Suspicions and conspiracies part 3: An interrupted reunion

⚠️Warning⚠️

-longer chapter

RECAP

        Tayio, the summon of the youngest Uchiha was tasked to find and retrieve any info on the clan, dark secrets that they may be hiding. While the friends reunite with a surprise from Hana Hyuga who makes an appearance. Unbeknownst a plan brewing in the shadows.

HANA POV

        "Kyia-Chan, Hime! Gomen'nasai, but I couldn't help to observe something interesting. Anyways I'm happy to report that I have successfully acquired what you asked for." the small ferret looking animal exclaimed to her

"Arigatō" she gently replies, "I'll keep it in your capable paws for now," she added, he curtly nodding before he disappeared in a small cloud of smoke.

"I still think it's a bad idea. Think about it, if you do this it be classified as treason.....And hunting down and/or arresting, I just can't!" The bluette says shaking her head

"I may not have known you for as long as Nakano here but I can say that I agree. That's crazy and you know it!" I added with the same amount of concern in my tone

"Hn" she crossed her arms over her chest with a stubborn expression plastered on her face

"You know we can never understand you when you do that?" I whined 

"Oh, oh. Let me try, she's basically saying" Tamaki said like a first grader wanting to be called on but spout the answer anyways. "I get what you're saying but you can not change my mind no matter what." I just gave her a strange glance and she simply replied "When you been around them for long enough you catch on to the subtleties of their mannerisms...most of the time." shrugging. 

I let out an exasperated sigh, sometimes I curse her stubborn nature. 

"You get all that just from a grunt?" I said with a bit of confusion. I've been around Reika for long enough but this side I've rarely seen much of. She's usually open with us, but those days seem almost like a lifetime ago.

Her expression soften a bit and her eyes flickered with a bit of guilt in her eyes. But no regret, as long as I've known her she is one to rationalize her decisions -to the best of her ability- but rarely if not feel regret about it. I think it's super bold of her but also stupid. Or that's what I know of her to be. 

"Hn" she glanced up at the orange sun-kissed sky "As I cared about the outcome. They can do whatever but I'll only beat them back down a peg."

"You baka!" I exclaimed back not really knowing how to respond

She changed, we all have. But she changed the most out of us. Reika was notably thinner and a bit paler compared to 3 years ago. Bit more shielded and less in denial -even if just in another form- looks older than she actually was with those sunken eyes which are faintly visible from behind the layer of counselor and a simple transformation jutsu. -I don't know maybe the only reason I noticed it was the byukagan or something.Cause Tamaki didn't catch on on but- Perhaps she though that if she drained herself emotionally lose the transformation jutsu then that will help hide the appearance a bit better. No matter how stoic and emotionless her outside may present her eyes said it all; Hidden behind those stormy black holes of hers. I almost couldn't believe that this 12 almost 13-year-old looked much older and who has seen all the darkness of the world. Which in a way she has.

I didn't exactly know if she was voluntarily or involuntarily displaying these emotions willingly or not; But what I did know was that she was always a bit more open with those she trusted. So I should feel glad that we still have her trust that she can share her emotions more openly around us.

"and what do you suggest I do then?" She asked in a bored and drawled-out tone "Just sit back and watch as the only people I can call family are preparing for an inevitable death match?! I need solid evidence to prove the bigger picture. To at least try and convince him…..Not that I'll ever defend that murderous scoundrel" she spat "…but I also think he shouldn't get all the blame..." She firmly says, her arms still crossed her chest as she shifts her weight from her right to her left foot. Her eyes glanced down for a minute, they held anger, loss, denial, and confusion, all swirling in that black onyx abyss "If I could somehow find something pointing to somewhere else then maybe it might work. I may hate his guts but he shouldn't deserve death…by the way death is too merciful for a monster like him." She said in a deadpanned tone, her voice laced with venom at the end when she brought her brother up once more.

"Yea it makes sense why would someone just turn a dime like that…I mean unless you're a psychopath who's suffering a server case of bipolar disorder." Tamaki chimes in, and the Uchiha gave the Nakano a dirty glare making her add "Well of course he's not…but…" trailing off. I noticed the red heated flames of her sharingan flare briefly but then quickly deactivate as fast it they appeared, letting out a scoff. "Gomen..."

"Don't make accusations without proof." Rieka firmly states

She then turns to me and we started up a private chat between the both of us as Tamaki got distracted by the wildlife around here. 

"Hey, Reika, did you acquire a new summon recently? It's cute." Tam questioned as  we glanced in her direction, we see her petting the same Chocolate brown screech owl "For a summon its chakra...it, it feels similar, similar to...I can't pinpoint it but I just get that feeling you know...How?!" She voiced

"No. It's still a mystery to me as well. More like a construct...a familial of some sort than a summon. " Reika replied with a small shrug as it flew over and landed on her head

"Do they have a name?"

she paused tilting her head in a moment of thought "...Shinji...His name's Shinji" Reika replied with a faint grin, the owl, now named Shinji purred liking their new name.

"Shinji, an...I like it." Tamaki gave a curt nod, the owl flocked and rested himself on top of the bluette's head

"And it seems that he's taken a liken to you." she replied with a sly smirk, her  "haven't you boy"

"Well it must sense that I'm not a threat" Tamaki lightly jokes with a bright grin 

"You seem to have a strong bond already" I commented

"It seems so, hn Hana." her eyes glanced over towards the bird perched on our friend's head "Hn, It's getting late"

"Yeah" I nodded back. "I suppose so" I replied glancing at the darkening sky

        We all walked out of the hidden grove and were on walking along the dirt path, her owl flew off some time ago to whos-know-where but must have still been near because the sound of an owl was heard in the background.

"Then this is a goodbye I guess? When we get closer to the gates I suppose that we'll part then."

"Don't think of it that way, but instead see you later. This way we know our paths will cross once more." Reika reassured with a bittersweet smile  

Suddenly I felt a faint chakra signature nearby and the next thing you know a handful of kunai were lodged into the tree behind us, because of course we dodged them. A certain loudmouth, traffic cone-colored ninja then popped up with both his teammates flanking him.

"What do you think you're doing?! " Tamaki shouted frantically "It's just us...I suppose..." 

"Oh. sorry." He apologized, rubbing the nape of his neck "What are you doing it's late!"

"For a ninja, you are sure loud," I commented

"2½ years and you're still the same loudmouth." Reika flatly said making her presence known 

"Reika-Chan! Your back!" he said with glee and a goofy grin plastered on his face as he attempted to trap Reika in a bear hug but she tries and  successfully pushes him off 

"Naruto! Your suffocating sometimes, you know that." He did this goofy laugh and rubbed his hand on the back of his neck sheepishly muttering out a 'sorry' while the pink-haired girl also gave a glare in his direction. 

The girl had a content smile on her's "It's nice to see you again," she said in a more tamed tone than the blonde.

"So does this mean you're coming back?" The traffic cone exclaimed 

"No, not exactly." She simply replied "Tho I guess it's nice to see you two again." she added with a bit of content of her own

"What, but what about the people that miss you? Your friends?" He exclaimed with a bit of baffled surprise 

"Sure, but my life doesn't revolve around them...now do they?" she raised her eyebrow then knitted them into an annoyed glare "And tell me Why would you stay somewhere where you're not wanted? You should relate to that, being a jinjuriki and all." she smoothly replied 

A jinjuriki; They are the host for chakra monsters called Biju or tailed beast with tails ranging from the Henbi no tanuki of the sand, the one-tail; To the Kyūbi no kitsune of the leaf, the nine tails.

"That's a lie!" The high strong traffic cone ninja said "Reika-Chan you can't possibly believe such a thing. Why can't you see that you are, you are liked and wanted" It's like he only got half of what she said, tho also think the Uchiha might be projecting a few of her disillusions onto her situation. 

Reika ignored the accusation and just patted her hands in the air telling him to chill, which he needs to do like pronto.

I don't get how she's still friends with someone who's this annoying and obnoxiously loud. 'Gods he's overly hopeful and peppy, It can get too stuffy at points I swear.' I scrunched my nose at the thought. I mean we all have points, I wonder where his limits are.

"Okay, let me rephrase it: Why would you want to stay somewhere where you are reminded of all the sorrow and hates and everything negative is all you see. Friends don't dictate your decisions, you don't have to see eye to eye all the time. All you can do is support their choices." She says in a straight tone, The traffic cone attempted to speak but he was promptly cut off "Hn. You can't just make everyone happy with a little speech about friendship or whatever, nothing is as that simple." she ranted with a bitter edge to it "Your lucky, at least you don't have anything to lose. You only have to gain."

"that's not true either I have a lot I could lose. Sakura Kakashi-sensei, Iruka-sensei, grandma Tsunade, and all my friends." He countered

"That's it, you only experienced platonic love because you've been alone from the start. Try growing up with people than all of a sudden they leave you one way or the other."

Naruto gently creeps up beside Reika and comforts her "I may not get what you went through to a tee, but I understand the feeling of loneliness you feel, so replace it with something else, something better." He console with a bright smile that could reel anyone in with its glow. 

'I mean she didn't deny it'

"So who's this? He looks like a discount Sasuke at least he had and did pull off the charm. This guy…he screams social awkwardness." Tam stated after a long silence trying to cut the slightly awkward tension 

"What?! Don't tell me you were crushing on my brother too!" Reika interrupted 

"No, not exactly…maybe a bit but you can't deny it he had the looks." 

"Ew!" She faked gagging "I can't believe my own best friend betrayed me for good-looking boys non-other-then, my own brother."

"we're what 13, or at least almost 13. What else do you expect" the bluenette joked "plus you can say the same with... mrm mrm mrm…" Reika covered her mouth and gave Tamaki a death glare. 

"Thought we'd never speak of this ever again." She hissed then focused her attention back onto the older nin "So I'd like to know who the new guy is too."

the two nin blinked a couple of times before replying "Oh right, this is Sai, he's filling in for…" the blonde says although hesitant on saying his name. Probably because of the dread that comes with it or something.

The other guy, Sai had a smile so fake that even the dumbest civilian can see through it. Tamaki was right his aura screams socially awkward. But also something else I can't pinpoint. 

"…my brother" Reika finished the sentence, they only nodded in reply 

"Hn. So on another note, I'm wondering What are you three out here so late? Mission perhaps?" She said after a short silence, pulling away from the blonde a bit.

"Well sorta, you see we're after this guy who thought it was wise to steal from the leaf."

"Lady Tsunade suspect it was recent so that means they couldn't have gone far" the pinkette added

"Would you be surprised if you knew they were closer than you think" Reika gave a nod. I wasn't sure if she is purposely trying to give herself away, I just hope they are dumber than they look, I don't want her to get in trouble as much as my blue-haired friend. 

'Princess I hope you know what you're doing'

REIKA POV

        'God I love Naruto but he can overlook a lot. Did he not hear the first part? He thinks friendships can fix everything but they can't! Nor do choices revolve around that.

I bet he's still chasing after that stupid goal of bringing my brother back, huh. He has a better chance if he focuses on that other stupid goal of his of trying to become Hokage or whatever. Tho I do respect his tenacity and commitment to one's goals I still think it's stupid nonetheless...the former I mean more or less.

He should just get his nose out of other people's business.' I thought arching my brows at the blonde as if trying to read his mind; probably I can't anyway, probably it's full of rainbows and sunshine anyways *gags* I don't get how anyone can be this peppy. Even I have my limits. How has he not snapped yet from the cruel reality? *sigh* be it for the better or worse.

"So on another note, I'm wondering What are you three out here so late? Mission perhaps?" I said changing the subject even tho I'm kinda putting heat on me, not like I care, I'll get out sooner or later.

"Well sorta, you see we're after this guy who thought it was wise to steal from the leaf."

"Lady Tsunade suspect it was recent so that means they couldn't have gone far" the pinkette added

"Would you be surprised if you knew they were closer than you think" I playfully said "Like I said to hell with the consequences. I'm doing what I think should be done despite the naysayers. I want to help, hold out a bit longer but...I don't know how much I can hope before it seems bleak and all hope is lost. 

Well enough with my sob story, it's no time to rant I'll have plenty of time for that later. 

I noticed that my friends were giving a couple of worried stares like they were saying 'What are you doin baka?! Do you want to get caught?!' And you might say they are right in a sense but I have all right to get my hands on this information, and if this act makes me 'evil' in the village's eyes then so be it I suppose. I do what I must to change fate.

"what do you mean? You saw the guy come by here! Which way did he go? I'll show him what it's like when he messes with the leaf." Naruto frantically exclaims

"Something like that. I think I saw them heading towards the water, probably making their way to a port town, escaping that way." I lied, they seem to buy it because they thanked us and headed in the direction I mentioned 

        We continued making our way closer to the village farewells were drawing near. 

"Do you have to go?!"

"We'll miss you so."

"We just got you back, it's disheartening to see you leave so soon."

These were just a few things they said. I know they mean good but I want to fix what was broken, or at least try to. Try real damn hard too. And that means doing a bit of underhanded stuff to get what I need.

"You guys know it'll take more than some halfhearted pleas to get me to return like that." I snapped my fingers for emphasis "It's not a goodbye I'm saying, Instead see ya later" I reassured 

"But what if you-"

"Get caught" I raised an eyebrow "I already got that covered" turning to my two friends, looking them dead in the eye "I know what I'm doing and know what's at stake. But I would like to believe that my friends would put a bit more faith in me." I drawled outputting my hands on my hips "Plus I have some favors to ask of you anyways." I added, smirking.

"anything"

"As long as it isn't something stupid I'm in. We're friends after all and friends have each other's backs, even if they tend to do stupid stuff."

"Arigatōgozaimashita" I simply replied "And it's not as stupid as you may think Hana." Clarifying it as if I asked for something as crazy as jumping off a cliffside. Anyways I proceeded to tell them of the plan I have in mind.  

And that's the end! Hope you loved this little 3 part mini arch reunion and catching up with the going-around of the village.

Some misunderstandings, revelations, kidnappings and more heartfelt reunions will ensue in these following chapters so stay tuned.