["I've always been chasing after you, Naruto."]
["I've always wanted to catch up to you… to walk beside you… to stay by your side."]
["It was Naruto who changed me… Naruto's smile saved me."]
[Hinata's eyes grew incomparably determined: "So… if it's to protect Naruto, I won't even fear death."]
[As she spoke, memories of every moment with Naruto flashed through her mind.]
[Suddenly, Hinata smiled softly.]
["Because… I like Naruto the most!"]
Konoha — Chūnin Exam Arena
Naruto stared at Hinata, baffled.
"Hinata… you like me?"
"AAAAAHHH—!!"
Hinata's face turned redder than ever before, steam literally blasting from her head.
Then—
she collapsed onto the floor.
Kiba: "NANI!? Hinata actually liked Naruto all along!? What kind of taste is that!?"
Tenten: "Current Naruto indeed looks… questionable.
But look at future Naruto in the footage—he looks way more handsome than you, Kiba."
Shikamaru: "As expected… I didn't misread it. Hinata really does like Naruto."
Chōji: "Shikamaru, you're amazing! When did you figure it out?"
Shikamaru froze, then awkwardly answered:
"Uh… way, way earlier."
Sasuke: "Dobe… who would've thought someone actually likes you?
And it's the Hyūga clan's heiress, no less."
Sakura lowered her head.
Naruto had always chased after her—
and she never took him seriously.
Yet in the future…
She basically just cried and relied on Naruto.
Meanwhile…
Naruto risked his life again and again—
to save the village,
to bring Sasuke back,
to fight enemies stronger than anything she could imagine.
When she cried and prayed for Naruto to appear—
Naruto actually appeared.
But when Naruto was the one in danger,
when he needed someone to save him—
She wasn't there.
Instead, the one who stepped forward…
Was gentle, shy, always crying Hinata.
Hinata risked everything—
charging at a monster she could never defeat—
for Naruto.
Compared like this…
Sakura realized—
She wasn't even close to Naruto's level.
And compared to Hinata…
She wasn't even close to her either.
Inside the Shinigami's Belly (Reaper Death Seal)
Kushina: "See, honey!? I told you I was right!"
Minato: "I didn't expect that girl to actually like Naruto.
That's great… Our Naruto really has someone who loves him."
Kushina puffed her cheeks in anger.
"What's that supposed to mean!?
Naruto is adorable, okay!? Obviously tons of people like him!"
"But this girl—she's great! I like her!"
"As Naruto's mom, I approve! Let them get married on the spot!"
Minato: "O-on the spot!? Isn't that a bit fast…?"
Kushina: "What's wrong with it? True love doesn't need ceremony!
I approve—what, you disagree!?"
Minato panicked and waved his hands.
"N-No! I mean we should at least ask the girl's parents!"
Kushina: "Naruto's so excellent, they'll definitely agree!"
Kushina folded her arms.
"You know whose family that girl is from?"
Minato: "She has the Byakugan… must be the Hyūga clan."
Kushina: "Oh! The famous Hyūga clan? EVEN BETTER!"
Inside Naruto — Eight Trigrams Seal, Iron Bars
Kurama: "Tch. Didn't think this brat Naruto actually had someone who likes him."
"And that Pain guy—he was about to use those eyes to cast some control jutsu on future me, wasn't he?"
"So this girl actually saved future me.
Hm. I suppose I should thank her."
"I've decided!
When I break free one day and rampage through Konoha—
I'll spare this girl."
"Yes. That's called gratitude."
The footage continued.
[Hinata tried again and again to protect Naruto and pull out the black receivers trapping him.]
[Each time, Pain blasted her away. But she refused to give up.]
[Even covered in wounds—]
[Even with her face soaked in blood—]
[She kept standing up and dragging her broken body forward.]
[When she could no longer even stand—
when she could barely crawl—
she still did not stop.]
[Naruto shouted desperately: "Stop! Don't come any closer!"]
[Hinata ignored him, dragging herself across the ground toward him.]
[Even Pain (Deva Path) couldn't stand watching it:
"I don't understand.
With such little strength, why oppose me?"]
["Why fight?
You know you'll die."]
[Hinata gripped the black receiver with all her remaining strength:
"A promise is a promise.
I move forward—because this is my ninja way."]
[Naruto stared at her, stunned, as she lay inches away.]
[The next second, Pain lifted her into the air with Shinra Tensei.]
[Then slammed her down with brutal force.]
[It didn't end there—Pain drove a black receiver straight through her body.]
[SPLASH—]
[Hinata's blood covered the ground.]
Inside the Shinigami's Belly
Kushina's fists crackled with rage.
"BASTARD!!!
How dare you hurt my daughter-in-law like that!!"
"Honey! I don't care what you do—
GET ME OUT OF HERE!
I'm going to teach that bastard a lesson!"
Minato: "K-Kushina… I can't…"
Kushina: "Hmph! Useless!"
"Naruto! Why are you still lying on the ground!?"
"Your wife is about to get killed!!
Get up and save her!!"
"And that guy who hurt my daughter-in-law—
tear him into tiny pieces for me!!!"
Minato shrank back, trembling.
As expected of the Red-Hot Habanero…
Terrifying when angry.
But this time—
he agreed with her.
"Come on, Naruto.
You done lying there?
Get up and fight."
Konoha — Chūnin Exam Arena
Everyone stared at Hinata in shock.
No one ever expected—
That the gentle, timid girl who always cried…
Could go that far.
And—
Hinata was killed.
Hinata herself was filled with guilt.
She was still too weak.
Even staking her life wasn't enough to save Naruto.
If only…
If only she were stronger…
Stronger…
Stronger…!!
Hinata: "Naruto-kun… don't worry.
I'll start working hard from today on.
In the future—I'll definitely save you!"
Naruto: "BAKA!
I won't allow you to do that!
I won't allow you to risk your life for me!"
"Because I'm the one—
I'm the one who's supposed to protect you!!"
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