Chapter 176: Naruko
Night had fallen deeply. Konoha village's street lamps lit up one after another.
Sasuko happily grasped Yu's arm, having barely walked beyond their doorway when she glimpsed a familiar figure at the alley's corner.
Hyuga Hinata stood uneasily beneath a street lamp, slender white fingers tightly clutching her hem.
When she saw the two approaching side by side, she clearly froze, especially noticing Yu beside Sasuko. She instinctively retreated half a step, wanting to speak yet hesitating.
"Hinata?" Sasuko was somewhat surprised encountering her at this time and place. "You're here because...?"
Hinata opened her mouth, yet her gaze involuntarily glanced toward Yu beside her, as though pressured by some invisible force, unable to speak.
Yu perceived her concerns, saying gently to Sasuko, "You two talk first. I'll go ahead and buy some things." Speaking, he nodded politely to Hinata before turning toward the nearby convenience store, leaving sufficient space for the two young women.
Seeing Yu leave, Hinata finally sighed with relief, quick-stepping before Sasuko, her delicate face filled with worry. "Sasuko, I'm sorry to interrupt you both... but I really don't know who else to turn to."
"What happened?" Sasuko frowned slightly.
"It's about Naruko." Hinata's voice carried urgency. "I learned from Father—yesterday she suddenly submitted an application to Lord Hokage to withdraw from Team Seven, saying she no longer wished to serve as jonin instructor."
Sasuko froze upon hearing this. This indeed didn't seem like something that perpetually energetic Naruko would do.
"Lady Tsunade didn't approve," Hinata continued. "She only granted her paid leave, letting her properly adjust her condition. But from yesterday until now, I can't contact her at all. Going to her home, even using my Byakugan I can't see any chakra response inside... She's vanished like thin air."
Speaking here, Hinata's eyes reddened slightly. "I've asked everyone who might know her whereabouts, yet everyone only says Naruko is a cheerful, strong, good companion. No one truly understands her private matters. I... I'm worried she might do something drastic..."
Sasuko listened silently.
Having grown up alongside Naruko, she understood better than anyone that affection Naruko kept buried deep in her heart for Yu.
Recalling how Naruko had looked the night Yu walked her home, plus Yu's solitary return afterward, Sasuko already understood seventy or eighty percent.
"The last people to see her were probably Yu and me." Sasuko said softly. "We had dinner together the night before last."
Hinata grasped Sasuko's hand like clutching a lifeline. "Then do you know where she might have gone? Any possible place!"
"Sasuko, Naruko has always considered you her best friend. You must know where she is, right?"
Sasuko shook her head.
She could understand Naruko's current mood, yet as for where Naruko might go to clear her mind, she truly had no clue. That perpetually carefree-seeming Naruko was actually better than anyone at hiding her true emotions.
Hearing Sasuko's answer, the hope just ignited in Hinata's eyes instantly dimmed. She released Sasuko's hand, shoulders drooping, voice carrying sobs. "How could this be... We were fine eating together just days ago..."
Hinata's mind again conjured Naruko's brilliant smile—golden hair sparkling in sunlight, azure eyes curved like crescents, hands gesticulating animatedly when recounting interesting stories.
Such vivid, bright Naruko—how could she suddenly vanish without trace?
"What has Naruko experienced these past days..." Hinata murmured, shoulders trembling slightly.
Sasuko gently grasped Hinata's hand, saying softly, "Don't worry. I know how to find her."
Actually, that night when sharing a bed, Sasuko had quietly left a Flying Thunder God mark on Naruko's back.
"Really?" Hinata raised her head sharply, eyes blooming with renewed light. She excitedly grasped Sasuko's hand. "Then let's quickly go find her!"
Just as her words fell, as though realizing her loss of composure, she hastily released her hand, cheeks flushing. "I'm sorry, I was too anxious..."
Sasuko shook her head. "It's fine." She gazed toward the distant deep night, saying softly, "I'm also very worried about her."
Though they held affection for the same person, Naruko remained an irreplaceable close friend to her.
Sasuko gently grasped Hinata's hand before waving toward the convenience store.
A golden light flashed. Both young women's figures instantly vanished in the night.
Almost simultaneously, Yu, who'd been selecting goods in the convenience store, sensed something. He set down the item in his hands, expression darkening slightly as his form also transformed into nothingness in the blink of an eye.
The convenience store owner turned at the sound, staring at the empty shelf area while rubbing his eyes in confusion. "Strange... There was clearly a customer just now. Where'd they go?"
---
When golden light dispersed, Sasuko and Hinata already stood at the Naka River's upper reaches.
Moonlit river water glimmered with fragmented silver light. On the riverside's largest rock, they finally saw that familiar figure.
Naruko sat alone on the rock's edge, golden hair gently floating in night wind.
She hugged her knees, face buried deeply in her arms. Her slight back appeared especially fragile in moonlight.
"Naruko!" Hinata couldn't help calling out.
The figure on the rock stiffened slightly yet didn't raise her head.
Sasuko gently pulled back Hinata, who wanted to step forward, signaling her to wait. She herself walked slowly closer, stopping before the rock.
"Hiding here alone," Sasuko's voice was gentler than usual, "doesn't seem your style."
Naruko finally raised her head. Those usually bright blue eyes were now swollen red, filled with tears not yet dried.
"You... how did you find this place?" Her voice was terribly hoarse.
"Flying Thunder God mark." Sasuko answered briefly, lithely leaping onto the rock to sit beside her. "Left it that night."
Naruko froze before smiling bitterly and lowering her head. "I see..."
"Why apply to withdraw from Team Seven?" Sasuko gazed directly into Naruko's eyes. "This isn't like you."
Naruko's lashes trembled lightly. New tears silently fell. "I just... need some time."
She buried her face back in her knees, voice muffled. "I know this is very selfish... But I truly don't know how to face everyone now, face you, face... him."
Actually, the more important reason—after that night, her heart had been haunted by certain dark thoughts about Sasuko that wouldn't dissipate.
She feared that continuing to interact with Sasuko would make her lose control, doing things that would hurt her.
She neither wished to harm Sasuko nor wanted to make Yu sad. Ultimately she could only choose to leave alone, coming to this place where she'd often spaced out alone in childhood.
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