Chapter 20: Willpower
Hinata knelt in the darkness of her mind plane, her body weak, her heart shattered into a million pieces. The chains that bound her were all too familiar now, their cold metal biting into her skin. She didn't care. Nothing mattered anymore.
Tears streamed down her face, falling into the dirt beneath her, forming little pools that seemed to reflect her broken soul. 'Naruto is dead...' The thought echoed in her mind, over and over, each time stabbing deeper into her heart. She could still see him—his lifeless body crumpling to the ground, his eyes dimming, his final breath leaving him. His last words to her were etched into her memory, haunting her.
"I love you, Hinata."
Hinata's breath hitched as a fresh wave of sobs overtook her. She clawed desperately at the ground, her fingers trembling as they dug into the dirt. Her entire body shook with grief, her chest heaving as she cried out in anguish.
'Why? she screamed inwardly. 'Why did he have to die? Why did he have to suffer because of me?'
She remembered the moment it happened, when Kaguya—possessing her body—had drained Naruto's soul, leaving him cold and lifeless. It all replayed in her mind like a never-ending nightmare. His sacrifice, his love, his life... all gone. And it was her fault.
Hinata sobbed louder, her voice breaking as the tears kept falling. "Naruto..." she whispered, her voice hoarse. "I'm so sorry... I'm so sorry..."
Her thoughts spiraled further into despair. She thought of the others—Sakura, Kurenai, Sasuke—her friends, her comrades. They were still fighting, still giving everything they had to stop Kaguya. But deep down, Hinata knew. She knew they couldn't win. 'They are all going to die... because of me.'
A scream ripped from her throat, a gut-wrenching cry that echoed through the void of her mind. She felt her energy drain from her body, the weight of her grief too much to bear. It was over. There was no more hope. Kaguya had won, and everyone Hinata cared about was doomed.
Her mind wandered back, grasping for anything to pull her out of the darkness. She thought of the day she had stood before Pain, risking everything to protect Naruto. She had died for him once. And he had lived. He had thanked her, and she had stated her love for him. She had saved him that day.
But this time, it was different. She hadn't saved him. She hadn't protected him from Kaguya's grasp. She had failed, and now... now he was gone.
Hinata curled into herself, her sobs turning to quiet, exhausted whispers. "I'm sorry, Naruto... I'm so sorry..." Her voice was barely audible now, weak and broken. She was too tired to even cry anymore. Her heart felt hollow, her spirit crushed.
Suddenly, a voice cut through the silence, cold and echoing. "Hinata."
Hinata's head lifted weakly at the sound, her heart sinking as she recognized it.
Kaguya.
That cursed presence filled the space, and Hinata's already shattered soul trembled under its weight. Kaguya still wore her form—still inhabited her body. Her long, white hair glistened in the dim light, her face bearing an expression of mock pity.
Kaguya stepped closer, her movements slow and deliberate. "Have you learned your lesson?" she asked, her voice dripping with false compassion. "Have you realized how pointless it is to fight back?"
Hinata stared up at her, her vision blurred by tears. She opened her mouth, but no words came. Her thoughts were too clouded, too overwhelmed by the agony of loss. 'Why?' The question spilled out in a whisper. "Why?" she choked, her voice trembling as she uttered the names of those she had lost. "Neji... Naruto... why?"
A cruel smile spread across Kaguya's face as she crouched beside Hinata, her tone laced with condescension. "Oh, my dear... this is far from over. I'm not done yet." Her Tenseigan eyes bore into Hinata, glinting with a terrifying sense of triumph. "I'm giving you a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
Hinata's heart pounded in her chest. She tried to speak, her voice cracking with desperation. "W-What...?"
Kaguya tilted her head, her smile widening. "I'm going to let you witness the end. The end of all those fools who thought they could stop me."
Hinata's breath hitched, her pulse quickening as her body trembled in fear. "No... please..." she whispered, shaking her head. "No..."
Kaguya rose to her feet, her form towering over Hinata. "Yes," she said softly, almost sweetly, but the malice was unmistakable. "You'll get to see it all."
Hinata's hands shook as she pleaded, her voice cracking. "Please... don't... don't hurt them... Sasuke, Sakura, Kurenai... Obito... please spare them... I'll do anything..."
Kaguya let out a soft, almost mocking laugh as she began to walk away. "There's nothing you can do for them now, Hinata. It's too late. All you can do... is watch."
Hinata collapsed further onto the ground, her heart aching as she watched Kaguya's retreating form. Her vision blurred again, her tears falling freely once more. Her prayers were silent, whispered into the darkness, but they were filled with desperation. 'Please... someone... somehow... save them. Save them all.'
And as Kaguya disappeared into the shadows, Hinata was left alone, bound, helpless, and drowning in the suffocating weight of her grief.
Sasuke gripped the bleeding stump where his hand used to be, his vision swimming with pain. His breath came in ragged gasps, and his head pounded, but he kept his composure. Sakura was at his side, her hands glowing faintly as she tried to stop the bleeding, her own chakra reserves nearly depleted.
"Just… hold on, Sasuke," Sakura whispered, her voice cracking. She wiped the sweat from her brow, blinking back tears as her fingers trembled. "We can't give up. We still have time."
But Sasuke could see it—she knew. Her eyes, red-rimmed and filled with grief, betrayed her efforts to stay strong. It was the same memory that seared itself into Sasuke's mind. Naruto…
Naruto was dead.
The image replayed in his mind, over and over: Naruto's body falling lifelessly to the ground, his eyes dimming in those last, terrible moments. The air had gone cold when Kaguya drained his soul, snuffing out the last flicker of hope they had clung to.
"Naruto…" Sakura whispered, tears falling freely now as she finished patching Sasuke's arm. She collapsed beside him, gasping for breath, hands still shaking. Sasuke groaned, crawling over to her, his own body on the brink of collapse.
As he reached her, Sakura glanced at the stump of his arm, her voice trembling as she spoke, "Your hand… the moon seal… Kaguya took it."
Sasuke nodded grimly. He knew the gravity of what had happened. Without the seal, his chances of resisting Kaguya's time-space manipulation were close to nothing. But he couldn't focus on that now. They couldn't afford to fall apart—not yet.
Sakura sobbed quietly, burying her face in her hands. "What are we going to do? Naruto's gone… You've lost the seal… I'm—" She choked on her words, shaking her head. "I'm almost out of chakra. We've failed, Sasuke. There's nothing left."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed, dark with determination. "No." His voice was strained, but firm. "We can't stop now. We have to try. We can't let Naruto's death be in vain."
He looked toward the battlefield, where Obito and Kurenai were desperately fending off Kaguya. Obito's Kamui flickered in and out, his chakra waning, while Kurenai fought with all the precision she could muster, trying to create openings.
But it was clear that Kaguya was toying with them, her movements fluid and untouchable.
"We have to do something," Sasuke muttered, his mind racing. His options were dwindling fast. His eyes darted toward Sakura, and then to the battlefield. 'There has to be a way.'
Finally, a thought crossed his mind. It was a long shot—a dangerous gamble. But maybe, just maybe, it could work.
"I'll pull out Kaguya's soul," Sasuke said, his eyes narrowing slightly. "I can use the Rinnegan to tear it from her body."
Sakura's eyes went wide. "No, Sasuke, that's too risky! You've lost your hand—your moon seal! You're not resistant to her time magic anymore! She could stop you in an instant. It'll take too long. She could kill you before you even get the chance."
Sasuke winced at the truth in her words, but he shook his head, undeterred. "If we don't try something, it's over. We don't have another choice."
Sakura stared at him, her breath coming in short, panicked bursts. She wiped at her eyes and took a shaky breath, trying to focus through her exhaustion.
"There… There might be another way," she said, her voice wavering. "I can try to enter Sage Mode again. I won't last more than a minute, but if I can knock her out like before… maybe I can give you enough time to use your Rinnegan. It might be our only chance."
Sasuke's gaze hardened as he processed her words. "Are you sure?"
She nodded, though her face was pale and her hands shook from the strain of her last battle. "I can try. We don't have time to waste. Obito and Kurenai won't be able to hold her off for much longer."
Sasuke weighed the odds. It was a desperate plan, and the consequences of failure were deadly, but there was no other option. They had to move now, or everyone would die.
"Alright," he said, his voice resolute. "We'll give you the opening you need. As soon as you're ready, hit her with everything you've got. I'll follow up with the Rinnegan."
Sakura closed her eyes, taking deep, steadying breaths as she began to gather what little sage energy she could. Her body trembled from the effort, but her resolve was clear. She was willing to give everything she had left, even if it meant her life.
Before she fully settled into meditation, she opened her eyes one last time, looking at Sasuke with raw emotion. "Be careful, Sasuke… I can't lose you too."
Sasuke paused, meeting her gaze. The weight of their shared history, their love, and the life they had fought so hard for hung between them. His expression softened for a brief moment, and he nodded. "I won't let you down."
With that, he turned, pushing past the pain and fatigue as he sprinted toward Obito and Kurenai. They needed every second they could get.
The battle wasn't over yet.
Obito stood firm, his eyes locked on Kaguya as she floated ominously before them in Hinata's body. Her cold, otherworldly gaze bore down on them as if they were mere insects. Beside him, Kurenai crouched, her body tense, ready for whatever came next. The weight of the battle hung in the air, oppressive and heavy, and Obito could feel the fatigue seeping into his bones. But there was no time to rest, no time to falter. Not when Kaguya was still standing.
Kaguya's lips curled into a mocking smile. "Pathetic," she whispered, her voice cold and sharp like a blade. She raised her hand lazily, as if this fight was beneath her, and sent a bolt of purple lightning crashing down toward them.
"Kurenai, move!" Obito shouted, already dodging as the bolt scorched the ground where they had just stood.
Kurenai dove to the side, barely escaping the attack. "Damn it," she hissed through clenched teeth, sending a barrage of kunai towards Kaguya.
But before the weapons could even reach her, Kaguya's hand flicked, and the kunai froze midair, suspended by her sheer will.
With a sneer, Kaguya sent the kunai flying back at Kurenai. She rolled just in time, the blades whistling past her as she scrambled to her feet. "It's like she's toying with us," Kurenai spat, wiping the sweat from her brow. She was struggling, and it showed.
[Wind style: wind scythe]
Kurenai sent a blade formed from air at Kaguya, even as her mind told her it was pointless.
Kaguya watched the incoming attack expressionlessly, allowing it to hit her.
Kurenai's heart sank as she saw Kaguya merely heal herself with her time manipulation, it was as if she was mocking her, letting her know how pointless it was.
Obito narrowed his eyes, his mind racing. There had to be something they could do, some way to hurt her. He formed seals quickly.
[Fire Style: Blast Wave Wild Dance]
He grunted, sending a torrent of fire spiraling towards Kaguya from his Sharingan.
Kaguya responded with an almost bored expression, summoning the Yata Mirror in front of her, effortlessly reflecting the attack back.
Obito gritted his teeth and phased through the reflected flames with Kamui, narrowly avoiding being incinerated by his own technique.
"You're an annoyance," Kaguya remarked, her voice laced with mild amusement as she sent a volley of chakra spears at him.
[Kamui]
Obito blinked away with Kamui, teleporting out of the line of fire. But Kurenai wasn't giving up either.
With a defiant roar, she created a fierce tornado around Kaguya. "Obito, now!"
[Fire style: Great dragon flame]
Obito didn't hesitate, combining his fire jutsu with Kurenai's tornado.
The fiery whirlwind engulfed Kaguya, but even as the flames roared around her, her expression didn't change. The flames and wind twisted tighter, compressing around Kaguya with lethal force.
[Almighty push]
But then, with a sudden explosion of power, Kaguya unleashed an almighty push, dispersing the fiery tornado and knocking both Obito and Kurenai backward. They hit the ground hard, gasping for breath as the smoke cleared.
Kaguya emerged from the destruction, unscathed. Her body was already healed, time itself bending to her will. Kurenai's eyes widened in disbelief. "It's hopeless…" she gasped, clutching her side. "We can't beat her."
Obito grunted in frustration, staring at Kaguya with unwavering focus. His Mangekyo Sharingan spun, desperate for any edge, any advantage. And then he saw it—the momentary flicker in her form, the slight hesitation.
[Kamui]
He grit his teeth and activated Kamui, sucking Hinata's head into his dimension. Her body dropped to the ground lifeless, and Obito collapsed to his knees, gasping for breath.
"I… I got her," he muttered, sweat pouring down his face.
Kurenai looked at the body, her heart pounding. "You did it…"
But before either of them could celebrate the brief moment of respite they had won, a voice echoed from behind them. "Did you really think it would be that easy?"
They both froze, their eyes widening in horror as Hinata's lifeless corpse shimmered and vanished. Slowly, they turned, and there she was—Kaguya, floating in midair, her expression twisted into a cruel smile.
"Such an interesting technique you have," Kaguya remarked, her gaze falling on Obito. "But did you really think you could kill me with it?"
Kurenai's face twisted with rage, tears burning at the corners of her eyes. "You monster!" she shouted, her voice cracking. "You'll pay for what you've done to Hinata… to Konoha… to all of us!"
Kaguya chuckled, the sound sending chills down their spines. "Your determination is admirable," she said lightly, her eyes glowing with eerie light. "But in the end, it is futile."
Obito forced himself to his feet, his body screaming in protest. He wiped the sweat from his brow, standing shakily beside Kurenai. "We have to try," he said, his voice hoarse but resolute.
Kaguya's eyes gleamed with amusement. "Try all you like. You've fought well, warriors, but this battle is over."
She raised her hand, the sky rumbling above her. "Farewell."
Obito's vision blurred as exhaustion overtook him. With great effort, he looked off into the distance, his Mangekyo Sharingan spinning in focus as he clung to any last hope of stopping her. Beside him, Kurenai's chest heaved with silent sobs, her eyes locked on Hinata's. 'I'm sorry, Hinata… I've failed you.'
Raising her hand to the sky, Kaguya muttered a chant.
"I call upon thee, warmth of the heavens."
Bringing her hand down, a pillar of fire descended from the heavens, engulfing the pair before her. The flames spread, engulfing the entire village in heat and destruction.
By the time the fire finally died down, both Obito and Kurenai crumpled to the ground, their bodies limp and lifeless. Kaguya floated above them, her cold gaze passing over their charred corpses without a shred of remorse.
With a sigh of boredom, she turned away, rising higher into the sky. "Now… the Infinite Tsukuyomi awaits. And I will make sure no more distractions interrupt my process."
With that, she ascended, ready to bring the world to its knees.
The battle was over.
And Kaguya had won.
Kaguya, in full control of Hinata's body, floated above the decimated remains of Konoha, her long white hair billowing out behind her like a ghostly veil against the backdrop of the blood-red sky. The eerie stillness surrounding her stood in stark contrast to the chaotic destruction below. Once a beacon of strength, the village now lay in ruins—its grand walls reduced to rubble, and its proud shinobi scattered, broken, or dead. The air was thick with the acrid stench of smoke, blood, and despair.
Kaguya's cold, otherworldly gaze swept across the wreckage, her Tenseigan glowing with an intense blue radiance. She hovered with an almost unnatural grace, her power palpable, suffocating. The remnants of Konoha's defenders lay in tatters, barely clinging to life, but even they could feel it—the overwhelming weight of her presence pressing down on them like an invisible hand crushing their lungs.
Slowly, deliberately, Kaguya raised her arms above her head. Her fingers moved with a dancer's precision, weaving through a sequence of ancient, deadly seals. Her voice echoed through the desolate silence, steady and emotionless, as though the destruction of an entire village was nothing more than a passing chore.
"Spirits of severed bonds, hear my call."
The "Tiger" seal formed between her hands, and the atmosphere around her responded. The air rippled and bent as six orbs of bright, swirling chakra appeared in a ring, rotating lazily around her. They pulsed with a malevolent energy, their deep glows casting eerie shadows over the ruins beneath her.
"Flow of life, break and scatter."
With a graceful twist of her arms into the "Serpent" seal, the orbs' rotation quickened, their light intensifying. The air itself seemed to tremble as the chakra within the orbs became more volatile, more dangerous. The village below groaned under the weight of her impending spell, as if even the earth feared what was coming.
"Silent echoes of power, now stilled."
Her fingers shaped the "Ram" seal, and a cold, silvery light enveloped her. She was no longer just floating above Konoha—she was commanding the very forces of nature to submit to her will. The six orbs, now glowing with an intense, sickly light, expanded outward, their edges blurring as the energy within them grew unstable.
"Threads of chakra, unravel and dissolve."
With a sharp motion into the "Horse" seal, her arms sliced through the air like blades, the orbs aligning in front of her in perfect formation. They vibrated violently, flickering as they began to unravel, stretching into thin, shimmering threads of chakra that wove together in the space between her hands. It was as if the essence of life itself was being pulled apart, strand by strand, leaving only emptiness in its place.
"In the void of all, let none remain."
Kaguya's voice carried a chilling finality. She brought her hands together into the "Ox" seal, and with a fluid, almost casual flick of her wrist, she condensed the threads of chakra into a single, blindingly bright sphere.
"Divine art: Chakra Severance."
The white sphere pulsed ominously, a harbinger of absolute destruction. It hovered for a moment, its light growing ever more intense—pulsing once...twice, before exploding outward in a dome of pure, radiant energy.
The wave of white light cascaded across the ruined village in a devastating arc, sweeping over everything and everyone.
Buildings crumbled to dust. Trees were torn from their roots. The few remaining shinobi who stood defiant in the face of certain death collapsed, their bodies falling limply to the ground as the chakra within them was severed completely. The once-vibrant energy that had fueled their lives was gone, dissipated into nothingness. It wasn't just their strength that was taken—it was their connection to the very life force that gave them power.
As the wave receded, it left behind a hollow, oppressive silence. Konoha, the village that had stood for generations, was now nothing more than a barren wasteland. The power to mold chakra—the lifeblood of every shinobi—was erased, leaving the survivors as empty husks.
Kaguya, her expression unchanged, lowered her arms slowly. Her glowing Tenseigan faded slightly, the immense power she had wielded dissipating into the now still air. She hovered silently over the desolation, her cold eyes surveying the lifeless village below. Her victory was complete. There was no more resistance, no more hope.
The power of Konoha—the power of chakra—was no more.
And Kaguya had ensured its end.
Kaguya, floated gently to the ground, her feet sinking slightly into the charred earth beneath her. The once-pristine figure of the former Hyuuga heiress, now twisted by the Goddess of Destruction, stood among the smoking ruins of Konoha. Her face, cold and unreadable, betrayed no emotion as she pressed her palms together and began muttering a quiet chant, her soft words laden with power. The seals of the Ten Tails, bound within her, began to unravel.
Slowly, a dark seed appeared in her open hand, pulsing faintly with the remnants of the Ten Tails' chakra. As Kaguya focused her energy into it, the transformation began. Hinata's long, ethereal white hair dulled, returning to its original deep indigo. The godly robes she wore shifted back into Hinata's usual attire, her body becoming her own once more.
But it didn't matter.
Kaguya's will was still dominant, still controlling every muscle, every breath. And now, with the Ten Tails freed, her next step began. The ground trembled slightly beneath her as Kaguya placed the seed upon the earth.
"Now," she whispered, her voice carrying over the silent ruins. "Grow."
The ground quaked violently, and roots exploded from the seed, snaking their way through the scorched earth, spreading outwards in all directions. The divine tree began to take form, towering over the landscape, its massive roots like tendrils wrapping around what was left of Konoha. Kaguya's expression softened into a satisfied smile as the monstrous tree reached the heavens, its branches stretching across the sky like an all-consuming shadow.
"Shine upon the world," she murmured, raising her hands slowly towards the sky, "Infinite Tsukuyomi!"
The divine tree's roots surged outward, faster and further, spreading across the land with terrifying speed. The air shimmered as the Genjutsu took hold, its roots latching onto the countless souls across the world.
Deep underground, in the last remaining shelter beneath the Hokage's office, Tsunade, Shizune, and Shikamaru stared at the scene unfolding on the screens before them in horror. The walls trembled as the roots of the divine tree tore through the earth, pushing their way into the shelter.
Shikamaru's breath caught in his throat as he watched helplessly. "No... this can't be happening..."
The roots snaked through the crowd, wrapping around the terrified civilians, their eyes glazing over as they fell into the infinite dream of the Tsukuyomi.
"It's... it's over." Tsunade's voice was barely a whisper as she sank to her knees, her resistance finally broken. Before she could say another word, the roots claimed her too, pulling her into the unending illusion.
Above, Kaguya stood atop the Hokage monument, her eyes glowing with an unnatural light as she felt the power of the divine tree surge through her. She gazed out at the enormous tree with a serene expression. The world was hers now. Half the population had already succumbed to the Infinite Tsukuyomi, their souls feeding the divine tree.
Her ascension was complete.
Now she just had to eat the tree's fruit.
But just as she felt the connection form between herself and the boundless power of the Tsukuyomi, a presence disturbed the air behind her.
Everything shifted into slow motion.
Kaguya turned, her instincts screaming at her to move. But as she turned, she realized it was too late. Sasuke had swapped places with a kunai embedded near her, his Sharingan blazing with fury.
'You again!' Kaguya thought. She hadn't yet restored her Tenseigan with her time magic, and without the Ten Tails inside her, she was vulnerable.
Sasuke's sword of Nunoboko came crashing down, his eyes filled with the rage and grief of a man who had lost everything. The memories of his family—Itachi, his parents—and his fallen comrades, Naruto, Hinata, all surged through his mind as he screamed and drove the blade forward.
Kaguya's hand moved instinctively to block, but it was too late.
With a determined roar, Sasuke's blade tore through Hinata's body, slicing it cleanly in two at the waist. Hinata's form crumpled to the ground in two bloody halves, the lifeless body falling at Sasuke's feet.
Sasuke stood there, panting heavily, his body trembling from the effort. "It's not over."He knew it. Kaguya still had one Tenseigan left, meaning she could still revive herself.
Desperately, Sasuke scanned the battlefield with his Sharingan, searching for any sign of her reappearance. But before he could react, everything around him froze.
Kaguya materialized from beneath the Hokage monument, her form reconstructed. She stood before him, her face still calm, but now tinged with something like... amusement.
"You came close, Sasuke Uchiha," Kaguya said, her voice almost soft, "but it wasn't enough."
A violet orb formed in her hand, and before Sasuke could move, the orb connected with his chest, draining the last of his chakra. Time snapped back to reality, and Sasuke collapsed to his knees, powerless.
Kaguya summoned a spear of pure chakra, letting it hover beside her. "You have fought valiantly, but it is over now. You won't beg for mercy, will you?"
Sasuke looked up at her with a weak, defiant smile. "You should've restored your Tenseigan first... It's always good to stay alert."
Kaguya's brow furrowed slightly as she followed his gaze over her shoulder.
Her eyes widened in shock as she turned, just in time to see Sakura, fully transformed into Sage Mode, hurtling towards her with a ferocious battle cry.
"SHANNAROO!"
Cursing, Kaguya raised the chakra spear, launching it straight into Sasuke's chest.
In an instant, Sakura's fist collided with her jaw with bone-shattering force, sending Kaguya flying across the battlefield. She crashed into the earth, her body limp and unconscious from the sheer impact.
Sakura stumbled, her Sage Mode flickering and finally fading away. She dropped to her knees, utterly spent.
The plan had worked. They had transported out of Obito's Kamui dimension just in time to catch Kaguya off guard. But it came at a heavy cost.
Obito was dead. Kurenai was dead. And now...
Sakura's heart sank as she stumbled toward Sasuke's motionless body. "Sasuke!" she called, her voice cracking with panic. "Sasuke!"
But there was no response.
Sasuke lay weakly on the ground, blood pooling from his wounds. Sakura's heart pounded in her chest, each beat louder than the last as she rushed to his side, her hands trembling. She dropped to her knees, frantically assessing the damage. The chakra spear Kaguya had thrust into Sasuke was still embedded in his chest. Her breath hitched as she reached for it.
"Sasuke… hold on," she whispered, her voice shaky.
Sasuke winced as Sakura carefully pulled the spear out. The sound of his sharp intake of breath shattered what little control she had over her emotions. Tears stung her eyes, but she forced them back, pressing the torn fabric of his shirt against the gaping wound. Her hands glowed faintly as she tried to summon her medical ninjutsu, but the glow flickered and died almost immediately. She didn't have enough chakra left.
'No… not like this.'
She gritted her teeth and tapped into her strength of a hundred seal, trying to squeeze out whatever chakra remained.
But it wasn't enough.
It wasn't even close to enough. She could feel her chakra slipping through her fingers like sand. Panic rose in her chest.
"Sasuke, stay with me. You're going to be okay. I promise, I'll save you." Her voice wavered as she struggled to keep her hands steady.
Sasuke's hand, cold and weak, reached for hers. "Sakura…" he rasped, his voice barely audible.
"Shh," she whispered, refusing to look at his face, afraid of what she might see. "Don't talk. I'm going to fix this, okay? You're going to be fine."
She applied more pressure to the wound, her mind racing. She needed more chakra. She needed something.
'Where can I get more chakra?'
Her thoughts spiraled out of control. Maybe if she could just find the hospital ruins, she could gather supplies. Maybe there was another way. But time was slipping away. She could feel Sasuke's pulse growing weaker under her hands. Desperation clawed at her, but she kept working.
"I… I'll find help. I just need to…" she rambled, her voice growing more frantic.
"Sakura…" Sasuke whispered again, his hand weakly squeezing hers.
She finally looked up, tears now streaming down her face. Sasuke smiled at her, the corners of his lips barely turning upward. It was a weak, broken smile, but it was meant for her.
"You did… good," he said, each word a struggle.
Sakura forced a smile through her tears, nodding. "Yeah… we did. You were amazing, Sasuke. We all fought so hard…"
His smile widened for just a moment before he coughed, blood spilling from his mouth.
"NO!" Sakura cried, panic fully setting in. "No, no, no! Stay with me, Sasuke. Please. I need you!"
She frantically tried to heal him again, but the same result—nothing. No chakra. No medical ninjutsu. Just her, and a dying Sasuke.
Sasuke's breathing grew more labored. "Sakura… you're… crying…"
"I can't lose you," she sobbed, leaning over him. "I've already lost so many people, Sasuke. I can't lose you, too. Please. I'll do anything. I'll fix this… I can fix this…"
She tried to calm her breathing, wiping the tears from her face, but they kept falling. Her hands shook as she pressed harder against his wound, trying to stop the blood from flowing out of him. But there was too much. Her hands were soaked with it.
"I'll heal you, Sasuke," she whispered through her tears. "I always do. You trust me, right? It's just a small wound, it'll be just like old times…"
Sasuke's eyes softened. "I know… I trust you…" His voice was barely above a whisper now. "You… you're amazing, Sakura. You're… the best medic nin in the world afterall."
But in the back of her mind, a dark realization was clawing its way forward—there wasn't enough chakra. There wasn't enough time. Her hands moved frantically as she searched for anything that might save him, but all her medical knowledge was useless without chakra.
She thought back to all the times she'd saved him before—so many battles, so many injuries—and every time, she had been there, healing him, protecting him. But this time felt different. This time, there was no chakra, no backup plan, no miracle waiting for her at the edge of desperation. There was only Sasuke, and the horrible sound of his ragged breathing, growing weaker and weaker with every passing moment.
"Is it... getting better?" Sasuke's words interrupted her thoughts. But Sakura was too scared to tell him the truth: She was unable to do anything to stop the bleeding.
She tried again, summoning every last drop of chakra she could muster. Her hands glowed faintly as she poured her heart into the healing jutsu, but it flickered out once again. She was drained, completely and utterly drained.
If only she didn't lose her med kit the first time they fought Kaguya. The truth was, she could heal the wound, it wasn't even the worst injury she had healed.
But Sakura just didn't have the resources for it.
"I'm sorry…" she whispered, tears spilling from her eyes. "I'm not the best at anything… why do you call me that when I can't even save you? I can't...I can't…"
Sakura shook her head, her sobs growing louder. "I've failed you."
Sasuke's hand reached up, trembling, to wipe a tear from her cheek. "It's… okay," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "You tried… your best."
Sakura pressed her forehead against his, their tears mixing together. "It's not enough. It's never been enough."
Sasuke's grip on her hand weakened further, his eyes fluttering closed. "Sakura… I… love…"
"No, no, no, Sasuke, stay with me! Please!" she cried, shaking him gently.
But his breathing grew shallower, his body stilling beneath her. She pressed her hands against his chest, trying one last time to heal him, but nothing happened. She had no chakra left. Nothing.
"Sasuke… don't go… don't leave me…" she begged, her voice breaking as her sobs wracked her body. "What am I supposed to do if you leave me too?"
Sasuke tried to say something, drawing silence from Sakura. She pulled back, waiting expectantly for his words.
"I'm grateful..." He whispered, smiling faintly, "I'm grateful I got...to experience the love...of this... beautiful girl...I'm looking at... atleast.."
"No," she sobbed, shaking her head as her tears fell freely. "You're right, Sasuke. I love you—I love you so much… I can't do this without you. I love you..."
Sasuke's grip on her hand weakened, but his eyes remained on hers, filled with a softness she rarely saw from him. "You already know my answer… don't you?" he said, his lips twitching into a faint smile. "I… love you too."
Sakura gasped softly at his words, her heart both soaring and breaking at once. She leaned down, kissing him gently, her tears falling onto his face. When she pulled back, he was still smiling, though the life was slipping from his eyes.
"At least I get to… go with that memory," Sasuke whispered, a weak chuckle escaping him. "Something… pleasant to hold onto."
Sakura shook her head, holding his hand tightly. "No… don't talk like that. You're going to be fine. We're going to finish this, together."
Sasuke's gaze drifted toward Hinata's unconscious form in the distance, and Sakura understood. She had to stop Kaguya. He was trusting her to do what needed to be done.
"I'll finish it," Sakura whispered, tears still streaming down her face. "I'll stop her. I promise… I won't let you down."
Sasuke's eyes softened one last time. "Take care, Sakura…"
And then, with a final exhale, Sasuke's hand went limp in hers.
And then, his hand went limp.
Sakura stared down at him, disbelief flooding her as the weight of his words sunk in. "Sasuke?" she whispered, shaking him gently. "Sasuke?"
There was no answer. His chest had stilled, his body cold against hers.
"No," she gasped, her voice breaking. "No, no, no—Sasuke, please!" She collapsed onto his chest, her sobs wracking her body as she clung to him, desperate to bring him back, to feel his heartbeat just one more time. "Don't leave me. Don't leave me… I can't… I can't do this without you."
But he was gone. The love of her life was gone, and no amount of medical ninjutsu, no amount of chakra could bring him back.
Sakura curled up beside him, gripping his lifeless hand as her tears soaked the ground beneath them. She sobbed for Sasuke, for Naruto, for Ino… for everyone she had lost, and everything that had been stolen from her. The weight of it all crushed her, leaving her broken, shattered beyond repair.
She had failed.
She had lost everything.
And in that moment, with Sasuke's lifeless body beside her, Sakura let herself grieve for the boy she had always loved—and the future that would never be.
Hinata stood frozen, her breath shaky and uneven as the grief crashed over her in relentless waves. She had witnessed Obito and Kurenai's deaths firsthand, and now, as her mind raced, she could already sense the grim outcome awaiting Sakura and Sasuke. The dread that consumed her was overwhelming, but none of it hurt more than Kurenai's death—her mentor, her mother figure, the one who had guided her through the toughest moments of her life.
Her legs gave out as she collapsed to her knees, burying her face in her hands. The sobs came loud and unrestrained, the pain too deep to silence. Kurenai was gone.
The woman who had taught her how to live was now just a memory, swallowed by the violence of the battle.
'Why? Why did it have to be like this?'
Hinata's mind screamed in despair, replaying the image of Kurenai's death over and over until she could hardly breathe. Her heart felt as though it had been ripped apart, every beat more painful than the last.
"Why…" she whispered through her sobs, the tears staining her hands. "Why should I fight anymore? What's the point?"
She had lost Naruto—her love, her hope, her future—and now Kurenai too. Everyone she held dear seemed to vanish into the abyss of death, one after another. Was she destined to be alone in a world that cared nothing for the fragile attachments she cherished?
Hinata's shoulders trembled as she fought the urge to succumb entirely to the grief, but then, like a distant echo, she heard Naruto's voice in her mind.
"Don't give up."
His final words to her, spoken with such certainty before he died, rang clear as if he were standing next to her. He had believed in her, even as he drew his last breath.
Don't give up.
Hinata choked back a sob, her mind pulling her back to the battlefield, to the idea that Sakura and Sasuke might still be alive. There was a chance—no matter how slim—that she could save them. She couldn't let their deaths become a reality, not if she had the strength to change it.
Her breath quickened, her grief slowly morphing into something else: anger, determination, a deep-rooted desire to honor the memories of those she'd lost. Naruto had believed in her. Kurenai had always encouraged her to keep fighting. She had a promise to uphold. She had to keep moving, had to keep fighting—for them, for everyone.
With a fierce cry, Hinata rose to her feet, her eyes burning with renewed purpose. The chains that had bound her seemed weaker now, thinner, more fragile. She pulled on one with all her might, and to her shock, it snapped with ease. The metal links shattered in her grip, the restraint falling to the ground in a clatter.
Without hesitation, she grabbed the other chain and pulled harder. It, too, broke, falling to pieces before her feet.
She blinked, confusion momentarily flashing across her face. What was happening? Before she could fully grasp the situation, a figure tumbled to the ground in the distance, gasping for breath.
Kaguya.
Hinata's eyes widened in surprise. The sight of the ancient goddess here, in her mind plane, was startling. What was she doing here? Was this a trick?
But then, it clicked.
The last time Kaguya had been dragged into this place, her soul had been damaged enough by Team 7's efforts to weaken her. The realization hit Hinata like a jolt of lightning.
Sakura and Sasuke had done it again—they had critically damaged Kaguya.
Hope surged through Hinata's veins. Her friends were still fighting, still alive. She clenched her fists, her teeth grinding together as she turned her attention back to the chains still holding her legs.
'Kaguya's been weakened…' This was her chance.
She pulled harder, straining with every ounce of strength she had left. The metal groaned, her muscles screaming in protest, but the chain didn't hold for long
—it snapped, the last restraint falling away.
Kaguya's head jerked up, her expression shifting from shock to sheer panic as she saw Hinata's hands were now free. Only one chain remained, binding Hinata's leg, and it was already trembling under the force of her pull.
Kaguya's voice, usually calm and filled with cold malice, quivered slightly. "What… What do you think you're doing?"
Hinata ignored her, her focus entirely on the final chain. With a guttural groan, she yanked it with all her strength until it shattered into pieces. Her body trembled from the effort, but her mind was clear. This was it.
Kaguya staggered to her feet, gasping for air, her gaze fixated on Hinata. She took a shaky step back, eyes narrowing. "You... you can't break free. The contract—"
"The contract doesn't matter anymore," Hinata cut her off, her voice low and deadly. Her hands clenched around a length of the chain she had freed herself from, the metal gleaming in the dim light of her mindscape.
Kaguya's panic only deepened. "You think breaking some chains will change anything? I still control your body. Your soul is bound to me. You belong to me, Hinata. No matter what you do here, you cannot escape that."
For a brief moment, doubt flickered in Hinata's chest. It was true—Kaguya still had control over her physical form, over the body she fought so hard to reclaim. But there was something different this time. Kaguya was weaker—Sakura's sage chakra had done more damage than either of them realized.
Hinata straightened her posture, her breathing steady despite the rising storm within her. "I know you're not at your best. You're hurt," she said, her voice steady. "You couldn't even stop me from breaking these chains. Your connection is fading, Kaguya."
Kaguya's lips curled into a snarl. "That means nothing," she hissed. "You're wasting your time. I'll repossess you the moment you think you've won. Your body is mine!"
But Hinata shook her head, the determination burning in her eyes. "No. This time… I won't let you take me back."
Kaguya stepped forward, her pale skin glistening with sweat. "You're a fool. You think you have any power here? I control everything, even in this pathetic plane of your mind. Your body—"
"This place," Hinata interrupted, raising her chain-wrapped hands. "This place is my mind. And here, Kaguya, I have the power."
"The day Pain attacked us, you did something you hadn't done before, Kaguya." Hinata continued, her blue eyes never leaving Kaguya.
"You touched me."
Kaguya's face remained stoic but Hinata didn't care, she wasn't interested in whatever the goddess had to say.
"So I've been thinking, dear ancestor," Hinata continued with a confidence she didn't know she had.
"Can I, touch you?"
For a brief second, a flicker of uncertainty passed over Kaguya's face. But she forced a mocking laugh, waving off Hinata's words. "You're delusional if you think you stand a chance against me."
Hinata's grip tightened on the chain, her knuckles white. She had lost too much—too many people she cared about, too much of herself. But Naruto's words still echoed in her mind.
Don't give up.
She wasn't going to lose this fight.
"Kaguya," Hinata began, her voice sharp, cutting through the goddess's arrogance like a blade. "You've taken almost everything from me. You've killed the people I love, you've taken control of my body, and you've turned my world into a nightmare."
Kaguya smirked, crossing her arms as if amused. "And yet, here you are, still struggling like a cornered animal."
"But I still have something to fight for." Hinata's voice hardened. Even if the odds were against her, she wasn't going to give up. Not now.
"Don't make me laugh," Kaguya sneered. "You think you're fighting for some hope? Sasuke is dead, girl. You've lost."
Hinata's heart clenched at Kaguya's words, but she didn't let the despair consume her. She couldn't afford to. Instead, she clung to the memory of Sakura, still out there, still fighting.
She could still save Sakura...
She would not let Sakura's death become a reality—not if she had any say in it.
"So maybe Sasuke is gone," Hinata said, her voice growing steadier, the anger and resolve building with each word. "But Sakura's still alive. And I'll fight for her—no matter how slim the chances. Even if you're right, and she's gone too… I'll still fight. Because if I do nothing, she dies. If I fail, she dies. But if I fight—I still have a chance."
Kaguya's calm expression gradually gave way to something else, as Hinata continued to speak, her defiance causing anger to swell in the goddess.
"Because in here, in my mind..."
Hinata leveled her gaze at Kaguya, her hands gripping the chain with deadly intent. Her body trembled with the weight of the moment, but her mind was clear.
"I can kill you..."
Kaguya stared at Hinata, her expression unreadable for a moment, then twisted into a snarl. "Then come, little girl. Let's see how far your pathetic resolve gets you."
