🌻 "So you're saying a shinobi—suspected to be from another region, attacked you?" The Hokage summarised our report of the recent incident. He leaned forward and rested his chin on his fist. "It's possible for foreigners to appear in our village since it's the Chunnin exam season.. However, if that shinobi is one of the participants of the exam..." His sentence wandered off to his thoughts and worries of the village's safety. Sasuke, Naruto and I were aware of this as well.

"We could be under attack.." I whispered.

The Hokage nodded and let his hands rest on his desk. "I will handle this matter with caution, you may leave now, please prepare well."

"Understood, Hokage-sama."

🌸 "I see you have met them." My master stated as I returned to my hotel room.

I was flustered when he asked that question. How did he know? I was hesitant at first, but I could not lie.

"Yes, I did. Our meeting was a.....surprise to them. I don't think they know it was me." I said while reliving the moment where I threw a huge tree with inhuman strength towards them. I caught them completely off-guard and to think that all three of them were—still are important people to the village. Pathetic.

"Of course, your existence to them is insignificant." As he said those words, my eyes dulled and I clenched my fists tightly. "Yes, that's right. Don't forgive them, show them no mercy during the Chunnin exams."

As though I was in a daze, a possessed spirit, I muttered,"Yes, master."

"Don't forget to leave the treasure unharmed."

"Understood."

A sly smile stretched across his lips, his slanted eyes as he smiled was unforgiving and cruel. This beautiful being, like no other in this world, was filled with wickedness but holy like the descendant of a deity.

"I will bring Hinata to you."

🌻 "Ahhhh! I missed this place! Your ramen never fails me, Teuchi-san!" Naruto sighed in pleasure after having a much missed meal, he patted his stomach happily.

"Glad to have you back, Naruto! It's all on me today!" The old man said with sincerity.

"Really?! ANOTHER BOWL WITH EXTRA PORK PLEASE!"

Sasuke sighed in a corner, probably the only noise I heard from him ever since we exited the Hokage tower; he has been oddly silent and separated himself from the world, paying zero attention to his surrounding, even his bowl of ramen remained untouched.

"Sasuke, are you alright?" I quietly asked from across Naruto.

The blonde head turned to our teammate while having some hot noodles hanging down his mouth. "What's wrong, Sasuke? Does the ramen not fit your taste?" He said with a mouthful.

He shook his head in reply without sparing us half of a glance and said,"I just don't have the appetite." After he said so, he got up from his seat and left the little stall.

"What's with him?"

I sighed and answered,"I'm not sure myself, but he has been pushing himself way too much and became a little grumpier ever since.. ever since Sakura left..."

He loudly slurped the noodles hanging down his mouth and gave me a wide smile. "Don't worry, Hinata! I became a lot stronger and I promise you, I will bring Sakura back! You have missed her and I'm sure you have your share in working hard yourself!"

What happened to Naruto all these while, I do not know, but he is not the annoying little kid I knew any longer; I was glad and very happy for him.

"Thank you Naruto, let's bring her back together." I smiled, sincerely, for the very first time in years.

🌸 "Don't you want to see him? That Uchiha."

I paced alone on the familiar, yet foreign streets of Konoha. I was born here and lived here, but after spending just a short 3 years living on the Moon, Earth has become such a foreign place to me. Walking across these lighted streets and breathing the fresh cold air which holds the scent of dirt and grasses made me feel a little bit more alive. Life on Moon had been unentertaining, but the zero source of entertainment has given me much time to spend on training. It would be a lie if I said I did not miss this place; however, I do feel the resentment towards this village and it's people.

How unfair it was to me.

The sky was tinted dark blue, overlapping the red sky and forming a mix of purple in between. It was beautiful indeed. Staring at the scenery made me bump into a body, a bag of groceries dropped onto the ground followed by an "Oh!".

When I directed my gaze to the source of that feminine voice, I found a blonde woman squatting down to collect her groceries.

Mother. My birth mother.

I followed her actions and helped her to collect her remaining groceries, then placed them into the paper bag.

"Thank you very much, young man."

I nodded in reply and quickly walked off, unable to bear the foreign emotions running wild within me. I have peeked into the Haruno household before I left for the moon, I have gotten a clear glance of my parents and Naruto was not there to spoil the secret family reunion. Well, they knew nothing of me being there anyway.

All I knew was running away from my mother and my feet automatically stopped in front of a very very familiar compound. The Hyuga compound.

"I knew it was you."

🍁🍂🍁🍂

Dedicated to sharonshazzy123 for your vote on this story!

I will be releasing teasers for new chapters on my message board, so if you'd like, follow me or check out my message board from time to time! :) Also, if you're already a follower of mine, please don't forget to reply to the post! I will definitely reply you if you have any questions! I would love to discuss about the story with my dear readers as well!

I figured that I seem unapproachable to some of you, but no! I'm very friendly so please don't be afraid to speak with me! I am very grateful to each and every one of you. 💕

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Have a great day and I hope all of you are well!

~Joelle

Published: 5th June 2017