Naruto slowed his pace slightly, enough that their movements became less frantic and more rhythmic—leaping, landing, breathing in sync with the forest around them. Big Bark Bull remained ahead, focused on the trail, giving them a rare pocket of calm.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
The sound of wind through leaves and the soft thud of sandals against bark filled the space between them. It wasn't awkward—just quiet. Comfortable.
Naruto was the first to break it.
"So… missions like this," he said casually, eyes forward, "you've been on a lot lately, huh?"
Hinata blinked, surprised by the sudden question, then nodded. "Yes. Mostly reconnaissance and support work. Captain Yamato says I'm… well-suited for it."
Naruto smiled faintly. "Yeah, that makes sense. You notice things most people miss."
Her cheeks warmed at that, a soft pink spreading across them. "Thank you, Naruto-kun."
They landed on a thicker branch, its bark rough beneath their sandals, the wood groaning faintly under their combined weight.
For the first time since setting out, Big Bark Bull slowed, massive head lowering as he sniffed the air more carefully, nostrils flaring.
Naruto used the pause to glance at Hinata.
For a brief moment, the forest seemed to fade into the background.
' I really wish she was more useful in the story, ' he thought, not unkindly—more frustrated than anything. 'The only time she truly mattered was back in OG Naruto. In Shippuden… not so much.'
He clenched his jaw slightly as he leaped down to the next branch.
' Honestly, if you look at it objectively, the anime never really bothered growing their relationship. It just… happened.'
Then his thoughts shifted naturally.
' The movie though? That actually did us justice.'
He could almost see it—every moment that should have existed but didn't. The hesitation, the growth, the emotional payoff. Because without that… them just getting married would've made no sense.
Hinata caught him looking and tilted her head slightly, unaware of the storm of thoughts behind his eyes. Naruto quickly looked away, refocusing.
---
Somewhere else.
Lightning cracked across the sky as clay detonations tore through the battlefield. Sasuke and Deidara clashed in a brutal exchange—steel, chakra, and explosions colliding with lethal intent.
Deidara was furious.
Veins bulged at his temples, eyes wild as he screamed his hatred. This wasn't about orders anymore. This was personal.
"You think you can just walk away from my art?!" he roared.
The final moment came swiftly.
Deidara hovered in the air, chest heaving, hands trembling as he prepared his ultimate technique—the culmination of everything he believed in. His largest bomb. His masterpiece.
One that consumed him entirely.
"MY ART… IS AN EXPLOSION!"
B O O O O O M
The blast tore the world apart.
A blinding blue-white sphere of chakra erupted outward, swallowing the forest in an instant. Trees vaporized. The ground collapsed. The shockwave screamed across the land, climbing high above the canopy, visible even from a nearby town kilometers away.
Naruto and Hinata had just cleared the treetops when it happened.
They froze mid-leap, eyes widening as the sky ahead bloomed into searing blue light. The explosion expanded relentlessly, devouring everything in its path—an ocean of destruction rolling toward them.
"…What the hell," Naruto muttered.
The shockwave hit like a hurricane.
Wind roared. Pressure slammed into their bodies. Hinata gasped as her balance faltered, instinct taking over as she grabbed onto Naruto's jacket.
Naruto didn't even think.
He wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close as the force battered them both, chakra flaring instinctively to keep them airborne.
' Deidara offed himself already?' Naruto thought grimly. 'That was fast.'
When the blast finally passed, the forest was silent.
Too silent.
Hinata was still holding onto him.
Realizing it a second later, her face burned bright red, but she didn't pull away immediately—and Naruto didn't let go either. Not until the moment stretched just a little too long.
Then they separated.
....
Sasuke survived.
Using Reverse Summoning with Suigetsu's assistance, he vanished at the very last second, escaping annihilation by a razor-thin margin.
The teams converged quickly, shinobi pouring into the devastated zone from every direction. Scorched earth stretched for kilometers. Nothing remained intact.
They arrived almost simultaneously.
"Sasuke was here," Kiba said sharply, crouching as Akamaru sniffed the ground. "I can smell him."
The ninken confirmed it quickly—Sasuke's scent was clear, sharp, and alone.
"…He's not moving solo," one of the dogs growled.
Naruto clenched his fists.
The same scent had been detected earlier in the city. Sakura had been close—too close. But it had led nowhere.
'Not nowhere,' Naruto thought grimly. ' Karin walked right past her.'
"Alright," Kakashi said calmly, eye scanning the destruction. "If we hurry, we can still catch up."
His gaze settled on Naruto.
"You know what to do."
Naruto nodded.
"Yeah."
With a burst of chakra, he formed fifty shadow clones at once. They split instantly, scattering in every direction, racing along the fading trail without hesitation.
The hunt was back on.
.....
Sasuke had slipped through their fingers.
Not because they were slow—but because fate itself seemed determined to keep him moving forward, straight toward the collision that awaited him. His path was already set, drawing him inevitably toward Itachi.
That fight was coming.
And nothing would stop it.
Naruto felt it deep in his gut as they pressed on—an invisible wall telling him this isn't where you interfere.
Then the forest shifted.
The air warped unnaturally, space itself seeming to twist like rippling water. A figure emerged from the distortion, stepping out as if he'd simply walked through an invisible curtain.
Orange mask. Single eyehole. Black cloak with red clouds.
Tobi.
"Ahhh—found you!" he chirped, raising a hand in an almost friendly wave. "Man, you guys are fast. I was worried I'd miss you."
The atmosphere immediately changed.
Chakra spiked. Every shinobi tensed.
"This guy…" Kiba muttered, teeth clenched.
"An Akatsuki member!?"Kakashi said calmly, though his stance subtly shifted. "He's blocking the path on purpose."
Tobi tilted his head, hands behind his back. "Ehh~ correct! You're all very sharp. But sorry—this is as far as you go. The Uchiha brothers are having a private family moment."
Naruto stepped forward before anyone else could.
"I'll handle him."
His voice was firm. No hesitation. No doubt.
Hinata's eyes widened slightly. "Naruto—"
"I've got this," he said without looking back.
Tobi let out an exaggerated gasp. "Woahhh! The Nine-Tails himself!" He leaned forward slightly, mock fear in his posture. "So scary~ But I think I can take you."
Naruto cracked his knuckles, chakra humming quietly beneath his skin.
"We'll see."
In the next instant, he vanished.
Leaves exploded as Naruto launched forward, leaping high and landing hard on the branch Tobi stood on. The wood splintered slightly beneath the impact, the force of it rippling through the tree.
Tobi hopped back lightly. "Hey, hey! No need to be rude!"
Naruto didn't respond. Instead, his hand slipped into his pouch.
' Why not pay homage to my father?' he thought.
He pulled out a peculiar kunai.
TO BE CONTINUED