Unmasked Hearts ×××Kakashi LS Book 2×××

Chapter 23

After the exams finished every candidate that would advance to the third and foremost last part had to stand in a line, I didn't really care as I stayed by Hinata's side, she will be better sometime during a week or two. She had gotten some colour and woke up at some point, I was relieved.

Right now it was night time and she fell asleep, I watched her with a small smile. Her pale skin similar to mine and short black hair framing her face. She seemed so peaceful, I was very proud of her even though she lost. She didn't stop getting back up and fighting back, something that not a lot of people possess. "You should get some sleep." A nurse said, she was around my age but I don't remember her being in my class back in the academy. She had fair skin like me and pale red hair with the nurse uniform on. I smiled slightly at her before nodding and getting up from the chair beside Hinata's bed for the first time since we got here.

The night was a bit chilly with the cold wind sweeping through the quiet streets. I enjoyed times like these, peace and serenity was something I had very few of as a child. I brushed my hand over some flowers in a pot by a door, the windows showed a yellow gleam with three silhouettes, One adult male and female with a little girl that had small pigtails. Their laughter could be heard through the gaps in the window. The silhouettes of the mother and father played with the small girl making a smile tug on the corner of my lips. This was what I as a shinobi swore to protect and what I will protect until its time for the next generation. As the giggles and chuckles continued so did my role.

The moon was very bright as if it was daytime except not that warm. I walked and walked, not thinking about where I am going.

Just walking and taking in the view I had of happy families and the heavens above.

Once I stopped I found myself before the graveyard, I sighed remembering the warmth I lost watching the cheery silhouettes of families. I looked at the steps leading up to the gravestones of my loved ones. Finally having some courage I walked up the stairs, stopping at the first row and instead of walking my usual route I walked to my left and straight to the end where the Hyuga clan's small patch of ground is. I stopped at the name I hadn't visited since my diaper age. Even not knowing this person brought up a sob.

I kneeled down before the gravestone, bowing my head to pay my respects.

Hana Hyuga

It's a name I rarely speak, not because I'm ashamed but for it leaves a heavy aching in my heart. "It's been an experience, one I haven't fully absorbed yet even if it's been years. 26 years later and I still wonder... What would you think of me? What did you think of me the moment I was born, did you resent me as much as your brothers and your clan did? And what about father, have you been reunited once again and do you one another?" I sighed deeply as my mind wandered over millions of questions that I might never get the answers to." Mother, did you ever love me?" everything seemed to break at this question. A single tear rolling its way to freedom as my eyes just stared down at the name of my mother, a stranger that I never met. I finally looked to my right at the far end of the yard knowing there lied the clan that I also belonged to. I shakily walked over to another grave, one I never would've dreamed of visiting.

I knelt down before it, not bowing my head like before and all tears gone like the flame in my eyes made it evaporate before it died out and a dark shadow filled them. My eyes probably looked like their Onyx eyes now. "I forgive you... father," I mumbled before getting up and walking over to Rin's gravestone in the middle of the yard. I smiled down at the name, "I miss you my dear friend and I do hope your watching down on us and maybe even teaching Obito some manners up there." I said bowing my head and leaving afterwards. I walked down the street, not my street, but the street of someone I had to see. Memories flooding my mind and flashbacks of what I had been shown filled my time getting there. I stopped at the wooden door, the window beside it casting light meaning they were awake so I gave the door three taps. When the door opened I smiled down at the boy, "Hey Naruto, how about we grab some ramen... My treat. I do need to thank you for giving Hinata some confidence and cheering her on." I said and as if on cue his stomach started to growl. I didn't smell any food coming from his house, "Or rather why don't we just cook something here... Together." I said and Naruto had a look of admiration, I think it was for the fact that he never really gets a home-cooked meal, he grinned before moving aside so I can come in. "So what ingredients do you have?" I asked opening his fridge only to find it empty, well except for millions of cartons filled with milk. I turned to look at Naruto finding him squinting confused at me, "What's that, what's that face your making?" he blinked, "What's ingredients?" he asked and this time it was my turn to stater at him just blink. That's all I could do, just blinking.

"Well, it's what you put mix, cook or bake to make a meal," I said then walked over to the cabinets, there were the usual plates, bowls and cutlery, but what surprised me was just the amount of canned ramen he had. "Uhm, Naruto... Don't you have anything else to eat or drink?" I asked and glanced at the blonde boy who shook his head no, I sighed. "Well then, I guess we'll have to go grocery shopping. Come on, I'll teach you some ropes." I said, I remember the days that when I fi ally got to go out of the compound on my free days, Talia would take me grocery shopping and taught me what is worth buying and what isn't as well as how to know if something is a bargain. Luckily there were some vendors that were open. Naruto followed me as I would guide him away from candies and things that weren't needed at the time, but after a while, I gave up and got some snacks. "So you're probably very excited about the final exam next month, who's training you?" I asked Naruto as we walked back with about 5 bags each, Naruto tried balancing the bags and in the process almost tipping over, I giggled a bit and held my hand over my mouth to try and hide the smile."Huh? Oh, Kakashi-sensei had the pervert train me. We're starting tomorrow." I furrowed my brows. "What's this pervert's name?" I asked a bit curious as to why how he figured it out.

"Kakashi-sensei said something about Eb... Ebi..." he tapped his chin in thought, "Yeah, that's all you remember of his name." I chuckled knowing who he was referring to and quite frankly I was a bit surprised that he was pervert as he always swatted the men that tried to peep in on the girls' hot springs area. "You mean Ebisu?" I asked and Naruto jumped pointing at me as if I solved world hunger. "Yeah, that's it. Anyway, I used Sexy Jutsu on him and he got this huge nose bleed before fainting." Naruto explained making chuckled. "I wonder how Master Jiraiya would handle that inappropriate Jutsu of yours." I joked as we finally made it to his apartment. "Who's Master Jiraiya?" he asked as we walked in and put the bags down on the counter. I turned to him, "Oh, his my Master and one of the Legendary Sanin. Very powerful, but very pervy." I said before turning back around and started packing the contents of the bags into his cabinets. After everything was clear we started preparing.

"And how do you know he's so pervy?" Naruto asked as I showed him how to cut some vegetables. I glanced down at him before sighing. "I've been stuck on the road with for 12 years whilst he did his research," I said moving to the pan on the stove to stir the chicken and rice. Naruto brought over the vegetables he had cut and added to the pan. "What research does he do?" Naruto asked and my face pulled into a grimace, "Yeah, you don't want to know. But what I will tell you is that he does research for his books, those books that Kakashi reads." I said pulling the pan off after it was all ready. "Bowls," I said and the blonde ball of sunshine went to go get some bowls. I smiled at him as he stood on his toes trying to reach the white bowls on the top shelf. I couldn't explain this feeling swelling in my chest any better than this. It was pure adoration and love like he was my younger brother. I know it's not right, as I had Sasuke... My actual blood related younger brother, but he technically hates me and no matter how much I try to reach out to him he throws the clan's death in my face. He might not know I'm his sister, but he sure makes me feel like a crappy one. "Need some help?" I asked as Naruto tried so hard to reach them that his tongues poked out a bit. "No, I got it. Just a little more," he said and his middle finger hooked onto it and unfortunately as he tipped back to his heels the bowls came flying down. I gasped reaching out and grabbing a bowl before it hits the floor. I glanced up to see if Naruto was okay but ended up bursting out laughing as I saw him smiling weakly and embarrassingly at me with a bowl hanging over one of his eyes and his other two hands hold two other bowls.

Unlike with Sasuke, where I would feel cold and even more alone, with Naruto a felt warm and at home. Even after all he has been through, he would still smile and try to make others feel better. It was something I admired from the small 12-year-old. He might seem dense, but actually he's quite bright and clear. I helped him put the bowls at a much more reachable place for him before we got our food ready to eat in the two remaining bowls.

"Hey, Hira-sensei?" Naruto spoke as we cleaned up, I looked at him. "Yes, Naruto?" I responded wondering what he was about to say. "Thank you for the meal." I blinked a bit before smiling at him, I gave him a slight bump of my hip. "Anytime kid, you can always come to eat dinner with me and Hinata at our place, we always cook too much for us to finish." I offered, kind of trying to get him and Hinata closer too.

"Thanks, Hira-sensei!" Naruto said after snapping out of his surprised look, he launched at me wrapping his arms around my waist in a tight hug, I was a bit taken aback and had stumbled a bit before smiling and hugging him back.

He was like a true brother and maybe a bit of a son to me.