On the screen, Hinata stood directly in front of Naruto, shielding him behind her.
'How cruel… Restricting Naruto's movement with those poles.'
"I won't let you hurt Naruto-kun anymore!"
"Reinforcements?" Pain said indifferently. After all, the girl before him was far too weak.
But Naruto on the screen was clearly worried. "Why'd you come out here?! Get away quickly! You're no match for him!"
"Don't put yourself in danger like this!"
Hinata didn't respond to Naruto's concern. Instead, she spoke her mind in the most resolute voice.
"I'm here because I want to be. This time... I'm going to save you, Naruto-kun!"
The screen quickly flashed through Hinata's memories: the heavy responsibilities of her clan, training hard only to be easily defeated by the much younger Hanabi—and the look of disappointment in Hiashi's eyes.
And then, a memory of young Hinata running out of the Hyūga compound, being bullied, and then rescued by Naruto.
Hinata's voice continued, unwavering and firm.
"I've always chased after you, always wanting to catch up to you. I wanted to walk beside you all this time. I want to be at your side, always."
"You changed me! Your smile is what saved me! That's why I'm not afraid to die… if it means I can protect you!"
She took a deep breath and shouted with all her might: "Because I love Naruto-kun the most!"
With that, Hinata assumed her fighting stance, her Byakugan activated, veins bulging at her temples—a stance that showed she was ready to give her life for Naruto.
But Pain across from her remained indifferent. From his right sleeve, a black rod slid into his hand, ready to dispose of this unexpected interloper.
Just then, Hinata did something Pain hadn't anticipated. She swept her right leg forward and decisively kicked through one of the black rods pinning Naruto. As she moved to continue, Pain raised his hand, and a powerful repulsive force instantly sent Hinata flying dozens of meters away.
But Hinata didn't give up. She charged back toward Naruto, ready to break more rods.
Unfortunately, the gap in strength between her and Pain was simply too vast. She was sent flying again by the repulsive force, blood now streaking across her face.
---
[Konoha, Year 60. Hyūga Clan Grounds]
Hinata's face was redder than ever. She covered her face with both hands, curling into a ball.
"I… I said it. In front of so many people… I said it…"
[What flows out before tears is courage. What is redder than blood is love. The purest love story in the Shinobi World is one where a confession was spoken like a final farewell. Hyūga Hinata waited fifteen years for those words. And who knows how many people knelt before their screens at this scene, begging Pain to stop.]
On the screen, Hinata used the Gentle Step Twin Lion Fists, continuing to attack Pain.
White chakra condensed into the shape of lion heads on her fists, carrying an unstoppable momentum.
But no matter what angle she attacked from, Pain easily evaded each strike.
However, just as Pain showed a hint of disdain, Hinata seized an opening—and landed a hit.
Bam!
Pain retreated slightly, a glimmer of surprise in his eyes.
Hinata seized the opportunity, flashed to Naruto's side, and punched with all her strength—
Another black rod snapped!
But with a single wave from Pain, Hinata was once again blasted away by the repulsive force.
She flew through the air—then crashed down hard!
Bang!
"HINATA!!"
Naruto on the screen let out a heart-wrenching roar.
---
[Konoha, Year 50. Hokage Office]
Kushina gripped her hands tightly, moved to tears.
"That's too much, this Nagato!"
She then wiped away her tears. "Hinata… this child… is wonderful… truly wonderful."
At this moment, Kushina had wholeheartedly accepted Hinata as her future daughter-in-law.
"Sigh… Hinata hasn't even been born yet, has she? I really want to meet her. When she's born, she absolutely must grow up together with Naruto."
Minato frowned, equally furious with Nagato. If it weren't for the threat of Obito hanging over them, he might have considered going to the Land of Rain himself to find Nagato.
Despicable!
He, too, was one of Jiraiya-sensei's students—so why would he treat Naruto and Hinata like this?
---
[Konoha, Year 60. Hyūga Clan Grounds]
Hiashi's eyes were full of pain.
He hadn't expected Hinata to have such courage.
Facing the leader of the Akatsuki, who possessed Super-Kage Level strength, he feared even he himself wouldn't have dared to step forward.
Yet his daughter—the one he had always considered weak, untalented, and unfit to lead the main family—had charged fearlessly toward death, again and again, for the person she loved.
He thought to himself: 'Since Hinata has the greatest potential, shouldn't I do everything possible to help her awaken the Tenseigan?'
Otherwise, facing those overwhelmingly powerful enemies in the future, the Hyūga clan would be utterly helpless.
And while he was at it, why not let the current world feel the awe of the Tenseigan? Maybe it could even elevate Hinata to a Six Paths-level powerhouse.
---
Training Ground.
Naruto stared at the Sky Screen—at the figure that kept being knocked away, only to rise again and again. He was completely dumbfounded.
Was this still the same Hinata he remembered?
His hands clenched unconsciously, and he could hardly bear to watch.
But he couldn't look away.
At the same time, something unfamiliar began to stir in his heart.
Can a person really go to such lengths for someone they love?
---
[Konoha, Year 83. Naruto's Home]
"AAAAHHH! This is so infuriating!"
Boruto and Himawari were practically crying with anger.
Watching their mother being blasted away repeatedly on the screen, and the blood flowing down her face—they couldn't stop their tears.
"Mom…"
Himawari buried herself in Hinata's arms. "Did it hurt a lot back then?"
Boruto clenched his fists. "Dad, that senior of yours is the worst! If I could go back in time, I would definitely beat him up!"
"Anyway, the future me is really strong, if I get the chance, I'll hit him just like on the screen."
Naruto listened to Boruto's words, black lines flashing across his forehead—then he gently ruffled both children's hair.
Even though these were things he had personally experienced, watching them through the screen still made his heart ache.
Hinata sat nearby, looking at the two children, her eyes full of tenderness.
"Alright, alright. That's all in the past now."
"Isn't Mom perfectly fine now?"
Himawari looked up, gazing at her with teary eyes: "Mom… you're so brave."
Hinata smiled, "That's because mom was trying to protect the person she loves the most."
Hearing that, Naruto was really touched. He pulled his family into a tight embrace.
*****
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