A/N Sorry it's taken me so long to update. I've been on vacation for a while.

This chapter is the result of my desire to write about about episode 166. I know it's a little old now, but...

I'll update again, soon. Please let me know how I can improve this.

Chapter 5

The sickening scent of blood surrounded the air as Hinata approached the menacing scene of Naruto's battle. The thought of protecting her beloved was what drove her to attempt her first attack at Pain; she leapt in the air and struck with all of her might, though Pain effortlessly dodged her blow. Before approaching the villain, Hinata glanced at Naruto. Large poles (Hinata wasn't sure what they were,) were forced deep into Naruto's arms and legs. "How cruel," she thought with a shudder, "to restrict his movements like this." She turned towards Pain, a look of deep abhorrence etched within her face. "I won't let you hurt Naruto anymore!" She declared vehemently. "Reinforcements?" Pain asked apathetically. Hinata said nothing and glared at him, her eyes filled with hatred.

Naruto's confused, frantic voice broke the silence. "Why'd you come out here? Get out of here! You're no match-" "I know," Hinata interrupted him with a curt nod. She hesitated for a moment, thinking of the best way to explain her sudden rashness. "I'm just…being selfish," she said slowly. "What are you talking about?" Naruto asked, his voice filled with irritation. "Don't put yourself in danger like this!"

Hinata felt tears come to her eyes. She was touched at Naruto's concern. All the same, she knew what she had to do.

"I'm here because I want to be," she explained. "This time," she said, her voice filled with determination, "I'm going to save you, Naruto."

She heard Naruto gasp, but did not turn around to view his expression. She continued her explanation.

"I was always crying and giving up before even trying. I took the wrong path so many times…" she trailed off as she felt a smile approach her lips. She thought of the countless times Naruto's persistence had inspired her.

"But you helped me find my way and take the correct path, Naruto." She found herself thinking of the Chunin Exams, where, thanks to Naruto's encouragement, she had done better than even she could have imagined. "I was always chasing after you, wanting to catch up." She felt a blush creep to her cheeks. "I wanted to walk with you, to be with you. I want to be by your side, always."

No matter what happened to him, Naruto always greeted every challenge with a smile and did the best he could. His incredible, determined nature had encouraged her to try her best. "You changed me, Naruto!" She thought of the many times he had spoken with her; his smile was always filled with joy and passion. "Your smile saved me!" Hinata said.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, then gave Pain her fiercest look; a strength and courage that she had never felt before suddenly overtook her as she spoke. "That's why I'm not afraid to die if it means I can protect you."

Hinata felt a warmth envelop her as she smiled. Her mouth seemed to move on its own; it was being controlled by her heart. "…because I love you, Naruto!"

Her smile turned into a grimace as she faced Pain and took her fighting stance. Pain said nothing, but Hinata noticed as a black blade slid from beneath his sleeve. He continued to look at her, perhaps to evaluate her strength, and Hinata activated her Byakugan.

For several moments all was still, then in a sudden, strong movement, Hinata let out a fierce cry and performed a sweep kick, partially breaking one of the rods in Naruto's leg. Pain and Naruto were equally amazed by her feat. In another quick motion, she began to kick the second rod when she felt an overwhelmingly painful sensation and found herself propelled several feet away from the person she was desperately trying to defend. She let out a cry of pain and toppled to the ground. She felt blood dripping from her mouth, but quickly wiped it away and gave Pain a menacing glare. She turned her attention to Naruto and ran toward him, but before she could even begin to strike she was once again pushed away by Pain's jutsu. This time she was hit even harder and thrown in the air before landing on her side, still rolling from the impact. "Hinata!" Naruto screamed.

Sharp pain ran through Hinata's body, but she forced herself up and glanced toward Naruto, who was now behind Pain. She narrowed her eyes and straightened her back. She put her hands in front of her, then chambered them, focusing all of her chakra into her fists. Blue chakra began to swirl around her hands. She felt an even sharper pain but braced herself and continued to focus her chakra. "I can't let it end like this," she thought. "If there's even the slightest chance…"

She leaned forward. "Juho Soshiken!" She cried as she charged toward Pain. Hinata began to swing her fists; the blue chakra took the shape of a lion and moved in time with her strikes, strengthening them. He seemed to doge every one effortlessly, but she wouldn't give up and continued her attempt to hit him. In a sudden movement, he raised his arm as if to counterattack, and let his guard down for one moment.

In a swift motion she landed a hit directly on his face. He immediately recoiled. "Now's my chance!" Hinata thought as she turned towards Naruto. With all of her chakra still focused in her fists, she hit the half-broken rod in Naruto's leg and broke it completely. She raised her right arm and aimed for the second rod in his leg, but felt the familiar and painful sensation of Pain's jutsu as she was thrust over fifty in the air. "Hinata!" Naruto screamed again as she fell to the ground and the world was swallowed into blackness.

"Hinata!"

Hinata heard a faint voice calling her name. The voice possessed a panicked sadness, unlike anything she had heard before.

"Hinata!"

The voice was familiar…it belonged to Naruto! What had caused him to sound so distressed?

"Hinata!"

She opened her eyes and the scene before her came into focus: a long way from her, Naruto was on the ground, several rods stuck throughout his body. And that was when she remembered: Naruto needed her!

"Hinata!"

She realized that she was in pain; it felt as if every part of her body were on fire.

"Hinata!"

It didn't matter if she was in pain. She had to get up-Naruto needed her!

She attempted to push herself up but the pain was too much to bear and she was unable to support her weight. Despite the unbearable pain she pushed herself and after much struggle she was on her feet. It took nearly all she had to stand, yet in her current position she was far away from Naruto. She stumbled towards him, ignoring the pain, her only thoughts consisting of Naruto's safety.

Pain watched her struggling, his face nonchalant. Hinata ignored the constant pain throughout her body and continued, though at some point her body gave out and she felt herself collapse. She began a nearly futile attempt to stand, but she could not get on her feet.

She saw an alien look in Naruto's eyes, and although she couldn't detect what it was, it left an impression on her and inspired her to keep trying. After several more moments of struggling, Naruto looked down and spoke softly.

"Don't come, Hinata."

His words ignited something inside her and she was suddenly walking, again. She remembered all that he had done for her—whether or not he realized it—and it was what made her continue to move. She remembered a particular series of words he had said that touched her more than any others: "You know, I used to think you were dark, boring, and weird, but I think I like people like you."

People like her…

What exactly did he mean by that?

Suddenly Hinata realized that she was only a few feet away from Naruto.

She was almost there…!

Without warning, she felt herself collapse. She didn't think it was possible, but the pain in her legs increased and she realized that she could no longer use them. But she couldn't give up.

With a desperate cry, she used the last of her strength to crawl to Naruto. His expression had become one of sadness; Hinata couldn't bear the sadness in his eyes. She was so close to him, now. Just a little bit further and she could save him, save him from the sadness, the darkness.

"I don't understand," Pain said, a hint of inquisition in his monotone voice as she was inches from Naruto. "Why would someone so weak try to resist?" He asked as Hinata, shaking, used the last of her power to lean forward. She placed her hands on the rod that bore into Naruto's hands. "Why fight me…knowing that you're going to die?" Pain asked her.

Hinata tried to pull the rod from Naruto, even though she knew it was hopeless. She opened her mouth and repeated Naruto's words that had touched her so much; the words that she had lived by. "I stand by what I say." With the last of her strength, she looked up at Naruto, and, despite all the pain and suffering, she smiled. "Because that's…my ninja way."

She felt herself being lifted from the ground, then everything went black.

A scream pierced through the blackness of night as Hinata Hyuga awoke, her body covered in sweat. It was the first time she had dreamt of the haunting events that happened two months prior. The battle-if it could be called a battle-between her and Pain was what had inspired her to train so hard. She rolled over onto her side and closed her eyes.

When she awoke the next morning, she was looking forward to training with Sakura. The dream had further increased her determination to succeed.