Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to it's respective owners.
A/N: The lines in brackets that are not in italics are lyrics from the song "Rainy Days", by the Heartsdales.
The one thing she knows that she will regret is dying behind a mask, as someone that she isn't (but we all need something to cover our faces with once in a while). She knows that the choice (it was never really there) of becoming part of the ANBU was supposed to be hers, but the decision was purely her father's. If she had wanted to quit, she might have been able to, but that option was clearly in her past now (behind me or behind you?), and not something that she can go back to. Her mask (designed to protect our identities, at times I feel like it's actually strangling me) was given a tiger's face, but the more she gazes at it, the more it looks like a mouse. Maybe as a joke from the painter (how easily a stranger saw through me and my lies).
(Nobody cares no more, but I gotta keep movin' on and on)
She steps into the forest, and remembers many things that she won't ever forget. Beside her, Kiba (how precious good friends are) reached for her hand, squeezed it once, and let go. He turned towards her and smiled apologetically (more than anything, I just want to hold onto your hand, if only for one more minute) before focusing his attention back to the leader, who was debriefing the small team on the mission that will be their deaths. Hinata thinks of removing her mask (the opponent should be able to see who they are fighting; a human, and not some killing machine), but decides against it.
(No matter what goes on, I just gotta keep walkin' on and on, though the rainy days are here)