Arc IV Chapter 15

    IV

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    Arc IV Chapter 15

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    Two chunin stood guard, or rather sat guard, protecting Konoha’s precious archives. Sitting behind their heavy desk, the two chunin were occupied with a task of utmost importance, guarding Konoha’s secrets with their lives. They controlled every visitor. They confirmed their identity and purpose before allowing them to enter their little kingdom of paper. Whether you were a humble genin or a mighty jonin, nobody escaped the watchful gaze of these valiant guardians. That was how it was supposed to be, but reality was different.

    Tick. Fumihiko was confined to a grey, monotonous shit hole where the flow of time slowed because of boredom. As if time itself had already capitulated. Tack.

    Tick. Seconds, minutes, hours, days passed before his eyes. Every day, a part of his soul died, devoured by the grey walls. Every day, his sanity diminished. Tack.

    Tick. His post didn’t strike Fumihiko as prestigious as it was made out to be. Quite the contrary, guarding the archives was a divine punishment, the wrath of the gods for his past sins. Tack.

    Tick. He already spent six months in this inescapable prison and didn''t see any way out. Tack.

    Tick. Fumihiko cursed his fate. He wasn''t made for a clerk job. He was an accomplished, hardened chunin, a few missions away from being promoted to jonin. But now he was trapped in the wheels of bureaucracy. Tack.

    Meanwhile, the door opened, and a visitor entered the archives, a rare sight.

    “...” Fumihiko turned his attention to the newcomer, a black haired girl clad in a black kimono. It seemed the girl had a preference for the colour black. The girl quickly strolled past them, so he was unable to catch a glimpse of her face. The girl completely ignored them. She couldn’t do that, could she?

    Fumihiko grew irritated, calling her out, “Hey, where do you think you are going, girl? The public library is the other way. Right down the stairs and the corridor left. You can’t miss it.”

    The girl halted, her red lips formed a benevolent smile. “I beg your pardon, but what did you say? I think I have misheard.”

    “...” Fumihiko''s blood froze in his veins. This voice ... An ominous feeling gripped his heart. Her stature, her hair, her sense of fashion ... There was no doubt! It was ... It was ... “Oooooooooohhhhh shit, it''s her!” Don’t panic, Fumihiko, don’t panic. Stay calm and focused ...

    “...” Fumihiko finally realised he had slipped up. He said what he thought aloud. Everything was lost! Abandon the sinking ship! Flee fool, run for your life!

    The girl narrowed her eyes. “What did you just say?”

    Fumihiko gesticulated with his arms, stuttering, “Ehm, nothing. Nothing. Nothing, at all. Please enter the archives! Don''t mind us! We said nothing!”

    “...” The girl merely stared.

    Fumihiko gulped. “...” Please don’t hit me ... Please don’t hit me ... Please don’t hit me ...

    His pleas were heard. The girl ignored his comments. “Whatever, if someone asks if I was here, you saw nobody. Do we understand?”

    “...” Fumihiko nodded vigorously. After all, what should he do? Say no?

    “Excellent. I am glad we understand.” The girl disappeared behind a set of heavy steel doors, entering the achieves.

    Fumihiko hoped he would meet the little princess never again. How wrong he was.

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