From Present to Future

Chapter 23

A slightly haggard Neji Hyuga stood in front of the Namikaze resident. His face looked downtrodden. After standing there for few minutes, the grief stricken boy cleared his throat before knocking on the door twice.

"He is wearing the same clothes. The one from Tenten's projection." Kiba noted. So did the others.

They all nodded in understanding before turning back to the screen.

The door opened only to reveal another haggard person. Only much, much worse. That person was Itachi Uchiha.

Just like the Hyuga, Itachi's face too looked like he hasn't eaten a proper meal in days. His eyes red and dried tear marks could be seen on both cheeks. His already pale skin had taken an unhealthy complexion. His hair were unkempt. Nothing about him seems like the previous SS-rank ninja. The exhaustion was clearly visible in the others face. His dull eyes looked up at the visitor. Nodding his head in slight acknowledgement, Itachi stepped aside to let their visitor in.

Once inside the house, they both silently walked around the house. No words were needed for they both had their own grief to grieve about. Finally they stopped in a corridor in front of a door. Moving aside, the elder Uchiha now addressed his companion.

"He is inside. You can go in. I will get you something to drink."

"No Itachi-san. I don't need anything. I...I just came here to accompany my friend. I don't...don't know if I can even call myself his friend anymore."

"You know he wouldn't be Naruto if he held grudge against people. Specially when the other person is not at fault. What happened was not your fault Hyuga-san."

"But it was. If only I had been---"

"You were outnumbered. You fought till you were on death's door. We underestimated our enemy. It was all of our fault. Not a single person's."

" But I didn't die, did I? It means I still had some fight left in me but I chose to give up instead. I---"

"Neji" A third voice came from behind them. It was Naruto. In their conversation, they didn't notice when the blonde has entered their vision.

Naruto stood there in his usual clothes. Unlike the other two, the blonde looked still better. In terms of outer appearance atleast. But one can see the toll his daughter's death has taken on him. The previous fit clothes now looked like they belong to some other person. Not this lanky looking man. The hollow of his cheeks and dark shadows under his eyes tells how the blonde is in desperate need of some rest. The vibrating blue eyes had lost their charm. The blonde looked like a walking zombie if you ignore the tough stance he had taken. Except his eyes, everything else screamed his desolate state. His eyes, on the other hand, they had an unfathomable iciness and determination in them, like reminding the blonde everyday he still has work left. Still have to get justice to his daughter. And he is not stopping untill he get one.

"Lets go inside first. Ita, you too." Saying what he wanted to say, the blonde turned and walked back inside from where he came from.

The others two followed.

The room was actually an office. It had the usual desk, chair, a small library, and sofa in one corner. A bedroom was also placed in far right corner of room, separated from the rest of the place by fusuma (sliding doors).

Now inside the room, the other two occupants kept their silence, waiting for the blonde to speak while the said blonde was busy putting silencing seals around the room. Only after he was done, did he turned back to face his company.