Every time he took a piece of clothing out of the wardrobe,
Naruto couldn't help remembering Sasuke's complaints when he had given him those clothes.
Those little memories had accumulated, and five years had passed in the blink of an eye.
"Before I knew it, most of Sasuke's wardrobe had become my clothes... silly boy."
With a bitter smile, Naruto shouldered the bundled clothes and walked out of the room.
Hinata gasped when she saw the enormous bundle on Naruto's back.
"Let's go, Hinata. That's everything."
Hinata nodded, then shouldered the two remaining bundles and followed Naruto out of the Courtyard.
The moment he stepped out of the Courtyard,
Naruto couldn't help stopping and looking back for one long, lingering glance.
Then he suppressed the emotion in his eyes and walked toward the Uchiha Clan Compound Main Gate.
"I knew this day would come, but I never imagined it would happen like this."
Yes, Naruto had only known that the two of them would leave this Courtyard when they defected.
What he hadn't expected was that he would be the first to leave.
Plans couldn't keep up with change.
Around eight that evening,
Naruto unlocked the door to his old home, which had stood empty for five years, its lock almost rusted shut.
A foul, sour stench immediately hit him in the face.
He looked at the dust covering the room, leaving almost nowhere to step.
Naruto turned back apologetically. "All right, Hinata. Sorry for making you work so hard when I can't even offer you a cup of tea. Just leave everything by the door. It's late, and Lord Hiashi must be getting worried."
Hinata wanted to say something, but Naruto spoke first. "I'll be fine on my own. Don't worry, Hinata."
The Hyuga Clan had strict rules. Unless