Sasuke gazed at the card once more while holding his phone in his other hand. He sighed, feeling conflicted about trusting Naruto's advice after he was the one who left. With a defeated slump of his shoulders, he crumpled the paper and tossed it into the trash. As he walked out of the room, he caught sight of a picture of himself and Hinata on his wall, prompting frustration with himself. Turning back, he retrieved the business card from the trash, straightened it out, and dialed the number on his phone, ultimately pressing the call button.

Ring…Ring… Ri-

"I've been waiting for your call… Sasuke Uchiha," a deep voice resonated from the other line, catching Sasuke off guard.

"Waiting?" he asked, feeling confused by what he was hearing.

"Naruto told me you would call… eventually. I'm Ogata Jiraiya, as you can read on the paper you have in your left hand," the voice explained.

Sasuke couldn't help but feel a surge of fear, wondering how this person knew about the paper in his hand. He quickly scanned the room for hidden cameras, but the voice reassured him, stating there were none.

"Calm down. There's no hidden cameras in your room. I'm just very good at what I do," Jiraiya chuckled. "Naruto told me that Hinata Hyuga, the missing girl, was his girlfriend and your best friend. He shared some information with me, but is there anything else you'd like to add?"

Sasuke paused, trying to gather his thoughts. He looked at a picture by his bed before placing the business card down and picking up the photo of Hinata. He sighed, reminiscing about her kindness. "Hinata was nice to everyone. It would have been easy for someone to take a liking to her," he replied, then doubting if he was simply repeating what Naruto had said.

"That's a good start of information," Jiraiya noted after a brief pause. "I heard she has a bakery. Any chance it was one of her customers?"

Sasuke pondered for a moment, recalling the customers he had encountered at her bakery. "No, I don't think it could be one of her customers," he responded.


Hinata winced in pain as she slowly opened her eyes, her entire body aching. Struggling to sit up, she groaned, feeling the tightness in some places as if they could rip open at any moment. With great effort, she stood up and made her way to the bathroom in her "room," holding her pounding head. "Ugh… if only I had pain meds," she thought.

Sitting down on the toilet, she stared at her reflection in the mirror, waiting until she finished peeing. But when she looked down, her eyes widened at the sight of scattered stitches on her legs. "D-did they…" she muttered in shock, quickly wiping and standing up. She hesitantly gazed into the mirror again before slowly lifting her shirt, tears welling up in her eyes. The cruel markings on her body left her feeling violated and trapped, explaining why she felt so tight and restricted.

Suddenly, a voice spoke behind her, causing her to release her grip on her shirt, letting it fall back down.

"You look beautiful."

Turning around, she faced Kabuto, and fear trembled in her voice as she stuttered, "W-what did you do to me?"

He smirked at her and approached, causing her to back up until her back pressed against the wall. His arms on either side of her head, he leaned in, whispering into her ear, "making you mine, my dear."

The thought sent shivers down her spine as she trembled in his presence.

"Soon I'll have you mentally and physically," he added, giving her earlobe a disturbing tug before stepping away. "Get dressed. Orochimaru wants to see you. Dress…nicely," he ordered with another smirk before leaving the bathroom.

Hinata's eyes followed Kabuto as he sifted through her closet, carefully selecting outfits and placing them on the bed. When he finally spoke, indicating which outfit he wanted her to wear, she hesitated, gazing at the clothing with concern. "That barely covers anything! I'm not wearing that!" She asserted.

Kabuto responded with a disapproving click of his tongue before approaching her. "When I say wear something, you do it. Do you understand?" He asserted, gripping her hair and forcing her head to tilt back, meeting her wide eyes.

Stuttering, she managed a timid "Yes."

He smirked at her vulnerability. "That's what I thought," he sneered, leaning down to kiss her forcefully.

Hinata stood there, feeling utterly unsure and violated.

As he withdrew, he released her hair and retreated. "Don't ever disrespect me again, Hinata... or there will be consequences. Although, I'm sure you'll enjoy what I have in mind," he taunted before leaving the room.

Hinata rushed to the sink, rubbing her lips raw, overcome with a sense of disgust and the urge to vomit.


"I'll work my best with the limited information I have, Uchiha. They don't call me the best for nothing!" Jiraiya chuckled over the phone.

Sasuke sighed and replied with a simple "Hn," before hanging up. He then looked at the picture on his nightstand, a nostalgic moment when they were kids, ready to fight. A sad smile crossed his face, reminiscing the day she had defeated him for the first time in a match – a moment she never let him forget. He sighed again, grabbing the photo in his hands.

Sasuke's gaze lingered on the photograph, tracing the contours of her smile with his fingertips, seeking solace in the frozen moment. "If I see you again, will I be able to hug you?"

Longing echoed in his words, conveying the depth of his yearning. "Your eyes and your warm voice..." memories flooding his mind, fueling his desire for their reunion. Pondering the uncertain future, he wondered; "when will you come home?"

Sasuke's door creaked open, revealing Itachi on the other side. "You miss her that much, huh?" Itachi remarked as he took a seat beside Sasuke on his bed. "Mom's getting worried about you. She asked me to keep an eye on you! A suicide watch," Itachi added with concern.

Sasuke scoffed, "I'm not that far gone. I know she's alive... I just need to find her."

Itachi glanced at Sasuke's pained expression, recognizing his longing to see his best friend again.

"I know you're 26, but how about we go for some ice cream? Maybe that'll cheer you up," Itachi suggested.

Sasuke looked at him skeptically, "You know I don't like sweet things, right?"

Itachi facepalmed himself, realizing his mistake. "You're right. It's Hinata who used to enjoy going out for ice cream with me," he said.

Sasuke stared at his brother, unsure of how to respond. "I guess I can go for ice cream... but I'll get something sour," Sasuke finally agreed.

Itachi smiled, patting Sasuke's back before standing up. "That's what I like to hear! Let's go!"


Hanabi and Hiashi stood outside Hinata's bakery, their eyes fixed on the closed sign and a "missing" poster with Hinata's picture beneath it. After gathering the courage, they finally stepped inside. As Hanabi looked at the pastries in the display case, she noticed the mold that had grown due to their age. The apron hanging by the kitchen door brought back memories of Hinata.

Approaching the counter, Hanabi lifted its door and walked over to the apron. She touched the fabric, bringing it to her face, and felt the lingering scent of Hinata mixed with the aroma of baked goods. Tears welled up in her eyes as she glanced at her father, who had begun to throw out the spoiled items into a trash bag.

"I miss her," Hanabi murmured, her voice filled with sorrow.

Hiashi paused, turning to face his daughter, and replied, "I miss her too."

Overwhelmed by emotions, Hanabi ran up to her dad, embracing him tightly and causing him to drop the trash bag onto the floor.

"I wish she was here," she murmured once more into his chest, sniffling.

"I know," he replied softly. "Me too."