Chapter 02

Hanabi couldn't say she was surprised at the expectant expressions on her family's and friends' faces. She had been expecting the looks after awakening in her bedroom, figuring that Naruto was probably halfway or completely out of Fire Country by now. She knew she should feel at least a small ounce of anger towards the blond but she couldn't - deep down in her heart she knew and accepted that this could have happened.

"Hanabi, are you alright?" Her father's calm voice was laced in barely concealed concern - he was never good at expressing his feelings. Hinata took a stop closer to her little sister only to stop in her tracks when a flash of light appeared - there stood a distraught Kushina and a bewildered Minato.

Barely an hour had passed before Minato and Kushina realized that Naruto had vanished from the village - both wanted to apologize for the poor decisions they have made and the inexcusable actions and feelings they have committed against their flesh and blood, but to no avail. Minato immediately called in Tsunade, Jiraiya, and several of his unoccupied ANBU to locate his wayward son while restraining Kushina from assisting them. Of course Naruto's supposed godparents didn't believe they have forgotten about their oldest god child but after Kushina and Naruki retelling their revelations the two had to swallow the fact that they had abandoned the boy. He was even forced to knock his daughter unconscious after she tried to follow after Jiraiya in order to help as well as causing a scene in the market district of the village.

Minato couldn't believe this! In under twenty-four hours his family was be ripped apart all because of his idiotic mistake while Kushina blamed herself for these turn of events, Minato knew that a majority of the blame fell on his shoulders - he was the one who burdened Naruto with the life as a Jinchuriki, he was the one who insisted that Naruki be made the priority so that she could become his son's warden, he was the one who didn't try to bond with his oldest son instead putting his remaining family and the village first, he was the one who allowed his family - his village to neglect his son.

Tear-filled violet eyes brightened at the sight of the young Hyuuga who was the last person to see the missing boy. Immediately, Kushina had a soft but firm grasp of the small shoulders as her stared into the girl's pale eyes. Teuchi shot Ayame a certain look when he noticed the adolescent bite her lower lip and her small hands turned into fists.

"Hanabi-chan, please! Please tell me where my Sochi is!" He could only watch with a heavy heart as his wife of almost seven years begged the young Hyuuga for answers pertaining to their son, if they could even call him theirs anymore. He barely resisted the urge to flinch as the small girl's icy pearl eyes filled to the brim with animosity and sadness as well as an emotion he couldn't quite place - was it pity? Perhaps sympathy?

"Lady Kushina, please-" Hiashi was cut off by his youngest daughter's next words.

"I don't know." Her long lashes barely concealed the tears threatening to cascade down her dry, pale tear-streaked cheeks, "He just told me he had to get away," the from you was left unspoken and the gaze in her eyes was far from comforting. Mentally, Kushina could see the accusing eyes of the others in the room - the blatant disappointment in their eyes, their stiff forms resisting the urge to insult her and point the finger at her for being a horrible mother.

"H-he's really g-g-one?" Hanabi didn't answer but Kushina already knew the answer.

"But - how did he get out of the village? He's only six! Do you know who helped him? Please tell me!" Kushina begged.

"Naruto's smart for his age... But even at his skill level he's not able to avoid ANBU let alone Jiraiya with his expansive spy network." Mikoto commented.

"Skill level? We never-" At the angered looks from her distant friends, Minato closed him mouth. Afterall, what did he know about his only son?

"If you must know, Naruto is probably at a low Genin rank - we've," Mikoto gestured to all the adults in the room including Teuchi who is a retired Chuunin, "took over his training while he studied the basics on his own through books and scrolls from the library and our personal connections." The Uchiha Matriarch finished, daring the two to challenge their judgment.

She choked back another sob that racked her form as her knees hit the hardwood floor with her soft hands still clasped on the six-year old's shoulder as if she was the only connection to her son she had left. There was so many things she didn't know but couldn't known.

"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" She whispered, her watery eyes staring up from her location on the floor, begging Hanabi to believe her words, "Please believe me. Naruto, I'm sorry." Her heartbreaking words echoed in the back of Minato's head like a broken mantra being replayed over and over.

"Kushina," Minato whispered, reaching for his wife. It ate at his heart to see his wife so dead inside and a large wave of guilt washed over him. This is all your fault.

"Kushina," the red head looked up at her best friend, "if you truly are sorry then allow him to grow. We all could see that he was suffocating in this village," Mikoto informed with sad eyes, "when he comes back prove it but allow it to fall at his pace." She advised, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. The room was awkwardly silent for a few minutes; half of them felt the strong urge to unleash their frustration on the couple while the said couple felt an unexplainable amount of guilt.

Hiashi coughed, "Perhaps, you two should go home and rest," of course his words were soft but the underlying disappointment in his tone rung in his ears.

"You're right. Let's go, Shina-chan." Her arms fell limp as he wrapped his arm around her, nodding his head in thanks and with another flash the parents vanished from the Hyuuga residence.

Silence lingered in the air before Hinata pounced on her younger twin, curiosity shinning in her large lavender eyes as an uncharacteristic smirk crossed her lips.

"So, little sister. Did Naruto kiss you? Did you finally admit that you like-like him?" Hiashi's mouth dropped while Yoshino and Mikoto giggled - even though his usually timid eldest daughter was slowly breaking out from her shell, he couldn't believe how sly she could be at times. If she was this cunning at seven he dreaded to think how it would be once she reached her teens.

"W-what!? Don't be stupid! He's just my best friend." Hinata's grin only widened at the blush dusting across her sister's face. Hanabi hated how easily her sister could read her, it just wasn't fair. The girls in the room giggled as the males gave the father sympathy looks.

"Did any of you receive a letter from Naruto?" Ayame asked the question on everyone's mind after the twins stopped their bickering and teasing. Murmurs and nods of confirmation were given as the group of twelve shared, of course - the youngest three were not present and couldn't read the notes Naruto left behind for them but the others would make sure they would learn how much they meant to the missing blonde. They could only pray that he was safe and most importantly, happy.

Author's Note: I will eventually make and post a link of the Naruto Map that I'm using for future references but don't be surprised if some countries have been rearranged. The next chapter will be about Naruto's travels and possibly a guest appearance or two with a lot more action as well (and longer). I know I'm late with updating but I had personal situation to deal with. But I'm not terribly happy with this chapter so there's a chance that I'll add more before I post the next chapter.