(A/N: Not a quote this week, but an interesting fact ☺️)
"Mina-chan, how are you-" Sakura paused as she took in the state of the hospital room. The clothes she had left for the young girl when she was to be discharged were gone from the chair they had previously laid in. The hospital gown was folded carefully on the unmade bed and she could almost comically see white dashlines where Mina was supposed to be. Sakura's green eyes widened and she quickly hurried out of the room.
'Not again.' She thought to herself just as two familiar girls stopped her, dread filling her.
"Mama, can we see nee-chan yet?" Sarada asked, dark eyes full of worry. Mirai nodded from beside the younger girl. The woman wasn't sure what to say but knew she would have to hurry, and inform Naruto to send out a search party.
*********
Mina ran through the woods that surrounded Konoha, desperate to get away. She would come back soon, she assured herself, she just needed time. She knew she wouldn't be able to see Mirai without the guilt eating her away. The girl knew she was a coward. Her raven hair billowed in the wind that surrounded her from the speed at which she ran.
Mina breathed heavily as she stopped to take a break. She leaned against a tree trunk and took to regulating her breathing, her eyes closed.
"It's almost unbearable, isn't it... the feeling of losing someone close to you." Mina startled at the voice and cautiously turned her head. "I know that feeling; I've been there in that dark and lonely place, but now there are others, other people who mean a lot to me. I care more about them than I do myself and won't let anyone hurt them. I take the sadness I feel from the loss of a precious person and train harder so it never happens again.
It's my fault this happened to you, Mina. I wasn't cautious enough to send someone of a higher rank to take on that man. Please don't take on your pain alone. You have people who are very worried about you. Were you just going to leave Sarada alone?" Naruto stared out at the trees in front of him, his thoughts drifting to a certain brunette who meant a lot to him and his wife.
"Father, I finally understand your feelings... the freedom you felt when you chose to die to protect your friends."
The man's vivid blue eyes turned toward the girl who was sitting, her gaze toward her lap, ebony locks creating a curtain around her face which blocked him from seeing her expression.
"In the end, it is your choice. I won't force you to return, but know that things will get better." The silence was held over them for some time until Mina's soft voice broke through it.
"How can I go back and face my failure? How could I ever walk the ground, knowing their family walks it too?" Naruto gasped as she looked up at him. Her normally amethyst gaze glowed a brilliant red and the flower design was somewhat similar to one he'd seen before.
"Mangekyou Sharingan," he mumbled in shock.
"He told me he loved me and he died for me! I'm not worth it! I SHOULD'VE DIED INSTEAD OF THEM!" Mina cried out as tears fell down her face.
"You're wrong!" two different voices replied back in a firm tone that demanded no arguments. The girl looked up in surprise to see that her birth father and Naruto stood side by side in front of her, but one didn't know about the other. "You lived for a reason, Minako! You have to survive for them. Your teammates knew what they were doing when they sacrificed themselves for you. You have to live for them! Are you going to let their sacrifice be for naught?!" Itachi was moved by the blonde's words, remembering how he trusted Naruto to bring his brother back to the village, a trust that was not misplaced.
Though where was his brother anyway? Ever since Mina had received the Mangekyou Sharingan, he hadn't seen his younger brother. Was he even in the village?
As Mina began to calm down, her eyes turned back to the color of the sky at twilight. She would live for them and even though she couldn't see him, Itachi remained by her side as he would continue to do. She would never be without him ever again, not in a weird way though. It was his mental declaration.
Naruto carried the emotionally exhausted girl back to the village. As she was fussed over by Sakura, she could feel a small smile forming on her face for the first time since the accident. Yet for some reason, she felt that this was just the beginning.
Author-chan's Fun Fact: Author-chan loves Neji and decided to incorporate him in this chapter- the italicized words were Neji's thoughts when he died :(
A/N: Hello all! I hope you enjoyed this chapter, even if it was mostly just about Mina's emotional struggle and how she felt like she was the reason her teammates were dead, so Naruto had to talk-no-jutsu her. I hope I was able to convey her feelings and make them feel real. Just to point out, Itachi wasn't with her until she received her mangekyou and basically, he is still with her even while she has it deactivated, though as stated, not in a weird way 😅. Itachi wants to be with her (almost) all the time because he missed out on much of her life and wants to be a father to her, yk? Anyways please vote~ and add this story to your library~ and comment~!
-Lily :)
Q: Which character in Naruto do you feel is underrated?
A: The Raikage, A. He's really stronk and almost killed rogue!Sasuke with just his fists lol.
Published: 07/19/2023
Word Count: 974
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Symphony of The Fallen Crow {Itachi's daughter Story}
Fanfiction"Did you only take care of me to repay him?" She whispered with a disheartened undertone. "At first I did, b-but I grew to love you as my niece, but more importantly, as my daughter. I love you like you're my own daughter." Her midnight locks flew a...
