The Path A Ninja Walks...
Chapter Two
~Full Return~
-
"So...You remember the plan, Saseme?"
"...Yes, I do."
"Then...we'll see you soon."
xxx
A Bushy-browed male zipped through the village in a green jumpsuit at lightning speed. He slid into one of the training fields, where his long haired team mate Neji Hyuga happened to be practicing alone-
"Neji! You will not believe what I have just heard!"
"Yes? What is it, Lee?" he shifted his pale eyes toward the bug-eyed other, stricken by his ally's shock.
"Well, you see...it is Saseme." said Lee, "Apparently she has returned from her training with our allied nation."
"Wait...What did you say!?" Neji Hyuga blinked,"...Saseme has returned...?"
xxx
"Saseme Uchiha will be joining our class today."
The sensei spoke these words as he brought in a younger child. Younger than the rest of the class by at least one year, which caught the young Neji Hyuga's attention.
Saseme Uchiha?
Lady Hinata's friend?
I remember Saseme being quite cute when she was younger...
Much like Lady Hinata-
From what I could remember, she was always smiling.
Always laughing...
But then suddenly...
She changed.
His pale eyes widened in focus on the child, much different then from how he knew her before-
Her eyes became distant.
She no longer smiled.
Her light...was gone.
Saseme?
What happened to you?
"Did you hear? The whole Uchiha Clan was slaughtered..."
"Apparently only she and her twin brother in the other class survived."
These were the whispers that went around the school.
This seemed to be the weight on Saseme that caused her drastic change.
xxx
In time, she began to open up again.
She made fast friends with Lee-
They sparred often, yet still, she never smiled.
But I left well enough alone...
Neji blinked back the memories and shifted his gaze back to his team mate Lee.
"You're certain of this, Lee?"
"Absolutely!" Lee said with a salute, "Though to be most certain, I am on my way to see it for myself!"
He took off like a bullet again.
Neji tried to ignore it, but curiosity had found its way even into him.
Could it actually be true?
Has Saseme really returned?
He let out a huff of a sigh and stood.
"I suppose the only way to be certain would be to see for myself."
xxx
Saseme treaded through the Hidden Leaf Village, the home she had spent a great deal of her life away from...
In the distance she could hear the quick-footed pitter-patter of someone she once knew-
She darted around quickly, with a fierce look in her dark eyes greeting a high-powered kick with full-force block.
"I do not believe it!" the assailant grinned, "It is really you! Saseme!"
"Lee?" she blinked and quickly pulled her arm back, "Lee is that you?"
"It is!" he beamed and held his fist steady before forcing it forward to meet hers.
"You cut your hair!" Saseme gasped slightly noticing her old friend's bowl-cut. A change in style from how she left him...
...Shame...she liked his rat tail braid.
"I did." he chuckled, "Do you like it?"
"No. I liked it better long."
"Ouch Saseme...still as blunt as ever, I see..."
"So, it is true." another male voice chimed in from behind them and Lee turned and stepped aside for his team mate Neji,"You have returned, your training was fruitful, I presume?"
"And? What is it to you? Neji." her stare became ice met back by his own.
"Not much...Saseme."
Their glares grew more intense, each annoyed by the other's presence leaving poor Rock Lee in the middle once again.
"That is enough out of both of you!" Lee huffed, "Any scraps you have with each other can be settled in a display of bursting youth in a fiery bout at the training field!"
"Fine by me." Saseme gave a low growl.
"Hmph...I haven't the time." Neji said curtly, which brought a twinge of irritation to Saseme's brow, "Lee we must hurry to Ten Ten so that we may meet with Guy Sensei for our next mission."
"Oh, that is right. With Saseme's return I have nearly forgotten."
"Oh...yeah." Saseme said softly, as she adjusted the hidden leaf band on her forehead, "I'm supposed to be on my way to meet my own team members for the same reason..." she muttered.
"I see." Lee chuckled," Good luck then! We will have to catch up soon!" he grinned.
Watching this boy's easy going nature in the situation brought a certain serenity to Saseme's own restless heart and she gave a slight chuckle.
"Indeed we will." She smiled warmly and turned on her heel, with the wind pushing the leaves through her hair while she walked, "Until we meet again."
"Hmph...indeed." Neji scoffed as he took off ahead of his team mate, so as to hide a slight smile at his lips, "Good luck to you...Saseme."
To Be Continued