Chapter 104: Haku undergoes Interrogation

Inside the dimly lit Hokage's office, the air was thick—not just with tobacco smoke, but with the weight of history.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, leaned back in his chair. The scent of his pipe curled around him like an old friend as he looked out through the window toward the Hokage Monument, deep in thought.

"I see…" he murmured, eyes narrowing slightly. "After all these years… he's brought another one into our fold."

He took a long puff, letting the smoke swirl from his mouth like a whisper of the past.

"Did you find out anything about her?" Hiruzen asked, not taking his eyes off the swirling smoke from his pipe.

The ANBU kneeling before him responded in a low, composed tone, "Not yet, Hokage-sama. She is currently undergoing verification under Yamanaka Inoichi's guidance."

Hiruzen gave a slight nod, thoughtful. "Good. No better mind to dive into shadows than his."

Just then, a soft knock echoed against the heavy wooden door of the office.

Knock knock.

"C'min," Hiruzen said casually.

The door opened, and a Chūnin stepped in briskly, carrying a sealed scroll. He bowed.

"Hokage-sama. These are the preliminary findings from Inoichi's Mind Probe Jutsu."

The scroll was handed over with practiced urgency.

Hiruzen took it gently, his face unreadable as he broke the seal. He unrolled it slowly—his eyes scanning, lingering.

He didn't say anything for a few moments. Only the crackle of the fireplace dared fill the silence.

Finally, he murmured, "A survivor… of the Yuki Clan. Escaped the Blood Mist… orphaned young. Taken in by Zabuza."

He sighed again, deeply this time. "No signs of deception, manipulation, or subversion. She truly believes in Naruto. Her will… It's steady."

A few minutes earlier.

The interrogation chamber sat in dead silence. Cold, grey walls. One wooden table. Two chairs.

Haku sat calmly in one of them—her posture straight, hands resting on her lap, her face a picture of serenity. No panic. No twitch of fear.

Only stillness.

Outside the room, a pair of shinobi waited at attention as Yamanaka Inoichi arrived, calm as ever.

"Is she the one?" he asked, his voice smooth and practiced.

"Yes, Inoichi-sama. The girl Naruto brought back from Nami no Kuni."

Inoichi gave a small nod, pushing up his sleeves just enough to free his wrists. "Alright. I'll take it from here."

The door creaked open with a soft click.

The girl didn't flinch.

Inoichi stepped inside and gently shut the door behind him. He observed her posture with a trained eye—how her breathing was slow, measured… composed.

"Hello," he said simply, sliding into the chair across from her.

Haku offered a polite bow of her head.

noichi smiled slightly. "You're calm. That's rare in this room."

"I have no reason to fear the truth," she replied softly. "I'm not here to hurt anyone."

Inoichi folded his hands on the table. "Naruto trusts you. That alone has earned you some goodwill. But trust… and clearance… aren't the same."

"I understand."

"Then let's begin."

Before he could go further, she spoke up gently.

"If you need answers… I can tell you directly," she said. "No need for your jutsu, unless you require further reassurance. I won't hide anything."

That took him by surprise—not her words, but the calm sincerity behind them. And knowing Naruto's judgment, Inoichi found himself inclined to believe her. Still, protocol was protocol.

"Very well," he said, leaning forward slightly. "Then let's start with your name."

"Haku."

"And who are you, Haku? Where did you come from, and what have you been doing until now?"

"I was an orphan," she began. Her voice was soft, but there was steel beneath it. "Taken in by Momochi Zabuza of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. I served as his companion, his tool… until Nami no Kuni."

In a graceful motion, she formed hand signs. A chill rolled across the room as delicate snowflakes materialized from the air, drifting gently around them.

"I am of the Yuki clan. I possess the Hyōton kekkei genkai."

Inoichi watched, silently impressed. The Hyōton was no small thing.

"And now?"

"Now… Naruto reminded me that I'm not just a tool. He showed me kindness. Gave me a choice. I chose to follow him."

Her gaze didn't waver. "Because he saw me… as human."

Inoichi nodded slowly, absorbing each word. "That explains quite a lot."

Then, Haku leaned in slightly.

"You may verify it, if you must," she said. "I won't resist. You have my permission."

Inoichi hesitated—not out of doubt, but out of respect.

"…I'm sorry," he said. "It's not about distrust. It's just caution."

"I understand." Her smile was faint, but warm. "Do what you must."

With a breath, Inoichi reached forward, fingertips glowing faintly with chakra.

"Mind Body Transmission Jutsu."

Inoichi's body slumped forward, hands still resting gently on the table.

Haku sat quietly, waiting, unmoving, patient as winter itself.

Minutes passed.

Then, Inoichi's fingers twitched. He straightened his back with a slow breath, eyes now focused.

"Good," he said with a calm smile. "You're clear. You may go."

Haku stood, bowing respectfully. "Thank you."

And without another word, she stepped out of the room—free.

Back to present.

In the Hokage's Office…

The room was heavy with the scent of smoldering tobacco as Hiruzen exhaled, letting a lazy plume of smoke drift toward the ceiling.

From the shadows of the room, a figure emerged with all the subtlety of a blade being unsheathed.

Danzo Shimura.

He wasted no time on pleasantries.

"She should be taken into full custody," Danzo said, his voice like steel dipped in frost. "Interrogated. Thoroughly evaluated. She's a foreign shinobi with access to a Kekkei Genkai. We don't extend trust that easily."

Hiruzen didn't even glance at him. Instead, he held out the report, letting the edge of the document flap in the air like a slap across Danzo's face.

"Inoichi has already completed the probe," Hiruzen said evenly. "She's not a threat."

Danzo's eye narrowed. "And you're content to trust the word of a single man? Because your precious Naruto vouches for her?"

Hiruzen allowed himself a small, nostalgic smile.

"Yes," he said. "Because that boy has a gift. He sees what others won't—or refuse to."

Danzo stepped forward, his cloak rustling like a whisper of war. "Sentiment," he hissed, "will get this village killed."

The room fell into a thick, biting silence.

Then Hiruzen stood. Slowly. Pipe in hand. The Third Hokage's eyes, now sharper than any blade, met Danzo's cold stare.

"And fear," Hiruzen said, voice low and unwavering, "will make us kill our allies before they become our greatest strength."

Danzo stiffened, his lips a thin line. He knew he'd lost this round.

But Danzo Shimura never left without a parting shot.

"You'll regret this, Hiruzen."

To which came the tired—but—ironclad—reply:

"Danzo… I am the Hokage."

And with a bitter twist of his cloak, the shadow of Konoha's darkest operator slipped from the office, leaving only smoke, silence, and a decision that would ripple through time.

Hiruzen's eyes lingered on the door even after Danzo had disappeared into the hallways of power and paranoia.

He sighed, already knowing what would come next.

"Keep an eye on Haku," he ordered quietly.

From the shadows, an ANBU agent emerged with a silent nod—no questions asked. In a flash, the masked shinobi vanished.

Alone once more, the aged Hokage returned to his desk. He took another slow puff from his pipe, letting the smoke curl like fading memories in the still air.

Then, with the weight of the village on his shoulders, he reached for the nearest scroll.

Back to the true battlefield of a Kage.

Paperwork.

With a tired groan, he muttered, "It never ends," and signed his name for what felt like the thousandth time that day.