Chapter 7: chapter 7
The lunar dust began to settle, revealing the defeated body of Toneri Ōtsutsuki His breathing was labored, and his Tenseigan eyes had lost their celestial glow. The battle was over, but the cost had been enormous. The moon, split in two, floated in the void of space as a reminder of the destruction Toneri had tried to unleash.
Amid the chaos, Kakashi and the Raikage quickly ran toward Naruto and Obito. Kakashi, with his usual mask but a visibly relieved expression, was the first to speak.
—Well done, Naruto —said Kakashi, placing a hand on the young ninja's shoulder—. And you too, Obito. Thank you for your help.
The Raikage, with his arms crossed and a stern look, nodded, though his tone was more direct.
—Yes, you did a good job. But now there's no time to waste. The moon has been split in two, and it won't be long before the fragments start falling toward Earth. We need to leave quickly.
Obito, who had remained silent, looked at Kakashi calmly before responding.
—There's no need to worry so much, Kakashi —said Obito, his voice calm but firm—. As long as Naruto isn't in the village, he'll take care of everything. What we need to do now is make sure this guy —he said, pointing at Toneri— doesn't cause any more trouble in the future.
Kakashi frowned, pondering Obito's words.
—What do you suggest, Obito? —he asked, crossing his arms.
Before Obito could respond, the Raikage interjected with a firm tone.
—I suggest we kill him —he said bluntly—. He's too dangerous to be left alive.
His words hit like a hammer, creating an uncomfortable silence that lingered for a few moments. Everyone knew the Raikage wasn't joking, but the idea of executing Toneri, even after his defeat, seemed too drastic for some.
It was then that a weak but firm voice broke the silence.
—Don't kill him...
Everyone turned toward the source of the voice. It was Hinata lying on the ground, injured but conscious. Her eyes, though weak, shone with determination.
Naruto, seeing Hinata in that state, quickly ran to her, kneeling beside her to carefully lift her up.
—Hinata, you're okay —said Naruto, with a mix of relief and concern—. Don't move too much. You're hurt.
Hinata, leaning on Naruto, looked up with effort.
—The eyes... —she murmured, her voice barely audible.
—What eyes? —asked Naruto, confused but attentive.
—Hanabi's eyes... —said Hinata, her voice a faint whisper—. I have to get them back. I can't leave them here.
Naruto nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. He knew Hanabi's eyes were crucial, not just for Hinata, but for the entire Hyuga clan.
—Don't worry, Hinata —said Naruto, with determination—. We'll get them back. I promise.
As Naruto tended to Hinata, Kakashi and the Raikage exchanged glances. The situation was complicated, and each had their own ideas about how to proceed.
—We can't let Toneri escape —said the Raikage, firmly—. If we don't kill him, we at least need to make sure he can't become a threat again.
Kakashi nodded, though his expression was more thoughtful.
—You're right, but we also need to consider the consequences. Killing him could create more problems in the long run. Maybe there's another way.
Obito, who had been silently observing, spoke up again.
—No matter what we decide, we need to act fast —he said, looking up at the sky—. The moon won't give us much time.
—Don't worry, there's no need to kill him. I'll take care of it—.
TO AVOID QUESTIONS, I WON'T GO INTO DETAILS ABOUT THE ŌTSUTSUKI FAMILY OF THE MOON)
With superhuman effort, Hinata stood up, leaning on Naruto to steady herself. Her eyes, though weak, shone with unbreakable determination. She slowly approached Toneri, who lay defeated on the ground, his breathing ragged and his body covered in wounds.
—Toneri —said Hinata, her voice firm but filled with emotion—. You've made many mistakes, but the worst of all is that you've lived deceived.
Toneri looked up with difficulty, his Tenseigan eyes now dull and lifeless.
—Deceived? —he murmured, with a mix of disbelief and despair—. What are you talking about?
Hinata knelt in front of him, looking directly into his eyes. With precise and careful movements, she reached out toward Toneri's face. Though he tried to resist, he was too weak to oppose her.
—The eyes you stole don't belong to you —said Hinata, as she gently removed the Tenseigan from Toneri—. And the truth about your family... is something you need to know.
Toneri screamed in pain, but more than the physical pain, it was the pain of uncertainty that consumed him.
—What truth? —he asked, his voice trembling—. What do you know about my family?
Hinata carefully held Hanabi's eyes before putting them away. Then, she looked at Toneri with an expression of compassion.
—Your family... wasn't what you thought —said Hinata, her tone solemn—. They manipulated you, used you to fulfill their own goals. Everything you did, everything you believed... was based on lies.
Toneri fell silent, his empty eyes now reflecting a mix of confusion and pain. For years, he had lived with the conviction that his mission was just, that he was fulfilling his clan's legacy. But Hinata's words made him question everything.
—No... it can't be —murmured Toneri, shaking his head—. Don't lie to me...
Hinata stood up, looking at him one last time.
—I'm not lying to you —she said—. The truth hurts, but it's necessary. Now, rest. Your fight is over.
As Hinata returned to Naruto's side, the group prepared to leave the moon. The destruction around them was a reminder of what had happened, but also of what they had achieved.
—Let's go —said Naruto, carefully holding Hinata—. It's time to go home.
Kakashi and the Raikage nodded, while Obito watched from a distance, his expression inscrutable. He knew his role in this story wasn't over yet, but for now, he was content to see the world safe.
As the group walked away, Toneri was left behind, alone and defeated. Hinata's words echoed in his mind, sowing doubt and regret. Though he didn't know what the future held, one thing was clear: his path had come to an end.
And so, under the fractured sky of the moon, the chapter closed with a mix of victory and reflection. The battle was over, but the scars it left would remain forever.