Summary: Unexpectedly, the mysterious scroll flashed white before her emerald green eyes. It ended up transporting her into the future—forty years after her timeline, however Uzumaki Kokoro had forgotten everything about her past life.
Disclaimer: Naruto - Kishimoto Masashi (岸本 斉史)
My name is Kokoro,
I love my family.
家族
.
.
Family
She was sighing again. It had become a regular routine these days. Truthfully, it wasn't her intention to mope about, doing nothing while sitting on a firm couch.
The weather was windy and abnormally chilly. She felt her body shivering a bit and hugged herself for warmth.
She strain her eyes open and look around the empty Hokage Office. Wasn't there anything she could use to cover herself from the cold weather conditions?
Kokoro chuckled humorlessly, 'Where is the so-called great Hokage when you need one?' She thought bitterly, 'Oh, that's right, he's fighting some random ninja while leaving his daughter freezing in an empty office.'
At least, you're in the office—or do you want to take a stroll outside in this weather?
No…
I thought so.
You could be so annoying sometimes, Inner.
Then I would gladly change' sometimes' to 'permanently' if you don't stop your sulking now, Outer.
Stop acting all rational, aren't you mad at him too?
…The word 'mad' isn't exactly the right term.
Alright, how about the word angry?
It's basically the same thing. I'm disappointed.
You're disappointed in yourself? That's good to hear.
And then Inner ignored her, much to her annoyance.
Good, now she's been ditched and ignored. 'And they said I am an extremely lucky girl.'
What part of her was lucky? Sure, she had the same features as her beautiful mother. They're appearances are identical. Kokoro caresses her lengthy rosy locks gently. Her emerald green eyes flutter drowsily. From the day she'd born until today, no one has ever appeal her as unattractive. She was always showered with flattering compliment about how adorable she was. Kokoro took no pride in her looks though; being egotism as well as overconfident were never her personality.
But—
She was nothing like her mother. Haruno Sakura was a renowned medical ninja, a hard-working person, a reputable ninja and—a tough hot-headed woman.
She was everything Kokoro was not.
Kokoro was immature and childish. She—in spite of everything believes in fairy tales. She considers everyone ought to have a happy ending. She always relay the whole thing on someone else. Maybe that's the reason why, until now she had no faithful individual categorized as an ally, a comrade—a friend.
Kokoro frowned, beginning to recall her worst memories.
"She is the daughter of the Hokage—she wouldn't play with civilian kids like us." The boy murmured.
"But Yuichi, she looks lonely and sad…" She reasoned," What do you think, Kyoto?"
"I have the same opinion as Yuichi; we shouldn't get ourselves involve with her. She's the rumored prodigy, she might be arrogant. Let's go play with some else."
"But—"
"No buts, Megumi. Now come on, let's go."
Hesitantly, she gave the lonesome girl one last gaze and walk away.
They didn't know that the girl heard their entire conversation. She wiped her tears dejectedly.
Who was to blame—herself?
Stop blaming yourself. Moreover, you don't need a friend anyways.
Why so?
You have me. I'm always by your side.
Thanks Inner, but we're essentially the same person. I appreciate it nonetheless. If you're here, I would be less lonely.
…Outer, are you that isolated?
Huffing, she cut off her connection with Inner. She's not chastising herself—she was sure of it. On the other hand, who is responsible for her isolation?
The Hokage?—Uzumaki Naruto, her father, whom constantly full of commotion with his occupation. He barely had enough time to spend with her. It's wasn't his fault, he had to protect Konoha; Guarding Konoha is his top priority, his daughter have to be cast aside. Her mother was similar to her father. She struggled as much as necessary to not waste even a minute, striving her hardest to keep her patients alive.
Thankfully, her mother spends her free-time with her on the other hand her father…
However, Kokoro knew both of her parents love her—they're only busy with saving people life. She could put up with that belief.
Yeah, she could endure just about everything…
The feeling of loneliness won't excel her. Although, every time they'd depart—aches her heart. She loves them very much. She loves her family more than anything else.
Knock. Knock.
'After a long wait, he arrives.'
"Come in," Greet Kokoro sluggishly.
The door opens and reveals another person. He was not the one whom Kokoro expected. It was a perverted old man—with an irksomely bright orange book.
And only one thought cross her mind:
'Can this day get any worse?'
"What do you want?" Her eyes twitched in frustration. "If you want to read your porn here, then I'll graciously tell you to— buzz off." He smiled amusingly under his mask.
"My, my, my, you're lively as always," He continued. "It's nice to meet you too, Kokoro. Aren't I'm lucky to see you in this fine and lovely weather—"
"Cut to the chase, Kakashi-ojisan." Kokoro countered, halting Kakashi inconvenient babbles. Kakashi sighed and muttered, "I'm getting too old to handle a kid like you." She rolled her eyes unenthusiastically. She was used to Kakashi's mutterings.
"Now tell me, what is your objective and where is my father?" She interrogated as well as warned, "Also, don't you dare tell me that you're only here to visit me— because both of us know you rather spend your time reading porn." She ended the long sentence and grasps her breath.
Silence.
"You got me," He admitted. "But 'Icha Icha Paradise' is a romantic literature, and…"
She glared.
He sweat dropped.
Kokoro glared harder and clenched her knuckles.
"Alright, I'll tell you, "Kakashi assured. 'Like mother, like daughter.' He thought humorously.
"I'm here to notify you regarding your father circumstances and give you the letter he wrote solely for you." He took out the letter leisurely.
After I waited for hours…in this freezing weather…he's busy again?!
She wordlessly stands up and paced close. Kakashi noticed she grind her teeth, fuming.
Kokoro snatched the letter and toss it down to the ground furiously.
"I don't need that stupid letter," She shouted," I want my father. Besides, he already promised me that he was going to spend his time with me today."
"I'm sorry, Kokoro…however, he's busy currently." Kakashi explained as he observed the crumpled letter in empathy.
"I don't care, I'm going to let him know about how much I loathed, empty promises and you know what—this is not the first time I've been discarded."
"Calm yourself."
"Once more, I believe his words—and eventually, he's unavailable yet again. I'm not the little girl I used to be, I changed. I'm not going to force a smile again and tell him it is fine to leave me, yet again."
"Kokoro," Kakashi alerted.
"I'm sick of it—all of it. I know, he's the Hokage—but please—can't he spend his time with his own daughter just for a while?"
She was about to cry and he realized that he should leave her alone in the meantime. He knew that she doesn't want others to see her tears. She was afraid they would regard her as a frail and fragile girl especially her father.
She doesn't want to see her father troubled expression and always set up a happy façade in front of Naruto.
Kakashi shook his head despondently. He was so tempt to tell Naruto and Sakura about the loneliness their daughter is going through. Then again, Kokoro said she wanted to tell them herself.
He really was getting too old for this…
And he left in a poof of smoke.
Both of them were always full of activity
I understand and endure happily
After a few minutes of crying, she wiped her tears silently. She was very grateful.
'Thanks Kakashi-Ojisan.' She mentally expresses her gratitude.
She sighed while thinking back the words she said back then.
Does she have the courage to tell her father about…all her loneliness?
Never.
She can't do it.
I can't.
You can and you have to.
Kokoro groaned when she perceived an accustomed voice echoing in her head.
Oh great, here we go again.
Outer, you shouldn't move on like this—tell father please.
No. No. NO.
I doubt you want to live the rest of your life like this.
Inner, can't you understand—Mother told me, his long-time dream is to be the Hokage. From the very beginning, he knew he had to always protect and guard Konoha with his whole life. Now he had achieved it, we should respect that and be happy. Who are we to bluntly tell him to spend his time with us and neglect his duties?
We're his daughter, you're his daughter.
Kokoro was speechless and her eyes void of emotion for a second. Inner grew quiet afterward.
She glowered and wondered.
If she could ask her father—she was curious and wanted to know the answer, even though the response was obvious.
Which would you choose—your path as the Hokage or your daughter?
And she wished he would say:
He held his head high, looking straight into her emerald green eyes. His eyes were filled with confidence and—without a second thought to spare, his attentive expression clarifies his absolute decision, she could hear her own heartbeats rapidly and he answered;
"My daughter, "
Kokoro scowled. How dare she ever consider that question?
Of course he wouldn't give his dream up just because of a ridiculous question like that.
He would not choose her. He was a stubborn person and—her precious father.
But how can she convey this lonely feeling to him? In what possible way?
All of a sudden, a random scroll tumbled down. Kokoro narrowed her eyes in notion and avert her attention to the closed windows.
Odd, I closed up all the windows…why else would the scroll fell down if not because of the wind?
Kokoro grumbled. She was totally exaggerating. It could be father put the scroll near the angle of the table sloppily.
Well, he could be a total idiot at times.
She snickered—and that's the reason father always resulted being mother's punching bag. He constantly said the wrong words in the wrong time.
Thank heavens, she has her mother's intelligent. She could still recall the rumor she heard while buying some groceries. Kokoro chuckled, the rumor was unsurprisingly true.
The remarkable and brave Hokage turned into a frightened and horrorstruck male when he encountered his raging wife on his way to the Ichiraku Ramen shop, forsaking his mountain of paperwork as the Hokage. At first, he would run away in panic while being chase. Ultimately, he got dragged forcefully after being pummeled and scolded by his wife.
Her mother could be really scary sometimes…
After that, father would whine to me about how ill-tempered mother is and she would whack him in the head all over again.
She laughed quietly then proceeds to stare the scroll and the wrinkled letter with a sigh.
We were so happy back then. Things could never be the same again. Sound had declared war against Konoha, that's why he's so busy arranging a good strategy.
Don't be discouraged. Cheer up. We still have a chance. We definitely won't back down without a fight.
Perhaps, you're right, Inner. Father would be able to have fun with me after the war ended for good. Let's bring an end to—this depressed sighs.
That's the spirit—Shannaro!
Kokoro giggled and smiled determinedly.
"Shannaro!"
So, have you forgotten about the letter?"
…I was about to, thanks for reminding me though.
No problem. Go ahead, read the letter out loud.
She picked up the letter and smoothen the folds. Kokoro hesitantly tear open letter and read it's contains.
Dear Kokoro,
I'm really and truly sorry. I know you would be furious and mad at me. You are after all, similar to your mother in many ways. To make it up to you, starting tomorrow—you will be choosing a restaurant to eat. Best choice wins a hug from the Hokage. You, out of all people would know his favorite food. It's our family anniversary tomorrow and be sure to not pick the most beautiful civilian outfit. My daughter is already attractive and on top of that a gorgeous girl. I don't want those bastards ogling my daughter too much.
I'll invite your mother too. We'll be spending the whole time together. We could stargaze and do lots of things. Believe it.
The Greatest Hokage,
Naruto.
P.S: Can we eat Ramen at Ichiraku Ramen shop first, pretty please?
Kokoro was so excited for tomorrow. Initially, she thought it was a letter of apology like always. She was glad Inner, encouraged her to open this letter.
I guess mother prohibited him to eat Ramen. But then again, since father asked me nicely, so tomorrow—first stop to Ichiraku Ramen.
Firstly, she had to think of the best attires she has in her wardrobe. What colors of clothes suited the best with her rosy hair?
Her hairstyle, her shoes, her—there's so many thing she has to think through.
Oh well, she decided to enquiry her mother later about the garments and style civilians dress in.
The scroll had been bugging her after some time. It was about time to put the scroll in its original position.
Kokoro walked towards the scroll slowly and bent down a little to pick it up.
She was about to sigh in annoyance but Inner remind her once again.
You supposed to stop sighing, remember? Does that ring a bell?
Yeah, sure, it does.
Good. Now, snap out of it.
She pouted.
And no pouting along with brooding,
But I wasn't really—
No denying either.
Inner won this time. Still she knew she would win next round. Her eyes twinkle in mischief. She was so going to win and Inner won't know what hit her.
Kokoro hold up the scroll and eye closer to it. She noticed there's some text on the scroll.
Open and grasp the remaining of your breath. Happiness and peace lie in wait for someone who is willing to forget. But be wary, not for someone who held memoirs precious. You would be happy forever with your new loved ones. But think twice, you would be r by the forgotten ones.
She pondered for a while.
Happiness and peace…forever with my loved ones…I would love that. I wonder what the blank word indicates. Perhaps it meant nothing important.
She shrugged. Kokoro examined the scroll, and almost slap herself for being a fool. She cursed herself numerous times.
Idiot Kokoro, of course you couldn't open it without the Hokage's permission. Geez, you're frankly the daughter of the Hokage for god sakes. Control yourself.
But it wouldn't hurt to look just once…
Kokoro bit her lips uneasily and clench the scroll tighter. She was so curious and she understood curiosity kill the cat in the end. Nonetheless, she was not a cat, she was a living human.
Open or place it somewhere safe.
This is going to be a hard decision.
It was more difficult than choosing between the colors of black and white.
"Can this day get any worse?"
And Kokoro regretted she ever said that phrase.