July 11th 20XX
Entry 2
Three days had past, yet my time had stopped on July 8th.
I woke up today, the dream still fresh in my mind. It had been a recurring dream. I dreamt about him, drenched in blood, yet still smiling. I imagined his words, his fervent determination. I imagined it and cried. Did he die smiling? Did Naruto die abiding by his rules? I would answer yes.
Life was going on as usual. It was not usual, however. I saw their faces. The expressions of those who loved lost ones. I saw their downcast eyes and solemn looks. They were working. Life cannot stop because of a loss. A ninja must never show their emotions – that was the rule. Everyone was slow to act today. Everyone was trudging along. I was one of those people. Dragging heavy footsteps behind them and not letting go of the past. I was one of those who could not forget. How could I? I asked myself repeatedly.
I walked towards the information center to pick up my mission. It will probably be a small one. Subduing a mountain lion, or retrieving a lost item. We were in the process of recovering. Accepting difficult missions would do us no help.
Then, I saw him. The glares of the people would precede him by minutes, and I would always know when he's around. Uchiha Sasuke. The atmosphere would be tense if he was walking along the street. People would glare at him accusingly. This was all your fault, they would probably mentally project. His Sharingan would dart around, the cold stare breaking all other eye contacts. I hear the people whisper and complain. How could the Hokage let him return? I was one of those people. I seethed internally. That was the person who betrayed us. That was the person who took my important someone away. And the Hokage was letting him return?
I walked down the street. It was unavoidable. There was only one route to the information center. Uchiha, I would call him, was doing it again. I would not acknowledge him by his first name. Never. He was doing it again. Staring down everyone who glared at him. Something broke inside me. I was raging, and yet could not do anything about it. Tsunade- sama's orders. Besides, he was probably stronger than I am.
But I was determined to do something. Something that would offend that Uchiha. I glared at him as we walked by. I devoted the full intensity of my set of white eyes towards him. I poured my malice and hatred against him into that one stare.
Uchiha might have felt my murderous aura directed at him, for he turned. I could not care less. He could not touch anyone, unless for self- defense. That was the golden law Tsunade- sama stipulated.
He looked at me, blood red Sharingan looking directly at my snow white Byakugan. I taunted him mentally. The glint in my eye dared him to challenge me. Uchiha held the gaze for a moment. Then his eyes softened a fraction. Just a fraction. Then the coldness in his gaze returned. Uchiha turned away from me and walked on.
I caught a glimpse of his emotions behind that aloof façade. Happiness, anger, guilt, but mostly regret. This emotions were mixed up beneath that icy surface, and I wondered: How could anyone experience so much and not explode?
I was shocked. Uchiha was different from my imagination.