Change
By: B.E.N.
All that he could see was her running towards death, as if she embraced it with open arms, and all he could do was sit there and watch. NaruHina, post chapter 441.
Silence echoed around in the hospital room as Naruto eagerly awaited the Hyuuga heiresses awakening. He closed his eyes, his lashes brushing against his cheek, and he remembered those words he had thought to be her last.
'…I'm not afraid to die protecting you…because I love you.'
He felt tears build up in his eyes as he remembered the image with startling clarity. It had happened so fast then, but now, it kept replaying in his mind in slow motion. He clenched his fists, and felt tears slowly overflow.
After he had killed Nagato and returned to Konoha, they began the transit to Suna where they were offered a place to stay. The whole village was completely destroyed, and Naruto couldn't help but remember the fact that he had helped further its destruction.
The image of Hinata, her back to him, charging the man who was so devastatingly strong…completely crushed him. He could recall the fear he felt when she decided to charge the nin without hesitation.
She looked like an angel; an angel of death.
The image of her face after getting hit by Pein was glued into his mind, and he knew that it would never leave him. No matter how much he wanted it to, it would stay with him forever. He made it his personal goal to never have to see her like that again, to protect her with all he could and keep her alive until she was an old lady with great-grandkids. He smiled slightly at the idea, but allowed a soft sob to leave him.
He started as he felt delicate fingertips gently brush away the tears from his cheek. His eyes snapped open and he saw Hinata's painfully beautiful face staring at him through hooded eyes, and a small smile gracing her face.
"H-Hinata," he whispered, and she smiled even more.
"N-Naruto-kun," she whispered her voice so quiet that he had to strain to hear, "Did I change? M-Maybe just a little bit?" Naruto stared at her with wide eyes, before chuckling sadly. He stood, leaned over her and placed a soft kiss on her forehead.
"Yeah, you did," he whispered against her skin, and he pulled away with a sad smile. He gently ran his fingertips along her cheeks, "you did." Hinata smiled at him, her eyes closing, and her cheeks were dusted with a pretty pink.
"Ashiteru, Naruto-kun," she whispered, before fading back into sleep. Naruto smiled and listened as her once racing heartbeat slowed. He traced the back on his knuckles along her cheek, before leaning down and placing a tender kiss on her forehead.
"Ashiteru, Hinata-chan,"