Hinata stood quietly before Naruto, her usual composure slipping away. Her pale lavender eyes shimmered with unshed tears, and her long eyelashes trembled faintly as she struggled to steady her emotions.
"…Hinata?"
Naruto tilted his head slightly. Though he was still inexperienced when it came to matters of the heart, he could sense that something was different—something deeper than usual.
"…Are you worried about me?"
Hinata's fingers tightened against the fabric of her sleeve. For a moment, she hesitated… but then she nodded firmly.
"Of course I am…"
Her voice was soft, almost fragile, yet filled with sincerity.
Naruto froze for a second.
Then—
A warm feeling spread through his chest.
A bright, genuine smile appeared on his face.
"Thank you, Hinata!"
Even though he often proclaimed that he wasn't afraid of death, hearing those words… knowing that someone truly cared about him like this… it meant more than he could express.
"Even if I say I'm not afraid to die… it still makes me really happy… that someone values me this much."
Hinata lowered her gaze slightly, her cheeks tinged with pink.
"…Naruto-kun."
"…If there's ever another dangerous mission… please… please take me with you."
Naruto blinked in surprise.
"I don't want to just stand by helplessly… when Naruto-kun is in danger…"
Her voice trembled at the end.
Naruto's heart shook.
"…Hinata…"
There was a brief silence between them—soft, but heavy with unspoken emotions.
"…Okay."
"I promise."
Only then did Hinata lift her head slightly, a faint smile appearing on her lips.
Though her eyes still looked watery, they shone with quiet determination.
Naruto found himself staring at her.
Somehow… she seemed different.
Her hair had grown longer.
Her features had softened, yet matured.
After everything they had been through, Hinata carried both gentleness and strength in equal measure.
Naruto didn't fully understand it yet—
But something inside him had begun to change.
"…Naruto-kun?"
Hinata noticed his gaze lingering on her.
"…Why are you looking at me like that?"
Her face flushed deeply, and she quickly lowered her head. Her voice dropped to a barely audible whisper.
"A-ah!"
Naruto snapped out of it.
"Haha—no, no, it's nothing!"
He scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"By the way… how's Sasuke?"
The atmosphere shifted slightly.
Hinata grew quiet.
After a moment, she nodded.
"…I don't think Sasuke-kun is just injured."
Naruto's expression turned serious.
"What do you mean?"
Hinata took a small breath before continuing.
"…What's troubling him… is something much deeper."
"…A knot in his heart."
Naruto's eyes darkened slightly.
"…Is it… Uchiha Itachi?"
"…Mm."
Hinata nodded.
"He's the one who slaughtered Sasuke-kun's entire clan… his parents… everyone."
"And he's also the person Sasuke-kun must defeat… the one he believes he must kill."
Naruto clenched his fists slightly.
"But… Uchiha Itachi is far too strong."
"Even Kakashi-sensei couldn't defeat him…"
Naruto let out a slow breath.
"…Yeah."
"Even that pervy sage couldn't catch him… he just escaped like it was nothing."
Hinata looked at Naruto, her expression filled with concern.
"…Naruto-kun… Sasuke-kun must be suffering a lot, right?"
Naruto didn't answer immediately.
"He has someone he must kill… but that person is overwhelmingly powerful."
"He doesn't know when—or if—he'll ever be able to avenge his clan…"
Hinata hesitated slightly.
"And…"
"And what?"
"…As Naruto-kun keeps getting stronger…"
"…Sasuke-kun might feel even more anxious."
Naruto frowned.
"Isn't it a good thing if I get stronger?"
Hinata nodded gently.
"It is."
"But to Sasuke-kun… you're not just his friend."
"You're also his rival."
Naruto's expression slowly changed.
"…Your strength… reflects his weakness."
Hinata's voice remained calm, but her words struck deeply.
"And with such a strong obsession for revenge… that feeling will only grow stronger."
Naruto fell silent.
He understood.
"…So that's why Orochimaru said Sasuke would come looking for him someday…"
"For power… to take revenge…"
Hinata nodded softly.
"…Yes."
"From Sasuke-kun's perspective… even Kakashi-sensei isn't strong enough to help him achieve his goal."
"So staying in the village… training normally…"
"…might feel meaningless to him."
Naruto suddenly spoke, his tone sharp:
"Then Orochimaru's the same!"
"Who's to say he can beat Itachi?!"
Hinata sighed lightly.
"…Naruto-kun might be right."
"But Sasuke-kun… isn't thinking rationally anymore."
"Especially now…"
"…when Naruto-kun is becoming stronger and stronger."
She continued:
"Defeating Yakushi Kabuto… someone on par with Kakashi-sensei…"
"And taking part in the battle of the Legendary Sannin…"
"News like that will spread quickly."
Naruto scratched his head.
"…And that'll make things worse?"
Hinata nodded.
"…It might push Sasuke-kun even further."
She hesitated again.
"…I'm just afraid…"
She didn't finish her sentence.
But Naruto understood.
"…You think he might leave the village?"
"…And go to Orochimaru?"
Hinata closed her eyes briefly.
"…Yes."
Naruto's expression darkened.
"But Orochimaru only sees people as tools!"
"He'll use Sasuke—and throw him away!"
Hinata spoke softly:
"…Even so… Sasuke-kun might still go."
"Because to him… gaining power matters more than anything."
"…Even more than his own life."
Naruto's mind filled with a horrifying image—
Sasuke… consumed.
His body taken over.
Orochimaru speaking through him with that cold, eerie voice.
Snake-like eyes.
A long tongue flicking out.
Naruto's teeth clenched.
"I won't let that happen!"
"I won't let Sasuke fall into Orochimaru's hands!"
"Not Orochimaru—"
"Not even Sasuke himself—"
"I'll stop it… no matter what!"
"Even if it costs me my life!!!"
Hinata looked at him.
His determination… burned like fire.
And in response—
A similar flame lit within her eyes.
"…Naruto-kun."
"I believe you can do it."
"But don't forget what you promised."
"If that moment really comes…"
"…please take me with you."
Naruto nodded firmly.
"…I understand."
"…Hinata."
"…Mm."
Just as Hinata had predicted—
News spread rapidly.
The return of Tsunade.
The clash of the Legendary Sannin.
These alone were enough to shake the ninja world.
But another name began to echo everywhere—
Uzumaki Naruto.
Defeating Yakushi Kabuto.
Participating in the Sannin battle.
Playing a crucial role.
No longer was he seen as just a rookie genin.
He had become—
A rising force.
A ninja worthy of recognition.
Many even believed it was only a matter of time before he became a Jonin.
Meanwhile—
Tsunade's treatment proved successful.
Kakashi recovered.
Sasuke recovered.
Even Rock Lee regained his health.
And then—
Another earth-shaking event occurred.
The Third Hokage—
Hiruzen Sarutobi—
Stepped down.
He voluntarily relinquished his position and passed the title of Hokage to Tsunade.
The entire village of Konoha was shaken.
In his official statement, Hiruzen admitted that Orochimaru's fall into darkness was partly due to his own failure as a teacher.
He took responsibility.
This decision was not forced.
It was his own.
Moreover—
He believed Konoha needed new strength.
Someone better suited for the future.
Tsunade.
Among the higher-ups, this decision was not surprising.
They had long been prepared.
As for the villagers—
Though shocked, they accepted it.
After all, Hiruzen had not completely withdrawn.
He would remain as an advisor.
Stability would be maintained.
And Tsunade—
Her qualifications were unquestionable.
Granddaughter of the First Hokage.
Student of the Third Hokage.
One of the Legendary Sannin.
The greatest medical ninja in the world.
In terms of lineage, strength, experience, and reputation—
She was unmatched.
When she stood atop the Hokage Building…
And placed the Hokage hat upon her head—
Cheers erupted across the entire village.
"From this day forward—"
"I am the Fifth Hokage of Konoha!"
The sound of celebration shook the heavens.
Below—
Naruto and the others watched.
Smiling.
Deep underground—
In the Root headquarters—
Danzo Shimura's face was dark and twisted.
"That useless Orochimaru…"
"Completely incompetent!"
"When I supported him for Fourth Hokage—he lost to Minato."
"And now—when I needed him to stop Tsunade—he failed again!"
Beside him, Aburame Ryoma spoke quietly:
"Lord Danzo… Hiruzen may have stepped down…"
"But his influence remains."
"And now… Tsunade…"
Danzo narrowed his eyes.
He understood.
He had intended to seize power by forcing Hiruzen's retirement.
Instead—
He had created a bigger obstacle.
Hiruzen still stood in the shadows.
And now—
Tsunade had risen.
Unlike Hiruzen—
She might not tolerate the existence of Root.
Danzo turned his gaze to a document on the table.
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"…Power."
"I need more power."
His eyes fixed on a particular section.
Darkness stirred beneath the surface.
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