There are no secrets that time does not reveal.

-Jean Racine


"The first I remember of her is from the academy." Naruto began.

"She used to be really shy back then, always stuttering and blushing."

Sasuke nodded, eyebrows furrowing as he tried to recall his time at the academy. He faintly remembered seeing her form hidden behind a tree bark, watching him and Naruto train.

She was probably the only girl who wasn't interested in him.

"I used to think she was really weird back then. It wasn't until the Chunnin Exams that I realized how tough she truly was. She fought Neji, who hated her at that time. Though she fought bravely, she lost."

Sasuke watched Naruto, as his eyes glazed over. Then suddenly, as if remembering something, they came into sharp focus, expression darkening.

"Neji almost killed her." He said quietly, "According to Kurenai-sensei, she had a heart attack and the medics said she had only few minutes."

"But, she lived." Sasuke cut in.

"Yeah, she did." Naruto paused, frowning in thought.

"After that, I went to train with Pervy Sage, so I don't know what happened. But when I returned, she had just come back from a mission." As if relieving the moment, Naruto's breath caught.

"She looked like a mess, but more than that, there was something very different about her."

"Different how?"

Naruto scratched his neck in response.

"I dunno how to explain it. But, she seemed more happy, relaxed. It was like Neji when he found the truth about his father. She seemed ...free.

For some time, she stayed like that. Hanging out with everyone, and having fun. But then, slowly, she started distancing herself. It was barely noticeable. In fact, I don't even think she herself realized it. She just started preferring to train alone, and was always busy."

Sasuke raised his eyebrows at that, a dry smile on his lips.

"You asked her out?"

Caught off guard, Naruto turned red, sputtering incoherent sentences, denial clear in his tone.

In response, Sasuke rolled his eyes.

"Continue."

Composing himself, Naruto cleared his throat.

"Then, one day, she was given a mission. It was nothing special. At least that's what Granny Tsunade said. But something happened on that mission. When she returned, she had changed completely.

She was always lost in thought, and looked sad. Her eyes were always red, and she even refused to talk to anyone of us.

It became so bad that she stopped eating, and when she did eat, she always ended up throwing it up. Not only that, but she barely slept too. There were dark circles under her eyes, and when we asked what was wrong, she refused to answer."

Naruto took a deep breath. He blinked, as he realized something.

"She was with us on your retrieval mission. She fainted twice while we were returning back to Konoha. At that, Kakashi-sensei told us to go ahead, while he took her to a nearby doctor. According to that doctor, it was only stress, and a lack of eating."

Sasuke nodded slowly, trying to piece together what he knew about Hinata.

Had she met Itachi on that mission? Or before that?

He was snapped out of his thoughts when Naruto decided to continue.

"Then, the Spring Festival came around, and just as quickly as she had changed before, she changed again. She came out, and apologized for worrying us all. She spent the Festival with us, and laughed and ate and-"

Naruto stopped abruptly, his first clenching at the memory. Sasuke glanced at him, taking in his locked jaw. Clearly, something personal had also happened at the festival.

Then, Naruto shook his head.

"For a day, the old Hinata was back."

He lowered his eyes, lost in the memory.

"That night, I--we--went to sleep hoping things would be better. But by the time we woke up, she was gone."

Sasuke blinked.

"Just like that?"

"Yeah, she completely disappeared. We spent a month searching for her, but after that, her search was postponed. We couldn't do must to change Granny Tsunade's mind, as the war was about to start. She said we needed to utilize the time for war preparations. We had already lost so many resources looking for you, she said, and we needed to rearrange our priorities.

But, as soon as the war was over, we searched for her again. But, of course, by then, she had gone far, far away. We couldn't find her."

There was silence, as Sasuke frowned, trying to make sense of everything. There was no specific pattern or indication of her meeting with his brother.

"At first, we thought that she had been kidnapped. But, later we found a letter."

Sasuke's eyes lit up.

Finally something that could offer an explanation.

"A letter?"

Naruto nodded, pulling something out of his pocket. The paper was yellow and wrinkled with time, and the writing in it was slightly faded, with ink smudging from some words.

Tears, Sasuke realized, The ink had bled through the paper, where the tears of her loved ones had fallen.

Shaking himself slightly, Sasuke frowned, his eyebrows furrowing as he read what the letter said.

Dear Everyone,

By the time you read this, I hope to be gone. I understand that for the past few days, I have been different. I apologize for worrying you, though it was not my intention to do so. I was dealing with some things, that's all.

The truth is, something has happened. I didn't mean for it to, but now I must face the consequences of what I've done. I knew it was wrong, but if I had a chance to change it, I won't. In fact, I don't regret anything. Even worse, I'd do it all over again.

Rest assured, Lady Hokage, for it brings no harm to the village in any way. As long as I'm away, that is. If I were to stay, chaos would ensue, and I do not wish for that.

I must beg of you not to search for me. Please. I am leaving behind my headband, as I do not consider myself deserving of it.

Lastly, I'd like to thank you all for always being there for me, and helping me be what I am today.

Thank you, My Hokage, for showing me the wonders of being a medic-nin. I'd chose it over fighting any day.

Thank you, Shizune, for being patient with me, even after the countless times I failed.

Thank you Hanabi, for giving me the strength to always keep going. You might not ever know it, but you are the one who has kept me alive on my missions. And, Hanabi, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for not being the elder sister you could be proud of.

Thank you Ino, for telling me all about flowers and helping me with my herbs. Thank you, also, for always having a listening ear and encouraging words.

Thank you, Choji, for introducing me to the delicious wonders of culinary.

Thank you, Shikamaru, for guiding me through the rules of Shoji. I hope to beat you one day.

Thank you, Lee, for always being kind enough to walk me home at night. It was very youthful of you.

Thank you, Tenten, for being the elder sister I never had. Thank you for being patient with me, when I was at my worst.

Thank you, My beloved brother, Neji, for being the first one to believe in me when we were kids. It is because of you, that I am the ninja I am today.

Thank you, Gai-sensei, for your inspiring words whenever I was down. It was you that strengthened my resolve, and taught me to keep trying, no matter what.

Thank you, Kakashi-sensei, for telling me that it was always your loved ones that came first. It was because of your kind words that I am making this decision today.

Thank you, Sakura, for allowing me to help in the hospital. It was a honour to work by your side.

Thank you, Sai, for introducing me to the world of art , paintings and pictures. You taught me to see beauty, even in the dullest of days.

Thank you, Kiba, for always lifting up my spirits. You never failed to make me laugh. Thank you, also, for never going easy on me during our spars, and thank you for the countless times you saved my life.

Thank you, Shino, for always being the closest of my friends and listening to all my problems. I can always relay on you to make me feel better. You have no idea just how many times you've made my life easier by just being there. So, a thousand times, Thank you.

Thank you, Kurenai, for not only being the mother I've always wanted, but also the one I've always needed. You took me in, when my own cast me out, and brought me up as your own. I shall never forget just how much you've done for me. You gave me confidence in myself, taught me to be the best "Me" I could be. And, Kurenai...you kept me alive too.

And last, but nowhere near the least, Thank you, Naruto for always being my light. It was your smile that saved me, and your words that guided me. Were it not for you, I would've given up a long time ago. You taught me to keep going, even if the world was against you. You told me that you would be the Hokage, and never have I once doubted your word.

I'm sorry that things turned out the way they did. I wish I could've been a better friend, sister, student and daughter.

I love you all. I always have, and I always will.

Yours forever,

Hinata.

Sasuke couldn't help but grimace after reading.

"Harsh."

Naruto couldn't help but snort.

"You should've seen everyone's face when Granny read it out to them. It was as if they were being summoned one by one by the devil himself."

"Though, Kurenai-sensei was the most effected. She looked like hell. Especially with, you know, Asuma-sensei's death and all."

"Hn."

"And now, five years later, she returns, just as suddenly as she had left."

Then, Naruto turned to Sasuke, as if suddenly remembering that he wasn't the only one who had been effected by Hinata's return.

"How are you feeling about this? You know, Itachi and all."

In response, he received a dry chuckle.

"I feel like shit."

Naruto snorted again.

"Short and precise. I like it."

Sasuke couldn't help but roll his eyes. Naruto grinned weakly, then turned serious.

"I'm serious, Sasuke. We care about you. And I know you care about us. You ought to open up more, tell us how you feel."

There was silence, as Naruto waited for Sasuke to put his thoughts in words.

"I still can't believe this." He began quietly, "I have so many questions, I don't even know where to begin. If Itachi had a child, why would he be willing to die? Unless, of course, he didn't know. But, if he had already planned on leaving Hinata, why would he marry her? It would only make sense for him to do so, if he knew about the child, but then why would he want to die?"

He clenched his fists, his voice getting hoarser with every sentence, the thoughts of his brother welcoming him into a dark place, with nothing but guilt and loneliness as his companions.

"I want to know what exactly happened between them."

"W-What?!"

Sasuke turned to see Naruto, his mouth gaping, face red. Had it not been below his dignity, Sasuke would've facepalmed. He did, however, roll his eyes.

"I didn't mean it like that, you dirty-minded idiot."

Naruto chuckled sheepishly, rubbing his neck.

"Yeah, me too. But, I suppose we can't do anything about it. We'll have to wait."