#flashback#

... 'I guess I'll be taking you now,' he told the helpless Jinchurichi as he prepared to finish what he'd started. At last he could acheive the peace he'd strived for.

BAM!

Pein jumped back, avoiding the attack. He watched as its source got to her feet. She glanced at the boy behind her then faced forward, her eyes tightening in anger. 'I won't let you hurt Naruto-kun anymore!'

'Reinforcements?' He examined the girl in front of him. Despite the baggy jacket she wore he could tell that she was slight in build and she had the pale eyes of the hyuuga clan but it was obvious that she was considerably weaker than him. It would not take long for...

A loud voice interupted his thoughts. 'Why'd you come out here? Quickly get away! You're no match for..'

To Pein's surprise the girl nodded. 'I'm just being selfish.'

'What are you talking about?' Naruto shouted. 'Don't put yourself in danger like this!' Hmph, even this naive child knew that she had no chance.

However, the girl didn't waver. 'I'm here because I want to be. This time... I'm going to save you, Naruto-kun.' She took a breath, still facing him as she spoke. 'I was always crying and giving up before even trying. I took the wrong turn so many times but you helped me find my way and take the correct path. I always chased after you. I wanted to catch up to you. I wanted to walk beside you all the time. I want to be at your side always. You changed me, Naruto-kun! Your smile is what saved me!... That's why I'm not afraid to die if it means that I can protect you!

Naruto looked shocked. He clearly had no idea that she had felt this way. Not that it would do him any good now, whenthey were both about to die. The girl's grim determination softened into a smile. She was beautiful, he'd give her that... but foolish, very foolish.

'Because I love you, Naruto-kun!'

With that said, the girl's smile faided and she moved into a fighting stance, activating her byakugan. Determination was once more evident in her features. Pein prepared another rod. The sooner he defeated this girl the better. Something about her irritated him.

He waited for her to attack but yet again she surprised him as she turned and started to destroy the rods pinning down the Jinchurichi. It would be troublesome for him if she succeeded, so he swept her away before she could break a second rod.

She hit the ground hard, but afterward she simply wiped the blood from her mouth and charged again... and was swept away again. How foolish.

Pein moved between the two. She was slower in getting up this time and there was blood trickling doen her face, she wouldn't last long if she kept on like this. She seemed to realise this too as she began to gather chakra about her fists.

'Gentle Step. Twin Lion Fists!' She came at him, striking at him repeatedly. He avoided all her blows easily and was about to sweep her away once more when a sudden wave of pain overtook his body, momenterily stalling his Deva-self. This left an opening for the girl to strike him, throwing him off balance, so that she could return to the boys side to free him.

She managed to break one more rod before he repeled her with far more force than before, annoyed that he had allowed her to hit him even once. She flew through the air and as she neared the ground the boy screamed her name.

'Hinataaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!'

She lay there, bleeding more heavily than before as the boy yelled and cursed and struggled until she finally opened her eyes.

The boy cried out in relief but this quickly turned to fear and anguish as she tried to get up, failed and tried again, stumbling then half-dragging herself towards him.

'Stop,' he whispered, looking away. 'Hinata, don't come.'

She fell just before she reached him and had to crawl the rest of the way. Her persistance both baffled and irritated Pein.

'I don't understand,' he said, as she feebly attempted to break a rod with her hands. 'Why would someone weak like you try to resist? Why fight me? Knowing... that you'll die.'

Still struggling to free the Jinchurichi, almost too quiet to hear, she answered, 'I stand by what I say,' a sad smile graced her lips. 'Because that's my Ninja way.'

Her reply only served to annoy him further, so he decided to finish this. He threw her up in the air. When she landed at his feet, he took a rod and stabbed her, while the Jinchurichi boy looked on with wide, horror-filled eyes.

#end of flashback#

He felt the life leave his body as the Samsara of the Heavenly Life Technique came to a close. Now there was only one last thing he needed to do. He quickly made a few hand signs and squinted his eyes shut as pain burned behind his eyelids.

This would stop Tobi from getting his hands on the Rinnegan and this way it will be put to better use. To protect the boy he had put his faith in. Uzimaki Naruto.

That girl should still be alive. For reasons unknown to him at the time he had avoided giving her a fatal blow. Even if he had, the revival technique will have brought her back by now. This would also help make amends for the pain he'd caused her.

Use it wisely, child were Nagato's last thoughts before he died.