Over the next few days, fear began to seep into the very walls of the orphanage.
The other children had seen what happened to the bullies, how they shattered without reason, how they crumbled without a touch.
And now, whispers filled the corridors like smoke:
"Ghosts..."
"Demons..."
"Curses..."
The atmosphere thickened with terror.
Even the matron noticed.
Her patience, already threadbare, snapped.
She became colder, harsher.
Food became scarcer.
Workloads became heavier, especially for Naruto and me.
The matron's anger had a focus now: us.
The "twins," she called us under her breath.
The "beasts."
The ones who had cursed her precious orphanage.
---
Far from the crumbling orphanage, in the heart of Konoha, the Hokage's office stood quiet — until the doors were thrown open with a sharp bang.
Danzo Shimura entered, his face carved from stone.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed, not even looking up yet.
"Now what, Danzo?" he asked, voice laced with exhaustion.
Danzo stepped forward stiffly.
"Do you even know what's happening?" he demanded.
Hiruzen straightened, his eyes sharpening.
"What are you talking about?"
Danzo tossed a thin report onto the Hokage's desk with a sharp flick of his wrist.
"The orphanage. The twins. Chaos."
The papers slid to a stop before Hiruzen.
He picked them up without hurry, eyes scanning the contents.
After a long moment, he said, voice even:
"This doesn't mean it's the work of the twins."
Danzo gave a low grunt, eyes narrowing.
"So what?" he snapped.
"Even if they didn't start it, they are the root of it. Their very existence breeds instability. Fear."
Hiruzen set the papers down calmly, folding his hands together.
"They are children, Danzo."
Danzo's lips twisted.
"Children who will one day become monsters if left unchecked. I've seen it before."
Hiruzen's jaw tightened.
Danzo's voice lowered, icy and measured.
"I warned you. Give them to Root. I would train them. Discipline them. Control the beasts within them."
Hiruzen's voice cracked like a whip.
"Absolutely not."
He rose to his feet, anger burning in his eyes.
"They are the sons of Minato, the light of Konoha. I will not have them twisted into your instruments of cruelty and fear."
Danzo sneered.
"Then give me just one."
For a long moment, silence reigned.
Hiruzen didn't move.
Didn't raise his voice.
Instead, he spoke in a tone so cold, so absolute, it seemed to freeze the air between them.
"Never. I will not separate them."
His eyes, once weary, now gleamed with steely resolve.
"You can leave now, Danzo."
The two men locked gazes,
a silent clash of wills between two visions of the future.
Danzo's eyes narrowed, sharp and calculating.
Then Danzo turned sharply and left without a word.
Hiruzen sagged back into his chair, running a hand down his face.
After a moment, he raised his hand.
An Anbu appeared instantly, kneeling.
"Lord Hokage," the Anbu said.
Hiruzen's voice was heavy.
"Tell the matron... Naruto and Johan are to leave the orphanage immediately."
The Anbu bowed.
"Find a good apartment for them. Somewhere... safe."
The Anbu nodded once, then vanished into the shadows.
Hiruzen stared at the door where Danzo had left, frowning deeply.