𝑾𝑰𝑻𝑯 𝒀𝑶𝑼 | 𝑲.𝑰𝑵𝒁𝑼𝑲𝑨

|I{•------» [52] «------•}I|

The heiress gently opened the door with her right hand and stepped into the Hokage's office, only to find it empty. Confusion furrowed her eyebrows momentarily before she shrugged and made her way inside. Settling herself in her aunt's chair, she couldn't help but smile. "Is this what it feels like to be a Hokage?" she mumbled, her gaze wandering over the documents scattered on the table. A sigh escaped her lips as she pondered how her grandfather had managed to handle it all. She patiently waited for her aunt, her eyes drifting to the wall adorned with pictures of the former Hokage, including her grandfather.

Her gaze softened as it settled on her grandfather's picture, realization slowly sinking in that he was gone and would never return. In that moment, Ruka found herself yearning for the company of her grandfather, surprised by the depth of her longing.

"You must miss him a lot," Ruka turned around, finding her aunt leaning against the doorframe, her gaze fixed on the picture of her former teacher. "I miss him too."

Curiosity sparked in Ruka, and she asked her aunt about her grandfather's days as a teacher. Tsunade walked towards her with a smile, reminiscing, "Believe it or not, he was a lot different back then, more perverted..."

Ruka's smile waned, and she whispered solemnly, "I should've told him that I actually enjoyed spending time with him... Now that he's gone, he would assume that I hated him. But the truth is, I don't."

Tsunade gently placed her hand on Ruka's shoulder, offering solace. "You should know that your grandfather often talked about you in his letters to me. He would talk about how proud he was of you, how you protected your teammates."

"He may not have been there for you as often as he had to be, but he was incredibly proud of you," Tsunade reassured her, bringing a smile back to Ruka's face. "He was actually there for me often. I remember how he watched over me when I graduated, how he observed me running all over Konoha from the Hokage's office, and how he waited for me to come home late at night," Ruka reminisced.

Tsunade added with a hint of nostalgia, "He was also the first person to witness you taking your first step. He couldn't stop talking about it."

Interrupting their conversation, Ruka informed her aunt that she would be leaving Konoha that day to train with Master Rokuro. Tsunade expressed her curiosity, asking why Ruka hadn't chosen to train under her.

Ruka offered a simple explanation, stating, "I think Sakura is a perfect fit to be your student. She's much better in medical matters than I am."

Walking past her aunt, Ruka was halted by Tsunade, who reminded her to say goodbye to her friends who were waiting for her.

Descending the stairs, Ruka spotted Kiba, his eyes sparkling as he tried to suppress his smile. Shikamaru chimed in, smirking, "Did you really think we would let you go without a goodbye? Kiba would be sad."

Kiba growled, averting his gaze from his best friend. "No, I don't. It's not like she's not coming back."

Shino interjected, causing his face to flush, "That's not what you said earlier. You kept telling me, 'What if she's not coming back?' and that you can't live without her."

Ruka turned her attention to Kiba, a fond smile on her face. "Aw, Kiba..."

"Shut up!" Kiba retorted, turning away from her, his pout evident.

Ruka then addressed the others with gratitude in her eyes. "I trust all of you to protect the village, right?"

Shikamaru scoffed, playfully remarking, "It's about time we finally get some attention."

Sakura hugged Ruka tightly, tears welling up in her eyes. "I'm going to miss you, Ruka. I really thought you would train under Lady Tsunade with me and Ino."

Ino chimed in, adding, "Yeah, you can't leave me alone with this flat-chested girl."

"Oi!" Sakura growled, defensively clutching her chest. "You-Ino pig!"

Ruka chuckled softly, amused by their antics, before giving the others a genuine smile. "Thank you, guys."

Shikamaru teasingly remarked, "Oh? The princess finally smiles? Is the world ending?" earning a smack from Ino. "Ouch!"

Ruka turned to her best friend, who stood silently with crossed arms, his pout still in place. She approached him, letting out a sigh. "Are you mad?"

"No, why would I be?" Kiba mumbled, but Ruka gave him a pointed look, prompting him to sigh. "What are the chances that you'll come back? Who knows, maybe you'll forget about me."

"There is a 100 percent chance of me coming back because this is my home and because of you," Ruka stated firmly, causing his eyes to widen. "I would never forget about you."

Ruka reached out and took his hand, causing Kiba to glance down at their joined fingers. "If it makes you feel better, write me some letters. Keep me company despite the distance between us. That way... you and I, we'll always be together," she told him, placing her hands on his cheeks before gently kissing his cheek.

Kiba's mind raced as he watched Ruka walk away, his hand still touching his cheek where her lips had grazed his skin. His heart pounded in his chest, and a rush of emotions surged through him. It took a moment for him to gather his thoughts and realize what had just transpired.

"She kissed me," he whispered to himself, disbelief and elation mingling in his voice. A wide grin spread across his face, lighting up his features as he replayed the moment in his mind.

His friends watched him, bemused and amused by his reaction. Shikamaru smirked, a knowing look in his eyes. "Well, well, well, Kiba," he teased, nudging his friend. "Looks like the princess has finally claimed her prince."

Kiba's cheeks flushed with a mixture of embarrassment and joy. "Shut up, Shikamaru," he mumbled, trying to maintain some semblance of composure.

Sakura and Ino giggled, their eyes sparkling with mischief. "You're blushing, Kiba!" Sakura exclaimed, unable to contain her delight. "I knew there was something going on between you two."

Kiba's protest was drowned out by Ino's laughter. "I can't believe it! Kiba, the tough guy, got a kiss from the heiress!" she exclaimed, teasingly poking his arm.

As she bid her final farewells, Kiba couldn't help but feel a sense of longing deep within his heart. However, intertwined with that longing was a newfound hope and a promise of a future reunion.

With Ruka's departure, Kiba understood that their paths would diverge for a while, but he also knew that their bond would endure. He would eagerly await her return, ready to continue their journey together, stronger than ever before. And until that day came, he would write her letters, keeping their connection alive across the distance that separated them.

As he watched Ruka disappear from view, Kiba's determination burned brightly " I'll wait for her, and when she comes back, I'll be even stronger."