When a wife asks "why," it's the deadliest question of all.
Naruto had expected this much—but when he truly stood in front of Hinata now, hearing the tremor in her voice, seeing her eyes filled with hurt, he realized that no amount of courage could prepare him for her question.
He could justify himself to Jiraiya-sensei, to Kakashi, to Granny Tsunade, even to Captain Yamato.
But to Hinata… he had no defense at all.
"...I'm sorry. I didn't mean to lie to you."
After several seconds of silence, Naruto didn't run or dodge—he chose to face her head-on.
Hinata drew a deep breath and raised her head to look at him.
The first thing she saw was the black cloak with red clouds.
Her eyes widened in shock. She tore her hand from his grasp and stumbled backward several steps, nearly falling.
Naruto instinctively reached out to steady her—but Hinata stopped him with a sharp gesture.
Tears welled in her eyes as she stared at him in disbelief.
"Naruto-kun… you actually did betray Konoha! And you… joined Akatsuki?!"
Naruto rubbed his forehead helplessly. Damn it, I really do need to change this outfit. We've got to make the Heaven Organization known fast before everyone mistakes me for one of them.
"No, Hinata, listen—you remember what I told you that night, don't you? No matter what happens, you have to believe in me. I'm still Uzumaki Naruto—the boy who dreams of becoming Hokage. That hasn't changed, and it never will!"
Hinata's trembling slowly eased, but her eyes stayed wary.
"Then why," she asked, "are you wearing that cloak?"
Naruto quickly replied, "I just didn't have time to change! I only thought about it today. If you don't like it, I'll take it off right now."
He shrugged off the cloak, revealing his familiar orange-and-black outfit underneath, and gave her a sheepish grin.
"See? Better?"
He stepped forward, arms open to embrace her—
"Don't come any closer!" Hinata snapped.
"Okay, okay! I won't!" Naruto stopped instantly, hands raised.
Hinata wiped her tears, sniffed, and said bitterly, "Then tell me—why did you lie to me that evening? You promised to meet me at Ichiraku Ramen, and you never came!"
Naruto sighed. "I warned you in advance, remember? I told you something big was going to happen. That was the day I chose to act—and now you know what I did. After that, I couldn't show my face in the village again."
Hinata turned away, angry. "You could've at least told me in person!"
"If I had," Naruto said wryly, "you'd have stopped me for sure. That's why I couldn't."
Hinata's shoulders trembled as she spoke, voice choked with emotion. "Then why—after all the times I poured chakra into that mark—you never came? Tell me, Naruto-kun!"
Naruto let out a long breath. "It's not that I didn't want to come. I was afraid. I didn't know how to face you."
The guilt and sadness in his tone softened Hinata's heart despite herself.
She turned her head slightly and stole a glance at him—his face under the moonlight looked lonely, weighed down by thoughts he couldn't share with anyone.
For days she had worried and waited, her heart stretched thin.
And now, unable to hold back any longer, she threw herself into his arms.
Tears streamed down her face as she sobbed against his chest.
"They all say you betrayed Konoha, but I don't believe them! Yet when I see you like this, I can't deny what's in front of me! Please, Naruto-kun, tell me—what happened to you? Why are you doing these things?"
Naruto held her tightly, pressing his cheek to her hair, and spoke softly:
"I'm sorry, Hinata. I have my reasons—things I can't tell you yet. But please believe me, every word I've ever said to you was true."
Hinata lifted her tear-streaked face, eyes shining with desperate resolve.
"Then take me with you. Let me stay by your side, Naruto-kun. Whatever you're facing, I'll face it too. I won't drag you down—I promise!"
Naruto looked at her with tenderness and pain, brushing his fingers along her cheek.
"No, Hinata. What I'm doing is too dangerous right now. I can't let you get involved."
Her eyes were filled with worry. "The village… they've already issued a warrant for your arrest."
Naruto nodded calmly. "Yeah, I figured. It's fine. What matters is that you stay safe. Take care of yourself, okay? And stop overloading the Flying Thunder God mark with chakra—you're going to burn yourself out!"
Hinata pouted softly through her tears. "Then stop lying to me…"
"Alright, alright," Naruto said gently, pulling her close again. "Listen, I'm going to be very busy from now on. There are things I have to do—important things—for the future of the shinobi world."
"If you ever really need me, or if you just… miss me, then use the Flying Thunder God mark. I'll come when I can. If I don't show up right away, it just means I'm in the middle of something. Understand?"
Nestled in his arms, Hinata nodded faintly.
From his tone, she could already sense it—
in the days to come, their chances to meet would only grow fewer and fewer.
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