Blurb: Eight years have passed since he left. Eight years have passed as she waited. Eight years have passed since he failed in his promise, only to take up a new one. Now an event is being held, everyone has moved on, and he returns to seek the truth to a rumour...
NB: This story assumes that Naruto failed in his promise to rescue/retrieve Sasuke...since I don't really know the outcome yet...
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor did I have anything to do with its creation, and all content referring to Naruto belongs to Kishimoto Masashi. Also any characters that do not appear in the original Naruto series have nothing to do with the series, and strictly appear for the purpose of this story.
The birds sang in the distance, as his eyes gazed over the all too familiar village before him. The rooftops of the buildings reflecting the brilliance of the Sun, as it graced this day with its blessing. Nothing seemed to have really changed, but he knew that the surface never showed the reality that was underneath...he knew that all too well. He swallowed, finally managing to raise his eyes from the multi-coloured rooftops, to gaze upon the magnificent faces of those who had given their lives to protect the village – the Four Hokages. Their strong and noble demeanours carved into the very stone of the mountain range, which hugged the village, as if it too meant to protect them.
His eyes pricked as he looked upon the spectacle, it seemed to convey the idea that the village he had forsaken all those years ago, was willing to take him back, like a mother would to her runaway child. He turned his face away, forcing the rising tears down – he hadn't cried in years, and he didn't intend to do so now. He looked back and steeled himself, knowing that the village wouldn't forgive him that easily, but it wasn't them he was afraid of.
He was nearing the gates now…the entrance to the village of Konoha, the village he had left many years ago. He paused to look up at the arch of the gates, his throat feeling thick as he was filled with apprehension. Sure the villagers would cast curious and wary glances his way – he was dressed in a long cloak and a wide brimmed hat to hide his appearance, which would definitely make him look like a shady person. However, as much as he'd have liked to not appear like a stranger, he had no time to be stopped along the road for a conversation.
He was here to find out something, maybe to stay if he felt like it, but primarily to clarify the truth. He had heard a rumour…a rumour, which to his ears, couldn't be true…but a long time had passed, so anything was possible.
He drew in another breath, and continued to walk on, past the two shinobi guards stationed at the front. He sensed their eyes passing over him, but not paying him much heed, which he knew was merely an act – the guards were never slack in their duties, they remembered and mentally logged everything that passed the gates, to the best of their ability. He walked down familiar roads, passed familiar buildings, allowing his feet to take him where he wished.
He felt something suddenly impact into his left calf, and he paused in his trek, to turn and look down. He blinked in surprise as he saw a little person on the ground, seeming to try to regain their senses, and knelt to gently help them to their feet.
"Hey, are you okay?" he asked, the sound of his gentle voice startling himself, as he seemed to think that the tone was alien to the village. The child looked up, and gazed at him with big, light blue eyes, the shade of which sparked a sudden memory of a blonde, loud-mouthed and popular girl to surface up. He took in the appearance of the child, realising that they were a girl, as they were dressed in a small-sized pink kimono, which fit them well. She looked to be almost two years old, and seemed to have learnt to walk only a few months back. Her skin was fair, and her young face seemed to remind him of that girl, only that this one had shoulder-length black hair, and so it must have been someone different. A smile broke onto her face and she nodded, to confirm that she was alright. The man smiled back, and placed a hand on her head, "Be careful, okay,"
"Inoko," a female voice called, causing him to look up and the little girl to turn around. He stood up, the voice having triggered the same memory to surface…the voice had a mature ring to it, so it couldn't be, 'But it could…' he thought, "There you are, Inoko," the voice said again, only this time it was accompanied by the owner.
"Mama," the girl said, toddling her way towards the woman, who was dressed in a pale-pink kimono. She reached her arms out towards her, and giggled happily as the woman knelt and picked her up, cuddling her close, then turned her face towards the man that stood before them. His eyes widened as his suspicions were confirmed, it was her. She looked the same as she did back then, only she was taller now, and more of a woman, her hair had grown back also, and was tied back, the fringe still framing her face.
"I'm sorry if she caused you trouble," she apologised, a kind and polite smile upon her face.
"I-Ino…" the man managed to say, his voice stammering through his surprise. Her smile melted away slowly, as her expression became one of partial recognition and uncertainty.
"Yes…do I-" she was about to say more, when the man suddenly disappeared from view. She looked about, trying to see if he had gone somewhere, but to no avail, then turned back to her house at the sound of her name.
"Ino," the stern voice called again, "did you find her?" it asked, the owner coming to the doorway, a perplexed look upon their face as the answer accompanied his arrival.
"Papa," the little girl said, smiling joyfully at his appearance. The man had his dark hair tied up, just like the rest of the male members of his family. He wore a grey suit and a white shirt, with the matching tie draped about his neck, waiting to be done up. He smiled in response, and his wife came towards him.
"Here, hold her for a moment, I'll do your tie up," she said, holding their child out towards him. He raised an eyebrow, and tutted, but smiled lightly as the weight of his daughter rested in his hands. Ino did the tie up, smiling lightly herself, as she watched her husband with their baby, and giggled, catching his attention, "All done," she said. She pushed the knot up, and brought the collar of his shirt down, and planted a swift and gentle kiss upon his lips, and took the young girl back into her arms, as she walked back into the house.
He watched the small family walk back into their house, ducking back a bit as he saw the man turn about and look up, shading their keen eyes with a hand. He waited for him to walk in, before coming back out from his perch on the rooftop. He was struck with surprise, as the reality of this family set in, 'Man…I never counted on those two to get together…' he thought, then jumped down, landing back onto his path. Before setting off, he looked up, and caught a glimpse of the man's face peering from the second floor window. He raised a hand, and made sure that his hat was at the right angle, to cast enough shadow to obscure his features, and he turned and continued on in the direction he was headed for, wondering what other surprises the village had in store for him.