Kei-Kei Yuki: Hi, guess who's back in the Naruto fandom? Me! Also you guys, I'm thinking of paying a commission for a picture of Naruko and Sasuke, their appearances would be based after the war (like from The Last). I haven't thought of a pose yet, but I want something cute yet very Sasuke and Naruko!

Beta: Ana-DaughterofHades

Reflection

After returning to the village, the latest success of their mission left Sasuke feeling sour as he contemplated it in his hospital room. His mind recalled the events that took place, such as his battle with Aoi Rokushō and just how much stronger Naruko had gotten. 'Tch, that dobe keeps moving farther and farther away from me.' Once again, Sasuke was plagued with the image of Naruko walking ahead of him, leaving him behind. In contrast, he could do nothing but run, screaming out her name, only to watch as suddenly Itachi would appear in the dream and stab a kunai straight into Naruko's chest, quoting those same haunting words from their last encounter.

'Damn it, I can't allow her to surpass me! No one can protect that idiot but me! No matter the price I must pay. Never again will I allow him to take another person from me!' swore Sasuke, the vengeance of his hatred surging forth whenever the thought of Itachi taking away Naruko from him flashed in his head.

Naruko was an idiot and obnoxious, but nothing could change the fact that she was his dobe. Just as these words came to mind, Sasuke had his attention stolen by the sound of his hospital door opening and saw Sakura had arrived to visit. Peeking his eyes around her, he saw that it was just her that had come and denied his feeling of disappointment of Naruko not coming to visit him.

"Naruko was with me when I was out buying fruits and suggested I buy some tomatoes. For some reason, she believes you're obsessed with them!" joked Sakura, holding a bag in her arms before taking a seat beside Sasuke's bed, pulling out the apples she insisted on buying and the tomatoes before cutting them into bite-size pieces.

Staring at the dices of tomatoes on the plate beside his bed, Sasuke opened his mouth, hesitating a bit but decided to ask anyway. "Sakura, where's Naruko?" Stopping her cutting, Sakura stared at Sasuke, who, since she walked through the door, had barely paid her any attention but she told herself not to feel disappointed.

"Naruko said she was visiting the Hyuuga Residence today."

Sasuke, who was not expecting this answer, was shocked. "The Hyuuga Residence?"

"I know, I was just as shocked until she explained to me she was going to visit Hinata, who invited her over. I asked if she wanted me to escort her over, but she insisted on going by herself. Hopefully, the Hyuuga Clan won't give her such a hard time." Sakura reassured both herself and Sasuke, the former couldn't help but grit his teeth in annoyance once he found out Naruko ignored him all for the Hyuuga heiress' sake.

"Oh, but I did hear that the hospital will be releasing you today. So that's good news, Sasuke-kun~!" Sakura tried to cheer him up, but Sasuke had nothing but Naruko on his mind, so he didn't hear a word she said.

Over at the Hyuuga Clan, the family affair between the main and branch family seemed to have calmed down and reached a peaceful conclusion. Hinata had also reconciled with her father, who apologized for his past actions towards her.

So things were looking good, but that still didn't calm down Naruko when Hinata requested a visit from her. Standing in front of the large intimidating doors that led inside the Hyuuga Clan Residence, Naruko did not feel confident. If anything, she wanted to run away, threatened by the thought of the proud Hyuuga Clan looking down on her and calling her nasty things.

'No, Uzumaki Naruko is not a coward!' Naruko told herself, and as she was about to knock on the door, it opened for her and greeting her to come inside was a nice elderly Hyuuga woman from the branch family. After having so nicely welcomed her inside, Naruko found the Hyuuga to be... weird. Why? 'Cause they were all too nice to her and she didn't understand why!

"Naruko-sama, would you like something to drink?" another Hyuuga member politely asked when Naruko and Hinata were in the kitchen cooking.

"Hinata, why are all the Hyuuga members so weird?" Naruko asked Hinata, who was getting the rice to cook. Pausing in her movements, Hinata shot Naruko a confused, innocent look.

"What do you mean, Naru-chan?"

Making silly and embarrassing gestures with her arms and hands, Naruko pointed her finger to the Hyuuga male standing not that far away, watching over them and smiled in their direction. "You see that! Why are they all so nice?!" screamed Naruko.

Seeing her face all puffed and red, Hinata couldn't help but giggle and find Naruko extremely adorable at that moment. Witnessing Hinata laughing at her question, Naruko was left feeling flabbergasted. "Ano, did I miss something?" Naruko sheepishly scratched at her left cheek.

"Naru-chan is truly adorable but more than that you're kind. You not only became my friend when my clan forsook me but you even promised to break the seal of the branch family—thus earning a lot of brownie points from members of the Hyuuga Clan."

Hinata was aware of how Naruko's promise to Neji broke out amongst the branch members and caused a lot of them to look at her in a different light. "Is that so..." Naruko didn't know how to accept this answer, so she decided to focus her attention back on the onigiri she was making.

Naruko was in the middle dicing tomatoes when she felt someone staring at her, but when she looked in the direction of where she felt the source, she saw no one. "Huh? Maybe it was my imagination?" Standing on the other side of the wall, Hanabi stood there holding a hand over her beating heart.

'She almost caught me for a second there.' Hanabi had wanted to see just what was so special about the blonde that her older sister seemed to cherish above everything else in the world.

"By the way, Naruko, who are you making onigiri for?" asked Hinata, ignoring her little sister on the other side of the wall spying on them.

"They're for Sasuke-teme. During our last mission, he got himself hurt, so I decided to honor him with my great cooking skills. Tch, stupid bastard probably won't feel any gratitude for my kindness." Naruko may have sounded as if she was fussing over Sasuke, but milky-white eyes could spot the hint of fondness in those cerulean blue eyes.

Such affection sprung forth complicated feelings for Hinata as she cut the vegetables that laid on the cutting board. "Mm, it seems you and Sasuke have gotten quite close during your time as teammates."

Pausing a moment to think over Hinata's words, recalling the many moments she and Sasuke have spent together, a smile made its way onto Naruko's face. "Yeah, I guess you can say that," said the blonde, suddenly feeling anxious to barge through Sasuke's door and hand him the fresh handmade onigiris with tomatoes filling.

Unaware that during her visit at the Hyuuga Clan, Sasuke had an encounter with four individuals and the outcome of his meeting with them had sprung an end to their blissful time of peace.

End of Reflection