Wow... it's been pretty quiet with you readers lately... But it doesn't matter I guess, I'm still KIND OF getting hits.... Again, short chapter, another piece coming soon.
~ Belle.
It was dawn. I put the last couple of things in my pack and headed down the only path out of Konoha, wondering where I would start. It had been about 4 days now, she could be long gone.
I adjusted my headband and I felt a presence in the tree above me. I looked up. Naruto was in the tree, looking away from Konoha, into the forest.
"You know," he said suddenly, not moving his head, "I've been waiting here every night, all night, waiting for her to come back."
I waited in silence. He continued.
"It's been almost 4 days."
I stayed quiet.
"She's not coming back."
I looked at my feet guiltily.
"And it hurts me to know I can't help her, that she might be off in some village alone in an alley somewhere crying…" he paused. "…and nobody's there to help her."
"I'm going to help her." I said firmly.
He looked down at me slowly, saying nothing. He looked skeptical.
"I'm going to make this right," I said quietly. "I'll bring her back for you, Naruto."
"Is that all?" he asked. "Does she mean nothing to you?"
I flinched.
"Have a good mission, Kakashi-sensei." He jumped to another couple of trees and then to the ground, going back towards Konoha.
I thought for a minute about where I would go—and then it suddenly dawned on me where she would be.
--
Heh heh. He finally clued in!
