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Hinata struggled to her feet, blood streaming from her forehead and running down her pale, beautiful cheeks.
Pain stepped in front of Naruto, blocking her view of him.
Her eyes sharpened. I can't even get close to Naruto… I have to find a way!
Gritting her teeth, Hinata stood firm, ignoring the blood trickling down her face. She raised her hands into a fighting stance, her chakra surging with terrifying force, gathering around her fists.
With a fierce cry, two enormous lion heads of pure chakra flared into existence, roaring with earth-shaking fury.
"This won't end here! As long as there's even the smallest chance—I won't give up!"
The blast of power whipped her hair into the air. Her face was set with fearless resolve, her jaw tight, her silver-white eyes unyielding.
"Gentle Step Twin Lion Fists!"
She lunged at Pain, her twin lions snapping with violent chakra as she struck again and again.
Dozens of attacks—yet Pain slipped away each time as if her strikes were nothing but wind.
Twenty exchanges later, she hadn't even grazed his robes.
Then, suddenly, one lion's head roared and shot forward with shocking speed—smashing Pain squarely on the chin.
Far away, Nagato coughed up blood, his control wavering.
Pain staggered back. Hinata seized the moment, rushing toward Naruto. A black rod was shattered by the chakra lion's strike.
"One down—there's still one more!"
But Pain recovered instantly, unleashing a surge of repulsive force.
Hinata screamed as she was blasted back, her frail body thrown through the air, blood spraying.
She crashed to the ground with a sickening thud.
"Naruto's eyes widened in horror. "Hinata!!!"
Her vision blurred. Through the haze, memories flashed—Naruto, as a boy, standing up for her, shielding her from cruelty.
Her heart clenched. She staggered, fell, then forced herself upright again, every step a battle.
She collapsed once more with a heavy thud—yet rose again, swaying, her face a mask of blood and determination.
Naruto shook his head, eyes shut tight. "Stop! Don't come any closer, Hinata!"
But she dragged herself forward on her hands and knees, inching toward him.
"Even if others don't believe in you… I've always liked you. Always."
Her bloodied face softened, filled with gentle warmth. With trembling hands, she reached Naruto and grasped the black rod driven through his palm.
Pain's voice cut coldly through the air. "I don't understand. With such pitiful strength, why do you oppose me? Why fight when you know it means death?"
Hinata's hand shook around the rod, but her voice was steady. "Because I said I would. Because I'll never turn back. That's… my ninja way!"
Naruto's breath caught, his wide eyes fixed on her.
Pain's hand swept out. A crushing wave of force slammed into Hinata, hurling her high into the air before smashing her into the earth. The ground split, a crater swallowing her small frame.
She didn't move. Blood seeped across the dirt, creeping outward like a spreading shadow.
Pain raised another black rod. His gaze darkened. "So be it. My parents were slaughtered before my eyes by shinobi of your village. Because of love, there is sacrifice. Because of sacrifice, there is hatred. And because of hatred—true pain is born."
Naruto stared at the pool of blood beneath Hinata. His body trembled. Then his vision flared scarlet.
A violent gale burst outward, red chakra surging into the sky like a column of blood.
Pain narrowed his eyes. "Do you hate me now?"
The ground shook as the oppressive chakra expanded, overwhelming, feral.
Pain's eyes widened like saucers. "So this… is the Nine-Tails' power. It answers his rage."
Naruto's skin split and peeled under the storm of chakra, his form reshaping, consumed. The black rods impaling him crumbled into dust.
He rose, transformed—his body cloaked in burning red energy, four tails lashing behind him. A miniature nine-tailed fox, snarling and alive.
The beast swelled, splitting into four or five copies of itself. They spun, birthing a monstrous tornado that tore toward Pain.
Pain hurled himself upward, his body spinning as black repulsion clashed with the raging storm. Dust and stone flew as the forces battled for dominance.
The foxes merged once more, its energy exploding outward. The ground split apart, boulders tearing free into the air. Blood-red hands of chakra materialized, smashing rocks aside with terrifying fists.
Pain roared, arms shielding against the barrage, until a massive slab of stone—like a mountain—slammed him into the earth.
He burst free with a shout, leaping to a boulder, glaring down at the red demon below.
"Tell me, even now—do you still believe people can truly understand one another?"
"..."
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