Chapter 19: The last hope
The rooftop of the Hokage Tower was engulfed in chaos. The once peaceful village below trembled as Team 7 faced the goddess in Hinata's form, the sky swirling in dark clouds above, as if nature itself recoiled from Kaguya's presence. Obito and Kurenai battled fiercely in the distance, holding off Konan and the monstrous juubi clones of Sasori and other shinobi Kaguya had sacrificed. But here, on the tower, the true battle was unfolding.
Naruto, eyes ablaze with determination, was the first to charge.
[Rasengan]
His jutsu emitted a low hum as he rushed toward Kaguya.
But her eyes narrowed. With a mere thought, the world seemed to stop. Time itself ground to a halt, freezing Naruto mid-sprint.
Kaguya watched, unamused, as he remained suspended in the air like a puppet, a glowing circle appearing underneath them both.
But then, in a flicker of yellow light, Naruto vanished.
Kaguya's eyes widened slightly as Naruto reappeared behind her.
"His teleportation jutsu again!" she thought, turning to face him. But something else caught her eye—the seal on his palm.
The design was ancient, almost forgotten, but Kaguya recognized it instantly. It was the same seal that Hagoromo and Hamura had used centuries ago when they fought her.
"This… cannot be." Her curiosity piqued, Kaguya's lips curled into a dark smile. "So, you carry their legacy after all."
As she mused over this revelation, Sakura's wood tendrils shot forward, aiming to ensnare her. But the moment they touched Kaguya's time circle, they too froze in place, rendered useless by her power.
Kaguya raised a hand, casual and dismissive, as several flaming phoenixes materialized from thin air, screeching as they hurtled toward Team 7. The fiery birds filled the sky, heat radiating in waves.
Just as one of the phoenixes was about to crash into Sasuke, Kaguya's vision blurred, and she found herself standing where he had been.
"How did..."
Before she could complete her sentence, the explosion tore through her, the force of her own attack slamming her into the rooftop. The heat seared through her clothes, scorching her skin.
She staggered to her feet, eyes blazing with fury and confusion. "What…?"
But before she could finish her thought, Sakura was upon her, fist raised, a war cry on her lips.
"This is for Ino!"
Sakura's punch connected with Kaguya's jaw, sending blood flying from her mouth.
The force of the blow rattled Kaguya to her core, momentarily breaking her connection with Hinata.
Kaguya snarled, stepping back as Sakura unleashed a flurry of punches. Each strike reverberated through Kaguya's body, disrupting her hold on Hinata bit by bit.
The power behind Sakura's fists was undeniable, and for a moment , Kaguya felt herself losing ground.
'She's strong...' Kaguya thought, her irritation mounting. 'Too strong.'
One of Sakura's punches came dangerously close to Kaguya's temple, and Kaguya barely dodged. But even the glancing blow caused her Tenseigan to flicker.
Alarm shot through her. 'This girl's nature energy... it's weakening me.'
Kaguya's magic reinforcement was starting to fail, her body slower, more vulnerable.
With a growl of anger, Kaguya evaded a cross from Sakura and grabbed her by the wrist.
In one fluid motion, she struck several tenketsu points, disabling Sakura's arm. Then, with a swift, brutal blow to the ribs, she sent Sakura stumbling backward, gasping for air.
Kaguya moved to finish her, raising her hand in front of Sakura's head. A golden pulse of energy built at her hand, ready to vaporize the kunoichi.
But in a blur of orange, Sakura disappeared, leaving Kaguya's attack to vaporize the space where she had been.
Cursing, Kaguya turned, eyes narrowing as she spotted Naruto and Sakura a short distance away, the former having teleported her just in time.
Before she could react, Naruto was in front of her again, the blade of Mugenkei crackling with energy.
He swung, the dark blade grazing her side as she barely evaded it.
But Sasuke was already there. His Chidori lance crackled with lethal intent as it streaked toward her heart.
Kaguya summoned a barrier at the last second, blocking the lance, but before she could catch her breath, she felt a presence behind her.
[Sage art: Venom cutter]
Sakura's venom cutter—a concentrated jet of toxic acid—came whistling toward her.
Reacting quickly, Kaguya expanded her barrier, blocking the venom just in time.
But Sasuke used the momentary distraction to charge, his form a blur of lightning as he raced toward her, the Sword of Nunoboko drawn.
Kaguya's eyes widened as Sasuke's sword cleaved through her barrier like it was nothing, the blade crackling with an ancient, divine energy.
She barely twisted out of the way, the blade nicking her arm, sending a shockwave of power through her.
'That sword...' Kaguya thought, her mind racing. 'It reeks of Hamura.'
Sakura leaped at Kaguya, fist raised to strike again.
But Kaguya, her patience wearing thin, froze Sakura in time with a wave of her hand.
She barely had a moment to breathe before Naruto appeared again, his Mugenkei in the form of a sword, slashing at her with terrifying speed.
[Almighty push]
Kaguya unleashed a pulse of chakra, sending Naruto flying back. But the blond ninja teleported mid-air, landing gracefully on a nearby wall, his eyes locked onto her.
Kaguya turned back to Sakura, ready to crush her with a final blow, only to find that Sasuke had swapped her out with a pebble.
[Amaterasu]
Before Kaguya could react, flames erupted around her as Sasuke's Amaterasu hit its mark.
The black flames licked at her skin, but Kaguya absorbed them into her violet orb with a flick of her wrist.
Her frustration mounting, Kaguya raised her hands, summoning a massive waterfall that crashed toward Team 7. But Sakura reacted swiftly,
[Wood style: Barrier jutsu]
She placed a hand on the ground, creating a barrier to block the oncoming wave.
Kaguya's eyes flashed as she channeled power from her silver orb, unleashing a stream of molten lava toward her opponents.
Sakura evaded the lava, while Sasuke sliced through it with his blade, the molten rock parting as though it had no weight.
Kaguya watched them with a cold, calculating gaze. 'That sword…' She mused, glancing at Sasuke's weapon again.
She turned her gaze to the three standing before her. They were powerful—more so than she had anticipated. Their seals, their weapons, their energy—it all reeked of her ancient foes.
And then, Kaguya spoke, her voice low, deadly, and filled with contempt. "Naruto… Sasuke… Sakura…" Her eyes glinted with a sinister light. "I am surprised to see you alive again. But that will change soon. I will not make the same mistake twice."
Her voice deepened, dripping with malice. "Here, you will breathe your last breaths, and your bones will turn to dust beneath my gaze. You will die where you stand, and not even your souls will escape my grasp."
The tension crackled in the air as Kaguya raised her hands, dark energy pulsing from her. Team 7 stood ready, their eyes fixed on the goddess as the final clash loomed.
The battle continued to rage atop the Hokage Tower, the night sky igniting with flashes of power as Team 7 engaged in a relentless struggle against Kaguya, still housed within Hinata's body.
As Naruto closed the distance, he opened his palm, forming an attack.
[Lightning style: Rasengan]
Naruto's hand crackling with a swirling ball of electricity, Kaguya's eyes glowed with ethereal light as he approached her.
"Heed me time..."
With a flick of her wrist, time around Naruto froze. He hung in the air, locked in place, just inches from landing the devastating blow.
But then, with a flash of yellow, Naruto vanished.
Kaguya's eyes widened, momentarily surprised.
'The Flying Raijin', she realized. But as the thought crossed her mind, Sakura launched massive wooden thorns from the ground, lurching toward Kaguya like spears.
[Wood style: thorns of the earth]
Without so much as a glance, Kaguya incinerated them with black flames. She lifted her hand and drew Sakura towards her using Universal Pull.
Sakura was yanked straight into a deadly array of ice shards Kaguya conjured, each razor-sharp and glistening in the moonlight. With a sickening crunch, they impaled her.
Before Kaguya could relish the victory, she found herself suddenly in Sakura's place.
'Sasuke Uchiha!' she cursed internally. In an instant, she manipulated the ice into water, releasing herself and reversing time to heal the wounds Sasuke had inflicted on her earlier.
"Persistent insects," she muttered.
Behind her, Naruto let off his attack.
[Fire style: Fireball Jutsu]
Naruto's fireball blazed toward her, but Kaguya waved her hand and disintegrated it into fine dust, which she then directed toward the team.
The dust whirled around them like a tornado before igniting into flames with a snap of Kaguya's fingers.
Sakura and Sasuke braced, but Naruto acted first.
[Earth style: Rock dome]
Earth surged from the rooftop, forming a protective dome around them just as the firestorm bore down.
The flames scorched the rooftop, reducing parts of the structure to smoldering rubble.
Sakura wasted no time.
[Wood style: Binding roots]
Her hands blurred through hand seals, and enormous wooden roots erupted from the ground, wrapping themselves around Kaguya, holding her in place. It gave Naruto the opportunity he needed.
In an instant, he teleported behind her, driving a chakra-infused sword made of Mugenkei straight into Kaguya's chest.
The blade sank deep, and for the first time, Kaguya threw up blood. But she managed to use a spell.
"Heed me time, and return."
Just as quickly, Kaguya reversed time. The roots binding her retracted back into the earth, the wound in her chest knitting itself back together.
Naruto teleported to safety as Kaguya raised her arm towards the heavens.
"Divine thunder!"
She unleashed a furious barrage of lightning, decimating the Hokage Tower as Sasuke swapped Sakura to another rooftop, shielding himself with Susanoo as the sky rained down thunder.
"Sasuke!" Naruto shouted.
Sasuke answered with a volley of Susanoo arrows, but Kaguya stopped them midair with a casual gesture, multiplying them and sending them back towards the whole team.
[Wood style: barrier jutsu]
Sakura summoned a shield of wood to block them just as Naruto launched a hail of kunai toward Kaguya, each marked with his Flying Raijin seal.
Teleporting between them with blinding speed, Naruto slashed at Kaguya with Mugenkei, leaving deep cuts as he darted around her.
"Heed me time..."
Time froze again, and Kaguya's Almighty Push scattered all the kunai, throwing Naruto off balance as he tumbled through the air.
But then, in an instant, he reappeared right in front of her, Mugenkei now a dagger aimed for her heart.
Kaguya's reflexes kicked in. Possessing Hinata's finely-honed combat instincts, she grabbed Naruto's arm mid-strike.
Her elbow slammed into his face, dazing him. A flurry of punches followed, each one a hammer blow that sent him flying backward.
She followed up with a massive Rasengan, launching him into the side of a nearby building.
"Ugh!" Naruto grunted in pain, the Nine tails healing factor beginning to work on his wounds.
Sasuke's roar of fury echoed across the battlefield as he charged Kaguya.
Kaguya fired a searing beam of energy in his direction, but Sasuke evaded, darting closer with lightning coursing through his blade.
"Sasuke, move!" Sakura called out urgently.
[Sage art: Venom cutter]
Sakura's venom cutter shot past Kaguya, narrowly missing, but the distraction allowed Sasuke to drag Kaguya toward him.
[Universal pull]
Meanwhile Naruto was back on his feet, performing hand signs quickly.
[Ash Stone Sealing Jutsu]
His jutsu streamed forward, binding Kaguya in place once more.
This time, she reversed the spell before it could fully bind her, but Sasuke was faster.
His sword flashed, slicing off her arm before she could react.
"You'll pay for that!" Kaguya swore as she flew backward, using her remaining arm to regain balance, but suddenly, she found herself right next to Sakura.
Sasuke had swapped places again.
"Sorry Hinata!" Sakura called out.
Her fist connected with Kaguya's stomach in a brutal strike, forcing the air from her lungs.
She gasped in pain as Sakura grabbed her by the arm and hurled her toward Naruto.
[Ice style: Glacier Jutsu]
Naruto summoned a wall of ice midair, freezing Kaguya in place.
"Nice work!" Sasuke called out as his hand reached toward the heavens, lightning gathering as he called forth Kirin.
The beast of lightning roared from the clouds, slamming into Kaguya with the force of a collapsing mountain.
The entire Hokage Tower crumbled beneath the attack, and Team 7 leapt to safety as the building disintegrated in a blinding flash of light.
On another rooftop, Naruto kept his eyes trained on the rubble, his face grim. "Stay sharp," he warned. "She's not done."
As if on cue, a pulse of energy exploded from the crater, sending debris flying in every direction. Sakura raised her hands, conjuring a shield of wood to protect them from the incoming barrage.
Amid the swirling dust and falling rubble, Kaguya emerged, her expression twisted with fury. Her severed arm had fully regenerated, and a wicked grin stretched across her face.
"Oh she's pissed," Naruto muttered.
With a smug grin, Sakura taunted, "What's the matter? No longer running that 'cool and collected' gimmick?"
Kaguya's growl rumbled across the battlefield. "You dare mock me, human?!"
She formed a hand seal, and the air grew heavy with chakra. Far behind them, the Ten Tails, which had lain dormant throughout the battle, suddenly opened its eyes.
As Kaguya murmured in an ancient language, the monstrous beast began to dissolve, its chakra flowing into her.
Sasuke's face paled. "She's absorbing the Ten Tails…"
Naruto gasped, watching as Hinata's body transformed. Her once-dark hair turned a pure, luminous white. Her Akatsuki cloak faded, becoming pristine white robes. A chakra staff materialized in her hand, and her eyes burned with power.
Kaguya smiled at them, her voice eerily calm. "You have pushed me further than I've been pushed since my own sons turned against me. You should be honored."
Her Tenseigan blazed with newfound intensity as she surveyed them. "Descendants of Hagoromo's offspring… You carry the same defiance, the same resolve." She twirled her staff lazily, beckoning them forward.
"Come then. Live up to his name. Show me your strength."
Naruto clenched his fists, glaring up at Kaguya. This battle was far from over.
The battlefield lay in ruin, the smoke of destruction rising around the crumbling village of Konoha. Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura stood ready, watching as Kaguya continued her terrifying transformation, absorbing the Ten Tails completely and merging its chakra with her own.
Sakura cursed under her breath, her fists clenching. "How many times is she going to pull this crap? Every time we think we're getting somewhere, she just… levels up again."
Naruto, glaring at Kaguya from a distance, grunted in agreement. "Yeah, it's like she's got an infinite bag of asspulls up her sleeve."
"Stay focused," Sasuke ordered, his Rinnegan darting between Kaguya and the terrain. "She's absorbing the Ten Tails. That means she's growing more powerful by the second. We can't afford to let our guard down."
"Thanks for the insight Sasuke," Naruto mocked, rolling his eyes. "We would've never figured that out without you and your Rinnegan!" he continued, drawing a glare from Sasuke.
Below, Obito and Kurenai were panting, their energy spent after battling the Ten Tails' clones. Kurenai glanced up, her eyes wide as the massive clones dissolved into chakra, spiraling into the sky. "What… what's happening, Obito?"
Obito, his Sharingan narrowing, grimaced. "She's absorbing it. This is bad. Really bad."
Back on the rooftop, Kaguya raised her arm and formed a one-handed seal, her eyes glowing with malice.
"Unravel."
Sasuke's eyes widened. "MOVE!" he shouted.
The ground below them exploded violently, tearing the village apart with deafening force.
Naruto and Sakura leaped upward, Sakura using her wood style to propel them both onto the growing mass of tendrils as the terrain heaved and shifted.
Sasuke soared into the air, engulfed in the massive form of his Perfect Susanoo, the giant warrior escaping the chaos below.
From his aerial vantage point, Sasuke scanned the battlefield in shock. It looked as though Konoha had been split in half, a massive gash running through the village, tearing apart homes and buildings alike.
Naruto caught his breath. "She's splitting the whole damn village!"
Sasuke swung the Susanoo's blades, sending shockwaves crashing toward Kaguya.
The force of the attack shattered the landscape, but Kaguya remained untouched, a time circle appearing beneath her, freezing the impact in place.
"You won't escape this time," Sasuke muttered, forming hand seals.
[Planetary Devastation]
The earth beneath Kaguya began to rise, forming a massive sphere around her, trapping her inside as Sasuke rushed forward, his Susanoo's Chidori crackling with energy. He slammed the Chidori into the sphere, detonating it in a blinding explosion of light and dust.
For a moment, there was silence.
But then Kaguya emerged from the chaos, floating upward from beneath Sasuke, her face twisted with fury.
One of her Tenseigan eyes had dimmed, but with a flick of her hand, she restored it using her time manipulation.
Sasuke's heart sank as six golden orbs began to orbit Kaguya's hand.
[Golden wheel: Rebirth explosion]
A bright orange beam shot out from the orbs, faster than Sasuke could react. The beam struck his Susanoo, obliterating it in an instant. Sasuke tumbled through the air, barely catching himself.
"Sasuke!" Sakura screamed, her eyes wild with fear. Without hesitation, she leaped toward Kaguya, ignoring Naruto's shout to stop.
Kaguya's lips curled into a smirk. "Fool."
She extended her hand, unleashing a barrage of elemental jutsu — fire, water, and lightning all hurtling toward Sakura. The explosion that followed lit up the sky, crackling with electricity.
But from the smoke and flames, Sakura burst forward, her body shrouded in her acid release chakra cloak. Though injured, she pressed on, closing the distance between her and Kaguya with a fierce determination.
With a powerful scream, Sakura's fist collided with Kaguya's face, the impact sending her crashing into the rubble below.
Her nose bleeding, Kaguya staggered to her feet, cursing under her breath.
The connection between her and Hinata's body was weakening again, the constant injuries taking their toll. Sakura's punches continued to add to this.
Kaguya looked up just in time to see Naruto barreling toward her, teleporting in close to exploit the mark he left on Hinata's chest.
But Kaguya was ready.
With a swift motion, she dodged Naruto's slash, weaving around his Mugenkei as if she could read his every move — and she could. Her Tenseigan glowed, reading his mind in real-time.
Naruto's eyes narrowed in frustration. "Damn it!"
Kaguya flicked her wrist, sending a massive chunk of rubble crashing into Naruto. He barely had time to reshape Mugenkei into a shield, protecting himself before teleporting away.
He reappeared in front of her again, determined not to let up, engaging her in a rapid series of blows, but Kaguya countered each one effortlessly. She was too fast, too skilled. Each time he came close, she danced around him, and her mastery of taijutsu with Hinata's body was unmatched.
It wasn't long before Kaguya began to dominate Naruto in their scrap, landing several blows on him with expertise.
Evading a jab from Naruto's kunai, Kaguya chopped his throat with her wrist.
Naruto coughed up blood, but Kaguya wasn't finished.
She pummeled his torso with a barrage of palm strikes, each hit driving the air from his lungs.
Naruto's face twisted in frustration as he teleported away once more, evading her final strike. Behind them, Sakura slammed her hands on the ground.
[Wood style: Twin barriers]
In an instant, she summoned massive wooden barriers from either side of Kaguya.
With a grunt, Sakura forced the barriers together, crushing Kaguya between them in a splintering explosion of wood.
For a moment, hope flickered in Sakura's chest.
But before she could react, a flaming dragon crashed into her, sending her tumbling into a nearby house, groaning in pain. Her chakra cloak had saved her, but the searing heat left burns on her skin.
Naruto watched in horror as Kaguya emerged once more, one of her Tenseigan eyes dimmed but rapidly healing. He cursed under his breath.
No matter what they did, she just kept coming back.
Kaguya, observing the duo, let out a mocking laugh. "Pathetic. Is that all you have, Naruto? You two are entertaining, but I'm beginning to get bored."
She extended her arms, using her time magic to restore her body completely. The air around her crackled with energy as her Tenseigan returned to full strength. Her eyes gleamed with contempt.
"Come on, try harder," she taunted. "Maybe, just maybe, you'll get lucky and kill me for good."
Naruto and Sakura exchanged a glance, both battered and exhausted but refusing to back down. They had too much at stake. Too many lives depending on them.
Sakura wiped the blood from her mouth, her eyes blazing with determination. "We're not done yet."
Naruto's fists clenched. "Not by a long shot," he acknowledged.
"Oh we're gonna kill you alright!" Naruto called out to Kaguya. "It's funny how even you consider that a possibility, I don't know too many goddesses who can be killed by a bunch of Ninjas with a dream," Naruto continued, watching Kaguya's expression shift slightly.
Sakura, realizing what he was doing, joined in. "Yeah, it's almost as if you're not not a real goddess, you're just a regular human, Otsutsuki Kaguya!" She shouted, raising an arm to point at Kaguya.
"A regular human with borrowed power, just like the rest of us! You're nothing but a delusional, pathetic fraud!"
Kaguya's face twisted in anger at Sakura's words, but she controlled herself, smiling weakly in response.
"Bold words little girl, I wonder if you can back them up."
Naruto and Sakura braced themselves for another round, their resolve unshaken as Kaguya hovered before them, daring them to keep fighting. The battle was far from over.
And they were ready.
Her gaze never leaving Naruto and Sakura, Kaguya raised an arm to the sky, and the heavens responded.
A blue beam of energy tore through the sky, descending rapidly towards Naruto and Sakura with blinding speed. The air crackled with destructive power as the attack closed in, threatening to obliterate them both.
Naruto's reflexes kicked in, and with a flash of yellow light, he teleported the two of them away just as the beam obliterated the spot where they had been standing.
They barely caught their breath before Kaguya, floating ominously in the air, turned her gaze behind her.
"Someone's coming..."
Sensing danger, she ducked just in time as a streak of lightning sliced through the air above her head.
Sasuke emerged from the dissipating energy, his Rinnegan glowing with intensity, his sword aimed to take her by surprise.
"Sasuke!" Naruto exclaimed, glad to see he was okay.
Kaguya, unflinching, raised her hand, and the earth beneath Sasuke's feet exploded upwards, launching him high into the air.
His eyes widened as he looked up—the heavens were split by the silhouette of an enormous meteor, hurtling down toward the village, its mass casting a shadow over the battlefield.
"Damn it!" Sasuke growled, swapping places with a distant kunai to evade the incoming meteor. But the destructive force continued its descent, tearing through the sky as if it would devour everything in its path.
Below, Sakura ran forward, dirt streaking her face and her breaths labored. She saw the meteor looming and acted instinctively, slamming her hands onto the ground.
[Wood style: Deep Forest emergence]
Massive wooden tendrils erupted from the earth, spiraling upward to meet the meteor head-on. The collision shook the ground as the tendrils strained to slow the behemoth, groaning under its weight.
Naruto appeared beside her, his face set with determination.
[Tailed beast bomb: Rasenshuriken]
He quickly formed a tailed beast bomb infused with Rasenshuriken, launching it straight into the heart of the meteor.
The resulting explosion was deafening, disintegrating the meteor into a shower of molten debris. Sakura collapsed to her knees, panting heavily, her chakra reserves drained from the intense effort.
"You okay, Sakura?" Sasuke teleported next to her, concern in his eyes.
"Yeah... just a little tired. I'm not nearly as good as Grandpa Hashirama with Wood Style," Sakura admitted with a weak grin, wiping the sweat from her brow.
Naruto laughed, his voice filled with a rare moment of levity. "Girl said 'Grandpa Hashirama'... You think he knows you like that?"
Sakura scowled, pushing herself back onto her feet. "Shut up, Naruto."
Naruto's smile faded as he shifted his focus back to Kaguya. "I can get us close, but remember: avoid her time circle at all costs. If we touch it, we're done for. And Sakura... forgive me but I'm gonna need you to restrain her one more time."
Sakura nodded, her fists clenching. "She's fighting recklessly because she knows she can just come back. It's not even fair."
Sasuke stepped forward, his expression grim. "Naruto, we need to hit her with the Sage's weapons. If we can damage her soul, we might give Hinata a chance to fight back."
Kaguya hovered above them, her arm raised, ready to unleash another devastating attack. She had been reading their thoughts, eavesdropping on their strategy.
"Your plans will fail," she declared coldly, her voice echoing with the confidence of a goddess.
"Divine thunder."
Sasuke dodged as lightning bolts rained down, calling out to Sakura. "Now!"
[Wood style: binding roots]
Sakura slammed her hands together, and thick wooden roots shot from the ground, coiling tightly around Kaguya's body.
Naruto vanished in a flash of yellow light, reappearing in front of Kaguya as he scattered kunai around the battlefield.
He rolled to the side, narrowly dodging a massive water dragon Kaguya summoned, then leaped backward, avoiding the reach of her time circle as she attempted to reverse the battlefield around her.
Sasuke, seeing his chance, swapped places with Naruto and charged, dragging the sword of Nunoboko on the ground behind him.
Kaguya's eyes widened in disbelief as Sasuke's blade cut through her time circle like a knife through paper. The shimmering temporal barrier fizzled out, leaving Kaguya vulnerable for the first time.
Sasuke roared, slashing deep into Kaguya's side. Blood sprayed from the wound, and Kaguya gasped in shock.
Naruto didn't hesitate—reshaping Mugenkei into a sword, he struck, landing another blow. Together, they attacked relentlessly, Naruto teleporting between his scattered kunai, landing hit after hit with his transformed weapon, while Sasuke slashed with the fury of a vengeful storm.
Kaguya stumbled, blood pouring from her wounds. Her once-untouchable form now seemed fragile, her movements sluggish as the damage to her soul took its toll. She dropped to her knees, breathing heavily as her strength waned.
"Finish her off, Naruto!" Sasuke shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. "We need to seal her now!"
Naruto hesitated for a brief moment, staring at Hinata's body, knowing Kaguya still possessed her.
His heart clenched with doubt, but he steeled himself, remembering that this was for Hinata. With a deep breath, he created multiple shadow clones, each armed with a weapon formed from Mugenkei.
They charged together, moving in unison with impossible speed, striking Kaguya from every angle.
She screamed in agony, her body unable to keep up with the flurry of attacks. Desperately, she summoned a water serpent to retaliate, but Naruto vanished before it could touch him.
Sasuke darted past her, slashing her throat with a precise strike before she could recover.
Kaguya gritted her teeth, her body trembling as she struggled to heal herself with time manipulation.
"Heed me..."
Sasuke's expression darkened. "Sakura!"
From above, Sakura leaped over the remains of the shattered wooden barrier, her chakra surging at her fist as she descended with it cocked back.
"Shanaroo!" she roared, slamming her fist into Kaguya's temple with all her might.
The impact was catastrophic. Kaguya's body was sent flying through the remains of the barrier, skidding across the rubble. The shockwave from the blow echoed for miles, shaking the very foundations of the ruined village.
Kaguya's form—no, Hinata's—lay broken, bleeding profusely. Her once-pristine white robes were stained with crimson. Her eyes remained shut—unconscious, the effect of Sakura's punch combined with Naruto's attacks.
Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura appeared beside her in an instant with Flying Raijin, Naruto's expression filled with a mixture of hope and fear.
"It's time," Sasuke said firmly, placing his hand with the moon seal on Hinata's left shoulder.
Naruto, his voice shaking, nodded and placed his hand with the sun seal on her right shoulder. "Let's finish this."
Sakura, drawing a kunai, cut her palm, blood trickling down her arm as she clapped her hands together.
"With my blood, I bind you. By my flesh, I cage you."
Suddenly, Sakura gasped, blood pouring from her mouth as the effort drained her. She fell to her knees, her body trembling with the exertion from reciting the binding chant. "I-I can't..."
"Sakura, don't stop!" Naruto urged, his voice thick with emotion. "We're almost there!"
Sakura clenched her teeth, summoning every last bit of her strength. "In timeless shadows, rest—eternal—"
Hinata's eyes shot open.
Naruto and Sasuke froze, their hearts racing. But the voice that spoke wasn't Kaguya's. It was Hinata's.
"...Naruto?"
Naruto stumbled back, disbelief clouding his mind. "Hinata...?"
Sakura collapsed fully, gasping for breath. Sasuke rushed to her side, helping her sit up, his own face filled with confusion.
Naruto's hands trembled as he reached out for Hinata, his voice barely a whisper. "Hinata... is it really you?"
Her eyes, filled with exhaustion but unmistakably her own, softened. "Naruto..."
Naruto's breath caught in his throat. He pulled her into a tight embrace, tears spilling freely. "You're back... you're really back."
Hinata, weak but alive, clung to him, her own tears mixing with his. In that moment, amidst the ruins of battle, they were finally reunited.
A few moments earlier...
Hinata struggled in her mind plane, pulling against the chains that bound her. Her arms ached, her legs shook, and her breath came in ragged gasps. Sweat dripped down her forehead, stinging her eyes as she gritted her teeth and strained once more. But the chains held firm, unyielding in their restraint.
Panting heavily, she slumped forward, exhausted. "What do I do?" she asked herself, her mind racing in search of a solution. She had tried everything—every ounce of strength, every ounce of chakra—and nothing worked. The oppressive weight of Kaguya's presence loomed over her like a suffocating cloud, pressing down on her soul.
"There has to be something..." She clenched her fists, her vision blurring. A fierce determination flickered within her. "I have to try again."
With a grunt of effort, Hinata tried once more, raising her arm against the chain. Her muscles screamed in protest, but she pushed harder, pulling with everything she had.
Snap!
The chain broke.
Hinata blinked in surprise, her hand falling limply to her side. For a moment, she just stared at the severed chain, stunned into silence. The weight of her restraints had vanished, as if they were never there in the first place. She flexed her fingers, disbelief flooding her senses. "How... how did that happen?"
Before she could process what had just occurred, a presence filled the mind plane—a dark, familiar energy. Slowly, Hinata turned her head.
There, lying on the ground in front of her, was Kaguya. The once-unstoppable goddess was barely recognizable, her pale form marred by blood and countless wounds. Her long, flowing hair was disheveled, matted with dirt and blood. Kaguya's breaths came in shallow, painful gasps as she lay on the ground, clearly struggling to hold herself together.
Hinata's eyes widened in surprise. 'What... happened to her?'
Kaguya lifted her head weakly, her eyes locking onto Hinata's. Despite her battered state, there was still an air of defiance about her. But her voice was hoarse, drained of its usual power. "Do not... think this is over."
Hinata regained her composure quickly, standing tall. "Oh, is that right?" she asked mockingly. "Are you winning, Kaguya-sama?"
Kaguya growled, her eyes narrowing with hatred. "Watch your tongue, girl."
Feeling a surge of newfound confidence, Hinata smirked. "What are you going to do? Kill me?" She studied Kaguya's form, noting the deep cuts and bruises that adorned her body. What was more alarming was the fact that none of them were healing. Kaguya, the all-powerful goddess, was injured—and staying that way.
"Strange," Hinata mused aloud, "for someone who claimed to be invincible, you're not looking so good."
Kaguya's fingers dug into the ground as she clenched her fists, her pale knuckles trembling. "Naruto... and his... weapon," she hissed through gritted teeth. "They managed to damage me... directly."
Hinata's mind raced. 'Naruto...' She could only imagine the battle raging outside, in the real world. Team 7 must have found a way to hurt Kaguya, to land a blow that even she couldn't ignore. "So that's it, huh?" Hinata said, her voice gaining strength. "They've found a way to hurt you. To stop you."
Kaguya's eyes burned with fury as she glared at Hinata, but her body remained unmoving, weak and drained. The goddess tried to smile, but it came out more as a grimace. "You think... they can stop me?" she rasped. "They are nothing... compared to me."
Hinata shook her head, undeterred. "If they're nothing, then why are you lying on the ground, covered in blood? Why are you so afraid?"
Kaguya growled again, but the sound was hollow. "I will get what I want... soon enough."
"You won't," Hinata replied, her voice firm. "I'll never let you."
But before Kaguya could respond, her eyes widened in sudden panic. She whispered something to herself, her voice barely audible. "They're... preparing the seal."
Hinata furrowed her brow. "What's happening?" she asked, her tone mocking. "Are you too scared to go back and face them? Afraid you might lose?"
Kaguya's gaze flickered toward Hinata, but she said nothing in return. Instead, she lifted a trembling hand toward her. Hinata tensed, expecting another attack, but instead, something strange happened.
The chains that had bound Hinata moments ago—chains that had held her for what felt like an eternity—suddenly loosened, clattering to the ground.
Hinata gasped in shock. "What... what are you doing?"
But Kaguya didn't answer. Her face was drawn tight with focus as if she were elsewhere, her mind struggling to process the events unfolding around her. And just as Hinata felt the exhilarating freedom of being unchained, her body grew heavy, her eyelids drooping. She stumbled, her legs giving out beneath her.
"No..." she whispered, fighting the darkness that crept into her vision. But it was no use. A wave of exhaustion swept over her, and despite her efforts to stay awake, the world around her faded into black.
As her consciousness slipped away, the last thing she saw was Kaguya, still bleeding, still broken—but with a terrifying glint of triumph in her eyes.
And then, there was nothing.
Back in the present...
Hinata had finally regained control of her body. Her eyes shimmered as she embraced Naruto, who clung to her as if afraid she'd vanish again. His face, streaked with dirt and blood, pressed against her shoulder, shaking with relief. Behind them, Sasuke and Sakura looked on in disbelief, unable to fully grasp the moment of peace amidst the chaos.
Kurenai and Obito teleported nearby. Kurenai's eyes darted to her student, taking in the sight of Hinata, free at last. Without hesitation, she hurried over, calling Hinata's name.
Breaking their embrace, Hinata looked at Sasuke and Sakura. She studied their battle-worn faces, a surge of emotion overwhelming her. With a quiet sob, she pulled Sasuke into a hug. "I'm so glad you're here," she whispered, her voice trembling. Sasuke, usually composed, hesitated before wrapping his arms around her. He could feel her gratitude, her relief, and for a moment, the weight of the war felt a little lighter.
Hinata then knelt beside Sakura, who was struggling to remain conscious. Her pale hand brushed against Sakura's cheek, and her voice was soft, almost pleading, "Sakura, are you okay?"
A tear slid down Sakura's face, her body trembling as she let out a choked sob. She reached for Hinata, pulling her into a tight embrace. "I thought we lost you," Sakura whispered, her voice breaking with emotion.
"I'm so glad you're back."
Hinata could feel her friend's heartache, the weight of the battle, the fear of losing yet another comrade. They held each other tightly, as if anchoring themselves against the tidal wave of grief and chaos.
Kurenai finally reached them, her eyes frantic. "Hinata!" she cried, dropping to her knees beside her. Her hands roamed over Hinata's arms, shoulders, and face, checking for injuries. "Are you okay? Are you hurt?"
Hinata gently pushed her sensei's hands away, offering a small smile. "I'm fine, Kurenai-sensei. I'm okay now."
Kurenai's shoulders sagged with relief, but then, without warning, she pulled Hinata into her arms, sobbing quietly into her shoulder. "I was so scared. I thought… I thought I'd lost you."
Naruto, still dazed from the emotional reunion, turned toward Hinata. His voice was raw, his throat tight. "How... How did you do it? How did you break free?"
Hinata shook her head, still bewildered by her own survival. "I don't know," she admitted, her voice low. "One moment, I was trapped, fighting Kaguya's control in my mind. And the next… I was here."
Kurenai wiped her eyes and moved to check Hinata once more, but Hinata waved her off. "Really, I'm okay. Kurenai-sensei, please."
Obito stepped forward, his gaze sharp. "Does that mean… Kaguya is gone?"
Sasuke's eyes flickered, narrowing in suspicion. He remained silent, staring intently at Hinata's Tenseigan, which was still glowing faintly. "I don't think we can say for sure," he murmured, his voice heavy with caution.
Hinata hesitated, her gaze dropping to the ground. "How many…?" she whispered, unable to finish the question, her voice trembling.
Kurenai looked away, her expression pained. The silence that followed was louder than any words could have been. The answer was written in the grief etched across her face. Too many. Far too many had died.
Hinata's knees buckled as the weight of the loss crashed down on her. Her tears fell freely now, and Naruto was there in an instant, holding her as she wept. She tried to speak, tried to apologize to Sasuke, to Kurenai, but the words stuck in her throat, choked by her sobs. Her body trembled with grief, with guilt, and with the overwhelming pain of knowing she had been the cause of so much destruction.
Suddenly, Obito's voice cut through the sorrow like a blade. "We need to destroy the Tenseigan."
The words hung in the air, sharp and cold. Hinata's sobbing stopped, her breath catching in her throat. She looked up at Obito, her eyes wide with shock. The color drained from her face.
Naruto shot to his feet, his anger flaring like a wildfire. "What the hell are you saying, Obito?!" he snapped, stepping protectively in front of Hinata. "You can't just—!"
"This is not a choice," Obito interrupted, his voice harsh and unrelenting. "Kaguya is still inside her. We can't risk her taking control again."
Naruto's hands clenched into fists, his knuckles white. His mind raced for an argument, but deep down, he knew Obito was right. His heart, however, refused to accept it. He glanced around, searching for any sign of support, any reassurance that there was another way.
Sasuke, his face grim, stepped forward. "Naruto… he's right. We talked about this. We have to end it now."
Naruto shook his head violently, his voice cracking. "There has to be another way!"
Sakura, still weak, pushed herself up with trembling arms. Her voice was barely above a whisper. "Naruto… Kaguya's soul retreated back into Hinata. Mugenkei... won't affect her now." She took a shaky breath. "I can't think of another way."
For a moment, there was silence.
Then, to everyone's surprise, Hinata gently took Naruto's hand in hers. He turned to her, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Hinata…"
Her lips curved into a small, sad smile.
But when she spoke, it wasn't her voice.
"You should've finished the sealing when you had the chance." Kaguya's voice dripped with disdain as it emerged from Hinata's lips, her Tenseigan glowing brighter, pulsing with sinister energy.
Naruto's breath caught in his throat. Before he could react, Kaguya's hand shot forward, pressing against the seal on his stomach.
Inside him, Naruto felt Kurama scream in agony as the fox was ripped from his body. The pain was blinding, a searing heat that tore through him like wildfire. He collapsed to his knees, gasping for air as the orange chakra of the Nine-Tails was pulled from his very soul.
Sasuke lunged forward, but Kaguya was faster. Her arm extended, and in an instant, a beam of energy sliced through the air, severing Sasuke's hand—the one that bore the moon seal.
Sasuke cried out, clutching the bleeding stump, but before he could react further, Kaguya sent out a pulse of chakra that sent the rest of the group flying. They hit the ground hard, stunned and helpless.
Kaguya lifted Naruto's head with a single finger, forcing him to meet her gaze. Her smirk was victorious, cruel. "Such bravery," she mocked, her voice a twisted mixture of admiration and disdain. "In hindsight, you really should have listened to Obito and killed her."
Naruto's voice was weak, trembling with shock and disbelief. "How…?"
Kaguya's smile widened. "Your attacks weakened me. For a moment, I lost control, allowing Hinata to take over. But even with your newfound power you never stood a chance against me, even at my weakest."
Naruto's body trembled, tears spilling down his cheeks. He had failed. Again.
"And now, with the Nine-Tails restored to me," Kaguya continued, "I will begin the Infinite Tsukuyomi." She feigned a look of pity. "I even offered Hinata the chance to live happily with you in that dream world after I ascended... but she was foolish enough to refuse."
Naruto's voice was barely a whisper. "I'll... kill you…"
Kaguya chuckled darkly. "Even you don't believe that."
She gestured, and Naruto's body floated up until his face was level with hers. "Look into your lover's eyes, Naruto Uzumaki," Kaguya whispered, her voice thick with malice. "Let her face be the last thing you see before you die. I want your failure to be the last memory etched into your being before you leave this world."
Kaguya paused, leaning in closer to him. "Let Hinata Hyuuga witness the cost of her disobedience, watching you draw your last breath..."
Naruto's tears fell freely as he gazed into Hinata's Tenseigan. His voice was faint, broken, but filled with love. "Hinata… don't give up. No matter what happens… keep fighting. I believe in you."
Kaguya sneered. "Your belief will only carry her so far."
Naruto smiled weakly, his vision blurring. "We'll see…"
With his last breath, Naruto whispered, "I love you."
Kaguya's hand rested on his forehead, and with a single touch, she drained the last remnants of his soul. After a moment, his body fell limp in her grasp.
Kaguya released him, and Naruto's lifeless body tumbled to the ground.
Kaguya casually stepped over him, her gaze drifting to the distance where Sasuke and Sakura lay. "One less loose end to tie up," she murmured to herself.
