Wine trickled down her hair, staining her vision a murky crimson.
Before her, her husband was thrashing and roaring, as if he wanted to tear Isshiki apart with his teeth.
Yet in Hinata Hyuga's heart, there was no ripple.
Naruto-kun was still Naruto-kun… the same gentle Naruto-kun.
The night he brought Kawaki back home again, his large hand wrapped around hers, still as strong and reassuring as ever.
He had been overflowing with joy as he told her that Himawari was still alive.
When he saw her smile again after so long, he eagerly went on—explaining why Kawaki had left that night, and what he had done in front of the gates of the Hidden Darkness Village to Boruto and Himawari.
He earnestly hoped she could forgive Kawaki, treat him as her own child, and kept insisting that Kawaki was, at his core, a good boy—just shaped by a twisted upbringing.
Looking at the light in Naruto-kun's eyes… she couldn't bear to extinguish it.
So she lied.
She said she could accept Kawaki… that she would treat him like her own son.
Naruto-kun had been so happy he didn't sleep the entire night.
She tried to turn that lie into truth.
She told herself: wasn't the man she loved exactly this kind of person? Someone who would go to any lengths to redeem others—almost without limits—returning kindness for hatred, offering warmth to all?
But…
She couldn't do it.
Naruto-kun hadn't changed.
She had.
As a mother—
She could not accept the one who tried to kill her child being treated like a son by Naruto.
As an older sister—
She could not endure living under the same roof as someone who had indirectly caused her sister's death.
Just sitting at the same table made her feel physically sick—like she wanted to flee the house.
And yet… watching Naruto and Kawaki share that warm father-son bond—
She could only bury all that disgust deep inside.
If she had protested strongly, Naruto would have compromised. He would have found another place for Kawaki… at least somewhere out of her sight.
After all, she only had one eye left now.
But…
Naruto was already carrying too much pressure, too much criticism.
This home was the only place he could heal… the only place he could breathe.
As his wife… as the Hokage's partner…
She couldn't add to his burden.
Her own feelings… didn't matter anymore.
Maybe she was just too tired.
So many loved ones gone. Her children no longer by her side. Friends and villagers still lying cold in death.
Everything had happened all at once.
Maybe that was why she couldn't accept Kawaki…
Maybe with time, when Kawaki changed like Naruto believed he would… she could let it go.
But…
That was just a fragile wish.
From the moment Isshiki stepped into this house again—
She knew.
Everything was over.
Naruto-kun…
The Hokage he had spent his life becoming…
This village built on the Will of Fire—
None of it could go back anymore.
So what was being doused with wine?
Compared to those who had lost their lives… what was this humiliation?
Honestly…
She almost wished Isshiki would kill her.
Sakura had given her life… and it changed Sasuke.
If her own death could make Naruto reconsider the path he had taken—
Then she would gladly be shattered into pieces.
Hinata resolved herself to die.
But Isshiki didn't even grant her that.
The wooden restraints released her.
She heard the hollow sound of her own body hitting the ground.
Then came Isshiki's words—like thunder crashing down on Naruto:
"Hyuga Hinata. If you want your Hokage husband and these villagers to live… crawl like a dog."
"Isshiki! You shameless bastard! You call yourself an Ōtsutsuki!?" Naruto roared, writhing helplessly against the Binding Bone Wood.
Ōtsutsuki?
Isshiki replied calmly, "I'm not Ōtsutsuki anymore. I'm Ten-Tails now… a beast. Thanks to you."
"I'll kill you!! I swear I'll kill you!!"
"Even if you could… what difference is there between dying now or two days later? Kawaki is already my vessel again."
"If you make Hinata do this… I'll kill Kawaki! Do you believe me!?"
Isshiki chuckled.
"Kill Kawaki? If you could really do that cleanly, Hokage… I might actually respect you."
"Honestly, I can't believe it. Not only did you not kill him—you kept him by your side. How bold of you."
"If you had the strength and intelligence of Uchiha Akira, maybe it would make sense."
"But you? A clown living off borrowed power… with no will of your own. Who gave you the courage to protect Kawaki from me?"
"Not enough people in Konoha have died yet? Or just not enough have died because of your ideals?"
"Isshiki!!! I don't care what you are!! If you hurt Hinata, I'll make you regret ever being born—I swear it!!!"
The Sage's voice trembled within him: "Naruto! Stop! Don't provoke him any further! Surviving is what matters now!"
"…Enough."
Hinata dropped to her knees.
"I'll crawl."
She placed her hands on the ground…
…and began to crawl.
Like a corpse walking.
Her eyes were already dead.
She had abandoned this body.
The villagers stood frozen in silence.
The Will of Fire?
Before absolute power… it meant nothing.
On the Binding Bone Wood, Naruto's body trembled violently.
"Kurama… I need Baryon Mode… please… help me… I'll die with you if I have to!!"
No response.
Kurama remained silent.
It's useless, Naruto… this Binding Bone Wood cuts off our connection. Even if you used Baryon Mode… what would it change? Isshiki already has a vessel.
Unless… you can truly kill Kawaki.
But… can you?
"ISSHIKI!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO OUR HOKAGE'S WIFE!?"
A roar split the silence.
A silver-gray whirlwind shot into the sky—
—Fang Over Fang!
Kiba Inuzuka had cast aside his life.
If I have to watch my comrade be humiliated like this—I'd rather die!
Slash!
Isshiki lazily raised a finger.
A golden blade of light split the whirlwind in two.
Kiba… along with his hatred, his memories, his pride as a shinobi… was cleaved in half.
The blood spreading across the ground became a red carpet beneath Hinata.
His final act.
Even with her heart already numb…
Tears still fell from Hinata's face.
She crawled forward across that crimson path.
If it meant saving Naruto…
Saving what remained of Konoha—
She would grind her dignity into dust.
As she passed Ino, the latter trembled, ready to rush forward—
but Sai grabbed her, shaking his head.
As she passed Kurenai, the woman collapsed on the spot, unconscious, caught by Mirai.
Isshiki smiled, satisfied, as Naruto wept tears of blood.
His anger was spent.
Now… it was time to prepare the next step.
"Hyuga Hinata… your Ōtsutsuki blood is pure. But your talent and temperament fail to match it."
"From the Tenseigan awakened in my left eye, I can tell just how pure your bloodline is."
"Wasting it here… would be a pity."
He raised his hand.
Hinata's body lifted into the air.
Boom!
A tree erupted from the ground, swallowing her whole before sinking back into the earth.
"This is a unique ability of my Ten-Tails. Kaguya's Ten-Tails had something similar… but ours differ."
"Hyuga Hinata…"
"I will use your bloodline… and my Ten-Tails power… to remake you into a supreme being who obeys my will."
"After my death…"
"You will protect Kawaki."
"Until… I complete my reincarnation."
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