Hinata's hands trembled, the chains she held crackling with a surge of blue-white lightning chakra. Her heart pounded against her ribs like a war drum, each beat fueling the tempest of emotions within her—grief, loss, and above all, hatred. Pure, unbridled hatred for the goddess who had stolen everything from her.
Kaguya stood before her, the pale light of the mindscape casting her in an ethereal glow. Her expression was one of amusement, a twisted smile playing on her lips as she regarded Hinata with a mocking gaze.
"Do you truly believe you stand a chance against me, child?" Kaguya asked, her voice dripping with condescension. "Is this newfound bravery supposed to impress me?"
Hinata's grip tightened on the chain, her knuckles white. The electricity danced along the metal links, sparking in rhythm with the seething rage in her heart. "You took everything from me," she said, her voice low but steady, the words carrying the weight of her pain. "You've killed my friends, you've turned me into your puppet, and you've made my life a nightmare. You've stolen what I hold dear."
Kaguya's smile widened, her eyes glinting with malicious amusement. "And now you think you can make me pay? How laughable. You belong to me, Hinata. Everything you are, everything you have, it's mine. Even the power you think you wield—it's all thanks to me."
Hinata shook her head slowly, her gaze never wavering. "You're wrong. You think you own me, but I'm not your puppet. Not anymore." She took a deep breath, the air around her crackling with the intensity of her resolve. "You think the Tenseigan you forced onto me belongs to you, but you don't understand it, do you?"
Kaguya's eyes narrowed, her amusement dimming slightly. "You're delusional. The Tenseigan's power is beyond your comprehension. You can't access it, can't control it. You're nothing more than a vessel for my will."
Hinata's lips curled into a grim smile. "You're right about one thing. I haven't been able to access its power outside. But here," she gestured around the mindscape, her voice gaining strength, "in my mind, it's mine. You can't use it against me here because it's a part of me now, not you."
Kaguya's eyes widened imperceptibly, a flicker of uncertainty crossing her features before she masked it with a cold laugh. "And what does that matter? Even if what you say is true, you have no idea how to use its power. Your body can't handle it. You're a fool, fighting a battle you've already lost."
Hinata's grip on the chain tightened, the metal links glowing with the force of her chakra. She took a step forward, her gaze locked onto Kaguya's. "I don't need the Tenseigan to beat you," she said, her voice steady and unwavering. "I don't need any power but my own. Because this time, I'm not fighting to survive—I'm fighting to end you."
Kaguya let out a mocking laugh, shaking her head as if disappointed. "And how do you plan to accomplish that? With your pathetic mortal strength?" Her tone was filled with derision, but the faintest hint of unease had crept into her eyes.
Hinata's heart thundered in her chest, her body vibrating with the intensity of her resolve. She knew she was up against an overwhelming force, but she had no choice. She couldn't let Kaguya continue her reign of terror. She would end this, here and now.
She took another step forward, the chain in her hands humming with energy. "You're scared," Hinata said quietly, her voice cutting through the tension like a blade. "You're scared because you know you can't use your powers here. You're scared because you can feel your control slipping. And you're scared because you know, deep down, that this time you're at a disadvantage."
Kaguya's face twisted in anger, her eyes narrowing dangerously. "How dare you—"
"Don't pretend you're not afraid," Hinata cut her off, her voice rising. "I can see it in your eyes. You've lost control. For all your power, all your arrogance, you're nothing but a coward hiding behind a facade." She raised the chain, the lightning flaring brighter around her. "And I'm going to make you pay for every single thing you've done."
Kaguya's expression darkened, her once composed demeanor cracking under the force of her rage. "You insolent child," she hissed, her voice trembling with fury. "You dare to challenge me?"
Hinata took a deep breath, centering herself. The grief, the pain, the anger—it all coalesced into a single, burning determination. She dropped into a fighting stance, the chain coiled around her arm, the lightning crackling with renewed intensity. "I will defeat you," she said, her voice strong and clear. "And your legacy ends here."
Kaguya's eyes blazed with fury, but there was something else there, something Hinata had not seen before—fear. The goddess's lips curled into a sneer, but the edges of her composure were fraying. "You're more like me than you care to admit," Kaguya spat, her voice dripping with venom. "This determination, this doggedness—it's a part of you, just as it was a part of me. You can't escape it. You can't escape what you are."
But Hinata shook her head, her gaze never leaving Kaguya's. "I am nothing like you," she said, her voice steady and sure. "You're a monster who destroys everything in your path. I fight to protect those I love. And I will prove it."
Hinata's feet barely touched the ground as she moved, a blur of motion in the surreal expanse of her mind plane. The chains in her hands hummed with lightning, snapping through the air like a whip. She darted toward Kaguya, her eyes locked on the goddess with a burning intensity.
Kaguya watched her approach with a detached, almost bored expression, her posture relaxed, arms hanging loosely at her sides.
"How pitiful," she murmured, a cruel smile curving her lips.
But Hinata didn't respond. Her focus was absolute.
She twisted her body midair, spinning the chain in a wide arc. The links crackled with energy as they wrapped around Kaguya's arm.
Hinata pulled hard, trying to yank the goddess off balance, but Kaguya didn't budge. She barely flinched, her arm remaining steady and firm as though the chain were nothing more than a nuisance.
"Foolish," Kaguya said, her voice calm and laced with disdain. With a flick of her wrist, she wrenched the chain from Hinata's grip, sending her staggering forward.
Hinata barely caught herself, planting her feet firmly and tugging at the chain, reeling it back to her side.
The ground beneath her shuddered from the force of Kaguya's simple motion. But she didn't let it deter her. She adjusted her stance, the chain coiling around her forearm as she circled Kaguya warily.
"You're relentless," Kaguya noted, amusement lacing her words. "But no amount of effort will bridge the gap between us. You're merely delaying the inevitable."
Hinata narrowed her eyes, ignoring the taunts. She darted forward again, her movements fluid and graceful.
She swung the chain low, aiming for Kaguya's legs, but the goddess rose into the air, hovering above her with an effortless grace.
"You're slow," Kaguya mocked.
Hinata's gaze never left her target. She yanked the chain upwards, the links catching Kaguya's foot. With a powerful jerk, she pulled Kaguya down over her head, slamming her into the ground.
Dust and debris exploded around them, but when it cleared, Kaguya was standing, unharmed, brushing off her robes with a contemptuous look.
"Is that the best you can do?" Kaguya's eyes gleamed with malevolence. "This is a waste of time."
Before Hinata could react, Kaguya was on her, moving with a speed that was impossible to track.
Her palm struck Hinata in the chest, and pain exploded through her body. Hinata was sent flying, crashing into the ground, her vision blurring from the impact. She gasped for breath, struggling to stand, every muscle screaming in agony.
Kaguya advanced leisurely, her expression one of cold disdain. "You're nothing but a broken, pathetic little girl, flailing in vain against a force you cannot hope to defeat."
Hinata coughed, blood staining her lips as she forced herself to her feet. Her body trembled, every fiber protesting against the movement, but she didn't care. She couldn't care. Not now. Not when so much was at stake.
She swung the chain again, this time aiming for Kaguya's head.
But Kaguya caught it effortlessly, her fingers wrapping around the electrified links. She yanked the chain, pulling Hinata off her feet, sending her stumbling forward.
Hinata's world exploded in pain as Kaguya's hand impacted her jaw, sending her tumbling backwards.
"Do you see now?" Kaguya said, her voice soft, almost tender. "Do you understand how futile this is? You are nothing compared to me."
Hinata gritted her teeth, her vision swimming. She was hurt—badly—but she couldn't stop. She wouldn't. She forced herself up, her legs shaking, her heart pounding wildly in her chest.
"You think this is about power?" Hinata spat, her voice hoarse but fierce. "You think you've won because you're stronger? This is about more than strength!"
Kaguya's expression darkened, her eyes narrowing. "You delude yourself."
Hinata's hands tightened on the chain, her breath coming in ragged gasps. "Maybe. But I'm not giving up."
She spun the chain in a tight circle, the lightning chakra crackling violently along its length.
Hinata rushed forward again, zigzagging to avoid Kaguya's outstretched hand. She whipped the chain toward Kaguya's face, and the goddess raised an arm to block it.
At the last moment, Hinata twisted, redirecting the chain around Kaguya's arm and pulling it taut.
For a moment, Kaguya was trapped. Hinata yanked the chain, pulling Kaguya towards her. She spun, delivering a powerful kick to Kaguya's side.
The blow landed, but it barely moved her. Kaguya's eyes widened slightly in surprise before her face twisted into an expression of rage.
"You dare—!" Kaguya began, but Hinata was already moving.
She swung the chain around Kaguya's body, the links wrapping around her torso. She pulled it tight, hoping to restrict Kaguya's movements.
But Kaguya simply flexed, and the chain shattered, fragments of metal scattering around them like sparks. Kaguya's hand shot out, gripping Hinata by the throat and lifting her off the ground effortlessly.
"You think this pitiful show of resistance means anything?" Kaguya sneered, her eyes burning with cold fury. "You are nothing. Do you understand? Nothing!"
Hinata's vision darkened as Kaguya's grip tightened, her air supply cut off. Her fingers clawed at Kaguya's hand, but it was like trying to bend steel. Desperation clawed at her chest, but she forced herself to stay calm, to think.
She channeled chakra into her hand, the familiar crackle of lightning springing to life.
Hinata slammed her electrified palm into Kaguya's arm. The shock made Kaguya flinch, her grip loosening just enough for Hinata to wriggle free. She fell to the ground, gasping for breath, but didn't give herself time to rest.
She rolled to her feet, grabbing another chain in her hand as she swung it at Kaguya's legs again. Kaguya flew jumped, her movements almost lazy, and Hinata yanked the chain up, trying to catch her midair.
But Kaguya twisted, her body moving with inhuman grace, and the chain missed by inches.
"Is that all you have?" Kaguya taunted, landing softly, her eyes gleaming with contempt. "Is this your grand rebellion?"
Hinata's chest heaved with the effort of breathing, sweat mingling on her skin. She was running out of options, out of time.
Every hit she landed seemed to do nothing, while every blow Kaguya landed felt like it was tearing her apart.
But she couldn't stop. She couldn't let Kaguya win.
She took a deep breath, steadying herself. There was one last thing she could try. She gathered her chakra, feeling it pulse through her body, and channeled it into the chain.
The lightning crackled more fiercely now, the links glowing with a blue light.
Kaguya watched her with a raised eyebrow, her lips curving into a mocking smile. "You're brave, challenging me with mere crumbs of my own power."
Ignoring the taunt, Hinata began wrapping the chain around her fist, layer upon layer of glowing metal coiling around her arm like a serpent. The lightning surged, the air around her humming with energy. She could feel the power of the chain intensifying, each link vibrating with the force of her resolve.
Kaguya tilted her head, regarding her with a mix of amusement and curiosity. "And what do you hope to achieve with this? You're wasting your time."
Hinata didn't reply. She focused on the chain, on the chakra flowing through it, reinforcing her arm, her fist. This was her last chance, her only shot. She couldn't fail now. Not after everything. Not with so much at stake.
She met Kaguya's gaze, her eyes blazing with determination. "I'm going to end this. I'm going to end you."
Kaguya's smile widened, a cruel, mocking grin. "How adorable. You still think you can win."
Hinata took a deep breath, steadying herself. Her body ached, every nerve screaming in protest, but she forced the pain down, forced herself to focus. She raised her fist, the chain glowing like a burning star, and glared at Kaguya.
This was it. Her last hope. The only chance to put down the goddess who had stolen everything from her.
She couldn't afford to lose. Not now. Not ever.
Hinata tightened the chain around her fist, the lightning-infused links buzzing with raw power. Her eyes were locked on Kaguya, the goddess standing tall and imperious before her. Every nerve in her body screamed in agony, but she pushed it all aside. She could see the arrogance in Kaguya's eyes, the disdain.
She would wipe that look off her face.
Hinata took a steadying breath, letting her mind go still, focusing on the training she'd endured. The countless hours of drilling, of honing her reflexes, of learning to channel her emotions into every strike. She would be direct this time, but she needed to wait for the perfect moment.
Kaguya's eyes narrowed as she studied her, taking a cautious step forward. Hinata could see the gears turning in her head. Kaguya knew she couldn't use her powers on Hinata here, just as Hinata knew she was far weaker. But there was something else. A glint of calculation in Kaguya's gaze, a shadow of hesitation.
Was she…holding back?
Hinata didn't let her surprise show. She kept her stance low, ready to move, to react.
Kaguya shifted her weight, her movements smooth, deliberate. The goddess wasn't attacking yet, but she was closing the distance, her expression cold and determined.
Hinata's heart pounded in her ears as she braced herself, watching, waiting.
Kaguya continued to study Hinata carefully. Hinata was right, she couldn't use her powers inside her.
But what Hinata didn't know was that she also couldn't kill Hinata. If Hinata's soul died, Kaguya's Tenseigan would be broken until it reappeared in another descendant of hers years later.
She didn't want that. Her plan was to regain strength in Hinata's mind plane, and then restrain the rebellious girl again.
The contract gave her authority over Hinata's body, but it was linked to Kaguya's own strength. If she stalled Hinata long enough till she recovered from the damage to her soul, or beat Hinata till she couldn't fight back, she could restrain her again and regain control of her body.
Kaguya's eyes narrowed. Then, without warning, she lunged.
Her hand shot out, aiming for Hinata's throat. Hinata twisted, barely avoiding the strike, the air around her crackling with the force of Kaguya's missed blow.
She ducked under a second strike, her feet barely skimming the ground as she danced away.
Kaguya was relentless, her attacks coming faster, more precise.
A punch aimed at Hinata's head, a kick at her side.
Hinata weaved through the assault, her body moving on instinct. She could feel the force of every blow that missed her by inches, the raw power behind each strike. Kaguya was toying with her, holding back but still deadly.
Hinata gritted her teeth, biding her time, waiting for an opening. She needed to be patient, to keep her cool. The chain hummed in her hand, a constant reminder of the power she held.
Then she saw it—a tiny gap in Kaguya's defense.
Hinata moved without hesitation, launching herself forward. She twisted her body mid-air, swinging her chain-wrapped fist directly into Kaguya's ribs.
The impact reverberated up her arm, and Kaguya staggered, a look of surprise flashing across her face.
The blow had hurt.
Kaguya hissed in pain, her eyes wide with disbelief. Hinata didn't give her a chance to recover. She pressed forward, her fists flying.
Another strike to Kaguya's side, a quick jab to her gut. Each hit connected, forcing Kaguya to retreat, her perfect poise shattering under the onslaught.
Hinata's movements were fluid, each attack calculated, precise. She could hear Sakura's voice in her head, urging her to create her own openings, to punish gaps in her opponents guard.
She slammed her knee into Kaguya's stomach, the goddess doubling over with a choked gasp.
Hinata's heart surged with adrenaline. She was doing it—she was actually pushing Kaguya back. She didn't let up, her fists blurring as she drove Kaguya across the battlefield, each punch fueled by a deep, burning hatred.
Kaguya's face twisted with fury and confusion, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she struggled to block Hinata's attacks.
A hook to the jaw, another to the temple. Each strike landed with brutal force, and Hinata could see the shock in Kaguya's eyes.
"How?" Kaguya snarled, staggering back. "How are you—?"
Hinata didn't answer. She spun, her chain wrapping around Kaguya's arm, and pulled with all her might. Kaguya was dragged off-balance, and Hinata drove her knee into Kaguya's ribs again.
She felt something crack beneath the impact, and Kaguya let out a cry of pain.
Kaguya's hands glowed faintly, the air around her shimmering with suppressed power. But whatever she tried to summon fizzled out, her body still too weak, too broken.
Hinata saw the panic flicker in her eyes, and she felt a savage satisfaction burn in her chest.
This was her chance.
Kaguya swung wildly, a backhanded slap that Hinata narrowly dodged.
She ducked under Kaguya's arm, spinning behind her. Hinata's eyes flashed as she saw her opening.
She struck at the pressure point in Kaguya's knee, her fingers jabbing with precision.
Kaguya gasped, her leg buckling beneath her as she dropped to her knees, the ground trembling from the force of her fall. Her eyes were wide, filled with a mixture of disbelief and fear.
"No!" Kaguya's voice was a desperate scream, her hands clawing at the ground as she tried to push herself up. "You can't—"
Hinata didn't hesitate.
She lunged forward, the chain still sparking with lightning as she wrapped it around Kaguya's throat.
The goddess's eyes bulged in shock as Hinata pulled tight, the links digging into her pale skin.
Kaguya's hands scrabbled at the chain, her breath coming in strangled gasps. Her body jerked, trying to free herself, but Hinata held firm, her grip like iron. She could feel the goddess's pulse beneath her fingers, could see the terror in her eyes.
"Let go!" Kaguya choked, her voice a strangled whisper. "You—can't—"
Hinata's eyes blazed with hatred. "I can."
She pulled the chain tighter, her muscles straining. Kaguya's struggles grew weaker, her eyes fluttering as her breath came in ragged gasps. Hinata could feel her own heart pounding, every beat echoing with the intensity of her determination.
This was for everyone Kaguya had hurt, for everything she had taken from them. This was for all the pain, all the suffering.
Kaguya's body convulsed, her hands falling limp at her sides. Hinata's breath came in harsh, shallow bursts as she held the chain taut, every muscle in her body screaming with effort.
She watched as the life slowly drained from Kaguya's eyes, the goddess's body trembling.
This was it. The end.
Hinata's grip tightened even more, the chain cutting deeper into Kaguya's neck. She could feel the lightning sparking along the links, could feel the power thrumming through her veins.
Kaguya's lips moved, a soundless plea escaping her as her head lolled forward, her eyes glazed and empty.
And then, with one last, shuddering breath, she went still.
Hinata didn't let go. She couldn't. Not yet.
She held the chain tight, her knuckles white, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She needed to be sure, needed to know that it was over.
The world around her seemed to blur, the colors fading to gray. The pain in her body, the exhaustion, everything faded away, leaving only a hollow, aching emptiness.
She had won.
Hinata's hands trembled as she finally loosened her grip, the chain falling from her fingers. Kaguya's body slumped to the ground, lifeless and still. The silence that followed was deafening, a heavy weight that pressed down on her chest, making it hard to breathe.
She had done it. She had killed a goddess.
But as she stood there, staring down at Kaguya's broken form, she couldn't shake the feeling that this victory had come at a terrible cost.
And she wasn't sure if it was one she could bear.
Sakura stood atop the Hokage monument, the wind howling around her, carrying the scent of blood and ash from the ravaged village below. Her body trembled, not from the cold, but from the crushing weight of loss. Sasuke's body was still warm, lying amidst the rubble, his life snuffed out like a fleeting ember. He had died fighting by her side, fighting to stop Kaguya's plan from coming to fruition. His last words echoed in her mind, a haunting reminder of the promise she made.
"Take care, Sakura."
And now, everyone was gone.
Naruto, Ino, Kurenai, even Kakashi had fallen. All their sacrifices, all their hopes, now rested on her shoulders.
She clenched her jaw, staggering over to where Hinata lay, unconscious and vulnerable. Kaguya's lifeless form was bound to her through the Tenseigan. It was all that was left of the goddess who had taken everything from her.
Sakura knelt down beside Hinata, her legs weak and shaking. She fumbled with the kunai in her hand, the blade gleaming ominously in the moonlight. The weight of what she was about to do crushed her chest, making it hard to breathe.
"Hinata... I'm so sorry," she whispered, her voice breaking as she held the kunai over Hinata's face. Her hand hovered above Hinata's closed eyes, trembling violently.
She had to destroy the Tenseigan. She had to save everyone who was left. But the thought of blinding Hinata, of taking away her friend's sight and possibly her life, was too much to bear.
Hinata's face was peaceful, almost serene despite the dirt and blood staining her skin. Sakura bit her lip, tears spilling down her cheeks as she tried to build up the courage to go through with it. If she didn't, Kaguya would come back. She would reclaim Hinata's body and continue her reign of terror. All of their sacrifices would be for nothing.
She squeezed her eyes shut, sobbing silently as she pressed the kunai closer to Hinata's face.
"I have to... I have to do this. I'm so sorry, Hinata," she choked out, gathering what little chakra she had left to keep her hand steady.
The faces of those she had lost flashed before her eyes.
Naruto, with his unyielding smile.
Sasuke, with his determined gaze.
Kurenai, Ino, Kakashi... She had to finish what they started. One more life... just one more, and she could save the lives of millions. But why did it have to be Hinata's?
"I... I have to do it!" she cried, sobbing as she lifted the kunai higher, her entire body shaking with the effort. "Please, forgive me."
With a final, desperate scream, she brought the kunai down. But before the blade could make contact, Hinata's eyes shot open. The sudden movement startled Sakura, causing her to hesitate, the kunai slicing through the air mere inches from Hinata's face.
"Kaguya!" she gasped, stumbling back in shock. "No... no, you can't be awake! It's too soon!" Panic surged through her, and she lunged forward, tackling Hinata to the ground as the Hyuuga girl struggled beneath her.
"Sakura, stop!" Hinata cried out, her voice frantic and desperate as she tried to push Sakura away. "Please, listen to me!"
But Sakura's mind was clouded with rage and fear. She couldn't let Kaguya take over again. She couldn't let everyone's deaths be in vain. She gritted her teeth, wrestling with Hinata as she tried to pin her down, the kunai clutched tightly in her hand.
"I won't let you take her again, Kaguya!" Sakura screamed, raising the kunai above her head. "I'll end this! I'll kill you, once and for all!"
"Sakura, no! It's me! It's Hinata!" Hinata's voice cracked, tears streaming down her face as she fought to hold Sakura back. "Please, you have to believe me!"
For a moment, Sakura faltered. The voice that left Hinata's lips wasn't the cold, regal tone of Kaguya. It was soft, desperate, filled with the same fear and anguish that Sakura herself felt. She hesitated, her body trembling as she looked into Hinata's tear-filled eyes.
"Hinata?" she whispered, her voice barely audible. Her heart ached with hope and disbelief, but the memory of the last time Hinata had regained control flashed through her mind. The memory of Naruto dying by his own lover's hand, his body lifeless and broken. She couldn't let it happen again.
"No... I can't trust you. I won't be fooled again!" Sakura snarled, raising the kunai once more. "I won't let you kill anyone else!"
"Please, Sakura, listen to me!" Hinata sobbed, her hands shaking as she held Sakura's wrists, trying to keep the blade away. "Kaguya is dead! I killed her! She's gone!"
Sakura froze, her breath catching in her throat. "What... what did you say?"
"She's dead," Hinata whispered, her voice trembling. "I killed her... in my mind plane. It's over, Sakura. She's really gone."
The kunai slipped from Sakura's grasp, clattering to the ground as she stared at Hinata in shock. "But... how?" she asked, her voice weak and broken. "How is she gone?"
"It was thanks to you, and Naruto, and Sasuke, and everyone," Hinata said, tears streaming down her cheeks as she smiled weakly. "You weakened her enough for me to challenge her. I... I couldn't have done it without you."
Sakura's legs gave out beneath her, and she collapsed onto Hinata, sobbing uncontrollably. "No... no, I don't believe it. It can't be over. It can't be..."
But Hinata wrapped her arms around her, holding her tightly as they both cried. "It's really me, Sakura. I'm free... I'm finally free."
Sakura buried her face in Hinata's shoulder, her body wracked with sobs as the weight of everything crashed down on her. The grief of losing Sasuke, Naruto, and so many others. The relief of finally hearing her friend's voice again, of knowing that they had won, that Kaguya was gone.
"I thought I lost you," Sakura whispered, her voice breaking. "I thought... I thought I was going to lose everyone."
Hinata shook her head, her fingers gently brushing through Sakura's hair. "You didn't lose me, Sakura. I'm right here. And I'm not going anywhere."
Sakura pulled back, looking into Hinata's eyes, searching for any sign of deception. But all she saw was the girl she had fought alongside, the friend she had thought she would never see again. Tears blurred her vision as she pulled Hinata into another tight embrace.
"I'm so sorry," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I'm so sorry I doubted you."
Hinata hugged her back, her own tears falling freely as she held Sakura close. "It's okay... It's okay, Sakura. We're going to be okay."
They clung to each other, two broken souls finding solace in the fact that they had survived, that they had made it through the darkness together. And for the first time in what felt like an eternity, Sakura allowed herself to hope.
Hinata knelt beside Sasuke's lifeless body, her hands trembling as she brushed the strands of black hair away from his face. She felt so small, so fragile, as her tears fell onto his unmoving chest. Her sobs were quiet, choked, as if she didn't want to disturb the dead any more than they already were.
"I-It's my fault," Hinata whispered, her voice breaking as she looked up at Sakura, who knelt beside her, eyes red and swollen. "It's all my fault…"
"No," Sakura said, shaking her head vehemently, her own tears streaming down her face. "It wasn't you, Hinata. It was Kaguya. All of this was her doing."
But Hinata's gaze was lost, her hands clutching the ground as if trying to hold on to something, anything, that could anchor her in this sea of despair. "I should have fought harder. I should have—"
"There was nothing more you could've done!" Sakura's voice cracked, raw from the pain she could no longer contain. "We all did everything we could. We gave it everything, Hinata!"
Hinata's eyes, glassy and distant, settled on Sakura's face. "Where are the others?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "Where are Naruto and Kurenai-sensei?"
Sakura's breath hitched, her eyes closing as she felt the weight of those names crashing down on her like a tidal wave. She opened her mouth to speak, but no sound came out. After a moment, she managed to shake her head slowly, her body trembling with the effort it took to say the words.
"They're… they're gone, Hinata." Her voice was a broken whisper. "There's nothing left. Kaguya… she burnt them. There's nothing left to recover."
Hinata's eyes widened, her breath catching in her throat as if she'd been struck. The silence that followed was deafening.
And then, she broke. Her hands clawed at the dirt, her sobs wracking her body as she cursed herself, cursed the day she'd ever met Kaguya.
"No… No!" she screamed, her voice a guttural cry that echoed over the silent monument. "I should have died! I should have died back then!"
"Hinata, no!" Sakura reached for her, pulling her into a tight embrace as if she could hold her together through sheer will alone. "Don't say that! Don't you dare say that!"
But Hinata was inconsolable as she broke the hug. "I should have jumped that day!" she cried, the memory of that long-ago bridge scene flashing in her mind, the day she had almost ended her own life as a child. "If I'd just died, none of this would've happened! None of this!"
"Hinata..." Sakura reached out to her friend, but she felt her hand harshly brushed away.
"Don't touch me!" Hinata retorted, her voice heavy with emotion. "It's your fault too! You, Sasuke, Naruto... it's all your fault!"
Sakura felt her heart shatter at her words. "What do you mean?"
"Why did you save me?" Hinata murmured, her body heaving with sobs. "Why did you save me that day? I should be dead... I was supposed to die, and you stopped me. You made a mistake, all of you."
"Don't say that, Hinata," Sakura whispered, pulling her into a soft embrace. "You're not a mistake. I'll fight to save you a hundred times if I have to, because you're precious to me."
But Hinata was still distraught. "Don't say that about a person like me. I'm a monster. A murderer..."
"No," Sakura whispered fiercely, holding Hinata as tightly as she could. "It's not your fault. It's not your fault."
"I'm so sorry…" Hinata sobbed into Sakura's shoulder. "I'm so sorry for everything. For Naruto… for Sasuke… for everyone…"
Sakura held her, rocking her gently, her own tears falling silently. They stayed like that for a long time, two broken souls clinging to each other in the ruins of everything they had ever known.
Eventually, Hinata's sobs quieted, though tears still streamed down her face. "I remember when I gave my life to save Naruto from Pain," she murmured, her voice so soft it was almost lost in the wind. "I used Kaguya's power then… the same power that took everything from me, from all of us. I thought it was a gift… that I was destined to be a saviour. But it was a curse. I'm... a curse."
Sakura didn't know what to say, so she just held her, her heart aching with the knowledge that nothing she could say would make this right.
"But now…" Hinata continued, her voice hollow. "Now I don't even care. Part of me wishes I could just reach out to that power again, like I did back then. To fix everything. No strings attached."
"Hinata…" Sakura's voice was thick with unshed tears. "You can't think like that. There's no going back to that."
"I know," Hinata whispered, her eyes settling on the massive form of the Divine Tree in the distance, its roots twisted and gnarled, a monstrous testament to Kaguya's legacy. And the other piece of that legacy was within her, the Tenseigan that had caused so much destruction, brought so much pain.
Sakura followed her gaze, her own eyes narrowing as she looked at the cursed tree. "The Divine Tree," she said, her voice quiet but filled with determination. "It holds the souls of millions in its roots, trapped in an infinite dream of their greatest desires."
Hinata's gaze remained on the tree, her face drawn and pale. "Their... greatest desires?"
"You can stop it," Sakura said, a note of hope creeping into her voice. "The Tsukuyomi will last as long as the Tenseigan is active. And since Kaguya is gone… that means you're the only one who can end it."
Hinata rose slowly to her feet, her legs shaking beneath her, but her eyes were clear, determined. She walked to the edge of the monument, looking out at the tree in the distance.
"How?" she asked quietly. "How do I stop it?"
Sakura got to her feet, walking over to her side. "You have to reach the tree first," she said as she prepared to scale down the monument. "If you can get close enough…"
But before she could finish, she saw that Hinata wasn't moving. She was just standing there, staring at the tree with an unreadable expression.
"Hinata?" Sakura called softly, puzzled. "Come on, we have to go. We have to end this."
But Hinata didn't move. She just stood there, her eyes never leaving the distant tree.
"Why?"
Sakura's heart skipped a beat at her words. "What do you mean, why?"
Hinata's gaze never left the tree, her thoughts swirling. "Why do we have to stop it?"
Sakura blinked, puzzled by Hinata's words. "Because, it's part of the process for a mass human sacrifice, Hinata! It's what we've all been fighting to stop."
But Hinata didn't respond. She just kept on staring at the tree in the distance, her eyes carrying the faintest trace of hope.
"Our greatest desires..." she whispered to herself.
For a moment, Hinata wondered what her own greatest desire was. Living a happy life with people that love her for who she is? It was something she'd wanted for so long, something she already had with the few friends she'd made.
Something that she'd lost.
So what else did she truly desire? She felt like she had nothing left to look forward to, nothing else to live for. All she had left with her, was the unrelenting feeling of pain.
More than anything, she wanted the pain to stop. The sheer guilt...
If I had died, none of this would've happened...
Hinata wondered if it wasn't too late to her fix everything—for all the people involved in that crucial mistake that day at the bridge to make up for the crime they'd committed against fate itself. She was Kaguya's reincarnate—she was supposed to die for the sake of the world. Maybe there was still a chance to make everything right. Both for herself, and for the people of Konoha that had suffered due to her defiance.
There was a chance to make things right, to fix the wrongdoings of the past. She could amend for her crime of continuing to defy death with her curse—
And the last member of her team of accomplices could amend her mistake of abetting this.
Hinata's fists clenched. Noneof this would've happened if Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura hadn't interfered in her suicide attempt. All this death and destruction would've been avoided if they had done theirdamn jobsinstead of keeping her going with fake promises of saving her, of giving her back the life she had grown to cherish.
Yes, she was now free from Kaguya's control—but at what cost? Was her own life more valuable than the lives of everyone who died to rescue her?
Was everything worth it?... was I worth it?
A few metres away, Sakura watched her in confusion, wondering what was going on in her friend's head. "Hinata..."
After a moment of silence, Hinata took a deep breath, her shoulders sagging as if under a great weight. "If I reach the Divine Tree… I'm not going to do what you think."
Sakura's eyes widened, her heart pounding in her chest. "Hinata, what are you talking about? What do you mean?"
But Hinata didn't answer. She just stood there, her eyes fixed on the tree, as if it held all the answers she had ever sought.
Sakura felt the world tilt, her mind reeling as she stared at her friend's back. "What… what are you going to do?"
But Hinata didn't look at her. She just kept staring at the tree, her voice a whisper carried on the wind.
"I'm going to do...something selfish."
Sakura's breath caught in her throat, her heart racing with a fear she couldn't quite understand. Whatever Hinata was thinking, whatever she was planning, it wasn't what Sakura expected. It wasn't what any of them had fought for.
The rain began to fall again, a soft, mournful drizzle that soaked through their clothes, mingling with the tears on their faces as the weight of what was left unsaid settled between them like a shroud.