The council room was dimly lit, the soft glow of lanterns casting long shadows on the polished wooden table. Naruto sat at the head of the table, his bright orange jacket slightly muted by the serious tone of the meeting. Beside him sat Hinata, her posture rigid, her hands clasped tightly in her lap as she struggled to focus on the discussion.
The elders were speaking about trade agreements and security measures, but Hinata barely heard them. Sasuke's words haunted her, replaying in her mind over and over again. She glanced at Naruto from the corner of her eye. His usual vibrant energy was there, but it felt... strained. His cheerful laughter seemed too loud, his smiles too quick.
He's trying so hard, she thought, her chest aching. But why? Why is he like this?
Naruto caught her glance and gave her a bright grin, his blue eyes sparkling with what seemed like genuine happiness. For a brief moment, her heart lifted—maybe Sasuke was wrong. Maybe Naruto wasn't as lost as he had said.
But then the grin faltered, just for a fraction of a second, and the cheeriness in his eyes dimmed ever so slightly. Hinata's heart sank. It's a mask, she realized, her fingers digging into her palms.
The meeting ended with handshakes and bows, the elders praising Naruto for his leadership skills and wisdom. As they dispersed, Hinata hesitated, lingering near the doorway. She expected Naruto to approach her, to say something, anything.
But he didn't.
Instead, he walked away with a wave over his shoulder, his footsteps echoing down the corridor. Hinata stood frozen, watching him go, the distance between them feeling wider than ever.
It was evening when Hinata finally returned to her room at the inn. The sun had dipped below the horizon, leaving a soft orange glow that seeped through the cracks of the wooden shutters. She closed the door behind her, leaning against it for a moment as she exhaled a shaky breath.
Her eyes fell on a folded piece of paper lying on the small wooden table near the bed. It hadn't been there earlier.
With trembling hands, she picked it up and unfolded it. The handwriting was unmistakably Naruto's—messy, rushed, and full of emotion.
Hinata,
I know I've hurt you. I can see it in your eyes, even when you try to hide it from me. I don't deserve your kindness or your patience, but I need them now more than ever.
There's so much I haven't told you—things I've done, things I've kept hidden because I didn't want to lose you. But I can see that I'm losing you anyway.
Please, Hinata, honor the plans we made. Let me give you the surprise I promised. I'll tell you everything. I swear on everything that matters to me, I'll tell you the truth.
Please don't give up on me.
Naruto
Hinata's hands trembled as she lowered the note, tears spilling silently down her cheeks. She sat down on the edge of the bed, clutching the paper to her chest.
Her mind was a storm of emotions—anger, sadness, love, and doubt all swirling together in an unbearable mix.
How much of this is true? How much of it is manipulation?
She thought of the man she had loved for so long, the boy who had been her inspiration and her light. She thought of the secrets Sasuke had revealed, the darkness Naruto had hidden from her. And she thought of the plea in his words, the pain he could feel radiating off the page.
"I don't know what to do," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
The room was silent, save for the muffled sounds of the village nightlife outside. Hinata wiped her tears and took a deep, shuddering breath.
I need answers, she thought, her resolve hardening. And maybe… maybe this is the only way to get them.
She stood and folded the note carefully, tucking it into the pocket of her jacket. Her hands still trembled, but her steps were steady as she made her decision.
She would go.
…
The Hokage's office was shrouded in a tense silence, save for the occasional rustle of papers. Kakashi Hatake sat at his desk, his usually calm demeanor replaced by a furrowed brow and clenched fists.
In front of him was a small, neatly folded piece of parchment, delivered by a messenger hawk earlier that day. It bore Sasuke's handwriting, short and to the point, but painfully vague.
Kakashi,
No developments regarding Naruto. I'm still observing.
-Sasuke
Kakashi leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his silver hair. His visible eye glared at the note as if willing it to reveal more than it did.
"This is ridiculous," he muttered, crumpling the parchment slightly in his hand. He tossed it onto the desk, where it joined a growing pile of mission reports and files related to Naruto.
He reached for another document—a prior report from Sasuke, dated weeks earlier. It was as frustratingly vague as the most recent one, filled with non-answers and evasive language. Sasuke, of all people, knew better than to send such ambiguous updates.
"Still observing? Observingwhat, Sasuke?" Kakashi growled, slamming the paper down.
He stood and began pacing the room, his mind racing. The mission was nearing its end, and Naruto was due back in Konoha in just a few days. But something felt off—like a storm was brewing, and Sasuke's cryptic notes only added to his growing suspicion.
Kakashi stopped by the window, looking out over the village bathed in the soft glow of lanterns. For a moment, he thought about Naruto. The boy he had mentored, the boy who had grown into a man so full of hope and ambition. The boy who dreamed of becoming Hokage and bringing peace to the world.
But there had been signs—subtle at first, then harder to ignore. Naruto's temper flaring in moments that didn't warrant it. His increasing secrecy. The unsettling rumors that had begun to circulate, whispers of actions unbecoming of a future Hokage.
And now this. Sasuke's refusal to give a proper update only deepened Kakashi's suspicion.
"Why aren't you telling me what's really happening, Sasuke?" Kakashi muttered, his voice low and filled with frustration.
His fists clenched at his sides as his mind ran through the possibilities. Was Sasuke protecting Naruto? Was he complicit in something darker? Or was this all just a misunderstanding—a byproduct of his own overthinking?
Kakashi returned to his desk and sat down heavily, his fingers drumming on the wood as he tried to make sense of it all. He needed answers, and fast. Naruto's return to Konoha was imminent, and if there was even a shred of truth to the whispers he had heard, he had to be ready.
His gaze fell on Sasuke's note once more, the words taunting him with their lack of clarity.
…
The Hyūga compound stood serene under the evening sky, its halls quiet and imposing. Inside the clan's central meeting chamber, the Hyūga elders were gathered, their expressions stern and resolute. Hiashi Hyūga, seated at the head of the room, held the air of authority befitting the clan head.
The elders spoke in low, measured tones, their words carrying the weight of decades of tradition and responsibility.
Elder Sōji: "Hiashi, the matter can no longer be delayed. The clan's future depends on strong leadership. Hinata must return and take her rightful place as the head of the Hyūga clan."
Hiashi nodded solemnly, his eyes fixed on the table before him."I agree. The time has come for Hinata to assume her duties fully. We have given her ample time to grow and prepare for this moment."
The elders exchanged satisfied glances, encouraged by Hiashi's resolve.
Elder Chie: "Then we are in agreement. But there is another matter that concerns us all—the influence of that boy, Naruto Uzumaki. To send her on a mission with him, for an entire month no less, was reckless. It will only encouraged her misplaced attachment to him."
Hiashi's face darkened slightly."I understand your concerns, and I admit I had reservations about the Hokage's decision. However, the mission has been sanctioned, and we must respect that."
Elder Hiroshi: "Respect it, yes, but it cannot be ignored. When she returns, that attachment must be severed. Uzumaki is unsuitable—he lacks the refinement and stature befitting the consort of a Hyūga clan head. We must ensure her path aligns with the needs of the clan, not her personal whims."
Hiashi folded his hands, his expression grave."You are right. Hinata's feelings for Uzumaki have always been a concern of mine. While I respect his strength and determination, his background does not align with our traditions. Once she returns, I will make it clear to her that this infatuation must end."
Elder Chie: "Good. It is also time to secure the continuation of the Hyūga bloodline. Hinata must marry, and it must be to someone within the clan or someone of equivalent standing."
Hiashi: "I have already considered potential matches. Once she assumes her position as clan head, I will present her with the options."
The room fell silent for a moment as the elders processed his words. The air grew heavier, charged with a shared sense of purpose.
Elder Sōji: "It is comforting to know you are aligned with us, Hiashi. For too long, the clan's future has been in limbo. Hinata is capable, but she must now focus on her duties."
Hiashi inclined his head slightly."Hinata has shown great strength and growth over the years. I have no doubt she will rise to the challenge, even if it requires sacrifice. She is a Hyūga, after all."
Elder Hiroshi: "Then it is settled. When she returns, she will no longer be given the luxury of delay. The clan's future must come first."
Hiashi rose, signaling the meeting's conclusion. The elders followed suit, bowing respectfully before departing.
As Hiashi stood alone in the dimly lit room, his gaze lingered on the empty brazier at the center of the table. His expression was calm, but his mind was resolute. He had raised Hinata to be strong, to uphold the traditions of the Hyūga clan.
When she returned, there would be no more leniency, no more allowances for distractions. Hinata's personal desires would be set aside for the good of the clan.
And so, the decision was made: the Hyūga's future would change—whether Hinata wanted it to or not.
...
A/N: So I know this chapter is superrr short but the next chapter is extremely longg AND IMPORTANT! So buckle up guys!!