The next time I woke, it wasn't to darkness or silence.
It was to light—soft, filtered through paper screens—and a gentle hand resting on my shoulder.
"Hinata," Hikari's voice said quietly. "It's time to wake up."
I stirred, blinking blearily. My body felt heavy, like I had sunk into the bedding instead of resting on it. For a moment, I had no sense of urgency, no jolt of panic. Just warmth. Stillness.
That alone told me something was different.
I pushed myself upright slowly, rubbing my eyes. "Morning…?"
Hikari smiled, but there was a tension beneath it that she didn't quite manage to hide. "It's already a bit late. Around midmorning."
That made me pause.
Late?
I glanced toward the window. The light was higher than it should have been. Bright, settled. Not the pale, early glow I was used to seeing before training.
"Oh," I said softly.
She helped me out of the futon, steadying me more than strictly necessary. I didn't comment on it. I could feel her watching me closely, as if she expected me to tip over at any moment.
When we entered the main room, the next surprise was waiting.
Father was there.
Hiashi sat at the low table, posture straight, hands folded neatly before him. He wasn't reading. Wasn't drinking tea. He was simply waiting.
That alone made my chest tighten.
This wasn't normal.
Hikari guided me to my place and moved to prepare breakfast herself instead of leaving it to the staff. The room was quiet except for the familiar sounds of bowls and utensils being set out.
For a few moments, no one spoke.
Then Father broke the silence.
"How do you feel?" he asked.
His voice was calm, measured, but there was something careful about it—like each word had been tested before being spoken.
I thought for a second before answering. "I… feel okay," I said. "Tired. A little scared."
Hikari glanced over immediately.
"Are you in pain?" she asked, kneeling beside me. "Anywhere at all?"
I shook my head. "No. Not really. My stomach was sore, but it doesn't hurt anymore."
That was true. The lingering ache was more memory than sensation now.
Hikari exhaled softly, relief flickering across her face before she masked it again. Father nodded once, as if checking something off in his mind.
"Did you sleep?" Hikari asked.
"Yes," I answered honestly. "I had trouble at first, but… I slept."
"That's good," she murmured. "That's very good."
Father studied me for a moment longer, then spoke again. "Do you remember what happened?"
The question landed heavily.
I didn't flinch. I had already decided what I would say.
"I remember waking up," I began slowly. "I was being carried. It was dark, and I couldn't move. My arms and legs were tied."
Hikari's hands stilled for just a heartbeat.
Father said nothing, letting me continue.
"We were moving fast. Through the forest," I said. "I was scared. I didn't know where we were going."
I kept my gaze on the table as I spoke, focusing on the grain of the wood instead of their faces.
"Later… I remember that they stopped. I think they met someone else there, but I don't really know who it was." I hesitated, then added, "I was hurt around then. Someone kicked me."
Hikari sucked in a sharp breath before she could stop herself.
Father's expression hardened, but he didn't interrupt.
"After that," I continued quietly, "I panicked. I was confused and angry and didn't understand what was happening. I… used my chakra. I turned it into threads. I just kept cutting everything I could reach."
The words felt strange in my mouth. Flat. Distant.
"I remember feeling sick afterward," I finished. "Then… nothing."
Silence filled the room.
Father leaned back slightly, considering. His Byakugan was not active, but his focus was absolute.
"Thank you," he said at last. "That is enough."
I looked up, surprised.
"That's… all?"
He nodded. "You've done well. You don't need to remember more than that."
Hikari placed a bowl in front of me, hands trembling just slightly. "Eat," she said gently. "Please."
I did.
The food tasted bland, but warm. Comforting in a way I hadn't realized I needed.
Halfway through the meal, there was a soft knock at the door.
"Clan Head," a voice called from the other side. "May I enter?"
Father's eyes flicked toward the door. "Enter."
One of the household attendants stepped inside and bowed deeply. "The ANBU squad leader is here," he reported. "He requests a private audience regarding last night."
Father rose smoothly. As he passed behind me, his hand came to rest briefly on my head.
A single, gentle pat.
"I'll return shortly," he said.
The door slid shut behind him.
For a moment, Hikari and I sat in silence.
Then she reached across the table and took my hands.
"You're staying with me today," she said firmly. "No training. No lessons."
I opened my mouth to protest, but she shook her head.
"Today is for us," she said. "Do you understand?"
I nodded.
And so the day unfolded differently.
She bathed me herself, carefully, as if afraid I might break. The water was warm, scented lightly with herbs. She helped me dress—not once, but several times—changing outfits with the seriousness of a mission.
"This one is too tight," she muttered at one point. "And this color washes you out."
I sighed. "Mama…"
She froze.
Then smiled.
We didn't talk about the forest.
We didn't talk about chakra, or fighting, or fear.
Instead, she told me small stories. About the compound when she was younger. About things that didn't matter and never would. She laughed when I made faces. She brushed my hair slowly, methodically, grounding us both.
At one point, we sat together in the garden, sunlight warming our backs, and for a little while… I felt almost normal.
Almost.
By the time evening came, exhaustion settled in again—but it was a gentler kind.
As Hikari tucked me in that night, she pressed a kiss to my forehead.
"You're safe," she whispered. "I promise."
I believed her.
At least, I wanted to.