I woke up to a bright light that blinded me. I saw red hair and cobalt blue eyes staring down at me.

When my vision cleared up, I widened my eyes and almost wanted to cry. It was my mother. 

Both of my parents were here and they were kneeling over me.

"M-Mom?"

Her eyes looked regretful and my father also looked regretful.

"Dad...is that you?"

They both nodded and I slowly sat up, seeing that I wasn't in the Valley of End anymore. I could see Nozomi's pine green hair lying on the ground next to me and there was a man with raven hair and silver eyes.

"What's going on here?" I demand. "Why is she here?"

My parents and the man all exchanged glances and let out a sigh. 

"This wasn't supposed to happen..." My mother looked down.

"What are you talking about?!" 

"Hana, can't you see what's going on here?" Dad asked. "You two are unconscious. The only reason you are seeing us right now is because of the mistake we have both made,"

I looked over and Nozomi stirred awake. She saw the man with raven hair and her eyes widened. I could've sworn I saw her eyes starting to water.

"Dad...it's you..." Nozomi spoke softly. 

The tone of her voice took me by surprise because she didn't sound evil for once.

Shinji gave her a nod and helped her up. She looked over at me and started narrowing her eyes. She was about to attack me, but then Shinji grabbed her wrist.

"Nozomi, knock it off," He ordered with a harsh tone.

She looked over at him with pure shock.

"Where do we even start?" Shinji sighed and released his grip on her. "Don't start attacking each other now, listen to what we have to say,"

We nod and sit down.

"I assume you two were looking for vengeance, right? Because of our deaths eight years ago?" Shinji asked us.

"I didn't, but Nozomi here was," I answer.

He nodded. "We heard everything. We all watched over you, with regret because of what happened..."

"Hana, let me get this straight," Dad said. "I did put the Eight-Tails chakra into you and I wish I didn't,"

"Dad? Why would you do that to me?" I asked, hurt and angry at the same time.

"He wasn't meaning to," Shinji answered. "My boss created this chemically modified version of the Eight-Tails and he wanted me to be the host. I refused and gave the syringe to Akio to destroy and then my boss found out and started mind controlling Akio,"

Nozomi stared at her father with shock.

"I tried to step in and stop Akio from trying to destroy the village under his mind control, but I was too late. He had already sealed it inside of you because my boss needed someone to be the host and unfortunately it ended up being Hana," Shinji continued.

"And then your father tried using you as a weapon to take over the village," Mom added.

"I finally got through to Akio and we agreed that the only way to put a stop to this was for all of us to die and keep it hidden," Shinji finished.

"So...it wasn't because he was trying to kill you?" Nozomi asked Shinji.

Shinji shook his head. "My boss learned that the host was missing and thought that you would be the key to finding the host. So he told you a bunch of lies so you could get to Hana,"

"Mom, why did you act like we were being attacked that night?" I ask.

"The plan was to make it look like a rogue ninja killed us, but then one of Shinji's students broke in trying to take you away from us for having the Eight-Tails in you. The three of us fought downstairs and knocked him unconscious, so Shinji killed me to make it look like you got killed too for an easy escape." Mom explained.

"And then I had to use that jutsu to destroy the house before anyone else interfered." Dad added.

Now I understood what happened. Shinji took the chemically modified version of the Eight-Tails to keep his boss from using it, Dad tried to destroy it, but his boss found out, Dad got brainwashed and sealed it inside of me to try and attack the village, Shinji tried to help, but then his student got in the way.

Tears started trailing down Nozomi's cheeks. "So all of these years, I was being brainwashed too. I was being manipulated into targeting someone that could've been a close friend,"

My mom explained to her how we weren't supposed to be enemies in the first place. They wanted us to be friends, but their deaths got in the way of that. Nozomi let herself get consumed with hate because her leader told her a bunch of lies. 

"Well," Shinji said. "Now that you know the truth, it's time for you two to head back. It's not your time yet."

The bright light went away and I woke up with a pounding headache. I regained consciousness and I looked over, seeing Nozomi's eyes open as well. I tried to sit up, but I doubled over in pain from the wound in my stomach and Nozomi weakly crawled over to my side and collapsed.

"I don't think I'm going to make it,"

"No, Nozomi. Don't say that," I replied, reaching out to her.

"I'm surprised you don't hate me anymore for trying to kill you all this time, I'm sorry," 

Nozomi weakly reached for my hand and we entwined them as a way of creating a truce.

"Before I did, but now that I've learned the truth, I don't hate you anymore,"

She coughed up more blood and started breathing slowly. "I won't make it Hana. It's best this way. Maybe this will be a start to peace if I'm gone,"

"Nozomi, stop talking like that. You can return to the village with me and we can start over," I tried to reason.

Nozomi gave me a small, genuine smile and her silver eyes started to close. "Tell Kuroshi that I will always love him and that I'll be watching over him."

Her eyes shut and she looked peaceful for once. Our hands were still entwined and I didn't want to let go. I was supposed to kill her, but she wasn't even an actual enemy in the end...

I heard footsteps in the distance and I heard my name being called.

"Hana!"

I looked at Nozomi's peaceful state for one last time and turned my head, seeing Obito and Kuroshi.

Obito ran over to my side and Kuroshi went over to Nozomi's.

"Did she have any last words?" Kuroshi asked, sadly.

"She did," I said. "She told me to tell you that she'll always love you and will be watching over you,"

He looked taken aback and I sighed. "I will explain to you later,"

"Are you going to be okay?" Kuroshi asked, looking at my wounds.

"I will," I nodded. "Just go give Nozomi a proper burial,"

I let go of her hand and he lifted her up, leaving to go bury her somewhere. He also told me that he would tell me where she's buried at.

Obito looked upset because I looked like I was on the verge of death, even though I wasn't. "Hana, we need to get you to the Leaf Village immediately. Your wounds need to be healed,"

I tried to sit up, but I hissed in pain and fell back to the ground. "I overused my chakra and my stomach wound hurts like hell,"

"Well, I won't let you walk like that," Obito said and lifted me up gently. "I'll carry you back,"

I blushed slightly and then got sad when I realized I had messed up any chance I had with him and Kakashi. I started to realize what Asuma was talking about when he told me to sort out my feelings and I was sorting them out.

I think I know who I may have actually fallen for.

"Do the others know?" I ask.

"Kakashi, Minato-Sensei, Kushina, and Mariko," Obito answers.

It started to rain and I clenched my jaw, trying to ignore the stinging sensation I felt from cold water hitting my wound.