When they arrived, Kakashi explained that a message had arrived. Minato called his team for a meeting. The trio respected their privacy and waited in the living room.

Minato undid the seal on the scroll and read over it. He turned to face his team with a serious look, “Our missions been compromised.” The three gasped. “As you know, our mission was to obtain the intel gathered on our village before it reached the Hidden Mist. However, a few other teams were dispatched to the Hidden Cloud with the same mission and were ambushed.” He grimly explained. Kakashi narrowed his eyes, “Then we were betrayed by whoever gave us the information.” He concluded. “No. Not in this case. It would seem the Hidden Cloud betrayed the Hidden Mist. During that ambush attack, our troops engaged in battle and tried save the intel. But they failed.” Minato explained. “Where does that leave us Minato-Sensei?” Rin asked in slight concern. “The Hidden Mist Shinobi we were supposed to ambush, were attacked four days ago. Even if there are survivors, they won’t be the ones with the information we needed. The Hokage has called for an immediate retreat. He doesn’t want anyone else losing their lives over this mission.” Minato finished. “What!?” Obito exclaimed. “We’re giving up?” he added. “It’s not giving up. The mission was compromised.” Kakashi told him.

“Yeah, but I’m not ready leave. We made so many friends here.” Obito explained. Rin nodded, “Obito’s right.” She beamed.

“Listen. With the patched-up alliance between the Hidden Cloud and Mist falling to pieces, the odds of the Mizukage's retaliation is imminent. We can’t be here when their troops are dispatched.” Minato explained. Obito and Rin frowned, “Tch! When I become Lord Obito, no one will need to worry about betraying anybody else!” Rin nodded firmly, “And I’ll be watching over you, Obito!” she beamed. Minato was taken aback by his words, but soon smiled watching Obito blush, ‘Maybe that’s why he’s Kushina’s favourite.’

…....….................................................................

No one was more disappointed by the news than Ryuu. He became teary eyed as he helped them pack. Lee and Fumiko were in the kitchen preparing them snacks for the road. They didn’t know the details but knew this was the end of the road. Miyuki and Katsu sat with Minato and Kakashi showing them the safest routes through the Land of Waves. Katsu’s photographic memory of discussing patrol routes with their father came in handy after all. Before they knew it, it was time to say their good byes. The trio escorted them to the Neutral Grounds after sending their best wishes to Lee and Fumiko. When they reached the outline of the forest clearing, the two groups halted, “If you continue down here for six kilometres, turn East for another 30, then North West until you reach the other side of the forest clearing. You’ll avoid most ANBU Executioners.” Katsu pointed out. “Thank you. Although, I must admit. I worry how close you three are to the Mizukage with knowing all of this.” Minato said with a nervous smile. The trio giggled, “Never even met the guy.” Ryuu said, waving him off dismissively.

Miyuki turned to the other three, “So, I guess this is it.” She said. “I can’t thank you enough for saving me.” Rin gratefully replied. She bit down on her lip, and began to sniffle. Rin instinctively plunged into her with a tight hug, “I’ll never forget you.” Miyuki hugged back from under her arms, fighting the urge to cry, “You better not!” she mumbled in her shoulder. Rin chuckled, “Never!” and they both giggled. Eventually the pair separated, and she wiped her teary eyes, “You’re my first friend after all.” Rin nodded with a beaming smile. The scene moved Ryuu to tears, “I’m… I’m really going to miss you, big brother Obito!” Abruptly diving into Obito’s surprised arms. Katsu sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose, “So emotional.” He said in embarrassment. “No kidding.” Kakashi replied as they watched the two boys. “Aww... Come on now, Ryuu. I’ll come back and visit, you’ll see.” Obito said, ruffling the hair on top of the short Ryuu’s head. He looked up at him, without letting go, “You promise?” he asked. “Highly unlikely since our Shinobi Villages are enemies.” Kakashi bluntly stated. Obito shot him a glare, “Then I’ll end the war and become Hokage and unite our Shinobi villages for good!”

Everyone was taken aback by this. Miyuki stood there gradually growing in awe. The sun seemed to penetrate the clouds. The mist seemed to thin, and the sky suddenly shone so much brighter over him. “Yeah!” Ryuu excitedly replied. Miyuki smiled, ‘Things seem so much brighter around you… Obito.’

Kakashi then stepped forward and held his hand out in front of her, “Thanks… For everything, I guess.” She gave him a playful smirk and took his hand, “Hn. You’re welcome… That’s what friends are for, I guess.” She teasingly replied. He smirked and shook her hand, “Hn. Let’s settle for no longer enemies.” She playfully rolled her eyes, “Whatever helps you sleep at night, Kakashi.” They let go of the handshake and Kakashi put his hands in his pockets. He looked to the side and replied, “Whatever, Miyuki.” She giggled at how she won their little teasing session, and just then Minato interrupted, “Ready to go?” he asked. The three turned to him and nodded, “Hai.” They said in unison. “Good bye everyone. Take care of each other. And be safe.” The trio nodded to him, and he did the same, “Alright, Team 7. Let’s move out!” he instructed before jumping into the trees. “Right!” the three said, getting in their readied stances, and then chased after him into the woods.

Miyuki gasped from there abrupt departure and gave in to the urge to follow them. Her brothers did too. “Hey, wait! Obito!” she called out from a tree branch. Team 7 stopped and looked back to them. She wanted to tell him. She wanted to confess her feelings for him. But what good would that do now? She was watching him leave, with Rin. But she had hope. Hope that one day their paths would cross again as friends and not enemies. So, she called out and said, “You better… You better go out there and become Hokage!” she declared, fighting the urge to tear up again. Everyone smiled. And when she opened her wet eyes and looked up, there he stood in the distance. A sheepish grin and thumbs up pointed her way. She felt the warmth of the sun again, and stared at him in awe as he said, “I will. You can count on it!” She gently smiled and nodded.

“Stay safe!” Ryuu waved. “Watch out for bear traps!” Katsu warned. Minato chuckled, “We will!” Rin waved, “Good bye everyone!” Kakashi gave a smaller wave, ‘‘Bye!’’ The trio smiled and nodded. With that, Team 7 continued their journey home.

Miyuki clasped her hands to her chest as she watched them disappear into the trees. She whispered to herself, hoping it will carry him forward someday, “I believe in you, Obito.”

As the three of them strolled back the way they came, Katsu observed the roof tops and noticed something, “The snow’s melting.” The sun rays had come out and began melting the snow where they landed. It caused drips and droplets to fall from the cylinder roofs around them. “It’s warmer too. But it feels different… Better, in a way.” Ryuu wondered. She mused their words over for moment, feeling the sadness of the snow melting away to give her a warm smile, “Yeah... It’s Spring. A season of hope for us all.” She said. The two boys turned to her and smiled, “Yeah…” Ryuu sighed out in content. With that, the three of them returned home, smiling in content and holding into hope for the future, thanks to their new-found friends.

But it was not to last…

That night, while enjoying dinner with Kaiyo, a Haurutsuki messenger from the Rakurai forces came and requested the four of them present themselves at the Hidden Mist Hospital of the 1ste and richest caste. The four knew it could only mean trouble and found themselves anxiously rushing towards it with the Haurutsuki Shinobi. When they arrived, Miyuki was the first to pull the door open and gasp, “Father!” she cried and rushed to his bedside. “Mum!” Ryuu cried as he rushed to her side. Katsu stood at Kaiyo’s side and helped her walk in, as she trembled with fear trying to fight the urge to cry. “What happened?” Katsu asked in seriousness.

Tadashi grunted as he tried to speak. Miyuki laid her head on his chest, crying in relief that his alive, “Ah! The Hidden Cloud… Gah. Betrayed us. We were. Mm! Outnumbered and ambushed. Only a few of us managed to escape.” He grunted through his paining side. He was bandaged around his torso, arm and neck. Shizu sat crying in relief, kissing Ryuu’s head, happy to see her children again. Other than a broken arm, she was mostly tired.

“Master Daichi is he…” Katsu trailed off at seeing his parents go quiet. “My husband… Where is my husband!?” Kaiyo cried out, tears fell freely down her face as she held a hand over her mouth. Miyuki and Ryuu both went quiet and looked up at their parents expectantly. Their grim faces said it all. “He stayed behind while we evacuated everyone.” Their father quietly replied. They all went wide-eyed in shock. “We’re so sorry, Kaiyo…” Their mother began to cry, rocking back and forth as she held Ryuu's head. “No… No! Not my Daichi! Why!?” Kaiyo screeched out, falling to her knees as she clung to Katsu’s legs and whaled. He was stunned. His master was dead. “But…” Miyuki began, “Lady Kaiyo’s having a baby.” She quietly said.

Tadashi’s face contorted into regret and he gently pressed Miyuki back into his chest. Shizu couldn’t help but exclaim in emotional pain for her best friend and clung to Ryuu as well. “He died with honour. We’ll give a burial worthy of a Shinobi. And his child will know of their heroic father.” He said, clutching to Miyuki’s pinned up hair.

It was a sad day for both the Haurutsuki Clan and Village Hidden in the Mist. As part of tradition, Daichi, along with the other Haurutsuki’s lost to the ambush, had their funeral on the Mountain of Thunder, separate from the Hidden Mist. Dark clouds shrouded the sky, and rain began to poor as the Haurutsuki’s paid their respects to the fallen Rakurai troops. The women couldn’t help but cry along with the rain. Kaiyo whaled as they stood at the mountain peak and watched Daichi’s name being engraved on the rock.

“Remember this day, Miyuki.” Her father said, fixated on the stone. She slowly looked up at him as they held hands, albeit the rain fell on her face. “Today marks the first of many dark times you'll have from now on. Shoulder it. Embrace it. It’s what we must do as the Heads of this Clan.” He sternly said, staring hard at the gravestone. She lowered her head, “Yes, father.” She gloomily replied. “That’s my Princess. We’re short on Elite members for the Rakurai Division now. Which means you and your brothers will be fighting this war along with many other new recruits. Fourth Mizukage’s orders.” Her face grimaced, and she reluctantly nodded. She felt her heart drop at the thought. This wasn’t the way she wanted to be allowed more freedom and opportunities as being a part of the Rakurai ANBU.

Tadashi then announced it was time to ‘Send them to the Heavens,’ and began the Haurutsuki ritual for lost loved ones. They sang in a mournful tone. One by one until becoming a choir. When the last note left their breaths, they raised their fingers to the sky and shot an array of lightning bolts. Something so beautiful and colourful, meaning the sudden end of death of those they loved…

A lot happened since then.

A year after meeting the Haurutsuki trio, Madara Uchiha manipulated the Mizukage into orchestrating the destruction of the Hidden Leaf, using the Three-Tailed Jinchuriki. During this, Obito Uchiha was crushed by a giant boulder. In his final moments, he entrusted Kakashi Hatake with one of his Sharingan to protect Rin after he died. However, soon after rescuing Rin from the Hidden Mist kidnappers, she had herself killed by jumping right into Kakashi’s new Chidori. The same Chidori Miyuki helped him create. Obito hadn’t died, surviving thanks to Madara, only to lay witness to this horrific turn of events. Thus, Obito and Kakashi awoke their Mangekyo Sharingan. This tragedy led Kakashi to joining the ANBU at 13-years-old, while Minato was declared the Fourth Hokage and played an active role in the war.

Minato, however, wasn’t the only one active in the war. After her efforts on the frontlines against the Hidden Cloud, with the aid of her fellow troops, Miyuki was promoted to Rakurai ANBU at 13 years old. Their parents couldn’t be prouder, as they were the duo kept under wraps after defeating the Third Raikage in the Second Shinobi War. It was kept secret to prevent revealing the Hidden Mist’s greatest forces and Hidden Cloud’s pride. Ryuu and Katsu were promoted to Rakurai the following year at the age of 11, making history as it's youngest members.

The three completed many missions alongside each other, even beyond the Hidden Mist borders.

Peace was short-lived in the Hidden Leaf Village. When a man in an orange mask used his Sharingan to unleash the Nine-Tails and attack. The Village survived, but at the cost of their Fourth Hokage and his wife, Kushina Uzumaki. Losing his Sensei only further plunged Kakashi into the ANBU, while Minato’s new-born son, Naruto, harboured the Nine-Tailed Fox Demon.

With the suspicion of the Uchiha Clan having something to do with the Nine-Tails attack, they were forced to live on the outskirts of the Village. The Third Hokage and Lord Danzo both feared the power in the Uchiha would only grow with their Sharingan. However, the Hidden Leaf weren’t the only ones suspicious of powerful clans within their own villages. The Hidden Leaf incident shone a light on the Hidden Mist, who possessed clans with a strong kekkei genkai like Ice and Bone. The Yuki and Kaguya Clan were certainly the most feared. Out of seemingly nowhere, the Mizukage ordered the extermination of the Yuki Clan, which the trio’s parents led. Some were able to escape, but regardless, the Yuki Clan was now extinct. Many Hidden Mist Shinobi died during the battle. Fear spread amongst the clans inside the Village. Those who attempted to flee were executed and those who remained, lived under the iron thumb of the Mizukage.

As grim as the Village’s dwindling numbers, raising rebellions, and poor economy was, the Haurutsuki Clan remained the same. Their father, Tadashi, assured the Clan that the Fourth Mizukage had given him his word that as long as the Haurutsuki people remained loyal as the Rakurai Special ANBU Forces, he would protect them and the secrets of their Clan. And with that promise confirmed, Tadashi Haurutsuki ordered his Clan not to betray the Mizukage.

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