niceguypose | Third Gate [Voice/Action]

[Voice]

[News traveled through the building that morning faster than than bright green elevator. Naruto's room was empty. Lee, passionate with tears, was quick to volunteer to report this, not exactingly leaving room for comrades to chime in. Some of them could be near him in the hallway as he shouts into the journal - and of other other CH1 residents could be attracted by his loudness.]

Some of you may be aware of the existence of Uzumaki Naruto, a fellow ninja of Konoha. He is one of the bravest people I know, a true hero and someone who I one day wish to engage in an all-out fight. But he... Naruto-kun has gone back home. The battle awaiting him there is one of the most arduous endeavors imaginable, so... please wish him your best.

I shall shortly depart to the Seventh Heaven and eat as much ramen as I can in honor of my dear, departed comrade. May the strength of this food reach him somehow and empower him with even more youthly guts!

[Action]

[So there he goes off to start his day gorging on ramen at Seventh Heaven, taking a large table with an opening for many friends. And he spends the rest of the day afterwards working it off. About two hours in the Battle Dome and various training exercises throughout the evening and night as he also patrols around in search of danger. Feel free to run into him at any of these points.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[For someone who had watched him ever since she was little, she knew this post will be coming soon enough. She's an expert tracker, her eyes seeing things other people can't see, so she already knows his disappearance beforehand. Of course, the initial reaction was shock followed by anger then despair and then sadness. Right now, she's feeling regret for not having to spend more time with him as she can before he left.

But Hinata is never a grim person so there's a part of her that's thankful he's free from this place's chaos, back to the village he loves, even with the arduous task at hand for him there.

As she wipes away a stray tear, she speaks up, her voice weak and fragile but hidden strength behind it.]

Thank you for informing us all, Lee-san.

You are welcome, Hinata-san. It is my honor. Hopefully, our time apart from him will not be too long.

[Will it even matter? Because at the end of the day, if ever he comes back, he won't remember. She only has her memories now to prove what happened actually happened.]

I suppose so... [A pause, her reply lacking any conviction.] But I think i- it's best that he's back home.

This is true. Being here is only stalling our lives back home. And Naruto-kun has much to live through. Still, I know you must miss him. Like we all do. You and him are close friends, after all.

[Missing him is even an understatement for her because she knows she'll miss him forever until the day she returns home and won't remember everything herself. This scares her but she smiles all the same because even with the sadness, the despair, eating her, Naruto himself taught her that she should smile.

So she smiles and more tears fall down her cheeks in result.]

I... I do...

[He cannot see the tears, but he can hear the hesitance in her voice.]

H- Hinata-san... Are you alright?

[It's only when Lee asks this that Hinata realizes she's crying so she quickly remedies that by wiping her tears yet again.]

Oh, um- Y- Yes, I'm fine, Lee-san.

Ah. If you say so, Hinata-san, I believe your words. But know that I extend an open invitation for comfort regarding this matter!

I... [When she had quickly wiped away her tears, a small smile imprints itself on her lips.] I'm alright. Thank you for the i- invitation, though.

[She looks at the huge toad plush sitting on her side. Maybe it's the only comfort she needed now.]

Edited 2012-11-08 07:10 (UTC)

Think nothing of it. I will do anything I can to help a fellow ninja of Konoha, as well as family member of a beloved comrade, as well as any human being! I wish you the best in maintaining your alrightness, Hinata-san, wholeheartedly.