The flickering torchlight of Root's underground lair cast jagged shadows across the damp stone walls, the air thick with the musty scent of earth and secrecy. Danzo Shimura leaned heavily on his cane, its tip clicking against the floor as he paced, his single exposed eye glinting with cold calculation. His bandaged arm, hiding a grotesque array of Sharingan, itched beneath its wrappings, a reminder of the power he wielded—and craved. A dog-masked Root operative knelt before him, voice low and precise, reporting the night's events.
"So, Jiraiya's intervention stopped Kurama's chakra from erupting?" Danzo's voice was a rasp, each word measured, his squinting eye boring into the operative.
"Yes, Lord Danzo," the operative replied, head bowed. "The Nine-Tails' chakra spiked briefly, but Jiraiya dispersed the Anbu and Root before we could act."
Boom. Boom. Boom. Danzo's cane tapped rhythmically, echoing in the cavernous chamber. His eye gleamed with a strange, predatory light, his mind churning. Jiraiya, crippled by his severed arm, was a shadow of his Sannin strength. Tsunade, bound by her Hokage duties, was stretched thin, her allies scattered. Kakashi? A nuisance, easily outmaneuvered with a simple ploy. The real obstacle was opportunity—a legitimate path to power.
"Withdraw," Danzo commanded, his voice cutting through the silence.
A faint rustle of movement, the whisper of cloaks breaking through the air, and the Root operatives vanished into the shadows. Alone, Danzo's thoughts turned darker, his fingers brushing the bandage over his right eye—Shisui's eye, its Kotoamatsukami a weapon to bend minds without trace. If Kurama had rioted, he mused, Tsunade and Jiraiya would've burned themselves out suppressing it. I could've eliminated Naruto, claimed the Nine-Tails, and branded Tsunade a failure. Her removal would be swift, her allies silenced. The Uchiha massacre had proven he could crush resistance—what were Tsunade's forces compared to that?
A cold smile curled his lips, his confidence swelling with the Sharingan sealed in his arm. Once I'm Hokage, the ninja world will kneel. Konoha would be his, then the Five Nations, all under his iron rule. But his ambitions, so carefully woven, were threads in a web Naruto was destined to unravel.
The morning sun bathed Konoha in a golden haze, the village stirring with the chatter of merchants and the clatter of training grounds. Naruto stood in his cramped apartment, the scent of ramen broth lingering as he washed up, splashing cold water on his face. He wolfed down a quick breakfast—mismatched rice and leftover fish—then tidied the room, stacking ramen cups with a practiced flick. His past life as Hokage had taught him order, a stark contrast to the chaotic kid he'd been. Setting a Flying Thunder God mark on the wall, its faint glow pulsing like a heartbeat, he summoned a shadow clone to guard the place. Sitting cross-legged on his creaky bed, he closed his eyes, letting natural energy flow into his sage chakra, a calm before the storm.
Locking the door behind him, Naruto leaped to the rooftop, then to the water tower across the street, his orange jacket catching the breeze. He glanced back at his apartment, the home he'd lost to Pain in his past life. Not this time, he thought, his jaw tightening. With a flicker of Flying Thunder God, he vanished, reappearing at the gates of the Hyuga compound, its white walls gleaming under the morning sun.
Hinata burst through the gate, her lavender eyes sparkling with excitement. "Naruto-kun! I heard you were looking for me?" Her smile was warm, her cheeks faintly pink, her voice a soft melody against the village's hum.
Naruto grinned, scratching the back of his head. "Yeah, Hinata. Got a sec?" His sage-orange eyes softened, drinking in her presence, a balm to the scars of his past life.
Hinata giggled, grabbing his hand with a boldness that caught him off guard. "Come inside!" she urged, tugging him toward the compound. "It's fine—Father and Hanabi are out, and Neji's on a mission with Gai-sensei. I'm in charge!" She puffed out her chest proudly, her shy demeanor giving way to a playful confidence.
Naruto chuckled, waving off the invitation. "Nah, let's stay out here. Don't wanna cause a stir." His grin was teasing, but his heart raced, memories of their future together—her warmth, her courage—flooding his mind.
Hinata's smile didn't falter, sensing his caution. "It's really okay, Naruto-kun." She tilted her head, her dark hair catching the sunlight. "But if you're more comfortable here…" She stepped closer, her hand still in his, her warmth grounding him.
Naruto's fingers brushed her nose playfully, earning a squeak and a blush that painted her cheeks crimson. "Look at you, acting all grown-up," he teased, his voice soft with affection.
Hinata ducked her head, flustered. "N-Naruto-kun, don't tease!" Her shy protest melted as she tugged him into the alley beside the compound, away from prying eyes. Without hesitation, she threw herself into his arms, her head nestling against his chest.
Naruto blinked, surprised, then smiled, wrapping his arms around her. He lowered his head, breathing in the familiar fragrance of her hair—lavender and sunlight, etched into his soul from a life where she'd been his wife. The panic, fear, and weight of his time-traveled mission dissolved in her embrace, her warmth a shield against the ghosts of loss. "Back at the Hokage's office, too many eyes were watching," he murmured, his voice thick. "Didn't get to do this right. Making up for it now."
Hinata giggled, rubbing her cheek against his jacket. "You're silly, Naruto-kun." Her voice was muffled, but her joy was radiant, a spark that lit up the shadowed alley.
Naruto stroked her hair, his heart swelling, but his expression turned serious. "Hinata, I gotta tell you something important." He pulled back slightly, meeting her gaze, his sage-orange eyes steady.
Hinata straightened, her smile fading to concern. "What's wrong, Naruto-kun? Did something happen?" Her intuition, sharp as ever, caught the weight in his tone, a glimpse of the future wife who'd always read him so well.
Naruto's hands rested on her shoulders, his voice firm but gentle. "No matter what happens, remember this. First, I'll always protect Konoha, aiming to be Hokage, no matter where I stand. Second, everything I do is for the ninja world's peace. And third…" He took a deep breath, his gaze locking with hers, raw and unwavering. "No matter what I become, Uzumaki Naruto will only ever love you, Hyuga Hinata, in this life."
Hinata's eyes widened, tears shimmering as she threw herself back into his arms, hugging him tightly. "Naruto-kun! Thank you… I, Hyuga Hinata, love you too, in this life and always!" Her voice trembled, but her resolve was fierce. "But please, if you face trouble, don't go alone. Take me with you. Let me stand by you."
Naruto's throat tightened, tears pricking his eyes as he stroked her hair, staring at the sky. This road's too dangerous, he thought, memories of her lifeless body in his past life clawing at his heart. He couldn't let that tragedy repeat, couldn't bear losing her again. Forgive me, Hinata. "I'll remember," he whispered, his voice soft. "Just keep my words close, okay?"
He pulled back, gently rolling up her sleeve to reveal her pale arm. With a flicker of chakra, he etched a Flying Thunder God mark, its faint glow pulsing like a promise. Hinata tilted her head, curious. "What's this?"
Naruto smiled, his fingers brushing the mark. "With this, I can be by your side anytime, anywhere, to protect you." His voice was warm, but his heart ached with the weight of his vow. In his past life, he'd refined his father's technique, adding a chakra-sensing trigger—a lifeline for those he loved.
Hinata's eyes sparkled, her smile radiant. "That's amazing, Naruto-kun!"
He grinned, tapping her nose. "It's our secret, got it? Don't tell anyone. And if you're ever in danger, focus your chakra here. I'll feel it and come running."
Hinata nodded, her gaze full of trust, her gentle strength a mirror to the woman she'd become. Naruto's heart swelled—his wife, his anchor, even in this timeline. He ruffled her hair, chuckling. "You're too cute, you know that?"
Hinata blushed, then stepped back, cupping her hands around her mouth. "Naruto-kun! After you're done with Tsunade-sama, let's meet at Ichiraku Ramen tonight, okay? Six o'clock!"
Naruto's smile faltered, his heart shaking with the fear of what lay ahead. "Yeah, it's a date," he called back, forcing a grin. "See you then!"
Hinata waved, her silly smile lighting up the alley. "Bye!" she shouted, tilting her head.
Naruto turned, leaping into the air with Flying Thunder God, the village blurring beneath him. Tears streamed down his face, the wind carrying them away. Forgive me, Hinata, he thought, the weight of his mission—Danzo, Pain, Sasuke—pressing down. He couldn't let her face that darkness, not yet. But her warmth, her love, fueled his resolve. The child of prophecy soared toward the Hokage's office, ready to face the storm.