"Never trust anyone too much... Remember the devil was once an angel..." ~Tokyo Ghoul

.39

His feet carried him swiftly, chasing after her. Childish laughters echoing around them. He could feel the warm breeze against his cheek as they ran through the tall grass tickling his skin as they ran through the field. Her red hair was a stark contrast against the lively bright green.

A fond memory.

The dream continued. He could have lived in this memory forever. It was the first memory he had of her smiling. Laughing. His oh so serious sister, who never smiled. Never laughed.

It was the first time he actually saw how deeply she loved him.

The dream turned.

Clouds rolling in. Thunder, lightning ringing out. The look on her young face changed, fear and worry settled over it. His body came to a sudden stop, his feet refused to move, his limbs wouldn't listen. And he watched helplessly as darkness swallowed her whole.

She cried out to him, begging him to save her, and his body remained frozen.

The ground beneath their feet began to crumble into the darkness. He watched in helplessness.

She fell.

Naruto sat up, heavy breaths, sweat pooling on his temple. He shook his head trying to shake that terrible image from his head. It was only a dream. Only a dream. But it had felt so awfully real.

He never wanted to see that look on her face. Never wanted to feel so helpless when it came to her.

Mitomi was his sister, his family, his responsibility. He had to protect her. He had to save her. How could he ever be Hokage if he couldn't keep the person who mattered the most to him safe?

"You alright?" He looks up, Jiriaya is standing in the doorway of the hotel room. His expression is odd. Naruto wasn't sure he wanted his sensei to look at him that way.

Something about the look didn't seem right. Just slightly off. He shook his head once more to clear his thoughts.

"Yeah, just a weird dream. So what cool new technique are you teaching me today?" Naruto could force the act, he knew what people expected of him.

He wasn't stupid.

She'd never let him be. Mito always wanted what was best for him. She made sure he was capable without her.

"I was thinking perhaps it was time you learned fuinjutsu." A warning bell rings. Naruto forces his features to remain the same.

"Ugh. That's boring sensei, I want to learn cool justu. 'Sides No offense but if I wanted to learn fuinjutsu Mito would have already shown me." It was true. When she started her studies when they were still small children she offered to teach him too.

Naruto hadn't been interested. Honestly he still wasn't.

The odd look in his teacher's eyes remained as the old man laughed. Something wasn't right here.

"Ah figures. Wouldn't want to step on your sisters toes I suppose." Naruto forced a grin.

No you didn't want to do that.. Mitomi was not quick to forgive.

She never forgot either.

Suddenly Naruto missed his sister more than he had in a long while. He hoped she was okay, hoped that she was alright without him. That she wasn't going crazy without him. This was the longest they'd ever been apart.

He missed her. He wanted her to be alright. But the feeling building in the out of his being began to make him think she wasn't.

Something just wasn't sitting well with him. Something wasn't right here.

No one had ever tried to get him to learn her jutsu before.

…

Regret. Instant regret resounded over me. I shouldn't have agreed to this. I could have just not gone along with Ino insane demand. But I let curiosity get the best of me. Damn. There was no one else I could blame for this other than myself.

Typical.

"So Mito-chan do you like Shikamaru, because as his teammate I have to make sure you aren't going to hurt him." I wasn't about to dignity the immaturity with a response.

"Geese have some tack Ino-pig. Mitomi is still a superior." Ah it seems Sakura was starting to level out. More sensible.

A raised a single brow at the both of them, what was the purpose of this. Surely they knew by now that I didn't do inane crushes. I don't get whimsical at the knee thinking about boys.

There is a scoff in the distance, from the other end of the hot spring. A set of chum in core girls. Probably a few years older than us.

I should have left at that moment.

"A heartless monster like that, capable of having a crush. Pathetic." Barely whispered. They wanted to be heard.

Heartless.

Monster.

I refused to be subjected to such disrespect. My blood began to boil. I could show them a monster. If they really thought they wanted to see one.

Words. As we already discovered, they were dangerous. They could cut deep. No matter how hard or long I tried to ignore them. It was only a matter of time before they got to me.

I wasn't about to let them see how badly they hurt me.

So I left.

"Mitomi-San wait!" It's Hinata's soft voice that calls out to me. I don't stop, carefully gathering my things. Throwing my damp hair into the messiest ponytail ever. My heart is racing, and all the sudden I know something horrible is about to happen.

My eyes sting.

I don't know why this is getting to me so badly.

But all I know is if I don't get out of here quicker, I was about to expose myself. Maybe my emotions weren't as stable as I'd pretended they'd been.

"Mitomi-san please don't go." A hand reaches out to touch me, just as tears start to spill out the corners of my eyes. Briefly I make eye contact with the Hyuuga girl.

I never want to be looked at like that again.

I didn't want her pity.

I shunshined away from there. From the emotions I didn't know what to do with. From people who were trying to be my friend. People I didn't know if I trusted yet for that. From their lingering eyes and pity.

I didn't need their pity.

…

Ino sucked in a deep breath through her nose, before turning heated eyes on the two chunin core girls. "I hope you realize that you'll be reported for that comment." The Yamanaka heir states simply as she lifts her body out of the onsen. Now she had to fix this.

Her father wasn't going to be pleased if she somehow managed to make whatever was going on with Mitomi worse. And Ino did not want to have to deal with that lecture. Sakura who had been sitting next to her sighed as she followed her friend out.

"What are you taking up for her for? It's not like she thinks you're her friends. SO why even bother, what's it gonna matter." It seemed someone was feeling brave, the chunin girl scoffed as she spoke. Ino watched as something inside Sakura snaped.

"If the two of you cannot seem to fathom why talking badly about another member of this village is bad then obviously neither of you seem to take your jobs as shinobi very seriously. Uzamki-san is a jonin, and no matter your personal dislike for her the behavior you displayed was downright disrespectful." The pinkette huffed before tightening the towel around her chest and storming away.

Ino gave them one more distainfilled look before exiting the onsen. Now she had to fix this. The Yamanaka heiress has one lingering thought.

What exactly had Mitomi done to warrant such hatred?

It just didn't make sense. None of it. Ino would get to the bottom of this.

XOXOX

Hey my lovelies! I hope everyone is holding up ok!

Please enjoy this chapter!

I hope you all have a fabulous day!

Sincerely, La'Rae