Hey guys, it's been a long while. Life has been busy, and it has been hard for me to write. Especially, having a family and all. Anyway, got a new story idea that I wanted to try out. I played Storm Connections recently and decided to try something new with Nanashi aka Hikari from the side story. This is a singular pairing book. Enjoy!

The sun dipped low behind the Hidden Leaf Village, casting long shadows over the vast forest that surrounded its walls. Naruto Uzumaki strolled aimlessly among the trees, his hands clasped behind his head. His thoughts buzzed with the memories of the day's intense training. Despite the antics of his mentor, Jiraiya, the self-proclaimed "Pervy Sage" had pushed him to new heights over the past few weeks. He could feel his strength growing.

"Man, I could really go for some ramen right now," he muttered to himself. His stomach rumbled in agreement.

As he trudged forward, his foot snagged on a hidden root, sending him stumbling into an open clearing. He barely managed to stop himself from toppling over, blinking as he took in his surroundings. At the center of the clearing stood an ancient shrine, weathered and covered in ivy. The stone looked like it hadn't seen the light of day in centuries, its surface cracked and moss-covered, as though forgotten by time itself.

Naruto's curiosity piqued as he approached the shrine, his hunger momentarily forgotten. He crouched to inspect the intricate symbols etched into the shrine's stone, his fingers brushing lightly against the cool surface.

"This place…" he murmured. Something about the symbols tugged at his memory, but he couldn't quite place it. A faint, almost imperceptible glow pulsed from a seal on the shrine's door, as if waiting—no, beckoning—for him.

Without thinking, Naruto pressed his hand against the seal.

In that instant, the world froze. The air thickened with chakra—heavy and suffocating, like the ominous stillness before a storm. The ground trembled beneath him as the ancient doors groaned, creaking open slowly to reveal a dark chamber within. A rush of sinister energy surged out, making Naruto step back instinctively, his senses heightened.

From the depths of the shrine emerged a figure—a girl, no older than Naruto. She staggered forward, her sharp black eyes shimmering with an ancient, unfathomable pain. Her spiky black hair, tinted with a hint of blue, fell down past her shoulders, held back by an orange headband. Her attire—black leggings and a turtleneck beneath a blue coat—seemed oddly modern compared to the shrine she emerged from.

But what unsettled Naruto the most wasn't her appearance—it was the overwhelming aura of hostility she carried.

"Who… are you?" she hissed, her voice raw, as though she hadn't used it in years. Her wary gaze was sharp, like that of a wild animal trapped in a cage.

Naruto, ever the optimist, raised his hands in a placating gesture. "Whoa, hey! Take it easy! I didn't mean to, uh… release you or anything!"

The girl's eyes narrowed, her body tensing. "Release me? You mean… you broke the seal?" Her voice turned venomous, fists clenching at her sides.

"Well, yeah," Naruto admitted, scratching the back of his head with a sheepish grin. "But it's not like I knew what I was doing! I just touched it!"

The air around them seemed to hum with energy as her chakra flared dangerously. "Do you have any idea what you've done?" she growled, her tone laced with fury.

Naruto stood his ground, though he felt the weight of her chakra pressing down on him. "Look, I don't know who you are or why you were sealed away, but I'm not here to fight! I'm Naruto Uzumaki and—"

"Uzumaki?" she interrupted, her expression darkening. "You're from that accursed clan?"

"Accursed?" Naruto blinked in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

The girl took a steadying breath, her gaze hardening. "My name was Hikari Uchiha. But now…" She clenched her fists tightly, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Now, I am called Nanashi—'Nameless.'"

Naruto's eyes widened. "Uchiha? You're an Uchiha?"

Her expression remained cold, distant. "I was sealed away by my own clan—and the Senju. I was a weapon, a tool they used in their wars. My name no longer matters."

Naruto's heart tightened at her words. He had grown up an outcast, but Hikari's story was even darker. She wasn't just ignored—she had been used, dehumanized, and locked away like a relic of the past.

"Why did they seal you?" Naruto asked softly, taking a cautious step forward.

Hikari hesitated, her gaze flickering with pain. "Because I was too strong. Too dangerous. They used me until they feared me. I was nothing more than a tool… a means to an end. When they were done with me, they sealed me away—stripped me of my name, my identity."

Naruto clenched his fists, his heart aching at the injustice. "That's awful," he muttered. "But… the Uchiha clan… they're gone now. They were massacred."

Hikari's eyes widened in shock. "Gone? What do you mean?"

Naruto nodded solemnly. "There are only two Uchiha left. One of them is my friend, Sasuke. The other is his brother, Itachi—he's a missing-nin now."

Her breath caught in her throat as the weight of Naruto's words sank in. "The clan is… gone?" Her voice trembled with disbelief.

"The world you remember—the wars, the Uchiha, the Senju… it's all gone," Naruto said gently. "We're in a different time now."

For the first time, Hikari's icy exterior began to crack. She sank to her knees, staring at the ground in disbelief. "I… don't understand," she whispered.

Naruto crouched down beside her, offering a kind smile. "I know what it's like to feel alone. But you don't have to live like that anymore. You're Hikari, right? That's your real name. You're not just some tool."

Hikari looked at him, uncertainty clouding her eyes. "Why do you care?" she asked softly. "Why are you even talking to me?"

Naruto grinned. "Because everyone deserves a chance. You don't have to be alone anymore. Not if you don't want to be."

Hikari stared at him in silence, her mind swirling with confusion. No one had ever spoken to her like this—like she was worth something more than the power she wielded. She didn't know if she could trust him, or anyone. But for now… maybe, just maybe, she would allow herself to hope.

Inside the Hokage Tower, the atmosphere was tense. The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, sat at his desk, gazing into his crystal ball. The mist within swirled, revealing the image of Naruto and the mysterious girl. Standing beside him, Jiraiya frowned deeply.

"She shouldn't exist," Hiruzen muttered, his eyes never leaving the crystal. "Hikari Uchiha, sealed away during the Warring States Era. How has she remained sealed for so long?"

Jiraiya crossed his arms. "It's unnatural. Seals from that era are powerful, but to over a century without breaking down? There's something more going on here."

Hiruzen nodded slowly. "Her existence was erased from all records. Not a single mention of her in history. Whoever sealed her wanted her forgotten."

Jiraiya's expression darkened. "Sealing someone is one thing. Erasing them from history… that takes effort. Whatever happened back then, it was big. And now, Naruto's in the middle of it."

As Naruto and Hikari continued their uneasy journey toward the village, four cloaked figures materialized around them, their black masks glinting in the fading light.

"The ANBU?" Naruto's face hardened. "What do you guys want?"

The leader stepped forward. "Naruto Uzumaki, step aside. We're here for the girl."

Naruto's fists clenched, his posture defensive as he placed himself in front of Hikari. His heart raced, but he held firm. "You don't understand! She's not dangerous. Just let us talk to the Hokage!"

The leader of the ANBU didn't budge. "This girl is a threat. Stand down, Naruto. This isn't your decision."

Behind him, Hikari's breathing quickened. Her chakra flared, and her fists tightened. She was ready to fight—to escape if necessary. The ANBU's presence reminded her too much of her imprisonment. She wouldn't be captured again. Not after finally being free.

"I won't let them take me again," she whispered, her voice trembling with a mixture of fear and anger. Her eyes gleamed red as her Sharingan flared to life. The tomoe within her irises swirled, the deadly power of her clan coming to the surface.

"Whoa, wait!" Naruto turned to her, his hand outstretched as if trying to physically stop the surge of her chakra. "You don't have to do this, Hikari! No one's going to hurt you, I promise!"

But Hikari's body remained tense, her eyes darting between the ANBU and Naruto. She was cornered. She had been in this position before—surrounded, outnumbered, and deemed too dangerous to be left unchecked. Her entire life had been defined by this moment.

"Stand aside, Naruto," the ANBU leader ordered once more. "We won't warn you again."

Before Hikari could react, before she could decide between running or fighting, a deep voice echoed through the forest. "Enough."

Naruto's heart leapt in relief as Jiraiya stepped out from the shadows of the trees, his arms folded across his chest. The Toad Sage's towering presence alone was enough to make the ANBU hesitate.

"Jiraiya-sama," the leader of the ANBU said, bowing slightly. "We didn't realize—"

"That's right, you didn't," Jiraiya interrupted, his tone calm yet authoritative. "This situation doesn't need to escalate. I'll take responsibility for both of them. There's no need for any force."

The ANBU glanced at one another before nodding, though they remained wary. "Understood, Jiraiya-sama. We'll withdraw for now, but the Hokage will need to be informed."

Jiraiya waved a hand dismissively. "I know. I'll handle it. Now go."

The ANBU disappeared in a blur of movement, leaving Naruto and Hikari alone with Jiraiya in the clearing. The oppressive tension in the air seemed to lift as soon as they were gone, but Hikari's Sharingan remained active, her body still coiled like a spring ready to snap.

"Relax, kid," Jiraiya said, his tone softer now as he addressed Hikari directly. "No one's going to hurt you. I'm not your enemy, and neither is Naruto."

Hikari's eyes flickered between them, uncertainty clouding her expression. Slowly, the red in her eyes faded, and her Sharingan deactivated. She took a shaky breath, lowering her fists.

"Why did you stop them?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Jiraiya offered a faint smile. "Because Naruto's right. You're not a threat… not unless you choose to be."

Naruto grinned and turned to her. "See? Told you we'd figure it out!"

But Hikari's expression remained guarded. She couldn't understand why these people—especially Naruto—were being so kind. In her world, kindness was a rare commodity, reserved only for those who could benefit from it. And yet here they were, offering her something she hadn't expected: a chance.

"Come on," Jiraiya said, motioning toward the village. "The Hokage wants to see you. He's got some questions, but nothing you can't handle. I'll be there, and so will Naruto."

Hikari hesitated, her mind swirling with doubt and fear. But then she looked at Naruto, his infectious smile beaming at her with such confidence and trust, as if he truly believed she could choose something different for herself.

"Okay," she whispered, nodding slightly.

As the three of them walked through the forest, Naruto, ever the chatterbox, filled the silence with talk of ramen and how the old man Hokage was pretty cool once you got to know him. Hikari didn't respond much, but for the first time in what felt like an eternity, she didn't feel like running or fighting.

The village came into view as they crossed the last stretch of forest, the walls of the Hidden Leaf looming ahead. Hikari's breath caught in her throat as the sight of it hit her. This wasn't the same village she had once known, not the village that had fought in the Warring States Period. The landscape was different, the air quieter, almost… peaceful.

"So," Naruto said, breaking her thoughts. "Once we talk to the Hokage, maybe we can figure out what you want to do next. I mean, if you're not too busy being all mysterious and stuff." He winked at her playfully.

Hikari blinked, taken aback by his casual tone. "I… don't know what I want," she admitted quietly. "I've never had the chance to decide."

Naruto's grin softened, and he gave her a nod. "Well, you've got time now. There's no rush. But hey, once we get some ramen, things might start looking a little clearer!"

Hikari felt something stir inside her—a strange warmth she hadn't felt in a long time. It was small, but it was there. Naruto's optimism was infectious, his energy a stark contrast to the cold, war-torn world she had come from.

Maybe, just maybe, this was her second chance.

As they reached the gates of the village, Jiraiya glanced over at Naruto and Hikari, his usual playful demeanor replaced with a more serious expression. He could see the weight of the situation bearing down on the girl, and he knew they were only scratching the surface of whatever darkness lay in her past.

"Let's not keep the old man waiting," Jiraiya said, his voice calm but firm. "There's a lot we need to discuss."

Naruto gave Hikari a reassuring nod, and together, the three of them stepped through the gates of the Hidden Leaf Village, the promise of new beginnings waiting just beyond.

Inside the Hokage Tower, Sarutobi Hiruzen watched as the group made their way through the village streets, his crystal ball reflecting the scene with eerie clarity. His face was etched with worry, deep lines furrowing his brow as he leaned back in his chair.

"Jiraiya will bring them here soon," he murmured, his eyes heavy with the weight of what was to come. "I only hope that we are prepared for the truth this girl holds."

As he stared into the swirling mists of his crystal ball, Hiruzen couldn't shake the feeling that Hikari Uchiha was more than just a remnant of the past. Her fate, once sealed, was now intertwined with the future of the Hidden Leaf.

And whatever lay ahead, the village would have to face it together.

Thanks for reading!