Hanako

As the Hokage had said, indeed an ANBU came later that afternoon to give me the key to my new apartment. It was right next to Sasuke's, so I just took a few steps to the right from his front door and walked inside my new home before closing the door behind me. I let out a sigh before I rested my back against the door.

"It's weird to be back..." I slid down until my bottom hit the floor. I had forgotten the warmth around the Konoha Village. How everyone wandered around happily without a care in the world, trusting the peace the Hokage had built. How you can have a home, a family, friends, comrades... People to take care of, to protect.

I smiled softly. I had forgotten the most important thing in my life. Of course, I missed my family, Hikari, Shisui, Mom, Dad, Ryusuke, Hayato... Even Hyori, Kazuki, Takeshi...

But there was still one name that made chills run down my back. A name that I still couldn't dare to mention, fearing that he might appear somewhere next to me. I wasn't ready to see him. Even after five years, I wanted nothing to do with him anymore.

I didn't know if he knew about me still being alive, but if he did, I was thankful that he hadn't made a move to meet me just yet. I wouldn't know how to react. If I should run at him and hug him for dear life, or if I should turn my back on him and run as fast as my feet could take me.

I felt a tear run down my cheek. I missed him. I missed his sweet gentle voice, his soft silky hair, his sweet lips, his caresses... I wanted him. Badly. I couldn't imagine a life without him, he was my one and only.

But I doubted he felt the same way about me.

I let out a dry chuckle as I stood on my feet. "I'm so stupid..." I muttered to myself as I walked into the kitchen. My eyes widened slightly when I noticed an envelope lying over the table.

I walked to it and lift it up. On it, my name was written in fine calligraphy, undoubtedly the Hokage's. I opened the letter and started reading its contents.

Hanako,

If you're reading this, then it means that you have settled down back where you belong. When you left, I felt bad for you, for what happened to your family. I'm deeply sorry I couldn't do anything to stop Danzo. I should've known he had something like this planned. I should've known he would only use Itachi. I should've suspected it from the moment he asked for his transfer to Root.

I'm glad you're back now, though. Probably stronger than what you could've ever become while staying here and working as a shinobi for your village. I reserved this apartment for you, 'cause I knew you were coming back. You could never forget the promise you made to me when you escorted Naruto in the Academy Ceremony. I leave him to you, please take care of him. Teach him, train him, raise him to be a Konoha shinobi.

I filled the house with the basic needs: plates, utensils... If there's anything you want from home, please feel free to enter the Uchiha Compound. It's a restricted area, but I trust you won't do anything reckless.

I left you some money, in case you need it. But this is the only cash I'm going to give you. You'll have to work to earn more.

Use it wisely.

Sarutobi Hiruzen.

I smiled at the letter and then checked the envelope to find some cash. I still had the money from the savings of my family, but a little extra wouldn't harm anybody.

I was surprised, though. The house was sparkling clean. Like the Hokage really had hired someone to take care of the place in my absence. The only problem was...

"The fridge is empty." I sighed before I closed its door. I would have to go to the grocery store. I looked at the money in the envelope and bit my lip. Well, I rather use this than my own money until I return to work. As a Chunin, I was only hired for C or B-rank missions. The income wasn't much, and I saved all of it since my mother and Hikari were the ones paying for everything back home. Now, I had to pay for everything myself. I lived alone and that meant that I had to get accustomed to cleaning, cooking and paying for the rent.

I clicked my tongue. I'm growing old...

But then again, Kakashi mentioned that he was recommending me to become a Jonin, which meant I would get more difficult missions and a larger income. I smirked. I also had to supervise Naruto's and Sasuke's training. Could I imagine a more calmer life than that for me?

No, I don't think so.

* * *

Takeshi

"YOU.ARE.SUCH.A.PERVERT." I sighed tiredly when Hyori started nagging again at Kaichi to stop staring at the waitress' butt. "We can't even eat calmly at a restaurant when you are already hitting on the waiter!"

"It's not my fault she's such a hottie!" he answered with his hands up in surrender. "Hey, come on Hyori. You know I can't see a woman without contemplating her features."

"That would be okay if you didn't undress them with your eyes, you sick bastard!" she claimed again, with her hand tightened up into a fist.

"Hyori, that's okay." Ren interfered in the two's argument with his calm voice. "We are all on your side, but unfortunately, none of us can change Kaichi's horny hormones."

"Oi, Ren!" The blond glared at him. "What's that supposed to mean?!"

"Exactly what it means, " Ren smirked at him as he rested his chin over his intertwined hands. "You are sexually aroused. But at this age is perfectly normal for males to crave for a sexual partner to fulfill their lustful desires."

"Oh, then are you sexually aroused, too?" Kaichi repeated to him using a mockery voice as he raised both his eyebrows.

All of the present turned to look at the blue haired boy, interested in what would be his reaction. His grin had vanished from his face as he now glowered at the blond across from him.

"Well, at least, Sonoda doesn't make it that obvious." Kazuki commented with a smirk as he glanced sideways at the blond. Kaichi turned this time to glare at him.

"You too?!"

"Well, Ren did say that it was common for us these days to get interested in sex," I sighed, finally saying something about the subject. "But as moral people, we don't yell it to the air on a daily basis."

"Aww... The lover boy speaks again with experienced thoughts..." Kaichi pestered with a mischievous grin. "After Hanako rejected you, you became all-knowing in this kind of matter, didn't you?" I felt my blood boil. "But well, I sympathize with you. None of us could have competed with that Itachi guy, all the girls in the village were secretly dying for him, even Hyori crushed on him for a moment."

The brunette turned to look at him with a glare. "That's not true! I would never do that to Hanako!"

"Anyway," Kaichi shut her down by putting his hand over mouth. "It doesn't matter now, does it? Hanako's dead."

"TAKE THAT BACK!" I snapped, standing up furiously -crashing down my hand against the table.

"Takeshi..." I noticed that Kazuki was looking up at me worriedly. "It's been five years..."

"SHE'S NOT DEAD!" I could already feel the tears gathering in my sockets as I gritted my teeth. "I know it... She's out there somewhere..."

"At the grocery store." Ren suddenly said as he glanced out the door of the restaurant to the local across the road. We all turned to him as if he had gone nuts. "That's Hanako, at the grocery store." His jaw dropped as he pointed his finger to a female, walking around the local, and dropping some fruits into the basket she was holding.

I looked over at her and my eyes widened. My body froze and my lower lip hung open. Her fair skin, her soft brown hair that fell down her back, her fine and delicate features, her thick and long eye lashes. She smiled at the cashier before she handed him the cash to pay for her shopping. He smiled back at her with a faint red color that tainted his cheeks.

And then she walked out of the store, heading along the road towards another local down the street.

I sprinted outside of the restaurant and followed her silently. This couldn't be her, it had to be someone that looked awfully similar to her. But I silently hoped she was, hoping I had been right all these years.

When I heard about the Uchiha massacre, the first thing I did was rush into the compound, but what I found made my stomach churn. The district was sealed, turned into a restricted area. There was blood covering every wall, some were partly destroyed while others remained untouched.

I then hurried to the hospital. I asked the receptionist in a desperate voice to give me the list of all the Uchiha patients that were registered. At least someone had to have survived.

"I'm sorry, sir. There are no members of the Uchiha checked into the hospital."

That's what she said. I had no other choice but to believe her. The only one I could ask was the Hokage himself. He had to know what happened, but what he said to me, was the one thing I didn't want to hear.

"There is currently only one Uchiha that remains in the Village, and it's Uchiha Sasuke. The rest of them are gone," the Third said as he turned to look at me from over his shoulder with a pitiful face. "I'm sorry for your teammate, Takeshi."

My heart beat frantically when I watched the girl enter another local. The Hokage knew the truth, didn't he? He only said that the rest of the Uchiha were gone, but gone not always meant dead, right? If she was gone, it meant she had left the Village...but now she was back.

My lips tilted up into a smile as I followed her inside of the local. This was Hanako, it had to be.

"If you keep following me around, I will be tempted to knock you out." I heard a voice mutter right into my ear and my blood ran cold.

I looked sideways to see her face right beside mine as she stood right behind me with her finger pressed tightly against my lower back. I could fell her hot breath against my cheek, and her hair tickling the side of my face.

My cheeks felt warm all of a sudden. "Hanako...is it really you?" I managed to ask and she smirked.

"You should know better than to sneak up on me from behind, Takeshi." She chuckled and I felt my muscles relax. This was her voice. She pulled away and I took the chance to turn around and wrap my arms around her tightly.

Her breath hitched but after a moment she returned the embrace.

"You're an idiot, you know that?" I said as I let the tears run freely down my cheeks. This was Hanako, she was alive. She was here. "Why would you do that to me? Why would leave like that?"

"I'm sorry..."

"You were my best friend, Uchiha!" I snapped as I hid my face in the crook of her neck. She smelled like flowers and I couldn't help but to get lost in her sweet smell. "I thought I had lost you..."

She patted my head softly before she forced me to pull away. She placed both her hands on my cheeks and smiled at me, making me look down at her face.

"You will never lose me, Takeshi." she said softly. "We're still best friends."

I pursed my lips but nodded slightly. She looked at me with her eyes full of love, but not the kind I wanted it to be. Her heart always belonged to that Uchiha, and I hated his guts for that. Uchiha Itachi. He murdered his own clan, and left the village as a criminal. I always knew that there was a strange vibe around him, so I tried to avoid him as much as I could. How could Hanako like someone like him? How could she have fallen for him?

"Since when did you become taller than me?" My thoughts got interrupted when I saw that Hanako had moved to my side and was now standing on the tips of her feet, comparing her height to mine. I chuckled.

"People grow up, that's the cycle of life." I said as I smirked down at her. "You have grown, too." She looked up at me and smiled brightly.

"I know, right?" She glanced down at herself. "I feel sexy." I raised an eyebrow when she suddenly said that. "I mean, look at these!" My eyes widened when she cupped her breasts with her hands. "It took me awhile to get accustomed to them, I lost part of my agility but I think I managed to get it back." My throat went dry when she moved her hands down her sides, pressing her clothes against her body. She was perfectly fitted and all the curves she had were in the right places. I guess now I understood how Kaichi felt. "So, what do you think?" she asked with a cheeky smile. "Looking good, huh?"

I was at a loss of words. Good was an understatement.

"Define 'good'." I finally said with my eyes glued to hers. I had managed to hide the blush threatening to taint my cheeks as I snickered at her. "I've seen better."

She scoffed as she crossed her arms in front of her chest. "I didn't remember you to be so arrogant, Takeshi."

"Of course, you don't." I looked at her with amusement. "I only am when around you, you probably rubbed it off on me."

"Hn." She smirked at me. "My mom used to say, that one builds self-personality by copying the traits they like in other people."

I hushed, partially turning away from her to mutter under my breath. "If that'd be the case, I would have copied you entirely by now."

"What was that?" She raised an eyebrow as she looked at me.

"N-Nothing!" I mentally cursed at myself for that last stutter. "You know, I just remembered that I had to meet Kazuki at the training grounds...so...it was...nice...to see you again." I mumbled nervously while scratching the back of my neck. I then turned around and hurried outside of the store.

* * *

Hanako

I tilted my head in confusion as I watched Takeshi rush out of the local.

"Uh...same?" I muttered with a raised eyebrow as he disappeared from my sight.

I then chuckled softly when I remembered his nervousness. I had never seen Takeshi like that. Oh well, years pass and people change. He got taller, his voice had become deeper, and I noticed that he had started to build some muscle. His messy brown hair gave him a carefree appearance that suited him well.

"Oh well..." I picked up my bags from where I had left them on the floor and made my way back to the apartment.

"He's quite the funny guy..." I rolled my eyes after I heard that voice and turned to look at its owner.

"What are you doing here, Kakashi?" The silver Jonin just shrugged as he appeared beside me and fell onto my pace.

"Just checking if you're settling up."

"You saw me this morning." I smirked at him.

"Did the ANBU give you the keys?"

"Yes."

"Did you have everything you need?"

"Yes."

"If there's anything I can help you with—"

"You were the one who took care of the apartment, weren't you?" I interrupted him as I stopped abruptly and looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

Kakashi shrugged again. "Who knows..."

I chuckled. "Of course, you don't seem like the type to do these things..." I muttered while continuing on my path. "So, how did it go with your students?"

"Quite an interesting team..." He sighed, scratching the back of his neck as he continued walking with me.

"You don't like it?"

"No, it's not that..." I looked at him. "Naruto only seems to care about ramen and becoming Hokage, Sasuke's an avenger and would do anything to get stronger, and Sakura...well Sakura is a hormonal kid, who—"

"Who's got her eyes on Sasuke...right?" Kakashi nodded with a sigh. "I get it."

"I'm quite worried about their teamwork."

"For?"

"If they don't have it, I have no other choice but to send them back to the Academy." I looked at him sideways.

"Right..." I sighed. "I've heard the rumors, Kakashi. They say that there's not a single team who's passed the Genin test with you."

"So? That's because they're not fit to become shinobi." He narrowed his eyes. "Why is that a concern for you?"

I smiled. "Because if your Genin test is so strict I just can't imagine the Jonin one..."

Kakashi chuckled as he took one of the bags from my hand, helping me carry it. "You don't have to worry about that." I narrowed my eyes. "I already think you're fit. I just want to test your abilities."

I smirked. "Is that so?"

"Yes. Besides," He looked at me. "I need someone to help me keep an eye on these kids. You know better than anyone that I'm not exactly a good instructor."

I laughed at that. "No, you're not."

"Yeah," He sighed. "And I can't have you as my support if you're still a Chunin, so..." He shrugged.

"That's called favoritism." I said to him as I smirked wider. "You're saying you'll recommend me for promotion just because you don't want someone else to be your support."

"It's true, I don't want someone else to do the job, but because I think you're the best person for it, not for any other particular reason." He looked at me seriously. "Much less, personal."

"Right, right..."

"The Hokage thinks so, too." he continued. "You can control the Kyuubi if it ever goes on a rampage, and you can help Sasuke with his Sharingan if he ever awakens it." I pressed my lips into a thin line, and remained silent.

We continued walking in silence until we reached my apartment. Once at the door, I took the bag from Kakashi and looked at him. "Thanks, I'll see you tomorrow." And with that I opened the door and closed it quickly behind me. I then rested my back against it, as I let out a sigh.

I could feel Kakashi's chakra still at the other side of the door and closed my eyes tightly.

"Konoha is really a persistent pest, isn't it?" I heard Orochimaru say and looked at him. I was sitting in a comfortable sofa, as I read Amane's scroll with the aid of a candle behind me.

"Why?"

"You haven't been away from the Village for even a week, and there's already a Jonin tracking team close to the base." I narrowed my eyes at that. "They're looking for you."

I scoffed. "Good for them. Who's the captain?"

Orochimaru snickered. "You'll like the name. Hatake Kakashi." I closed the scroll and stood up from my sitting position.

"Did they see you?"

"No, but Kakashi is quite known for having a good nose. It will be a matter of time before his ninken find us."

"Then, we better hurry." I said as I walked past him. "We're moving to the next hideout."

I chuckled. "Why are you still there, Kakashi?" I asked out loud.

"Why did you stay at your door, Hanako?" he replied back.

"I never felt your chakra leave, of course I'd be suspicious." I frowned.

"Can I come in?"

"Didn't you get the hint of me closing the door on your face?"

He sighed but remained quiet. Five minutes went by and he was still there.

"Okay...you win." I stood up from the place and opened the door to find no one there. I narrowed my eyes.

"This is quite disappointing. I thought it would take a little more to convince you." I pressed my lips into a thin line when I heard him mutter behind my back.

"I hate it when people do that." I said as I looked at him from over my shoulder.

He didn't say anything.

I frowned and just moved to pick up the bags I left on the floor and start to organize everything inside the fridge. I felt uncomfortable when everything Kakashi did was look at me intently in the meantime.

"Okay, what's the matter. Kakashi?" I snapped after two minutes. "You don't trust me?"

"Where were you these five years?" He looked at me with a frown.

"Places, I don't know!" I scoffed. "I never stayed on the same country for over a week."

"What were you doing that you couldn't stay in the Village?"

I let out a deep breath. "That's none of your business."

I widened my eyes when Kakashi suddenly got me pinned against the border of the counter. "There's a reason you were put into the Bingo Book."

"You saw that?"

"Of course I did!" he hissed. "I may not have been an ANBU but I still received the latest update."

"I've made some mistakes..." I muttered softly as I looked away from him. "I burned down a non-ninja village eight years ago...I confronted the Tsuchikage..." My eyes then drifted to Kakashi's. He was just staring at me, while listening to me silently. "Of course, someone would take advantage of it someday and use it against me."

"You know who put you there?"

"No," I pursed my lips. "But I have an idea."

Kakashi pulled away from me and walked towards the dining table before he sat down at it. I didn't know what else to say, by all means I couldn't mention anything about being with Orochimaru, or else I would be back into the Book in a beat.

"The Hokage mentioned something about you training a jutsu... Essence was it?" he asked as he looked up at me.

"What about it?"

"I want to know what kind of jutsu is that."

I looked away from him and focused my eyes on the nearest window. "Essence is a jutsu that allows me to see people's memories, change them, seal them...in short, I can do whatever I please. I can also gather the essence of things and turn it into a memory to watch. It's pretty useful both for battling and information gathering, since it allows me to bring to the surface even one's darkest secrets and use it against enemies or know what exactly happened in a given place." I looked back at him. "And finally, this is probably the one that terrifies me the most, since I've already proven it to be real."

"What is it?" the silver haired Jonin inquired with a raised eyebrow.

"When I sleep, I often get these dreams that can be interpreted as some kind of premonitions. Like...a foreseeing ability."

"Predicting the future?" Kakashi asked, I just nodded. "How do you know it's real?"

"Because I had a dream of the Uchiha Massacre, three years before it happened..." I pressed my lips into a thin line at the same time my hands curled up into fists.

The Jonin stared at me in silence before he stood up and walked to me. "Have you had more of these dreams?"

"Yeah... But I just try to ignore them." I sighed. "They're worse than nightmares, and I'm tired of waking up in the middle of the night, screaming because one of these dreams was just too real..."

Kakashi stood in front of me as he crossed his arms over his chest. "You haven't been sleeping?"

I chuckled. "No, it's not that. I have been sleeping, it's just..." I drifted off as I let out a sigh. "I'm tired of seeing people die in my dreams and then just see it happen without being able to do something about it."

"Hanako..." I was surprised when Kakashi suddenly placed his hand on my cheek and smiled at me with his eye closed. "I promise you that you won't see anyone you care about die anymore. Not if I'm there to prevent it."

My eyes widened. What was Kakashi saying? Why, at a moment like this?

My thoughts were suddenly interrupted when I felt a familiar chakra walking down the hall at the other side of the door. I turned to it and my eyes narrowed.

"What is it?" Kakashi pulled his hand away as he looked at me strangely.

"Sasuke's here." I pressed my lips into a thin line.

How would he react when he knew that I was back?

Naruto was quite happy, but it was to be expected from him. With Sasuke...I wasn't sure what to expect. I broke the only promise he would never forgive, I left him when he needed me the most.

I smiled softly. And now I had the guts to come back and face him. What kind of person does that make me?

There was a knock on the door. "Is someone there?" I could recognize Sasuke's voice. "As far as I know, no one lives in this apartment room. If you're an intruder, I suggest you come out of there now."

I rolled my eyes. He was too cocky. He didn't even know who could it be and yet he was acting with total confidence, as if he could beat anyone that stood in his way. I scoffed. You've got to be kidding me.

I looked at Kakashi as he walked towards the door and frowned deeper. "What do you think you're doing, Kakashi?"

"You'll have to face him someday, why not get over it?" he asked as he looked at me from over his shoulder.

"You're not supposed to open the door of a house that doesn't belong to you." He scoffed.

"I'm sorry, but lately I'm not one that exactly follows those rules."

I rolled my eyes and just crossed my arms in front of my chest as I watched him open the door. Sasuke had been standing at the other side with a frown in his face, but his eyes widened when he immediately came upon Kakashi, who looked down at him with a raised eyebrow.

"You...!" Sasuke's frown deepened.

"Can I help you, Sasuke?" the silver haired Jonin asked tranquilly, without a care in the world.

"What are you doing here?!"

"Here?" He reached his hand to his chin as he looked down at the raven haired boy. "I was visiting an old friend."

"Old friend? No one lives here." Sasuke narrowed his eyes at him as he eyed him incredulously. "Tell me the truth. What are you doing here?"

I sighed. I guess that was my cue to step in. "He's not lying, Sasuke." I said as I stepped from behind Kakashi to look down at him. The look in his eyes changed from anger to surprise to confusion to sadness and lastly to a look of betrayal. My heart clenched at the last glint in his pupils.

I guess... I could have expected this.