The Willow Maiden [Naruto]

{9} The Start Of A New Journey

Leaf shinobi reinforcements came to the forest near the hidden rain village. They took Tatsuya into custody, and it was time for squad 7 to return. Yet, they couldn't leave Ruka behind. She stood there near the flower, her mother, frowning down at it. 

Ruka didn't want to leave her mother. She was afraid that something bad could happen to her mother if she were to leave her birthplace. Kakashi walks over to Ruka and gently places a hand on her shoulder as he says, "Ruka, I know this is very hard for you. But it's not safe here. If you come to the leaf village, we can keep you safe. The choice is yours." 

"I can walk freely out of the forest because of what Tatsuya gave me. . . And I wish to explore the world, but I am afraid. . . I do not know if I will be safe if I come with you. . .If I were to come with you to the leaf village, will I experience the same thing I did here near the rain village? . . . I am not certain anything anymore. . . But I know. . . my mother would want me to be safe and stay in the forest to look after it. . . it is my birthplace." 

"Don't force yourself, Ruka. If you want to stay here, you can." 

"Tell me something. . . If I were to come with you, is the outside world scary? I have never set foot from the forest before until today. I am scared. . ." Ruka frowns some more and begins to tear up. "What should I do? . . ." 

"I'm not sure from your point of view. It is your decision to stay or leave. So you need to ask yourself, what is the right thing to do at this very moment?" 

Ruka looks at the flower and closes her eyes, taking in a deep breath before answering. "One part of me is saying to stay, but another is telling me to take a leap of faith. If I continue to stay here, I will be living the same nightmare over, and over again. This flower -my mother- is never meant to leave this forest because she is the rightful willow maiden, for I am the child of her birth. . . I am frightened, and I do not want to leave. . . But I must move on. . ." 

A slight breeze brushes pass them, gently and softly, and a small chime of a bell rings for only Ruka to hear. That ring came from the flower down below her feet. Ruka looks back down at the flower and her eyes widen. 

"Mother. . .?" It was like a message from a mother to a daughter. "She is telling me something. . ." 

"Telling you something? What is she saying?" Sakura walks over to her, curiously. 

"Go with them, Ruka. My sweet daughter. . . You will be safer with them. . . Explore. Live out your life and start a new journey. . . No matter what, I will always love you." Ruka repeats after her mother's words. 

"That's what she said to you?" 

"From one Willow Maiden to another. . . We can hear each other's words by the sounds of the wind and the silent chimes of the bells of our souls. . . These are her exact words." 

"So, what do you say, Ruka?" Naruto walks over and offers his hand out to her. "Are you ready to take a leap of faith and live your new life in the leaf village? I promise, I won't let anything happen to you as long as you're with us. Believe it." 

Naruto gives Ruka a warm and gentle smile, making Ruka's eyes widen once more with a little bit of excitement while another brush of wind passes them again. To Ruka, she saw warmth and a bright light within Naruto, and that was all she needed to trust him. 

"Naruto. . ." Ruka slowly reaches her hands out and grasps onto Naruto's hand as a tear slips down her cheek. "Thank you. . ." 

Play the ending song

Squad 7 and the Willow Maiden went on their way and traveled back to the leaf village with reinforcements. As they walked, Ruka turned around and took one final look at her birth place, the forest, as she sings the last part of her song that she sung with her mother. 

"She faded into a flower
That would blood for one bright eve
He could not take from the forest
That was never meant to leave~" 

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Sorry to make it short. This story will be ON HOLD for a while. But, let me know what you think of it, and I will continue it as soon as I can.