Dear Teruya-san,

Today was a terrible day! And when I mean terrible, I mean terrible! The village was pulled into a state of chaos because of one person who called himself Black Zetsu. I am not even sure if he is human, but I can only assume so. Thankfully there were no casualties and only minor injuries had occurred. I can only mention this much, because then I might as well talk to you personally as this letter can not be too long.

I hope you do come soon, because he had mentioned you and in fact, I think sensei may ask for your return soon, and so before that happens, I wanted to send this letter to you so that you would be informed of the current situation.

I send this letter in haste and I hope that it reaches you without any hitches on the way.

With Kind Regards,

Nohara Rin

The twenty-year old Uzumaki crumpled the paper under his rough hands and let out a long sigh. Why, he had seen this coming yet he had never done anything about it. Of course this was going to happen, yet he did nothing! What was wrong with him?

With a letter of excuse and a bag filled with what he needed for the journey back home, he set off, not even sparing a final glance at the base.

As he ran as fast as he could, he could only think of one thing. Lies. Lies and more lies. It was a messed up fact that the Uzumaki did not want to admit, but his natural instincts would only shut him up, telling him that there was no choice.

Yes, he was only going to have to feign ignorance, perhaps tell Minato a few things from his past, fill up the small gaps he left in storytelling when talking about his past.

But no, that wouldn't work.

Because even though the world had hardened up everything Teruya ever had, his heart would never succumb to the evils.

A frustrated sigh escaped his chapped lips as he stopped by a river to fill up his canteen, he looked at himself on the surface of the water.

He brought a hand up to his hair and grabbed at it, plucking out a strand and staring curiously at it. The roots were a crimson red, but not as red as blood, while the ends were a fading bright yellow. He was losing himself, his own identity, while under the façade of a young Uzumaki Teruya whom he's never known or heard of. Infact, it was the first time he'd ever heard of such a name.

But nevermind that, because the main point was that he wasn't Naruto anymore.

He wasn't Naruto with a Beast inside him, he wasn't the young boy scorned by the villagers of his own village, he wasn't the boy who never had his loving parents to guide him on the path of life, and he wasn't that war hero that everyone respected.

No.

Now, he was an ordinary young man to the people of Konoha, who had been separated by his parents during the war, a young man who had the friendliest smile and wonderful taste in ramen, and a person who seemed simple yet mysterious at the same time.

How strange was it for Konoha to find a bright young man like him. Imagine the surprise when he returned rather unscathed and a bright grin on his face. Now Minato was not the only center of attention, but Teruya had managed to bring himself some recognition.

But that was it.

'Ha, when was I ever the type for sentimental thoughts?' Teruya laughed at himself and sighed, looking up to the starless sky. A strange thought entered his mind. The few stars that managed to find a place in the sky, were they perhaps his dead friends who he had been together with, for as long as he remembered?

Dead people became beautiful stars in the night sky—at least that was what he was told. He managed to count eight, but one of them was missing. And it happened to stop at the name of his dear friend, Sakura.

'Whatever, I'm becoming dumber and stupider as the days go by.' Teruya simply brushed it off, turning to his side before closing his eyes for sleep.

And before he knew it, he was already standing before the gates of Konoha, the two gatekeepers (whom he managed to familiarize himself with) standing under the dull clouds, yawning and looking bored as heck. With a smile that was genuine, he walked up to them and waved them a hello.

"Oh, Teruya-san!"

Yoshi-san, the twenty-four year old man, broke into a grin as he waved at the young Uzumaki walking up to him, waking up his sleeping partner.

"Huh, what's going on?" Satoshi burst a snooze bubble as he woke up, "Did something happen?" He yawned.

"Oh wake up baka Teruya-san's back!!" Yoshi jumped, yanking Satoshi's hand balancing his sleepy head, causing the younger male to trip and nearly fall.

Teruya laughed at the sight, "Calm down Yoshi-kun, I'm going to stay here only for a while. I have to go back soon again."

"That doesn't matter, now quickly, come inside. You came here because Minato-sama had asked, right?"

Teruya raised an eyebrow, "Minato-san became Hokage already?"

"He hasn't." Satoshi cut in. "Yoshi is being a drama queen." he grumbled, shooting eye daggers at his teammate. Yoshi just rolled his eyes, "Don't mind him, he's just cranky because he woke up."

"I'm not."

"You are."

"No I'm not!"

"Yes you are!"

"Ahem." Teruya cleared his throat, very obviously not wanting to seem awkward.

"Anyway," Yoshi turned to the Uzumaki, clapping his hands. "Go in, quickly. You don't want a crowd of people to swarm you now, do you?"

"I certainly don't." Teruya smiled, walking away. "Well then," He gave the two guards a polite bow and the two returned it.

"War hero!!" Yoshi yelled, still waving enthusiastically. Teruya chuckled, seeing  Satoshi giving the older male a bonk on the head.

'How lively.' Teruya giggled at the thought, now trying to control his facial expressions. A young man giggling like a fool would only make them look like an idiot, or more like a pervert. Whatever suits their tastes.

He received some friendly smiles, an apple or two and even flowers. He had enough for a bouquet by the time he had reached the Hokage's office. With a thumping heart and emotions running too wild to not not show on his face, he knocked on the door and waited for an answer.

"Come in!"

And Teruya couldn't help but smile again. He was back home, in Konoha. 

***

Monday, September 6, 2021