Naruto : The Return of Senju

Hiruzen watched as Hiroto Senju settled into the chair across from him, the elder's sharp gaze studying the Hokage's face with quiet intensity. There was a weight in the air—an unspoken tension that only years of experience and loss could forge.

Taking a deep breath, Hiruzen folded his hands over the report before him. "Hiroto," he began solemnly, "what I'm about to tell you is… difficult. But I ask that you remain calm."

Hiroto's eyes narrowed slightly, but he remained silent, waiting.

"We found Arashi."

The room seemed to still. For a moment, there was nothing but silence, followed by the sharp intake of breath. Hiroto's expression shifted—disbelief, then hope, as if clinging to the possibility that this wasn't some cruel mistake.

"He's alive?" The words left Hiroto in a hushed whisper, as if saying them too loudly would shatter the fragile reality.

Hiruzen gave a slow nod. "Yes. But… the circumstances of his survival are grim."

Hiroto straightened, his body tense. "Tell me everything."

The Hokage exhaled, choosing his words carefully. "During our search for Orochimaru's abandoned facilities, one of the ANBU teams discovered a hidden chamber. Inside, we found multiple containment units—experiments. Among them, there was one child still alive."

Hiroto's world seemed to tilt. His breath hitched—sharp and unsteady—as the words sank in. His grandson, thought dead, was alive? His heart pounded in his chest, a mix of fury and relief warring within him. His fingers curled into fists, nails digging into his palms, but he barely noticed.

"Arashi was submerged in a stasis tank, malnourished, his body barely clinging to life. He was abandoned when Orochimaru fled." Hiruzen's voice was measured, but there was a distinct sharpness in his tone, a disgust that even he could not fully mask.

Hiroto's, the air around him shifting with a barely restrained surge of chakra. His breath came slower now, more controlled—but barely.

"Orochimaru…" The name left his lips like a curse, his voice a low, dangerous growl. The temperature in the room seemed to drop.

Hiruzen placed a firm hand on the table. "Hiroto."

The elder Senju inhaled sharply, his fists still trembling. For a moment, it seemed as though he might lash out—at the air, at fate, at anything. But slowly, his shoulders dropped, his chakra receding like an ocean tide.

"That bastard took my grandson," Hiroto muttered. "He experimented on him. Tossed him aside like some failed project." His voice was hoarse with suppressed fury.

Hiruzen met his gaze, his own eyes filled with quiet understanding. "Now is not the time for vengeance, Hiroto."

Hiroto's head snapped up, fury still burning in his eyes, but Hiruzen's gaze was unwavering. "Right now, Arashi needs healing, not war. I understand your anger. I feel it as well. But your grandson is alive, and that is what matters. Focus on him. He needs his family. Also, keep this matter to yourself and suzune, the less people know about this, the better"

The words struck something deep within Hiroto, a reminder of what truly mattered. His breathing slowed, the fire in his eyes dimming—but not extinguished.

Finally, he exhaled, closing his eyes for a brief moment before looking back at Hiruzen. His voice was rough, but sincere. "You're right. Revenge can wait."

He stood, bowing his head slightly. "Thank you, Lord Hokage. For finding him. For saving him."

Hiruzen gave a small nod. "Go to him."

Without another word, Hiroto turned and strode out of the office, his steps quick and determined.

His grandson needed him.

And nothing else mattered.