𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐒𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐀 𝐇𝐘𝐔𝐆𝐀 𝐓𝐖𝐈𝐍

The Truth Comes Out

Hanara sighed, 'So all of that lying was for nothing. Oh well. I can just pretend that was all I knew.'

"Go on then," Hanara said to Idate.

Idate took in a shaky breath and started, "That man, Aoi Rokusho, was my sensei at the Academy."

"You're from the Leaf Village?" Sakura exclaimed.

Ignoring the interruption, he continued, "After he left the Leaf Village, he became a Jonin in the Village Hidden in the Rain. Hanara told you that but what she didn't say is that I was involved." Idate sighed, "I took part in the Chunin Exams a few years ago and it... hit me hard when I didn't pass the first exam, especially since my brother was the proctor. That tenth question really messed it all up for me. My old Academy sensei, Aoi, he told me a way to get a promotion without passing the exams. If I stole the Sword of the Flying Thunder God, the Forbidden Scroll, and gave it to him, I would get a promotion. It was a stupid trap and I fell for it. Once I gave it to him, Aoi gave away his plan. It was too late. My brother came and tried to get both of them away from Aoi but he set the cabin we were in on fire. before Big Brother could get the sword. Aoi made a run for it and I escaped but I thought Ibiki was dead. Just look at me!" Idate exclaimed angrily, "I was a coward then and I am one now! I couldn't do anything and now the Wagarashi are ahead of us! All that work and training for nothing!"

"Hey! Sounds to me that you're giving up early!" Naruto exclaimed, "I didn't get some of what you said, but that's no way for a Leaf ninja to talk!"

Idate looked at the ground, "You've got the wrong guy. I haven't even thought of the Leaf since I walked away from it all those years ago."

'To be betrayed by someone that you were meant to trust... I understand that all too well,' Hanara thought, clenching her fists, 'Most of this squad can, too. Sasuke and his brother... Naruto and the village... Naruto might not understand, but the Leaf Village is known for its teamwork, even among the villagers. It's meant to be a place where everyone trusts and takes care of one another. The Village Hidden in the Eddies were allied with the Hidden Leaf. Uzumaki were meant to be welcome in here at all times, especially since Mito Uzumaki was the wife of the First Hokage. We've betrayed Naruto's entire family in the worst way. Sakura's blessed in ways she doesn't know.'

"Even so," Idate said closing his eyes, "Even though Boss Jirocho knew I was no good, he trusted me. He truly believed I could win this race. He put his faith in me and look! I'm being haunted by memories that I thought were behind me! I needed someone to defend me against Aoi, again! I really am worthless! I can't do anything right! Aoi said it and it's true! I would be better off dead!"

~Flashback~

Hizashi had just been burnt and it left Hanara and Neji in a depressed state (the clan burnt its members to protect the Byakugan although Branch Members had the seal).

'I knew and I didn't do anything! What type of niece, let alone daughter, am I? It shouldn't matter if I wasn't sure or if I couldn't pull up all the details! I had a hunch, the signs were all there, and I left Father to die! Now I'm lying to everyone about my identity! I know bits and pieces of the future and I'm not telling anyone! There's going to be a huge war with dead people revived and I'm not telling anyone! Some people out there could be hunting tailed beasts and I'm not telling anyone! What type of citizen am I to not be informing the Hokage about a massive threat? I'm so freaking selfish! Millions of people could die and I'm over here saving my own skin because I'm afraid I'm going to be experimented on or something! I don't know what Kamatayan was on about! I'm no one special. I'm too selfish to be a good person! It would have been better to revive someone that actually knew more and would try to stop this stupid shit like Sharon would if she were here! I'm literally killing a bunch of innocents by not telling anyone but I'm still so afraid and care about how it's going to affect me. I'm a horrible person! I can't do anything because I'm too freaking scared! I would be better off dead like I was meant to be!'

~Flashback End~

Hanara sucked in a deep breath, 'Don't go back to then, Hanara, it's just going to give you unnecessary pain. You're on a mission, you can reflect on horrible life decisions and indirectly murdering people later. Or better yet, push those feelings to a deep dark corner to never see the light of day again, like they're meant to be.'

"Stop it, you idiot!" Naruto yelled, "You said it yourself! There's one person that believes in you, right? Stop crying like that and make Boss Jirocho proud, then! Trust me, one person is all you need! Who said the race is over? You won't know until you try! If you're just going to mope around like this, the race really will be! So get going, pal!"

"The other runner must have already reached Modoroki," Idate sighed.

Naruto grabbed Idate by his collar, "You're not giving up, understand?"

Sakura tried to get Naruto to let go of Idate, but Sasuke stopped her.

"No! Stop it, Naruto! Tell him, Sasuke! He's being too rough! Stop him, Hanara!" Sakura exclaimed.

"Stay back. Leave them," Sasuke commanded.

Sakura turned to Hanara.

Hanara bit her lip and nodded, making Sakura stop, 'Naruto's helping Idate. He's making him let go of his grief. They're just naive kids, things are so black and white for people then. I wish a few words like what Naruto's telling Idate would work on me.'

"Jirocho's counting on you, don't disappoint him!" Naruto said, "Pull yourself together! You have a race to run, don't you?"

Idate nodded shakily and Naruto moved to run.

"Let's go!" Naruto declared.

"Uh, hold on," Hanara said, smiling hesitantly, "Before we try and win this thing, does anyone have a food pill? I won't survive another half running this without extra chakra."

Sakura nodded and handed one to her, "Lady Tsunade gave me some."

Hanara ate the pill and turned to Idate, "Now let's go!"

After that, it was all smooth sailing. Idate made it to the Great Todoroki Shrine hours before that Wagarashi guy did, making it a clear win. The Wagarashi were all fuming at the intervention and tried to say that since Hanara carried Idate over the ocean he was disqualified. But, in the beginning, the announcer said that there were no rules and Jirocho told the Wagarashi head exactly that smugly also accusing the Wagarashi head of taking bribes. It was two old men acting like passive-aggressive middle school girls in Hanara's mind.

Three days later, the boat Lady Tsunade had sent for Hanara, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura arrived. Currently, the four of them were standing in front of the boat. Or well, the Genin were standing. Hanara was suffering from a food pill crash and was on Naruto's back. She was conscious but weak.

"I want to thank you for your help, Naruto," Idate said, shaking Naruto's hand.

'Hey! What are the rest of us? Chopped liver? I did the majority of the fighting, you know!'

"Yeah, well, it was my pleasure," Naruto said bashfully.

Hanara let out a small smile, 'He deserves it. Idate wouldn't have had the courage to continue without Naruto. Now Idate can finally let go of his burden. No one deserves a betrayal haunting over them...'

"Anyone in need of medical treatment?" a man in a black trench coat with a stretcher asked.

'Ibiki!'

"Food pill crash, Ibiki-sensei," Hanara said weakly from on Naruto's back.

"Big Brother," Idate gasped.

Ignoring him, Ibiki turned to Naruto, "Come on, let's get her on the boat."

"Oh, okay," Naruto nodded, being surprisingly gentle when laying Hanara on the stretcher.

Some people on the boat push her onto it and Ibiki followed.

"Big Brother! Big Brother!" Idate called.

Ibiki stared at Idate for a moment and replied, "There was only one person who called me that and he died three years ago."

Hanara blinked confusedly as she was pushed away into her room.

'Oh yeah! Asuma-Sensei did say that his book was to be updated next year...' Hanara thought a few minutes after they sailed away.