The pounding on the door leading to the Hokage's office was anything but pleasing, especially so early in the morning. Knowing who was on the other side of the door, the Hokage decided to endure it for as long as possible. There was a pause, and for a moment everyone gathered behind the door thought that maybe they had left. Then the kicking joined in. Annoyed faces appeared on a majority of the people in the room.

Eventually the Hokage could take the racket no longer. He sighed loudly, though it was nearly drown out from the banging on the locked door. "To think someone usually so reserved would raise such a fuss..." The Hokage muttered lowly. Raising his voice he called out, "come in!" The banging stopped. One of the people in the room reached over and unlocked the door.

A door creaked open, and a figure entered into the office. There was no sign of the pounding that had gone on for near an hour anywhere in his obsidion eyes. With a glare that was almost constantly on his face, Sasuke faced the room full of Jonin and Anbu. He looked to them all, but then focused his sole attention on the Hokage.

"Good morning Sasuke, it's good to see you up so early," there was the faintest traces of sarcasm laced into the Hokage's words. There was a breif grunt from Sasuke, but other than that he just stood before the Hokage. "Was there something you wanted?" A snort from one of the jonin was quickly stiffled at that.

"Why is Aoi already a chunnin? What happened in his past? Don't give me the story about his parents, we both know that's a lie." Sasuke glared into straight into the Hokage's eyes, fully knowing how disrespectful he was being.

Before anyone could respond, Izumo appeared in the doorway. "Hokage-sama, I got Kakashi to come like you had requested." At a lazy pace one would stroll around a park in, Kakashi's silver hair appeared in the doorway.

"Sorry I'm late, I found a lost dog and needed to return it to the owner." Most people in the room simply rolled their eyes, used to Kakashi's habit by now. Turning to his student, Kakashi opened his mouth to speak.

"Don't even try Kakashi-sensei. You won't make me give up on this." Sasuke glanced back at the older man before facing the Hokage again. "Nothing about Aoi adds up. He's too strong, even for a chunnin, and there is no way he wouldn't have shown up in the academy until just a year ago. Not to mention that he doesn't understand emotion, which is unnatural. Added to that, nobody on our team was aware of him being a chunnin, making it all the more suspicious. No one on the team has really even seen him train." If anyone had bothered, it could be noted that was probably the most Sasuke had said at once to date.

The Hokage cast a glance at Kakashi, who simply shrugged. Inoichi, who stood by the desk, spoke then. "If I may, I would like to speak." At the Hokage's nod, he went on. "It was only a matter of time until people started to ask questions, Hokage-sama. It is a fair assumption everyone here can be trusted as well. Maybe telling some of Aoi's past would be a good idea."

All eyes turned to the leader of the village expectantly. He raised the pipe to his lips, biting down on it thoughtfully. Looking at those surrounding him, the Hokage could see curiousity in more than a few eyes. It was a rather closely guarded secret after all. Without a word, he pulled out a blank scroll from his desk and took a brush. Everyone looked on as his hand flowed across the paper. When he stopped and let it dry for a moment, the Hokage looked up.

"This isn't my story to tell, and so I will not be the one to tell you anything." Touching a spot of ink to make sure it was dry, the Hokage then rolled up the scroll. "If you want information on the subject, you will have to ask the one who lived through it. Sharing this should be good for Aoi anyways." With this, the Hokage stamped his seal onto the scroll. "Kakashi, give this scroll for Aoi to read over. Afterwards, Sasuke, you can ask Aoi what you will."

Both student and teacher nodded. Taking the scroll and stashing it in his pouch Kakashi left with Sasuke.

Turning to Inoichi the Hokage gave another order. "Bring me the files on Aoi. I want to declassify some of them." Inoichi bowed. Everyone left the office, knowing that soon they would be able to find out more about the blue haired boy. Turning to look out the window that overlooked the entire village, the Hokage took a long pull on his pipe. "Looks like things may get complicated."

_+_

When the scroll finally found its way into Aoi's possession, the entirety of team seven, Ibiki, and Aoi's chunin 'guards' were there surrounding him. Kakashi lazily dug the scroll out from his pouch, handing it over to the apathetic boy. Simply glancing at the seal, Aoi didn't hesitate to open it up. Naruto tried to peer over Aoi's shoulder to read it, but Kakashi held him back.

When Aoi was finished reading it, he sat silently on the couch in his apartment. He rolled the scroll back up, then stashed it in his own pouch that hung at his waist. Nobody spoke for quite a while, then when they realized who was supposed to do the talking, a few of them sighed slightly. Aoi most assuredly wasn't the talkative type. Naruto was the first to speak.

"Well, what did it say?" He was overly excited, and shook Aoi slightly by the shoulder when his patience failed. Aoi simply went with the motion.

When Naruto stopped, Aoi spoke. "It said I could tell you some of my past if you wished." A few eyes widened, for they had no clue as to why they were really there. Almost collectively, the entire group surrounding Aoi sat down. Aoi's face didn't change expression, even though every eye was trained on him expectantly.

Sasuke broke the impending silence before it could start. "Were you raised in Konoha?" Aoi's simple reply was no. "Where were you raised then? And who were your parents?"

"I was raised underground in a room. I have no recollection of ever having or meeting my parents." When he said this last part, Naruto glanced at him in slight sympathy.

"How did you learn how to fight? Did you have a teacher?" Murasaki leaned in, his fascination growing.

Aoi responded with almost no thought. "I just trained," there was a slight hesitation before he went on. "My teacher never gave a name, but would supply me with weapons so as to get used to them."

The questions and answers went on, but the latter grew more obscure in what was revealed. Though Aoi was allowed to talk of his past, it was to an extent. Aoi, always a stickler for rules, wouldn't go beyond what the Hokage allowed him to say. In the end the questions trickled to a stop, and everyone sat there in silent contemplation. The only things Aoi had given away was that he fought for most his life, training since a young age. He wouldn't say who he trained under, nor would he give away the details of much of his training. Nobody asked about interaction between humans and him, for it seemed natural that it would have happened.

Finally one last question was asked. "Why did you come to Konoha? And why do you stay here?"

Aoi looked over at Migota when she asked this, and a silence stretched as Aoi thought. Finally a response came, "I came to Konoha because I was told to. I have no reason to leave nor a reason to stay. I do not know why I stay here." Aoi seemed to consider his words before nodding.

Naruto jumped up. "I can give you a reason to stay then!" Aoi looked up at Naruto. He was full of energy, but seemed angry that Aoi said he had no reason to stay. "There are seven in this room right now. We're your friends, and friends should stick together, ya know?" Naruto grinned cheesily.

"We are friends?" Aoi looked up at Naruto as if not comprehending, then turned and looked at the mostly smiling faces around him. The only ones not smiling were Ibiki and Sasuke, but a light of agreement shone in their eyes.

"Believe it." As he said his favorite catchphrase, Naruto placed a hand on Aoi's shoulder. "Now let's go get some food, I'm hungry." Almost upon command, Naruto's stomach rang out in agreement.

Everyone laughed, and Aoi tried for a smile. It came easier than before, though still forced. "I want anything but ramen." Naruto nearly fainted when he heard this, then started to list of the reasons it was wonderful off it as Aoi stared at him blankly. When Naruto finished, Aoi's face was stoic as ever. "No ramen."

Naruto cried and curled up on the floor muttering something about faliure. Everyone chose to ignore him. "How about barbeque then?" Murasaki asked, slinging and arm over Aoi's shoulder. Though he bent down a little under the weight, Aoi remained where he had stood up from. Aoi nodded, and they all left to eat.

_+_

Total filler chapter, I know, and I'm sorry. I've been well... distracted and unmotivated. I may just delete this chapter later on, but for now I'll post it. I'm not happy with it... Yeah... End of the school year just sucks all the creativity and motivation from me and leaves me like a pile of wet cement. I guess I'll just ask the question of the chapter.

What is your favorite book series?

Not that random or anything, but it's more from me. I draw inspiration from other books and authors much of the time, so yeah... If you want, you could answer this riddle: Every dawn begins with me, at dusk I'll be the fist you see, and daybreak couldn't come without what midday centers all about. Daisies grow from me, I'm told, and when I come, I end all cold. In the sun I won't be found, yet still each day I'll be around. First to answer write gets a dedication next chapter I guess, just for the heck of it. I don't dedicate a lot of my chapters, so why not?

-Nicky~