To the sorrowful melody of the soundtrack, many hearts in the Shinobi World clenched tightly. Among them, the ordinary civilians—watching it all like a television drama—were moved to tears.
[When a young man, helpless and facing an unbeatable enemy, has someone who disregards their own life to save him, confesses her love, and is willing to die alongside him—to be honest, who wouldn't want to meet a girl like Hinata in their lifetime?]
[What's more, Hinata doesn't care about Naruto's status. Even if Naruto had remained a dead-last forever, never turned things around, never gained everyone's recognition, and never became Hokage—she would probably still love him. What Hinata loves has always been that passionate young man who kept striving and never gave up, no matter the adversity.]
On the screen, as Naruto's voice nearly broke from shouting, Hinata, who had collapsed unconscious, gradually regained awareness. She slowly opened her eyes, and the world before her came into focus.
Across from her, Pain stood in front of the fallen Naruto but made no move. His purple Rinnegan betrayed no emotion as he merely gazed silently at Hinata.
Hinata struggled to rise, but halfway up, the agony of what felt like her entire body falling apart sent her crashing down again. Still undeterred, she propped herself up with her hands, forced herself to stand even as her body swayed unsteadily.
Even in that state, Hinata staggered toward Naruto, one hand clutching her stomach, the other limp at her side.
The music slowed further, and a series of scenes flashed by on the screen.
When young Sasuke and Naruto fought, and all the other girls were cheering for Sasuke, only Hinata quietly cheered for Naruto, her fingers tapping together nervously.
During the Ninja Academy graduation exam, when the underestimated Naruto stepped up to demonstrate the Clone Jutsu, it was still her silently cheering for him again.
During the Chūnin Exams, sitting beside Naruto, Hinata mustered her courage and whispered, "I'll show you my test."
One scene after another, each holding the unspoken feelings of a young girl.
Just then, the scene shifted to a teenage Naruto.
Under brilliant sunlight, he was walking out of Konoha with a backpack. Suddenly, he turned back with a smile and said to Hinata, who was standing behind a tree:
"Hinata… I kind of thought you were… gloomy, hesitant, and weird."
"Naruto-kun…" Hearing that, young Hinata lowered her head, deeply disappointed.
Then Naruto turned away so she couldn't see his expression.
"But you know… I quite like people like you!"
"Oh, yeah! Be sure to come watch me kick that guy Neji's butt!"
---
[Konoha, Year 60. Hyūga Clan Grounds]
Hiashi felt a deep sense of emotion. After all was said and done, it was his own daughter who had made the first move. Still, for Hinata to ultimately marry the person she loved—that was truly wonderful.
And she had two lovely children as well. Thinking of Boruto and Himawari, whom he had seen earlier, Hiashi's expression gradually softened into a satisfied smile.
Meanwhile, at the location of Team 3, Neji's expression was extremely sour.
Hinata and Naruto, these two… if they want to date, let them date, why kick him? Who did he offend?
---
Soon, the memories faded, and the scene returned to the battlefield of Konoha—to Hinata's stumbling, staggering figure.
"Stop, Hinata. Don't come over…" Naruto couldn't bear to watch her fall, get up, fall again, and finally, too weak even to stand, slowly crawl toward him. He lowered his head and closed his eyes.
"I don't understand."
Even Nagato, watching from afar, couldn't comprehend it. Pain's voice echoed:
"Why fight me?"
"Knowing… that you'll die?"
His tone carried genuine confusion, growing almost intense at the end.
Yes, why?
She clearly couldn't win. She clearly would die. So why did she still come? Could love really hold such great power?
But Hinata didn't answer him directly. Instead, she used her actions to give her answer.
She reached out her hands and tightly gripped the black rod piercing Naruto's hands.
"I'm not gonna run away and I never go back on my words."
-"I'm not gonna run away and I never go back on my words." (Naruto's voice)
"Because that's… my Ninja Way…"
Hinata lifted her blood-stained face, revealing a pale smile, her gaze incomparably firm.
Unfortunately, before she could make her next move, Pain impatiently raised a hand.
And Hinata's body was once again hurled into the air—and then came crashing down.
As Naruto looked on in despair, a black rod reappeared in Pain's hand. He then raised his right hand high and drove the rod viciously into Hinata's body.
The last thing seen across the various Shinobi World timelines was Naruto's blood-red pupils—and a towering, dark crimson pillar of energy shooting into the sky.
Naruto had gone berserk.
---
[Konoha, Year 60. Training Ground]
Naruto shot to his feet, furious.
"Hinata!"
"That guy Nagato! He's going too far!"
"If I meet that guy in the future, I'll definitely teach him a lesson!"
Sasuke glanced at him. "Can you even beat him?"
Naruto choked. "I… I'll definitely be able to beat him in the future!"
Still, Hinata's nindō was something he could really get behind.
Meanwhile, Jiraiya and Kakashi exchanged a glance, both seeing the same worry in each other's eyes.
It was obvious—on the screen, Naruto had lost control of the Nine-Tails and gone berserk.
And the Nine-Tails was nothing but trouble.
---
[Land of Rain, Amegakure]
Nagato watched the scene on the screen, his heart sinking.
Though the screen hadn't yet revealed the final outcome of the battle, it had already called Uzumaki Naruto the "savior of the Shinobi World" and shown that he would go on to have two children with Hinata.
That meant his own defeat seemed inevitable.
No wonder the Akatsuki was wiped out… Konoha, it seemed, was where his fate would be sealed.
Konan stood silently behind him, her mind still lingering on Hinata's stubborn, resolute figure. In Hinata, she saw something of Yahiko.
The same never-give-up spirit. The same fearless determination.
"Nagato," Konan said softly.
Nagato turned to look at her.
"That girl… she reminds me of Yahiko."
"Mm."
Nagato looked at the now-blank screen.
"But Yahiko is no longer here."
---
[Past timeline. At the original Akatsuki hideout]
Yahiko was lecturing Nagato with a look of dissatisfaction.
"Nagato! Even if I die in the future, you can't be that heartless."
"Look at that poor girl… how could you bring yourself to hurt her like that?!"
Nagato sat to the side, not arguing.
Only when Yahiko finished did he speak.
"You won't die."
Yahiko blinked. "Huh?"
Nagato looked at him, his eyes filled with certainty.
"I've already learned to use the Rinnegan more proficiently. In the future, I can protect you and Konan."
Yahiko scratched his head: "Ah, that's not the point. We've already increased our guard against Hanzō. And strangely enough, they haven't come after us lately either…"
Konan added, "It might be because the Sky Screen exposed their schemes, so they wouldn't dare act rashly now."
Yahiko nodded, "Either way, it's a good thing."
He looked at the screen again, then back at Nagato.
"But Nagato, you have to promise me—you can't ever turn into someone like that in the future!"
Nagato was silent for a moment, then said: "I'll try."
Yahiko glared at him.
"What do you mean, 'try'?! You must!"
Nagato sighed. "Fine. I promise."
Only then did Yahiko nod in satisfaction.
Konan watched the two of them, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
*****
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