Naruto: Genesis Of a Broken Scroll

The warm water danced down Soseki's back, drowning away the tension and knots induced by Arashi's brutal training. Every muscle fiber in his body throbbed in protest, but the warmth of the water droplets soothing his mind. He let it soak into his skin, let his mind settle just long enough to replay the morning's events. 

Arashi's earlier words bounced around his head like a swarm of wasps in a trapped bottle.

"I'll be off to the market for a while."

"You cover for me, got it?"

Soseki let out a breath he did not even know he was holding. 'That Arashi, is a weird one for sure, he is not like the other children at the orphanage that's for sure.' 

Once he'd scrubbed off the dirt and fatigue as best he could, Soseki turned off the water and stepped out, steam curling behind him. He dried off in silence, the orphanage strangely quiet in the late morning calm.

Dressed in clean clothes he steps into the corridor, where flickering candle light dances like restless spirits across the aged, rustic wall.

'This orphanage looks old.. must have been nurturing children for a long while now', he mused.

The walk to the mistress's office felt daunting, his anxiety rising with every step.

Thought, theories, possibilities bouncing in this head, he thought,

'This brings me one step closer to understanding my circumstance, there is no reason to be so agitated' he reasoned.

With his new found confidence Soseki steadyed his resolve he quickened his pace, stumbled across a large door.

Before he could knock an old feminine voice called him from inside the room, "Come in"

Not needing to be asked twice, he twisted the knob. As he stepped inside, he took a quick glance across the room, bookshelves lined across the walls, a large portrait with a young woman hung between them, and a desk positioned in the far end of the room facing the door.

Behind it sat an elderly woman, watching him with a calm, welcoming expression.

She broke the silence with a soft voice. "I've been expecting you, Soseki."

Soseki bowed his head in greeting. "You called for me, Madam," he replied.

A maternal smile appeared on her face as she beckoned him closer to her desk. 'Soseki-kun was always such a respectful child, if not a little withdrawn' she thought

"You never visit me like you used to anymore Soseki, is anything the matter?" she inquired gently,

"I have had a lot on my mind recently, that's all." he replied briefly

"I see, well you have always had a love for reading so that's no surprise, Oyari said you have recently made a friend in Arashi, is that true?"

"I have been with him recently haven't I? I supposed…. yah I have" he said thoughtfully.

"Isn't that just delightful to hear? Now let's get to the reason why I called you here. You're turning eight years old today, and I have a few things to give you along with a very important question to ask."

He just nodded his head in acceptance, his eyes showing curiosity and nervousness.

The woman bent down and grabbed a large box from under her desk, "This is everything we could recover from your parents home that would be of use to you. Whatever you find here is yours to keep."

"In there, you should find a note left by your parents." She paused, collecting her thoughts. 

"Because being a ninja is a dangerous path, your parents never knew when they would come home safely. That's why, out of love, they left a note for you—to always be with you, even if they couldn't be."

"You understand, right Soseki"

Soseki kept his head down hiding his face, not out of sadness. The truth was Soseki did not care.

He didn't care about parents he never knew, who belonged to a body that was not his. Despite that fact deep down in his heart, he felt a quiet pang of sadness.

'Poor boy… I must have brought up some painful memories.' 

Before the elderly woman could speak, Soseki looked up, "Can you tell me more about my parents."

The Head Matron paused in thought, "Your parents… I didn't know your mother very well, Her name was Yoihoshi and she was a Konoha kunoichi. She served in the Primary Fuinjutsu Division. I believe it was Hiruzen who formalized that branch, after his late master first suggested the idea, at least, that's what he told me."

"From what your Father told me, she was exceptionally smart, which was to be expected, given her talent in the art of sealing. I do not have much more to say for her."

She gave Soseki a quick look to be sure he was still listening.

"Your father on the other hand, was one of the finest ninjas Konoha has seen, he was a lively person that always brightened up the room, and could talk up anyone that was in a bad mode. His presence alone would bring smiles to faces, I don't know a single person that hated the guy."

"I heard rumors he even talked down an enemy on the battlefield, do you believe that, an Iwa ninja dropping his weapon because the enemy cracked a few good jokes." At this point she was beaming, her eyes closed reminiscing about past memories, "He was not from Konoha if i remember… Kumo, that's right, that's where you get your natural tanned skin. Though you don't go in the sun much, He also-"

She rambled on and on about Soseki Father for minutes on end, with a big smile plastered across her face.

"He was a Chuunin, with the talent to be a Special Jounin, if only he had more time…" She went silent

Soseki, noticing the silence, used it as an opportunity to ask a question that was plaguing his mind, "What is my fathers name."

"The Matron, acknowledging his question, went into deep thought. "To be honest with you Soseki-kun, I have no clue."