Hinata's Mom

"Why?" Naruto cried. He was on his knees now, begging Jiraiya to tell him that what he just witnessed was a trick. But he knew better. He knew that no one can take this guilt away from him. "Naruto," Jiraiya said slowly crouching down to meet Naruto's eye, "I am very sorry but it is not your fault. You know, that right?"

Naruto looked directly into Jiraiya's eyes. His anger calming down a bit at Jiraiya fatherly gaze, but then a thought popped up in his mind. "If you died, it would be my fault. If anyone here died, IT WOULD BE MY FAULT!" He screamed.

Jiraiya sensei dies, it would be on me. Kakashi sensei dies, it would be on me! Anyone here dies – it would all be my fault. How-how many more lives am I going to take?! Thought came in flooding into his mind and he started to think about what he just saw with Hinata.

-Flashback-

Fifteen minutes ago

Standing right in the middle of a market square, Naruto realized how much he loved the outside world. Everywhere he looked there was a different story to tell. Some people were buying spices, to make something in their home, a bunch of kids causing trouble, a couple sitting in the shade, and many more scenes to watch. Other than the market square, the overall view of the place was also magnificent with big mountains and a huge river tearing those big giants apart.

Naruto looked at Hinata who looked at the place with familiarity and with a tint of sadness. She looked around the same way Naruto did but unlike him, she recognised the place.

"Hinata? Did you bring us in the past or present? Also, what is this place?" Naruto asked.

"Past. My hometown." She said softly.

This means there must a younger version of Hinata somewhere! The thought excited Naruto, more than it should. He looked around to find her but he wasn't successful.

Both pulled in the opposite direction, almost untangling their hands. "Let's go your way" Naruto said with a smile and obeyed Hinata's lead as she pulled him through the crowd to a little shop where a small girl with a man was standing. Naruto instantly recognized the little girl as Hinata, holding hands with a much older woman.

"Who is-" before Naruto could ask Hinata softly said, "Mom."

He would have missed it, if he was not staring at her. He looked at her mom, they resembled a lot and Naruto thought he was really dumb not to understand straight away that this was Hinata's mom.

"Hinata, let's go home" her mom said suddenly, at which the present Hinata flinched. Tear droplets were forming in her eye, she knew the day to brought them to was far, far away was happy. It was the saddest day of her life. Yet.

The younger Hinata however, had no idea and nodded "yes" to her mother. Both started walking towards their house. The scenery around Naruto and Hinata changed, and they found themselves in a courtyard of a house. It was a huge house, in between the courtyard there was a big white fountain. Near the fountain, Hinata and her mom were paying with a small baby.

That must be her sister! Naruto thought. Looking at Hinata's mom right now, Naruto realized just how similar their hair colour and skin was. Hinata right now looked almost exactly like her mom. Naruto looked side-ways, thinking Hinata must be really happy to see her mom again. But to his surprise, Hinata looked like she was going to have a breakdown.

"I understand," Naruto said coming closer to Hinata, "it must be hard to see your mom… but trust me these are your cherished memories! Even if the person in them is gone… the memories will stay forever… that's something, right? Hinata?"

Hinata did not respond.

She trying to make sense of this memory which she had hidden in her conscious brain for so long. She thought, she never knew what happened to her mother but right re-living this memory she knew exactly what was going to happen. And there was nothing she could do to stop it. Any second now, any second now and her mom would be dead. Gone. Her grip on Naruto's hand loosen a bit and the whole memory shacked.

"Hinata, what's the matter?" Naruto said concerning filling his voice. Hinata mumbled something.

"What?"

"THIS IS NOT A HAPPY MEMORY!" She screamed. Tears streaming down her face. Naruto was confused but the within two seconds his confusion turned into anger, hurt, guilt, and regret. Hinata took her sister in her arms and started playing around with her, just at that moment two thugs dressed in all black, wearing a face mask which looked very real came from behind. They seemed to be appeared out of nowhere.

That's… that's not a face mask! Naruto realized.

Hinata's mom, on her own will activated her bakyugan.

"Mom?" Younger Hinata said, "there—there is someone behind you…your eyes…"

"Honey, I know… Listen to me Hina, I love you very much, don't forget that okay? And give Hanabi my love also, okay dear? I love your father very much also…" those two men were now close to Hinata's mom, "honey, be strong and kind."

And with that, a knife ran through Hinata's mom.

Those men killed Hinata's mom. In front of her. Her blood spilled all over the floor and bits and pieces on Hinata.

Both younger and older Hinata screamed. Naruto looked in shock. There hands were no longer together and they were back into the library.

Black Zetsu.

-Flashback over –

"You knew, Jiraiya sensei, you knew" Naruto managed through his tears, "why didn't you tell me? Why did they kill her?"

"Because she remembered. She came to Konoha and she remembered the shinobi world. She and a few others over the years have started to remember our world, the spell was getting weaker that time and….and a lot of people died, Naruto."

Naruto knew there was nothing he could do.

"Can we please erase it from her memory?" Naruto asked.

"No" Hinata said softly, and she tried to get up from Tsunade lap.

"I know, it is not a pleasant memory Naruto-kun, but I need it. I now know my mother was killed by two thugs… At least I get to hear what she wanted to me know. I must be strong and kind." Hinata finished with a weak smile, convincing no one that she was anywhere near okay. But no one questioned.

"See you at the ball, Naruto-kun" Hinata said as she got up and left the room.

I will make this up to you! Naruto thought and went back to his room.

All the happy memories he shared with her were now looking like a burden. He was the reason, Hinata's mom was killed and countless others also. This has to stop now. He made up his mind, he knew what he wanted to do after the ball.