Naruto : Cruel Rebirth

"I'm sorry, Hinata..." 

Naruto walked up to Hinata, trying to mask his emotions with indifference, but it softened into tenderness and guilt. 

Everyone believed Naruto was apologizing to Hinata for stepping in to protect him during the battle with Pain. Even Hinata thought so. 

After all, perspective matters. 

Naruto had lived through a lifetime, and to him, Hinata was his loving wife and the mother of their two children. That apology and that look in his eyes carried profound meaning. 

But from Hinata's perspective, she had only mustered the courage to protect Naruto from Pain and confess her feelings. 

She couldn't yet understand Naruto's feelings for her or the depth in his eyes. 

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

Hinata lifted her face, her voice soft and melodic. 

"Why are you apologizing, Naruto-kun? You've always stuck to your ninja way. I'm sure you're still the same now—true to your word, charging forward fearlessly. That's the Naruto-kun I know." 

But, Hinata, why are you crying? 

Naruto's heart trembled as he clenched the hem of his sleeve, holding back the urge to reach out and wipe away her tears. 

Yes, why? 

When she heard Naruto had defected, the pain was overwhelming, drowning her like a tidal wave. 

But the trust and attachment she'd built since childhood convinced her that Naruto must have his reasons. She desperately wanted to find him and get answers. 

After seeing Naruto again, Hinata came to some realizations. 

Naruto is avoiding them on purpose. He's trying to shoulder something alone. That's why he's distancing himself from them! 

She can see through that. 

Because She has watched every glance, every movement of Naruto. It must be true! 

'Naruto, you must be in so much pain, right? '

Hinata wasn't crying for her own sorrow but for Naruto's. She was heartbroken for his suffering. 

"Ha... ha... ha..." 

Suddenly, dizziness overwhelmed her as oxygen deprivation hit her brain. She staggered, unable to keep her balance. 

"Hinata!!!" 

The anxious voices of everyone rang out as Naruto's strong hand caught her shoulders firmly. 

"Don't panic, breathe slowly..." 

Through her blurry vision, Hinata saw Naruto's familiar yet unfamiliar face. Though young, it carried the weight of countless hardships. 

She raised her hand and gently touched his face. Tears glistened in her eyes, but they were full of warmth. 

"Naruto-kun, I believe in you. I know you have your reasons. You don't have to tell us right now, but I have one request..." 

"Can you let me stay by your side?" 

"Hey...!" Hearing this, Kiba's expression changed, but Shikamaru stopped him with a look. 

Naruto quietly listened to Hinata's soft words. 

"Naruto-kun, I know I'm not strong enough, but I promise I won't cause you any trouble. So, please don't face all this alone, okay?" 

She didn't know what Naruto was going through but still tried to understand and support him. 

Naruto replied with a complicated expression. 

"It's too dangerous." 

Hinata responded firmly. 

"I'm not afraid." 

"I understand your feelings," Naruto said. 

"That's exactly why..." 

"I can't let you stay by my side." 

"Stay in Konoha and wait for me to come home." 

These words were Naruto's heartfelt monologue. 

Hinata's pleading gaze still lingered before him. 

Naruto feared that even one more glance would shake his resolve. 

He held Hinata's nape with his left hand and gently waved his right hand in front of her eyes. 

It was a technique to make someone to sleep. 

In the past, he often used it to put his daughter Himawari to bed—a technique filled with deep love and bonds. 

"Hinata…" 

Her eyes grew heavy, and she softly called out to the one she loved before reluctantly falling into slumber. 

"Sigh…" 

This was the most emotional moment Naruto had experienced since his return. He shut his eyes tightly to calm his heart. 

When he opened them again, he looked at Neji. 

To Naruto, Neji was also an important figure from the past. 

A prodigy who had died young, unable to escape the shackles of the caged bird seal, Neji played a pivotal role in Naruto's growth. 

'Neji, I swear I won't let history repeat itself…'

Naruto made this vow silently. 

He then spoke seriously. "Neji, please take care of Hinata. Don't let her leave the village recklessly—it would be too dangerous." 

"I will…" Neji supported Hinata on his shoulder. Something he wanted to confirm in his heart was now answered. 

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

Aburame Muta and Hyuga Iroha, both members of Anko's team, had been found dead in the forest. Their bodies were brought back by members of Root, framing Naruto for their deaths. 

Naruto was stunned. "They… died?" 

Shino's dark sunglasses hid his emotions. "Yes, they're dead. Anko left behind an intel scroll. It states you fought their team in the forest outside Konohagakure, making you the prime suspect…!" 

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

Shino was silent for a moment before replying, "That's a hard claim to believe. Even if we're willing to trust you, the people in the village won't." 

Naruto understood the situation clearly. It seemed that after they left, Root had acted first. 

At this moment, Shikamaru asked, "What about Miss Anko? Is she still alive?" 

Naruto glanced at Sai out of the corner of his eye. Back when Danzo died, Sai officially left Root, but now he was still one of its members. Naruto avoided the topic. "Who knows…" 

Shikamaru seemed to be deep in thought as he handed Naruto a scroll he had prepared in advance. Written on the scroll were these words: 

Danzo has thoroughly blackened your name. The overall environment in the village is now extremely unfavorable to you. 

Anko is the only person who knows the details of that battle and the only one who can prove your innocence. If she's in your hands, you absolutely must not let her go, because Danzo will surely have her silenced! 

Similarly, if you plan to return to Konohagakure in the future, you must protect Anko! 

Naruto's eyes sharpened slightly as he picked up a pen and wrote on the scroll. 

As long as Danzo is in power, Konohagakure will go through a dark period. You and your father must be careful and prioritize self-preservation. 

If I'm right, Sasuke will definitely seek new, greater power, determined to kill Danzo without my help. His hatred needs a place to be unleashed. So this time, I won't stop him. However, if Sasuke continues to destroy Konohagakure after killing Danzo, I will step in to stop him! 

Snap! 

Shikamaru took the scroll back, read it, and looked deeply at Naruto. 

"So, the current you… are you our ally or our enemy?" 

Naruto adjusted his rogue ninja forehead protector and flicked his cloak. 

"If we meet on the battlefield in the future, you don't need to hold back…" 

With a flash, he disappeared using the Flying Raijin technique. 

Shikamaru smiled helplessly. "'Us,' huh? This is such a hassle…" 

Swoosh! 

In the cliffs outside the Land of Iron… 

Naruto appeared in front of Konan and Orochimaru. 

"It's been a while…" 

"Ah, seeing an old companion again, I couldn't help but chat for a bit…" 

Konan asked, 

"Are you going back to Amegakure?" 

Naruto looked around at the desolate desert. 

"The Flying God Thunder mark hasn't been placed in Amegakure yet, and traveling on foot would take quite some time." 

Naruto reached into his cloak, took out the bottle holding Shisui's right eye, and said cautiously, 

"To be safe, I'll find a place to switch this eye first…" 

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