PART 3.

He didn't look back. His senses were alert, scanning every corner as he ran with all his might.

The Genin and the Chunin children followed her closely, trying not to lose sight of her, but Mirai had only one goal in mind: to reach the other side of the village, surrounding it. His heavy breathing echoed in his ears as he struggled to accustom his lungs to the frenetic pace of his run. Every breath of air scorched his chest, but he couldn't afford to stop.

The forest seemed to spread out infinitely before her, challenging her to move faster. With his hand, he pushed aside branches and dodged stones, without stopping for a moment for fear of wasting time. The sun was setting rapidly, plunging the forest into darkness, and at times she could barely hear the gasps of the young ninja who followed her. Desperation consumed her.

First, their home had been reduced to rubble. Then, she found herself transported along with the children to an unknown location. And now, it woke up in the same village, but transformed into a scenario of peace. The memory of what had happened, just twenty minutes ago, hit his mind hard.

Two Anbu, who should be dead, were discussing something that was all too familiar to him. As he ran, he shook his head furiously, his messy hair billowing behind the back of his neck. The climate had changed dramatically, there was not so much humidity anymore, and the air dried out the damp areas of her messy hair.

It couldn't be real. The idea of traveling to the past was absurd, and even more so was the assumption that his master would allow it. Would Shikamaru be capable of such a thing? Why go back sixteen years?

Mirai shuddered at the suspicion that everything had been planned from the beginning. Was she the center of all this? I couldn't accept it. Shikamaru would never force her to face such deep pain if there was a chance to avoid it.

The children who followed her sounded increasingly exhausted, some barely able to keep up. His gasping breaths, his groans, his fears, all echoed in her ears, overwhelming her.

The pressure engulfed her, blocking her hearing as her legs refused to stop. His mind screamed for him to stop and make sure of everyone's well-being, but it was useless. His body was unresponsive, and his eyes refused to look back.

Mirai's eyes grew darker and darker, as if a storm was forming within her.

The pressure in her head was overwhelming, like a power line connecting her directly to her brain. It was as if her own inner self was attacking her, desperately screaming for her to stop and fulfill the role she had sworn to her master. A commitment that left him no room to refuse.

"Mirai-san! Watch out for the front!" Someone shouted from behind, but it was too late. 

A sudden impact shook his face, sending his body to the ground with force. It spun almost completely in the air before landing with a thud on the ground. The earth lifted by the impact clouded his vision, plunging his world into dizzying confusion.

"Neechan!" He recognized Boruto's voice in the chaos. "Are you okay? Did you hit your head?"

Mirai was trying to catch her breath as she rose from the ground, her gaze fixed on the ground as she tried to hide the pain that overwhelmed her.

"No..." He lied, swallowing hard with difficulty. "I'm fine. I didn't hit anything."

The truth was that his head hurt intensely and his stomach threatened to turn. The world was spinning around him, but he didn't want to add any more trouble to the situation.

As the unease began to dissipate, the others approached her. Shikadai, worried, searched for his two friends in the crowd. Inojin and ChouChou arrived stragglers, with expressions of fear and embarrassment on their faces.

Shame, melancholy, and anger mingled inside Mirai as she avoided the eyes of her friends. The tension was palpable, as if they all shared a dark secret that none dared to mention.

When he finally stood up, an icy silence fell over the group. Even the forest seemed to hold its breath, and the owls began to sing in the darkness of the night. It was as if the whole world was waiting for something to happen.

Everyone's clothes were soaked, an additional burden on their exhausted bodies. With the gear they were able to hastily grab from Mirai's mother's makeshift hideout, folded cloaks hung on the side of her hips, not having had time to put them on.

The palest of them all felt utterly useless. Being the oldest, she was now considered the most useless of all. His soaked uniform only served to highlight his sense of helplessness. She stared at her feet, wondering if others were looking at her too. The silence was overwhelming, and he felt that at any moment he might faint.

The pulse on the right side of his forehead reminded him strongly that, before long, much of his face would be swollen. Another painful reminder of his own ineptitude.

With a small glimmer of instinct, the red-eyed woman looked up, timidly. However, she realized that no one was looking at her, only herself, immersed in her erratic thoughts.

She wasn't the only one who had lost everything. Neither Shikadai, nor the Ino-Shika-Chou trio. They were all immersed in their own pain, looking for a way out of the terrible reality. Denki, Iwabee, Hako, Metal Lee, Renga, Hoki, Tsuru, Doushu, Enko... everyone had lost something, their homes were left in ruins.

The black-haired woman's gaze fell on the samurai girl, Tsubaki. He wasn't from Konoha and probably hadn't had a chance to say goodbye to his family. Even Mirai didn't know if she had family.

The knot in his stomach began to dissipate. Why was he focusing so much on his own problems? Clearly, she wasn't okay, she wasn't in a position to lead. But what did others have to do with their problems?

Running to the warning signs she had remembered seeing, knowing that there might be dangerous people around, without making sure the children were following her, had been a reckless decision. If they were being chased and she ended up hurt by her own recklessness, the children probably wouldn't be there worrying about her.

He bit his lower lip as he looked at the profile of young Nara. Clearly, she wasn't ready for what was coming yet. She didn't fully understand the importance of being a leader in protecting the King, let alone see herself taking care of a kingdom.

With everyone in front of her, that reality became apparent. He had served as a ninja in quieter times, growing up in a world where cruelty was not as prominent. In addition, he had always had the protection of adults.

She had never had to truly take care of herself, which was reflected in her teacher's worried words.

"Eh... Hm..." He hesitated in his attempt to communicate, before giving up and continuing with his usual tone, not at all confident. "By this point, the place should be nearby. It won't take long if we walk."

He received a nod in reply, but no more words. The path passed in relative silence, only interrupted by the rustling of the branches under his feet and the gradual darkening of the sky. Darkness was approaching with a cold that was bearable but equally unsettling.

When Mirai spotted a group of people dressed like them in the distance, her heart found a bit of peace. Descending a steep path along with the Genin, he could make out the group, seemingly just as lost. There were about eight ninjas in total, but it was difficult to estimate their ages at that distance. However, Mirai immediately recognized one of them.

She had shared many missions with this man, barely older than her. At least he wouldn't have to explain his current situation to a complete stranger. But just as she was about to approach the group, doubt assailed her again.

He could not reveal the truth in front of others, much less in front of his master's son. His fingers felt cold and shaky. Why was he so afraid to tell the truth?

"Look...?" A voice called her from behind. As he turned, he saw the green-eyed Nara. 

"I..." Mirai began, looking for the darkness in her eyes to be noticed as she faked a confident tone. "Stay here while I go ask a few questions. Don't move from here."

"Huh...? Why do you say that?" The Nara asked with a pale face. "We all have to know that too. Why do you want to keep it a secret?"

Despite the legitimate question, Mirai turned her back on him.

"Stay here and keep an eye on me. I'll be back in five minutes."

He ran downhill, quickly approaching the first Chunin he found among the scattered groups.

They were scattered as if they were looking for something they had dropped. It was an uncommon activity for Shinobi, especially if their goal was to find more groups of survivors, which was usually accomplished with a Chakra search rather than tracking tracks. But under the circumstances, they could not move freely.

"They are looking for fingerprints." Mirai thought as she trotted towards her well-known companion. "They probably gave them more details than we did, and they're looking for our footprints to see if we've been here yet. It is a peaceful quest not to attract unwanted visitors."

He stumbled over a protruding root, increasing his impatience to reach the man who was somewhat distant. From his position, he could only see his back as he scanned a ditch for possible survivors.

When he was close enough, he didn't hesitate to speak.

"Mr. Tanaka!" He greeted, taking the man by surprise who turned with an expression of amazement. Mirai approached, visibly worried. "Is that okay? I can't believe you're alive!"

He did not answer.

The man appeared to be in his early thirties. Mirai knew him well, having taught at the academy on the proper use of weapons. After Ten-Ten-san, he considered him one of the best in Konoha in that aspect.

Mirai grimaced bitterly at the awkward silence. The man, like many others, was in shock.

He looked around, finding that no one else seemed to have noticed his presence, everyone focused on his search.

"Look... truth?" The man's voice, Tanaka, sounded distant as he looked at her in surprise. 

Mirai looked at him with some distance.

"Yes, sir." She said. 

The man, with brown hair and a nearly drooping bandana, looked stunned. He spoke as if the presence of the young woman was inexplicable to him.

"You..." he began. "You...!" Tanaka-san seemed to awaken from his trance. "Are you alone, Mirai?"

"No, sir. I bring with me... the Ninjas younger than me." Mirai reported, with a sad look at the ground. 

There was a long pause. Perhaps Tanaka-san was looking for the children who accompanied her, or perhaps she was trying to find words to cheer her up. But either way, Mirai struggled to convey the decision she had just made.

He clenched his fists, feeling a deep pain in his chest as he ignored the presence of the younger ones. She exchanged glances with the man, finally showing him her deepest fear.

"Tanaka-san, please. I need your help." He implored him. "You are an adult. Possibly he knows more than we do, doesn't he? I beg you, do you have any idea... Where are we from?"

The older Chunin frowned.

Mirai gritted her teeth even more, desperate, wishing that the trembling inside her wouldn't stop her from getting her message across.

"So... Do you know anything?" He asked eagerly. "I want to know! I saw Konoha... And that's okay. I saw two Anbu... And they both mentioned something about my father."

The calm he had felt moments before disappeared. Mirai felt it pierce her skin, and she began to mistakenly believe that her pallor was more evident than normal. He forced his lungs out of breath, and stared at the man with wide eyes, hoping that it would force him to tell him everything.

However, to his surprise, Mr. Tanaka, known for being kind and funny, was freezing cold. He took her by the shoulders with an almost exasperated expression. Mirai swore she could see the inside of their sockets by the way he opened his eyes.

That man so funny, protective and obedient to the Hokage, had a family. Mirai, in a state of shock, had barely remembered it. She quickly hit herself on the head, remembering that no one else was suffering from the devastation of the village.

When she was about to question her behavior, the man forced her back, pushing her by the shoulders. He was so insistent on pushing her away that Mirai had to grab onto his vest and stop him. He broke free from his arms in fear.

"Wait a moment, Tanaka-san! What do you think you're doing?" He exclaimed, almost delirious. "I came to look for you because I don't know what's going on... They didn't give me time to think!" He spoke in an almost pleading whisper, adapting to the older Chunin's intentions. "Please tell me things clearly. This... Not the real Konoha of the past, is it?"

He did not answer.

"It's a dream... an illusion, right?" Mirai repeated. 

Again, he got no response.

Fed up with the routine, Mirai growled, muffling her moans so as not to attract attention. Not wanting to continue pretending to be a professional Chunin, she let out her words in frustration. He didn't mind yelling at his superior.

"Stop hiding things from me!" Mirai exclaimed firmly, trying to show the darkness in her eyes. He faked a reliable tone as best he could. "Tell the truth! Sooner or later I will find out."

Tanaka-san's hand covered her mouth before she could react, forcing her to squat down next to him. They were behind a trunk, covered by the leaves of a naturally leaning tree. Anyone who walked over them would not see them, especially if they were wearing their uniforms.

Mirai was startled. She wasn't used to adults treating young people her age this way. They always hid things from them, even if they would eventually have to face them. I was frustrated and confused.

"Keep silent. I don't want them to see you." Tanaka-san said in a barely audible whisper, even though she was a few centimeters from his face. 

His instincts lit up like a used light bulb. It was a familiar sensation that I hadn't missed because I hadn't noticed its absence. It turns out that two Chunin passed by him, looking for something on the ground and scanning the distance to avoid having to walk.

Tanaka-san held Mirai's shoulder tightly, preventing any movement. The man's fear and anguish seemed to rub off on Mirai, who feared that any movement might give away her hiding place.

However, I had one question in mind: Why were they hiding from two Chunins they clearly knew? He wanted to ask, but he obeyed silently.

As the two Chunin walked away, Tanaka-san let out a sigh and Mirai felt the longest minute of silence of her life come to an end.

"Why are we hiding from them?" Mirai asked, still not getting up. "Is something wrong, Tanaka-san?"

Tanaka-san's expression went from exasperated to expressionless in a few seconds. Her semi-rigid face and dark eyes were so familiar and comforting that Mirai didn't feel a hint of discomfort. Only a distant voice in his head told him that the man had something to say to him.

She kept quiet, looking down at him due to the height difference, even while squatting.

"I'm the only adult in the squad." Tanaka-san began serenely. "Everyone who comes with me is younger than me, but older than you. And naturally, all eras mature differently, obtaining different opinions."

The Sarutobi opened her eyes wider, glowing even in the darkness under the leaves of the tree.

"Unfortunately, I'm the only adult here who agrees with all of Hokage-sama's decisions." Tanaka said seriously. 

"Decisions...?" Mirai asked, her gaze fixed on him. 

Tanaka nodded.

"Look, there's not much time left." He warned, his gaze drifting in the direction where the ninja children were supposed to be. "I don't know why you came here, but I'm thankful it ended like this. Everything would have been different if you had gone the other way and met the other squad. You can't get involved in their mission. With me here, you have only one chance."

Mirai remained silent, absorbed by the man's words, trying to make some sense of them. A feeling of abandonment and loneliness began to wash over her again, causing her stomach to become heavier. A cold aura seemed to envelop her, and she instantly paled. He was cold.

He felt a weight in his hands and, forcing himself to look down, he realized that his hands were trembling. His eyes seemed unwilling to answer him, and the Sarutobi struggled to stay conscious.

"When you're in the Land of Wind, head northwest. There you will find a safe place until you can fend for yourself." Tanaka continued, speaking quickly. "The compass... He considers it a gift from me. I know more or less those places, I can guide myself without it."

"What does this mean?" Mirai asked, looking him in the eye again, clearly scared. "Do you intend to save only me...? When do you have younger people with you? It could help them, regardless of what their beliefs are!"

Tanaka rested his elbows on his legs, hunching slightly.

The man looked at the ground with resignation.

"Those things didn't work for Hokage-sama this time, Mirai." He said, looking at her out of the corner of his eye with a sad smile. "They're looking for you to enslave you. Some of these Chunin did not agree with Hokage-sama, and those who facilitated the construction of the Khutsu that brought us here, made them swear that they would not kill you. Not you or any of those children."

"Huh?! What does it say...?!" Mirai exclaimed, struggling to contain herself. Then she continued, calmer. "Why would Hokage-sama accept such a thing?! Aren't they Chunin from Konoha?! Your obligation is to be faithful to the Hokage!, In everything you say..."

"If they were from different circumstances, it would be logical for them to be loyal to the Hokage." He replied calmly. "A large part of them are not even Konoha Ninjas, but part of the family that guarded the scroll. Those people, all of them... It is definitely not in their interest that other people know about the Scroll, or, in other words: that other people have survived the disaster. Even though it was part of the treaty between them and the Hokage."

"What deal?! What the hell are you talking about, Tanaka-san?!" Mirai exclaimed, her confusion and disbelief growing. 

"A blood pact." He confessed, his serious tone. "Those who brought you here, they told you something, right?"

Mirai's cold silence was enough of a response for him, especially since she was biting her lips, unable to find the right words.

"The people responsible for lending us the scroll are descendants of a former member of Konoha." Tanaka explained solemnly. "In the past, that person wasn't considered dangerous, but she was a traitor for secretly leaving the village."

Tanaka sighed before continuing.

"It is said that this individual, at the time of the third Hokage, left the village to lead his own people. The seventh was able to talk to elders who at that time were only Genin or Chunin, and they all said that while he was never taken seriously because there was no news of him, the third did get tense when anything was mentioned about the renegades. They even went so far as to say that he did not stop studying the blacklist, and it is suspected that he did so to see whether or not that person had been killed."

"My grandfather... Did you know that man?" Mirai asked, with a mixture of disbelief and anguish. "Why did the seventh choose this alternative? Are you confirming it to me?!"

Tanaka's hands caressed his own face as he wiped away the sweat that ran down him. The darkness of night had already fallen, and although there was little light left, the air was not hot. Surely, he was nervous. He avoided looking her directly in the eye since then, nodding only once.

Mirai's eyes widened. The answer he sought, and which he easily refused to accept, had been confirmed by someone he trusted. All of them had traveled to the past.

Stunned, she fell onto her butt, feeling that her legs could no longer keep her squatting for much longer.

"That cult... Or well, the descendants of that man, it's not very clear to us; But Shikamaru-san told me that his specialty was sealing jutsu." Tanaka explained, mentioning the name of his now deceased master. "That the chances of traveling to the past were high, but required many people to sacrifice themselves to accumulate enough Chakra and spirits. Unless someone transports you through the scroll, your existence will be assured. They agreed to give us the Scroll, in exchange for their people being summoned as well. Hanging out with them would be very risky. They are known to be highly selfish."

Mirai, frozen and unable to say anything else, looked at him, asking for an additional explanation.

"If you do something that harms your existence, such as violating the deal made between the seventh and the summoned Ninjas, nothing will happen to you." Tanaka continued, his calm and disinterested tone beginning to be gloomy. "That's the rule. Although this is the first time that this Jutsu has been used... They warned us that possibly portals have opened that destroyed everything. Which means... that not only Konoha does not exist."

She paused, and his gentle gaze struck Mirai's heart with a brutality that made her feel sick.

"The entire timeline ceased to exist." Tanaka confessed. "I was present when this whole topic was discussed, and even those who survive the portals and are brought here, don't stand a chance. With the timeline already destroyed, their fate will be the same as ours: we will not die even if our Parents die at a young age. However, any uncontrol in your Chakra slings will break the seals that lie on your necks, and it will be like a time bomb."

"Stamps...?" Mirai spoke. "Do you say that people who come through the portals get stamps?"

The man nodded.

"Having them is a warning sign." He explained. "You should be grateful... that those brats from the sealing family agreed to join the escape."

"Why did you say that the Hokage had to make a deal with them?"

"Because trying to survive in the past is a great feat. Not everyone wants to die so much, you know?"

Tanaka scanned his surroundings to make sure no one was around and continued with his explanation.

"Ever since they learned that Code had prepared an army, the seventh did everything possible to lengthen the date. Although I don't know for sure, something led him to gather a wide variety of squadrons and leave it to the owners of the scroll to prepare it for the retreat. While they agreed to save a few, they did not swear allegiance to the Hokage... So they were not responsible if People died because of the Portals or the Cataclysm."

"That family...! Is it responsible for the destruction?" Mirai asked. 

"That's right." Tanaka confirmed with a gesture. "As everywhere, there will be people who do not agree with yours, but who have a certain loyalty. The Ninjas did not refuse to be sent to the past and fulfill the last will of the seventh, however, the members of that sealing family are the ones who lead the other party who made a pact... which implies that everything that is discussed regarding the Past, has to be done between the sealing family and the Squadron Leaders. The pact is sacred, which is why it is agreed upon a lot before opening the Parchment."

"So... Wouldn't they have helped before everything collapsed? ¿All... for that pact?" Mirai asked, feeling a weight on her chest as she realized the coldness of adults. 

The man nodded slowly.

"And... Why does he say that they will enslave me? What does all that have to do with me?" Mirai asked, trying to hide her anguish. 

"That was a saying, but it is not far from what they want to do with you."

Tanaka replied, looking over his shoulder.

"I can't trust them... To send people back in time, a pact was needed between the summoners and the Scroll. They put things in their favor, however, so did our people. They can't hurt you directly, but if they make the excuse that you have to do your duty and support them... you would be bound by a promise that does not correspond to you; And if you break it, the Scroll would punish you. Who knows what can happen... It is not in their interest to leave you hanging around."

Mirai tensed at those words.

"Don't they trust me?! Why...?!"

"Because... You're too young." Tanaka told him. "You can suffer from selfishness and act on it. They believe that if you have that squad of kids with you, you won't feel free to risk them. Members of the Summoner family can influence our Ninjas, as long as they take over you and your squad. After all, those who Covenanted were the adults older than You. You have the advantage, and more freedom in your actions; You are not bound to the Parchment." He frowned. "I also know that you will resist if they force you to follow their orders. The pact doesn't allow them to kill you directly, but they could abandon you if they wanted to... They may even fear these children, and put them in danger as well."

The teenager swallowed dryly, pursing her lips tightly.

"Mirai, since the names of those who would lead the squads were known, they were reluctant to accept the requests of the Hokage." Tanaka reported, and Mirai felt a weight on her chest. "I can tell you that the Ninjas are not capable of betraying the Hokage, but assuming that family is involved in their decisions, they will take the opportunity to corner you in the majority. They will believe that they are doing something good... But that would only kill you and others. You don't want to mess with the parchment, we're just sixteen years away; Exactly your age. Don't provoke them, and avoid them. The Scroll helped us, but it can't be the same for you."

Mirai subconsciously brought the compass to her right hand and examined it. It was old, but metallic and heavy. It worked perfectly.

"Listen to me." He asked firmly in his whisper. Tanaka put a hand on the Sarutobi's shoulder. "You have a better chance of standing up to anyone who opposes you... although I can't say the same about those children."

"Didn't you say... that we were not linked to the Parchment? N-We didn't make any pact!"

"But they are part of a Promise." Tanaka replied, swallowing hard. His eyes darkened. "'We swear not to harm them, involve them in any danger, or perform any act that harms them.' Those were his words, but there are always ways to evade them. As the core of a Promise, you can't risk Dying... You would release them from the covenant, and that would give them the freedom to do whatever they want around here. If I knew what the specific deal was, it would be much easier to avoid all of them, but in this case... It's better for you, get out of here, now that you have the chance."

Mirai couldn't answer. I couldn't find how. With such a perspective, the man was right. If the world they knew no longer existed, then they were all that was left of it. Just crumbs from what was once their home. Even the most ordinary person who survived all of that was far more valuable than all the gold of this era.

"Follow the instructions I gave you at the beginning, I'll take you away from here. As an adult who made a pact, I will be treated as an Enemy if I go my own way." Tanaka-san said surprisingly, beginning to make movements as if he was preparing to leave. He was checking his pockets, and when he found what he was looking for, he took the other hand of the Sarutobi and added weight to it. "Give the contents of that bag to the great old woman. You will find it at the address I gave you."

"Great old woman?" Mirai put the bag in front of her eyes. It was a kind of purse, and for the weight, what was inside weighed almost like a pile of coins. "But I wasn't sure."

"Ask the people you meet. Try not to show the content to anyone. Absolutely no one, Mirai!" Tanaka-san's face came fiercely close to his, showing concern in his eyes. "Unless someone who vouches for that nickname introduces himself to you, of course. But don't open that bag until you find it. Is that clear?"

Mirai thought she was on trial. The man was looking at her so hard that he could almost confess to some crime he hadn't committed, as long as he didn't look at her that way anymore. A long train of thoughts passed quickly. He did not analyze them in detail, but he knew what they referred to.

Her journey into the past was hard to believe, as was the fact that all this had been planned so far in advance and the constant threat of indirect betrayal.

However, knowing the seventh Hokage and his master, they had surely accepted in hopes of keeping their own children and friends safe. The idea that they could have saved more people was almost overwhelming.

Anyone could see it as unfair. Even she herself wondered if she could see it like this if she wanted to. By chance, the Hokage's son and those around him had been saved from the catastrophe. If only everyone was open to a variety of scenarios, they would realize that there would be no salvation for anyone anyway.

It was at that moment, a brief moment, that Mirai noticed an imperfection in the word "save." Why save especially ninjas with good skills, regardless of whether they were children of important ninjas? And even more alarming, were other villages involved? If that turned out to be true, would there be more people like those in the cult? Would there be more survivors who would agree with Mirai?

Okay... On what?, she asked herself. Unconsciously, he had placed himself in a role where he had already made a decision. What would that decision be if I made it? What would she lead if more people like her showed up? Unfortunately, he did not get that answer from Mr. Tanaka.

"Take advantage of the moonlight and get ahead of the Land of the Wind." Chunin's voice roused her from the trance. When Mirai got up to ask him more questions, he was already heading towards the outskirts of his hiding place, keeping an eye on his surroundings. "I can't abandon my teammates, only I can handle situations with those people. If they make a false step, they will be killed. You... Yes, they can go the other way."

Tanaka had pointed in the opposite direction of the village, so serenely removed from the Adolescent, when she exclaimed, whispering:

"Tanaka-san!"

"Sarutobi Mirai..."

The eldest said his name, turning his back on him. Although she couldn't see it, she seemed to let out a slight laugh, as if stirring things in her head that Mirai couldn't see.

"Make sure you don't introduce yourself or the children in your squad with their last names. And, if you see any odd behavior in people dressed in a weird or flashy way, walk away or turn a blind eye. In this era, more young than your age die due to their curiosity, than Shinobis die in a battle."

After that, the man disappeared in a swirl of leaves. Mirai was left talking to him alone on the air before realizing that he was gone.

His whole being was stagnant. Now she was alone, with the only mission to go to a place she knew nothing about, in a truly suffocating and unrealistic situation. If it wasn't for the pain in her legs and head, Mirai might have thought it was all a dream.

Crestfallen and shoulders slumped as his high expectations, he climbed the steep hill. With the help of the large trees and the scarce light, the place where he had left the Genin was almost invisible to the eye. He stumbled a few times in his slow walk, but continued on his way with his spirits at rock bottom.

Now she was alone. Alone and with children to guide and protect as the only one in charge. Because, it didn't matter if they were carrying weapons, it didn't matter if they knew how to make good use of their skills. All of them were still children.

It was thanks to that thought, which hammered his head from within. He had decided to leave the children in Tanaka-san's command, until the whole conversation was taken elsewhere.

Now I had no choice. A constant up and down, of which I did not know or was clear about what was the right thing to do. She wanted to comply with her teacher, and she believed that the best thing to do was to leave her son with someone who could take care of him. However, she would not be keeping her promise, because being distressed was against Shikamaru's wishes.

"Neechan."

Boruto spoke, approaching. When Mirai slowly raised her eyes, she saw the blond and his companions' clothes. They were all wearing their cloaks.

He barely realized that she was feeling cold thanks to how soaked she was.

"We saw how that man hid you from the others." Denki, after the gleam of his defective glasses, sank between his shoulders. "What did he say to you, Mirai-san?"

By the time Mirai was able to keep her gaze where she should be for others to see, most of the children had moved closer to her position. They emerged from the darkness of the forest, and she assumed that they hid when they spotted her with Tanaka-san.

Subconsciously, he looked away. But at the same time that they reacted to that movement, she rearranged, and everyone waited more anxiously for a response from her.

What should he do now?, seeing the two things that Tanaka-san gave him, he wondered many things. How long would it take? Where would they sleep while they were there? What assured them food? Could they even endure that long journey in a world that is not theirs?

Putting both hands in his pockets, he put away those belongings. Mirai put on tired eyes, almost oblivious to the world. And with an almost serene voice, he reported.

"From now on, we will look after ourselves. The Chunin who survived no longer have a connection to us. They have other things to focus on... and we ours."

As expected, everyone gasped, dumbfounded. They waited for news from people who survived like them, and they got just the opposite. Regardless of the reaction of the moment, Iwabee, being the tallest and oldest of the children Mirai had to protect, was quick to investigate. He was smiling in disbelief.

"You're playing... Right, that can't be true." Metal Lee, who was next to him, turned his eyes to the tallest one. The one with the darkest hair opened his eyes wide. "They are Chunin who swore allegiance to the Hokage and Konoha, they can't refuse to help us."

In the funeral silence, Namida whimpered. Wasabi, taking care of her, put an arm over her shoulders, but it wasn't enough. The girl began to cough dryly, and Mirai walked at her own pace to get closer.

"Am I wrong? That can't be true, can't it, Mirai-san?" The dark-haired man almost exploded. He wasn't angry with the black-haired woman, and he knew it himself. 

"Namida-chan..."

Falling under the spell of the silent tears of the pigtailed chestnut, Wasabi tried hard not to cry. Everyone around her felt the same helplessness, without needing to ask Mirai any more.

Namida gasped and choked on her snot, until Mirai plunged her into a warm embrace. That action was a shot to the heart for everyone. Surprised, Namida opened her eyes against the black-haired woman's vest.

"Tanaka-san assured me that he would drive them away." Said the one with the red eyes in a whisper. Without letting go of the girl, he raised his hand gently and expressionlessly towards Wasabi. He stroked her head, and that only brought Wasabi's tears to the surface. "Be silent. If we want to leave without anyone chasing us, let's cry in silence. It is ok?"

"Gh!" He heard someone gasp for gasp. 

Then one, and then another. Until, in a small corner of the woods, down a hill, there were small muffled sobs from children who had the power to fight, but lacked the emotional warmth they needed at that moment.

Mirai got carried away. He didn't shed a single tear, because he didn't feel he deserved it. She punished herself by watching everyone cry.

Shikadai, Denki, Metal Lee, Sarada, Boruto... all of them. Cowardice, she was willing to leave them in the hands of someone else. And although she did not consider herself perfect, she believed at the time that there was no better option than her to take care of them.

He had to see them cry to understand their laments, to force himself to realize that their suffering was only an obstacle to the last mission the Hokage had given him. Crying for his mother and thinking about his father's recent death were nothing more than unnecessary thoughts now.

Those children were insecure in this world, and she was the only one in Konoha left with good thoughts about all the adults they admired. Seeing all that tears made him realize one thing.

Things happened in one way or another, and it was useless to be thinking about the past. If she hadn't done such things, she just hadn't done them, period. He wasted time lamenting. If she stopped to think about those things in a real fight, they would all die before her.

What had happened was devastating. It was lonely to take charge of his life and protect others. But the worst happened and continued to happen. The only thing left for him was to prepare them for it.

And there was no better way than to pave the way for them to cross.