🌻"This is unforgivable!" I fumed as I stomped out from the Hokage's building. I could care less about my behaviour at this point.

Tears brimmed my eyes and my face was flushed with indescribable fury.

Ever since that day, Sakura was nowhere to be found. Naruto accompanied me to look for Sakura everywhere, not a single corner was missed around the village. Even Sasuke looked high and low. This left us no choice but to report it to the Hokage and sentenced her as a missing ninja.

The following week after that, the elders came with a ridiculous conclusion that Sakura has become rogue.

She did nothing wrong! She doesn't deserve to be titled as a rogue ninja!

A tear slid down my pale cheeks and more followed after it.

"Hinata-chan.. We'll find her soon. I'm sure of it." Naruto comforted.

"We won't ever find her if she purposely hide herself, Naruto. She's now a rogue ninja! We must capture her when she's seen." I sobbed and dropped onto the ground. "I can't do that.."

"Hinata-chan..." Naruto sat next to me and enveloped me with his arms.

I laid my head on his shoulder and sobbed while gripping on his shirt tightly.

"I-I can't do that.." I whispered. "She doesn't deserve this.. She did nothing wrong.."

I continued to cry,"Where..? Where did she go??"

I muttered to myself as I bawled like a child. Naruto held me tightly in his comforting arms and silently cried along with me, sharing my pain.

Sasuke stood with his fists clenched and let his fringes fall, casting a shadow over his onyx eyes flamed with anger.

"It is no use for you all to be this way. No matter how long you cry and how much tears you shed, no matter how upset you are, you won't change her title." Kakashi exclaimed stoically.

I sobbed louder and Sasuke's calm demeanour finally broke as tears slid down his snow pale cheeks.

Kakashi sighed,"How about this, I'll talk to the Hokage to send us on a secret mission without the elders knowledge. Until it has all been planned out perfectly, you will all train. Alright?"

"B-But...but what about S-Sakura's-" I cried out loud before managing to complete that sentence.

"What about.. Sakura's title as a rogue ninja..?" Sasuke asked softly, wiping the clear river on his cheeks with his palms.

"We'll have to trust the Hokage on that." He answered tiredly. "Now go on, you have a long week ahead of you." As soon as he finished his sentence, he disappeared in a puff of smoke.

~~~~~

I washed myself and changed into comfortable clothes for combat. A sheet of orange spread around the blue sky as the Sun descended below the horizon. Various shades of red and yellow mixed in the orange sky and reflected on the clouds, creating a beautiful scenery which changes each and everyday.

I slid into my light blue jacket and zipped it up to my neck before leaving my quiet home to walk around Konoha in search of somebody which will benefit me in my personal training.

The streets were awfully quiet as though everyone were sharing my gloomy mood.

"This would take forever.. I don't even know where he lives.." I sighed.

I wandered mindlessly around town and stopped when I realised where my legs had brought me to.

The Hyuga compound.

I have been here a few times to train with Sakura and had several sleepovers because we were both lonely. I would have moved in as she offered, but I treasured my home in hopes that my parents will return. However, I have just recently been told of the truth and this place where I have been offered to stay in was my real home after all.

For once and the first time, I stepped into the compound as the heiress of the Hyuga clan. Carefully observing the area like I never did before. Picturing myself running around with other friends of the Hyuga clan. However, they are all dead now. Except one.

Neji Hyuga.

The first place I head to was my supposedly home. Since Sakura is no longer here, I stepped inside without announcing my presence.

At that thought that my best friend is not here for me to talk to anymore saddens me greatly. My eyes warmed up from the hot tears dwelling in my eyes. After a blink, a trail of hot tears trailed down my pale cheeks.

"I-I'm home.." I tested in a hushed tone.

Sure, it sounded foreign as the words roll out from my tongue. To be honest, deep inside my heart I was hoping that someone will respond. I was still hoping.

Just hoping.

I silently snorted at myself to think that I will receive some kind of reply.

Who was I expecting? A ghost?

I sighed and took a step forward, hearing the wooden floor creak as I walk through the narrow hallways. I wandered around, even through places I have never been.

The Sun dipped into the horizon and dark skies started to overwhelm the bright colours decorating the sky. A slight sight of the snow white Moon appeared from behind the clouds. My silky midnight blue hair were gently pushed to the back of my shoulders by the cool wind. When the wind stopped blowing, it fell on my back and reached the middle of it.

"It wouldn't hurt staying in Sakura's room, would it?" I asked myself and silently groaned at my stupidity.

"This is your household, you have every right to." A voice rang through the narrow hallway which was exposed to the small garden, guarded by walls.

I whipped my head around with a heart skipping a beat in shock.

"N-Neji?!" I gasped.

"I believe you have been told by the Hokage about your family matters." He spoke calmly and strode towards where I was standing.

"Yes. It was... Very unfair to Sakura..." I stared at the ground with tightly clenched fists as those words slipped my mouth.

"They did this for you, Hinata. You're a very important person in this village. You must be saved at all cost."

Heat rose up my lungs and my face flushed with fury. I was going to snap at him, but he interrupted.

"You wish to find Sakura, are you not?"

I nodded and said,"Yes. I want you to train me with what I can do with my Byakugan."

A tug pulled his lips and formed a smirk which somehow seemed unsettling.

"Very well."

Why do I feel like I just fell into a trap?

==

Dedicated to kinmiko for your vote on this story!

Published: April 2015
Edited: 7 May 2017