Chapter Text
Hinata’s POV
Our mission to save Hanabi is almost complete. Toneri has been defeated, and after talking with him, he finally abandoned all of his agendas involving the Byakugan. All that remains now is to bring Hanabi back home.
We are currently near the portal that Toneri said is close to closing. At this point, only the portal leading back to Earth remains open. The portal to the Moon has already closed, and soon, the one to Earth will follow. In short, it has become a one-way, time-limited passage from the Moon to Earth.
I walked toward Shikamaru-kun, who was carefully observing the area around the portal one last time as he finalized his report as the mission leader.
“Shikamaru-kun, do you have a moment?” I asked when I noticed he was nearly finished.
“Oh—right, Hinata,” he replied, turning his attention to me. “You said you wanted to talk about something. What is it?”
“You now know I got to meet the Sage of Six Paths’ brother—Hamura-sama, right?” I asked.
“Yes,” he said. “He’s the one who entrusted you with the mission to destroy the Tenseigan.”
“Actually… there was a continuation to that mission,” I began.
His brows furrowed, confusion flickering across his face.
“After the destruction of the Tenseigan,” I continued, “the Byakugan princess must remain upon the Moon to protect the Earth—”
Before I could finish, Shikamaru-kun’s eyes widened, panic flashing across his face.
“Hinata, don’t tell me—”
“Please,” I interrupted gently, already understanding what he was about to say. “Let me explain everything first.”
I gave him a small, reassuring smile.
“The Moon may no longer be falling toward the Earth,” I said softly, “but without a pure Byakugan chakra to sustain it, its collapse has only been delayed.”
I met Shikamaru-kun’s gaze and continued.
“Hamura-sama explained that the Tenseigan once held the Moon together—but it did so unnaturally. As long as it existed, the Earth would remain under constant threat. That is why it had to be destroyed.”
I took a slow breath.
“With the Tenseigan gone, the Moon has lost its stabilizing force. Over time, it will begin to crumble. Fragments will fall toward the Earth little by little, until eventually its core follows. If that happens, the Earth will be destroyed.”
Shikamaru-kun’s expression tightened.
“To prevent that,” I said, “the Moon now requires the chakra of a pure Byakugan wielder, or now someone who carries the pure Hyuuga bloodline from Earth and the chakra of Hamura’s descendants from the Moon. A Byakugan princess.”
My fingers curled at my side.
“And he entrusted me with the Moon-side chakra.”
Shikamaru-kun clicked his tongue quietly.
“Then we destroy the Moon completely,” he said. “Pulverize it in one strike—”
He hesitated, clearly knowing the cost of those words.
I shook my head.
“You already know what would happen if we did that, Shikamaru-kun.”
“The Moon acts as the Earth’s natural shield. It absorbs and deflects meteors that would otherwise strike the planet. If the Moon is destroyed, whether all at once or little by little, the Earth will be left exposed.”
My voice softened.
“Either way, it would lead to the Earth’s slow destruction.”
“Hinata, let’s talk about this a bit more,” Shikamaru-kun said, his voice quieter now. “We should discuss it with the others first. Please.”
I smiled at him, then slowly lifted my bangs.
Embedded on my forehead was a small, purplish, teardrop-shaped crystal.
“I already absorbed the core of the Tenseigan earlier—when we destroyed it,” I said softly.
His eyes widened.
“This crystal is already drawing chakra from me,” I continued, “and distributing it throughout the Moon.”
There was a brief silence.
“So… you decided this beforehand,” he said at last, exhaling. “It was already final, huh?”
He paused, then glanced at me again.
“Then why tell only me?”
He didn’t need to say it out loud. He already knew the answer.
I nodded.
“I have a favor to ask you, Shikamaru-kun,” I said softly. “And I know that only you can find a way to make it happen. You’re the only one who can look at this situation clearly—and think through it rationally.”
I hesitated for a moment before continuing.
“Naruto-kun sees me as his friend—”
“—his beloved,” Shikamaru cut in quietly, correcting me.
I met his gaze and gave him a small, gentle smile.
“You know that isn’t true,” I said, almost in a whisper.
My eyes drifted near the portal.
Sakura-san was healing Naruto-kun, the two of them teasing each other, laughing softly despite everything that had happened.
From the corner of my vision, I saw Shikamaru-kun follow my gaze. Then he lowered his head, scratching his eyebrow, understanding without another word.
I continued voicing my favor before the atmosphere could grow any heavier.
“As I said, Naruto-kun considers me his friend,” I said quietly, my gaze still fixed on him. “When he finds out what I’ve done… and what I’m planning to do, he’ll surely try to bring me back.”
Almost as if he sensed our attention, Naruto-kun suddenly looked in our direction.
“Hinata?”
He started to rise, already turning toward us, but I quickly shook my head and smiled, signaling that everything was fine and that he should focus on recovering.
Only then did I turn back to Shikamaru-kun.
“Please,” I said softly, “do me this favor. Make him give up on trying to bring me back. I know you’ll find a way, Shikamaru-kun.”
His expression hardened immediately.
“You know how difficult that would be,” he said. “He never once gave up on Sasuke—no matter what he did.”
A small laugh slipped past my lips, light and careful, as if to soften the weight of the moment.
“Oh, please,” I said. “I’m not on the same level as Sasuke-kun.”
I looked away again, my voice lowering.
“Sooner or later, you’ll find a way,” I said quietly. “And when you do… I know he’ll give up. He’ll keep walking forward—and live his life without looking back at the Moon.”
I took a deep breath. The air around the portal felt thinner now—time was running out.
“There’s one last thing,” I said softly. “Please don’t tell the others about this. In exception of Kakashi-sensei, you may tell him the reason I stayed behind—but keep it confidential.”
I hesitated before continuing.
“I don’t know how long I’ll be able to sustain this,” I said. “But if Kakashi-sensei knows, he might ask the researchers to find another way to stabilize the Moon—one that doesn’t require a Byakugan Princess.”
I lowered my voice.
“I hope that they can find a solution before I’m no longer able to hold this place together.”
When Shikamaru-kun understood what I meant, he looked like he wanted to protest.
So I smiled—just a little—and tried to ease the weight between us.
“To avoid complications,” I added softly, “or unnecessary questions about me… just have Kakashi-sensei declare me dead.”
I let out a quiet, almost playful laugh. “It would be troublesome if people kept asking when I’m coming home, right?”
With that, I turned and walked toward Hanabi.