Whispers In The Dark

Slow Motion Love

{3 years later}

Do you know, you're still in my dreams; How much longer till' you let me sleep; So I stay awake at the window pane; My breath fogging the glass; Can the snow in my heart; Melt away with the pain; One day (One day) I pray that it might; Just take one candle flame

Hinata sighed as she looked at the sky. She didn't know what to do. Rinne Festival's going strong and it seemed that even though he's selfish, he's also selfless enough that he rescued as many men and women on the battlefield because apparently, that's what she will do. People have been going around calling her Konoha no Seijo; the Saintess of Konoha.

Haruto had been strong-armed into becoming the 6th Hokage. The Rokudaime was a little confused as to why he had been chosen but apparently, it was because he was once Uchiha Itachi. Itachi's contribution had been recognized and even Haruto was chosen as the Rokudaime. Haruto was open about being Itachi once but when asked if he hated Naruto for what he did, he said, "If I was Itachi, perhaps. But I am not Itachi so that question is inane,"

Why didn't Minato pick up the hat once more? Well, he wanted to focus on living with Kushina first. He considered himself the 'Backup Hokage' and now worked as both Advisor and Academy teacher. Kushina was busy raising more Uzumaki and having learned about Minato's condition, had roped Hiashi and Inoichi to help her monitor them.

So they watched over Fuyuto since he was born in winter, as the two years old toddled about, just waiting for someone to drop dead. So far the red hair seemed to indicate that Kushina's blood's stronger in him. So they watched Haruto instead but the man seemed stable...so far.

As life goes on, it goes on. Hinata stopped showing up in public once she realized that Naruto left her quite the sum of taking all those dangerous missions. She couldn't bear to watch all those people being happy and moving on when she was still here wondering if Naruto will ever make it with Kaguya rampaging inside his body.

Sasuke once shared with her what he did to Orochimaru who tried to steal his body. She knew that Naruto probably heard this from Kabuto and must have gambled on doing the same to Kaguya. But it still doesn't change the fact that for the first time since she knew him, she doesn't even hear his voice. So she ended up playing his song on the radio over and over until she can sing them word by word. Even though she has a garden, her heart felt like winter.

Hold me tight, until I break; I hope I might; Cause then the wind and cold can't reach me anymore; I only wanna feel nothing; I miss you; When every thought's a thought of you; And I stand here alone, cause tonight is the same; It's like my heart, I know eternal snow

She missed him.

She missed him dearly.

She crumbled on the bed, his scent long gone from the washing, "Naruto-kun~!"

Sasuke died a pointless death, like a toad crossing the road being rolled over by a carriage. Naruto battling for his body and the world which to him consisted of her. Hinata...she doesn't even know what she was even doing anymore.

She bundled up in a red scarf as she walked outside. She saw Ino needling Sai by the side, making him blush and fluster even though his face was smiling anyway. But his smile was a lot more genuine. A year after the war she was busy contributing to peace in the Shinobi world. Chasing down deserters never felt so good because she was angry that Naruto just left.

But now she's tired. She's just tired and grieving in emotional fatigue. When the Bijuu came back the second year after the war, she was elated and then wondered if he will return but he didn't. Minato started creating special husks using the remains of White Zetsu to give them a vessel. It worked like the Jinchuuriki except the soul was that of the Bijuu. Many opted for the faces of the people they're most amiable with. Many of them were faces of their last Jinchuuriki having come to be at peace with them during the war.