Naruto: The Tragic Hero

Chapter 2: Love

Chapter 2: Love.
Disclaimer: I do NOT own Naruto. Naruto is the work of Masashi Kishimoto.

Blood dripped from my hand as a severed head dangled along with the wind. The severed head had blood-red hair and hollow eye sockets with blood dripping from them, looking as if they were crying rivers of blood.

This was the true body of Pain. This is Uzumaki Nagato.

I just finished my fight with Nagato and his companion, a blue-haired girl that had a kekkei genkai related to paper manipulation. Currently, I'm on my way to the village.

Step... step... step...

Each step I took was devoid of energy. I was dying. I knew that, but I wanted to see her one last time. Hinata, the one who cared for me since the beginning. I should've noticed her affection for me from the start, but I was too busy chasing the attention and recognition of others that I ended up neglecting her.

I'll never forgive myself for that.

It didn't take long before I reached the village. It was still destroyed, but the survivors had already gathered together and saved whoever could be saved and collected the bodies of those who couldn't be saved.

As soon as I arrived, I received hateful glares from everyone. It didn't matter if they were civilians or ninjas, they all glared at me.

"Look, he's the reason..."

"Bastard, how can he..."

"Why did he return..."

"He's heartless..."

"Ungrateful..."

Hearing all of their insults, my heart couldn't be colder. It was like I was thrown into the unforgiving cold of winter after being forced to work for days on end.

In the end, I couldn't help but think, "Is this the village I serve?"

I did countless missions for them. I deterred countless enemies for them. I defeated the enemies that threatened them. Yet, they couldn't even let go of their hatred toward me?

I shook my head. This is pointless. I'll leave all of this behind anyway. My time is near, and I don't want to spend the rest of it despairing over these villagers.

Step... step... step...

I kept walking amidst the crowd despite their malicious stares. Their whispers turned into shouts, but my ears had long gone numb. I couldn't hear anymore. Their hurtful words... can no longer reach me. I only want to see one person one final time.

As I reached the center of the crater where Konoha once stood, I saw a girl's body. She was Hinata, and her smile had yet to fade.

"Hinata..."

I walked toward her, my tired legs somehow regaining vigor. Suddenly, I heard someone shout.

SF

"Don't go near her!"

Pang!

A dull pain spread from my back as warm liquid soaked my clothes. I was bleeding, and someone threw a sharp object at me. I didn't look back, it was pointless.

"Get away from her!"

Pang!

"You'll taint her soul!"

Puck!

As their curses grew more and more frequent, the kunai and knives sticking out of my back increased rapidly. My back was now soaked in blood, and I risked falling to the ground before reaching her.

Nevertheless, I persevered. One step at a time, as if I was carrying the world on my back, I forced my heavy body to move.

Thud.

The area became quiet as I fell to my knees.

"No... not yet..."

I couldn't walk anymore, so I crawled.

Shh... shh... shh...

As my body dragged across the earth, a trail of blood formed behind me. Perhaps they were flustered, the people throwing knives at my back stopped. Well, even if they didn't, their knives wouldn't stick to my back anymore. There was no more room for that, my back was already covered in knives.

As I got closer to her, blood seeped out of my mouth and a familiar metallic taste attacked my tongue.

"Ha... Hinata..."

Finally, I reached Hinata's body. Her eyes had long closed, and her skin had turned pale, but she was still as beautiful as I last remembered her.

"Hinata... I'm sorry."

"I should've cared for you more..."

"I should've paid more attention to you..."

"I should've protected you harder..."

Tears fell from my eyes. My voice became hoarse and my skin began to turn pale. My vision was blurry, and my body felt numb.

"I'm sorry, Hinata..."

"We couldn't spend more time with each other..."

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I—..."

"I love you too, Hinata... my princess."

Closing my eyes, I held her hand. It was cold, but my memories of her made it feel warm.

The times when we went on a mission together. The times when she shyly gave me a gift. The times when she would smile secretly toward my direction, not knowing that I could see her...

I knew of her presence. I knew that she would follow me as I trained. I knew that her affection toward me was different from everyone else... I just didn't know...

I just didn't know that her affection was special.

If I had known, maybe all of this wouldn't have happened. Maybe... maybe... just maybe.

Maybe we could've lived happily... together.

'Fox, it's time.'

It's time for me to uphold my end of the deal.

The nine-tailed fox helped me get my revenge. It was time for me to give him freedom.

'Fox?'

When I didn't hear anyone inside my head, I was confused.

'Naruto... do you want to change all of this?'

The nine-tailed fox asked. I scoffed. Change things?

Of course.

I want to change everything. I want to shower Hinata with the love that she rightfully deserved. I want to devote myself to Hinata. I want to spend every bit of my time with her. I want...

I want her to be mine... forever... without anyone getting in our way...

I want to love her.