Time Lapse (Hinata-Centric)

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Disclaimer: Naruto is not mine. If it was I would have the Akatsuki still living and loving. Thanks :)

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"I can't do this. I give up."

"Me too. This ninja crap isn't for me."

"We're gonna win? What a load of bull. I'm out!"

Hinata had heard those words a thousand times, but it only hurt more every time it was said again. Day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute. Ninjas, shinobis who were in this together since childhood gave up. They left the entire organization. They were no longer affiliated with a village through shinobi ties.

She should have seen it coming. She has the Byakugan, after all. But she didn't. She didn't expect thousands, including many she knew and loved, to give up like this.

Who had given up? Ino. Choji. Tenten. Shikamaru varied. Somedays he was in, somedays out. If you triggered him, he'd just leave. Shino was the same. 

"I'm sorry. I wish I could help, but I'm scared," Ino had admitted one day, after the entire Konoha 11 including Sai had gone to visit her home after she had a no-show. "I feel safer just healing people. I don't want to go back. You guys can't force me," she had said, hesitantly, fearfully.

She was scared of them. Her own childhood teammates and friends.

After Ino had left, and the Konoha 11 became the Konoha 10, Choji dropped out. "I don't care if I'm no longer heir. I don't want to die like this. I want to die on my own will," he said, strong at making his decision. Thus became the Konoha 9.

Tenten. "From now on, I won't join you in battles," she had declared. "I plan on running my own weapons shop. One day, I'll hand down my weapons and previous skills to a better, more skilled shinobi," she had spoken sadly, looking down hopelessly.

After those many losses, Hinata felt like giving up too. She felt like running. She practiced many times by herself, a conversation.

"I'm sorry, but I can't."

"I'll help in the hospital with Ino."

"I don't desire to kill others."

She had said these in the dark, under the covers of her bed. Why couldn't she say it to everyone in real life?

As much as she denied it in her head, she knew why.

Naruto.

"How can you give up like this?! INO! Are you leaving your friends, because of fear?! This is what those bastards want, Madara, Obito, Sasuke! They want us to be like this! They want us to be scared!"

"You too? Choji! Wake up! Be strong! Are you really scared of an old bastard like Madara! Stop it! Wake up! Don't ever give up!"

"Ten-ten! Neji wouldn't want you to give up like this, to waste your talent and throw it away! Are you also scared of old bat Madara? What are you doing?! IS THIS WHAT YOU ARE?!"

All those times she felt like giving up, all the times she lost hope, Naruto gave her strength. Naruto's words provided her all the hope she needed. Her doubts were gone once he uttered those strong words.

Even Sakura was close to giving up. She had become stressed, Hinata could clearly see she was losing hair and the eyebags under Sakura's eyes gave everything away. Sakura was losing it as well. Naruto's words gave Sakura strength. Sakura's eyebags disappeared instantly at the sight of him. Her frown switched to a smile immediately.

Hinata was no fool to see that Sakura's love for Sasuke Uchiha was close to gone, instead, her heart was set for Naruto's love.

Naruto responded well with Sakura's feelings.

Ino, Choji, and Ten-ten decided on a break. They didn't know when they were ready. They were going to rest for now.

Hinata loved Naruto. She stayed for Naruto. If Naruto had died, in exchange of Neji, she would be ready to accept her fate. For Naruto.

That's why she wasn't afraid to take on this mission.

The mission of going back in time, to fix everything.

"Are you ready?" asked Tsunade-sama, her face serious, but soft. "If you don't want to-"

For once in her life, Hinata interrupted someone. "Tsunade-sama. I'm ready. Please."

The Konoha 11, no, now Konoha 8, Kakashi, and Shizune surrounded Hinata.

"We'll miss you. Come back one day," Sakura spoke, nodding. Naruto forced a big grin. "Hinata-chan. Thanks."

"To skip time, make the shadow clone symbols twice! You will be leaded to a random moment in time. Stop there and fix what is needed. Only then may you leave that time frame in peace!" Shouted Tsunade, as everyone focused their chakra into the seals they were making.

It became bright, and the room was engulfed in light. Bright light. 

Before Hinata's vision finally closed, the last words she heard rang in her head.

"Please don't die, Hinata."'

"I won't." She whispered. 

In an inaudible tone.

And then there was light and darkness.

Hinata couldn't feel a thing. Gravity no longer existed.