Kado smirked. "So… what's your decision?"
Naruto glanced at Sakura, seeing her in agony. He took a deep breath, calming himself. Then, reaching into his tool pouch, he pulled out something.
Kado saw the scroll in Naruto's hand and sneered. "I didn't know it was so important to you!"
Sakura's thoughts reeled. Important!?
Naruto studied Kado for a moment, then tossed the scroll into the air toward him, his expression cold. "Here."
As the scroll neared Kado, his grip on Sakura loosened slightly.
Now! Naruto thought.
With a flash of yellow lightning, he dashed toward Sakura, catching her in his arms. Kado's eyes widened. "But when—?"
"No matter," Kado muttered, reaching for the scroll.
At that moment, one of Naruto's clones appeared beside him, swapping the scroll with an explosive one before darting away with the original.
As Naruto landed on the ground in a crouch, Kado caught the scroll—which instantly exploded in a fiery blast.
Naruto shielded Sakura in his arms, protecting her from the blast.
From the smoke, Kado's voice echoed, "We'll meet again, Naruto…"
Naruto sighed in relief. "Finally…"
Then, a faint, raspy voice broke the silence. Sakura, barely conscious, murmured, "Naruto…" before passing out.
He smiled gently at her. "Don't worry… you'll be fine."
Kushina ran toward him. "Naruto! Are you okay?"
He nodded. "Yeah… but Sakura…"
Kushina reassured him, "Don't worry… I'll heal her."
Naruto lifted Sakura and rested her against a tree. His eyes then landed on Hinata, unconscious on the ground. He rushed to her, cradling her head in his arm. "Hinata… Hinata… answer me! Hinata!"
He hesitated, looking at her, deep in thought. Something held him back.
Then Kushina's voice snapped him out of it. "What are you waiting for?"
He turned to see her standing a little distance away, watching.
She spoke again, "She's dying."
Naruto met Kushina's gaze, his eyes full of hesitation. Won't this hurt you? his expression seemed to ask.
She noticed and forced a small smile, as if answering him.
He looked back at Hinata, hesitating for a brief moment before finally leaning in, his lips brushing against hers.
Kushina looked away.
At that moment, Sakura, slowly regaining consciousness, turned her head slightly to the right. Her blurry vision caught the sight of Naruto and Hinata… and she felt her strength fade once more.
Hinata, in her mind, thought, What is this…? I've never felt like this before… like I'm in a beautiful dream I don't want to wake up from…
A deep warmth and happiness fill me… I feel safe… like my heart, which had stopped, is beating again—strong and alive. It shakes me, pulling me back to life, as if a voice is pleading desperately, 'Please… don't die…'
I don't know why, but just hearing that warm, gentle voice makes me feel like the happiest person on earth… like I'm truly alive… like there's someone I must return to, no matter the cost… even if I have to face death for him…
I know the moment I open my eyes, this feeling will end… but maybe, just maybe, I'll finally understand why…
Naruto felt that Hinata was starting to regain consciousness… The moment he moved away from her, she sat up, coughing violently as she was finally able to breathe again… When she looked beside her, she found Naruto gazing at her.
Her eyes widened as she stared at him, her cheeks beginning to turn red. She quickly averted her gaze, placing her hands over her mouth, thinking nervously to herself:
"Now I understand the reason behind that happiness I was feeling… Could it be… that he…?"
Suddenly, his voice interrupted her thoughts:
"Hinata… are you okay?"
Her body trembled at the sound of his voice. After a brief moment of silence, she managed to respond with difficulty:
"Y-Yes."
Naruto stood up and said:
"Good… Kushina, let's go treat Sakura."
Kushina nodded, then went over to Sakura, who was still in pain. She examined her and said:
"As I expected… She's injured in multiple areas, especially her right leg."
Then she turned to Naruto seriously and said:
"You were late in saving her."
Naruto looked at her with a mix of sadness and regret before shifting his gaze to Sakura and saying:
"I know."
Suddenly, Kushina laughed, causing Naruto to look at her in confusion:
"What's so funny?"
She smiled at him and said:
"I tricked you… You weren't late at all. In fact, this is the least damage I've had to treat among Kado's victims."
Naruto let out a relieved sigh and said:
"You scared me."
Kushina smiled before turning back to focus on healing Sakura.
As she treated her, Sakura let out a sharp cry of pain. Kushina said apologetically:
"I'm sorry, Sakura… Just hang in there a little longer… I'm almost done."
Sakura continued crying out in pain, which made Naruto say regretfully:
"This is my fault…"
Kushina looked at him and saw the deep regret in his expression. She then said:
"If it's anyone's fault… it's mine from the very beginning."
Naruto sighed:
"Seriously… I'm tired of telling you it's not your fault."
Kushina replied:
"Don't try to convince me… If I hadn't been with you, he wouldn't have attacked in the first place."
Naruto looked at her impatiently before turning away in frustration.
Once Kushina finished treating Sakura, she gently wrapped a bandage around her right leg and said:
"And that's it… I'm done. Sorry for making you suffer… but there were many injuries that needed immediate attention."
Sakura looked at her with gratitude and said:
"Thank you."
Kushina smiled and said:
"Don't thank me, it's my duty."
Sakura glanced at her right leg and asked:
"So… can I walk now?"
Kushina shook her head.
"No… not yet. It will take time."
Sakura frowned.
"So… are we going to wait until I recover?"
Kushina smiled knowingly.
"Why would we wait… Naruto will carry you."
Sakura's eyes widened in shock, and she thought to herself:
"Carry me?!!!"
Kushina raised an eyebrow.
"What's wrong?"
Sakura quickly composed herself.
"N-Nothing."
Just then, Naruto's voice reached them.
"Are you done?"
Kushina looked behind her.
"Where were you?"
Naruto replied:
"Just making sure the path is safe."
Kushina nodded.
"Alright… carry Sakura, and I'll take the bags."
Naruto's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Carry who?!!!"
Kushina smirked.
"You heard me… She can't move yet."
Naruto looked at Sakura, who was also staring at him. He held her gaze for a moment before saying:
"Fine."
Kushina nodded approvingly.
"Good." Then she walked away, leaving them alone.
Naruto approached Sakura and knelt down in front of her, turning his back to her. He looked over his shoulder and said:
"Come on."
Sakura blushed, lowering her gaze to the ground as she hesitantly reached out. Slowly, she wrapped her arms around his neck. Naruto then held her legs and lifted her onto his back. Looking at her, he asked:
"Do your legs hurt?"
She turned her eyes away, answering shyly:
"No."