"Rasengan!" I screamed as the orb of chakra slammed down upon my enemy. At first I assumed that my jutsu hadn't made contact since it had seemed to begin to, once again, pass through my enemy. I hadn't had any indication of damage done until the opposing scream erupted into my ears. I then realized that my old sensei, Kakashi, had not only used his kamui but it was also in the right place at the right time. I felt a warm liquid surround my attacking hand and churning within Obitos chest. I immediately knew that my rasengan had left his heart as nothing but tatters and shreds of flesh.
In the midst of another blood-curdling scream, Obito fell to his knees and writhed as I quickly withdrew my blood drenched hand. It was finally over. We finally won. My thoughts of victory quickly subsided as the reality set in that I, Naruto Uzumaki, had just intentionally killed a person. Whether he was a monster or not didn't seem to matter me. He was still a person. He had a life before the hell that he most recently experienced. He was once just a kid… a kid just like me… a kid full of dreams, goals, and fears. I suddenly saw the image of the past child over the current image of the bloodied monster.
As the image of the child - in resemblance to me - began his childish laughter, I doubled over in tears as well as a rush of adrenaline. I fell to my knees and watched Obito struggle to breath. He suddenly spat up a chunk of blood and clutched his chest. In that small moment of draining life he seemed to be laughing at something. Maybe it was from realization of his mortality, maybe it was from his own amusement at the expression on my face. I couldn't be sure. As his life further departed, he seemed to be determined to share one last thing to be remembered by.
"Do you feel that boy?"
He tried to fill his voice with what I assume was supposed to be a mocking tone but instead it came out as a slightly garbled and pleading question. Even though he hadn't made the intended tone, he produced the desired effect. A wave of nausea hit me hard. I began panting heavily and tried to dismiss the feeling. It didn't work. I leaned to my right; dry heaved, vomited stomach acid, and then released more tears. I was quickly joined by a very worried Hinata. It probably looked like some sort of attack had been delivered even though Obito hadn't moved from his spot. He just continued to tenaciously delay his death just to see me break down further.
"Are you alright, Naruto-kun?" Hinata softly questioned me. She squatted down next to me and began to check for any impeding threats to my well being. When she didn't find any she simply began to rub my back and wipe away my tears. It was similar to how a sympathetic mother would sooth her sad child and then tell it that 'everything would be ok.' Right when it had begun to work, Obito felt obligated to rub more salt in the wound.
"Yeah Naruto, are you alright? You seem so… broken. You seem so... helpless. You seem so... weak. How does it feel to deal death? How does it feel to hate? How does it feel to satisfy your craving for revenge?"
Even though he was the one currently broken, helpless, and weak his words still stung and numbed me. Every word he said was expressed with such malicious intent that it shook me to the core. Even though I just won the war I also lost the battle. I'd prevented the worst possible fate for the entire ninja alliance but I still lost. I still hadn't prevented the death of many of my comrades. I couldn't stop Madara from killing the kages. I couldn't stop the juubi from killing all those shinobi. I couldn't even stop the death of the very person that originally fueled the creation of my nindo. Neji didn't have to give his life for me and I'd like to think that he knew what he was doing.
Obito coughed up more blood and collapsed to the ground. Hinata and I watched as his heaving chest slowly decreased in speed until finally it didn't move at all. Hinata activated her byakugan just to check for any signs of life. Just for extra measure she approached the body and closely examined the wounded area. When she was satisfied she deactivated her jutsu and returned to my side. I tried to compose myself as Hinata once again looked me over for any injuries.
I couldn't look at her or anything for that matter. I was right on the edge and just about anything would probably set me off. I knew that for a fact. What I didn't know was what I'd do if I was set off. Hinata seemed to sense my tension and she used her hand to turn my face towards hers. She gazed at my face first for injuries then again in relief that I lacked them. Then her lavender hues met my blues with a sense of worry. I felt myself begin to well up again and I tried my best to hold my ground. Then she asked that same question from before but filled it with knowing and understanding.
"Are you alright, Naruto-kun?"
She said it as if she already knew the answer. Behind that simple question she also said, 'it's alright to cry. I'm here for you.' And I obliged her. I allowed myself to breakdown because somehow I knew that she'd build me back up. Tears began streaming and a low sob started. I gripped Hinata in a tight and desperate embrace and literally cried on her shoulder. It was all I could do to not sob into the dirt. I let myself go as Hinata soothingly embraced me back and once again took away the pain. She would whisper things like 'it's alright now' and 'it's all over.'
After a few minutes I heard a medical team cautiously approaching. Hinata okayed them and they rushed to our aid. She helped the team stand me up and place me on the gurney. The whole way to the medical tents Hinata rubbed her thumb on my cheek and said, "it's ok. Please rest now." After a few minutes in the tent, with Hinata at my side, I finally allowed myself to pass out from utter exhaustion.