A strange new life 8.15

That sa day, after having fun— training with my new team, I returned ho to find out we had visitors.

Three chakra bundles inside the apartnt. One was Karin’s already familiar one, with its swirling, sotis spiking movents. The other two, I didn’t know. By the size alone, I was guessing a jonin and maybe a child. The second one was small enough to make think of kids back in the academy days.

Not knowing who was inside, I braced myself for trouble. I had used most of my early years of explosives in the tag ga with the team, so I pald one of my new ones. The good ones.

As usual, Karin noticed . She opened the door before I could knock. That went a long way to calming down the paranoia. Karin wouldn’t act like everything was normal if she were in danger or sothing. I hid the exploding kunai in one of the jacket pockets. Plastered a smile on my face.

Karin hugged . The hugging disguised her words.

“You have visitors, no danger.”

Oh, right, damn cheat chakra sensing ability. I nodded, wrote an answer with my threads. “Thank you, Karin.”

I walked in, and Karin followed just a few steps behind.

The two people in my living room weren’t who I had expected, even if they were who I was hoping for.

Mom sat looking toward the door, her face downcast, like she was sad. Hanabi, curled up in Mom’s lap, looked ready to bite sothing.

“Oh,” I said. Stopped in my tracks.

Karin walked around , then, with one last glance, disappeared inside the bedroom without saying anything.

“Hello, Hinata,” Mom said. Hanabi just glared.

I stood there staring, without knowing what to do.

Mom got up, sat Hanabi on the couch. A few words were exchanged. It sounded sothing like. “Give your sister a chance, and behave.” Then she moved closer, stopped in front of . Our eyes t.

“May I hug you?” She asked.

My throat felt full and painful. I nodded. Blinked the haziness out of my eyes.

Mom hugged ; warm, caring arms wrapped around , making feel safe, protected. I clung to her clothes like a small kid.

“I’m sorry, my baby,” she whispered.

That broke the last dregs of my restraint.

It was strange that I was happy I had cried like a toddler. I knew I wasn’t in a good headspace right now. I’ve been overly emotional the past few days and getting every day more obsessed with certain things. But I felt good, light, in a way. Like I had cried most of my worries away and that things would finally start looking good.

I doubted that, but that was how I felt.

We sat on the couch, making small talk. I wanted to sit near Mom, but Hanabi’s glare and possessive hug told pushing my luck wasn’t the best idea right now.

I tried to start a conversation, but my sister didn’t seem interested or happy to be here.

“Hello, Hanabi,” I said.

Hanabi just turned her face and refused to look at . That was fine. At least she wasn’t sending killing intent my way. That was progress, right?

Karin had also left the bedroom, joined us. Between us, I had placed a few pastries and hot tea. Mom was nibbling one of my cupcakes, her eyes scanning every inch of my apartnt like she was trying to decipher sothing I couldn’t see.

The awkward silence lasted a mont longer before I asked one of the questions that was bugging after visiting the GGC.

“You didn’t get into much trouble with Hiashi, did you?”

I wasn’t proud to admit that, but I had sneaked a few glances at her arms, neck, face, and hands, looking for signs of injury. I’d put Hiashi on my black cover book if he had hurt Mom. I just got her back. I’d probably blow the world if soone took her from again.

Mom smiled. “He’s an old grumpy man, but he’s not a bad man.”

“Mom!” Hanabi said, eyes wide.

“It’s true, Hanabi.” She patted my little sister’s hair. “He could worry less about the clan’s prestige and more about his family.”

Mom took one of the cupcakes, placed it on Hanabi’s hand. “You should eat,” she said, tousling Hanabi’s hair. “It’s delicious.”

Heat sneaked on my face. It was so good hearing Mom say that.

After a while, she turned to . “But no, Hinata, I’m not in trouble.”

I had the distinct impression there was an unspoken yet there. What was Mom planning?

“It might take him so ti to co around to it, but I’m sure he’ll see reason.” Mom added after a while.

I understood her unspoken ssage. Hiashi still believed I wasn’t his daughter but soone taking her place. There was probably more trouble on the horizon, but for now, I had breathing room.

Mom looked around the apartnt again. “I hope you don’t mind, Hinata, but I asked soone to keep the apartnt clean once I learned you were away.” Her voice had a hint of lancholy to it.

I shook my head. “Thank you,” I was still unsure how to behave around her. After that first mont, it was awkward. Should I call her Mom? Hinami?

“How was Hinata when she was little?” Karin asked when the silence stretched a bit too long again.

Mom blinked, looked at Karin, then she smiled, hands still patting Hanabi’s hair.

“Ever since she was little, she was soft-spoken and polite, always so kind,” Mom said, looking my way. There was again that note of lancholy in her voice.

“Hinata soft-spoken?” Karin asked, as if not believing the words.

I scowled. “I grew up, okay?”

That got chuckles out of the two and huffs from Hanabi. Then Mom started recounting stories from when I was littler. I paid attention to those. Most of what she said, I had forgotten myself.

I don’t know why people liked telling embarrassing stories about . First, it was Mom telling things I barely rembered, then Karin recounting an abridged and redacted version of our escape together, eting the badgers, and returning to Konoha.

Hanabi had, at so point, stopped glaring at . She still hugged Mom like she was afraid Mom would disappear, but no more glares. My sister also hadn’t spared the cupcakes. After eating the one mom gave her and pretending for a few minutes she didn’t want it, she dug in like a chubby kid forgot inside a candy shop.

“Give a mont,” I said, got up, and ran toward the bedroom.

I wasn’t sure if this was the best mont, but I guess giving gifts was a better way to win people over, right? I collected Hanabi’s prepared gift, returned to the living room. Debated one last ti if I should do it before I shrugged. If she didn’t want it, I could gift it to Sakura. She looked interested enough in my weight seals.

“I have a gift for you, Hanabi,” I said, holding up the small package to her.

Her face went from enjoying the sweets to guarded in an instant. She looked at , at Mom, and lastly at Karin before settling on again. “What is it?” She didn’t take it from my hands.

I displayed my bracelets, then pointed to the ones Karin was also wearing. “Sothing to help you train.”

Hanabi looked at the package, then at Mom, who gave her an encouraging nod.

My sister released Mom, approached, took it. She unwrapped the package, looking at the set of bracelets. “What are they for?”

“Weight seals.” I approached, pointed to the seals. “May I?”

Hanabi looked conflicted before she gave a hesitant nod.

I helped her put it on, and while I did, I explained how they worked.

“If you touch here,” I said, showing the bigger stone and the seal inscribed there, “and send your chakra in, you can change how much they weigh.” After fastening everything, I activated the seals for her. Given how young Hanabi was, I didn’t want to hurt her. I settled the weights for two kilograms on each piece.

Hanabi raised her hands, paced around a bit. “It is strange,” she said finally, then returned to Mom’s side and hugged Mom again.

Mom smiled, patted Hanabi’s head. “What do you say when soone gives you a gift?”

Hanabi scowled but turned to and bowed. “Thank you.” Then she hugged Mom once more.

“We must go,” Mom said after that but then turned to Karin. “Can you keep Hanabi company outside for a mont? I’d like a private word with my daughter.”

Karin looked at , and I nodded. I didn’t like the sound of that, but I don’t think Mom would hurt . Hanabi was none too happy, but a stern look from Mom made her reconsider complaining.

Once we were alone, Mom approached again, then cupped my face in her hands. She looked in the eyes. “Thank you, and please forgive ,” she said.

I shook my head. Throat felt full again. But I wasn’t going to cry. “There’s nothing to forgive,” I said.

She hugged , almost crushing. It lasted way too little.

“Have you been well, eating proper als?” She looked in the eyes. “I know you don’t like carrots, but don’t forget the five colors.”

I scowled. Sure, carrots were icky. I didn’t like the texture, but I also didn’t really mind eating them if they were mixed with other things, just in small amounts.

“als are fine,” I grumbled, but I was happy, really happy.

“And what’s this I hear about you and that Uchiha’s boy?”

I scowled harder. How’d she even learn about that? Did everyone know?

“No,” I said with as much finality as I could put on my voice. “Not interested. Boys are too complicated.”

She hugged again, kissed my forehead. But the look in her eyes told she misunderstood sothing. Mom didn’t broach the subject again. Instead, she let go of , reached into the folds of her kimono, and handed sothing over.

I took the thing. A knot of sothing stabbing my chest and staring at , literally.

Inside a small crystal container was none other than a single white eyeball.

My hands shook. “Won’t he be angry, and won’t you be in trouble?” The words escaped .

“Leave your father for to handle,” Mom said, not denying my words.

I took a deep breath. Then tried to hand back the eye.

Mom didn’t take it. “It’s yours.”

“But—”

Mom’s hands cupped my cheeks again. “No, my baby. You leave to deal with the clan. I know you have no reason to like us, but please don’t hate us either. Losing you broke sothing in your father. He never recovered.”

I opened my mouth, closed it. I wasn’t even sure what to say. I hung my head, hands still gripping the crystal container.

“Can I visit again?” Mom said, her warm hands still cupping my cheeks.

I nodded. Fought the urge to cry.

She kissed my forehead one last ti, hands now patting my hair.

“And if marrying that Uchiha’s boy is what you want,” she said, returning to that damnable idea again, the words cutting like a knife, “you should follow your heart and not worry about the politics behind it.”

Mom hugged one last ti and left.

I wanted to scream.

From inside its crystal prison, the white eye judged

And when the full weight of the inevitable shitshow on the horizon crashed down on , I wanted to scream even harder.