Hinata walked slowly along the narrow bridge, her feet moving on their own accord, barely registering the path ahead of her. Her mind felt heavy, clouded with an unshakable sense of dread. The conversation with Kurenai played over and over again in her mind like a broken record.

She could still hear Kurenai's voice, filled with a mix of concern and encouragement, trying to soften the harshness of the words that had come from Hiashi. "Hinata, he… he doesn't want anything to do with you anymore," Kurenai had said, her eyes filled with sympathy. "He says… you're not fit to bear the name of Hyuuga."

Hinata had felt her heart shatter in that moment, like glass breaking into a thousand pieces. She had always known she wasn't what her father wanted—she had known that from a young age—but hearing it said so bluntly, so clearly, left her feeling stripped bare. Kurenai had tried to spin it into something positive, suggesting she could see this as a kind of freedom. Freedom from her father's crushing expectations, from the endless cycle of feeling inadequate. But all Hinata felt was a hollow emptiness.

She stopped, leaning against the guardrail of the bridge. Her eyes drifted downward, gazing at the river below. The drop was high enough that if she jumped, there would be no chance of surviving. And even if she did survive the fall, she knew she couldn't swim well. She stared at the water, contemplating the finality of what lay before her.

Hinata's thoughts drifted to the suicide note she had left behind in her room. She had written it with a steady hand, each word carrying the weight of a decision she felt had been long overdue. Her breath trembled as tears began to form in her eyes. She had lost all strength to keep moving forward, to keep pretending that everything would be alright. The past few weeks had broken what little hope she had left, leaving her feeling emptier than she ever thought possible.

Maybe, she thought, maybe if she listened to the faint voices that always seemed to whisper to her in her darkest moments, she could finally be free. Maybe, if she let go, the pain would finally stop.

A soft, gentle voice broke through her thoughts, calling to her from somewhere deep in her mind. But she didn't flinch. She knew these voices all too well, and they no longer frightened her. They were familiar companions now, whispering to her when the world seemed darkest.

Hinata looked down again, her grip tightening on the cold metal rail. If she jumped… it would all end. She wouldn't have to feel the crushing weight of her father's disappointment, or the sense of being lost and unwanted. She wouldn't have to feel anything at all.

Without even thinking, she moved to climb over the rail, her body almost acting on its own. She stood on the narrow ledge, staring down at the river below. It seemed so peaceful, so inviting. Just one step… one step, and everything would be over.

She took a deep breath, tears streaming down her face. "I'm sorry, Kurenai-sensei," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I'm so sorry…"

But just as she began to lean forward, the wind picked up, rushing past her ears with a sound that almost resembled laughter. Hinata hesitated, her gaze shifting to the side. Her breath caught in her throat when she saw them: three children walking along the path toward her, their voices carrying over the wind.

She blinked, staring at them, trying to focus her vision. A faint smile appeared on her lips as she recognized them—Team 7. Naruto was in the center, animatedly chatting with Sakura and Sasuke. The sunlight caught his bright hair, and she could hear his laughter, loud and carefree. That laugh, so full of life, so genuine, pierced through her thoughts like a beam of light cutting through the fog.

Hinata blinked, feeling her breath hitch in her chest. Her hands, which had been gripping the rail tightly, loosened their hold. She took a shaky step back, climbing back over the rail to stand on the bridge again. She quickly wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her jacket, trying to erase any trace of her tears.

She felt the edges of her vision blur again, but this time, not from tears of despair. The sight of Naruto, so vibrant, so alive… it made something stir within her. Maybe, just maybe, she wasn't as alone as she felt. Maybe there was still a reason to keep going.

Naruto's head turned in her direction, his blue eyes catching sight of her. He paused, hesitating for a moment before a wide grin spread across his face. He waved energetically, calling out her name. "Hinata!"

Hinata's heart skipped a beat. She tried to force a smile, waving back weakly. She considered turning and walking away, but her feet felt glued to the ground. Her plans, her pain, everything seemed to fall away in that moment. She couldn't just leave… not now.

Naruto led Team 7 toward the bridge, his bright smile beaming in the midday sun. "Hey, Hinata!" he called out cheerfully, waving with his usual enthusiasm.

Hinata looked up, her face softening a little at the sight of Naruto. She gave a small, shy wave. "Hello, Naruto."

Naruto's smile faltered slightly as he noticed the tiredness in her eyes, the faint redness around them that suggested she'd been crying. "Are you okay?" he asked, his tone softening with concern.

Hinata's heart skipped a beat. "Y-Yes… I'm fine," she replied, her voice low.

Naruto seemed unconvinced but decided not to press the issue in front of everyone. Instead, he gestured to his teammates. "Oh! Hinata, this is Sasuke, and this is Sakura."

Sakura stepped forward with a wide smile. "Hi, Hinata! Nice to meet you!" she said warmly.

Sasuke gave a small nod, his hands tucked in his pockets. "Hey," he muttered, his expression calm but unreadable.

Hinata managed a small smile, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the sudden attention. "N-Nice to meet you both."

"So, what were you doing out here?" Naruto asked, tilting his head curiously. "All alone on the bridge?"

Hinata felt a lump form in her throat, her heart racing. "I… I was just… going for a walk," she stuttered, feeling her cheeks flush.

Naruto nodded, accepting her answer, though he still seemed a little concerned. "We were just heading back from a mission," he said, a hint of pride in his voice.

Hinata's interest piqued despite herself. "A mission?" she asked softly. "Where is Kakashi-sensei?"

Sakura chimed in, "He left us at the village gates. Said he had to report to the Hokage." She suddenly brightened with an idea. "Hey, Hinata, why don't you join us for some ramen? We're heading to Ichiraku's."

Before Hinata could muster a polite refusal, Naruto immediately backed up the suggestion, his grin widening. "Yeah, come with us, Hinata! Unless you have somewhere to be… then, well, it's totally fine if you can't."

Hinata hesitated, her eyes shifting between Naruto's hopeful expression and Sakura's encouraging smile. She finally nodded. "O-Okay… I'd like that."

"Great!" Naruto exclaimed, clapping his hands together. "Ichiraku's, here we come!"

As they began to walk, Sakura purposefully slowed her pace, falling behind Naruto and Hinata. She glanced over at Sasuke, who was walking beside her with his hands still in his pockets, his gaze fixed ahead. Taking a deep breath, she mustered her courage and moved a bit closer to him.

"So, Sasuke," she began, trying to keep her voice steady, "What did you think of the mission today?"

Sasuke didn't reply at first, his expression remaining unreadable. Sakura's heart sank a little, fearing she'd annoyed him. Just as she was about to give up and retreat back into silence, Sasuke finally spoke.

"It went well," he said, his tone measured. "Kakashi seemed pleased with our performance."

A small, surprised smile spread across Sakura's face, a warmth blooming in her chest. "Yeah, I thought so too," she replied, feeling more at ease. "I guess we're getting better at working as a team."

Sasuke gave a small nod. "Maybe," he said quietly, though a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

Encouraged by his response, Sakura continued talking, finding it easier to speak to him now. "You know, I've been practicing a lot. I think I'm finally getting the hang of some new jutsu," she added, feeling a sense of pride.

Sasuke glanced at her, his expression slightly softer. "That's good," he said simply, but there was a sincerity in his voice that made her heart flutter.

As they walked, Sakura noticed Naruto and Hinata ahead of them. Naruto was animatedly talking, his hands moving as he spoke, while Hinata seemed to be listening intently, a small smile playing on her lips. Sakura couldn't help but grin. "Hey, Sasuke," she said playfully, "don't they almost look… cute together?"

Sasuke scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Cute?" he repeated, his tone skeptical. "Watching those two try to talk is like watching two cats trying to play chess."

Sakura burst out laughing, the sound light and genuine. Sasuke's comment caught her off guard, but she couldn't help but find it funny. Sasuke watched her, a small smile forming on his lips at her reaction, though he quickly masked it when she glanced back at him.

Sakura wiped a tear from her eye, still giggling. "You're right, now that I think about it… It's like they both know they're supposed to do something, but they're just kind of… awkwardly waiting for the other to make the right move."

Sasuke gave a small chuckle. "Exactly."

Sakura glanced at Naruto again, her smile softening. "Still, I'm surprised Naruto's on speaking terms with Hinata. I'm actually happy for her. She always seemed like someone who could use more friends."

Sasuke nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah. I guess we all could," he said quietly.

Sakura's smile grew wider. "You're not wrong," she murmured, feeling a strange sense of peace settle over her.

They continued their conversation, with Sasuke occasionally stealing glances at her. For some reason, he found himself enjoying their talk more than usual. There was a warmth in his chest he hadn't felt before, and he didn't mind it at all.

As the group continued their walk to Ichiraku's, the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting a warm glow over them. For the first time in a while, they all felt a sense of calm, as if, for just a moment, everything was exactly where it was supposed to be.

At Ichiraku, Team 7 and Hinata sat at a table, the aroma of miso and broth wafting in the air. Bowls of steaming ramen were set before them, but Naruto seemed more focused on his animated storytelling than on his food.

"So there we were," Naruto began, waving his chopsticks like they were kunai, "completely surrounded by enemy ninja, at least… fifty of them! Sasuke was doing his best, but he understandably couldn't keep up with me. I took down like twenty by myself! And Sakura was—"

Sakura, mid-slurp, rolled her eyes but stayed silent, letting him go on.

"—I was throwing kunai left and right, and they didn't stand a chance!" Naruto continued, leaning closer to Hinata, who listened intently, her eyes wide with amusement. "I think they were all scared of me because, you know, I'm the future Hokage and all. They knew I was someone to fear!"

Hinata nodded politely, "That… that sounds incredible, Naruto."

Naruto grinned even wider. "Oh, you bet it was. And then I—"

Finally, Sakura couldn't hold back anymore. "Oh, come on, Naruto!" she interrupted, waving her chopsticks at him. "Stop making stuff up!"

Naruto blinked, taken aback. "W-What do you mean, Sakura? I'm telling the truth!"

Sakura snorted. "Yeah, sure, if by truth you mean bare-faced exaggerations. You haven't faced even five enemies in your entire career!" She turned to Hinata, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "In fact, on our very first combat mission, Naruto actually cried out of fear like a little baby!"

"Sakura!" Naruto exclaimed, his face flushing red as he leaned across the table, trying to silence Sakura. "Don't tell her that!"

Hinata's eyes widened, and a light giggle escaped her. The sound was soft and delicate, catching Naruto off guard. He stared at her, momentarily forgetting his embarrassment. He'd never heard Hinata laugh before, and for some reason, it sent a warm, unexpected feeling to his chest.

Naruto scratched the back of his head, a sheepish grin appearing on his face. "Okay, maybe… maybe I was a bit overwhelmed that day," he mumbled, trying to downplay the confession.

Sasuke, who had been quietly enjoying his ramen, finally spoke up, "That's strange...you haven't even finished your bowl, Naruto." He looked over at Naruto's nearly untouched ramen with a raised eyebrow. "That's unlike you. You usually inhale ramen non-stop."

Sakura jumped in with a teasing grin, "Maybe he's too busy trying to impress Hinata, and he forgot he was hungry!"

Naruto's face turned an even deeper shade of red. "Sh-Shut up, Sakura!" he stammered, glancing at Hinata, who seemed oblivious to his flustered state. He quickly turned back to Sakura, his voice louder, "And you don't even like ramen! You're just here because Sasuke-kun agreed to eat at Ichiraku!"

Sakura's cheeks flamed pink. "That's… that's not true!" she stuttered, trying to sound indignant. "I just… I wanted to hang out with everyone, okay?!"

Sasuke sighed, clearly exasperated. "Why do I always have to sit through your stupid arguments?" he muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible over the noise of the ramen shop.

Hinata watched the back-and-forth with growing amusement. She had always assumed Team 7 would be more… serious, given their reputation as the greatest shinobi of their generation. She'd imagined them as solemn, focused — a little like her own team, where outside of missions, she hardly spoke with Kiba or Shino at all. But instead, they were just as rowdy and obnoxious as any other kids their age. She felt a bit silly for assuming they'd be any different.

Still, she was happy they had invited her along. It was nice… even if it was a bit overwhelming. She could feel a familiar twinge of doubt rising within her, that old insecurity creeping up. Maybe they only invited her because they felt bad for her, thought she was too shy or lonely. Maybe…

Hinata glanced down at her hands, feeling her nerves flutter in her stomach. She decided she'd had enough.

Slowly, she pushed her chair back and stood up. "I… I think I should get going," she said softly.

Sakura immediately stopped mid-argument with Naruto. "Wait, where are you going, Hinata?"

Hinata forced a smile, trying to sound cheerful. "I just need to get home before it gets too late," she replied, feeling her voice shake slightly. "But… thank you for inviting me. It was fun." She gave a small wave. "Goodbye, Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke."

Naruto blinked, surprised. "Oh, you're leaving already? But we were just getting started!"

Hinata nodded, feeling her heart twist at the disappointment in his voice. "Yes, I should… I should go," she murmured.

"See you later, Hinata!" Naruto called out, still looking slightly confused as she walked away.

Hinata waved back, a mix of emotions swirling inside her. She hadn't expected the day to end like this… but despite everything, she realized she felt happier than she had that morning. A small, content smile formed on her lips as she walked, the sound of Naruto's laugh still echoing pleasantly in her mind.

3 days later...

The late evening sun bathed Konoha in a golden glow as Hinata stood nervously at Kurenai's door, clutching a small bag in her hands. The invitation to Sakura's slumber party had come as a complete surprise. Hinata wasn't particularly close to Sakura, though she had always admired her strength and resilience from afar. The idea of being invited felt… unusual. She often wondered if her classmates even noticed her presence.

Hinata hesitated, glancing up at Kurenai, who smiled warmly at her.

"You'll be fine," Kurenai said gently. "This is a good opportunity to get to know them better. Just be yourself, Hinata. You have a kind heart, and I'm sure they'll see that too."

"But what if they don't?" Hinata murmured, fidgeting with the strap of her bag. "What if they think I'm… strange?"

Kurenai stepped forward and placed her hands on Hinata's shoulders, her voice soft but steady. "Then that's their loss. You are strong, Hinata. Stronger than you know. Just go and have fun. Who knows? You might even make some new friends."

Hinata took a deep breath, nodding slowly. Kurenai's encouragement gave her a glimmer of hope, and she straightened her posture.

"Thank you, Kurenai-sensei," Hinata said softly.

"Go on now," Kurenai said, stepping back and opening the door. "And remember, I want to hear all about it when you get back."

Hinata nodded again, her nerves still present but less overwhelming. "I will."

She waved goodbye as she stepped out into the evening, her pace quickening as she headed toward Sakura's house. Behind her, Kurenai stood at the door, watching her with a small, hopeful smile. Deep down, Kurenai hoped this party would be a chance for Hinata to form new connections.

Sakura's house was lively, the sound of laughter and chatter spilling out into the street. Hinata paused at the gate, taking a steadying breath before walking up to the door. She knocked softly, and it opened almost immediately.

"Hello there!" Kizashi Haruno greeted her with a wide grin. "You must be one of Sakura's friends."

Hinata hesitated, her cheeks flushing. Was she one of Sakura's friends? They had only recently begun talking more, and Hinata wasn't sure if that counted as friendship.

"I-I…" she stammered, her mind racing for the right words.

Before she could answer, Sakura appeared behind her father. "Hinata! You made it!"

Sakura's bright tone was welcoming, and she waved Hinata inside. "Come on in!"

Hinata bowed politely to Kizashi. "T-thank you," she said softly before stepping into the house.

Sakura led her upstairs to her room, where the other girls were waiting. The moment Sakura opened the door, the room fell silent. Tenten, seated on a cushion, smiled warmly and waved.

"Hi, Hinata! It's good to see you!"

Ino, lounging on the bed, gave a halfhearted wave. "Oh… hey."

The chill in Ino's tone didn't escape Hinata's notice, and she felt her nerves flare up again. She nodded shyly in response and made her way to a corner of the room, setting down her bag and beginning to arrange her things neatly.

As Hinata focused on her belongings, Ino pulled Sakura aside, her voice low but pointed.

"Sakura, why did you invite her?" Ino whispered, glancing toward Hinata. "She's so… weird. She's not really the vibe for this kind of thing, you know?"

Sakura raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

Ino huffed. "I mean, she's not like us. She's quiet, she stares too much, and she always has this sad, ghostly energy about her. I'm just saying she's not exactly party material."

Sakura crossed her arms, her expression unimpressed. "I invited her because I wanted to be fair to everyone. It's not like we've ever really included her in things before, so I thought this could be a nice change. Besides," she added with a smirk, "I didn't even think she'd actually come. But hey, she did, so why not just roll with it?"

Ino frowned, still unconvinced. "If she ruins the party, I'm going to say 'I told you so.'"

Sakura rolled her eyes. "Stop being so pessimistic. If you want to throw your own party and invite whoever you want, then maybe you shouldn't have flopped at the Chunin exams."

Ino's eyes narrowed. "Wow. Thanks, Sakura. Great pep talk."

Sakura smirked, shrugging. "Just saying. Now come on. Let's play a game or something. This is supposed to be fun, remember?"

Ino sighed, but she followed Sakura back to the center of the room.

"Alright, ladies," Sakura announced with a grin. "Let's get this party started!"

Tenten cheered, and Ino managed a small smile, though her eyes lingered briefly on Hinata, who was still quietly arranging her things in the corner.

Hinata glanced up, catching the energy in the room and feeling a small spark of hope. Maybe, just maybe, tonight would be the start of something better.

Meanwhile in the Uchiha compound, a group of friends were holding their own little get-together to celebrate some of theirs becoming Chunin, in this case Shikamaru Nara and Naruto Uzumaki. The flickering candlelight cast shadows across Sasuke's room, the eerie glow adding to the tension. Kiba had just finished telling a particularly creepy story about a cursed sword that hunted its victims in their sleep. Choji and Naruto sat stiffly, their faces pale. Choji gripped a bag of chips like it was his only lifeline, while Naruto nervously glanced over his shoulder, trying to act unfazed.

"I-It's just a story," Naruto muttered, folding his arms defiantly.

Sasuke smirked from his seat on the floor. "It's okay if you're too scared, Naruto. You can go to bed if you want."

Naruto's head snapped toward him, his face heating up. "Shut up, Genin! I'm not scared!" He jabbed a finger in Sasuke's direction, eliciting muffled laughter from the others.

Shikamaru leaned back lazily, staring at the ceiling. "Tch, I told you telling scary stories was a drag. Look what it's done—now we'll have to listen to Naruto and Sasuke argue all night."

"Who's arguing?!" Naruto and Sasuke barked in unison, glaring at Shikamaru, who shrugged and smirked.

Before anyone could say more, Sasuke suddenly sat up straighter, an odd glint in his eyes. "This night isn't over yet," he declared, pushing himself to his feet.

The group watched curiously as Sasuke walked to his bed, crouched down, and slid a small box out from underneath it. With a dramatic flourish, he set the box on the floor in front of them and opened it. The boys collectively leaned forward, eyes wide with curiosity.

Inside the box was a single bottle of sake.

"Whoa," Kiba muttered, his eyes lighting up with admiration. "Is that—?"

"A whole bottle of sake," Sasuke confirmed, his voice smug as he lifted it into view. The light glinted off the glass, adding to its allure.

The room was silent for a moment as everyone processed the sheer audacity of Sasuke smuggling alcohol into the house. Then, the awe broke.

"Wait, wait, wait!" Kiba exclaimed, jabbing a finger at Sasuke. "How the heck did you get your hands on that?"

Sasuke smirked, leaning back like he was a king among peasants. "I have my ways."

Naruto rolled his eyes. "Yeah, right. You probably begged Itachi-san to sneak it for you or something."

Kiba snorted, and even Shikamaru chuckled, while Sasuke's smirk vanished, replaced by a flustered expression. "I did not ask Itachi for anything!" he snapped, his voice an octave higher than normal.

"Sure you didn't," Naruto teased, leaning back with a smug grin. "I bet you even said, 'Please, big brother! Save my party, big bro Itachi!'."

Before Sasuke could retort, Shikamaru waved lazily. "Whatever. Just open the bottle already."

"Not yet," Sasuke said, his composure returning. "We're not just drinking this. We're going to use it to play a drinking game."

"D-Drinking game?" Rock Lee stammered, visibly sweating. He sat up straighter, his hands clenched nervously in his lap. "That sounds… dangerous."

Naruto snorted, waving dismissively. "Relax, Lee. It'll be fine."

Sasuke gave Lee a pointed look. "Unless you think it's too much for you, of course. That's fine. Drinking games aren't for everyone."

Lee swallowed hard, his pride taking a hit. "N-No, I can handle it!"

Choji, not wanting to seem uncool, nervously nodded. "I-I'm in, too."

"Count me in," Kiba added with a sigh.

Sasuke's smirk widened. "Good. Then—"

The door creaked open.

Panic flashed across Sasuke's face as he scrambled to shove the sake bottle back under the bed. The others froze, watching in horror as Mikoto Uchiha entered the room, a tray of snacks balanced in her hands.

"Hi, boys!" Mikoto chirped, her smile warm as she stepped inside. "I brought you some snacks. Are you having fun?"

"M-Mom!" Sasuke stammered, his face red as he bolted upright. "What are you doing? You should've knocked!"

Mikoto tilted her head, her expression softening. "Oh, sorry, sweetie. I forgot about your 'no girls allowed' rule." Her lips curled in a sweet smile as Kiba and Shikamaru stifled snickers in the background. Sasuke shot them a glare.

Setting the tray on the table, Mikoto looked around the dim room. "Why's it so dark in here? You usually sleep with the light on."

"MOM!" Sasuke snapped, his face turning crimson. "I—I don't do that anymore! I'm in the middle of something!"

Mikoto raised an eyebrow, then smiled knowingly. "Ah, I see. I'll give you and the 'guys' some space, then." She gestured to the tray. "I thought you'd appreciate some snacks."

"Thanks, Mikoto-san!" Naruto and Choji said in unison, already reaching for the food.

Sasuke gritted his teeth, trying to shoo his mother away before she could say anything else embarrassing. But Mikoto wasn't done yet.

"Oh, by the way," she said, pausing at the door. "It's cold tonight. Should I iron your Panda onesie the way you like it?"

The room erupted into poorly concealed laughter. Sasuke turned bright red. "M-MOM! I don't wear those anymore!"

Mikoto blinked innocently. "Oh? Why not?"

"Because I'm not a kid!" Sasuke hissed, his fists clenched. "I wear Pajamas to bed, not a onesie!"

Mikoto chuckled, stepping closer to pat him on the head. "Of course, you're not. My little Sasuke is all grown up now."

She leaned in, whispering, "You can stay up later than usual tonight, just this once. Don't tell your father, okay?" With a wink, she left the room, closing the door behind her.

As soon as she was gone, Sasuke turned around, his face still red, and saw his friends grinning at him.

"Well," Naruto said, smirking. "Shall we get back to it?"

"Or do we have to wait for the onesie?" Shikamaru asked with a teasing smirk.

"Knock it off!" Sasuke snapped back, shooting him a glare.

Naruto snickered, facing Shikamaru. "Careful, Shikamaru. Sasuke's not to be messed with, y'know?"

"Oh shucks," Shikamaru feigned mock fear. "I heard he wears big boy pajamas now."

The room burst into laughter as Sasuke sat down with a huff, glaring at the floor. "Shut up, Shika," he muttered, but the teasing didn't stop.

Sakura's bedroom was a buzz of chatter and laughter as the kunoichi gathered for the slumber party. Blankets and pillows were strewn across the floor, and an array of snacks, ranging from rice crackers to candy, filled the table. Sakura, sitting cross-legged at the center, beamed with pride as she recounted her Chunin Exam highlights for the umpteenth time.

"And then," she said dramatically, "after I low-diffed that bum Ino, the proctor raised his hand and said, 'Sakura Haruno is the winner!'" She mimicked the gesture, looking around for admiration.

"Yeah, yeah, we know!" Ino teased, tossing a pillow at Sakura. "You've told us, like, five times already."

Sakura caught the pillow, smirking. "Well, it is my promotion party, so I can brag if I want."

"Congratulations, Sakura!" Hinata said softly from her spot on the floor. She was sitting quietly with her hands folded, looking perfectly at ease amidst the chaos.

"Thanks, Hinata!" Sakura replied with a grin.

"Alright, enough of the mushy stuff," Ino said, standing up with a mischievous grin. She reached into her bag and pulled out a wooden board with strange letters etched onto it. "Let's make this party really memorable."

Tenten raised an eyebrow. "What's that?"

"A Ouija board!" Ino declared, holding it up for everyone to see. "We're going to talk to some spirits tonight."

Sakura blinked. "Uh… are we sure that's a good idea?"

"Oh, don't be a baby," Ino said, rolling her eyes. "It's just for fun. Besides, this is the perfect chance to make this party legendary!"

"I-I don't know," Tenten said hesitantly, glancing at the board. "I've heard stories about those…"

"Relax, Tenten," Ino said with a smirk. "We're not summoning anything scary. Just asking a few questions."

With a mix of excitement and nervousness, the girls formed a circle around the board. Ino placed the planchette at the center, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

"Alright, ladies," she said. "Let's do this."

Everyone placed their fingers on the planchette. The room grew quieter, the atmosphere shifting as Ino began.

"Is there a spirit with us tonight?" she asked, her voice low and theatrical.

The planchette didn't move. Tenten snorted. "Maybe they're shy."

"Or maybe they don't exist," Sakura muttered.

Ino glared at her. "You're ruining the vibe."

Suddenly, the planchette jerked to the side. All the girls froze.

"W-What was that?" Hinata whispered.

"It moved!" Tenten said, her voice a mix of awe and fear.

"It's working!" Ino exclaimed, her grin widening. "Okay, spirit, when did you die?"

The planchette began to slide across the board. Slowly, letter by letter, it spelled out a year: 1-9-6-5.

"1965!" Ino gasped. "This is amazing!"

The girls leaned closer, their excitement growing—until Hinata's soft voice interrupted.

"Um," she said, tilting her head. "That's not right."

Everyone turned to look at her. "What do you mean, that's not right?" Ino demanded.

Hinata blinked, looking confused by their confusion. "The spirit actually passed in 1972. March 15th, to be exact."

Silence fell over the group. The planchette stopped moving.

Tenten broke the quiet. "Wait… what?"

Hinata pointed to the empty space next to Ino, smiling innocently. "The man's ghost is standing right there. He said you misheard him."

Every girl in the circle paled. Ino visibly shuddered as she leaned hard into Tenten by her side, while Sakura swallowed hard. "You're joking, right?"

Hinata shook her head, her expression earnest. "No. He's been very polite about it, though. He even said the board was a nice touch."

Ino yanked her hands off the planchette like it was on fire. "Okay, nope! That's it! We're done!"

Tenten quickly followed, backing away from the board. "Yeah, same. I am not sticking around for this."

The group dispersed in record time, each girl claiming a spot in the room to settle down for bed. The Ouija board was shoved unceremoniously into Ino's bag, forgotten.

As they tucked themselves in, the room was quiet save for the occasional nervous glance. Ino, lying next to Sakura, whispered harshly, "Why did you even invite Hinata? She's terrifying."

Sakura sighed, pulling her blanket over her head. "I didn't know she could see ghosts apparently! How was I supposed to know?"

Meanwhile, Hinata sat contentedly on her blanket, oblivious to the tension she'd caused. She glanced around the room with a small smile. "Goodnight, everyone!" she said sweetly.

A chorus of strained "Goodnight" replies followed.

And that was how Sakura's slumber party became a night none of them would forget.

Sasuke set a kunai on the floor, his gaze mischievous. "Alright, listen up, losers. We're playing Truth or Drink. The rules are simple. You spin the kunai, and whoever the tip lands on has to answer a question from the guy at the hilt. If you don't wanna answer, you drink. Got it?"

Kiba snorted, cracking his knuckles. "This is gonna be fun. Hope you're ready to spill some secrets, Naruto."

"Bring it on!" Naruto shot back, crossing his arms confidently.

Shikamaru yawned, leaning back lazily. "What a drag… but fine. Let's get this over with."

Choji munched on a bag of chips, already chuckling. "This is gonna be interesting."

Lee clenched his fists with determined enthusiasm. "What a splendid way to test the strength of our camaraderie!"

Naruto spun the kunai, and the game began.

The first spin landed on Kiba, with the hilt pointing to Naruto. Kiba leaned forward, smirking. "Alright, Naruto! Who's the better ninja, you or Sasuke?"

Naruto scoffed, puffing out his chest. "That's easy. Me! I'm the Chunin, after all. And Sasuke—" He paused dramatically, smirking at the Uchiha. "—is still just a Genin."

"Enjoy it while it lasts, idiot," Sasuke muttered.

Naruto laughed, clearly enjoying himself as he spun the kunai again. This time, the tip pointed at Sasuke, and the hilt was toward Naruto.

Naruto grinned like a fox. "Alright, Sasuke! Why do you sleep with the light on? Don't think I didn't hear your mom mention that earlier!"

The room went silent for a split second before everyone burst into laughter.

Sasuke's glare could have frozen a river. "You're an idiot," he muttered, grabbing the sake bottle and taking a swig rather than answering.

The next spin landed on Choji, with Shikamaru at the hilt. Shikamaru raised an eyebrow, smirking slightly. "Choji, have you ever stolen snacks from the Yamanaka flower shop while helping Ino's dad?"

Choji froze, his hand halfway to his chips. His eyes darted around nervously before he sighed, picking up the bottle and taking a drink.

"I knew it!" Kiba howled, pointing at his friend accusingly.

Sasuke's turn came next, and the kunai pointed at Kiba. Smirking, Sasuke leaned back against the wall. "Kiba, is it true you got beat by Akamaru in a race last week?"

Kiba's face turned red. "What? No! That's not—Akamaru cheated!"

"Sure he did," Shikamaru said, smirking.

"Yeah, right," Naruto added, nudging Kiba's arm. "Just admit it!"

Under the pressure of their teasing, Kiba grabbed the bottle and took a long drink, slamming it down dramatically. "You guys suck."

Lee spun next, and the tip landed on Shikamaru. The hilt was in Lee's hand, and he leaned forward earnestly. "Shikamaru, do you ever train, or is it all just strategy and naps?"

Shikamaru sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "What a drag… Fine, I'll answer. I do train sometimes, but only when I have to. It's too troublesome to do it all the time."

Lee nodded seriously, as if Shikamaru had imparted great wisdom, while the others chuckled.

The game continued, with the sake bottle being passed around frequently. For every three drinks taken, the unfortunate player had to pay each person in the room one ryo. Naruto, true to form, found himself the center of many questions and had already handed out several coins, much to everyone's amusement.

Naruto scowled, gripping the neck of the sake bottle. "Alright, who's next? Kiba, spin it!"

Kiba grabbed the kunai and gave it a spin. It clattered against the floor, pointing directly at Naruto.

"Oh, great," Naruto muttered, bracing himself.

Shikamaru smirked, leaning back lazily. "Alright, Naruto, here's one for you. What would you do if you had to kill every girl in our class to save one? And who would you kill and save?"

The room fell silent for a moment before everyone erupted in laughter.

"That's messed up!" Kiba said, though he was grinning.

Naruto rolled his eyes. "Easy. I'd kill Sakura three times and save the rest."

Kiba snorted. "Be serious for once."

Naruto threw up his hands. "Fine! I'd kill Sakura three times—"

Sasuke groaned, facepalming. "You can't kill someone more than once, idiot."

"Alright, alright!" Naruto said, waving him off. He paused, clearly reluctant to answer. "I guess… I'd kill Sakura, Tenten, and—"

He hesitated, looking increasingly uncomfortable as the others leaned in with curiosity.

"Well? Spit it out!" Sasuke demanded, but his attention was quickly drawn elsewhere. "Hey, Choji! Back off from the snacks!"

Choji froze mid-bite, a stick of dango halfway to his mouth. He looked around guiltily. "What? I was hungry!"

"Just… stop," Sasuke said, rubbing his temples.

Kiba brought the focus back to Naruto with a teasing grin. "C'mon, finish your answer!"

Naruto shifted awkwardly, glancing at the group. "Fine," he mumbled. "I'd save Hinata Hyuuga."

The room went dead silent.

Everyone turned to him in shock.

Naruto's face flushed red as he stumbled to explain himself. "I-I mean, she's always so quiet, y'know? I just thought… it'd be nice for her or something."

Kiba let out a low whistle. "Didn't see that coming."

Naruto glared at him. "Shut up, dog breath."

Sasuke spun the kunai, and it pointed at Shikamaru. "Your turn," Sasuke said.

Shikamaru, as calm as ever, shrugged. "Easy. I'd kill Hinata, Sakura, and Tenten to save Ino because she's the prettiest."

Naruto's jaw dropped. "What?!"

Before anyone could react, a dreamy voice cut through the tension.

"You're wrong, Shikamaru," Lee said, swaying slightly, his face flushed from all the alcohol. "Sakura is the prettiest girl in the entire village."

Sasuke's expression tightened, a subtle flicker of annoyance crossing his face. "Settle down, Lee."

Choji grabbed the kunai and spun it. The blade landed squarely on Sasuke, and everyone turned to him with predatory grins.

"Alright, Sasuke," Kiba said, practically rubbing his hands together. "Your turn. Same question."

Sasuke scowled but remained silent, his pride clearly warring with the ridiculous nature of the question. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, the door creaked open.

Mikoto poked her head in, her gentle smile making every boy in the room freeze.

"Boys, are you having fun?" she asked sweetly.

The color drained from Sasuke's face as the room burst into awkward coughs and shuffling.

"Are you boys doing okay?" Mikoto asked warmly, glancing around. "I just came to check on you. Do you need anything?"

Sasuke, clearly on edge, plastered on an unconvincing smile. "We're fine, Mum. Everything's alright." He shot a quick look at Shikamaru, who gave him a subtle nod of assurance.

Rock Lee, however, had other plans. He suddenly let out a loud, unrestrained burp.

The group froze, their silent panic almost palpable as Kiba leaned over to Lee and whispered harshly, "Keep it together, man!"

Mikoto's concerned gaze shifted to Lee. "Rock Lee, are you okay? You look a little uncomfortable."

Kiba quickly stepped in, waving his hand dismissively. "He's fine, Mrs. Uchiha. Just a little… tired from all the fun."

But Lee squirmed in place, his face turning slightly green. He blurted out, "Bottle!"

The boys stiffened. Kiba dove in to muffle Lee, wrapping an arm around his shoulders with a forced laugh. "Haha, bottle, right! We're just—uh—roughhousing! You know how it is!"

Mikoto frowned, stepping closer. "Roughhousing? Sasuke, what's really going on here?"

Sasuke was quick to intervene, trying to steer her away. "Mum, it's nothing! Really, we're just playing games."

She glanced around suspiciously, then her eyes narrowed. "Games? Spin the bottle, perhaps?"

The boys collectively blinked.

"That's a bit of a girly game, don't you think?" Mikoto teased, crossing her arms and giving Sasuke a knowing smile. "Sasuke, I thought you'd outgrown playing Spin the Bottle."

Sasuke's face flushed a deep red. "Muuumm, stop embarrassing me in front of my friends!" He angrily said through clenched teeth.

Naruto, trying to suppress his laughter, accidentally let out a snicker. As he did, the hidden bottle of sake slipped out of his jacket and rolled onto the floor with a soft clink.

The room erupted into a synchronized gasp of horror.

Before Mikoto could even turn to investigate the noise, Sasuke acted on instinct. His Sharingan spun to life as he cast a quick genjutsu on her, freezing her in place.

"What are you doing?!" Shikamaru hissed, his voice low and urgent as the rest of the boys stared at Sasuke in shock.

"Calm down," Sasuke said, though his trembling hands betrayed his nerves. "First, we need to get rid of the drink."

But the boys' expressions didn't ease. In fact, they seemed to grow even more terrified as their gazes fixed on something behind Sasuke.

"What?" Sasuke asked, frowning.

"What drink are you talking about?" Mikoto's voice rang out behind him, cool and calm.

Sasuke froze, his breath catching. Slowly, he turned around to face his mother, who was no longer under the genjutsu and now looked thoroughly unimpressed.

"Well?" Mikoto pressed, arms crossed.

"I-I… it's, uh…" Sasuke stammered, struggling to come up with an excuse.

"Why did you put me under a genjutsu?" Mikoto's voice sharpened slightly. "Are you hiding something from me?"

Sasuke fumbled for words. "I just… wanted to show you what I learned at the academy!"

But Mikoto's gaze had already shifted to Naruto, who was sweating profusely.

"Naruto," she said gently but firmly.

Naruto practically jumped, blurting out in one breath, "We're hiding alcohol from you!" He scrambled to grab the bottle and handed it to her.

The boys groaned in unison as Shikamaru facepalmed.

Mikoto examined the bottle, her expression darkening. "Sasuke…"

"Mum, I can explain!" Sasuke began, his voice pleading.

"Who brought this?" Mikoto asked the group, holding up the bottle in a hand.

The others immediately pointed at Sasuke, none of them wanting to share the blame.

"Traitors," Sasuke muttered under his breath.

"Not only are you drinking underage," Mikoto scolded, her voice rising, "but you're pressuring your poor friends to join you?"

"It-it's not what it looks like—"

"I'm very disappointed in you, Sasuke," Mikoto continued, her tone final. "This party is over. Everyone, go to bed. And leave the door open."

"But Muuuum!" Sasuke whined, his voice cracking slightly.

"No buts," Mikoto said sternly. "And your father will be hearing about this when he gets back tomorrow."

Sasuke visibly paled at that, his shoulders slumping in defeat.

As Mikoto left, the tension in the room broke. Naruto whistled. "Man, that was intense."

The group turned on him, glaring daggers.

"Uh… I think I'll head to bed," Naruto said nervously, slipping away.

Before anyone could respond, a loud retching sound came from the bathroom. The group grimaced as Rock Lee stumbled out, pale and wobbly.

"Gross!" Kiba exclaimed, backing away.

Choji, still munching on a stick of dango, shrugged. "Don't feel bad. It was still a good sleepover."

Shikamaru groaned, shaking his head. "What a drag..." He stood and trudged off to bed, leaving the rest of the boys to clean up the mess.

The soft glow of a single lamp lit the room as the girls settled into their sleeping bags. The quiet murmurs of late-night chatter had faded, replaced by the rhythmic sounds of breathing as sleep overtook most of the group.

Suddenly, a sharp gasp shattered the stillness.

"No! Stop!" Hinata's voice rang out, raw with fear.

The girls bolted upright, their hearts pounding. Ino grabbed the closest object—a plush pillow—like a weapon. Tenten fumbled to turn on the light, and Sakura rushed over to Hinata, who was thrashing in her sleep, her face contorted in terror.

"H-Hinata?" Sakura shook her gently.

With a start, Hinata shot upright, gasping for breath. Her dark eyes darted around the room, disoriented, before finally focusing on the worried faces surrounding her.

"Oh…" She blinked, touching her cheek where cold sweat clung. "I… I'm sorry. Did I wake everyone?"

"Uh, yeah!" Ino huffed, crossing her arms. "What was that all about?"

"I was having a dream," Hinata murmured, her voice soft and unsteady.

"Sounded more like a nightmare," Tenten said, offering a small, comforting smile.

"It's nothing to worry about," Hinata said, trying to reassure them. "I have them all the time. It's normal for me."

"Normal?" Ino raised an eyebrow. "What kind of nightmares do you have all the time?"

Hinata hesitated, then looked down, fidgeting with the edge of her blanket. "Well… it was about… Sakura."

"Me?" Sakura's eyes widened. "What did I do?"

"Oh, nothing bad," Hinata said quickly. "You just… were standing in front of me. You were covered in blood, and holding a sword. You were calling my name, but I couldn't answer you."

The room fell deathly silent.

"…What?" Tenten said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Ino's face contorted with disbelief. "You're kidding, right? That's seriously messed up, Hinata!"

Hinata tilted her head, confused. "I didn't think it was that strange…"

Ino threw her hands up. "See, this is what I'm talking about! She's so creepy!"

"Ino, stop it!" Sakura snapped, frowning.

"No, I'm serious!" Ino said, her frustration bubbling over. She gestured wildly at Hinata, her voice growing louder. "First, she wakes us up screaming like a banshee. Then, she tells us she dreams about you looking like something out of a horror movie. What's next, huh? You're gonna tell us you talk to ghosts too? Oh wait—you already have!"

Hinata's shoulders stiffened, and she shrank back, her hands trembling slightly.

"Ino, that's enough!" Sakura said, standing between her and Hinata.

"Oh, come on, Sakura," Ino said, rolling her eyes. "You're acting like I'm the bad guy for pointing out the obvious. Like you all don't see it too!" She crossed her arms and smirked. "Maybe it's her mom's ghost messing with her at night, trying to get revenge for what her daughter did to her. Is that why you can't sleep, Hinata?"

The room fell into a stunned silence.

Tenten sucked in air through her teeth, wincing. "Ouch…"

Sakura gasped, turning on Ino. "Ino, that's so cruel! How could you even say something like that?"

But the damage was done. Tears began to slide down Hinata's cheeks as she kept her head bowed. Slowly, she rose to her feet and began gathering her things, her movements quiet but deliberate.

"H-Hinata, wait!" Sakura called, stepping toward her.

Hinata shook her head, her voice barely audible. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to ruin the party…"

Her hands trembled as she zipped up her bag, slinging it over her shoulder. Without another word, she walked to the door, her soft footsteps echoing in the silence.

Sakura followed her, her voice pleading. "Hinata, please don't go. Stay. We're having fun—don't let what Ino said get to you."

But Hinata didn't stop. She reached the front door, pausing only when Sakura grabbed her arm.

"Hinata," Sakura said again, her voice breaking. "Please…"

Hinata finally turned, her eyes red and filled with unshed tears. "I'm sorry, Sakura. I just… I don't feel like staying anymore."

Her voice cracked as she added, "Thank you for inviting me. I hope you can enjoy the rest of your party."

And with that, she slipped out into the night, the door clicking softly shut behind her.

Sakura stood frozen, her hand still outstretched, her heart aching as she watched her classmate disappear down the street. "Hinata…" she whispered, her voice heavy with regret.

The streets of Konoha were quiet, the faint glow of lanterns casting soft shadows as Hinata walked briskly through the village. Her chest felt heavy, her breaths shallow as tears streamed down her face. She clutched her bag tightly, the weight of the night pressing down on her with every step.

When she reached Kurenai's house, the familiar sight of the warm, inviting light spilling from the windows almost made her stop in her tracks. She hesitated for a moment, wiping her face quickly with her sleeve, though it did little to hide the redness in her eyes. Finally, she stepped inside, shutting the door softly behind her.

Kurenai was seated in a chair near the fireplace, a book in her hands. She glanced up as Hinata entered, her face lighting up with excitement.

"You're back!" Kurenai said warmly, setting the book aside. "How was the party? Did you have fun?"

But her smile faltered as she saw the look on Hinata's face. Her eyes widened with concern as she stood and approached her.

"Hinata…" Kurenai's voice softened, filled with worry. "What happened?"

Hinata's lips quivered as she tried to speak, but the words caught in her throat. Her shoulders shook, and she lowered her head, unable to meet Kurenai's gaze.

"It… it was fine," Hinata finally managed, her voice breaking. "But… but I ruined it."

The tears she had been holding back spilled over, and before she could say another word, Kurenai closed the distance between them. She knelt down in front of Hinata, her hands gently resting on the girl's arms.

"Oh, Hinata," Kurenai murmured, her voice tender. "Come here."

She pulled Hinata into a hug, holding her tightly as the younger girl collapsed into her arms. Hinata's sobs came in waves, muffled against Kurenai's shoulder as she clung to her, trembling.

"I'm sorry," Hinata choked out between sobs. "I'm so sorry… I didn't mean to… I didn't want to ruin everything…"

Kurenai's heart ached at the sound of her student's pain. She stroked Hinata's hair gently, whispering soothing words.

"Shh… it's okay," Kurenai said softly. "You didn't ruin anything. Whatever happened, it's not your fault."

"But it is!" Hinata cried, her voice cracking. "I-I shouldn't have gone… I'm so stupid… They all hate me now."

"No one hates you, Hinata," Kurenai said firmly, pulling back slightly to look into her tear-streaked face. "You're not stupid, and you're not a burden. You have such a kind heart, and anyone who can't see that doesn't deserve your tears."

Hinata shook her head, her tears falling harder. "I just… I wanted to fit in… I tried so hard…"

Kurenai's hands cupped Hinata's face gently, her thumbs brushing away the tears. "Hinata, listen to me. You don't have to try to be anything other than who you are. The people who matter will see your worth without you having to prove it."

"But why does it hurt so much?" Hinata whispered, her voice barely audible.

"Because you care," Kurenai said, her voice full of warmth. "You care about others, about their opinions, and about doing the right thing. That's not a weakness, Hinata—it's one of your greatest strengths."

Hinata sniffled, her tears slowly beginning to subside as Kurenai's words sank in. She buried her face in Kurenai's shoulder again, clinging to the comfort of her presence.

"I'm sorry," Hinata murmured again, her voice small.

"You don't have to be sorry," Kurenai said softly. "Just let it out. I'm here for you, always."

They stayed like that for a while, the room quiet except for the sound of Hinata's soft cries. Kurenai held her tightly, her heart breaking for the girl she saw as more than just a student—she saw Hinata as family.