Chapter Text
The morning sun was shining down on Konoha. It had been three years since the end of the Great War: each ninja nation had rebuilt itself and learned to live with its scars.
In the Hidden Leaf Village lived a group of young men and women known as the Konoha 12 a group remembered for their strength and bravery during the war.
One of them was particularly popular: Naruto Uzumaki, 19 years old soon to be 20 by being the hero of the war, beloved by the village, and currently training to become Hokage.
One could say his life was full, but if anyone asked Naruto what made him happiest, he would answer without hesitation: his girlfriend Hinata… and ramen.
Indeed, the two lovebirds had been together for a year, and they had even gotten engaged a few months ago.
Hinata was the calm wave Naruto had always needed: a constant source of love, peace, and joy. She had changed his life, taught him what it meant to fall in love, what it meant to be loved… and what it felt like to have Hinata by his side.
Sometimes he caught himself thinking back on the past, mentally slapping himself: how had he gone so long without realizing she had loved him since the beginning? But he always justified it during most of his teenage years, his mind had been focused on one thing only: bringing Sasuke back and proving himself to the village.
He wondered sometimes how life would have been if he had fallen in love with her sooner… maybe he would’ve made better choices.
But now, Naruto lived in the present, determined to never regret anything again.
This morning, he had a training session with Sakura, Shikamaru, and Ino, before going to say goodbye to his girlfriend before her two-week mission.
⸻
He left home calmly and walked toward the training grounds. Lately, he had felt strangely at peace: after carrying the fate of the entire world on his shoulders, he had finally learned to stop putting so much pressure on himself.
His journey, his rise, his powers… sometimes they still felt unreal.
He arrived at the grounds quickly, his friends already warming up.
“Guys!!” Naruto shouted when he saw them.
He joined them and started stretching; today, he wanted to work on endurance.
“I’m fired up today!”
“The opposite would’ve surprised me…” Shikamaru said in a lazy tone. “Sorry, but I don’t have your energy at seven in the morning.”
The girls laughed.
“I need to finish before nine. I have to see Hinata before she leaves,” he added, stretching his arms and legs.
“Oh right, her mission… They’re escorting Kakashi’s guest back home. I heard he’s often targeted he isn’t very liked…” Ino said, curious. “It’s only two weeks, Naruto. You’ll survive.” She teased him.
“Haha, very funny… I know how to keep myself busy. I just worry because those attackers are known for using silent explosive traps… really hard to detect.”
He looked down, troubled.
“Even her Byakugan struggles to pick them up…”
Sakura approached and placed a hand on his shoulder, forcing him to meet her gaze.
“Naruto… Hinata is a professional ninja. Your worry is irrational. She’ll be fine. She knows how to handle anything.”
Her tone softened him.
“And that’s one of the reasons I love doing missions with her: no chaos, no improvised decisions like you.”
Naruto pouted dramatically, making everyone laugh before training resumed.
⸻
At the village gates, Team 8 was getting ready to leave, checking the final details. Kakashi’s guest was extremely demanding and materialistic, with many belongings to carry.
Hinata had her nose in the list, checking everything while her two closest friends watched with amused looks.
Once she confirmed everything was in order, she folded the list:
“Alright. We can leave as soon as Mr. Kouyoma arrives. He shouldn’t take long.”
She glanced at the time on her wrist… but not for Mr. Kouyoma.
For Naruto.
Where was he? She wouldn’t see him for at least a week and a half. She wanted to say goodbye.
Kiba noticed her impatience and slung an arm around her shoulders:
“Relax, Hinata. You’ll see him. Look.”
She lifted her head just in time to see Naruto sprinting toward them, drawing everyone’s attention.
She smiled just like him.
Hinata stepped a little away from her team and waited.
“H–Hinata! Hinata!” Naruto arrived out of breath.
“I’m sorry! Training ran late and then… an arm-wrestling match happened. I’ll spare you the details.”
She smiled softly, touched by his energy.
“It’s alright, don’t worry.”
Naruto melted instantly at her voice.
“Argh!! Ten days without you I’m not gonna survive!”
He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer. Hinata laughed quietly and rested her head against his chest, circling him with her arms.
“I’ll be back soon… don’t worry,” she whispered, listening to the wild beating of his heart.
Naruto rested his chin on her head, then released her gently.
He noticed her hair tied in a ponytail and slipped the band off, letting her long hair fall freely. He tucked a few strands behind her ears and cupped her face.
He leaned in and kissed her.
Soft, long… warm.
Then her forehead, her cheeks, the tip of her nose, her eyelids making her laugh softly.
She placed her hands on his and brushed her thumbs over his skin, cheeks warm.
“I have to go… Kakashi’s guest just arrived.”
He let her go, watching her walk back after one last hug.
⸻
Eight days had passed. The escort mission had gone smoothly so far. The team entered a sensitive area, far from any village a narrow road surrounded by cliffs and plains.
Mr. Kouyoma had almost tripped several times, so Hinata had switched places with him to walk behind, ready to catch him if needed. Her teammates took the lead.
After half an hour, Akamaru grew restless.
“Stay alert… something’s bothering him.”
Night had long fallen.
Hinata walked at the front now. The air was cold, but she stayed calm; she had led reconnaissance missions like this countless times.
Shino broke the silence:
“Hinata… can you check the area ahead?”
She nodded, formed the hand sign.
“Byakugan.”
The world opened white outlines, chakra points, hearts beating dozens of meters away.
“Three enemies hidden east,” she said. “But they’re not moving.”
“No chakra traps within a hundred meters,” she added.
Her teammates relaxed. Hinata moved forward, scanning everything.
Everything seemed normal.
And yet…
A small detail darker soil, unnatural. Hinata narrowed her eyes.
No chakra signature.
No wires.
Nothing suspicious.
“The path is clear. It’s safe to go.”
She stepped forward.
A click.
Too soft.
A mechanism with no chakra.
“Wait—!”
The explosion burst, massive and deafening.
Hinata had only a second to push her teammates aside.
The ground collapsed.
The cliff gave way.
— HINATA!