Starting Over

Her mother had vanished from this world completely, and in doing so, had won her another chance.

Blood Sacrifice knew she had missed too much and failed to see too many things clearly. This time, she wanted to understand them anew, to see the world again with fresh eyes.

Though it was only an obsession, she still hoped Neji would become head of the Hyuga Clan, that the Bird Cage would be abolished, that Naruto and Sasuke would join forces to usher in a new era, and that Sakura would become a powerful woman who could stand head and shoulders above Tsunade. There were so many other regrets, too.

Most importantly, she wanted to repay him for the life she owed him.

The crisp song of birds reached her ears, a sound that spoke of the unique peace of Konoha's forest.

She slowly woke, feeling as if she had lived through a fantastical life. Now, though, all that remained were scattered fragments.

But... the most painful memory was still crystal clear. In that other life, she had killed the person she loved most with her own hands.

The pain seemed to have sunk into her very bones. Grief she could not let go of left her struggling to breathe.

Yet her hopeless life seemed to have found a direction. New obsessions and thoughts had taken root in her mind.

She lay motionless on the ground, the wound that pierced her chest still spilling blood. If she didn't stop the bleeding, she would die, wouldn't she?

Struggling to sit up, she saw blood spreading out from her chest. She could only press both hands tightly against the wound, but the pain still shot straight through her heart.

She had to go back. A voice inside her warned that she would die here!

As she dragged herself back toward Konoha, her muddled thoughts finally cleared. But her past seemed to be covered in a haze; whenever she tried to remember it, all she felt was pain.

Her name was Uzumaki Eiyuling, but she had never dared to mention her surname. The Third Hokage had warned her not to.

Eiyuling had hair as red as blood, and because of it, she had been bullied constantly. But she had been timid since childhood and never dared fight back, which only made them feel all the more justified in tormenting her.

She couldn't remember how she had ended up outside. Her hazy memories held only the image of herself being pierced through at the end. Yet she clearly remembered the person whose chest she had run through in that life.

Her life had seemed to last only three years. After her mother died, she lived alone, and as an orphan, she was naturally bullied.

Her red hair had become another thing for people to mock, so she cut it very short. For all three years, everyone thought she was a boy.

Three years later, she had died here without a care in the world. She could have survived, but at some point, she had decided that dying like this might not be so bad. So she had simply watched the sky and waited for death, until she seemed to fall asleep.

But she wouldn't do that now. No longer lost, she wanted to live, and so she had to return to Konoha.

At last, she saw Konoha Gate. Two Chunin stood guard there, and a long trail of blood marked the ground behind Eiyuling as she approached.

The two stared at her in shock, then hurried over to support her.

The moment she saw Konoha Gate, Eiyuling finally passed out completely.

When she woke again, she was already in Konoha Hospital. The two Chunin must have brought her there.

Eiyuling sat up and stared blankly at the white sheets. A moment later, the door opened, and she heard the steady tread of the Third Hokage approaching. She didn't turn to look at him, but she heard him let out a long sigh.

"Ah... Hui... I still failed to protect you."

Eiyuling said nothing. Her gaze gradually turned cold, though she didn't know what she was feeling.

But when she heard the Third Hokage say that, a surge of resentment rose from within her, an aggrieved feeling that welled up from deep inside.

She thought of the past and felt some resentment toward the villagers for their indifference, for not caring whether she lived or died. Just because she was an outsider, did that mean she had no right to live in this village?

That was also why people in the village let their children bully her.

Seeing that she wasn't speaking, the Third Hokage knew she wouldn't forgive the village. He had wanted to take good care of Hui, but he had too many duties and no time. The people entrusted with her care had been less than diligent, and he truly didn't know when Eiyuling had begun to hate the village.

"Hui... why were you so badly hurt?" he asked, changing the subject.

Eiyuling finally turned to look at him, though her gaze remained cold. "How would I know? But what a shame I didn't die." Eiyuling gave a cold laugh.

The Third Hokage furrowed his brow and said helplessly, "Hui... you..."

The Third Hokage didn't know what she had been through, but one thing was clear: her attitude seemed to have changed.

Her eyes were nothing like the eyes of the girl she used to be.

Eiyuling hadn't expected herself to say something like that either. It was as if her mouth had moved on its own.

After a long silence, Eiyuling asked softly, "Sorry, Third Hokage Grandpa, I'm really tired. Can I rest now?" She sounded like a little girl pleading sweetly, as if she hadn't been the one speaking just moments ago.

The Third Hokage froze for a moment, watching Eiyuling closely as if trying to figure out what was going on.

In the end, he only sighed silently. "All right... get some rest." The Third Hokage sighed softly and said no more.

"Mm!" Eiyuling replied with a gentle smile, then curled up beneath the covers. The Third Hokage watched her, his eyes dim, before finally turning to leave.

When she heard the door close, Eiyuling sat up again, threw off the covers, and walked barefoot to the door.

After making sure there wasn't a sound outside, she opened the door and stepped out. The place didn't feel unfamiliar at all. Konoha Hospital really was somewhere she had visited often.

Eiyuling's gaze grew resolute. She had to find Naruto. She had to.

Knowing the Third Hokage would surely have her watched, she started by wandering aimlessly through the streets, trying not to seem as if she was deliberately looking for Naruto.

The way the people of Konoha looked at her was truly strange. They didn't seem to hate her as much as they hated Naruto, yet their looks were no less hateful. There was a deep conflict in their eyes.

Whenever the adults saw her, they simply kept their distance. Eiyuling looked away and paid them no more attention.

After wandering for a while, she went to the places Naruto tended to visit: the horizontal bar, the small plaza, the riverbank. But she didn't see him anywhere.

She couldn't help frowning. Raising her head, she looked into the distance, and Kage Rock came into view. She smiled faintly, knowing where Naruto had gone.

When she reached Kage Rock, she saw Naruto there, staring blankly at it.

"Who are you?" Eiyuling asked first.

Naruto jumped in fright, one hand raised as if he had been wiping something away.

After a moment, he turned to look at her and demanded indignantly, "Who are you?"

Then he proudly pointed at Kage Rock and declared, "I'm going to become Hokage!"

Eiyuling chuckled. Just as she remembered, Naruto...

"What? You don't believe me?" Naruto shouted at Eiyuling, angry and embarrassed, pointing at her like a little animal hopping about.

"No, I believe you. You'll definitely become Hokage." Eiyuling stopped smiling and spoke earnestly.

Naruto stood frozen for a long time, still pointing at her, his hand forgotten in the air. Joy mingled with sadness in his eyes, and he actually began to sob.

For the first time, someone understood him. For the first time, he saw someone who didn't look at him with hatred.

Eiyuling watched him quietly. Naruto hadn't yet become as impervious to everything as he would be later. This was when he longed most to be acknowledged; he still wasn't used to other people's indifference and hatred.

"My name is Eiyuling. What's yours?" she asked softly.

Naruto wiped away his tears and smiled brightly. "Uzumaki Naruto! I'm the one who's going to become Hokage!"

The smile on Eiyuling's lips blossomed, too. She said gently, "Mm, it's nice to meet you. I hope we get along!"

"Yeah!" Naruto replied happily.

The Third Hokage puffed on his pipe as he watched the crystal ball before him. He smiled helplessly, but couldn't hide his delight.

"Uzumaki Eiyuling, Uzumaki Naruto... I never thought you two would meet. But it's a good thing. At least neither of you will be alone anymore." The Third Hokage spoke calmly, but in his heart, he had already made up his mind.

Eiyuling stood quietly beside Naruto, listening to him talk about his dream. She only smiled as she watched him. Before long, the setting sun painted the village red, and she interrupted Naruto.

"Naruto, you should head home now."

"Huh? Why? I still have so much to tell you!" Naruto said gloomily.

Eiyuling smiled softly. "Because I have to go back to the hospital. See you next time, okay?"

"The hospital!" Naruto cried out. He asked with concern, "Are you hurt, Eiyuling?"

Eiyuling looked Naruto in the eye and said, "Mm. Naruto, we'll see each other again. Trust me."

"Oh... okay..." Naruto stared at her blankly.

"Bye," Eiyuling said, then turned and left.

Naruto smiled and shouted after her, "See you!"

Hearing him, Eiyuling glanced back at Naruto, lifted the corners of her mouth in a faint smile, then turned and walked back to the hospital.

When she returned to her hospital room, the Third Hokage was actually waiting at the entrance. Eiyuling's gaze darkened, then returned to normal.

"Third Hokage Grandpa, what are you doing here?" she asked in confusion.

The Third Hokage looked at her warmly. "Hui, would you like to live with Naruto?"

" Naruto?" Eiyuling furrowed her brow slightly, thinking it over.

"Mm, that child lives alone, too. You can move in and live with him," the Third Hokage replied.

"He doesn't have parents either?" Eiyuling paused, then added, "All right..."

"Mm, I knew you'd agree," the Third Hokage said with a smile. "Then when you're discharged tomorrow, move into his place. I'll have him come get you."

After saying that, the Third Hokage left. Eiyuling watched him go with a furrowed brow. Something felt off. He seemed so kind!

Sure enough, Naruto came rushing to see her early the next morning and helped her pack her things. Eiyuling didn't know what the Third Hokage had told him, but it no longer mattered.

She took Naruto to her house, a wooden cabin far from Konoha. Knowing her mother hadn't left much behind, she tidied up without much fuss.

It was Naruto's first time at someone else's house, and he ran all over the place. Eiyuling couldn't be bothered to stop him, and started packing her things.

After thinking it over carefully, she packed all her clothes into boxes. Then she looked around, crawled under the bed, and dragged out a box. It contained the only things she had inherited from her mother: a few small toys and several books. Once everything was ready, Eiyuling called Naruto, and they left together.

"Eiyuling, Eiyuling, your house is so pretty!" Naruto said excitedly.

She remembered how her mother had loved growing flowers, with some blooming in every season. Her mother had always taken such careful care of them. Naruto had probably gone out to the backyard. It seemed she would have to come back often from now on, or the flowers would die.

"Mm, from now on, you can come water them with me!"

"Really? Yay! I'm so happy!" Naruto shouted. Seeing how happy he was, Eiyuling sighed helplessly, but she felt her heart leap with joy, too.