[Keywords: Hokage (leader of the village), Bijuu (tailed beast, e.g Nian), Baka (idiot), sensei (teacher), Genin (first level ninja), Chunin (second level ninja), Jounin (third level ninja; strong and high levelled ninjas), shinobi (ninja)]
[Names: Kakashi (Kaka-sensei), Shikamaru (Shika)]
Chapter 22
Athena couldn't help but smile widely, a genuine relieved smile as she walked through the village that she knew like the back of her hand no matter how many times it was reconstructed or rebuild because of the many attacks and the war.
Many ran up to her, greeting her, welcoming her and showing their joy at having one of their heroes come back home. And Athena rejoiced in it, momentarily forgetting about their mission and just soaking up being back home.
"She's very well known her," Sam observes.
Neji smiles softly, his lavender white eyes shining, "Of course. She not only grew up here, but she is also known as a hero in the Ninja World."
Ten-Ten chuckles, "Maybe we should have just taken the easier way to the Hokage tower."
Lee shakes his head enthusiastically, "No! Our youthful flower has not been home in a very long time! Look at how she is glowing!"
Dean's eyes squint slightly, turning in Neji's direction, "She grew up here?"
Neji turns to the man with green eyes, "Yes. She came to the village when she was about six or seven and stayed here for years before she could control her Bijuu properly enough to travel back to her world. She could have stayed there but," Neji smiles as memories —good and bad—flooded him, "She always came back. And instead of choosing between the two worlds, she alternated between the two. To which we are very grateful for."
Athena chuckled at the enthusiasm of the little children before she froze. Every fibre in her body stilled and reacted to a strong and limitless chakra. There is only one person she knew who felt like that, who smelled like that.
Her ears flicked in the direction of that power, her vampire hearing zoned in on the person, "She's here, dattebyo! I'm going to her!"
"Don't shout in my ears, baka!"
BAM! SWOOSH!
Athena heard a crash and then whining, making a smile come to her lips, "Owww! That hurt, Sakura!"
Athena stopped listening in and looked back to the villagers crowding around her, "It is so good to see all of you but I'm afraid I have to go. The Hokage is expecting me."
This was heard with complaints from the young ones and understanding smiles from the adults.
Athena bowed respectfully before she excused herself and vampire-sped to the Hokage's office, leaving the others behind.
Lee, who noticed Athena leave with an excited look on her face and charged after her, not wanting to be left behind, "WAIT FOR ME MY YOUTHFUL FLOWER!"
Ten-Ten sweat-dropped with a smile and shook her head as she and Neji exchanged a look.
Some things will never change.
***
Athena stood in front of the Hokage's office door that she knew all too well and walked in without knocking.
Elijah would have a fit about her not having manners enough to knock but it wouldn't matter seeing as the Hokage of the village is none other than her former sensei.
Athena's heart froze in her throat as she takes in everyone in the office: Kakashi-sensei in his chair behind his desk, Shikamaru rubbing the bridge of his nose, Sakura who was yelling at... her eyes move to the yellow-haired ninja that she consider a brother as much as she does Marcel.
"Naruto..." she whispered, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. It was as if just seeing him, made all the pain and hurt of the past few months come back and made her heart heavy that she didn't have her friend by her side to be there for her.
Everyone froze at the sound of the familiar voice and slowly turned to the direction of it.
Naruto's bright blue eyes widened at the girl in front of him. The first person to ever acknowledge him. His first friend. The person he considers a sister. One of the people in his life who understood the pain of loneliness and heartache as much as he did. Yes, her pain was slightly different seeing as she still has her family and he doesn't but he knew that she was separated from them because they were afraid of her and what she could do. They both knew that her family did what they had to protect Athena, themselves and others but when she was little, that wasn't how she saw it.
FLASHBACK
It has been one year since Nian had told Athena about the Ninja World and that being here could help her in her training with being strong enough to control a Bijuu. A year since Klaus had brought her here and spoke with the Hokage at the time —Lord Third (Sarutobi)— and requested for Athena to stay here under his protection and care. A year since she last had seen her family, any of them. A year that she has been alone. And during that year she had gotten her own apartment, been studying at the ninja academy and only made one friend.
YOU ARE READING
The Unpredictable Tribrid
Fanfiction"Dean! Is that my pie?" "Whaph." He said with his mouth full of apple pie. He still didn't realise it was her because the pie was filling his taste buds. Best freaking pie ever! He looked in her direction as he watched her eyes change from her beau...
