I stood in front of the gates of Hinata's house, rocking back and forth on my heels. I puffed some warm air into my freezing hands even though it was scorching hot outside. I began to pace, to keep my mind occupied and distract myself of what was about to happen. I couldn't go to sleep last night because every time I closed my eyes, ideas upon ideas would pop into my mind, making me sit up and think. I should be feeling excited at the prospect of discovering one of my family members but my stomach would twist every time I tried to feel glee. I had to force myself to feel happiness when it should come naturally. How many years have I yearned for this day? How many times have I dreamt of coming to my apartment and being greeted by my parents? How many times have I craved some parental guidance and/or their warmth? Millions of times I've dreamt about this clue ever since I could remember. Now having the opportunity given to me I'm not feeling the emotions I'm supposed to feel.

Why? Is there something wrong with me? I know I have some real big issues but what other sane person wouldn't feel some kind of warmth when they're about to discover about their family? I should feel some kind of warmth but why can't I?

I nearly shrieked when I felt a cold hand touch my sizzling skin that has probably baked when I was thinking. I turned to see Hinata in a baggy sweater, white on the sleeves and lavender on the rest with her hoodie the exception, with her usual blue capris and simple sandals. Even with such simple clothing I found my body hardening and getting aroused.

I smirked when she blushed. "Ohayo, Hina-hime." I leaned down and kissed her pink lips, savoring the feeling. At that moment, I completely forgot the fact we were standing in front of her house.

"Ohayogozaimasu, Naruto-kun," she mumbled, her lips tickling my own. I smiled. We intertwined our fingers and we descended down to her house. "Naruto-kun, otou-sama isn't home right now so we should hurry before he comes back."

"Hai, Hai, Hinata-sama!" I replied playfully. She giggled with a blush and led me to a hallway next to her father's badges. Hung on the walls were portraits of what I'm guessing Hinata's family. There was one that caught my eye before I was pulled away. Hiashi and a woman who closely resembled Hinata were standing side by side while two little girls stood in front of them, all smiles on their faces. I felt a pang of jealousy in my pity heart. We climbed a staircase and quickly arrived at the top. Hinata led me to a door and placed her hand on the handle. She turned it quickly and opened it, the hinges creaking loudly. Her light lavender eyes glanced at the dark room then back at me.

"N-Naruto-kun only has an hour and half before otou-sama comes back. I'll be watching out, okay?" I nodded and kissed her soundlessly. I entered the room and closed the door behind me, letting the darkness swallow me up.


My blue eyes glanced around the room. A desk was pushed against a gray wall and a simple lamp sat beside it. I flicked it on and watched as the light showed me the scatter papers on the desk. The light illuminated the whole room and I glanced to the side and saw cabinets. I furrowed my brows when I found no lap top or computer. Was Hinata's dad that far behind in technology? I had no idea where to look now so I took my chances and went to the cabinets, opening the first drawer. It slid open, files upon files placed in manila folders made me weary. Where do I begin? I decided to be smart and read the titles on the left corner. I read every one quickly, trying to find a hint to the stranger's name.

Uzumaki Kushina. There was nothing that led me to believe that the person was involved with the police but my gut was telling me that the person's name would appear here. My fingertips touched a folder and for some odd reason my eyes were drawn to the title.

Case 000165: Akai Chishio no Habanero

Red Hot-Blooded Habanero? What an abnormal name for a case. Curiosity made me pick it up and I closed the drawer. I placed the manila folder on the wooden desk and sat down on the chair provided. My blue eyes were transfixed on the folder that contained case number 000165. I breathed in and out, for some nervous reason. I opened it with my fingertips and saw a picture with information beside it.

The woman on the picture had a smug look on her face, like she was proud that she accomplished something, and her red hair went low reaching her ankles. She wore a black leather jacket and a white shirt underneath it. Her black skirt was way too low for modern taste. Her violet eyes shone with a mischievous glint to it. I couldn't help but compliment her beauty. I shrugged, trying to shake off my nervousness. I read the information next to her picture.

DC Number: 000165

Name: Uzumaki Kushina

My eyes widened.

Statue Code Description: Murderer/ Leader of gang: Shi/ Robbery/ Escaped Prison/ Selling of illegal drugs/…

I cocked an eyebrow. It felt bad that I was related to someone like that. When I finally found someone who was related to me I found out that not only were they in jail but they were a murderer, such as myself. I turned the page, not bothering to read anymore. I narrowed my eyes at the old, yellow paper with someone's handwriting. On the top the date was October 12. I didn't register the fact that it was two days after my birthday and I settled within the chair and began to read.

I'm assigned case number 000165: Akai Chishio no Habanero. It's a difficult case and all police forces are close to despair. I began with the necessary facts and clues that Uzumaki-san has left behind in the multiple scenes where she was—the bodies and dropped drugs were necessary so I could keep going. Today, all police forces were sent after the criminal once we found information that was leaked from her own gang. She was to be crossing the border from Konohagakure no Sato to Uzushiogakure. Uzumaki-san had this all planned out, the papers she left behind in her worn out apartment indicates so. Once she steps foot on Uzushiogakure, not only would she be considered a free woman but she can never again step into Konoha. Not only is this bad but if she so much steps into that territory, Konoha won't be able to touch her. Uzushiogakure is an abandon town, its own small state where no rules are inscribed on stone. The chase began around eight at night. She and another person whom I identified later as Namikaze Minato were crossing the forest that separates both states.

Namikaze Minato was an ordinary citizen in Konoha, ever so loyal to its town/state. Namikaze-san met Uzumaki-san and fell in love. Namikaze-san planned on going with her, after all, they wedded secretly. My police force was right behind them when they all but vanished from our sights. Coming from the Hyuuga, my eyes had the advantage. I immediately told my squad to separate and meet back in half an hour. I wondered by myself and heard footsteps from my side. I followed silently, and at this point I wasn't aware where exactly my location was, but once I stepped out from the thick trees I spotted the suspects. With quick precision I killed not only Uzumaki Kushina but Namikaze Minato. Minato stepped in front of the startled woman and the bullet instantly killed them both.

I was about to report to Fugaku-san when I saw something behind the two bodies. There was an old wooden cabin and I stealthily made my way over when I heard a noise. It was something unusual and came to the conclusion that it was the sound of a baby's cry. I opened the door, aware of my surroundings, and my eyes landed on a crib where a bundle was laid in. After the whole incident, Fugaku-san ordered that no one can tell a soul about the incident that occurred. Uzumaki Kushina and Namikaze Minato were in Uzushiogakure territory that night and were killed on sight by my own hands. They were labeled free the moment they were in one mile from the cabin.

Uzumaki Kushina and Namikaze Minato had a child that was born on October 10.

The name of that child is Uzumaki Naruto.

I felt my heart stop and my body shook. I dropped the old papers on the desk that landed softly and everything else just froze. My only living family was killed that night by the hands of my love's father.

I won't ever be able to imagine how their voices would sound like or the chance to get their hugs when I come home. I won't ever be able to hear their advice when I asked for guidance or talk to them while laughing. I won't ever be able to tell them how happy I was to have them as my parents and as their son or how proud I was at the notion that we are a family. I won't ever be able to call Namikaze Minato as dad or Uzumaki Kushina as mom.

They died because of Hyuuga Hiashi.

This unbelievable rage coursed through my veins.

It's because of him that they're dead.

It's because of him that I won't be able to see them.

It's because of him that I'm treated the way I'm treated now.

It's because of him

"Is Naruto-kun almost done?" Hinata's voice rang through the whole room and I lazily dragged my eyes to the wooden door. "Naruto-kun, otou-sama is almost coming home." Otou-sama? How dare she call that man father when he killed my parents. Tears prickled the tips of my eyes and I immediately stood, the chair rolling away and colliding against the wall with a thump. I walked with heavy footsteps to the door and opened it with a slam.

I saw Hinata jump and look at me. She smiled, her eyes closed. Through half-lidded eyelids, I watched as her smile slowly disappeared to a thin line of lips and her eyes began to shine with worry. "Naruto-kun?" Her dainty hand touched my cheek and I glared at her hard.

Those eyes, those hands, that hair…everything resembled her father, the man that I despised now. With rage and the need to kill, my hand latched onto her throat. A struggle cry left her lips as I crashed her body against the wall. She yelped and I saw her eyes widened with hurt, fear, and worry. I snarled at her and I hit her once again against the wall, her body arching. My hand clamped tightly and I felt my nails dig into her skin.

"N-Naruto…" coughs, "…kun…" I felt her small hands touch my much larger ones and her eyes made eye contact with my own. "This isn't N-Naruto-kun! You wouldn't," heave, "hurt anyone!" Her small fingers tried to pry my own away from her throat but I growled and tightened my hold. She rested her pale hand on top of my own, our skin color a great contrast. "Naruto-kun, kudasai, listen."

Nothing made sense anymore. My need to kill has been subsided till today. All my deepest desires are loose and the closet thing I could let my anger out on was Hinata. A part of me knew what I was doing, that I was hurting her, but the bigger part, the part that has yearned for a family, was blaming her.

"Naruto-kun wants to marry me, right?" I stopped, my eyes widened. "Naruto-kun loves me so much and he's told me before. He wants to be with me forever even though he hasn't said so. I could see it in his blue eyes that shine with love and yearning every time he looks at me. Naruto-kun wouldn't hurt me because he loves me so much that he'll scream it out to the world." By now my hands has slacken from her throat and she grabbed my hand that lingered a few inches away from her skin. "Naruto-kun said he wanted to change, wanted to be normal but I think he's got it the wrong way.

"I think Naruto-kun just wants to stop killing people. Normal is something that is defined differently from people to people. N-Naruto-kun kills people because something happened. I-I don't know what happened to cause Naruto-kun to act as such but I know that with a little bit of help Naruto-kun can change for the better but never be normal." She began to do patterns on the top of my hand, sending shivers up and down my skin. I looked at her as she smiled down at my hand, my fingers hanging limply on the edge of her hand.

"Naruto-kun loves me very much and I love Naruto-kun a lot too. So I wouldn't want him to feel guilty that he has hurt me when he comes back to his senses. I wouldn't want that…because when Naruto-kun feels down I f-feel it too." She looked up; her eyes wide with tears descending down her now red cheeks. "I still love you, Naruto-kun, now and forever more."

I crushed her against my chest, finally gaining back to my senses. I didn't want to see the slight blue purple marks on her neck knowing I'm the one who caused them. I didn't know what caused me to receive such a gift from Kami-sama and I vowed to never take advantage of it but now…what have I done? I caused her harm and fear—a look that I never again want to see directed at me. I heard her sob, mingling with my own.

"N-Now and forever more, Hinata-chan. And t-that's a promise." I kissed her in a chaste way on her forehead, making her sigh and lean on me. I let my fingertips descend down her whole back, mesmerized on how petite she feels and looks.

The front door opened and closed. A voice ranged out the whole empty house. "Hinata are you home?"

I looked at Hinata with wide eyes and she mirrored my facial expression. She looked at the stairs, the sound of footsteps approaching. She grabbed my hand and led me down the hallway, away from the opened door.

Shit, I didn't close the door nor clean up the mess I made. Hinata opened a door and her scent almost knocked me over. I didn't have time to look over her room before I was gently led to her closet. She opened it and whispered, "Naruto-kun must stay here till I drive otou-sama away. P-please be careful." She initiated the kiss. It was innocent and sweet as her, a representation of her character. She slid the door close and stepped a few inches away before there was a knock on her door; both of us took a deep breath before she meekly said, "C-Come in."

The door opened to what I presumed to be Hiashi. "Hinata," he said in an authoritative tone, "why didn't you respond when I called you?"

"G-Gomennasai, otou-sama." I saw Hinata bow before her father. My eyes flickered to him and anger rushed through my veins making me grip my pants.

"Why didn't you take off your shoes at the entrance?"

"O-Oh." Hinata looked down and blushed. "Sumimasen, otou-sama, but I was in a rush to g-get in." It was believable, I thought. I glanced at him and saw him narrow his eyes before it softened. He sighed; a large masculine hand ran through his long hair.

"Hinata, I didn't come here only for that issue. Did you go into my office?"

I saw her visibly stiffen and her eyes glanced at the floor.

"That's enough of an answer. Hinata, don't go inside there again." He turned, hand on the handle, and he opened it wide. A foot was out but the other stayed inside. I saw Hinata tilt her head at the direction of her father. "I didn't mean to kill them…" was all he said before he left the room, officially sealing us with a click.

She turned to my direction when I slowly slid the door open. "N-Naruto-kun, what did he…?"

I sighed and motioned for her to sit down on her bed beside me. I hugged her, wanting physical contact while I retold the case file I found on her father's cabinets. I cried on a few occasions and I was happy that I had a shoulder to cry on. Sometimes the emotions overrode me and I'll stop all together to simply sob and cry out while hugging her closer or gripping her sweater. She'll sooth me with soft whispers and caressing my cheek with her hands. I mourned my lost with her by my side. I'll never be able to have a bond with my parents. It shook me to the core and sprouts of anger would bubble up. I'll tense and she'll hug me tighter, trying to find a way to calm down. We lied on her bed, her ear pressed on my chest to hear my beating heart while my fingers tangled in her hair. I'll blabber on about my parents, trying to find the optimistic side to this situation like she suggested. How would their voices sound like? How was my mother around my father? How was my father like? Can my mom cook? Did either of them like ramen? Hinata would pipe in every once in a while, saying that maybe I took after my dad since I looked nothing like my mom. I laughed and told her that it was a possibility. My eyes were swollen and itchy, the tears long gone. After my confession, I apologized profoundly. I stood up and dropped to my knees, my forehead pressed on the floor. I kept mumbling how I didn't deserve her. I laid a hand on her, something that I never thought will happen. But it did and I left behind bruises to remind me of my out of control anger. She dropped by my side and hugged me tightly. "It's not your fault, Naruto-kun. Everyone would have reacted that way so don't blame it on you." How selfless can she get?

I hugged her and told her how I wish to keep her in my arms forever. I stayed in her room for hours, enjoying the comfort and flesh on flesh contact. I glanced down at her closed eyes, her nose pressed firmly on my chest, and her fingers gripping my shirt. I never really understood how life worked. I just thought it was some fucked up shitty of a system where Kami-sama would randomly select people to receive bad or good luck. But now, I'm rethinking my own theory. Maybe she's my light to my world of darkness, the wall I could lean on, and the one sole person I need for my life. Maybe it was destiny for us to be together.

And I'll be damned that I'll let anyone cut the red thread of our destiny.