elucidated.

“Oh,” said Reito, blushing at this strange and unexpected new piece of information, then balling up a fist in frustration. So, he had been discovered on the border after being missing for five years, severely wounded, with some weird age-related medical condition, and naked? What in the world had happened to him?

“You should have seen your hair; it was down to your knees! I almost didn’t recognize you. I didn’t want it to shock you, so I tried to cut it how I remembered you wore it. I hope it’s okay?”

Reito ran his hand through his hair. It didn’t feel any different, but why had it grown when the rest of him hadn’t?

“Before we go to the orphanage, I’ll be introducing you to the Hokage. She’s giving a Town Hall meeting to discuss your return right now but should be finished with it before noon.”

Reito laughed derisively, shaking his head. A Town Hall meeting? About him? About Reito Tsu, the most unremarkable student in his class? He very much doubted it was to plan his welcome home parade. The fact that his reappearance necessitated such a thing was a pretty clear indication of the kind of reception he was going to receive from the villagers. They obviously considered him a threat, and the funny thing was, he couldn’t blame them.

In the last year alone, Konoha had experienced a devastating attack and then gone to war. Who knows what other issues the village had contended with since he disappeared? And now, just as they’re trying to recover, he shows up, bringing with him uncertainty and bad memories. With his family and friends gone and everyone else he knew five years older, who exactly was he returning to? Maybe he and the villagers would be better off if he just….

“Reito?” said Sakura. “Did you hear me? I was just saying…about meeting with the Hokage after you’ve had something to eat?”

“Err, yeah, sure,” he said distractedly, not making eye contact with the girl.

“Okay. Well, I’m going to give you some time alone now. I’ll be back after lunch.”

“Great,” Reito replied, but his attention remained focused on the dark thoughts that had just crossed his mind.

***

Later that morning, after he had tried and failed to keep down the lunch meal the nurses had brought for him, Reito left the hospital with Sakura, dressed in the plain white t-shirt, cargo pants, and sandals she had brought him.

It was an odd feeling, walking the main path through Konoha, which ran from the main gate all the way to the Fire Estate. It felt like just yesterday when he had walked it in the opposite direction on his way out of the village. Now that he was taking in his surroundings at ground level, without adrenaline coursing through his body, the differences in the buildings were more noticeable. None of them looked original to the town. Akatsuki really must have flattened it.

There was something else that Reito noticed as he and Sakura made their way toward Hokage Rock. He was beginning to get looks. Villagers going about their day would spot Sakura, then look at him, and stop what they were doing. Others would begin whispered conversations. A few openly glared at him.

Reito felt very uncomfortable. Five years ago, he was all but anonymous. Nobody knew who he was, save for a couple of regulars he waited on at the tea shop, who knew him simply as the Tsu’s boy. Now, it seemed, he was infamous.

“Don’t let it bother you,” Sakura advised. “Lady Tsunade will have put the fear of God into anyone who was thinking of messing with you, but there’s nothing she can do to stop tongues wagging. They’ll get bored of talking about you once they know you’re just an ordinary kid.”

Reito smiled weakly, looking up at the kind and pretty girl he used to find so irritating. She had changed. The problem was, she was lying. Well, maybe lying was too strong of a word, but she wasn’t being completely truthful. Neither she nor anyone else knew for sure whether he was “an ordinary kid” anymore, himself included. Not being able to determine whether he was a potential danger to the village wasn’t the same as ruling it out.

***

The Administration Building turned out to be a very close match to its previous layout, but it was undoubtedly new. Reito had met the Third Hokage a handful of times during ceremonial events and his few Mission Meetings, but he had never been to the village leader’s office. Something about approaching the office of the Fifth Hokage felt like being sent to see the principal.

“Enter!” a woman’s voice boomed when Sakura knocked on the doors of the office.

Reito surreptitiously wiped the nervous sweat from his brow as he followed her in. The Hokage’s office was a fairly large room but didn’t contain much. It was an impressive sight, though, the Fifth Hokage sat behind a large desk framed by the sunlit windows behind her. Perhaps the design was intended to be intimidating?

The Hokage herself was also something of a sight to behold. Reito had a rough idea of what she looked like after seeing her face carved into the mountain, but he still wasn’t imagining her to be so young or so attractive. The vision of this blonde woman and his memories of her wizened predecessor created quite the dichotomy.

“Ah, Sakura, good,” said the Hokage. “And this must be…?”

“Reito Tsu, this is Fifth Hokage Lady Tsunade—” Sakura introduced.

“Reito Tsu,” the boy confirmed with a stiff bow. “Pleased to make your acquaintance, Lady Hokage.”

“—and I think you may remember my former Jonin Instructor, Kakashi Hatake, the future Sixth Hokage.”

Reito’s eyebrows shot up as he turned to the spot Sakura had indicated. A silver-haired, black-masked man he hadn’t noticed gave a brief wave from the shaded side of the room. The corners of his eyes crinkled as if he was smiling. Sixth Hokage? The man he remembered only as Team Seven’s unreliable instructor was the person whose face workmen were currently carving into Hokage Rock?

“Yo!” said the man.

Yo? This was how the future Hokage introduced himself? “Hello,” Reito replied with an even stiffer bow.

“Thank you for meeting with me,” said the Hokage. “Please allow me to begin by expressing my sincere condolences for your family’s loss.”

Reito was stunned, a cold chill running through him. It was a nice gesture from someone in such an esteemed position, but he hadn’t processed that they were gone yet. With just a few words, the woman had shattered all the imaginary mental barriers he had erected. “Err, thank you,” he whispered, hurriedly trying to compartmentalize his now-errant thoughts.

“This is a unique situation but one that we need to face head-on,” the Hokage continued, her gruff tone suddenly reminding Reito of Amaya Sensei, the woman whose death he witnessed. “Sakura has arranged a place for you at the orphanage, and she’ll be taking you there later. She has no doubt informed you that I held a meeting this morning to address the villagers who have expressed concern about your return.”

Reito nodded absently as he fought to get his mind under control.

“I’ve been very clear. We have no reason to consider you a threat to the village at this time. You are to be treated as what exhaustive testing has determined you to be. A survivor!”

This word caught Reito’s attention, causing him to look up and meet the steely light brown eyes of the Hokage. He couldn’t help but frown. A survivor? Is that what he was? Wasn’t that kind of thinking a little naïve? He was alive, but without knowing for sure why that was, he didn’t deserve such a noble title. Wary of his reaction, he lowered his gaze.

“I want you to report any instances of mistreatment to Sakura or your teachers. Understood?”

This time, Reito didn’t hold back his facial expressions. “Teachers?” he exclaimed with a look of confusion.

“That brings me to my next point,” said Lady Tsunade. “I’ve reviewed all the information we have on you, limited though it is. While you were a Genin when you disappeared, you were still fresh out of the academy. A lot has changed since then, and frankly, your grades and mission data give me cause for concern. With this and your recent return in mind, it would be foolish for me to have you resume active duty. Therefore, I’m requiring you to recertify.”

“Recertify?” Reito repeated with consternation before the word’s meaning dawned on him. “You’re sending me back to the academy?!”