NOVEL WEB Chapter 18: I Love You, And Only You
Danzo leaned heavily on his cane, his lone visible eye narrowing as he listened to the report from his subordinates.
"So, Jiraiya's intervention prevented a potential eruption of the Nine-Tails?"
"Yes, Lord Danzo."
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Danzo paced in place, the steady rhythm of his cane striking the floor echoing through the chamber. His visible eye glinted with a strange intensity as he processed the report.
"Dismissed," he ordered.
"Yes, sir."
With a series of faint swooshes, the Root operatives disappeared, leaving Danzo alone in the dimly lit room. He began to calculate, his thoughts a labyrinth of plots and contingencies.
Jiraiya has lost an arm, his strength greatly diminished. Tsunade, as Hokage, has already lost much of her support. As for Kakashi… Danzo smirked faintly. With the right maneuvering, he's of no concern either. The biggest obstacle lies in securing a legitimate path to power.
Raising his hand, Danzo instinctively covered his right eye, leaving his left exposed. He had anticipated that if the Nine-Tails were to erupt, Tsunade and Jiraiya would rush to suppress it. His plan had been simple: wait until they were worn down, then strike. With the chaos that followed, he could eliminate Naruto, gain control of the Nine-Tails, and claim that Tsunade's inability to govern had led to the disaster.
From there, forcing her to step down would be effortless. And if she resisted? Danzo's eye gleamed with a dangerous light.
'Then I'll make her step down—by force, if necessary.'
His thoughts turned to the sealed Sharingan embedded within his arm. The power of Uchiha Shisui's eye filled him with confidence.
'Hmph! When I ascend as Hokage, under my calculated leadership, Konoha will become invincible. With time, even the entire ninja world will bow to me.'
A dark smile spread across Danzo's face.
***
The next day, as the first rays of dawn broke across Konoha, Naruto was already awake. He moved with deliberate care—washing up, eating breakfast, tidying the house, and finally setting up a Flying Thunder God marker. After leaving a shadow clone seated cross-legged on the bed to absorb natural energy, he locked the door behind him.
Leaping onto the water tower in front of his house, Naruto turned to glance back at the small, humble home he had grown to cherish. He sighed softly, then disappeared into the morning breeze.
***
At the Hyūga Compound.
Hinata ran out of the compound, her face bright with excitement. Seeing Naruto waiting for her, she called out, "Naruto-kun! I heard you were looking for me?"
Naruto smiled warmly and nodded. "Yeah, Hinata."
Giggling, Hinata took his hand and tugged him toward the house. "Come in! Let's talk inside!"
Naruto hesitated, waving his hand. "No, it's not convenient."
Understanding his concern, Hinata reassured him with a grin. "It's fine! Father and Hanabi are out, and Neji's on a mission with Gai-sensei. I'm in charge of the house now!" She puffed out her chest proudly.
Naruto chuckled and lightly tapped her nose. "Look at you, Hinata, acting all important now."
The playful gesture turned Hinata's cheeks a deep red. "Naruto-kun, don't tease me!" she said, flustered.
Without warning, she pulled him into the alley beside the gate, wrapped her arms around him, and buried her face in his chest.
Surprised but touched, Naruto held her close, inhaling the faint floral scent of her hair. That familiar fragrance stirred something deep within him, soothing the hidden turmoil in his heart.
"I wanted to hug you that day at the Hokage's office," Hinata murmured, her voice muffled. "But there were too many people around. Now I'm making up for it."
Naruto smiled, stroking her hair gently. "Hinata," he said softly, "there's something I need to tell you."
Hinata looked up at him, her expression suddenly serious. "What is it, Naruto-kun? Did something happen?"
Her perceptiveness warmed Naruto's heart. Placing his hands on her shoulders, he looked into her eyes and said, "No matter what happens in the future, you need to remember three things. First, no matter how my position changes, my goal is always to protect Konoha and become Hokage. Second, whatever I do, it's for the good of the entire ninja world. And third—" Naruto paused, his voice softening as he took a deep breath.
"Most importantly, Hinata, no matter what I become, I, Uzumaki Naruto, will love you and only you, Hyūga Hinata, for the rest of my life."
Hinata's eyes widened, and tears began to well up. Without hesitation, she threw her arms around him again, holding him tightly. "Naruto-kun! Thank you for loving me so much. I, Hyūga Hinata, will love you in this life too—forever!"
She leaned back slightly, her voice resolute. "But promise me, Naruto-kun, if you ever face difficulties, don't bear them alone. Let me stand by your side, no matter what."
Naruto closed his eyes, his heart heavy with emotion. Stroking her hair, he whispered to himself, 'Forgive me, Hinata. This path I walk is too dangerous. I can't let you suffer with me.'
He gently pulled away, cupping her face in his hands. Their foreheads touched, and Naruto gazed at her lovingly.
"Alright," he said with a faint smile. "I'll remember. I need to go now. The Hokage's waiting."
Before leaving, Naruto rolled up Hinata's sleeve and marked her arm with the Flying Thunder God symbol.
"Eh? What's this?" Hinata asked, confused.
Naruto smiled. "With this mark, I can come to your side anytime you need me. If you're ever in danger, just focus your chakra on it, and I'll be there."
Hinata's eyes sparkled with admiration. "Naruto-kun, you're amazing!"
Naruto chuckled, touching her head affectionately. "Keep this a secret between us, alright?"
"Of course!" Hinata nodded earnestly.
With that, Naruto turned to leave.
"Naruto-kun!" Hinata called after him, cupping her hands around her mouth. "After you're done with Hokage-sama, let's go to Ichiraku Ramen tonight!"
Naruto smiled back at her, nodding. "Sure, I'll come after I'm done."
"See you at six, then! Bye!" Hinata waved, her face radiant.
"Bye," Naruto replied softly before leaping into the air.
As he soared above the rooftops, tears welled up in his eyes. 'Forgive me, Hinata, he thought. For the road I must walk is one I cannot share with you.'