Naruto bounded into the Hokage's office, his usual exuberant energy barely contained. "Hey, Old Man! I'm here for my shift!"

  Hiruzen Sarutobi looked up from his paperwork, a fond smile crossing his weathered features. "Ah, Naruto. I thought you would be taking some time to rest after the exam, and your right on time for once. I'm impressed."

  "Hey!" Naruto protested, puffing out his cheeks. "I'm always on time... mostly."

  "Your better then your teacher, I'll give you that." The Hokage chuckled, gesturing for Naruto to take his usual seat. "Well, let's get started then. We have quite a bit to go through today."

  As they settled into their routine, Naruto found himself relaxing. Despite his initial reluctance, he'd come to enjoy these sessions with the Hokage. It felt good to be useful, to be trusted with something important.

  Hours passed, the stack of paperwork slowly dwindling. Naruto's shadow clones worked diligently, sorting and filing documents with surprising efficiency. As they neared the end of their tasks, Hiruzen leaned back in his chair, stretching.

  "You know, Naruto," he said casually, "I've been wondering. How much snooping have you managed to do while I've been out of the office?"

  Naruto froze, his heart leaping into his throat. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he frantically tried to come up with a plausible denial. "I-I don't know what you're talking about, Old Man! I would never-"

  Hiruzen's laughter cut him off. "Relax, my boy. I wouldn't have left you alone if I didn't want you poking around a bit. I'm confident my security measures would have kept you out of anything truly sensitive."

  Relief flooded through Naruto, followed swiftly by a mischievous grin. "Oh yeah? Well, what if I told you I know exactly how to open your safe and get to the Forbidden Scroll?"

  The Hokage's pipe clattered to the floor.

  "You... what?" Hiruzen stammered, his composure slipping.

  Naruto, caught up in the moment, promptly rattled off the exact sequence needed to access the scroll. As he finished, he looked up to see the Hokage staring at him, slack-jawed.

  Hiruzen sighed heavily, retrieving his pipe. "I'm far too old for this," he muttered. "Naruto, how much did you see?"

  Naruto's grin faded, replaced by a sheepish expression. "Uh, well... I might have memorized quite a bit of it."

  The Hokage's head dropped into his hands. "Of course you did," he groaned. "I should have known better. I expected you to be digging for information about your family, not memorizing S-rank forbidden techniques!"

  "Oh, that," Naruto said, perking up. "Yeah, there's actually a running bet among the genin about who my parents might be. Everyone agrees it's someone super important, but we're not sure if it's in a good way or a bad one."

  Hiruzen lifted his head, curiosity piqued despite his exasperation. "Oh? And who are the front-runners in this little wager?"

  Naruto ticked off on his fingers. "Well, the Fourth Hokage is pretty popular. A lot of people thought Orochimaru was a possibility too, which is kinda creepy. But I asked him in the forest and he denied it pretty hard. There are a few others, but those are the main ones."

  The Hokage's forehead met his desk with a dull thud.

  "Naruto," he said, voice muffled by the wood, "when you take this hat, be sure to have many successors lined up. Being Hokage in your old age is not worth it, I assure you."

  He straightened up, fixing Naruto with a serious look. "I'll tell you what. When you make chunin, I'll tell you about your family. How does that sound?"

  Naruto's eyes lit up. "Really? You mean it?"

  Hiruzen nodded, a tired smile on his face. "Yes, I mean it. Now, is there anything else you'd like to confess? Any other village secrets you're trying to uncover?"

  When Naruto went still, the Hokage's gaze drifted to the ceiling. "Why me?" he muttered, offering a quick prayer to whatever deities might be listening. "Let me guess. It probably has something to do with the Uchiha Massacre, doesn't it?"

  Naruto remained silent, unwilling to implicate his teammates.

  Hiruzen sighed. "Sasuke and Sakura were careful in their inquiries, but not that careful. I've known they were digging into it for some time now."

  Naruto fidgeted in his seat, conflicted. Finally, in a voice barely above a whisper, he asked, "Old Man... please tell me you didn't order it."

  The Hokage took a long drag from his pipe, the silence stretching between them. Finally, he answered, "No, Naruto. I didn't order it."

  Relief washed over Naruto, but it was short-lived as Hiruzen continued, "However, I could have prevented it. Which, in many ways, is almost as bad."

  "What?" Naruto exclaimed, shock and outrage warring in his voice. "Why didn't you? How could you let that happen?"

  Hiruzen looked at Naruto, and for the first time, the boy truly saw the weight of years on the Hokage's shoulders. He looked every one of his 69 years, and then some.

  "I wanted the perfect successor," Hiruzen began, his voice heavy with regret. "And I thought I had found it in the Fourth. When he died, and I had to retake the mantle, I planned for it to be temporary. Very temporary. But everyone I could have chosen... they all seemed flawed in comparison. Why should I settle for less?"

  He paused, taking another puff from his pipe. "But the losses Konoha suffered during the Nine-Tails attack... it broke something inside me, Naruto. I let things get out of control. Made bad calls. Listened to the wrong people."

  Naruto sat in stunned silence, struggling to reconcile this admission with the grandfatherly figure he'd always known.

  "I doubt history will look upon me fondly," Hiruzen continued. "I gave it my best, truly I did. But Naruto, remember this: even when you give your best, you will make mistakes. And the worst part is when it's not you paying the consequences of your actions."

  The office fell silent, the weight of the Hokage's words hanging in the air. Naruto's mind raced, trying to process everything he'd just learned. The Uchiha Massacre, his own heritage, the burdens of leadership – it was almost too much to take in.

  "Old Man," Naruto said softly, "I... I don't know what to say."

  Hiruzen offered him a sad smile. "You don't have to say anything, Naruto. Just learn from my mistakes. When you wear this hat – and I have no doubt you will one day – remember that every decision you make affects real people. Their lives, their families, their futures."

  Naruto nodded solemnly. "I will. I promise."

  The Hokage reached out, placing a weathered hand on Naruto's shoulder. "I believe you. Now, I think that's enough heavy conversation for one day. Why don't you head home and get some rest? We can pick up where we left off tomorrow."

  As Naruto stood to leave, a thought struck him. "Wait, what about the Forbidden Scroll? Aren't you worried I might try to use some of those jutsu?"

  Hiruzen chuckled. "Naruto, if you were going to use them, you would have done so already. I trust you to make the right choices."

  Naruto's chest swelled with pride at the Hokage's words. He gave a quick bow and turned to leave, but paused at the door. "Hey, Old Man?"

  "Yes, Naruto?"

  "Thanks. For trusting me. And... for being honest."

  Hiruzen nodded, a hint of his usual twinkle returning to his eyes. "You're welcome, Naruto. Now go on, get out of here before I change my mind and make you finish all this paperwork."

  Naruto grinned and darted out the door, his mind still reeling from everything he'd learned. As he made his way through the village, he couldn't help but wonder how he was going to explain all of this to Sasuke and Sakura.

  Sasuke drummed his fingers on the table in the hidden Uchiha meeting room, his eyes fixed on Naruto as the blonde finished explaining what he had learned from the Hokage. The rhythmic tapping echoed in the silence that followed, a physical manifestation of Sasuke's churning thoughts.

  Sakura sat beside him, her hand gently resting on his other arm. The touch was meant to be comforting, but Sasuke barely registered it. His mind was too busy processing the information Naruto had just shared.

  The Hokage hadn't ordered the massacre. But he had let it happen.

  Sasuke felt a cold rage building inside him, a stark contrast to the hot, consuming anger he had harbored for so long. This new information didn't absolve the Hokage of guilt - far from it. In some ways, it made things worse. To have the power to prevent such a tragedy and choose not to act... it was almost unfathomable.

  Naruto shifted uncomfortably under Sasuke's intense gaze. The usually boisterous ninja looked uncharacteristically nervous, his blue eyes darting between his two teammates.

  "So," Sasuke finally broke the silence, his voice low and controlled, "the Hokage claims he didn't order it, but he could have prevented it. And he gave no further explanation?"

  Naruto shook his head. "He said he made bad calls, listened to the wrong people. But he didn't go into specifics."

  Sasuke's fingers stopped their drumming, instead curling into a tight fist. "That's annoyingly vague."

  "I know," Naruto agreed, his voice tinged with frustration. "I wanted to push for more, but... I don't know. It felt like he was already saying more than he planned to."

  Sakura, who had been quiet until now, spoke up. "Why do you think he told you this, Naruto? Why now?"

  Naruto shrugged. "I'm not sure. Maybe because I've been helping with paperwork? Or because of how far we've come in the exams? He said he trusts me to make the right choices."

  Sasuke's mind raced, considering the implications. The Hokage had to know that Naruto would share this information with his teammates. Was this some form of manipulation? A test? Or was it genuinely an attempt at honesty, however limited?

  After a moment of contemplation, Sasuke's gut told him it wasn't manipulation - at least, not entirely. The Hokage's admission, vague as it was, seemed to be a genuine attempt at some form of truth.

  "We need more information," Sasuke said, his voice firm. "This raises more questions than it answers."

  Sakura nodded in agreement. "Maybe we could-"

  "I'm going to talk to him," Sasuke interrupted, his decision made.

  Naruto's eyes widened. "What? You're just going to march into the Hokage's office and demand answers?"

  A ghost of a smirk played at the corners of Sasuke's mouth. "Actually, that's not a terrible idea."

  Sakura looked skeptical. "Are you sure that's wise? We don't want to tip our hand too much."

  "The Hokage has to know that Naruto would tell us," Sasuke reasoned. "If he was willing to share this much with Naruto, he must be prepared for us to know as well. This could be our chance to get more answers."

  Naruto and Sakura exchanged glances, considering Sasuke's words. Finally, Sakura sighed. "I suppose you're right. But we should be careful about how we approach this."

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  Sasuke nodded, then turned his attention back to Naruto. The blonde still looked uneasy, fidgeting in his seat. Sasuke's eyes narrowed slightly. "Is there something else, Naruto?"

  Sakura picked up on it too. "Yeah, you look like you're about to burst. Any other bombshells you want to drop on us?"

  Naruto's fidgeting increased, his hands twisting in his lap. "I... it's personal. I haven't told anyone else about this. Not even Hinata."

  Sasuke and Sakura exchanged surprised glances. For Naruto to keep something from Hinata was unusual - the two had grown incredibly close over the past months.

  "Naruto," Sasuke said, his voice uncharacteristically gentle, "whatever it is, you can tell us. We're a team."

  Naruto took a deep breath, seeming to steel himself. Then, in a rush of words, he blurted out, "I'm the Nine-tails."

  Silence fell over the room once again, broken only by Naruto's quick correction. "I mean, the Nine-tails is sealed in me. It has been since I was a baby."

  Sasuke and Sakura sat in stunned silence, absorbing this new information. Strangely, Sasuke found that he wasn't as shocked as he might have expected. In a way, it explained a lot - Naruto's massive chakra reserves, the villagers' treatment of him, even some of the protectiveness the Hokage showed towards him.

  "That... actually makes sense," Sakura said slowly, voicing Sasuke's thoughts. "It explains quite a bit, doesn't it? And I think I have read about it. Something regarding the First Hokage. People with tailed beasts are called… jinchūriki, I think?"

  Sasuke nodded, his mind already racing ahead, connecting dots he hadn't even realized were there. "The attack on the village when you were born, your birthday, the way some of the villagers treat you... it all fits."

  Naruto looked between them, a mix of hope and fear in his eyes. "You're... you're not scared of me? You don't hate me?"

  "Don't be an idiot," Sasuke said, but there was no malice in his tone. "You're still you, Naruto. This doesn't change who you are."

  Sakura nodded emphatically. "Sasuke's right. You're our teammate, our friend. This doesn't change that."

  The relief on Naruto's face was palpable. His shoulders sagged as if a great weight had been lifted from them. "Thanks, guys. I... I was really worried about how you'd react."

  "Is there anything else?" Sasuke asked, his tone making it clear that he wouldn't be surprised if there was more.

  Naruto hesitated, his fingers drumming nervously against his knee. "There's something else, actually. It's about Gaara and Haku."

  Sasuke leaned forward, his interest piqued. "What about them?"

  "I'm not sure exactly," Naruto said, his brow furrowed in concentration. "But during the prelims, when I was near them... I felt something. Something familiar."

  Sakura's ears twitched, a habit she'd developed when particularly focused. "Familiar how?"

  "Like..." Naruto struggled to find the words, his hands making vague gestures in the air. "Like there was something inside them. Something similar to what's in me."

  Sasuke's eyes widened slightly. "You think they're jinchūriki too?"

  "Maybe?" Naruto shrugged, looking uncertain. "With Gaara, it feels stronger. There's this... anger coming from him. Hatred. It reminds me of how the Nine-tails feels when I get a sense of it."

  "And Haku?" Sakura prompted.

  "With Haku, it's different. Not as strong, or maybe just better controlled. But there's definitely something there." Naruto paused, his expression serious. "That's why I wanted to tell you guys now. If I'm right, and they are like me... well, I'm going to be facing both of them in the finals."

  "You're worried," Sasuke observed, his voice quiet.

  Naruto nodded. "Yeah. If they can tap into that power better than I can... I don't know if I stand a chance against both of them at once."

  Sakura reached across the table, placing her hand over Naruto's. "We'll help you prepare, Naruto. We're a team, remember?"

  "And Jiraiya will be training you," Sasuke added. "If anyone can help you understand and control the Nine-tails' power, it's probably a Sannin."

  Naruto looked between his teammates, gratitude clear in his eyes. "Thanks, guys. I just... I needed you to know. In case something happens during the match."

  Naruto glanced at the clock on the wall and jumped to his feet. "Crap! I'm supposed to be at the old man's office in twenty minutes! I should probably head over there now since I won't be working there much while I'm training with Pervy Sage."

  Sakura's ears twitched as she watched him gather his things. "Naruto, wait. About what you told us..." She hesitated, then pressed on. "You should tell Hinata too."

  Naruto froze, his face paling slightly. "I don't know, Sakura. What if she—"

  "She'll accept you," Sakura said firmly. "You know she will. She cares about you too much to let something like this change how she feels."

  Naruto looked unconvinced, his usually confident demeanor replaced by vulnerability. "But what if—"

  "She's right," Sasuke cut in. "Hinata isn't the type to judge you for something you had no control over. If anything, she'll probably just worry about you more."

  Naruto rubbed the back of his neck, considering their words. "Maybe you're right. I'll think about it."

  "Wait a second," Sasuke said suddenly, rising from his chair. "I need to get something before you go."

  He disappeared into the main house, leaving Naruto and Sakura alone in the meeting room. Sakura gave Naruto a reassuring smile, her pink ears standing tall.

  "It's going to be okay, you know. With Hinata, with the exams, all of it."

  Naruto returned her smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Yeah, I hope so."

  A few minutes later, Sasuke returned with a sealed envelope in hand. The Uchiha clan symbol was stamped in the wax seal, giving it an official appearance.

  "Here," he said, handing it to Naruto. "It's an official request as Head of the Uchiha Clan to meet with the Hokage. Can you deliver it when you go?"

  Naruto took the envelope, turning it over in his hands, before nodding. "Sure thing. I'll make sure he gets it."

  After Naruto left, Sasuke slumped back in his chair, letting out a long, weary sigh. The weight of everything they'd learned today—about the Hokage's role in the massacre, about Naruto's status as a jinchūriki, about their potential opponents in the finals—seemed to press down on him physically.

  Sakura studied him with concern, her pink ears twitching slightly as they always did when she was worried. "How are you feeling?" she asked, her voice gentle.

  Sasuke ran a hand through his dark hair, his expression unreadable. "Too much," he said simply. "Too much at the moment."

  Sakura nodded, understanding. She didn't push him to elaborate, instead shifting the conversation slightly. "Have you been able to find any more information? About... you know."

  The Uchiha massacre. Even now, years later, they rarely stated it outright. Some wounds were still too raw to name.

  "I have my father's journals," Sasuke replied after a moment. "But they're written in a code that requires at least a three-tomoe Sharingan to read properly." He tapped his fingers against the table, a habit he'd developed when deep in thought. "I've been able to get bits and pieces, but not enough to draw any solid conclusions."

  Sakura's ears perked up with interest. "A code that requires the Sharingan? That's... actually quite brilliant."

  "It's a family technique," Sasuke explained. "The journals appear to contain mundane information to anyone else, or even to an Uchiha with an underdeveloped Sharingan. But with the fully matured eyes, the hidden text becomes visible."

  "So as your Sharingan develops..."

  "I'll be able to read more, yes." Sasuke nodded, his expression a mix of frustration and determination. "I've unlocked two tomoe now, which has revealed some additional content, but there are still large sections that remain inaccessible to me."

  After a while, Sakura shifted the conversation to a related but slightly less fraught topic. "How are you handling the cursed seal?" she asked, her eyes drifting to the mark partly visible at the base of Sasuke's neck.

  Sasuke grimaced, his hand instinctively moving to cover the mark. "Naruto and Kiba have been calling it the 'Snake Hickey,'" he grumbled.

  Sakura burst into giggles at that, the unexpected humor breaking through the somber mood that had settled over them.

  Sasuke shot her a half-hearted glare, but there was no real heat behind it. "It's not funny," he insisted, though the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.

  "It kind of is," Sakura managed between giggles. "Sorry, but you have to admit, it does look a bit like—"

  "I know what it looks like," Sasuke cut her off, his cheeks flushing slightly with embarrassment. "But it's not a joke. It's a pain to deal with."

  Sakura's laughter subsided, her expression becoming more serious as she nodded. "I know. I'm sorry."

  Sasuke sighed, leaning back in his chair. "It magnifies emotions, even being sealed as it is. Anger especially, but other things too. I'm having to focus constantly on control."

  "That sounds exhausting," Sakura said softly, her eyes full of concern.

  "It is," Sasuke admitted. "I got some tips from Anko, since she's dealt with it for years. Meditation helps, and certain chakra exercises."

  Sakura's ears perked up at the mention of Anko. "How is she handling it? Her seal, I mean. Is it similar to what you're experiencing?"

  "Similar, but not identical," Sasuke said. "Hers is older, more settled. And she never had the containment seal applied to hers the way Jiraiya did with mine."

  "That's good at least," Sakura nodded. "The containment seal should help keep Orochimaru's influence at bay."

  Sasuke's expression darkened slightly at the mention of the Snake Sannin. "Anko said the seal reacts to his presence. Gets stronger when he's near. She's been using that as an early warning system."

  "Smart," Sakura murmured. "Have you felt anything like that?"

  "Not since the Forest of Death," Sasuke replied. "But I'm staying alert. He made it clear he wants something from me."

  A chill ran down Sakura's spine at the memory of their encounter with Orochimaru. The killing intent he'd projected had been unlike anything she'd ever experienced, a suffocating pressure that made it difficult to even breathe, let alone move. And yet, paradoxically, he'd also seemed almost... playful? As if testing them was an amusing diversion rather than a serious attempt to gauge their abilities.

  "In a few days, the rabbits should have finished their migration," Sakura said, changing the subject to something more positive. "I'll ask Queen Joousa if she can help with the seal. She might know something that could help, or have an elixir that could counteract some of its effects."

  Sasuke nodded, though he didn't look particularly hopeful. "It's worth asking, I suppose. Though I doubt even she has encountered something like this before."

  "True, but she's incredibly knowledgeable about chakra manipulation and biological enhancements," Sakura pointed out. "If anyone might have insights into how the seal affects your body and chakra system, it would be her."

  "Maybe," Sasuke conceded. Then, unexpectedly, he smirked, his dark eyes brightening slightly. "You know, you've been handicapped throughout this entire exam."

  Sakura blinked, taken aback by the sudden change in topic. "What do you mean?"

  "Your summons," Sasuke explained, his smirk widening. "You haven't been able to use them since the migration started. Yet you still made it through the Forest of Death and the preliminaries."

  Sakura felt a flush of pride at his words. It was true—she'd been fighting without one of her most valuable assets. "I suppose I have," she admitted.

  "And once the migration is complete, you'll have that advantage back," Sasuke continued. "We're going to blow everyone away in the finals."

  The confidence in his voice was infectious, and Sakura found herself grinning in response. "Yes, we will," she agreed, her pink ears standing tall and proud.

  Sasuke's smirk shifted into something closer to a genuine smile, a rare sight that always made Sakura's heart skip a beat. "Our opponents won't know what hit them."

  "Especially since we'll be fighting together in the first round," Sakura added excitedly. "Kiba and Shino are good, but they're not prepared for what we can do as a team."

  Sasuke nodded, his eyes glinting with determination. "We've trained together for months now. We know each other's moves, how to complement each other's strengths."

  "And cover each other's weaknesses," Sakura added.

  "Exactly. That's an advantage they won't have."

  Sakura's mind was already racing ahead, planning strategies for their match. "Kiba's style is all about close-range attacks using his enhanced senses and Akamaru. Shino relies heavily on his insects for both offense and reconnaissance."

  "We'll need to counter Kiba's nose," Sasuke mused. "He can track us by scent, which gives him an edge even if we try to hide."

  "My rabbit features should help at least balance things out there," Sakura pointed out. "My hearing can detect him even if he can smell us."

  "True. And Shino's insects..." Sasuke trailed off, considering. "Fire techniques would work against them, but he'll be expecting that from me."

  "What about smoke bombs?" Sakura suggested. "They're disorienting to insects and would make it harder for Kiba to track by scent."

  Sasuke nodded approvingly. "Good idea. We should stock up on those."

  They continued brainstorming, the earlier heaviness of their conversation giving way to the excited energy of battle planning. It felt good to focus on something concrete, something they could control, after dwelling on the complex web of secrets and half-truths surrounding the Uchiha massacre and Naruto's status as a jinchūriki.

  "What about your cursed seal, though?" Sakura asked suddenly, remembering their earlier conversation. "Will it be a liability during the fight?"

  Sasuke's expression sobered, but his eyes remained determined. "No. I won't let it be. The containment seal Jiraiya placed should hold as long as I don't try to actively draw on its power."

  "And you're not tempted to?" Sakura asked carefully. "Use its power, I mean."

  Sasuke was silent for a long moment, considering the question. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't curious," he admitted finally. "The power it offers is... substantial. I could feel that even in the brief time I had it active before Jiraiya sealed it."

  "But?" Sakura prompted, sensing his hesitation.

  "But it doesn't feel like my power," Sasuke said, his voice firm. "It's borrowed strength, and it comes with strings attached. Strings I want no part of."

  Sakura felt a surge of relief at his words. She had worried, privately, that the allure of the cursed seal's power might prove too tempting for Sasuke, especially given his determination to avenge his clan. To hear him reject it so definitively was reassuring.

  "Besides," Sasuke continued, a hint of his earlier smirk returning, "I don't need Orochimaru's power to win this tournament. My own strength is more than enough."

  "Our strength," Sakura corrected gently.

  Sasuke met her eyes, the intensity of his gaze softening just slightly. "Yes. Our strength."

  The simple acknowledgment warmed Sakura through. It was a far cry from the days when Sasuke would have insisted on doing everything alone, refusing help or support from his teammates. That he now accepted, even welcomed, their combined strength was a testament to how far he'd come.

  As they left the hidden meeting room and made their way to the training grounds of the Uchiha compound, Sakura found herself feeling oddly hopeful despite the complex challenges they faced. Yes, there were mysteries still to unravel about the Uchiha massacre, concerns about Naruto's match against two potential jinchūriki, and the ongoing threat of Orochimaru lurking in the shadows. But they would face these challenges together, as a team, with their combined strength and determination.

  And as Sasuke had said, once the rabbit migration was complete, Sakura would have her full abilities at her disposal again. The thought made her smile. Their opponents in the finals truly wouldn't know what hit them.