Konoha's New Prodigy: The Journey

36

I stood in front of the gates, carrying my bag while Shinki finished talking with his uncle, Shikamaru. He was calm. Well, more happy than calm. He was excited to be on a trip back to Suna with me.

I will be lying if I wasn't as happy as him. Maybe is this what I needed from the beginning? To have a new start? A new oportunity to be accepted as who I am by the people?

The only thing thatade me alittle sad is the fact that I didn't had the same oportunity here, at my true home.

"Hima?" My dad said, bringing me back to reality. I turned around to see him and my mother, staring at me with concern. Mom was the first to give me a deep hug.

"Hope you two have a safe trip." was all she said before letting some tears roll through her face as she broke the hug. Then I faced my dad, who had a difficult facial expression.

"Father?" I asked with hesitation.

"Himawari" he said as he kept staring at me. "Man, I'm really not good at this dattebayo."

"Maybe because I'm not Boruto" I replied as I lowered my head. He stood silent before calling me again.

"I want you to have this" he said while handing me a small object. "Just so you will remember, that we will always love you no matter what happens."

"What do you mean?" I said as I opened the envelope, revealing the small sunflower pin I gave him when I first went to war. "You....still have it."

"I return it to you as a reminder that everything we do is for your own good." he said almost in tears. Shinki watched the scene with pain.

I looked at the pin and made a warm smile. The pin that started everything. I couldn't believe that after all these years, he managed to keep it. "T-Thank you.."

I turned to Shinki, ready to part ways until I heard a familoar voice calling me. It was my brother, Boruto. But something was off.

"What are you doing here?" I asked in a skeptical tone. Then he suddenly hugged me. Everyone was in shock.

"I'm sorry for everything dattebasa" he said. "Hope you have a nice trip."

"I....yeah..." I said in confusion as I broke the hug. I don't know why but somehow it still felt weird. "I must go."

He just leaned to my ear and said "Whatever happens, we will always be together...love"

'Love'

'Love'

I gave him an expression only I could understand. I quickly turned around and left with Shinki as Boruto watched me go with a smirk.

"What was that?" Shinki asked, noticing my mood. What am I supposed to say? How can I explain this to him? There's only one person who will use that word in that cynical tone and as far as I know, he's imprisoned.

Right?

"Just another of his annoying pranks" I said while following him. Shinki only nodded.

"Well whatever he really told you, it's something you must leave behind. Our new home awaits." he said proudly as I agreed.

This has been a huge roller coaster. That's something I can't deny. In this time, the road to Sunagakure takes less than 3 days if you tale the train, however we didn't wanna bother anyone with my presence. So we took the old route.

3 days later, we arrived at Sunagakure. It turned out that Kankuro and Gaara were already waiting for us at the gates of the village.

"Finally you arrived!" Kankuro said in a loud voice. Shinki turned to face his father and talked for him a little bit. Meanwhike I was gazing at the whole desert.

'I can't believe I'm doing this'

"Hima!" Shinki's voice brought me back to reality. "It's time"

I nodded after making a whole sigh. Will the people of this village accept me? Will they treat me as the monster I'm used to be? Or they'll finally see the potential I have to make the world better? I really don't know. But as long as they give me the chance to prove myself, I'll do my best.

Shinki handed me his hand. I looked at it for a while as he waited patiently.

"You don't have to do this if you don't want to" he said with a warm smile. Honestly, what did I do to deserve this man?

"I.....I want to" I replied as I took his hand and walked with him towards the village hoping, dreaming, wishing that this was the right choice.

*The End*