Ascension (Sequel to Ruination)

[6] Again

The group pushed on, and as they traveled through the trees Yuzuki sensed a seemingly familiar chakra. There were three others with it, they were familiar, too. She sucked in a breath as they approached the other ninja. She knew who this was. Her heart thumped in her chest, remembering their goodbye before she left the village. Remembering all their moments before then.

She stopped on a tree branch, standing behind Naruto when the other ninja stopped. Yuzuki tried to calm her racing heart, breathing in deep breaths. The girl sighed as she finally calmed down, brushing her thick black hair out of her eyes, a white strand falling in her face. She pushed it back with the others, stepping out from behind Naruto and meeting the eyes of the Hyūga she hadn't seen in so long.

A memory flashed behind her closed eyelids as she blinked twice to make sure she was really seeing him. His hair was longer than it used to be, he was exceedingly taller than her, and his face was more angled. Tearing her eyes away from his hard gaze, she looked to the others. Gai was the same, and Rock Lee had grown taller. Tenten was prettier than two years ago. And she looked like she had grown stronger.

"What is that traitor doing here?" Neji asked coldly and her heart sank to her stomach. She didn't care about what others thought. It was her mission and their thoughts didn't matter. But the words coming from his mouth hurt more than they ever did before.

Yuzuki didn't answer, and Kakashi spoke up. "Even though she is a member of the organization that we are currently fighting against, she had no part in the plan to kidnap the Kazekage."

"How do you know she's not lying?" Neji bit out.

"I have no reason to wish for Gaara to be harmed," she answered before Kakashi could speak again.

"You're a member of the same organization that kidnapped him. How are we supposed to believe you?" Neji snapped back.

"Just because I'm a member doesn't mean I align with all their beliefs and actions."

"I'm leading this mission so it's my call, if she betrays us it's my fault for trusting her in the first place," Kakashi glanced back at his daughter, his one eye. His gaze was hard but at the same time it told her that he was trusting her. That she was still his family.

At least her father was willing put his faith in her.

"We're going to save Gaara," she assured them all, turning to Naruto who was ready for a showdown.

"Let's do it," he nodded and he held out his fist for her and she bumped it with her own. The look of determination on his face was unwavering, and unmatched.

"Let's go!" Kakashi took off and they all followed him through the canopy of trees.

~

Yuzuki had to force herself not to talk to Neji. The last time they were together they had kissed. She told him she'd come back and then the next time anyone heard anything of her she had killed the Feudal Lord of the Land of Tea and joined the Akatsuki. She wanted to make things right. Obviously, they wouldn't be able to continue where things left off.

Maybe I won't be able to make things right.

How was she going to make things right? Everything in her life had gone wrong and nothing would ever be the same. She was a criminal. And the worst was that those she loved thought she was a traitor.

Yuzuki turned her head slightly, looking at Neji out of the corner of her eye. He definitely had grown more mature, he was now seventeen, she remembered that he was a year older than herself.

His Byakugan was activated, the blood vessels surrounding his eyes popping out from the effort of sending chakra to his eyes. After a few moments his eyes shifted and they made eye contact. Yuzuki immediately looked away, embarrassed after having been caught watching him.