The forest stretched endlessly in every direction, the towering trees casting shadows over the underbrush. Kikidori wiped the sweat from his brow, his breath ragged. He had been training alone for hours, perfecting his taijutsu and working on his stamina.
But as the day turned to evening, he realized he had no idea where he was.
"Alright, Kikidori, don't panic," he muttered to himself, his voice echoing in the quiet woods. "Konoha's gotta be this way… I think."
He started walking in what he believed was the right direction, the leaves crunching under his feet. As the minutes turned into hours, his confidence began to waver.
*How far could I have gone?* he wondered, his stomach growling loudly.
Suddenly, he heard a rustling in the bushes ahead. His hand instinctively went to the kunai pouch at his side, though he knew he wasn't great at using them.
"Who's there?" he called out, trying to sound braver than he felt.
A figure stepped out of the shadows—a girl around his age with long black hair tied into a loose ponytail. Her dark eyes studied him warily before flashing red—the unmistakable glow of a Sharingan.
"Relax, I'm not gonna hurt you," the girl said, crossing her arms. "You're just as lost as I am, aren't you?"
Kikidori blinked, lowering his kunai slightly. "Wait… who are you? And how do you have a Sharingan?"
The girl smirked. "Name's Ere'ana Judora. I'm from Konoha, like you. The Sharingan? Let's just say it's a long story. Someone gave it to me, but I don't know who."
Kikidori frowned. "That doesn't make any sense."
"Doesn't have to," she replied, shrugging. "Anyway, what are you doing out here?"
"I was training," Kikidori admitted, scratching the back of his head. "But I guess I got turned around. I thought I was heading back to Konoha, but…"
"You were going the wrong way," Ere'ana finished for him. "Same here. Great. Now we're both stuck."
Kikidori sighed, his shoulders slumping. "Guess we might as well stick together until we figure out how to get back."
"Works for me," Ere'ana said. She glanced at him with a teasing smirk. "Just don't slow me down, okay?"
Two Years Later
The sun was high in the sky as Kikidori and Ere'ana approached the gates of Konoha. Their clothes were tattered from their time in the wilderness, and they looked more like seasoned travelers than shinobi.
"I can't believe we actually made it back," Kikidori said, his voice filled with disbelief.
"About time," Ere'ana muttered, brushing a twig out of her hair. "If I never see another forest again, it'll be too soon."
The guards at the gate recognized them instantly, their eyes widening in shock. One of them ran off to inform the Hokage, while the other stared at Kikidori.
"You've been missing for *two years!*" the guard exclaimed.
Kikidori winced. "Yeah… long story."
As they entered the village, Kikidori felt a surge of mixed emotions. Familiar faces greeted him with surprise and relief, but he couldn't help but feel like a stranger in his own home.
When they reached the Uzumaki household, the door flew open, and Hinata rushed out, tears streaming down her face.
"Kikidori!" she cried, pulling him into a tight hug. "You're home! I thought… I thought I'd never see you again!"
Himawari appeared behind her, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Big brother?" she whispered before running up and hugging him too.
Boruto leaned against the doorframe, his arms crossed. "Took you long enough to find your way back," he said, though there was a hint of a smile on his face.
"Yeah, yeah," Kikidori muttered, ruffling Himawari's hair. "Miss me, Boruto?"
Boruto shrugged. "Not really, but Mom and Himawari wouldn't stop crying about you, so I guess it's good you're back."
Naruto arrived moments later, looking flustered. "Kikidori! You're—wait, you've been gone *two years*?"
Kikidori gave him a flat look. "You didn't even notice, did you?"
Naruto scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Uh… I've been really busy…"
"Unbelievable," Kikidori muttered under his breath.
Ere'ana stood off to the side, watching the reunion with mild amusement. Hinata noticed her and smiled warmly.
"And who's this?" Hinata asked. "Your… girlfriend?"
Boruto burst out laughing, clutching his stomach. "Girlfriend?! Kikidori?! That's a good one!"
Kikidori's face turned red as he reached for a shuriken and hurled it at Boruto. The projectile flew wide, embedding itself harmlessly in the ground.
"Missed!" Boruto taunted, still laughing.
"Shut up!" Kikidori snapped. "I'm just bad with shurikens, okay?"
Ere'ana smirked, shaking her head. "Nice to know some things haven't changed."
Hinata stepped forward, placing a hand on Kikidori's shoulder. "I'm just glad you're home," she said softly. "We've missed you so much."
Kikidori felt a lump in his throat but managed a small smile. "I missed you too, Mom."
As the family welcomed him back, Kikidori couldn't help but glance at Ere'ana. Despite everything, he was grateful she had been by his side during those two long years. They weren't anything more than friends, but he knew he could count on her.
And for now, that was enough.
The End of Chapter 8