The Awakening of Memories

-----------------------------------------P.O.V Naruto-----------------------------------------

Since my return to Konoha, peace escapes me. Not because of my wounds. Not even because of what I went through with the bandits. No.

It's because of her.

Narume.

I still remember the moment she looked me in the eyes and told me, calmly, almost gently, that she had kidnapped me.

That should have scared me.

But fear wasn't what dominated.

From the first time she came to see me, she had always seemed strange. An unusual presence, but not a hostile one.

Unlike the other villagers, she never looked at me with contempt.

She never had that aggressive tone they once used, nor the cold, dismissive tone that some still have with me now.

Her body was cold. Colder than a human's should be.

And above all, there was this indescribable feeling I had every time she was around.

Goodwill.

A subtle warmth that didn't match the coldness of her body.

So when she captured me, terror wasn't what filled me. It was confusion. Even irritation.

One moment, she was treating my house like it was hers, and now this?

But her arguments were solid. I stood no chance against her. I remembered she had been able to fight shinobi, but it wasn't clear in my mind.

And then, she controlled that giant bear. So, I had to listen.

But one night, she left, leaving me unsupervised.

I seized the opportunity to escape... or at least, I tried.

Of course, everything had to go wrong.

I heard voices. I thought she had caught up to me, so I hid behind a tree.

But then, a chain suddenly wrapped around me, pinning me to the trunk.

"Look at this, a lost kid. We could sell him. Who knows? Maybe he's worth something, huh?"

The bandits caught me before I could get any further.

I tried to resist, but one of them used chakra. He was more experienced. I didn't stand a chance.

When I was locked up, I saw the other prisoners.

Children. Adults.

All treated like livestock.

That's when I understood: to them, we were just merchandise.

No matter what state we were in, it didn't change anything. I tried to fight back, but I was beaten. Again and again.

I saw a man get killed for begging too much for his feverish son.

That's when I felt real fear.

Not the fear of the unknown like with Narume. But the fear of real, brutal danger.

Then, a man entered the prison.

He crushed our jailer, the one who had captured me, and stood there, looking at me.

And then...

She came back for me.

I froze when I saw her state.

Covered in blood.

I could feel her worry for me. I should have focused on that instead of the quiet anger that accompanied it.

She asked me questions. Her voice was calm. But I knew she was furious.

Her eyes glowed with a strange red light.

They terrified me.

In fact, at that moment, everything about her terrified me.

She sensed my shock.

Then, she asked me one last question:

"Are you afraid?"

I couldn't answer.

But in my silence, I felt a change in the emotions I always perceived from her.

They turned into a strange sadness.

Then, little by little… emptiness.

Not that I couldn't feel them anymore.

There was just nothing left to feel.

A cold wall.

"I understand... sleep."

At her words, I felt myself slipping into darkness.

I couldn't resist.

But before I completely faded, a touch.

A cold palm on my head.

And despite everything… the softness hadn't disappeared.

I wanted to say that I wasn't afraid…

But the darkness swallowed my consciousness before I could.

That sleep was one of the most restful I'd ever had.

When I opened my eyes again, I was in a hospital room.

The Hokage came to see me shortly after.

He asked me what had happened. So I told him everything.

Then, I asked him the question:

"Who is Narume?"

Silence.

For a very brief moment, he hesitated. It was quick. Almost imperceptible.

But I saw it.

Then he changed the subject.

But since that day, the dreams have started.

No.

They aren't dreams. They're memories.

Memories coming back to me.

Little by little.

And with them, a truth I'm not sure I'm ready to face.

She was my sister.

All this time. All these years believing I was alone. Convincing myself I had no one.

And him…

The Hokage.

The one I always saw as a grandfather. The one who always looked at me with kindness.

He lied to me.

I now know who Narume is.

I don't understand why he hid her from me.

I'm angry… but I want confirmation.

I know who to turn to.

"Hinata."

Every time I meet the Hokage's gaze now, I feel this weight on my chest. This pain. This anger. This betrayal.

He told me my family was dead.

That I had no one.

So why? Why did he hide the truth from me?

Narume's memories haunt me. Her gaze. Her silence. That strange gentleness she always carried.

But also… that terrifying vision of her, covered in blood, void of all emotion.

As if a part of her had died.

I spend my nights staring at the ceiling, thinking about all of this.

I can't see the Hokage the same way anymore.

They say I'm under protection.

But deep down, I feel like they're watching for something else.

I don't know where she is now.

But I know I have to find her.

And him…

I want answers.