Back in the room, two girls sat facing each other, observing one another.Hinata couldn't help but stare at the little girl who had disappeared so long ago.
Breaking the silence that had settled between them, Narume finally spoke:
"So, do you remember me?""Of course I do! Don't tell me you wanted me to forget you? It should be me asking where you've been! Why haven't you changed? And… where are we?"
Bombarded with questions, Narume found it hard to believe this was the same girl who had been too timid to even respond to Neji earlier. She had a small idea of the reason behind this change, but without thinking too much about it, she calmly responded.
"We are currently inside a projection of your psyche. In reality, nothing has changed… I think. You should still be lying down, asleep."
"So if we're inside my mind, does that mean you're also just a projection of my psyche? You're not real?"
"I am real. I brought you here. I wanted to talk to you, but I'm not sure how much longer I can stay without influencing you too much. You noticed it, didn't you? Your calmness, your confidence in front of me… even though I'm supposed to have been dead for so long?"
Her former friend's words slowly made Hinata realize the changes in her behavior. She recalled how she had panicked at first… and how she was now handling things with composure.
Without realizing it, she had changed. She wondered if this change would be permanent, if it would help her improve her relationship with her father.As she pondered, Narume's voice pulled her back to reality:
"Hinata, I need you to tell me everything. From the moment I disappeared, as you said."
Hinata had many questions of her own, but she relented. Remembering the events of the past years, she began to recount them.
By the time she finished, she saw Narume shift from incredulous to progressively indifferent.On her end, Narume was analyzing the version of history Hinata had given her.
According to her, after their home was destroyed, Naruto had disappeared for more than a week. Hinata had gone to check on him. Until then, everything had seemed normal. Nothing had changed… until she mentioned Narume. That was when she realized Naruto had no idea who she was talking about. Before she could press further, his guardian had returned to take him away.
Shortly after, Hinata's father had come to see her, strictly forbidding her from mentioning Narume, especially in front of Naruto.The other children from shinobi clans seemed to have received similar orders. As for the civilian children, those who had truly known her had forgotten. Those who had only heard about her from their parents denied her existence.
However, among the village's adults, a rumor had begun circulating:"Narume, the demon fox, has been killed. Naruto, whom she manipulated, has been freed from her control, but he was cursed. That's why you must never mention her in front of him."
Narume had become the demon… and Naruto had gone from being a potential reincarnation of the Nine-Tails to a mere victim.
From there, Narume understood. This change in the villagers' perception was what had made Naruto's life easier over the past years. She understood… but she didn't know how to feel about it.
However, this revelation raised two questions:
"Did Naruto forget because of the trauma of my death?"
She wanted to believe that… but she had read enough fanfictions to be wary. She wouldn't be foolish enough to completely dismiss the possibility that someone had forced him to forget. And his week-long disappearance only reinforced that suspicion.
The other question, she asked Hinata directly:
"Despite all this, why were you so quick to tell me everything? Why didn't you show the slightest sign of suspicion, or rather, why didn't I sense any?"
Hinata's answer surprised her:
"Because I'm one of the people who spent the most time with you before you disappeared. If others feared you and Naruto for no reason, I… ever since he saved me, I got to know you both better. To know you better. And as withdrawn and shy as I may have been, you were even shyer than me. When I was with you, I truly felt like an older sister. It was fun taking care of you, teasing you sometimes. I spent so much time with you that I know you are anything but a demon."
"I'm afraid I'll soon have to prove that I truly am one."
"Even if you were… I wouldn't be afraid. You wouldn't harm me."
"And why is that?"
"Because I'm friends with Naruto… and you'd be too scared to upset him. After all, you said it yourself. You always want to be his favorite."
To that, I had no response.As much as I felt embarrassed and wanted to deny it… I couldn't.I cursed myself. Of all the possibilities… why did I have to become someone with such a complex towards my brother?
But Hinata didn't let me dwell on it for long and pulled me out of my thoughts.
"Now it's my turn to ask questions, Narume. If you're here, that means you weren't dead, contrary to what we were led to believe. Where were you, Narume? And why haven't you changed?"
That was exactly the question I didn't want to answer just yet.So, as a responsible adult, I did the best thing possible.
"I think I've influenced you too much. It's time for me to leave."
She wanted to protest, but I didn't let her.I deactivated the spell, leaving a final message behind:
"You should be more assertive with your family… just like you have been all night. See you soon, Hinata-nee."
If she still wanted to talk, those last words silenced her. Even I felt embarrassed for having said them.To cover it up, I quickly added:
"You have my full blessing for your relationship with my brother."
Her face turned as red as possible as I completely vanished from her mental space.
On my end, I found myself underground again, just like when I first woke up… though this time, intentionally.
My mana reserves were at a quarter of their maximum capacity. It was enough to cast Tremor Sense one more time.I sensed the village starting to wake up. I didn't want to move.
The discoveries I had made kept spinning in my mind.I checked the system.
[Mission accomplished.]
I let my mind process all these revelations. The template was now at 80%, and two new quests had appeared.
[Quest: was she real ?
Requirement: Those who have forgotten you must at least start doubting your existence.
Reward: A unique grade equipment.]
[Quest: I Am Back
Requirement: Those who participated in your erasure must realize their failure.
Reward: Kunivella +10% + a minor template sharing the same characteristics.]