Pushing aside the bushes, I stepped onto the open beach. Behind me was the dense forest where the Kiri ninjas were looking for me like mad dogs.
.
"What should I call you?" Kimimaru asked after getting a bit comfortable around my presence.
"You don't need to be so formal around me. Call me Hinata, and in public, you can call me anything like Lady Hinata, Queen Hinata, Your Highness, Princess, or Hinata-sama," I said with a chuckle.
"I understand," he said with a nod.
.
"You look quite cheerful, Lady Hinata," Ren asked curiously.
'Why shouldn't I be? I have the best of the best talents in my palm,' I thought about Neji and Naruto. I hadn't seen them for a long time.
"We will be going home, so that's why I am in a good mood," I cheerfully said. Ren didn't buy my bullshit, but he didn't ask any further.
'Konoha, I am coming, and Naruto-kun… I have to set up a few things for you. I hope you will appreciate my efforts to make you strong… hehe... wait for me, my little fox. Your angel will soon greet you with her presence.'
.
The dawn was near, so the mist around the beach was thinner compared to night, but it was not a problem for me.
I could see Ritsu and Haku a few hundred meters away, and once we stepped onto the sea, there were no obstacles.
Ren grabbed Kimimaro and followed behind me, walking straight for our little homemade boat, and we finally arrived.
With a graceful jump, I landed on the cube of ice which was made by Haku-chan.
.
"Lady Hinata."
"You are finally back," both Ritsu and Haku said at the same time.
"Yes," I nodded while looking at the cube of ice. Haku-chan had learned the basics of ice release, and of course, I helped him.
"You have done a good job, Haku-chan," I praised him genuinely. He was literally progressing too fast considering his age.
When he heard my praise, he brightened up. "It's all thanks to you," he said, slightly shy.
.
"Now, now, don't be too shy, Haku-chan. Here, let me introduce you to the new member of our little group. This is Kimimaro," looking at Kimimaro, I continued, "and this is Haku-chan."
Haku looked at Kimimaro with his enchanting smile and said, "Welcome, Kimimaro. I hope we will be good friends."
"I hope so, Haku-chan," he awkwardly said.
.
"Don't call me like this; only Hinata-sama could call me that way," he said in a strong voice, and the rabbit in his hand menacingly glared at Kimimaro.
A surprised expression appeared on my face. 'What the fuck, Haku-chan? You are not usually like this.'
'You are behaving like a pet whose owner brought another pet, and now you will be left alone.'
.
"Don't be rude, Haku-chan. No one will call you like this, okay?" I said with a smile.
I then looked at the other boy. He just nodded to me without saying anything. He was really feeling awkward between us, and he didn't know how to talk to people.
In simple words, he was an introvert.
.
"I don't want to be rude, but just call me by my name," Haku said, his friendly smile returning to his face.
"That's good. Now let's go," I said, receiving my order. Ritsu started to move the boat.
It will take us 4 to 5 days to reach home, due to taking another route. I didn't want to enter the land of hot springs; maybe the search for the killer of Ranmaru had ended, but I didn't want to take that risk.
It would be a headache to clear things up if I encountered some Konoha ninjas.
'I hope he had succeeded in cutting the coin,' I thought about Naruto.
'Why am I getting so excited to reach home?'
---
Some days ago…
Konoha…
In an apartment…
.
Naruto looked at the coin, which was neatly cut into two pieces.
"Haha… Finally…" he exclaimed enthusiastically. His goal was complete. Unknown to him, he had become very powerful at the wind element.
He had practiced day and night, ignoring the whispers and hateful gazes of the villagers. Just like she said, whenever he heard them, he remembered her angelic face with a fond and warm smile. As if some miracle had happened, the whispers of the villagers eventually faded into the background, and the only thing that remained was her.
Unknown to him, the disease named 'Hinata' had deeply rooted in his bones. She was like a drug to him. Just remembering her made his day brighter.
.
And just like she said, the Hokage would give him an apartment, and it happened. He also gave him a monthly allowance, which was nothing but a joke in comparison to what she had given him.
His childish mind wholeheartedly and without any doubt believed in her future-seeing abilities.
.
"When this month will end," he grumbled impatiently. He was waiting to meet his one and only friend.
"She will be surprised when she sees this," he approached his bed, grabbed some more coins and started to cut them. He was very persistent in doing the things he was told.
With a happy smile, imagining how and what they would play when he met her, he started to indulge in training even more with greater focus and determination.
.
But the thing he didn't know was that whom he considered his one and only friend, his angel, had plans for him to make him stronger. But the cost was unknown; hope he would appreciate that.
But even if he didn't appreciate it, his one and only friend would make sure he liked it and even fell more into the dark abyss of her care and love.
.
.
.
---
End of the chapter. hope you like it. Tell your thoughts in the comments...
and add the book to the library...