The summons arrived the following morning, delivered by the same quiet Chunin aide who had managed their initial settling-in. It was formal, polite, and utterly non-negotiable.
[Kasumi Yuki and Ryuu Yuki are requested to present themselves at the Hokage's office at their earliest convenience.]
The air in their small apartment, already thick with the unspoken tension from Genma's assessment, solidified into a near-palpable dread. Ryuu watched Kasumi read the summons, her knuckles white where she gripped the simple scroll. Her face, already pale from years of stress and recent exhaustion, seemed to drain of its remaining color, leaving behind a stark, almost translucent quality that mirrored his own.
"Kaa-san?" Ryuu ventured, his own heart thumping a nervous rhythm against his ribs.
She looked up, her dark violet eyes wide, reflecting a fear far deeper than any he had seen during their flight, even when facing Jūzō Biwa. That had been the primal fear of a cornered animal fighting for immediate survival. This was different – the chilling dread of a secret meticulously guarded for a lifetime, a secret synonymous with persecution and death, finally, irrevocably, dragged into the harsh, unblinking light of ultimate authority.
"He knows," she whispered, the words barely more than a breath, yet laden with a terrible finality. "Genma-san... he must have reported everything. The Ice Release."
She sank onto the edge of her futon, her shoulders slumping as if under an immense physical weight. "I told you, Ryuu. I warned you. It was too dangerous." Her voice trembled.
"They'll... they'll see you as a threat. A Kiri weapon in disguise, deliberately infiltrated. Or..." her voice cracked, "...or something to be used, a tool to be exploited, dissected."
Her breath hitched, the unspoken horrors of what Kiri did to 'valuable' bloodline users, what other villages might do, hanging heavy in the air. "They might separate us, Ryuu. Classify you as a village asset, take you..."
Ryuu felt a cold knot form in his own stomach, tightening with each word she spoke. Kasumi's fear, while perhaps amplified by her trauma, wasn't entirely baseless. He, a ten-year-old with a transmigrated adult mind, understood the brutal pragmatism of the shinobi world far too well.
A child wielding a powerful, historically feared Kekkei Genkai, especially one with ties to a hostile, unstable nation like Kirigakure, was a volatile asset at best, a ticking time bomb at worst.
And then there were the internal threats, the ones Kasumi might not fully grasp but which loomed large in Ryuu's future knowledge.
Danzo Shimura. Even if Minato had curtailed his official power, Danzo was a creature of shadow. His ambition insatiable, his methods ruthless. A young, isolated Kekkei Genkai user, especially one with a potentially malleable refugee background, would be an irresistible target for Root's indoctrination and exploitation.
Danzo collected unique abilities like morbid trophies, twisting loyalty into blind obedience, all under the guise of protecting Konoha from the shadows. Ryuu could almost feel the phantom chill of Root's emotionless masks, the sterile scent of their hidden bunkers. The thought of being subjected to Danzo's 'training', his cursed seals, his psychological manipulation, was a fate almost worse than death.
And Orochimaru. The Sannin had defected years ago in this timeline, his obsession with immortality and forbidden jutsu already known to Konoha's leadership. Ryuu knew Orochimaru had a chilling fascination with Kekkei Genkai, with unique bodies capable of housing his soul or furthering his experiments.
The Sharingan was his primary obsession, but a rare, potent bloodline like Ice Release, especially one that might offer unique biological properties for his research into cellular regeneration or elemental manipulation... Ryuu would be a prize. If word of his abilities reached Orochimaru, he would become a target, hunted not just for his power, but for the very fabric of his being.
But panic wouldn't help. He forced himself to think, to analyze, his mind a cold counterpoint to Kasumi's rising terror.
Minato had seemed reasonable during their initial meeting. He knew Kasumi as 'Hyōjin', had acknowledged her past service, had explicitly stated Konoha's stance against bloodline persecution. He was a pragmatic leader, yes, but not, Ryuu hoped, a cruel one. Their best chance lay in controlled honesty, in framing Ryuu's abilities as a manageable potential.
"The Hokage-sama... he granted us asylum, Kaa-san," Ryuu said, trying to keep his voice steady, projecting a calm he didn't fully possess. "He knew you were Yuki. He knew about... our bloodline's existence." He emphasized the last word. "Genma-sensei saw an... unexpected display. Perhaps Lord Fourth simply wants to understand the extent of it, to ensure it's not a danger to me, or to others, if it's truly uncontrolled."
"Knowing about the potential is one thing, Ryuu," Kasumi countered, her voice tight with anxiety. "Witnessing its active manifestation in a ten-year-old, a manifestation strong enough to surprise a Tokubetsu Jonin like Genma Shiranui... that changes everything. He will want answers. Explanations I cannot give without revealing..."
She trailed off, shaking her head, her gaze darting around their small apartment as if seeking escape routes that no longer existed. Revealing the true extent of her past, her reasons for fleeing Kiri beyond just the general purges – secrets she guarded even from him, likely tied to her 'Hyōjin' days and why she was so skilled, so hunted.
She stood abruptly, pacing the small room like a caged animal. "We must be careful, Ryuu. Incredibly careful." She stopped, kneeling before him, her hands gripping his shoulders, her dark violet eyes boring into his. "When we speak to the Hokage, you answer only what is asked. Be polite. Respectful. Emphasize your youth. If they ask about the ice... you tell them it was an accident, that you were scared, that you don't truly understand it."
Ryuu nodded slowly, processing her words. Stick to the 'uncontrolled fluke' narrative as much as possible. But a part of him, the cold, analytical part, knew that might not be enough for figures like Minato and Hiruzen, especially with Genma as a direct witness.
"Kaa-san," Ryuu said quietly, meeting her intense gaze. "I... I can do some things. Small things. You've been teaching me control, remember? The ice senbon? Making surfaces slick?"
They were rudimentary, draining, and far from combat-ready, but they were controlled manifestations.
Kasumi's face tightened further, a flicker of something akin to despair in her eyes. "Those were exercises in suppression, Ryuu! In understanding the feel of it so you could prevent it from showing! Not... not for use!" She ran a trembling hand through her hair. "To admit to even that level of control... they will see it as deliberate concealment, evidence of training you as a weapon in secret."
"But Genma-sensei saw more than just a 'cold touch'," Ryuu persisted gently. "He felt the ice. He called it Ice Release. To deny any control now... it might seem like a worse lie. Maybe... maybe if we show them it's limited, that I'm still learning, that you are teaching me control out of fear of what happened in Kiri..."
He saw the conflict in her eyes. She was a Jonin, a pragmatist herself beneath the layers of fear. She knew a blatant lie to the Hokage, especially one easily disproven by a demonstration, was incredibly risky. Her fear for him was warring with her understanding of shinobi politics.
"You will not show them jutsu, Ryuu," she said finally, her voice firm, but with an undercurrent of desperate compromise. "If pressed, you can admit to... to being able to make things cold. To forming small bits of frost, perhaps, when you concentrate hard. But no spears, no slicks, nothing that looks like a practiced technique. Emphasize that you are still learning basic chakra control, that any manifestation is weak, draining, and mostly accidental. Our loyalty is to Konoha. We sought refuge in good faith. That must be clear."
Ryuu nodded solemnly, though his mind was already calculating the nuances. "Limited control. Accidental manifestation under stress. Fear of persecution. Loyalty to Konoha." He repeated the key points. He understood. He wouldn't deliberately showcase jutsu unless absolutely forced, but he couldn't deny the existence of the ability now.
He knew, with a chilling certainty, that this meeting would define their future in Konoha, perhaps even their survival. Minato, Hiruzen, Genma – they were not fools. They would dissect every word, every micro-expression. The truth, or at least a carefully constructed version of it, was their only viable path. Hiding completely was no longer an option. The ice had been broken, and the consequences were about to unfold.
—————————————————————————————————————————
Their journey to the Hokage Tower was a silent, nerve-wracking procession. Kasumi walked with her head held high, her face a carefully constructed mask of neutrality, but Ryuu, accastumed to her chakra, could feel the anxious tremors beneath the surface.
He walked beside her, his own small face set in an expression of childish seriousness, his red eyes, partially shielded by his goggles, taking in every detail of the bustling village, wondering if this would be the last time he saw it freely.
The Jonin who had escorted them from the gate on their arrival met them in the Hokage Tower lobby, his expression unreadable. "Kasumi-san, Ryuu-kun. The Hokage is expecting you." He led them up the familiar stairs, the atmosphere in the tower even more serious than before.
They were ushered into the Hokage's office. Minato stood behind his desk, not in his formal robes today, but in his standard Jonin attire, the white Hokage haori draped over his chair.
His expression was serious, his blue eyes sharp and analytical. Seated to one side was Hiruzen Sarutobi, the retired Third Hokage, his pipe emitting a thin stream of smoke, his gaze contemplative.
And standing near the window, arms crossed, senbon conspicuously absent from his lips, was Genma Shiranui. His usual casual slouch was gone, replaced by a professional alertness.
The presence of the Sandaime was particularly unnerving for Kasumi, Ryuu sensed. Two Hokages, one active, one retired but still immensely influential, and their Jonin sensei. This was no informal chat.
"Kasumi-san, Ryuu-kun," Minato greeted them, his voice calm but carrying an undeniable weight of authority. "Thank you for coming. Please, be seated." He gestured towards two simple chairs placed before his desk.
Kasumi bowed deeply, nudging Ryuu to do the same. They sat, the silence stretching.
"Genma-sensei has submitted his initial assessment report for Team Twelve," Minato began, his gaze resting on Kasumi first. "It contained... some noteworthy observations regarding Ryuu-kun's performance during the evaluation."
Kasumi inclined her head slightly. "Hokage-sama, my son is... uniquely constituted. His chakra is sensitive to temperature. Sometimes, under extreme stress or fear, it can manifest... unexpectedly. As Genma-sensei witnessed. It was an accident, a regrettable loss of control on Ryuu's part due to the intensity of the spar." She delivered the rehearsed lines flawlessly, her voice carefully modulated to convey concern and apology.
Genma snorted softly from the window, a small, skeptical sound that made Kasumi flinch almost imperceptibly.
Minato's gaze shifted to Ryuu. "Ryuu-kun," he said, his voice surprisingly gentle, "Genma-sensei described a very specific, localized cold effect, potent enough to cause him discomfort and momentarily disrupt his chakra. He also mentioned your rather... unorthodox but effective counter that followed. Was that truly just an 'accidental' manifestation due to fear?"
Ryuu looked down at his hands, feigning childish distress. "I... I was scared, Hokage-sama," he whispered. "Genma-sensei is very strong. When he grabbed my wrist... I thought he was going to break it. I just... I wanted him to let go. The cold... it just happened. Like it sometimes does when I'm very cold myself, or very frightened." He stuck as close to Kasumi's script as possible, emphasizing fear and lack of control.
Hiruzen puffed on his pipe, his wise old eyes observing Ryuu intently. "Fear can unlock surprising potential in the young, Minato. And the Yuki constitution is indeed known for its affinity with cold." His tone was neutral, offering a possible out, but Ryuu sensed the keen intellect behind the words, weighing, assessing.
"Indeed," Minato acknowledged. "However, Genma-sensei also reported that the 'coldness' felt distinctly like a focused application of Ice Release, however rudimentary. And your mother, Kasumi-san," his gaze returned to her, sharper now, "is 'Hyōjin no Kasumi', known, if only in whispers and wartime reports, for her mastery of that very Kekkei Genkai."
Kasumi's composure finally cracked slightly. A flicker of fear, raw and undeniable, crossed her face before she masked it.
"Hokage-sama, my past in Kiri... it is a painful one. The Yuki clan is hunted. My only concern since arriving in Konoha has been to protect Ryuu, to allow him a peaceful life, free from the persecution that destroyed our clan."
Her voice was low, impassioned. "If he possesses the Yuki bloodline potential, then it is a curse we must manage, suppress, until he is old enough and strong enough to control it, to ensure it never brings harm or draws unwanted attention. The... incident... with Genma-sensei was precisely what I feared – an uncontrolled manifestation brought on by stress."
"A manifestation that included," Genma interjected coolly from the window, "a rather precise, albeit desperate, exploitation of the opening it created. That suggests more than just a random chakra flare, Kasumi-san. It suggests an understanding of its tactical application, however instinctual."
Kasumi shot Genma a look that could freeze fire, then turned back to Minato. "My son is intelligent, Hokage-sama. He learns quickly. Perhaps he reacted instinctively to the... sensation... he caused."
Minato steepled his fingers, his gaze unwavering. "Kasumi-san, when you sought asylum, you declared your loyalty to Konoha. You offered your skills. That loyalty, that offer, requires transparency, especially regarding matters that could impact village security. An active, potent Kekkei Genkai in a child, even one under your tutelage, being concealed from his direct Jonin instructor and by extension, from me... that is a serious breach of trust."
The room fell silent again. Ryuu felt Kasumi's despair, her fear. She was trapped.
"Hokage-sama," Kasumi began, her voice trembling slightly,
"I feared... I feared what might happen if his abilities were known. That he might be seen as a weapon, taken from me, subjected to... to the kind of training, the kind of life, I fled Kiri to escape for him."
Her gaze pleaded with Minato. "He is just a child."
"A child who graduated the Academy a year early, Kasumi-san," Minato countered gently but firmly. "A child who, according to Genma-sensei's initial assessment, possesses exceptional chakra control and tactical acumen far exceeding his peers, even before this 'accidental' display. He is no ordinary child, and we both know it."
He turned to Ryuu again. "Ryuu-kun. I am not here to punish you, or your mother. Her fears, given the Yuki clan's history and Kiri's current actions, are... understandable, if misguided in the context of Konoha's protection. But I need the truth. What can you actually do? How much control do you truly possess over this... 'coldness'?"
Ryuu looked at Kasumi, saw the silent plea in her eyes to continue the denial, then looked back at Minato, at Hiruzen, at Genma. Lying further felt increasingly dangerous. They were too perceptive. He needed to offer something, a controlled reveal, to regain a measure of initiative, to frame his abilities in a less threatening light. He was gambling that Minato's pragmatism and the debt owed to 'Hyōjin' would outweigh suspicion.
He took a deep breath, his small shoulders squaring slightly. "I... I can do a little, Hokage-sama," he admitted, his voice quiet but clear. "Kaa-san... she has been teaching me control. Basic things. Because she was afraid of... accidents."
Minato's eyebrow raised slightly. "Basic things? Genma-sensei, your assessment?"
Genma pushed off the window ledge. "What I felt wasn't 'basic', Hokage-sama. It was raw, certainly, but it had focus, intent, however briefly. More than just ambient cold."
"Ryuu-kun," Minato said, his voice firm but not unkind.
"I need to see. I need to understand the true extent of your current abilities. Not to exploit you, but to ensure your safety, your mother's safety, and the safety of this village. If you possess a powerful Kekkei Genkai, it needs to be understood, managed, and potentially, integrated into your training as a Konoha shinobi under proper guidance. Hiding it only creates greater risk for everyone."
He gestured towards the training ground visible from the window. "Genma-sensei will accompany you. Hiruzen-sama and I will observe from here. Kasumi-san, you will remain with us. Ryuu-kun," Minato's blue eyes locked onto his, "I want you to show Genma-sensei what you can truly do with your Ice Release. No holding back out of fear of exposure. This is a controlled environment. This is your chance to be honest with us."
Ryuu felt a jolt of terror mixed with a strange, almost liberating anticipation. The charade was over. He looked at Kasumi, saw the resignation and fear in her eyes, but also a flicker of something else – perhaps a desperate hope that Minato's intentions were genuine.
"Go with Genma-sensei, Ryuu," Kasumi whispered, her voice barely audible. "Do as the Hokage commands."
Ryuu nodded slowly. He stood, bowed to Minato and Hiruzen, then turned to follow Genma out of the office, his small legs feeling like lead. The weight of their scrutiny, the unknown consequences of this forced reveal, pressed down on him. He was walking into another crucible, and this time, he couldn't rely on misdirection or childish pleas. He had to show them the steel under the white.