Chapter 12: Somehow, she has returned

[Author's note]

Look, I didn't want to just write a canon rehash of probably the most popular arc in Shippuden (Pain assault arc)

If I skipped it, it's because nothing changed from what happened in canon. I'm only going to add scenes that have a unique flavour to them.

If you were expecting a recap of Pain's assault, sorry for disappointing you.

The hidden leaf village lay in ruin around them. Smoke rose from shattered buildings, and the scent of burning debris filled the air. Pain stood before them, cold eyes piercing, his presence radiating a sinister energy that seemed to crush everything around him. Naruto lay flat, pinned by Pain's chakra rods, blood dripping from his mouth, his breathing ragged. Pain lifted his hand, preparing to deliver the final blow, and Naruto, though exhausted, refused to bow.

But then, without warning, Hinata stepped between them, her stance firm. Naruto's eyes widened with shock and fear. "Hinata, no!" he shouted, his voice breaking. "Why are you here? You can't… You're going to get yourself killed!"

Hinata didn't move. Her eyes were unwavering as she looked back at Naruto, a sad, gentle smile on her lips. "I'm aware of the risk," she murmured, more to herself than to him.

Naruto was taken aback, but the he continued to plead with her to leave, but Hinata merely shook her head.

"Why?..." Naruto managed to say to her. "Why are you doing this for me?"

She paused, searching for the right words. "Naruto… when we were younger, I didn't like you," she confessed, her voice trembling slightly with the memory. "You were loud, reckless… always throwing yourself into danger without a second thought. I thought you were a lazy, entitled brat who had everything without even trying."

She took a breath, a tear sliding down her cheek. "But somewhere along the way, my hate… it gave way to something else. I started to respect you… envy you even. I saw the strength in you… and I wanted it for myself."

Hinata paused, a distant look in her eyes as if seeing another time, another place. Her voice grew softer, tinged with a pain that cut deep. "I was at my lowest once… I thought I had no reason to keep going. I almost…" Her voice broke, and she swallowed hard. "I almost gave up. I was ready to end it all… when I heard your laugh in the distance. Just you… being you."

She laughed bitterly, shaking her head. "I was so afraid of dying then… afraid of never hearing that laugh again. It's funny, isn't it? The sound of your laughter — the sound I thought I disliked — it saved me that day. Because you were there, Naruto… I decided to live. To fight for another day."

Naruto's expression shifted from fear to shock, then to something deeper — something painful and vulnerable. "Hinata…"

"I'm grateful," she whispered, her voice carrying a strength that made Pain's own eyes narrow slightly. "Grateful that you were there that day. Because I would've never gotten to experience this… this wonderful feeling of loving you."

Hinata's gaze hardened as she looked up at Pain, her determination burning through the sadness. "I became a shinobi to prove myself to my family, to show them that I was worthy of their respect… their attention." She shook her head slowly, smiling sadly. "But over time, I realized… I didn't need to fight for respect from those who couldn't see my worth."

Her eyes glanced back at Naruto, filled with a fierce light. "You… and our friends… you taught me something more important. You showed me that being a shinobi isn't about proving yourself to others. It's about fighting for what you love. Protecting those precious to you."

Hinata stepped forward, her voice firm and resolute. "That's why I'm here, Naruto. I'm not leaving… I won't leave you alone. I will defend you with everything I have… even if it costs me my life. Because I love you, and my love for you… it's undying."

Pain watched her, his face unreadable, but there was something like curiosity in his eyes. Naruto's eyes welled with tears, his body shaking as he tried to get up. "Hinata… please… you don't have to…"

But Hinata had already taken her stance, her hands raised. She didn't look back at Naruto this time. Her eyes were only on Pain. "I made my choice a long time ago, Naruto," she said, her voice calm and steady. "And I would make it again."

The wind blew through the desolate battlefield, carrying the weight of her words like a prayer. A battle cry broke from Hinata's lips as she charged forward, her mind racing with the events that led to this moment, with her ready to lay down everything for the one she loved.

7:15 am, that same day

A heavy silence hung in the air, a stark contrast to the usual lively chatter that would have filled the village. It had been a week since Jiraiya was pronounced dead, and his absence left a gaping void in the hearts of everyone who knew him — especially Naruto.

Naruto's friends had done their best to console him, but the news of Jiraiya's death had hit him harder than anyone could have imagined. He was often seen wandering aimlessly around the village, eyes clouded with grief, shoulders hunched in a way that seemed foreign for someone so full of life. Even his usual bright smile seemed dimmed, overshadowed by the weight of his mentor's death.

His friends tried their best to lift his spirits. Kiba dragged him along on a hunting trip, Choji brought him snacks, and Shikamaru sat with him, trying to offer words of wisdom. None of it seemed to help. Naruto's thoughts were elsewhere, lost in the memory of Jiraiya's laugh, his ridiculous jokes, his constant encouragement. He was inconsolable.

And as if to compound the grief, the news from the mysterious Akatsuki member who had brought word of Jiraiya's death warned of an imminent assault on Konoha. Tsunade took no chances. She doubled — even tripled — the village's defenses. Patrols were sent out day and night; watchtowers were manned by the best sensors Konoha had to offer. Every able shinobi was on high alert.

Naruto had been sent to Mount Myoboku. Tsunade insisted he train to master the sage arts, to learn to harness nature energy like Jiraiya had intended to teach him before his death. She had watched the grief and loss swallow Naruto, but she also knew that his absence now might be the only way he could find his way back to himself. Naruto left without much of a word, his face a blank slate of emotion.

Back in Konoha, life continued — but it was different, more somber. Every shinobi trained harder, preparing for the inevitable. Even the youngest among them felt the tension, the way the air seemed to hum with an undercurrent of urgency. Hinata trained relentlessly, as she always did, pushing herself to new limits.

Neji was a constant presence, his Byakugan tracking every movement she made. "Your stance is improving," he noted during one of their sparring sessions. "But remember to keep your center low. Balance is everything."

Hinata nodded, her breath coming in ragged gasps, sweat dripping down her face. She dropped lower into her stance, her eyes focused, and her movements sharper than before. She had always trained hard, but now, there was a renewed intensity in every strike, every step.

"Good," Neji said, stepping back to give her space. "Again."

Hinata adjusted, taking a deep breath. She focused on the teachings of her clan, her palms moving in a steady rhythm, a dance of deflection and counter-strike. But in the back of her mind, she was thinking of Sakura.

Lately, Sakura had been joining their training sessions, and Hinata found herself intrigued by her style. Sakura's movements were so different from her own — aggressive, direct, like a whirlwind that left no room for hesitation. There was power in her strikes, an intensity that seemed almost overwhelming.

Hinata wanted to learn that strength.

Sakura had been more than happy to help. "Watch my stance," she had said, taking a wide, grounded position. "You need to be firm, unyielding, but also ready to explode forward. Think of your punches like a spring, coiled up and ready to release all that energy in a single burst."

Hinata watched closely, nodding, trying to internalize the advice. When Sakura demonstrated a few punches, each one snapped with a force that was both controlled and devastating.

Sakura grinned, seeing Hinata's determination. "You've got the speed," she encouraged. "Now use it to overwhelm. Don't just look for an opening — make one."

Hinata tried to imitate her, her fists snapping forward in quick succession. She was more hesitant, her movements a bit tentative at first, but she quickly began to find a rhythm.

Each punch grew stronger, more confident, and soon she was throwing a series of rapid strikes that mimicked Sakura's style.

"Good!" Sakura called out. "But don't forget to follow up with something heavier. Every light strike should set up a stronger blow. Like this—"

Sakura moved in, showing Hinata how to shift her weight from a light jab into a powerful cross, her entire body turning with the motion. Hinata mirrored her, practicing the combination over and over, feeling the flow of energy shift within her.

Hours passed, but Hinata hardly noticed. The training was grueling, and her muscles burned, but she could feel herself improving, feel her body adapting to the new style. She could see the gaps in her own defenses, the places where she could be more aggressive, more assertive.

"See?" Sakura said, a smile on her lips. "You're getting it. Little by little, you're becoming stronger."

Hinata smiled, her chest heaving as she caught her breath. "Thank you, Sakura… for teaching me."

Sakura winked, wiping sweat from her brow. "Hey, we're all in this together. The stronger you get, the better it is for all of us. And besides… I want to see you surprise everyone out there."

Hinata nodded, feeling a renewed sense of determination. She knew the Akatsuki were coming. She knew they were strong, and they were dangerous. But she also knew that they were ready — that she was getting ready.

"Alright!" Sakura declared, rubbing her hands enthusiastically. "That was a good warmup, now let's turn it up a notch."

Sakura tightened her fists, her knuckles whitening. She bounced lightly on her feet, her movements sharp and deliberate, like a spring coiled to strike. "Hinata," she said, smirking slightly. "Let's see if you've been paying attention."

Hinata nodded, her posture low and grounded, her hands fluid, ready to flow and adapt to Sakura's next move. She didn't answer verbally — her focus was wholly on Sakura.

Without warning, Sakura darted forward, her footwork rapid and efficient. She unleashed a quick one-two combination, her fists snapping toward Hinata's face.

Hinata moved with the blows, deflecting them with circular movements of her hands, redirecting Sakura's punches just enough to avoid impact.

"Good! But faster," Sakura called out, immediately closing the gap again with a powerful jab aimed at Hinata's ribs.

Hinata stepped to the side, her hands rising in a smooth, flowing motion to block the jab, and with a twist of her body, she tried to counter with an open palm strike toward Sakura's shoulder.

But Sakura was quick, ducking under the blow and launching an uppercut toward Hinata's jaw. Hinata leaned back just in time, the punch grazing her chin.

"Almost had you there!" Sakura grinned, eyes alight with excitement.

Hinata nodded, her expression focused. She slid back, maintaining a calm, poised stance, her hands never still, always in motion, like water waiting to crash. She shifted her weight, circling around Sakura, testing for an opening.

Sakura noticed the shift and decided to press harder. She stepped in with a flurry of body blows, her fists swinging with the force of a hammer.

Hinata parried, her arms weaving in graceful arcs, absorbing the blows without absorbing the impact.

But Sakura was relentless. She feinted a punch to the left, then pivoted and swung a roundhouse kick aimed at Hinata's side.

Hinata barely managed to raise her arm in time to block, but the force sent her staggering back a few steps.

"Watch your footing, Hinata!" Sakura called, not letting up. "Stay grounded, or you'll get blown away!"

Hinata recovered quickly, taking a deep breath. She dropped lower, sinking her stance deeper into the ground, becoming a little more like a rooted tree.

When Sakura came at her again with another barrage, Hinata flowed around the attacks, deflecting them with a new confidence, her hands moving faster now, more assured.

"That's it!" Sakura encouraged, but her grin turned serious. "Now, counter!"

Hinata's eyes narrowed, and she suddenly stepped in closer than Sakura anticipated, catching her off guard. Hinata's hand lashed out, a quick flick of her wrist aiming for Sakura's collarbone.

Sakura moved to block, but Hinata's other hand was already there, twisting Sakura's wrist and breaking her guard. With a quick thrust, Hinata delivered a gentle palm strike to Sakura's chest.

Sakura grunted, stumbling back slightly. "Not bad… not bad at all!" she panted, wiping a trickle of sweat from her brow.

But Sakura wasn't done. She reset herself, dropping her center of gravity lower, and launched herself forward again.

This time, her fists moved with renewed vigor, her punches sharper and more precise. Hinata deflected a few, but one jab snuck through her defense, catching her in the shoulder.

Hinata winced but used the momentum to spin into a low sweep, aiming to take Sakura's legs out from under her. Sakura jumped just in time, avoiding the sweep and coming down with a powerful straight punch.

Hinata twisted her body, narrowly dodging the punch, but Sakura was quick, snapping out a kick that caught Hinata in the ribs and sent her sprawling to the ground.

Hinata hit the ground hard, her breath knocked out of her. She coughed, quickly rolling back to her feet, but she knew Sakura had her.

"Gotcha," Sakura said with a triumphant grin, standing over her, hands on her hips.

Hinata smiled, wiping a bead of sweat from her forehead. "You did… this time."

Sakura offered her hand to Hinata, who took it gratefully and pulled herself up. "Good spar. You're getting faster, Hinata. I'm impressed."

Neji, who had been watching the entire time, stepped closer. "Well done, both of you," he commended, a rare smile gracing his features. "Hinata, you're improving quickly. And Sakura, your strength is formidable as always."

Sakura chuckled, waving off the compliment. "Ah, don't flatter me too much, Neji. I'm still sore from that last punch Hinata threw."

Hinata blushed. "Thank you, Sakura… for your guidance."

Sakura laid a hand on Hinata's shoulder, her palm glowing with the gentle green light of healing chakra. "You did great today. Just keep at it. You'll get even better."

Hinata nodded, feeling the warmth of the healing chakra seeping into her bruised shoulder. "Thank you… I'll do my best."

Neji crossed his arms, his tone more serious. "We'll need every bit of strength we have soon. The Akatsuki could attack at any time. We must all be ready."

Hinata's smile faded slightly, her brows knitting with concern. "I just hope Naruto will be okay… wherever he is… I hope his training is going well."

Sakura gave her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry about Naruto. He's tougher than he looks. Besides, we're all here. Konoha will hold strong, no matter what."

Hinata nodded, trying to hold on to Sakura's optimism. But the nagging worry lingered. After every training session like this, she would think about using Kaguya's power to heal herself. It would be so easy — Kaguya had offered to help her more, after all.

But she restrained herself, remembering her promise not to tell anyone about Kaguya. She had to keep her word. But what if… one day… she had no other choice?

She pushed the thought aside, focusing on the present, on her friends and the battle ahead. For now, they were together, and they were ready for whatever was coming. But deep down, she knew the real test was yet to come.

11:53 am

The village was littered with debris, smoke curling from the shattered remains of buildings and smoldering fires still burning from Pain's initial assault. The air was thick with tension, and the faint echoes of distant battles filled the village. Among the ruined streets of Konoha, three figures faced off against one another in the midst of the chaos: Sakura, Hinata, and Konan.

Konan stood at a distance, her expression impassive as her body began to disintegrate into sheets of paper, spreading out like the wings of a great paper crane. Her eyes glinted with determination as the paper fluttered and gathered around her in a swirl, forming dozens of razor-sharp paper shuriken.

Sakura, her eyes narrowed, stood ready in Sage Mode. A faint, toxic green aura shimmered around her body, sizzling and dissolving any debris that touched her. Her breaths were slow and measured, her stance low and prepared, a venomous intensity coursing through her veins.

Hinata stood beside her, staff in hand. Her eyes focused on Konan, reading the rhythm of her movements. Her heart was pounding, but her grip on her staff was firm, electricity crackling along its length.

"Sakura," she called out, her voice steady despite the tension. "We need to close the distance! She'll pick us apart if we let her stay at range!"

"Agreed," Sakura replied. "I'll draw her fire with Wood Style and cover you. Get ready to move!"

Hinata nodded. "Ready."

Sakura thrust her hands forward, her chakra surging as roots burst from the cracked earth, snaking and spiraling toward Konan.

The wooden tendrils darted out like striking vipers, aiming to ensnare her. Konan reacted swiftly, her body scattering into paper once more, evading the roots with fluid, unpredictable movements.

She swept her hand outward, sending a torrent of paper blades slicing through the air toward Sakura.

[Venom Cutter]

Sakura stood her ground, taking a deep breath and releasing a high-pressure jet of venom from her mouth. The venomous liquid cut through the paper shuriken, dissolving them mid-flight, but Konan was already on the move again, reforming a few yards away.

Hinata saw her chance. She darted forward, her staff spinning in her hands as she closed the distance. "Sakura!"

With a swift motion, Sakura slammed her hands onto the ground. A cluster of roots erupted around Konan, attempting to trap her in place.

Hinata leaped, her staff crackling with electricity as she aimed a precise strike at Konan's chest.

Konan twisted, her form rippling into paper and scattering, reforming a few feet away just as Hinata landed, striking the earth with her electrified staff. Sparks flew, and the ground sizzled beneath the lightning's power.

Konan's voice was cold, carrying on the wind. "You think you can capture me that easily?" She raised her arms, and a barrage of explosive tags on paper wings shot toward Hinata and Sakura.

"Move!" Sakura shouted, grabbing Hinata by the arm and yanking her away just as the tags exploded, sending a fiery shockwave through the air.

They hit the ground, rolling to avoid the blast radius. The shockwave sent dust and debris flying, filling the air with a choking haze.

Coughing, Hinata sprang back to her feet, her senses sharp. She glanced at Sakura, who nodded. "We have to keep pressing her," Hinata urged. "We can't let her get another chance like that."

Sakura took a deep breath, the chakra cloak around her flaring brighter. "I'll cover you. Get ready to flank her!"

[Acid breath]

Sakura inhaled deeply, then exhaled a thick, toxic mist of corrosive acid.

The green fog spread out like a curtain, obscuring Konan's vision. "Now, Hinata!" Sakura called out.

Hinata sprinted through the fog, staying low, her staff at the ready. She burst out of the cloud just in time to see Konan dodging back, her paper form beginning to scatter again.

"You're not getting away!" Hinata yelled, swinging her staff in a wide arc. Lightning surged along the staff, crackling with energy.

Konan darted back, but her movements were slightly sluggish, her paper wings burning and curling at the edges from the corrosive mist.

"Clever," Konan murmured, her eyes narrowing. She sent a wave of paper toward Hinata, attempting to bind her.

Hinata pivoted and brought her staff up, deflecting the paper with a series of swift, precise strikes. "Sakura, now!" she called out.

Sakura charged forward, her acid cloak flaring with intensity. She aimed a punch at Konan, but Konan shifted, her body turning into a whirl of paper again.

Sakura's fist hit the ground, cracking the earth with a resounding boom, her chakra acid eating away at the stone.

Konan reformed above, paper wings spread wide. "You're persistent," she said, her voice almost admiring. She raised her hand, preparing another barrage of paper bombs.

"Don't give her the chance!" Hinata shouted. She hurled her staff like a javelin, lightning-infused chakra trailing behind it.

The staff spun end over end toward Konan, forcing her to dodge aside.

Sakura took the opening. "Let's see you handle this!" she roared, slamming her palms together.

[Wood Style: Binding Branches]

Thick roots and branches exploded from the ground, shooting toward Konan from multiple angles.

For a moment, it seemed like they would envelop her, but Konan's body erupted into hundreds of paper clones, scattering in every direction.

Hinata's eyes widened. "She's splitting up!" she warned.

The paper clones flew toward them, each holding an explosive tag. "Separate them," Konan's real voice commanded from somewhere in the chaos.

"Stick together!" Sakura yelled. "We can't get isolated!" She released a torrent of acid mist, dissolving several clones mid-flight.

But there were too many.

Explosions erupted around them, the concussive force knocking them off their feet.

Sakura rolled and sprang back up. "Hinata!" she called, spotting her teammate a few yards away, shaking off the daze. "Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine!" Hinata shouted back, pushing herself up, her hand crackling with lightning as she retrieved her staff. "But we need to find the real Konan!"

They scanned the battlefield, eyes darting around. The smoke was thick, making it hard to see.

Suddenly, Konan appeared above them, her wings folding back as she dove down, a spear of paper aiming directly for Sakura's heart.

Sakura reacted instantly. "Not today!" She shot out a jet of venom, shooting upward to intercept Konan.

But Konan twisted at the last moment, dodging the acid, and reformed right in front of Sakura, driving the paper spear forward.

Sakura's acid cloak steamed, the paper spear sizzling as it made contact, disintegrating before it could penetrate. Sakura smirked. "That won't work."

Konan's face remained calm. "I know." Her paper body shifted again, and in a burst of speed, she moved past Sakura, aiming straight for Hinata.

Hinata readied herself, holding her staff in front. "Come on," she whispered, her heart racing.

As Konan closed in, Hinata sidestepped and swung her staff upward with all her might, electricity crackling along its length.

The blow caught Konan across the side, but her body scattered into paper before it could make a solid hit.

She reformed a few feet away, eyes narrowing. "Impressive."

Sakura rushed to Hinata's side, breathing heavily. "Stay close," she said, her voice tense. "We need to wear her down."

Konan hovered above, a small smile on her lips. "You two are formidable," she admitted. "But we have what we came for."

Before they could react, Konan's body dispersed into paper once more, and with a gust of wind, she was gone, flying away on paper wings.

Sakura and Hinata stood together, catching their breath, muscles tense, eyes scanning for any sign of Konan's return. But she had truly vanished into the smoke-filled sky.

"What… what was she after?" Hinata panted.

Sakura shook her head, her acid cloak dissipating as she released her sage mode. "I don't know," she admitted. "But whatever it was, we can't let her get away with it."

Hinata nodded, determination in her eyes. "Let's go."

They turned and raced off into the ruined streets of Konoha, ready for whatever came next.

12:30 pm

The air was thick with dust and smoke, the acrid smell of destruction hanging heavy over the ruins of Konoha. What had once been a bustling village was now a wasteland of debris and broken buildings, scattered remnants of homes and shops. Sakura wiped sweat from her brow, her hands stained with blood, her muscles aching from hours of nonstop healing. She could feel every cut, every bruise on her own body, but the pain didn't matter. She had to keep going.

"Next!" she called out, her voice hoarse. A young man was brought to her, his arm hanging at an awkward angle. She pressed her glowing hands to his wound, gritting her teeth as she channeled the last reserves of her chakra.

Nearby, Ino moved with equal urgency, her face a mask of concentration. "This one's stable," she muttered, gesturing to a patient before immediately turning to another. "Who's next?"

A medic-nin approached them. "We've accounted for all the civilians we could reach, but... there are still many trapped under the rubble."

Ino nodded grimly. "How many?" she asked, her tone sharp.

"Too many," the medic replied, voice heavy with exhaustion.

Sakura paused, wiping her hands on her torn sleeve. Her eyes darted to the entrance of the hospital. "We can't get to them all from here," she murmured. "We need more people out there."

Just then, Hinata appeared, cradling a small girl with a bloodied head wound in her arms. "Sakura," she called out, voice soft but urgent. "Can you help?"

Sakura moved forward, taking the girl from Hinata's arms. "Thank you," she said with a tired smile. "We're stretched thin here."

Hinata nodded, her expression tense. She glanced at the medic, then back at Sakura. "There are still so many people trapped... I'm going to see if I can find any more survivors."

Sakura hesitated, worry flashing across her face. "Be careful, Hinata," she warned. "It's dangerous out there."

Hinata offered a small smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "I will," she promised before turning back towards the ruins.

As she made her way through the devastation, searching for any signs of life amidst the chaos. Her heart was pounding in her chest, a mix of adrenaline and fear coursing through her veins. She had a mission — find survivors, save as many as she could. But as she moved deeper into the ruins, something else caught her attention.

In the distance, beyond the twisted remains of what had once been the village center, she saw Naruto. He was no longer standing, no longer fighting. He was pinned to the ground by black chakra rods, Pain standing over him like a dark, unyielding shadow. Hinata's breath caught in her throat, her steps faltering.

Naruto. He was in trouble.

Her heart sank. Tsunade's orders were clear: no one was to interfere in the battle between Naruto and Pain. They were to stay away, to let Naruto handle it. But seeing him like that — defeated, vulnerable, in danger — made something inside her twist painfully.

Her thoughts warred within her. She still had a duty to fulfill, to find survivors and help them. But Naruto… Naruto needed her.

She looked back at the ruined hospital, then back to the center of the village. A voice called out to her, pulling her from her thoughts.

"Hinata!" Shino's voice, strained with pain, came from her left. She turned and saw him lying on the ground, his leg twisted at an odd angle, Kiba crouched beside him.

"Shino!" Hinata ran over, kneeling beside him. "Your leg…"

Shino nodded, wincing. "Sprained. It's nothing serious," he replied. "But there are still civilians trapped… my insects are searching for them."

Kiba, his face grim, looked past her, his gaze fixed on the distant figure of Naruto pinned to the ground. "Hinata… do you see what's happening?" he muttered, voice tight with worry. "Naruto's… he's…"

Hinata's eyes darted back to Naruto, her heart clenching. She knew the stakes, knew how dangerous Pain was. And she knew Naruto would fight until his last breath to protect everyone.

"Naruto can't be captured… not by that guy," Kiba continued, frustration and fear evident in his voice.

Hinata bit her lip, her mind spinning. She could feel her resolve wavering, torn between duty and her desire to protect the person she loved more than anything. She looked at Shino, then back at Kiba. They were injured, exhausted, but they were still here, still fighting.

And Naruto…

She took a deep breath, steadying herself. "Kiba," she said quietly, "take Shino back to the hospital. He needs medical attention."

Kiba frowned, looking between her and Naruto. "Hinata… what are you going to do?"

Hinata hesitated for a moment, then glanced back at the village center, at the crater where Naruto was pinned, where Pain loomed over him like a nightmare made real. Her decision crystallized in her mind, firm and unyielding.

"I'm going to do something... selfish," she whispered, almost to herself.

Kiba's eyes widened. "Hinata, wait—"

But she was already moving, turning on her heel and sprinting towards the village center. Behind her, Kiba's voice called out, desperate. "Hinata, stop! You can't—"

She didn't turn back. Her mind was made up. She knew what she had to do. She had to reach Naruto. She had to protect him, no matter what.

As the rubble and the smoke swallowed her figure, Kiba's voice faded into the distance. The sound of her own heartbeat pounded in her ears, drowning out everything else.

She didn't know what she would do when she reached him. She only knew she had to try. She had to be by his side.

12:45 pm

Naruto felt the cold bite of the metal chakra rods pinning him to the ground, his limbs spread out, his body immobilized. His vision was blurred by the searing pain shooting through his muscles, but through the haze, he saw her — Hinata, sprawled on the ground. Blood trickled from a gash on her forehead, staining her pale skin red, her breaths shallow and ragged. Naruto's heart pounded with a desperate, frantic rhythm. He silently begged her to stay down, to stop trying, to save herself.

"Hinata… please… just stay still…" he whispered, his voice breaking, the words barely audible over the roaring in his ears. He knew she couldn't hear him, but he pleaded anyway, a prayer carried on the wind, lost in the madness of battle.

But Hinata wouldn't stop. With every ounce of strength she had left, she pushed herself forward, crawling inch by painful inch across the torn-up earth. Her fingers clawed at the dirt, dragging her battered body toward him. Her face was set in a look of fierce determination, her eyes never wavering from Naruto's.

Pain stood above them both, his expression cold, detached, and inscrutable. His gaze flicked between Naruto and Hinata, his eyes narrowing slightly as he watched her struggle.

"What compels you, girl?" Pain's voice was steady, almost curious, like he was observing some strange phenomenon. "Why do you fight so hard when you are so weak? Do you think this makes a difference?"

Hinata's breath was labored, her body trembling with the effort. She had no words left. She kept moving, one hand in front of the other, every inch forward an act of defiance.

Pain's lips pressed into a thin line. "Your perseverance is admirable… but ultimately pointless," he declared. "I have no more time to waste."

He extended a hand, and with a casual flick of his wrist, Hinata was lifted into the air as if she weighed nothing. She gasped as the invisible force gripped her, and Naruto's eyes widened in horror.

"No!" Naruto shouted, straining against the rods that held him down, his muscles bulging with effort, his voice raw with panic. "Leave her alone!"

But Pain did not listen. He slammed Hinata down into the ground with brutal force. Her body hit the earth with a sickening thud, dust and debris flying up around her. Naruto's breath caught in his throat as he heard the impact, his heart twisting in his chest.

Pain raised his arm again, and Hinata's body rose into the air, limp and broken. With another gesture, he slammed her back down. The sound of her bones cracking echoed in the stillness, and Naruto felt something inside him shatter.

"Do you see now?" Pain's voice was calm, almost serene, as he looked down at Naruto. "This is what your resistance brings. It endangers those you care for. This is the cost of your foolish defiance."

Naruto's breath came in ragged gasps, his eyes wide with shock, his chest heaving with the effort of holding back the scream that threatened to tear from his throat. His eyes darted to Hinata's form, sprawled on the ground like a broken doll, her chest barely rising and falling.

"Humans," Pain continued, "are driven by their selfish desires. They fight for what they want, regardless of the consequences to others. Look at her — look at how her selfishness led her to this fate. She let her personal desires lead her here. If she had simply remained still, she would not be broken."

He gestured toward Hinata, his expression cold. "But instead, she allowed her emotions to control her, just as you do. It is a cycle of pain and suffering that only she can end."

Naruto's eyes burned with unshed tears. Pain's words were a distant, meaningless drone in his ears. All he could see was Hinata, lying motionless, her face turned toward him, her eyes half-open, staring vacantly at the sky.

Pain's voice dropped lower, more ominous. "When I extract the Nine-Tails from you, the world will know peace. Humanity will be repurposed into something greater. Our saviour will heal this broken world."

Naruto's vision blurred as his gaze lingered on Hinata. A tear rolled down his cheek, hot against his skin. Hinata's chest rose and fell in short, stuttering gasps, and then she coughed, blood spilling from her lips, staining her mouth crimson.

"Hinata…" Naruto's voice broke, choked with emotion, his heart heavy with the weight of his helplessness.

Pain lifted his hand again, ready to deliver the final blow. "This is the end for her."

Naruto's breath caught in his throat. He watched, powerless, as Hinata's body was lifted once more into the air. He could see the life fading from her eyes, her body trembling with the effort to stay conscious.

The last thing Hinata saw was the clear, blue sky above, an endless expanse of calm amidst the chaos. For a moment, she reached inward, desperately seeking Kaguya's presence, hoping for some last flicker of power to save her. But she found only silence, an empty void where the goddess's voice had once been.

Naruto's scream tore through the air, raw and guttural. "Hinata!"

Pain's arm moved, and with a final, decisive gesture, he sent her crashing back to the ground. The world seemed to still, the impact sending a shockwave through the earth. Naruto felt the ground tremble beneath him, felt his heart stop as he watched her fall. He saw her body hit the ground, saw the dust rise around her, saw her head loll to the side.

Then she stopped moving.

Naruto's scream echoed in his ears, a sound of pure anguish, of heartbreak and rage all entwined into one unbearable cry. Tears flowed freely down his cheeks, his chest heaving with the force of his sobs.

Pain turned his gaze back to Naruto, his expression impassive, his voice steady. "Now do you see, Naruto? Do you understand the futility of your resistance? This world needs saving, and you are the key to that salvation."

Naruto's vision blurred with tears. All he could see was Hinata's lifeless form, her body crumpled on the ground, her blood staining the earth.

Hinata's eyes fluttered open, and she found herself in a vast, endless expanse, a plane of twilight. It was neither dark nor light, just an in-between, a realm that seemed to stretch infinitely in all directions. She looked around, confused, her breaths coming in short, frantic bursts. Her heart pounded in her chest, and her limbs felt strangely heavy, like they were weighed down by unseen chains.

She dropped to her knees, overcome by emotion, the events replaying in her mind like a cruel loop she couldn't escape. Pain's cold voice, the feel of her bones breaking, the blood pooling in her mouth, and Naruto's desperate screams… It all crashed down on her with a crushing weight. She had been reckless, foolish, jumping in to defend Naruto from Pain's wrath. She had known it was a risk, but she had taken it anyway. And now…

"Am I… dead?" she whispered, her voice trembling, barely holding back the sobs that threatened to escape.

A presence filled the air, cold and commanding. Hinata's head snapped up, and there she was — Kaguya. Her silvery hair flowed around her like mist, her unearthly eyes gazing down at Hinata with an inscrutable expression. For a moment, they just stared at each other, an electric tension hanging in the air.

Hinata felt a surge of conflicting emotions — fear, anger, and desperation all entwined. "Why… Why didn't you answer me?" she cried out, her voice raw, her hands clenching into fists at her sides. "I called out to you, I begged you for help… Why didn't you answer?"

Kaguya's expression softened slightly, and she spoke, her voice a low, ethereal whisper that seemed to echo through the endless void around them. "I am sorry, Hinata. I have responded to you so many times before… and I was drained. I overestimated myself and my abilities. I could not reach you until now."

Hinata's shoulders trembled as a wave of grief and anger washed over her. She lowered her head, tears streaming down her cheeks. "So… you couldn't save me?" Her voice broke on the last word. "Am I… am I dead?"

Kaguya did not respond immediately, her eyes lingering on Hinata's trembling form. After what felt like an eternity, she spoke, her tone measured and deliberate. "You are… technically dead, yes. But because of our connection, your soul is in a state of limbo. You are neither alive nor dead. You exist… in between."

Hinata felt the ground sway beneath her, her vision blurring with fresh tears. "Limbo…?" she repeated, the word foreign and terrifying on her tongue. "I… I don't understand…"

Kaguya sighed, a sound that seemed to carry the weight of ages. "It is why you can see me, speak with me. You are on the same plane of existence that I am confined to."

The explanation was too much, too overwhelming. Hinata's knees gave way, and she sank lower, muttering Naruto's name over and over like a prayer, her mind filled with images of him, pinned down by those rods, helpless. "Naruto… Oh, Naruto… What have I done? I've only made things worse… Why… Why did it have to end like this? Why does the world never let me be happy?"

Kaguya's expression softened, an emotion akin to pity crossing her face. "The world can be cruel, Hinata," she said gently. "It is a sad fact of life. It takes what it wants, without mercy or reason."

She moved closer, her form gliding across the ground, her presence imposing and yet strangely… comforting. To Hinata's surprise, Kaguya reached out and gently smoothed a strand of hair away from her tear-streaked face. It was the first time Kaguya had ever touched her.

Hinata looked up, her wide, tear-filled eyes meeting Kaguya's. "Why…?" she whispered, confused by the unexpected kindness.

Kaguya's gaze was unreadable, a hint of a smile touching her lips. "I pity you, child," she murmured. "And I feel… empathy for your condition."

Hinata blinked, not quite believing what she was hearing. She had always thought Kaguya to be distant. She had never imagined that the goddess could feel something like empathy. "Empathy…?" she repeated softly.

Kaguya nodded, her voice low and filled with a strange, haunting quality. "Yes. I see in you… a reflection of myself. A soul burdened by suffering, yearning for something more." She paused, her eyes narrowing slightly, as if weighing her next words carefully. "I can offer a solution."

Hinata's heart skipped a beat. "A… solution?" she asked, confusion etching her features. "What do you mean?"

Kaguya's gaze turned sharper, more focused. "I can completely possess your body," she replied, her voice calm, measured. "Restore you to life… make all your pain and grief disappear."

Hinata's breath caught in her throat. Her mind swirled with questions, doubts, fears. "Completely possess… my body?" she echoed, struggling to comprehend what Kaguya was suggesting.

Kaguya extended a graceful arm, and suddenly, a glowing scroll appeared before her, floating just above her palm. The sight was both mesmerizing and terrifying. Strange symbols covered the parchment, written in a language Hinata did not understand.

"Do you want me to take away all the suffering in your world?" Kaguya asked, her voice suddenly intense, almost commanding.

Hinata's mind raced. Her thoughts flew to her friends — to Kurenai, to Naruto, to every moment they had shared. And then her mind settled on Pain, his cold, merciless face, the monstrous cruelty in his eyes as he had tortured her and Naruto. Her heart twisted, grief giving way to anger, and she rose to her feet, meeting Kaguya's gaze with a newfound determination.

"Kill Pain," she demanded, her voice shaking but resolute. "End his life."

Kaguya paused, her expression unreadable. "Is that really all you want, Hinata?" she asked softly. "I can do so much more…"

Hinata hesitated, then nodded, feeling the weight of her choices settling on her shoulders. "Restore the village," she added, her voice firmer now. "Bring it back to how it was before… Can you do that?"

Kaguya studied Hinata, her blue eyes piercing and unreadable, and then, after a moment, she nodded slowly. "Yes," she replied. "I can do it. But you must grant me permission."

Hinata swallowed hard, her throat tight. "How?"

Kaguya gestured to the glowing scroll before her. "Place your hand on the scroll," she instructed. "And allow me to take control."

Hinata looked at the scroll, hesitating for just a fraction of a second. She knew there was no other choice. She had to save Naruto, save everyone. She nodded, her resolve firm, and stepped forward.

"Do it," she said, her voice firm. "Take control."

She reached out and placed her hand on the scroll. The moment her skin touched the glowing parchment, it vanished, dissolving into mist. Kaguya smiled, a cold, knowing smile, and whispered, "I will grant you your heart's desire, Hinata."

Naruto lay flat against the cold, unforgiving ground, his body pinned down by the chakra rods driven into his limbs. Pain coursed through every fiber of his being, but none of it mattered. His world had shrunk down to a single point — Hinata.

His tear-filled eyes were locked onto her lifeless form, lying motionless in the dirt, a pool of crimson spreading beneath her. Her bright eyes, once filled with warmth and determination, were now empty, void of life. The sight tore at his soul, a raw, unimaginable agony that cut deeper than any blade.

"Hinata…" he whispered, his voice cracking, barely audible. The tears flowed freely, mixing with the blood and dirt on his cheeks.

Pain stepped closer, his cold, indifferent gaze fixed on Naruto. "It's time to end this," he intoned, his voice echoing in the air, filled with an unyielding finality.

Naruto barely registered Pain's words, his mind still trapped in the shock of Hinata's death. Pain took another step forward, but something changed. The skies above began to shift, the air growing thick with an unnatural tension. Dark thunderclouds gathered overhead, swirling and churning like a vortex, flashes of lightning crackling within their depths.

Pain paused, his brow furrowing in confusion. His eyes moved upward, scanning the skies. Naruto, too, looked up, his breath catching in his throat. "What… is this?" he thought, bewildered.

For a moment, he dared to hope that it was Sasuke, unleashing his Kirin jutsu. But the energy in the air felt different — darker, more chaotic, like something from a nightmare.

Then, without warning, the skies exploded.

A blinding beam of blue energy shot down from the thunderclouds, tearing through the sky with a deafening roar. It struck the ground with a force that shook the earth, landing squarely on Hinata's lifeless body. Pain leapt back, narrowly avoiding the blast, his expression a mix of shock and bewilderment.

Naruto's eyes widened in disbelief. "Hinata!" he shouted, his voice raw with desperation. He struggled against the rods pinning him down, but they held fast. His heart pounded wildly in his chest as he watched Hinata's body, still and lifeless, begin to shake violently beneath the intensity of the beam.

The air around her seemed to ripple and distort, the blue light wrapping around her form like a cocoon. Her body began to levitate, slowly lifting off the ground, suspended in the air as if held by invisible hands. Pain's eyes narrowed, his face darkening with suspicion.

Naruto could only watch, stunned, as the impossible unfolded before him. Hinata's wounds began to close, her broken bones snapping back into place, the bloodstains on her clothes evaporating into the ether. It was as if time itself was rewinding, undoing every injury, every drop of blood spilled.

Then, Hinata's dark, lifeless eyes suddenly flared to life — but they were no longer the soft ebony he knew. They glowed a brilliant, unnatural blue, shining like two burning stars against the backdrop of the dark sky.

A wave of energy exploded from her body, radiating outward in all directions. The ground trembled beneath the force of the shockwave, trees swayed violently, and rocks were sent tumbling.

By the edge of the village, Sakura staggered, almost falling to her knees under the impact of the blast. She shielded her eyes, struggling to remain upright. "What… what is happening?" she gasped, a sense of dread creeping into her heart.

Naruto felt the shockwave wash over him, his hair blown back by the sheer force. He watched in stunned silence as Hinata's body slowly straightened, her feet hovering just above the ground. She turned, her glowing eyes fixed on Pain, an unnatural light pouring from her gaze.

Naruto's breath caught in his throat. "Hinata…?" he whispered, hope and fear twisting together in his chest. His mind screamed at him that it was impossible, that she couldn't be alive again, that this had to be some kind of cruel trick.

But as Hinata's mouth opened, the voice that emerged sent a chill down his spine.

It was not Hinata's voice.

The tone was deep, echoing, filled with an eerie calm that held a thousand years of sorrow and rage. A voice that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once, a voice that carried the weight of something ancient and unfathomable.

Naruto's eyes widened, his heart pounding in his chest. "What… what have you done, Hinata…?" he whispered, terror gripping his soul.

The being that now occupied Hinata's form tilted its head slightly, as if amused, the glowing blue eyes locking onto Pain's.

And in that moment, Naruto knew that whatever was now before him… it was no longer just Hinata.

The air around them grew colder, a dark energy pulsing in the atmosphere. Naruto felt a shiver run down his spine, a deep, primal fear gnawing at his insides as he stared at the figure floating before him. The world seemed to hold its breath, waiting for what would come next.

Kaguya, her aura radiating an unearthly power, studied Pain with eyes that glowed an ethereal blue. She had chosen to manifest through Hinata's body, her presence unmistakable, her expression cold and unyielding. She stared down at the man before her — a man revered, feared, but in her eyes, nothing more than an insect.

"Yahiko Uzumaki," she addressed him, her voice like ice cracking across a frozen lake.

Pain, the very symbol of Akatsuki's might, flinched at the sound of his true name. His breath caught in his throat, eyes widening with disbelief. Kaguya's aura pressed against him, heavier with each passing second, and his knees buckled beneath the weight. He fell to the ground, his body trembling as if an unseen hand forced him to kneel.

The goddess's face twisted into a mask of disdain, the light in her eyes growing brighter, sharper. "How dare you lay a finger upon my vessel," she hissed, her voice both soft and filled with fury. "How dare you touch what you cannot comprehend."

Pain's lips trembled. "I… I didn't know," he stammered, fear lacing his words. "I beg of you, goddess… I beg you to spare me. I am your faithful servant… I have always been devoted to you."

Kaguya's gaze remained fixed on him, her disdain palpable, but there was a flicker of something else — calculation, a decision already made.

She began to glide toward him, her movements fluid, otherworldly, as if her feet did not touch the ground. The shadows around them seemed to stretch and bend toward her, drawn by her mere presence.

"I acknowledge your loyalty, Yahiko Uzumaki," she said, each word measured, regal, yet cutting. "That is precisely why you, of all, should understand what must happen."

She stopped before him, her eyes glowing brighter, cold and unforgiving. Pain's breath quickened, but he did not move, his body too heavy with dread to obey any instinct to flee.

"You will entrust your life to me," she declared, her voice rising in intensity. "A symbol is required — a necessary example to those who dare to defy the divine will. Your end will be that symbol, a mark upon the world, one that will bring forth the pure world I seek."

Pain shuddered, his eyes wide with terror, yet within them, a spark of acceptance. His fate, it seemed, was inevitable. He straightened his back, fighting the tremble in his limbs, mustering what little courage remained. "I… I entrust my soul to you, my goddess," he whispered, his voice quaking.

Kaguya's hand reached forward, hovering just above his forehead. Her touch was light, almost a caress, yet within that moment, the promise of death lingered. Her eyes, devoid of mercy, bore into his.

"Your sacrifice shall not be in vain," she whispered.

The instant her palm met his skin, Pain's body went rigid, his eyes rolling back as a rush of power surged through him.

Then, silence.

His body crumpled like a marionette with its strings cut, lifeless at her feet. Kaguya did not spare him another glance.

Instead, she turned, her gaze falling upon Naruto, who stood frozen, caught between disbelief and dread. The sight of Hinata's familiar form, twisted by an unknown force, sent a chill down his spine. He barely dared to breathe.

"Hinata…?" he whispered, a desperate question more than a call. But the woman before him gave no indication she had ever known that name. Her eyes did not soften; they remained cold, imperious.

She looked upon him as one might regard a tool or a minor inconvenience. "Jinchūriki," she addressed him, her voice stripped of anything human, a term meant to remind him of what he was — a vessel, like the one she had so easily claimed.

Kaguya lifted a hand, her fingers gliding through the air with delicate precision.

"Heed me, Creation…" she murmured, her voice carrying a quiet command.

Naruto felt the chakra rods embedded in his body shudder, then crumble away to dust, his bonds dissolving into nothingness. His limbs were free, but he remained paralyzed by a fear he could not fully understand.

Without a second glance at him, Kaguya turned and began to ascend, her feet leaving the ground. She drifted toward the center of the village, her lips moving with words too low for Naruto to hear. She seemed almost lost in thought, her mind already moving beyond the mortal plane.

Kaguya stood at the heart of the ruined village, Her eyes, blue as the sky, glowed with a fierce, unearthly light, her expression unreadable. Around her, the remnants of what once was lay scattered — broken beams, shattered stones, the remnants of lives lived and lost in an instant.

She inhaled deeply, feeling the weight of time and memory pressing upon her, then exhaled, her breath steady and sure.

She raised her arms slowly, palms open to the heavens, and as she did, a great, wide circle of light sprang into existence at the borders of the village. It glowed with a soft, ethereal hue that shimmered and shifted, almost alive with energy.

Her voice rang out, clear and resonant, a command that echoed through the stillness.

"Heed me, Time," Kaguya intoned, her voice carrying a power that seemed to make the air itself shiver. "Turn back your endless march, restore what was lost."

Her right hand lifted high, fingers spread wide, twisting her wrist in a slow, deliberate circle. The very air around her seemed to ripple in response, and the rubble at her feet began to tremble.

Broken stones and shattered wood groaned as they began to move, sliding back to where they once belonged as if pulled by invisible strings. Dust rose in spirals, caught in the eddies of her magic.

Kaguya's left hand came forward, sweeping in a wide, graceful arc. "Heed me, Creation," she continued, her voice a low, commanding whisper. "Breathe life into the void, renew this broken place."

Streams of shimmering chakra poured from her fingertips, bright and vivid, like rivers of liquid light. They flowed across the ground, filling the empty spaces where walls once stood, weaving themselves into the shape of buildings.

Doors and windows appeared, beams rose, and rooftops formed, all drawn from the air itself, as if the village were being painted back into existence by some unseen artist's hand.

Kaguya's eyes burned brighter, her expression focused, as she moved both hands in a complex, fluid pattern, weaving time and creation together like threads in a tapestry. Her voice grew louder, more commanding.

"Heed me, Time. Heed me, Creation. Reweave what was unraveled; restore what once stood proud."

The circle of light around the village pulsed, glowing with a radiant intensity. The air itself seemed to hum with power. The rubble continued to rise and reform, fractured walls mending themselves, shattered rooftops repairing. New structures emerged from the very essence of the chakra she wielded, solidifying and taking shape.

For a moment, it was as if two worlds existed at once — the broken remnants of the past and the newly formed, whole and unblemished, overlapped in a surreal dance. And then, with a final, sweeping gesture of her arms, Kaguya brought her hands down, her movements slow and purposeful.

The circle of light around the village pulsed once, twice, and then faded into nothingness, leaving behind a village fully restored, its streets whole and untouched, as if no calamity had ever befallen it.

Kaguya lowered her arms, her breathing calm, her face serene. Around her, the village stood in perfect silence, as if it had been holding its breath. The air settled, the tension evaporating like mist in the morning sun. The ruins were gone, and in their place was life reborn.

She gazed upon her handiwork, her expression one of quiet satisfaction, though her eyes remained distant, contemplating something far beyond mortal comprehension. For a moment, the world seemed to pause, waiting for her judgment.

Kaguya exhaled softly, a breath that carried with it the weight of ancient sorrows and eternal wisdom. "It is done," she murmured, almost to herself, and the village around her seemed to sigh in relief, whole and alive once more under her watchful gaze.

Inside his mind, Naruto heard the panicked voice of Kurama roar, its tone laced with a terror he had never heard before.

"Naruto, defend yourself! Get away from her — it's Kaguya! I will lend you everything, just get away before it's too late!"

Naruto blinked, shaken by the fox's desperation. Kurama had never pleaded like this, never sounded so afraid. Why now? Why against her?

His thoughts shattered as he saw Hinata's body falter, her eyes dimming. Kaguya's essence seemed to flicker, her form wavering before it simply disappeared, releasing the body she had taken. Hinata collapsed to the ground, her knees buckling, her body slumping in a heap.

"Hinata!" Naruto cried, breaking free from his paralysis. He dashed to her side, sliding to his knees, and gathered her into his arms. He pressed his hand against her cheek, feeling the warmth of her skin, the fragile pulse beneath.

She was breathing — faintly, but she was breathing. "Hinata… please," he whispered, his voice breaking. "Please, be okay… Be here with me…"

For a moment, there was nothing. Then, her eyes fluttered open, those familiar, gentle eyes meeting his, filled with confusion and pain.

But they were different this time.

Gone were the dark orbs Naruto had grown accustomed to, for now Hinata's irises were a bright cyan, adorned with a floral pattern and softly glowing with an ancient, unusual energy.

"N-Naruto…?" she murmured, her voice weak but unmistakably hers.

Naruto's heart melted, tears spilling down his cheeks. He held her closer, burying his face in her hair, his body shaking with a mix of relief and fear. "Hinata… you're alive," he sobbed. "You're here… You're here with me…"

And for that moment, all the terror, all the confusion of the past minutes faded into the background. For now, he held her, and she was alive.