Oho? What's this? A double update in the same day?

We'll see how long this lasts.

Content Warnings:

- Naruto and Sakura being OOC (like beyond being assholes, or "dark and edgy"); idk how obvious i made it but you should know they're both not in a good place, mentally

- graphic imagery some people might find disturbing

- death

Chapter 7: What Happened in Mariejois

Hinata was frozen, her eyes wider than possible as she took in what was happening around her—and with her Byakugan activated, it wasn't hard for her to see every last detail of the carnage, even beyond her current position. She watched as the fire continued to consume everything, from the walls of the mansion to the leaves of the once illustrious estate that once belonged to this elite family. She watched as the former slaves stormed through, killing the family's personal guards, the Marines who came in to save the family, and destroying everything in their path, lost to their rage and sorrow.

But most of all, her focus fell right on Naruto as he stood in the middle of it all in Sage Mode—more a show of power, than what was necessary—his eyes blazing as the sides of his grinning mouth began to twitch.

She'd known for a while that something had changed in Naruto. When it happened, she couldn't really say— or she wouldn't have wanted to admit it, more realistically—but somewhere between Vivi's abrupt return to Alabasta and him breaking up with her, Hinata was starting to realize something that she should have seen a long time ago. Perhaps not after Danzo's rise to power in Konoha, when he established an alliance with the World Government; perhaps not even after that awful, awful night with the Marines, the one the three Shinobi refuse to talk about, despite it being the night that led to Danzo banishing them.

No, no; the change must have begun with their banishment. Then being separated by the World Government—Hinata to the gladiator ring where she had to add more blood to her hands just to survive another day for a whole year, while Sakura and Naruto experienced all those experiments under The Scientist in that same amount of time—meeting the Strawhats, betraying the Strawhats.

What else could explain… this?

"God, look at all this. Isn't it beautiful, Hinata?" Naruto turned to face her with a wide grin, his cheeks and chin still dripping with crimson. With a grand gesture forward, he added with a chuckle, "We hardly had to lift a finger, most of the slaves did it for us! Hell, they're still going, haha… "

The way he laughed made Hinata shudder, something acidic and gross nearly crawling up her throat the more she directed her gaze forward, to the space above where Naruto was standing. He must have noticed though because he paused, his expression blank for a second before brightening again, his voice warmer and softer.

"Hey, hey, listen. I know it looks really gruesome but think of it this way," he said, walking behind her to rest one hand on her trembling shoulder, the other under her chin, forcing Hinata to keep staring upward. "It's what those nobles deserved."

The weight of those words almost crushed Hinata's chest as her eyes glued onto the heads that had been placed on the pikes lining the entrance to the mansion—those that once belonged to the family of Celestial Dragons who once owned this estate. Them, and their personal servants, and even the few liberated slaves who'd refused to take place in the carnage earlier—no one against this revolt was to be spared.

Hinata stared and stared, her eyes moving from one face to the other, each one frozen with their eyes wide and bulging, and mouths parted in a soundless scream that she could almost hear as the skin of their gaping mouths flapped in the wind. And in all their eyes was this fear, some bone deep horror of their existence being extinguished, perhaps even at their death being displayed in this way, not even being allowed to rest, only to be gawked at until someone kinder would bring them down to be buried properly.

A grim thought, perhaps an insane one—

( Silly Hinata-sama, chuckled a voice in her head, sounding too much like Neji, his voice still watery with the blood dripping from his mouth, There's still no proof that brains are active after death, much less after being beheaded, hahahahahahaha)

—but she thought it all the same.

Oh god, she thought, her chest tight with a growing horror. What have we become…?

"Shit, I wish I could see the look on Strawhat's face when he sees my wanted poster after this…new Emperor, my ass!"

Hinata's heart thumped as Naruto's cold laugh echoed in her ear, disgust twisting in her stomach. Was that truly the point to all of this...? Getting a one up on...?

But before she could ask, Naruto's transponder snail went off. With a click, he quickly answered. "Yeah, what's up?"

"Lord Uzumaki, we found them," spoke one of the freed slaves, her voice full of worship and maybe a tinge of lust. "We found the children."

…Children? Hinata didn't remember seeing any children among the slaves, couldn't remember even sensing them. The only children in the estate were…were—

Her eyes went wide. Oh. Oh, no.

"About time. Keep them there, I'll meet you all in a second." He turned to Hinata, sending her a wide pointed grin as he wrapped an arm around her, his other hand curling under her chin. "Moment of truth, Hina. Time for you to redeem yourself to the crew—and to me."

This is where Hinata's memories of that night become more dreamlike, more out of touch. Granted, she remembers some things, the important moments. She remembers entering the part of the rose garden where the slaves were holding the noble family's children—a little boy and his older sister—and she remembers feeling the weight of everyone's stares, their eyes almost accusatory already. She recalls how the few left from the Fox Pirates—Sakura and Bonney, mostly—stared at her, their gazes intense and expecting.

Most of all, though, Hinata remembers how Naruto held that gun out to her. But for the life of her, she cannot remember taking it—but she must have, yes? Because the next moment, it was in her hand and she was turning to face the weeping children aiming right at their faces, Naruto's hands like weights on her shoulders.

"That's my girl. You do this one thing for me, and we can be together again. I'll do everything right for us this time," he was promising her in a warm voice, sweet poison in her ear. "You just need to take the shot."

"Take the shot, take the shot," the liberated slaves began to chant, pumping their fists with each syllable, their grins wide and their eyes full of fervor. "Take the shot!"

Hinata could hardly think, could hardly breathe, her vision already fogging at the edges. What am I doing?

"Take the shot!"

She threw a look over at the crew, saw how Sakura was glowering at her, saw the odd expression in Bonney's eyes. Hinata felt her heart thud against her ribs. What are we doing…?

"Take the shot!"

The older sister held her brother tight to her as he sobbed for their parents, and she lifted her watery gaze in a glare that pierced Hinata's soul.

"Just do it," she hissed in a whisper, somehow louder than anyone else. "End it, you coward—!"

Hinata gasped, her veins suddenly full of fire, a sensation washing over her in a sharp moment of clarity. Her finger twitched at the trigger.

Bang!

She breathed heavily, still lifting the pistol high above her head as it pointed towards the sky. She stared ahead at the children, who stared up at her with wide eyes, like they didn't believe it themselves. Did that happen? Did that actually just happen?

Was she really doing this?

"Um. Hinata," Naruto said, laughing awkwardly. "You missed."

In the background, Hinata could hear the crowd bursting out into disbelieving, awkward laughter. From the corner of her eye, she saw Sakura snort and turn away with a sneer, while Bonny watched her with a blank expression.

"But hey! That's fine. Gathering suspense is all well and good but—you really need to get rid of these kids. We gotta complete that family set, am I right?" Naruto adds with a sly look at the crowd, drawing some genuine, sickening laughter.

Hinata didn't turn around, her pale eyes still glued to the children she was directed to kill. Instinctively, she adjusted her hold on the pistol and aimed it for the little girl's head, her finger once again twitching at the trigger. Again, the chants and jeers began around her. The heat of Naruto's gaze was beating at the back of her neck, enough that it should have maintained its usual hold on her. After all, wasn't there little she wouldn't do for him? So, it was only rational that she would do what was required. This was her role, after all.

But just as her finger twitched at the trigger, she couldn't make it pull. She couldn't take that shot.

I…can't. I can't do it, her breathing grew heavy again at the revelation, her heart hammering in panic, her eyes beginning to tear up. I can't, I can't, I can't, I can't—

A memory flashed through her mind, one of two years prior, when the crew was on Skypiea. They were dancing with the Cloud Wolves around the bonfire at Upper Yard, hyped up about the upcoming search for the treasure that was the ancient lost city of gold. She had paused in her dancing to grasp a mug of the wine the wolves made. As she observed everyone dancing, her hands were lifting the mug to her lips, her veins immediately thrumming from not only the alcohol but that feeling . That sensation she hadn't felt much of since, that emotion that inspired her to do things she'd never imagined doing before meeting her Captain.

Freedom, Hinata remembered, almost not feeling her own body. That's its name. How could I forget…? How…?

And it was here that Hinata remembered the most important lesson taught to her, ironically from the source of her current conflict. No one's fate is decided. In everything, everything, she had a choice. She always had.

And she had wasted too many chances not making the choices she wanted. She couldn't, won't waste another one.

A simple truth, one she still can't believe she forgot; but it was enough for her to act.

White hot fire surfed into her veins, bringing her back to life. Her expression hardened with resolve and her eyes dried of their tears. Her grasp on the gun grew firm—and then she turned on her heel, aiming the pistol right for Naruto, who stood there stunned as she took a protective stance in front of the children.

Her mouth twisted into a scowl, her eyes resembling molten silver in her rage. "I won't!"

Then, with her free hand, she threw a smoke bomb to the ground.

…

…

The next memories become so blended, it gives Ino a headache. It goes from Hinata grabbing the children and running with them, to then telling them to run while she'd try to lead the mob away—and she did truly try. She created shadow clones to fool Naruto and Sakura that the children were near her, while the children were actually running through the forest.

She tried to fight off both Naruto and Sakura, and anyone else who tried to get involved. She tried to use any skill and technique that could help her fight, from her Gentle Fist to other taijutsu moves, and more.

She tried to talk to Naruto, someone she'd admired and loved, and Sakura, her best friend—two people she'd been willing to walk through fire for.

But nothing worked.

In the end, for the wrong Hinata tried to correct in that moment, she ultimately and thoroughly failed.

Of course I did.

…

…

Hinata breathed heavily, despite the pain in her lungs and the flood of blood in her mouth, as she lay in the dirt. She tried one last time to pull on the rope binding her wrists together, the material so tight it was certain they would leave marks, but it was useless..

She began closing her eyes, exhaustion hitting her in every direction—but then a pair of familiar boots landed in front of her eyes and the owner crouched down. Terror began prickling at her nerves, making her freeze up, her eyes going wide and not daring to look up. A tanned hand grabbed her hair by the roots and pulled her head up, turning so she was facing him.

Naruto looked down at her, his eyes still flaring orange, and slowly shook his head. "I'm really disappointed in you, Hinata. All you had to do was follow orders, stay in your lane, and you would have gotten everything you've wanted," he said, then quirked a brow as he added, "So, why would you do something so incredibly stupid? Were you trying to be cool or something? To be someone you're not?"

Hinata pressed her trembling mouth closed, her gaze blazing.

"Let's be serious here: Every time you've ever tried to act better than you are, you've just shown how much of a failure you are. Neji, Pain, and now. You never win. You never will," he nearly snarled, his fingers tightening to pull painfully on Hinata's hair. "The fact that you keep forgetting that is nothing short of pathetic…"

Despite herself, Hinata's eyes clenched closed as her throat swelled. Memories of the Naruto she'd loved, of the boy who smiled like sunshine and made her laugh like no one else, flashed through her mind. He was the one who inspired her to act in the first place, to build her own nindo—even if it finally cost whatever she had left with the Hyuga Clan—to become more . He found strength in his connection with others, in his love for his family and friends. He had ambitions, sure, but ultimately he never wanted to achieve them at the cost of others. Even when he began dating both her and Sakura, he cared about both of them. He had no interest in manipulation, in toying with others' emotions, in abandoning comrades or lovers at the smallest mistake or annoyance. He wasn't interested in delusions of grandeur like conquering the oceans, or whatever, certainly not at the cost of unnecessary deaths. His heart wasn't covered in ice, let alone so impenetrable.

That Naruto, the one she'd loved, the one so many people had loved and admired—he had to still be in there, right?

I have to try, she thought, grinding her teeth. I have to try, just one more. Before he does something we'll all regret.

"Naruto, this is wrong and you know it," Hinata finally said, her voice hoarse and her gaze locked in his. "But you can still stop—it doesn't have to end this way."

Naruto stared down at her, his eyes narrowing a moment. He then sighed and rolled his eyes, his mouth set in a condescending sneer.

"Shit, Hinata. You really don't get it. There is only one way this will all end," he said. And then added, "Sakura?"

And that was when Sakura dragged the children from the forest, kicking and screaming. Hinata's stomach twisted and her eyes widened.

"No, Naruto—"

"Get her on her knees," Naruto tossed an order behind her. "Make sure she watches."

"…Got it," said Bonney, her voice revealing nothing of what she truly felt. Then her hands were on Hinata and dragging her up into a kneeling position. Her hand moved to Hinata's chin and moved her to face forward. Hinata trembled under her hold, her horror rising when she saw Naruto and Sakura corner the children. Around all of them, the crowd of liberated slaves began to chant again.

"Naruto, Sakura, please!" Hinata tried to cry over the cheers and jeers. "W-we've done what we wanted, we don't need to do this. They're just children."

"The children of Celestial Dragons," Naruto said, handing a gun to Sakura.

"And we've done enough to them, haven't we? We freed the slaves, we killed their parents. Let's just go!"

"And give them a chance to avenge them when they grow up? To become another Sasuke? Hell, no. Besides, they'll probably become worse than their parents."

"You don't know that! You don't!" Hinata yelled. "Of all people, you should know that one's birth doesn't determine who they become in the future!"

Naruto paused at that. He turned to give her a look, his eyes holding a fury only promising horrible, horrible things, but Hinata only glared back. He held that glare for another moment before his mouth spread into a grin.

"Are you trying to talk-no-jutsu at me? Me? That's cute." With a chuckle, he patted Sakura's shoulder. "Do it."

"Of course," Sakura replied sweetly.

Hinata saw her prepare the gun, her entire body freezing in panic. "Sakura—!"

Sakura didn't wait; she was already pulling the trigger.

…

…

Ino gasps when she's brought back to the present, feeling grounded in her bones. She's still grasping Hinata's hand, her grip tighter than it was a minute before. Her eyes fall to the table, blinking rapidly as she processes what she just saw. When she hears Hinata let out a rough exhale, Ino looks up. She sees that her friend's eyes have gone dull, far away, and her mouth is parted enough to make her expression look as lost as Hinata must be feeling right now. Ino's heart clenches, but she can't find words that would sound comforting or optimistic.

There's only one thing she can say for the moment.

"Well, shit."

"Now that it's all really coming back to me, that is most certainly the word for it."

"…Now what?" Ino asks, leaning forward on her elbows. "What are you going to do now?"

Hinata blinks slowly for a moment or so. Then, she starts to scowl, her eyes simmering with anger—to the point that Ino wonders if she'll activate the Byakugan—and then she lightly slams her palms against the table, pushing herself to her feet.

"I'm finally getting a drink. Would you like to join me?"

One last note: I always find it interesting how many authors will make Naruto all "dark and edgy" without having him go the extra mile to becoming a full on villain/antagonist.

i can't say i did it well. but one day, i want to explore the possibilities of him going through a villain arc.

if anyone has villain!naruto fics they can recc, please feel free to send me some links.