--- 8 ---

Rikio's POV

-- Flashback No Jutsu --

It was nearly a month since I'd left the village to embark on my three-year-long ANBU mission, and I was already missing what I had left behind.

Although I was the youngest, by at least five years, I managed to keep up with my squad and carry my own weight. I was friendly with one other ANBU, who was five years older than I was. His name was Hiro and although we were friendly, he found it amusing to give me grief.

I recall sitting one evening on the watch post. I had removed my ANBU mask, and was waiting for the end of my shift when Hiro arrived. He was due to take over but he was later than usual. Whilst I was waiting, boredom got the better of me and without thinking, I reached into my pocket and pulled out a photo of myself and Kasumi. Out of all the photos I had, this one was my favourite. It was taken when I had reached my Jounin rank. I was in my uniform and Kasumi stood beside me, holding her hands out with both thumbs up and a massive grin plastered on her face. I had rested my elbow on top of her head because she was considerably smaller than I was.

I stared at it, suddenly feeling down. Things would be so different when I got back. I didn't know if she'd ever want to speak to me again. It really hurt deep down, knowing that I'd hurt her.

"Hey Rookie," a voice came from behind me. I jumped, jolting forward in panic and almost dropping the photo. "Thanks for covering for me,"

"Damn it Hiro! You almost gave me a heart attack! I snapped, holding the photo close to my chest. He shook his head sighing.

"Shouldn't you be silent on look out duty? Tut tut Rikio, shame on you," he teased. I rolled my eye at him. "No but really, thanks for covering me," he smirked sitting next to where I was.

"It's okay, don't worry about it," I said, glancing at him with a smile. He looked at my chest and pointed.

"What's that you got there Rookie?" he asked raising an eyebrow. I looked down, confused, having almost forgot that I was clutching the photo to my chest. I attempted to put it away.

"Oh, it's nothing, just a photo," I said, not wanting to start a conversation about it. Hiro was fast though,  before I could even register what had happened, he had the photo in his hands and out of my grasp. I lunged at him, angry.

"Hey! What are you doing?!" I snapped. He held me back with ease as he examined the photo with his nose raised slightly. He frowned at the photo for a while.

"Who is she?" he questioned.

"No one," I said through gritted teeth as I struggled to get the photo off of him.

"She's obviously someone if you're carrying a photo of her, not to mention how pissed off you are right now," he said calmly.

"Just give it back!" I yelled. Hiro narrowed his eyes at me and shoved me backwards.

"I get it, whoever she is, you're not on good terms with her," he said. I stopped, my eyes wide. How could he have known? I slumped down and sighed.

"She's like a sister to me, her name is Kasumi. And, I let her down, big time," I said, defeated. I stared at my feet as Hiro shuffled towards me and sat down. He reached down the front of his vest and pulled out a folded piece of paper. He handed it to me and I opened it to find a picture of a beautiful girl about the same age as Hiro.

"That's my girlfriend, Mari," he told me. The girl in the photo smiled back at me, her long black hair tied back into a messy bun. Her face was pale but her eyes seemed to breathe life into her.

"She's beautiful, Hiro," I said.

"Yeah, she was," he said sadly. I looked at him. "She passed away not long ago. We didn't leave things well before I left either, but I wrote to her before she died, telling her that I loved her and that I was sorry, and about how I was gonna be there for her when I got back, how I was going to make it work the best I could. Then I got a letter from her family,"

"I'm so sorry Hiro," I said sadly, patting his back. "I never knew,"

"It's not your fault Rikio, she was sick a long time. We both new it would happen at some point in the future, but not as soon as it did. But although things were left sour, her parents told me in the letter that she got my letter and it made her feel better. I find comfort knowing that she knew I loved her no matter what, and that I was sorry for all the past arguments and grief. But what I'm trying to say is that it's not too late to make things right with Kasumi, you still have time. Because you never really know when it is actually too late," he handed me my photo back and I returned his. He patted me on the back. "You got this bro. Now scoot and get some rest, we move off tomorrow," he said with a smile.

I jumped up and was about to leave when I stopped and turned back to face him.

"Hey Hiro," I called. He turned and looked at me. "Thanks,"

He smirked and turned back as I left.

--- End of Flashback No Justu ---

I remember that conversation as if it were only yesterday, not three years ago. Hiro had never been more right in his life. You never actually know when it's too late. Unfortunately for me, it was. By the time I'd written home, I'd received word that Kasumi had disappeared. Shortly after, Minato had deployed me to this dimension and my search for Kasumi has carried on since.

I hand't noticed it but I had been wandering for a few hours and there was a thick mist had begun settling around me. I looked around taking in my surroundings, which was somewhat difficult because of the blanket of fog.

"The Land of Mist?" I no one in particular.

"That would be correct," a croaky voice came from somewhere behind me. In a flash, I had my weapons drawn and ready in my fighting stance.

"Who goes there!?" I snapped, my eyes darting around frantically searching for a silhouette or outline of a figure.

"I should be asking you!" There came the reply. "Look, you needn't be cautious of me, I'm but an old man out on a stroll," the voice said coming closer. A figure to match the voice appeared, a fairly short, fat man with a beard and glasses wearing a straw hat appeared. His eyes were aged but honest.

"What's your name, son?" He asked offering his hand to shake. I reluctantly shook it.

"I'm Tazuna," he said with an old smile. I put away my weapons slowly and eyed him up and down before revealing my own name.

"What brings you to the Land of Mist, Rikio?" He asked.

"Business," I answered. There was a sudden fear in his eyes and he backed away slowly.

"It's not with anyone here though, I'm passing through," I replied quickly. He nodded cautiously.

"I see, where are you going to?" He asked.

"I...I don't know," I admitted in defeat. "The truth is, I'm looking for someone actually, someone who's been lost a number of years now and it's my duty to bring them home," I said. He stepped forward and small glint of hope in his eyes.

"Perhaps I could help? I've seen many faces come and go in my lifetime," he chuckled. I noticed the faint smell of alcohol on him as he reached and pulled a small bottle from his pocket. He proceeded to remove the cap and take a small swig of it. I watched him.

"I used to be terrible with alcohol, but I'm somewhat better now," he chuckled. "Now, do you have a description or a photo of some kind?" He asked. I nodded and reached into my pouch and pulled that photo out. I looked at it, my heart aching slightly as I remembered the grief, before I handed it to him.

He took it gently and looked at it hard, shuffling his glasses further down his nose as if to get a better look. Suddenly he gasped and his eyes widened. He turned to me, a shocked expression.

"My boy, I have much to tell you about the girl in this photo," he said. My own eyes widened in disbelief and shock.

"You know her?!"

"Yes, there's no time to lose! You must return with me to my house, there is much you need to know if this is the girl you seek!" He gasped pulling me by the arm.

I didn't hold back, I followed him eagerly. I could actually have a shot at finding Kasumi and this Old Man was the starting point.