Hours later, the sun was starting its slow descent in the sky casting the village in orange, red, and yellow. Long shadows stretched throughout the village and a gentle breeze blew threw the trees. A single young Kunoichi sat alone on top of a hill that overlooked the entire village, a brown leather bag sat forgotten beside her as a scroll lay open in front of her. The words scribbled in the paper told a very dark, and sad tale of a people who had lost everything. Including their lives.

It took most of the day for Hisako to gather the strength to even open the scroll. Screw dinner. Screw training. Screw whatever other plans she may have had that day. Even if she was supposed to train with Neji this afternoon at the Hyuga Estate. Yeah. She blew him off too. After a long time of idly staring at the scroll, not finding the courage to actually pick it up and read it, she stood up again and began pacing in front of the scroll.

This has been the pattern she's fallen into. Well, at first she had spent the majority of the time crying. Alone. Which is exactly what she wanted. She didn't want anyone to see her like this. Vulnerable and scared. She kept going over the events that had occurred, and then she went over what she had said in the hospital room. The last thing she said to Akio, even though he had already died.

What if I want the Glacier Village to stay dead?

It was such a horrible thing to say. Such a horrible realization for her to have of herself. The moment she met a survivor of the Glacier Village, sure, she was thrilled, excited, and couldn't believe it! There was another survivor! She wasn't sure how he survived, but he did. And he traveled all this way for a message for her. But then, as the realization hit that if he survived if even she was able to survive then there had to be more survivors, a sort of selfish seed planted itself in her heart.

A dark, horrible desire that Hisako was terrified to admit, terrified to acknowledge, sprouted ugly roots inside of her very soul.

How selfish did she have to be to wish an entire village dead just so she didn't have to face a destiny she didn't want to have any part of? How selfish did she have to be to say those words out loud? To a dead man no less. A dead man who traveled from who knows how far, to give Hisako a story. His last act was to deliver this message. To tell her that there could be more survivors out there, and she had to be selfish enough to say those words.

She was absolutely disgusted with herself.

But, a small part of her realized that she had to recognize the darkness that resided within her. Every human had these dark emotions. She was not immune to them. The best she could do was accept these emotions, try to repress them, and move on with her life. But, in order to move on with her life, she had to sit down and read this scroll. The story that it held within it.

She sat down again, her eyes gazing over the scroll and the words written on there. Her expression was sour as she pursed her lips together planting both hands firmly on either side of the scroll as she leaned over it. Her vision blurred again, she felt her heart racing and sweat beaded her forehead and the back of her neck as her breathing got shallow.

She bit back a scream of frustration as she stood up and began pacing again. At this rate, she would never gather the courage she needed to read this scroll. She was a coward. And her thoughts began drifting that way again, this wasn't the first time her mind has done this to her today.

She wanted to rip out her hair in frustration.

"I have to read this damned scroll!" Hisako shouted up to the sky, to no one but herself and the birds and wildlife that listened, "I'm going to read it, now!"

Hisako sat back down in front of the scroll with a huff. This time, she grabbed the scroll, holding it up in front of her, and took a deep breath as she began finally reading the words. Her mind actually processed what she was reading this time.

July 5th,

I have again, recommended that Lady Hyogakage reconsider her plan. With the state of the world, and with the majority of the villages all having a Jinchuuriki to ensure their power, the Hyogakage is becoming obsessed with finding a solution to this problem. The Glacier Village does not have a Jinchuuriki that possesses a Tailed-Beast, but she wants to find a solution. To do that, she believes the Koori No Oni is the answer.

July 10th,

Lady Hyogakage is fearful. The villagers are becoming restless, and my advice is falling on deaf ears. Lady Hyogakage believes that if she doesn't find strength in a chakra beast of sorts, the villagers will demand a new Hyogakage before the election period. She believes that by strengthening the village through power, new jutsus, and a chakra beast that she will solidify her position as Hyogakage until she can train her daughter so that her daughter can win the election and succeed her.

July 20th,

Lady Hyogakage is planning a trip to visit a member of the Yami Clan. I have advised against such a visit. However, she believes that the Yami Clan has a way to seal the Koori No Oni inside of a person. I believe she will attempt to seal the beast inside of her own daughter. I warned her of the dangers of sealing a Chakra Beast inside an older child, and Lady Hyogakage doesn't seem to care for the dangers that her daughter might face.

July 31th,

So far, dozens of shinobi alone have defected from the village due to the distrust they now have for Lady Hyogakage. We lost Shiro Hino today. Even though Shiro has been loyal to the Glacier Village for many years, even he has decided that he cannot trust the direction that the village is going in. We have also lost many villagers who want to live in a village that will not hinder their lifestyles with high taxes and a leader they cannot trust. At this rate, the people will surely demand a new Hyogakage. I fear that Lady Hyogakage may do something rash to try and keep her place as the Hyogakage.

It was months of similar reports and updates. The same old story. Lady Hyogakage obsesses over strength, and power, forcing her daughter to become the one to possess the Koori No Oni. Hidden trips to talk to a man, High Lord Yami about making plans to seal the Koori No Oni inside her own daughter.

It was terrifying how power obsessed, how power crazed, the previous Lady Hyogakage was. She was evil. She wanted to put herself, her own power in her position, in front of the village that she swore to protect. She was willing to talk with the enemy and make plans with them, to ensure her daughter's succession of the title of Hyogakage. It was despicable.

There were also updates of more shinobi and villagers who defected from the village. They fled from the village in groups instead of staying and trying to fight the current Hyogakage.

Then, there was a slight change.

December 1st,

A group of villagers and shinobi have begun a protest outside of the Hyogakage's Estate. They have demanded answers for where the Hyogakage has been leaving to, and some are even demanding a revote to bring in a new Hyogakage. Lady Hyogakage has been avoiding these protestors, even going as far as arresting the villagers and shinobi involved. She refuses to answer their questions, which is only adding to the unrest in the village.

December 16th,

The Hyogakage has mentioned a date. She is making plans with the help of High Lord Yami to seal the Koori No Oni inside her very own daughter three months from now. I have continued to advise her that this idea will only lead to disaster. The Yami Clan cannot be trusted. However, my words go on deaf ears. With the continued protests from the villagers and shinobi, her patience is running thin and she feels that her options are limited. She has told me that sealing the Koori No Oni inside her daughter is the only way to solidify her position and to show the village that her family is the only one capable of protecting the village through their strength and power.

January 25th,

Her plans continue. Despite the terrible risks to her daughter. She has agreed to make arrangements for the Yami Clan to enter sensitive, vital areas of the village to seal the Chakra Beast inside her daughter on March 16th.

March 1st,

We have about two weeks before her plans are put into action. I don't have a good feeling about this. Lady Hyogakage has become obsessed with power, with strength. She has become obsessed with the power that comes with the title of Hyogakage. This position has become a type of drug to her and she will do whatever she has to to keep that title, to keep her power. Even at the cost of her own family. And maybe even her own village.

The rest of the logs Hisako could already guess how they went. They all lead up to the day when Lady Hyogakage allowed the Yami Clan permission to enter the sensitive areas of the village. Letting them free the Koori No Oni onto the village, how they first lead the attack with a Genjutsu that convinced the villagers or those without shinobi training that friends were foes. Which is why Sana was killed by her own mother. It depicted the strategic attack on the Glacier Village conducted by the Yami Clan.

And it brought up horrible memories for Hisako.

Her hands trembled on the scroll as she continued to read the logs Akio was able to write down.

March 17th,

I survived the attack on the village by escaping through hidden tunnels in the mountains. I don't know if anyone else was able to escape. The attack was brutal and bloody and I might have been the only survivor of this horrible disaster.

This part of the scroll had some stains of red on it. Like dried blood. Akio had been injured during the attack and was actively bleeding as he was writing this log entry. Hisako bit the inside of her mouth to keep her chin from trembling.

April 1st,

I heard a rumor that there was one survivor from the destruction. Young Lady Fuyu survived. I have decided that I will find her, no matter how long it takes, and I will deliver this story to her. The records of the Glacier Village's last days. What leads up to its destruction.

If I have learned anything from watching the fall of my noble and beautiful village, it's that absolute power corrupts absolutely. And there is no exception to that rule.

Hisako took in a shaky breath, her eyes straining to read the scroll as the sunlight slowly faded over the horizon. She set the scroll down. That was it. That was the end of the scroll. He had told his tale. She had some of the questions that she had answered. Even though it didn't make things any easier.

"Hisako!"

Hisako jumped at the sound of her name being called and she turned around as Neji walked over to her, his expression serious. His eyes were narrowed on her as he stood beside her, staring down at her with his hands shoved in his pockets a frown on his face.

"Neji!" she exclaimed, surprised as she returned his stare.

"I've been looking everywhere for you," Neji scolded, finally sitting down beside her, "we had a sparring session scheduled for today,"

Hisako let out a long sigh and pulled her knees to her chest, her green eyes went to the scroll in front of her.

"I know," she replied quietly.

"Then, why weren't you there?"

"I uh, had a story to read," she replied, grabbing the scroll and handing it to Neji.

Neji took the scroll, raising an eyebrow at her in question. It was getting too dark for him to read the scroll. She looked around and saw a dry stick in the grass near her and grabbed it. She pinned the stick between her knees and used both hands to perform the Fireball Jutsu. She figured this would be great practice for her to control her chakra. She was able to blow out a small enough fireball that had just enough strength to catch the top of the stick on fire, creating a small torch.

She handed the makeshift torch to Neji and he took it, holding it over the scroll so he could read it. She sat in silence as he read the same story she had just read. The sun set completely, and the entire village was dark. Lights down in the village started to blink out as the villagers turned in for the night. Hisako doubted she would be able to sleep tonight.

After a while, Neji gave the scroll back to Hisako. She took it and shoved it back into the leather bag still resting her chin on her knees.

"So that's what happened to the Glacier Village," Neji whispered quietly.

Hisako nodded her head, "Yeah. Turns out Lady Hyogakage is responsible. She destroyed the village she swore to protect all because she wanted power. I'm going to give this scroll to Lord Hokage so he can properly document it himself, but, it took me a long time to find the courage to even read that scroll. That's why I didn't show up for our sparring today. I'm sorry,"

Neji let out a sigh, "it's alright. I think that's the first session you didn't show up for. Next time, at least let me know. When you didn't show up, I thought something had happened to you,"

Hisako managed to give him a small smile. Neji was concerned for her. It warmed her heart despite how dead she felt inside.

"Well, do you want to head home?" she asked, standing up.

Neji stood up with her and together they walked home.

On the way home, they ran into Naruto who was walking around the village late at night, his hands clasped behind his head.

"Oh! Naruto!" Hisako called out, waving to the familiar blond.

Naruto stopped walking, and turned to Hisako and Neji, "yeah?" he asked, tilting his head to the side.

"I'm sorry I had to leave earlier, how did it go with Hinata?" Hisako asked.

"Oh! That," Naruto replied, she could tell that he was trying to repress a laugh and failing as his shoulders trembled and his blue eyes squinted, "Hinata fainted when I tried to talk to her,"

Hisako brought her hand up to her face and made a satisfying slapping sound as she hid her face in the palm of her hand.

"I knew it," she grumbled to herself shaking her head.

"Lady Hinata fainted?" Neji asked, his gaze dancing between the two of them.

"Yeah, I don't know, Hinata is kinda weird," Naruto replied with a crooked frown.

Hisako let out a sigh, "she's not weird," Hisako scolded, "anyways, I think you'll find Hinata to be a very sweet girl. She's just gotta get over her own insecurities first,"

She could feel Neji's disdain pouring off him like a waterfall as they spoke about his cousin and she wiggled in her spot under his scrutinizing glare. Every time she mentioned his cousin, this was the result. But, he didn't say anything more. Hisako waved to Naruto as Neji and Hisako started to walk back towards the Hyuga Estate.

"I know, I know," Hisako muttered to Neji, "despite destiny and all that, Lady Hinata has feelings for Naruto. I think it's rather sweet. I don't know where any of it will go, but, maybe they could at least be friends,"

Neji tsked beside her, averted his gaze away from hers, his hands back in his pockets, "Her destiny is to lead the Hyuga Clan. Nothing more. Nothing less,"

"Yeah, I know," Hisako replied, puffing out her cheeks in response.

When they got to the Hyuga Estate, Hisako didn't even say goodnight to Neji before she went to her room, collapsing onto her bed and staring up at the ceiling for many, many hours.

The next day, she met with Lord Hokage in his office for some of her extra training. She was exhausted from staying up all night, but it wasn't nearly as bad as the previous mission she went on with Guy Sensei. She was sure they stayed up for four nights without a solid hour of sleep.

She set the scroll on Lord Hokage's desk, "It depicts the destruction of the Glacier Village, like what Akio said. I think you might want to record what's important in there. Put it to record," Hisako told Lord Hokage quietly.

Lord Hokage nodded and took the scroll, setting it aside in another pile he had. Both of them were silent for an awkward moment, Hisako staring at Lord Hokage and Lord Hokage continued to work on some of his other paperwork.

Lord Hokage broke the silence first, "Is there something else you wish to say?" he asked quietly, looking up at Hisako with an all-knowing look.

Hisako let out a sigh. There was one more thing on her mind that she wanted to discuss with Lord Hokage.

"Yes Lord Hokage," she started, her voice quiet, "it's about one of the last things Akio told me before he died,"

"Oh?" this grabbed Lord Hokage's attention and he looked up, raising an eyebrow, "continue,"

"Well, he told me that there were defectors from the village. People left the Glacier Village because they didn't trust the current Hyogakage. So, he believes that there are survivors of the Glacier Village's destruction. He told me it was my destiny to find them. To bring them together again, to revive the village,"

"Is that so?" Lord Hokage replied, his voice nonchalant despite the swirling emotions that were swimming inside Hisako.

Hisako nodded her head in response.

"And is that something you wish to do? Leave the Leaf Village to hunt down the last surviving members of the Glacier Village to see if there's enough remaining to revive the village?"

Hisako dropped her gaze, frowning as her hands formed fists at her sides. She knew the answer. The answer was no. She never wanted to do that. She wanted to stay in the Leaf Village. She wanted to continue to live her life as a shinobi here. But, was that the answer that the Suspended Hyogakage would say? Was this some sort of a test for her? To see if she really did want to revive the village?

But, she couldn't lie. Not to herself, and not to Lord Hokage.

"No. I don't want to follow that path. I want to stay here, in the Leaf Village," Hisako finally responded, almost sounding sad as she raised a bashful gaze to Lord Hokage.

As she said it, she couldn't help but feel shame for her words. She was the Suspended Hyogakage. Shouldn't the duty of reviving her village be on her? But, selfishly, she didn't want that.

Lord Hokage gave her a small smile, "You are but a Genin still Hisako. I do not believe that Akio would have wanted a Genin with still much to learn about the ways of being a Shinobi to leave the safety of a village and travel on her own. If you wish to stay here in this village, then that is what you shall do. One day, when you're ready maybe your life will lead you in that direction. Who knows? Akio found you here. Maybe you'll find other survivors in similar ways. But for now, just work on becoming the best Shinobi you can. Whatever destiny he believes you have can wait,"

Hisako gave Lord Hokage a grateful smile, giving him a small bow in appreciation, "Thank you, Lord Hokage. I will continue to work hard for this beautiful village. I love the Leaf Village, and I never want to leave,"

"This world has a funny way of surprising us, my child," Lord Hokage told her gently.

She nodded in understanding and turned to leave his office. Going to his office, she felt like a ten ton weight was on her back, but as she told Lord Hokage of her true desires, and he agreed with her desire to stay in the village, that weight had been lifted off her shoulders. Maybe her entire identity didn't revolve around her status as Suspended Hyogakage. She was supposed to keep it a secret so that she could attempt to live a normal life here in the Leaf Village. Now, granted, her life would never be exactly normal, but she could at least try.