"I'm sorry, Hinata..."

  Naruto walked up to Hinata, trying to mask his emotions with indifference, but in the end, his words were filled with tenderness and guilt.

  Everyone assumed Naruto ologizing to Hinata for the battle against Pain, where she had risked her life to protect him. Even Hinata herself thought so.

  After all, perspectives differ.

  Naruto, having lived through aire cycle of reination, saw Hinata as his wife, the mother of their two children. This apology, this gaze, carried profound meaning.

  But from Hinata's perspective, she had merely mustered the ce to protearuto from Pain and fess her feelings.

  Thus, she couldn't yet uand Naruto's feelings for her or the depth of his gaze at this moment.

  Even so, she could feel the deep helplessness emanating from him.

  Hinata raised her face, her voice as gentle as a spring breeze. "Why are you apologizing? Naruto-kun has always followed his ninja way. I'm sure you're doing the same now—keeping your word and moving forward bravely. That's the Naruto-kun I know..."

  Then why, Hinata, are y?

  Naruto's heart trembled as he ched his fist tightly under his sleeve, resisting the urge to reach out and wipe away her tears.

  Yes, why indeed?

  When she first learned of Naruto's defe, the pain nearly drowned her.

  But the trust and attat she had built since childhood made her believe that Naruto must have his reasons. She was desperate to find him and uhe truth.

  Now that she had found him, Hinata began to uand.

  Naruto-kun is trying to avoid us. He's carrying something heavy all by himself, and that's why he's pushing us away!

  I see it in his eyes, in his every movement. I'm sure of it!

  Naruto-kun, you must be in so much pain, aren't you?

  No, Hinata wasn't g out of her own sadness. She was g for Naruto's sorrow.

  "Hah… hah… hah…" Suddenly, a ck of oxygen caused intense dizziness, and Hinata stumbled.

  "Hinata!!!" The anxious cries of those around her rang out, but Naruto's strong hand was already supp her shoulders. "Don't panic. Breathe slowly…"

  Through her blurred vision, Hinata saw Naruto's failiar, yet now carrying a weathered, aged sorrow despite his youth.

  She raised her hand, gently toug his face, her eyes shimmering with tears, full of tenderness. "Naruto-kun, I trust you. I know you must have your reasons. You don't have to tell us now. Just… I have one request."

  " I stay by your side?"

  "What…?!" Kiba's face immediately ged, but Shikamaru stopped him with a gnce.

  Naruto quietly listeo Hinata's plea.

  "Naruto-kun, I know I'm not strong enough, but I promise I'll be good. I won't cause you any trouble."

  "So, please… don't bear all of this alone, okay?"

  She didn't know what Naruto was going through, yet she still put herself in his shoes, thinking only of him.

  Naruto replied with a heavy heart, "That would be too dangerous."

  Hinata's eyes were resolute. "I'm not afraid."

  "I uand your feelings. Truly, I do."

  "And it's precisely because of that…"

  "That I 't let you stay by my side."

  "Stay in Konoha and wait for me to e… home."

  These words were Naruto's heartfelt whisper to himself.

  Hinata's almost pleading gaze lingered before him.

  Naruto feared that if he looked at her any longer, his resolve would waver.

  He pced his left hand on the back of Hinata's ned waved his right haly in front of her face.

  It was a teique that induced sleep—a jutsu he had ofteo lull his daughter, Himawari, to sleep. It was a jutsu filled with love and e.

  "Naruto-kun…"

  Hinata's eyes grew heavy as she called out to him, unwillingly drifting into slumber.

  "Hah…" This was the most emotionally turbulent moment for Naruto since his return. He closed his eyes tightly, trying to calm his heart.

  When he opehem again, his gaze fell on Neji.

  To Naruto, Neji was also a deeply important figure.

  He was a genius who had tragically died young, never breaking free from the curse of the caged bird. He had pyed a pivotal role in Naruto's growth.

  Neji, I won't let the same tragedy happen again. I swear…

  Naruto made this vow silently.

  He spoke solemnly, "Neji, please take care of Hinata. Don't let her leave the vilge recklessly. It's too dangerous."

  "I will…" Neji supported Hinata on his shoulder. The answer he sought had already been firmed.

  Shino Aburame asked, "Naruto, I only have one question. Did you kill Mutō?"

  Mutō Aburame and Tokuma Hyūga, both members of Anko's team, had died in the forest. Their bodies had beeurned by Root operatives, who framed Naruto for their deaths.

  Naruto was shocked. "They're… dead?"

  Shino, his bck sungsses hiding his emotions, replied, "Yes, they're dead. Anko left behind an intelligence scroll. It mentiohat you fought their team in the forest outside Konoha, making you the prime suspect…"

  Naruto said, "I did fight them, but I didn't kill them!"

  Shino paused before saying, "Such words are hardly ving. Even if we believe you, the people in the vilge won't…"

  Naruto's mind was clear: It seems Root got there first after we left…

  Shikamaru asked, "What about Anko? Is she still alive?"

  Naruto g Sai. In the past, Sai had only officially left Root after Danzō's death. But now, he was still a member. Naruto chose his words carefully. "Who knows…"

  Shikamaru, deep in thought, took out a pre-prepared scroll and ha to Naruto. The scroll read:

  "Danzō has already smeared your he current atmosphere in the vilge is extremely hostile toward you.

  Anko is the only one who knows what happened in that battle and the only one who prove your innoce. If she's in your hands, don't let her go. Danzō will certainly silence her!

  Simirly, if you ever pn to return to Konoha, you must proteko!"

  Naruto's eyes narrowed as he wrote on the scroll:

  "As long as Danzō remains in power, Konoha will iably face a period of darkness. You and your father must tread carefully.

  As I suspect, Sasuke will seek eveer power, determio kill Danzō without my help. His hatred needs an outlet. So this time, I won't interfere. If, after killing Danzō, Sasuke still aims to destroy Konoha, then I will step in to stop him!"

  Snap!

  Shikamaru retrieved the scroll, read it, and looked deeply at Naruto. "So, are you now our ally… or our enemy?"

  Naruto adjusted his rogue ninja headband and swished his cloak. "If we meet otlefield iure, you need not hold back…"

  Whoosh! Using the *Flying Raijin Jutsu*, Naruto disappeared.

  Shikamaru let out a helpless chuckle. "'We,' huh? This is turning into such a mess…"

  ---

  Whoosh!

  At a mountain stream outside the Land of Iron.

  Naruto appeared before Konan and Orochimaru.

  "You took your time…"

  "Ah, I had a long-overdue chat with some old friends."

  Konan asked, "Are we heading baegakure?"

  Naruto surveyed the barren wastend around them.

  "I don't have a Flying Raijin mark in Amegakure yet. If we go on foot, it'll take some time."

  Naruto reached into his pocket and took out a vial taining Shisui's right eye. He held it carefully. "To be safe, let's find a ppnt this eye first…"