She kept replaying the day over and over in her head sitting on the ledge of the mountain overlooking the valley. She heard a voice in her head, telling her that it was all a dream that he couldn‘t have done what he did. She could still hear the scream, as the flash of light punched through the shinobi’s chest holding the kunai to her throat. Why had he done it? Did he love her, like she loved him? She was a traitor, a piece of his past long gone from him. About to be punished for her crimes. And yet he had betrayed everything to save her. Now there she sat and he was back in the village being interrogated and she knew eventually executed. He gave himself up once they got to the village perimeter. She could still see his eyes, usually so cold, void of any emotion. They were crying. She held up his headband, gave her to remember him. After everything, all the missions, all the times she had looked into those eyes and had seen nothing. How could he hide it so well? Or maybe she was wrong. But then, why?

“Why?” She screamed.

The blond woman paced back and forth her arms crossed in an unusual sign of emotion in front of the bound shinobi. He watched her calmly nothing on his face to hint that he had done anything wrong. He stared not allowing himself to regret the actions he had taken.

“Why?“ The blond Kanoichi asked stopping in front of him asking the very same question she had for the past five hours. And as before he didn’t answer. She could have ordered his torture to get him to speak but it didn’t matter. He had committed treason and therefore must be executed. Why didn’t matter and he knew it. She raised her hand and a blade was brought to his neck. He didn’t move. He could have fought and most likely won, but he didn’t move. There was no point now. She was gone and safe and he would die knowing that. But he had betrayed his village and would pay the price for his actions and hers. He had failed her long ago and this time, this time he would die to make amends for that mistake. But still even he wasn’t sure that was why.

“Tell me why.” The blond Kanoichi said again quieter this time.

He lifted his chin and said nothing. She looked away and flicked her finger ordering the blade to slice into his neck. In the few seconds he felt his life slipping away, a peace flooded over him. He had lived as a shinobi of the Hidden Leaf village all of his life. He had lost ones he loved. Now even though he had betrayed all that he held dear he was at peace. He wondered. Was this why?