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The Underlying Evil

The ferocious wind of the dark forest rushed back and forth through Naruto's clothing, tittering and tottering his massive frame as he ventured farther into the wretched beast's lair.

As the wind blew in all directions, it seemed to grow louder, whistling in the blonde male's ears as he pushed his way through a dark corridor of shrubs and trees with his body and arms.

Huge trees protruded from the ground next to him like pillars and stretched up toward the black void above.

The tall trees were all arranged in a row, one after the other, guarding the path's boundaries as Naruto continued down the dark passage in front of him, which oddly resembled a pathway.

A long path with no end in sight.

Naruto sneered, his blue eyes gazing ahead of him, "What the hell?" He whispered in confusion, underneath his breath.

Yet, considering how quickly the wind came to take all additional sounds away, his ears did not pick up on his phrase or his voice.

It seemed as though he said nothing and only moved his lips.

It was an odd experience.

But that wasn't as bizarre as the new knowledge he was discovering about the passageway ahead of him.

Naruto now observed not only how peculiar the length of the tunnel before him was, but also how creepy it was growing the deeper down he proceeded.

Scraggly shrubs of all sizes and hideous hues protruded from the sides of the pathway in an attempt to impede his progression, while corroded forest branches and leaves sullied the ground along the path.

There were even remnants of the dead spread about, their skin long deteriorated, leaving bones and skulls to litter the woodland floor, adoptive signs of the eeriness of the dark forest.

Such sights before Naruto made his skin crawl.

His boots scuffed across twigs, leaves, and, more frighteningly, the very bones of slain creatures as he tracked closer to his quarry.

The minor crunches produced by his footwear as it made contact with the forest floor were drowned out by the ferocious sounds of nature surrounding him, which seemed to be sending him a message, he assumed.

He listened as the trees shook loudly, comparable to a rattlesnake's tail, filling his ears with an unpleasant sound that sent chills down his spine and unnerved him like no other.

As he continued on, it seemed as though the surrounding area was growing darker as the thunder cracked and pounded overhead.

The forest was clearly attempting to warn him off, merely testing his resolve and fortitude.

The forest was asking him plainly whether he was sure he wanted to venture any further into the area where the Norowareta-jū was located and seek its gaze.

He was being questioned by the forest as to whether he was absolutely sure he wanted to go on.

The blonde huntsman answered such a question unequivocally, as demonstrated by his steady stride and constant motion of brushing large branches aside.

His tenacity, on the other hand, demonstrated that he was committed to pursuing his mission and that quitting was not an option.

Naruto was unfazed by the dark forest's temper tantrum.

He has a mission to undertake, and he is committed to accomplishing it.

So merely, he progressed forward.

He kicked and swatted away anything that crossed his path, traversing what seemed like miles and miles of ground as he grew deeper and deeper into the neck of the gloomy woodland.

He kept moving on till he made it to another tree barricade.

Yet in comparison to the previous gate, this one was significantly different.

The barrier in front of him presently consisted of two long, slender trees anchored in the ground. Their trunks appear to arise from an unknown region from the pathway's margins.

These trees, like all the others that surrounded him, were massive, towering over his entire frame.

Both were twisted in an erratic manner, seemingly breaking the rules of physics in order to form an unsettling X shape that could only signify one thing:

Beware.

The presence of bright, ghastly lanterns illuminated with what appeared to be an eternal flame loomed among the sides of the X-shaped barricade, supporting Hinata's assertions.

Indeed, evil magic rules over this region of the forest.

Just as she said.

The barrier before him oddly enough placed a feeling of dread over him, one that gave him an odd feeling.

Such a feeling only confirmed to him that the barrier before him was for sure going to be the very last one he encounters before he officially meets the Norowareta-jū.

Yet reaching that conclusion only enhanced Naruto's enthusiasm.

He was tired of the juvenile antics and simply wanted to handle some much needed business.

Naruto's blue eyes narrowed.

'I'm here for you, cursed beast. Your oppressive control over these woods, Hinata, and her people, shall shortly come to an end. Your time is up.' Naruto thought maliciously in his head.

It's time.

With a sneer, the blonde huntsman rushed forward, twisting his body just enough to easily pass through the gaps left by the felled trees, passing the final and most arduous barrier to reach the den of the infamous Norowareta-jū.

To finally see what lay behind the final barrier, Naruto slid with apparent ease between the cracks of the bent trees, as though entering through the gates of hell.

But what he saw on the other side, undoubtedly chilled him to the bones.

His blue eyes widened in horror, practically surpassing the size of flying saucers.

"Holy shit." Naruto's breath hitched, "This is it."

Naruto couldn't stop the chills from coursing through his entire body as he approached the lair of the beast that was causing Hinata and her people so much misery.

Naruto has journeyed far and wide, unraveling the mysteries of the village of Nantgarth, and finally here he stands, face to face with his quarry.

The Norowareta-jū.

Before him was an eerie clearing that seemed to stretch on for miles. The area was circular in shape, with trees encroaching on its edges, leaving only one exit.

The entry way he used to arrive here.

Unfortunately for Naruto, the clearing possessed a dim light due to the absence of the sun in the sky. He was thus no longer provided any bright light to enable him to see clearly.

Which could work against him.

Naruto made a mental note of that as well, but continued to study the landscape, becoming acquainted with his battle field and the assets it possesses.

With a pitiful posture, the grass rose from the ground and reached skyward, concealing an unsightly aspect due to its black shade, scraggly shape, and sizable height.

Broken bones could also be seen all across the clearing, scattered all over.

Such a sight just enhanced the macabre appearance of the region, inducing dread in Naruto as he observed the numerous bundles of misshapen bones paint the area, lying across the grass like pebbles or décor.

Such bones were everywhere.

An image that is excruciatingly difficult to stomach, to put it mildly.

But it once more supported Hinata's claims that members of her kind actually traveled to this location specifically in an effort to kill the Norowareta-jū on her behalf, only to fail and suffer a torturous demise.

Rather, it supported all of her claims.

Every single one.

That increased Naruto's faith in Hinata to an all-time high. That supplied credible proof that she did, in fact, keep her word.

She told the truth.

It was incredibly relieving, but that feeling of relief was short-lived when Naruto dragged his eyes away from his surroundings and instead forced them directly to what lay in front of him.

Yet as soon as he did, he felt his skin begin to crawl and his sense of dread increased beyond just observing the unsettling environment around him.

Naruto's breathing hitched, his blue eyes widened as he stared face to face with a large cave before him, one that seemed to be in the shape of a skull.

Just from where Naruto was standing, he could see the skull's head was extremely massive, seemingly compared to an entire building. The cave stretched high into the sky, easily dwarfing Naruto and making him appear as little as an ant in comparison.

Such a sight subconsciously made Naruto gulp.

Even more perilously, galena was utilized to construct the cave. One of the oldest ore in existence, galena is a lead sulfide mineral and one of the world's primary ores.

Galena often shimmers and sparkles due to the lead contained within it, but the cave before him exposed the mineral in a different light because it was now corroded and dark, creating the impression that the material was simply bedrock or dolerite.

The cave's sole materials and structure would not appear dangerous to the untrained eye, but Naruto can quickly disagree.

Because the cave was built completely of the material galena, it contains harmful remedies owing to the lead inherent in the mineral.

If the mineral's dust particles are breathed or consumed, it can cause severe impairment to anyone near and put one at a significant disadvantage.

But only if dust particles are present in the air.

If one is not exposed to such particles, the galena-carved cave is relatively safe.

Yet, Naruto sensed that the cave itself won't be a problem for him at all.

It's what's inside the cave that's much more dangerous.

Naruto's blue eyes shifted across the cave and in its entirety, taking it all in.

Naruto saw for himself that the skull cave possessed two eyes that were round but hollowed and dull, seemingly staring into his soul as it towered into the darkened sky.

The skull even harbored a nose that seemingly looked like a hole engraved in the middle of the rock's surface, just below the eyes but above the mouth.

The skull's mouth stretched far and wide, operating as the entrance and exit for the creature that lurks within the dark fissures of such a horrifying cave.

To make matters worse, there were numerous more lanterns adorning the rock's outer rim. Because of black magic, the lanterns appeared to be lit by an eternal flame as well. A flame that was able to withstand even the mightiest of winds.

The lanterns lighted the ghastly facial expression of the skull cave, the light from the fire bouncing off the carved rock and establishing such an image as the main stage.

The cave was undoubtedly a horror show, a scene straight out of human nightmares.

The message conveyed by the home of the Norowareta-jū, which appeared as a skull, was unmistakable.

The cave was sending out a message of death, misery, and anguish.

Yet Naruto was unfazed in the slightest.

Naruto scoffed to himself as a response to witnessing the scene before him in its entirety, doing so before taking a step forward. But he didn't venture all the way inside the clearing just yet.

He began by removing his cape.

The blonde huntsman emancipated himself from everything that might stand in his way. He did so to prepare for what was to come, to ensure that nothing would hold him back in battle.

Naruto removed the long drawn-out cape from his backside and set it on a nearby tree branch, freeing up his back and enabling all the concealed weapons on his body accessible.

He blew out a deep breath.

'Here goes.'  Naruto reflected to himself before reaching out to grab both of his axes from his waistband, unclasping his weapons from the holsters they were safely confined in to instead take hold of them.

He gripped the handles of his sharp weapons firmly, his gaze fixed on his target ahead.

Naruto blew out another deep breath before finally picking up his feet to venture forth, to emerge further into the clearing.

His steps were jarring, crunching onto the stiff grass beneath his feet, generating shuffles of sound to fill the space.

But Naruto kept pressing on.

He kept on, taking a risk and eventually reaching the middle of the clearing.

He took a few more steps, getting ever closer to the cave's entrance in front of him.

But he couldn't get too close before being confronted with an unpleasant surprise: a thunderous voice that roared across the clearing and reverberated in his ears.

"Who goes there!"

Instantly, Naruto came to a screeching halt, his eyes widening, his heart thumping in his chest as he focused his attention on the area where the abrupt voice arose.

Naruto stood as still as he could, not moving one inch as he gazed into the mouth of the skull cave before him. His gaze was greeted only with darkness, but the voice was there, roaring at him from someplace unknown.

"I can hear your breathing, fool. I'm aware that you're there. You've made a terrible mistake coming here, creature."

Naruto's brows furrowed at such a lackluster response, an amused grin developing across his whiskered face.

He swung his axes around and around, causing the air around him to whoosh.

The beast has finally spoken.

Now that the beast is aware of Naruto's presence, there was no point in hiding or keeping quiet.

The beast certainly has strong senses, as most creatures do. Acute hearing. Adept reflexes. Night vision. Linguistic ability of the human race.

Naruto picked up much from the beast already but now that he was exposed, he wished to take another approach on the matter.

A more assertive approach.

The blonde huntsman snorted, his body devoid of fear, only drive and excitement.

So much excitement.

"Tch, you know why I'm here, beast, so let's skip the dramatics." Naruto scoffed, "Go on, reveal your face, coward. Or are you too afraid to face me?"

"Oh such lofty rhetoric. Those that venture here always talk in such grand terms."

A guffaw was heard.

"That only makes tearing you all apart that much more enjoyable. It should send a message to your treasured figurehead."

Naruto let out a snarl in response to the creature's utterances, which not only showed much of its character and passion for killing, but it also revealed someone.

Hinata.

Another monstrous guffaw was heard.

"She put you up to this, didn't she? I hope you realize all of your efforts are in vain. All she's done is driven you to your death."

A guttural growl was emitted.

"Foolish acolyte you are."

"What is this jabbering you speak of?" Naruto yelled, trying to determine what the creature was really alluding to.

The blonde huntsman shouted into the pitch-black cave, sending his voice reverberating through its vast spaces to reach the wretched beast that dwells there.

This time, an unnerving roar was emitted, shaking the ground Naruto stood on.

"Hyuga, Hinata. The cursed one. The weakling. The temptress-"

"Silence your tongue, venomous fiend. The only noroi around here that is known to all is you." Naruto wrinkled his nose, "Tch, such amusing words you speak. It's rather ironic that you would label such an innocent being a weakling while it is you that is hiding."

The hatred and rage in Naruto's eyes grew.

'How dare that beast speak such filth about Hinata-chan?' Naruto thought in a blood rage within his head, practically seething.

He was making every effort to keep his emotions in check, to drive them away, but he was having unexpected difficulty doing so at the moment; a dilemma he hadn't encountered in a long time.

Naruto was demonstrating his love for Hinata by making it a high priority to safeguard her honor and name.

He simply couldn't help himself.

Now that the beast has made the error of belittling his little minx, Naruto will be delighted to punish that wretched beast to abstain from mentioning Hinata.

That scum is unworthy of her name.

He will silence that creature once and for all, even if it is the last thing he does.

Rolling his shoulders, Naruto clutched his axes securely, "I will not ask again." He spat, "Show yourself. Show your wretched face to me and silence this incessant talk. I wish for no games but to fight, and end your sad existence once and for all."

Following Naruto's heroic speech, a loud guffaw was heard, fueling the blonde huntsman's anger tenfold.

At that very moment, the entire clearing was consumed in a cacophony of dread, disturbing nature herself.

The wind began to blow more erratically, almost causing Naruto to stumble, his body swaying side to side against his will.

The trees shook even fiercer, in response to the wretched creature's laugh.

Despite being overwhelmed by nothing but sound, Naruto did not back down.

Even yet, he stood his ground.

"Bakageta, creature. If it's my face you wish to see—then so be it."

After those words were said, Naruto felt the ground quake far more than it had before, rumbling beneath his feet like a raging volcano.

The blonde huntsman's body stiffened as he maintained his keen sight on the opening of the skull cave, grasping his axes and keeping his body crouched and adapted to challenge the creature.

Shuffles of rock were heard within the cave, rattling, thudding, and shaking as the creature crept itself out of the dark crevices of its home to instead unveil itself, emerging in the clearing once more for combat.

Naruto's muscles tensed even more as he spotted a large silhouette crawl closer to the entrance, before a clawed hand gripped the cave's rock edge.

Once more unsettling nature, a huge thud exploded and reverberated throughout the entire clearing.

Yet it wasn't until then that Naruto's request to formally see the monster was fulfilled.

It was then that the blonde huntsman's quarry was made visible, emerging from the shadows with its multiple legs to face Naruto head-on.

The Norowareta-jū has finally made an appearance.

It's here.

Naruto couldn't stop his mouth from gaping in horror as he faced a monstrous beast that appeared to be the size of the skull cave itself, enormous and towering.

The monster lived true to its moniker thanks to its malformed appearance, which was a cross between human and beast.

Scorpion and man.

The Norowareta-jū were nearly exact replicas of the infamous venomous arachnid predator, with a lower body resembling a giant scorpion.

The creature's scorpion portion had a remarkably dark shade—almost black—and appeared to be wrapped in plated skin that served to shield its internal organs from harm during combat.

The creature had pointy, angular legs that protruded from its body and elongated into the earth like stilts, holding it aloft with ease.

The creature possessed two additional clawed legs, pincers, that appeared to sprout from its abdomen and imitated the limbs of a crab.

A narrowed, segmented tail emerged from the beast's backside and coiled overhead, where a large stinger—a sinister tip on end was discovered.

Moving further upward, the beast's true body began to shift from a black hue to a darkened brown as its predominant skin color, traversing to the human portion of its body.

The beast's abdomen was slim but rock solid, with two human hands barging forth just from the shoulders where claws were discovered, ripping from the tips of its fingers.

And then, there was its face.

The Norowareta-jū had a horrifying appearance, one that resembled a human male but with disturbing features.

The creature possessed long gray hair which cascaded down its body from its head and flowed along its shoulders.

Under each of its eyes, there were two dark black curved-like markings, and above its eyes, there were two markings that resembled elongated eyebrows.

The creature's pupils were blazing golden, with scleras as dark as the nothingness above. Such eyes were lethal, piercing through the dim light and striking Naruto right where he stood.

The Norowareta-jū stood stiffly, creeping out of the cave, its tall figure facing the direction of Naruto.

Blue eyes met monstrous golden, seemingly freezing time.

Both beings were blown and pushed by the strong wind, swaying their hair back and forth, ringing in their ears, and further setting the ominous mood.

Slowly, Naruto observed the creature in its totality, absorbing every nuance so he could use such details to his advantage.

But, he couldn't pass up the opportunity to mock the creature.

He needs to project his resolve and assert his dominance.

He can't, not once, allow the monster to believe it is superior.

He must make it clear to the beast that he is the predator and that it is his prey.

Naruto put up a cheeky grin on his whiskered face whilst rolling his neck in a circular motion, a display of supreme confidence. His neck cracked with a loud pop.

"At long last. Kimimaro, The Aqrabuamelu, finally here in the flesh. You have no idea how long I've been looking forward to this moment." The blonde chuckled, but the creature remained still.

Strangely, the Norowareta-jū appeared to do nothing more than stand there and stare at him, as if frozen in time.

But Naruto didn't really give a damn.

Rather, he persisted in closely scrutinizing the hideous creature, looking at every part of it, from the top of its head down to its sharply curled legs.

Naruto tilted his head, his blonde bangs falling to obscure his amused blue eyes,  "Oh, what a wretch you are. You certainly live up to your repute." The blonde responded with a shrug, "Yes, you are truly malformed, and as they say, quite frightening." Naruto trailed off.

To rub salt into the wound, he chuckled wickedly, "Heh, did I mention ugly?" He mocked.

The Norowareta-jū growled low, deep in its chest as a response to Naruto's insult before finally opening its mouth to speak.

But what it said certainly wasn't what Naruto was expecting.

The scorpion creature pushed itself from the cave's entrance to creep closer, emerging farther into the clearing and into Naruto's full view.

It crawled forward, like a spider, with its legs working in quick succession, back and forth across the grass.

The creature peered down at Naruto, which the blonde huntsman assumed was in shock, considering its widened golden pupils, stiff misshapen frame, and its clawed hands bored into fists.

"No, this has to be some sort of joke," The Norowareta-jū observed, shaking its head. The creature spoke now with a voice similar to that of a human male, low yet stern.

Naruto raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised.

'What the hell?' Naruto thought in total confusion within his head.

The beast stared at him as if he'd never seen one of his kind, as if he'd never seen a human before; stunned beyond comprehension.

Naruto observed the Norowareta-jū shaking its head violently, once more. The creature even pointed a clawed finger down at him, "No, you're only human. You're no beast. You're not like the others."

"And what the fuck of it, huh?" Naruto roared in irritation, now finally on board as to why the beast was so damn confused.

He is human, and no human has ever fought The Norowareta-jū on Hinata's behalf.

Such a sight must have distorted the mind of the beast in front of him, shocking it in ways it had never been shocked before.

The Norowareta-jū just kept staring at him, as if at any moment Naruto would just vanish and simply confirm to the beast that it was just losing its mind.

But nevertheless, Naruto remained in the beast's eyesight, bearing weapons in his possession, staring up at the beast with a resolute expression. Such a stare was filled with fire and passion, and it was just impossible for the beast to ignore.

The beast known as, Kimimaro, raised his head and sneered, his pincers snapping at the air before him in exasperation.

Kimimaro narrowed his eyes, "You're not one of them, are you, human?"

"One of what? What's with the fucking questions-?"

"The Nantgarthians. You're not them, are you?"

Naruto scoffed, wrinkling his nose, "No-"

"Then you're just a foolish human looking for a death sentence. You've squandered your life traveling through these lands to get to this place." The beast bent its head, inspecting Naruto closely.

Kimimaro took note of the numerous weapons that the blonde wore on his entire body, weaponry that could possibly aid him in battle.

Weapons, as far as the beast could see, were a sword, daggers, kunais, and axes.

But, Naruto remained firm in his posture the whole while, simply challenging the beast with his fiery eyes.

The beast's attempts to frighten the adept blonde didn't succeed once.

The beast's horrifying appearance, penetrating gaze, odd questioning—

Nothing.

There was nothing that monstrous creature could say or do to make Naruto back out of his quest.

Absolutely nothing.

Naruto narrowed his eyes at the creature.

But at that moment, a dark smirk slid across the face of the beast before him, and a boisterous laugh slipped out of its mouth, "Ooh, I know what this is. You regard yourself a fearless hero, hm? Are you here to save the damsel—to serve as the Hyuga creature's knight in shining armor?"

Naruto's knuckles turned white as his grip on his ax handles tightened to an extreme degree.

He let out a fierce growl.

He was really starting to get quite sick of the beast making fun of him.

Naruto scoffed once more, "You talk far too much. What's the matter—lonely? Ahh, that's fine; I can save you from your own suffering right here, right now."

"Can you?" The beast laughed again, "Oh human, you are quite amusing, but also quite foolish. How can you expect to beat me when creatures considerably larger than you have been defeated here; ripped apart by my own hands, hm?" The beast paused once more to laugh, clearly enjoying taunting Naruto, "How do you, a feeble human with a deluded mind, intend on eliminating me from this world?"

A triumphant grin flashed across Naruto's tanned whiskered face at that very moment, and an uncontrollable rush of might and tenacity overwhelmed his entire body, causing the beast to virtually choke on his words.

Kimimaro's eyes widened drastically, his amused smile instantly vanishing from his darkened face.

Naruto's expression of assurance was not one he was anticipating.

The Norowareta-jū expected the human to run away screaming, regretting his decision to challenge him.

Not this...

Kimimaro's eyes widened as he gazed at the strange blonde human before him, now stiffer than ever. He has certainly never witnessed a sight like this before.

A fearless human being.

The blonde human was not faking, the scorpion beast knew that. He could see it in Naruto's eyes, sense it in his aura, and hear it in his voice that he was not afraid.

Naruto let out a chuckle before spinning his axes around and around repeatedly, "Baka, Baka, Baka. Have you ever heard the expression..." Naruto trailed off to tilt his head, "it is sometimes necessary to use a mouse to bring down an elephant?"

Instead of continuing to swing his weapons, Naruto halted and firmly pointed one of his axes at the beast in front of him, never once wavering.

No.

He looked the beast in the eyes with not a single ounce of fear in his body or soul.

Naruto challenged the beast head-on, revealing physically that he was not the least bit frightened of the creature; the same creature that is known to instill fear into anyone that meets its gaze.

But not Naruto.

Oh no, not Naruto.

The blonde huntsman has long mastered the ability to grin in the face of the most terrifying of monsters. He's already learned how to keep feelings like panic and dread at bay and instead convey exactly what he wanted his adversaries to know.

Time is running out. Death is approaching.

Naruto's icy blue eyes were narrowed, his lips stretched into a scowl, and his chest pumped high. He stared into the eyes of the beast and instilled his dominance over it, this time, making an effort to instill fear in it instead.

Fortunately, it was working.

The beast's eyes grew wider and wider, its heart hammering in its chest like a fierce drum.

The spiky-haired blonde was unyielding, with a steely heart, a steadfast mentality, and a fearless body to guarantee victory in battle.

Naruto only smirked in the face of the monster, once more parading around his physical prowess, "I've spent my entire life honing my fighting skills to defeat beasts like you, monster. I had to travel far and wide to get to you, and with each step I took, I discovered a variety of deceptions and falsehoods that further opened my eyes to the truth."

Naruto spat with his eyebrows knitted, "I've accomplished a great deal, greater than any other human, or even creature, could ever hope to. So the fact that you underestimate me is already a victory in my book. It unequivocally demonstrates how stupid you are. Hah!"

Naruto shook his axe towards the scorpion monster, "It makes no difference how large or small I am. Hell, it doesn't even matter that I'm human, you moronic wuss. What matters is the magnitude and quantity of the might that lies within. What matters is the unwavering resolve to never give up and the ability to grin while facing fear, even when the cards are stacked against you." Naruto roared, "Welding all of this, together with the love I've received from Queen Hinata, will bring an end to you."

Naruto blew out a deep breath, his mind now filled with his little minx, which he could feel is showering him with much of her strength, even her pain.

He hummed, his facial features lighting up, "Hinata-chan once told me, revealing emotion is what makes one human and without it, one only becomes a being of darkness, tainted with the desolation of this world."

Naruto smiled brightly, "She reassured me that it's okay to love and be open with those around you since doing so will bless you with courage and make life worthwhile." He spoke passionately, reflecting back on the priceless life lessons Hinata had bestowed upon him.

"Hinata is the one who brought me here. She is the reason I was saved from myself, from the hatred that had once consumed me. She has successfully opened my eyes to the truth and granted me a strength that I never knew I was capable of." Naruto's heart grew warm, "It is with her help that will bring me victory, that will officially bring you down today."

Naruto zeroed his attention on the monster before him, directing a deadly glint in his eye toward his quarry, "Perhaps you have exterminated a great number of creatures before, so many of Hinata-chan's people. You may have fought monsters who were far larger than I am numerous times and prevailed, but I will tell you now—and only now."

Naruto's icy blue eyes darkened, rooted on his prey's head, "Your time is up. Your head, creature, is mine for the taking. I say, your days cursing this land and its inhabitants will be no more!" He shouted, his powerful voice echoing for miles, "I'm going to use every last bit of strength I have in my body to finally banish you from this world and break the curse that binds Hinata-chan, once and for all."

Naruto's statements left no room for discussion, contradiction, or refutation.

As he spoke, he phrased such statements as truths, as if the blonde huntsman had the ability to alter the stars and secure victory for his mission.

Even the Norowareta-jū was rendered speechless by his statements, staring down at the blonde human in a trance-like state, in utter disbelief.

He couldn't believe what he was hearing.

He couldn't believe what he was seeing.

In a blood rage, the Norowareta-jū snarled and balled his fists.

'What is this? What is this sorcery?' In his thoughts, the monster roared, unable to comprehend the situation and come to grips with it.

He couldn't believe the frail human had walked through a forest full of monsters without sustaining a single scratch, let alone managing to find his dark lair. But he certainly couldn't believe the extent of the human's tenacity.

It was unfathomable!

No other creature he'd ever met had such a searing aura, one of pure purpose and drive—not like the blonde human.

The beast was becoming uneasy, but he suppressed his feelings by giving way to wrath; hatred.

Those two sentiments devoured the vicious beast's entire body, and it was only then that he glared daggers down at Naruto, a glare that vowed death.

Kimimaro growled loud and deep, "Oh, what a sad human being you are. That Hinata creature appears to have weakened you. She has poisoned your head and hampered you with petty fantasies. But that's fine. Ah, so fine."

Naruto tensed up, growling, to discover the creature shifting into its battle position, hunching down, and lunging forth with its pincers to aggressively pinch and snap at the air.

Kimimaro displayed a dark sneer with total unadulterated insanity in his eyes, tugging at its facial features to create a terror face that made Naruto grimace.

Kimimaro's golden eyes gleamed, sparking, "Come! Meet your demise! I will gladly rip you to shreds and deliver your remains to Hinata myself!"

Naruto laughed before quickly assuming his battle posture, widening his legs and hunching forward. He gritted his teeth as he grasped his axes just on the sides of his body.

"Oh please! I'd like to see you try for it is you, that will perish here." Naruto beckoned his head forth, giving the beast a mocking grin, "Remember this face, beast, for it will be the last one you see."

Kimimaro roared in rage at that very moment, the sound erupting from deep inside his chest to fill the entire area.

The beast was no longer able to remain still due to its growing wrath.

Having finally lost all patience, the beast now solely desires to tear Naruto to pieces, make him eat his words, and ultimately send him to hell screaming.

By successfully inciting the beast, Naruto was able to start the ultimate death match; the battle between him and the Norowareta-jū.

Only then, the beast finally made a move.

The scorpion creature roared again, a thunderous roar that rang in Naruto's ears as it surged forward on its countless legs.

"You little worm! I will annihilate you!"

With a grin, Naruto spun his right ax once more, revving up the strength in his arm.

Naruto even took it a step further and closed his eyes as well.

Only then did he take a nice, long, heaving breath to help regulate his breathing.

This is it.

It's time to fight.

Naruto listened to his surroundings as the scorpion monster advanced on its jagged legs.

Naruto listened as each of the beast's legs landed on the grassy floor, which was unmistakably loud; the beast's actions were purely governed by wrath and hatred, two emotions that would prove to be its undoing.

Naruto will make sure of it.

The blonde huntsman waited and waited, doing so until....

Naruto's blue eyes shot open, and he sprung into action only when the beast was a little closer.

Now!

Naruto pushed his legs into high gear, sprinting across the grass plain to meet the scorpion monster in the center.

The adrenaline coursing through his blood was exhilarating, granting the blonde huntsman remarkable speed forward.

The wind ruffled and smacked against his mobile body, causing his hunter garb to sway as he surged forth, only the beast and its approaching form apparent in his sight.

Considering both beings' impressive pace, it didn't take long for the two to close the distance between one another, and once there, the beast was the first to take a strike at Naruto.

The Norowareta-jū let out an animalistic howl and swung one of his pincers at Naruto's head, attempting to decapitate him right where he stood.

But the beast only felt disappointment once he felt nothing but wind hit its pincer, and the blonde huntsman seemingly vanished from his sight.

Naruto used rapid moves to fling his body downward, effortlessly dodging the blow that was thrown at him to instead slip across the ground floor, right beneath the creature.

The blonde huntsman's back was glued to the ground as he slid beneath the creature's underside, his hunter's gear picking up grass and dirt as he traveled forth.

As he slid beneath the bewildered beast, in between its numerous legs, Naruto threw his ax and swung at its underbelly, taking a slash at its scorpion-like body with ease.

His blow only left an indentation.

Yet, his attack was insufficient to pierce the creature's thick plating of skin, which protected its scorpion body.

Naruto had to take an alternative course of action.

The blonde huntsman emerged from beneath the creature's body, taking a position behind it, on his feet.

He took advantage of the situation by swinging his right ax with all his strength towards the monster's backside, exactly where the human portion of its body was.

Blood was spilled.

Naruto grinned as he noticed a wide gash running across the scorpion monster's backside, where green blood streamed from its side, exactly like a typical bug.

The creature hissed in pain.

Yet, thanks to Naruto's assault, Kimimaro now knew exactly where the huntsman had gone.

He, too, attacked.

"Gotcha!" Kimimaro shouted in glee.

At that moment, the beast managed to land a devastating hit against Naruto's body with a swipe of its tail, an attack that was faster than Naruto could catch.

The creature's hit was so powerful that it sent the blonde male flying across the clearing and into a few trees on the outskirts.

Naruto's body was ravaged by the wind as he was hurled through the air, whirling and writhing like a frisbee.

Nonetheless, Naruto rapidly recovered.

Instead of crashing into a tree, he hurled his axes above his head, swinging them down and piercing a tree with them to stop his fall.

However, he still had momentum, so he took advantage of that extra speed to quickly swing his body around the tree and re-enter the fray by launching himself toward the beast.

Simultaneously, as he moved forward, he tore his axes out of the tree to further free himself.

Naruto was moving quickly through the air once more. He made effective use of his body, making sure to always use unpredictability in his attacks to keep the creature guessing.

He was swift, shrewd, and relentless.

He needed to hit the beast more frequently.

Therefore, as he flew through the air, Naruto managed to turn his body just enough to strike a tremendous kick across the beast's face, doing so with a battle cry.

But his attempts were cut short as he felt a giant hand reach out and quickly wrap itself completely around his torso, putting an end to his forward excursions.

Now in the beast's grasp, Naruto was pulled forth to face his enemy directly.

The blonde huntsman's body squirmed and twisted in the beast's hold, his infuriated blue eyes peering deep into his foe's golden gaze.

The Norowareta-jū growled before tightening its grip on Naruto's torso with its fist, doing so with much strength which only resulted in the huntsman to scream in anguish.

Naruto groaned, his facial features scrunching in pain, "Damn you."

Even though he was in the clutches of his adversary, Naruto remained adamant about not giving up. He had a plan in mind to perhaps recover control of the situation.

With his weapons still in possession, the blonde sneered before drawing one of his axes and swinging it diagonally toward the beast's face.

Miss.

His weapon unfortunately did not make an impact on his target but rather yet, sliced across the air, making a loud whooshing noise.

Naruto growled in irritation when he spotted the scorpion monster simply dodge his vicious attack by leaning its head back. Naruto's weapon ran just across the beast's face, missing tragically.

The Norowareta-jū cackled, "Weak." He only spat but Naruto quickly retaliated.

Even though he was in danger of being captured and crushed by his foe, the spiky-haired blonde threw a grin at the beast, successfully surprising the scorpion monster.

The creature growled before raising its pincers to seize Naruto's lower body, in an effort to pull and rip the huntsman right in half.

But Naruto had other plans.

Naruto took a swift motion forth, jerking his body within the beast's hold so he could hurl his right ax downward with just enough force to impale the beast's right pincer below as it rose.

The beast instantly let out a scream in agony and stumbled back on all of its legs.

The creature's grip on Naruto's body loosened significantly, forcing the blonde huntsman to fall from its grasp entirely, soaring through the fierce wind once more.

Naruto's blonde hair swept violently against his face as he plummeted in a downward sweep, just along the beast's body and toward its right pincher, where his ax was discovered.

Naruto grinned with delight, his free hand extending forth to reach for his weapon.

Successfully, he grasped its handle.

Clutching his weapon, he flung his other weapon to his left, impaling the beast's abdomen, merely to keep him upright and close to his enemy in the air.

But once he was secure in the air, planted to the beast, he drew back his right ax, laughing as he ripped it out of the beast's pincer.

"I'll be taking that back!" Naruto proclaimed before pushing his legs forward and swinging himself around the enormous beast, using his left ax to keep his stance in the air, close to the beast as if rock climbing.

The beast roared in pain, flailing his body about, "You little-ahh!!"

When Naruto swung around the beast's body, his ax began to scrape along the beast's flesh, making an even larger slash than before.

Naruto was relieved to feel the beast's green blood oozing out of its massive body and splatter all over his clothes, covering him with the evidence that he has battered the beast.

The creature has bled.

That was such a triumph in Naruto's eyes.

He's made the beast bleed and the battle has only just begun.

To make matters worse for the beast, Naruto opted to pull forth his other axe in an attempt to impale the backside of the Norowareta-jū once more.

But before he could attack the beast again, Naruto was met by another hard smack of the beast's tail.

But this time was far more devastating, for he not only took another blow, but the blonde huntsman also lost one of his axes in the process.

Naruto grunted as he was launched erratically through the air, plummeting at high speeds before collapsing on the ground floor with a massive thud.

Naruto was more wounded by the fact of his dreadful circumstance of falling than by the agony that came with the fall itself. He tumbled across the field like a lone pebble in a strong wind, which wounded his pride.

He took repeated hits to his face from the ground, as well as blows to his sides and abdomen, which prompted him to release a series of groans. 

The entirety of his body, now tarnished as a result of his perilous battle, was covered in dirt, including his spiky blonde hair, whiskered cheeks, forehead, and torso.

The blow he received managed to catch him off guard, but after a few body twists, Naruto quickly recovered and yanked his right axe forward to puncture the ground and halt his momentum across the clearing.

His body slid across the earth as the axe created a significant indentation in the grassy plain below, one knee of his pressing firmly into the ground.

Naruto's erratic movement backward eventually came to an end and he groaned in relief as he did so.

But when he raised his head again to focus his attention on his adversary, he was faced with an unpleasant revelation.

Naruto's blue eyes widened as he locked eyes with the scorpion creature across the clearing, who was now brandishing a weapon that seemed to have materialized out of thin air.

The weapon that the beast was currently holding was the exact same one that, according to the legend Naruto had heard of, a beast like the Norowareta-jū would possess.

A bow and arrow.

Kimimaro aimed his bow and arrow at Naruto's fallen body from a distance. He held his weapon outright in front of his face.

His clawed fingers held one end of the arrow while the other hand gripped the actual bow, settling only millimeters from the extended bow's midsection.

Kimimaro chuckled wickedly, "Die, fool!"

Kimimaro launched his attack right then, releasing his drawn arrow, causing it to snap from the bow and fly through the air at incredible speeds.

Naruto gasped, jerking back and leaping to his feet in a single motion. To dodge the beast's attack, he also leaped to the right.

But his movement was too slow to match the speed of the Norowareta-jū, and because of this, the beast's arrow rushed forth and made a vicious swipe along his flailing hand, clanging against his right arm guard.

Consequently, as a result of the arrow onslaught, Naruto lost his right axe, which dropped to the ground a few inches away from his fallen body, ridding the blonde male of both of his axes.

But only that was the beast's intention all along.

Right then, Naruto leaped towards the right-hand side of the clearing, where the blonde shifted into a forward roll and thereafter surfaced on one knee.

Naruto's gaze returned to his foe from a distance, his body tense, and his adrenaline rocketed through the roof.

His breathing was labored, chest heaving, and dirt and grass clung to every inch of him.

His hands were bare, as one of his axes was buried in the grass just inches away from him. The other axe was resting directly beneath the scorpion monster's legs, exactly where it had fallen when Naruto was thrown off by the beast earlier.

Naruto's gaze changed from upwards to downwards, shifting his attention from his adversary to his weapon, which lay only a short distance away from him.

It was a risk, but he wishes to retrieve his weapon while he still has the chance.

So he did precisely that.

He took the risk.

With a growl, he lunged over, his arms spread wide so he could grasp the handle of his axe and reclaim it.

But, he discovered that in order to avoid being hit by another ascending arrow, he had to land abruptly, push his body off the grass, and tumble to the left.

The ascending arrow pierced the ground directly in front of his face, right over his axe, giving Naruto a clear glimpse of the beast's weapon of choice.

Lying flat on the ground, hidden amongst the long grass, Naruto's blue eyes widened yet again but this time, to find that his opponent's arrow was not made up of the usual materials that an arrow is constructed with.

No.

The arrow that was stuck in the ground, inches from his face, was made entirely of bone. It was long and jagged, and it had been whittled to resemble a customary arrow.

The Norowareta-jū is using bones to fight.

In Naruto's eyes, that made the beast even more morbid for such a repulsive exhibition.

But, he had no time to think about that.

He quickly encountered another attack, another stray arrow that shot through the air at a fast rate of speed in an attempt to hit him square in the head.

In order to dodge this specific attack, Naruto made the decision to perform a rapid back roll, in which he rolled his body backward and pressed his free hands onto the ground. He propelled his body back so that he could jump to his feet.

He used a variety of roll methods instinctively, reverting to his rigorous training to regain his balance and dodge all assaults.

The arrow that had been launched at him before had pierced the spot where he was previously located on the grass, only for others to rain down on him.

Naruto dismissed his axe for the time being and concentrated all of his attention on dodging the swift arrows that shot straight at him.

The adept blonde huntsman deflected multiple attacks with flawless flips, spins, jumps, ducks, and more rolls. All of the arrows flew straight past his body, piercing the grassy plain either behind, in front of, or near him.

Unfortunately, the beast's precision of its blows would sometimes triumph, and Naruto's expert moves paled in comparison, leaving his body covered with scratches, specifically his revealed skin.

Naruto grunted and groaned in pain after being slashed many times by the beast's bone arrows, the attacks leaving deep scrapes and scratches on his body.

But he settled on continuously dodging the several attacks thrown at him while mentally devising a plan.

The Norowareta-jū was quite skilled with its bow and arrow, shooting it with great precision and effectively taking many hits on Naruto's body, which posed a major problem for the blonde huntsman.

Even though he avoided being directly pierced by an arrow thanks to his swift dodging, the several minor blows he was receiving didn't exactly help his situation.

It was clear that in order to prevent himself from suffering further harm, he needed to stop the beast's attacks and somehow throw it off balance.

The Norowareta-jū was far more difficult for Naruto to deal with than other creatures because it wasn't as wild and unrestrained as the others he had fought. Instead, the cursed beast was critical and strategically sound.

The beast reasoned much like a skilled humanoid; it possessed sharp senses that allowed it to react strategically and critically, as well as use its body and weaponry in a constructive manner.

The Norowareta-jū was unquestionably an improvement over the other irrational creatures Naruto had previously faced.

But it's nothing the blonde huntsman can't handle.

Naruto smirked.

He had a plan.

On that note, the spiky-haired blonde pushed his body into a hack full backflip, twisting his body sideways while keeping his arms only millimeters from his body the entire while.

This time, he was successful in dodging yet another arrow that soared beneath him, soon landing someplace in the trees far away.

Naruto landed on the ground effortlessly, his boots kicking up dirt in the process.

But he swiftly took advantage of the chance to unzip and rummage around the back pouch pocket that's located along his waist belt, doing so while keeping his gaze fixed on his adversary.

The Norowareta-jū sneered, its huge bow and arrow pointing directly at Naruto's immobile body from a distance, "What's the matter? Tired of dancing, worm?"

Naruto didn't answer. 

Instead, he opted to employ one of his tricks, which he generally keeps buried within the back pouch pockets of his uniform, available to use in battle if he ever finds himself in a bind.

Naruto chuckled as he spotted the beast fire another arrow, doing so just as he threw down a tagged kunai; a smoke bomb.

"Take this, fiend!"

With a war scream, Naruto hurled the kunai down in front of his feet, instantaneously generating a massive cloud of smoke to surround the space around him, successfully blinding the creature.

The Norowareta-jū grumbled in displeasure as his arrow slipped into a whirlpool of smoke, only to hear it land with a resounding thud on the ground rather than into his opponent.

The monster bellowed in rage as its vision was obscured by masses of white smoke, easily leading it to lose sight of its opponent's position.

The white, smoky substance slowly began to cover the entire clearing, spreading and growing in masses.

Such a smoky substance was successful in completely covering the blonde human, effectively concealing his form and his footsteps as he moved through it unobserved. Naruto even recovered his beloved axe off the ground and re-armed himself during the process.

The beast turned its head rapidly, its long gray hair swaying along with its movements, "Argh! Playing hide and seek, eh? It won't work, worm!"

Yet, unfortunately for the beast, Naruto's plan was working.

The smoked kunai thrown by the blonde huntsman not only blinded the beast completely, but it also took away its ability to hear.

The smoke kunai was not only sight but also noise canceling, leaving the beast wide open for an attack.

An assault that Naruto launched without hesitation.

The skilled huntsman quickly snuck his way across the clearing, entirely disguised by his effective contrivance, to sneak closer to his clueless opponent.

He moved quietly, rounding the beast to drop low and retrieve his left axe.

He successfully acquired both of his axes, only to return them to their holsters on his waistband, deciding to shelve them now.

He had a better plan.

In a fit of rage, the scorpion beast roared, rocking its colossal body back and forth and flailing its arms. The beast's golden eyes were constantly blinking as it desperately searched for a means to see.

"Where are you, brat! Show yourself!"

"Don't mind if I do!"

Seeing this as an opportunity to ridicule the monster, Naruto then followed up his brazen speech with a swipe of his freshly drawn sword.

Naruto quickly drew his sword handle from its holster on his backside and ran past the beast, slicing it across the chest as he did so.

The scorpion monster instantly reacted, howling in agony.

Kimimaro rushed backward, his several legs slamming into the earth at once, leaving protrusions. He clutched his chest, just over his now-required wound, green blood pouring down his chest and towards his scorpion portion.

Kimimaro, however, had little time to recover as the quick huntsman began to circle around him in the midst of the smoke. All the while, Naruto unleashed a barrage of vicious assaults with his sharpened sword.

Although his axes were suitable weapons, continuing to fight with them would be too risky, given it's so easy to lose them so frequently.

Naruto loved his axes to death, but in order to fight effectively, he must resort to other tactics.

Without a doubt, Naruto spotted the opportunity to use his sword to decisively prevail in battle.

So he went for it.

Naruto wrenched his blade skyward, rushing it across the beast's human portion in slashes in all directions.

Kimimaro was assailed everywhere, unable to pinpoint Naruto's whereabouts due to the smoke that filled the air and so obscured all sight and sound from him.

The beast grumbled and screamed in aggravation and wrath, roaring in the thick of the situation as it was battered with several fatal wounds.

Kimimaro growled, jolting forth many times as a result of receiving an attack from his backside.

In that direction, he swung his tail, but all he was met with was air.

The Norowareta-jū gritted its razor, sharp teeth, baring its fists, "You think you're so smart, human. This is nothing!"

Naruto couldn't hold back the smirk that crossed his face at the beast's temper tantrum. He expertly spun his blade forward while maintaining his stance in front of the monster—completely unnoticed by it, of course.

With a cheeky grin, Naruto quickly drew his weapon forward, gripping the handle with both hands, and he swung it diagonally, successfully cutting the beast's right arm off of its body.

A howl of pain echoed across the clearing as the Norowareta-jū lost one of its limbs, only for the other to fall to the ground as well.

The screams of the Norowareta-jū were like music to Naruto's ears, notes of sound that only promised him victory in battle.

Naruto surely took advantage of the situation, hiding through the white mass of smoke he created to unleash a barrage of assaults on his highly ferocious opponent, with the goal of substantially weakening and potentially killing it.

And he was definitely aiming to do exactly that by lunging forward to sever the scorpion creature's head clean off, but he found himself having to dodge a desperate strike by the creature's tail.

The Norowareta-jū was in anguish now, screeching in pain and swiping its tail around its body in a fury.

The beast continued forward, now armless, bleeding green gunk from its stumps and contaminating the earth below, "Ahh! I will get you, worm! Do you hear me? I will tear you to fucking shreds!!"

Naruto remained silent, taking a few steps back and ducking the tail that swung furiously through the air.

The beast's tail was long and swift, moving forward in a frenzy to hit any area near its host, or rather, sting anything near.

With loud whooshes, the beast's long tail swayed diagonally through the air. Thuds were heard as the tail made massive impacts on the solid ground. The tail even surged forward to administer vertical strikes in an attempt to puncture Naruto's skull.

But Naruto dodged with ease, gripping his bloody sword all the while.

Unfortunately, after a while, the creature's attacks grew faster and faster and faster, building up speed as it was fed by much of its turbulent emotions.

The pace of its tail increased, forcing Naruto to dodge more quickly, frequently, and frantically.

Naruto tried his best to avoid the assaults that were steadily thrown at him, but he quickly found himself on the threshold of a dilemma.

He soon ran into a serious problem.

Naruto groaned in pain as he felt the creature's tail sweep forward and score a hit on him. The stinger located on the scorpion beast's tail carved a massive slit across his right arm, breaking through his clothing and leaving a serious wound on his skin underneath.

But the stinger of the beast also left something else behind...

Poison.

Naruto felt the muscles in his right arm instantly begin to freeze up as a little amount of poison was injected into the limb.

Nevertheless, such a small amount was all that was required to create an instant and severe effect.

Naruto's limb began to react as a result of the scorpion poison. His arm began to twitch, and the veins within his arm began to bulge significantly, prompting the blonde to tremble frantically and break out in a sweat.

Naruto cursed in frustration.

'Damnit. This is bad.' Naruto thought in worry, quickly recognizing how critical his situation was now that he'd been stung by the savage scorpion beast.

Blinding and approaching the beast had its advantages, but it also carried significant hazards, such as the one Naruto was currently suffering.

Being stingered.

Yet Naruto had little time to respond or consider the gravity of the situation before being smacked with the beast's tail.

His body was catapulted completely out of the shroud of smoke that was slowly dissipating, through the air only to land forcefully against the ground floor once more.

His sword clattered against the ground, leaving his grip for a short moment.

But only for a moment.

Naruto chose to ignore his little stinger problem for the time being in hopes of finishing his task.

As a result, he pulled his body up to grasp his sword, clutching the handle and pointing it at his opponent from a distance.

Naruto, breathing heavily and sweating furiously, gazed back into the white fog from afar, his eyesight distorted.

As the poison began to travel through his veins and destroy his bodily organs, his right arm became unsteady, losing all feeling of coordination.

The spiky-haired blonde shook his head furiously, attempting to counteract the poison's effects, but it was difficult.

But even so, Naruto gripped his sword high, ready to engage in battle with the beast and go the entire way. He vowed he will not stop fighting, only until the beast is dead.

He doesn't even care if he drops dead in the end, only if the beast does so along with him.

'That damned creature will die with me.' Naruto thought heroically. 'I will free you from your curse, Hinata-chan, even if it's the last thing I do.'

Even in his thoughts, Naruto maintained his resolve.

The blonde huntsman clenched his teeth as his blue eyes gazed across the clearing, through the white swirl of smoke.

Because of it, he could no longer see his opponent, forcing him to pause and wait to locate it again.

Naruto has already dealt significant damage to the beast. The fact that the Norowareta-jū has received countless wounds can only signify that...

It won't be long now.

Naruto kept a close eye on the smoke as it slowly disappeared into nothing,  completely clearing away to once more reveal his opponent.

But, what Naruto witnessed enraged him entirely.

Right there, before Naruto, the beast's limbs seemed to have emerged from its shoulders once more. The limbs of the Norowareta-jū were fully grown and repaired as if nothing had happened.

All of Naruto's attacks were rendered ineffective, driving the huntsman to fume.

The beast laughed at the heaving blonde from far away, tilting its head at him, "Find something shocking, worm? I've told you, there is nothing you can do that countless other creatures haven't tried before. Just give it up. Give your life to me-!

"Never!" Naruto sneered, his blue eyes darkening. He gripped the handle of his sword firmly, keeping his stance crotched on the floor.

He brought his body slowly up to a stand, ignoring the shake of his legs and hands.

He fought through it all.

He ignored it all.

Naruto narrowed his eyes, taking a glance down at the beast's restored arms again.

He scoffed, wrinkling his nose, "So you really are a freak, huh? Tsk, I should've known your arms could regenerate."

The beast cackled.

Naruto scowled, "But I wonder, can your head do the same?"

The beast was instantly subdued by Naruto's threat, and it was only left to swallow its laughter.

Instead, the Norowareta-jū put up a scowl.

Kimimaro growled menacingly, glaring daggers at the blonde huntsman from a distance.

The creature also bawled his fists, "Ahh, more delusions. I would truly like to see you try."

Naruto shrugged, rocking his body side to side, "Oh yes, I can do this all day, wretch. I'll get that head." Naruto spat with vengeance, "I'll silence you, monster. Just you wait."

All it took was those few words to send the beast charging toward Naruto and back into the fray.

Once more, the two engaged in combat, lunging at one another and dodging their adversary's blows.

The Norowareta-jū, without its weapon, opted to attack Naruto using its arms, pincers, and tail. The creature attempted to strike Naruto's body viciously by punching the air, throwing mighty blows in his direction.

The spiky-haired blonde merely ducked and jolted back to avoid such strikes.

Naruto hacked his sword forward, seeking to land direct attacks on his opponent while trying to ignore the new effects his body was experiencing as a result of the poison coursing through his veins.

Any openings Naruto saw, he took them.

He aimed at the creature's swinging tail, pincers, backside, stomach, chest, and even arms.

Naruto slashed the beast several more times while escaping his opponent's countless strikes and swings.

The beast hissed angrily before leaping forward to strike a powerful punch at the blonde huntsman's chest.

This time, Kimimaro was successful.

The beast's onslaught was so powerful that it knocked the air straight out of Naruto's lungs, causing his body to come to a standstill in its progress forth.

Naruto screamed in anguish, tumbling away on his wobbly legs to clutch his chest.

Yet it was that shaky move of his that cost him dearly. For the first time in the entire battle, Naruto was wide open, and the Norowareta-jū did not waste the opportunity to strike.

With a wicked grin, Kimimaro raced forward with one clawed hand to grab Naruto by the throat, only to drag his body off the floor and slam him into the ground with all of his might.

Naruto wailed in agony as his body was seized by severe pain, making the movement of his muscles and bones—his limbs—extremely arduous.

Naruto's head and backside smacked into the ground so hard that cracks appeared underneath him, his bones fractured, and ultimately he was rendered crippled.

But that is just where the Norowareta-jū wanted him. Weeping, restrained, and cornered.

Creeping forth, the scorpion beast added to Naruto's misery by impaling its lower legs into the now crippled blonde human, holding him immobile and close to the ground.

"Fuck!!" Naruto screamed in agony once more as he felt several of the beast's razor-sharp legs insert themselves into his body, impaling him in the lower stomach and thighs.

Naruto shuddered in anguish against the ground, his sword withdrawn but now lying only inches away from his fallen body.

Naruto's body was riddled with wounds, blood, and penetrations, all of which hampered him severely; he couldn't lie about that. Not to mention the poison that was currently slithering through his body.

All of it was just a pain in the ass, a major discomfort that unquestionably hindered Naruto in the worst way imaginable.

The blonde huntsman moaned in anguish, his head weakly peering up at his opponent hovering over him.

Yet his gaze was met only by the sharp end of a bone arrow directed at him.

The scorpion beast appeared to have drawn back its weapon and was now aiming it right down at him, ready to administer the ultimate blow.

The scorpion beast grinned in glee as he soaked up the pain Naruto was suffering.

Kimimaro chuckled, "Oh, I have enjoyed this fight immensely, worm. But, alas, all good things must come to an end." The scorpion monster brought his arm back, lengthening the string of its bow.

The beast hummed, "It is now time to put that deluded mine of yours to rest, human." The deep voice of the Norowareta-jū hissed.

Naruto breathed shakily, his heart thumping in his chest while he watched the tragic situation unfold in front of him.

In despair, he grabbed bundles of grass near him with his fists, cursing to the heavens above.

This was most definitely not how Naruto had planned for things to go. He definitely did not anticipate his battle's outcome to be this.

He mistakenly believed he had the upper hand, but all he really did was severely underestimate his opponent.

Like a damn fool.

The blonde male blew out a deep breath, closing his eyes, for a moment.

Just for a moment.

Naruto whimpered.

'Hinata-chan, give me strength. Strengthen me, little minx.' At that very time, Naruto made a spiritual cry to Hinata, pleading with her to invigorate, fortify, and thus save him.

He called out to her and lucky for him, Hinata listened.

And in that moment, Naruto felt his prayers answered, and in response, he felt a vitality that was unlike any other flood through his body, causing him to jolt up and finally act; to turn the battle back in his favor.

The Norowareta-jū cackled where it towered over him, pleased that it had triumphed, "Bye-bye, puny human." The beast snorted before releasing the arrow from its bow, hoping to stab Naruto in the head, between the eyes, and finish the battle right then and there.

That, however, did not occur.

Even in close combat, Naruto appeared to deftly escape the arrow that was shot at him by turning his head to the left.

At that same time, it appeared that the speed of the blonde human had surpassed that of the scorpion beast. It genuinely felt like the blonde was no longer human but rather something else entirely.

The beast only had one second to feel shocked before Naruto threw a devastating attack, one that turned the battle back in his favor once again.

Naruto fetched a kunai from the pocket of his uniform at a quick speed, only to toss it up with all of its might at the beast.

"Catch this!" Naruto roared.

He watched closely as the kunai soared at high speeds through the air, only to make a devastating blow, directly into the left eye of the Norowareta-jū.

The beast's enchanting cry only made Naruto crave to hear more.

He threw another kunai, this time taking the beast's right eye.

In excruciating pain, the beast roared, once more filling the entire clearing with its screams.

But Naruto wasn't done.

Now that he had newfound strength, thanks to Hinata, Naruto pulled one hand forward and skillfully grasped his sword, pulling it up from the ground.

With a roar, Naruto launched a vicious swing with his drawn sword, slicing through the legs of the beast that had impaled him and was keeping him immobile.

Naruto's strike was precise, successfully piercing through the plated armor that encased the beast's lower body and severing a few of its legs.

The Norowareta-jū tumbled down to the ground, now with an evident lean.

In a move that worsened its situation, the beast violently tore Naruto's sharp kunais from his eyes.

It screamed and screamed, screaming at the top of its lungs, "My eyes! My damn eyes! What have you done!!"

Naruto merely smirked as he dragged his crippled, wounded body to his feet. He chuckled despite the anguish and discomfort he was feeling, all the while twirling his blade in front of the kneeling beast.

Naruto hummed, "I warned you, beast, that you'll perish here. You will no longer plague these lands and inflict pain on its inhabitants. I hereby announce that your death will be delivered shortly."

Naruto never changed throughout the entire duration of the duel.

The same will and fortitude that powered him at the start of the fight remained, brimming in Naruto's body like an enteral flame.

Every phrase he spoke while standing before the terrible beast was ones he believed with every fiber of his being.

He meant everything he said and fought to make such statements come true.

Right here. Right now.

The sightless beast cried out in agony, screeching to the ground floor.

Holes of sagging skin replaced the beast's once-golden orbs of keenness.

Nothing except green goo oozed out of the creature's lids, falling down its face like tears.

"Oh, I will kill you, human. I will rip your body in half and feast on you for days. I will deliver you a suffering unimaginable-!"

Slice!

Naruto dashed forward to sever the beast's right arm yet again, causing the creature to endure even greater pain, pain it had never experienced before.

The beast cried out in agony before swinging its tail at Naruto.

Even that, however, was cut. Sliced in two.

The Norowareta-jū was no longer a match for the tenacious huntsman, especially now that it bore no eyes.

Because the beast couldn't see, it couldn't utilize its weapon. Its body was severely injured and therefore it was harder for the beast to move, to heal itself.

So what did Naruto do?

He took the opportunity to his advantage.

Naruto rushed around the entire flailing body of the beast repeatedly, slicing his enemy with his sword in quick succession.

Back and forth.

Side to side.

Up and down.

Naruto didn't stop attacking. Not once.

And with every slice he made to his opponent's body, he thought of Hinata.

With every strike he launched, he considered how much anguish the beast was causing his little minx just by breathing and remaining alive.

He reflected on how much misery the creature had caused Hinata by killing and tearing apart her people and, in the end, retaining the curse that had been placed not only on her, but the entire Forest of Linvor.

Naruto also thought of the innocent forest dwellers and how long they had to suffer at the hands of the wretch before him. He mused on how they were forced to face unimaginable fates with no simple way out.

He thought of Hinata and her people with every slice he threw. Every creature of Linvor.

And every strike he launched against the Norowareta-jū was a manifestation of his vow to avenge Hinata and her people.

A vow to keep his word.

A vow to complete his mission.

Only until Naruto had finished releasing his fury and therefore bringing an end to his onslaught did he turn to face his foe; taking into account of the state of it.

The beast was now sitting in its own blood, surrounded by its own limbs and body parts, teetering and tottering like an unsteady spinning top. Only the beast's head, torso, and a few of its legs remained, leading it to droop on the ground floor like melted ice cream.

Pitiful as the creature has always been.

Naruto faced the beast, heaving, sweating, and wounded, yet his chest held high. He held his bloodied sword inches from the beast's head, poised to execute the fatal blow.

A brutal beheading.

But first, the spiky-haired blonde watched as the creature bowed its head in defeat, undoubtedly denying the reality of the situation. The scorpion creature's bloody hair draped over his defeated eyes, concealing the entirety of its expression.

Kimimaro groaned, long and deep, unable to move a single muscle.

"How? How c-c-c-could I b-be bested b-b-by a mere m-mortal? This can't b-be true-"

"Oh, but it is, beast." Naruto tilted his head, his face covered in green blood but his eyes shone through and pierced what remains of the once large and fierce beast where he was positioned amongst the grass.

Naruto pulled his sword high, extending his limbs overhead, "This was bound to happen, beast, for I willed it so." Naruto smirked, "Say goodbye, once and for all, beast, for now, your death will free Hinata-chan from her curse and your abominable hold on this forest." Naruto put up a crooked grin, victory now in reach.

"Say goodbye forevermore, wretch."

It was then, after those words, Naruto delivered the final slice to end the battle and complete his mission. 

He cut the head of Norowareta-jū clean off.

With incredible force and speed, his blade sliced across the beast's neck, slicing through its thick flesh like a giant, ripe watermelon.

One swing was all it took.

The beast's bulgy eyes widened extensively as it realized, at that very instant, that its life was over and Naruto had indeed bested it.

The beast's head rolled off its shoulders and fell miserably to the ground, where its mangled body soon followed with a pitiful thud.

Only then did the creature further contaminate the grass with its verdant blood, which spurted from the beast's body in all directions.

Now, covered in blood and suffering from severe wounds, Naruto took a moment to close his eyes, turn to the heavens, and let out a collective sigh.

He took pleasure in the peace and quiet in his immediate surroundings as he celebrated his accomplishment.

His victory.

Naruto smiled weakly.

It is done.

The Norowareta-jū is finally dead.

Naruto's smile widened but an involuntary groan slipped from his lips, cutting his moment of peace short.

It was only then did the blonde huntsman tumble over, crashing head first against the grass in a wounded heap, where he too, felt the breath of death creeping forth to succumb him.

His body trembled, practically seizuring, against the grass, a physical manifestation of his terminal wounds.

Naruto's body had little to no control over itself now that all of his adrenaline had been drained and dissipated, leaving him in constant anguish.

Yet, he maintained a happy smile during the entire ordeal, paying no attention to his fatal condition or the fact that he was only seconds from passing away, from seeing that bright light of peace; or from seeing his family once again.

No.

His mind was on one person and one person only...

Hinata.

Naruto smiled joyously to himself, weakly bawling up the grass within his fingers.

Little minx, you're free now.

You're finally free.

╰ ─┉─¡! °❈° !¡─┉─ ╯

"Naruto-kun!!"

"Oh no, no, no! Naruto-kun!!"

The aforementioned blonde huntsman let out a low groan into the ground he lay upon, whimpering in a mix of pain and discomfort.

The blonde male's vision was extremely obscured, his mind was foggy, his mouth was unmistakably dry, and his body was consumed by excruciating pain.

"Naruto-kun!!"

Naruto groaned once more to himself, oblivious to what was occurring around him. His eyes were snapped shut, his head buried in the grass beneath him, as he took forth a relatively immobile posture, unable to move a single muscle due to his fatal condition.

His mind was so far from reality at the moment that he began to question himself, his present surroundings, past events, everything.

'What...is that sound?'

In a daze, Naruto questioned his own perception of the muffled sounds that permeated his entire world, unable to fully understand what he was hearing.

'Who's...Naruto-kun?' He also wondered, confused.

There was a voice, like the voice of an angel; a feminine being of serenity and passion that filled his ears ceaselessly.

The newcomer continually screamed out to him with great intensity, which was actually the only element keeping Naruto firmly planted among the living.

The poison that was injected into his body has nearly tainted every area of it, causing his bones to lock, his energy to dissipate, his senses to become incredibly dull, and his cognitive performance to slow down significantly.

Naruto's lower body was discovered to have fatal puncture wounds from battle where his internal organs had been impaled in the process. As a result, his uniform, weapons, and even the grass beneath him were stained heavily with his blood.

To make matters worse, the sharp claws of the Norowareta-jū were still lodged within his lower body, planted deep into Naruto's flesh like knives.

That certainly didn't make his situation any better.

Naruto was on the verge of death, teetering over the edge of the abyss.

Another groan of pain slipped from his lips before he felt something fling itself beside him, intending to gently pull his body from the ground and turn him over on his front side.

The back of his head was carefully placed on a soft surface, and his body was propped up so that it could be examined properly.

Soft hands of fluffiness sprang forth to rapidly administer to his wounded body, pressing and caressing him as gently as possible. The fingertips were soft and warm, like feathers, as they collided with his damaged body, checking for any and all injuries.

But all the while, that same voice from before called out to him.

"Naruto-kun, you're bleeding! You're h-h-hurt. Oh kami, you're badly hurt!"

"I'm s-s-so sorry, Naruto-kun! This is all my fault!"

"Please, wake up, Naruto-kun, please. Open your eyes!"

Through the gaps of his eyelids, Naruto's cerulean eyes peered through, allowing him to direct his hazy vision in the direction of the voice that had been constantly jarring him awake.

For some odd reason, he found himself drawn to such a voice. He felt compelled to listen to it, follow it, and acknowledge it.

He had never in his entire life experienced such consolation, such profound contentment from anything other than the voice that was calling to him right this moment.

A voice such as that alone was like music to his ears, blessing his soul, and even soothing the anguish he currently was suffering.

He also felt a sense of familiarity while hearing such a voice, which made him desire to gather the strength to open his eyes and discover the culprit that was speaking; the culprit that the voice belonged to.

'Why does that voice sound so familiar?' Naruto thought to himself as he fought against his body, desperately trying to force his brain to command his eyes to open.

Slowly but surely, he managed to crack open his eyes wider and wider until he could successfully make out the divine being over him.

Finally, his glossy blue eyes connected with a creature of extraordinary beauty situated just over his slouched body.

Such a being of femininity possessed rosy-red cheeks, mythical ears that sprang out from the sides of her round head, a little button nose, and long, silky hair that fell down and caressed his cheeks.

Naruto stared blankly into teary lavender eyes which spilled its essence all over his body, mostly his cheeks, and forehead.

The soft pitter-patter of liquid that collided with his skin further jolted him awake, ever so slowly restoring his senses and a myriad of memories from his past.

Naruto couldn't help but marvel at the still picture before him, only one word coming to his mind to describe it.

Beautiful.

Naruto stifled a labored breath, his chest heaving, "H-H-Hinata-chan?" Naruto croaked into the quiet air, uttering the name of the mythical creature who possessed the voice he's been hearing.

Hinata, trembling and sobbing, found herself bent on the ground floor, her goat-hooved feet folded beneath her body to serve as a cushion, her bushy tail drooped below to nestle amongst the grass.

Naruto's bulky body lay just along her folded knees where he was cradled by the arms of Hinata.

She hugged her dear huntsman close to her petite body, her being hovering over his splayed frame.

She let out a whimper, "Oh Naruto-kun, I'm h-here. I'm r-right at your side, my dear huntsman." Hinata whispered softly down to the weak male encircled in her furry arms, successfully bringing him solace and contentment by her voice and words.

She watched as his body seemed to relax in her arms, a shaky sigh slipping from his lips, "Oh th-thank you, m-my little minx.." He whispered under his breath, deeply thankful.

Now by Naruto's side, Hinata tried to maintain his head, angled, soundly placed upon her lap so as to keep his body perfectly still.

Carefully, she searched his entire body, top to bottom, with her hands, looking for any and all wounds that currently ail him.

Her lavender gaze swept across the blood-stained region of his chest, which rendered his brown suit noticeably darker. Holes were embedded into his lower body where sharp objects poked out of them.

Hinata whimpered, staring in deep concern at the jagged, knife-like blades buried deep within Naruto's body.

She wanted so badly to take those objects out of his body, but she was simply too afraid. She didn't want to risk hurting Naruto even further.

She didn't want to make him feel any more miserable than he already was.

Yet, based on what she's already witnessed, Naruto's condition was nothing short of catastrophic.

Naruto was severely hurt.

He was nearly ripped apart, bloodied, bruised, scratched, and frayed.

But that wasn't the worst of it.

Hinata noticed the once-covered sleeve of his suit had been torn open along his right arm.

Hinata carefully pulled her paws forth to clutch and open the ripped fabric further along his arm. But she found herself hyperventilating from what she saw underneath.

There, covering his formerly gorgeously tanned skin, was a nasty wound that seemed to be eating away at his flesh, resulting in infection, inflammation, and discoloration—three signs that screamed...

Poison.

Naruto was poisoned, and it was clear that the poison was spreading quickly based on the green substance that physically manifested itself inside of his engorged veins.

The poison was killing him.

Hinata couldn't hold back her sobs.

Hinata pulled one hand forth to cover her mouth, sobbing within her hand, "Naruto-kun, y-y-you've been poisoned. You're bleeding a-a-and-" The startled creature shook her head, tightening her hold over her mouth.

Hinata was beginning to freak out.

"Oh kami! This is bad-!"

"Shh, st-stop your worrying. I'm f-f-fine—better than I've ever been."

Hinata's eyes widened in reaction to Naruto's absurd response, her lavender eyes watching as the male chuckled weakly despite his unfortunate situation.

She couldn't believe her eyes nor her ears.

'How could Naruto find humor in the face of such tragedy? Clearly, this is not a joking matter!' Hinata practically screamed in her head, mouth gaped, and her watery eyes enlarged.

She shook her head yet again, raking her eyes across his entire body once more and now, she picked up the tremor that emitted off of his body, a physical manifestation that the blonde male was in severe pain.

Hinata whimpered louder, "N-No, you're lying, N-Naruto-kun. Th-There's blood all over you a-a-and blood outside of your body means bad news!! Really really bad news!!"

"Shh." Naruto shushed Hinata once more, trying desperately to calm her frenzied state. His hushed murmurs slipped out the cracks of his bruised lips, his eyes darting forth to land on Hinata's paws.

He moved one hand of his forth to clutch her said paw, weakly clutching Hinata's clawed hand. He managed to sully her fluffy fur in the process, doing so with a mixture of his blood and the green muck of the Norowareta-jū.

Gently, he caressed the top of her hand with his thumb, stroking it back and forth to soothe her, "D-Don't look at my wounds, my little minx. Just look me in the eyes." The blonde huntsman whispered under his breath, "Look at me, only me."

With hooded eyes, Naruto cast a fleeting glimpse up at Hinata, only to notice her gorgeous gaze staring back down at him; a gaze of crystallized lavender.

Following Naruto's order, Hinata turned her focus away from his injured body, the blood, and the source of his suffering in order to face him directly.

She stared down into his eyes and she was immediately overcome with much emotion, so much emotion that only led her to pout.

Just simply staring into the glistening blue eyes below her swept her off of her feet, causing her to grow lost in them entirely.

She couldn't take her eyes off of the beautiful cerulean eyes that Naruto possessed.

She began to caress Naruto's left cheek, wiping away the blood that stained it with her free hand.

"Oh, N-Naruto-kun." She whispered softly, frowning.

Naruto smiled, a big smile, "See that wasn't so hard, right?" He murmured before sweeping his gaze over the magnificent specimen hovering over him once more.

In all the days they had been together, he had never before witnessed such an exquisitely detailed picture of Hinata.

Naruto had finally come to recognize and appreciate her beauty then, but now...

'Dear kami.' Naruto thought in astonishment.

The motionless image above him was so gorgeous that it remained within him indefinitely. It made an imprint in his brain, enabling him to relish such an image over and over again during his final moments.

He wasn't sure if it was because his brain was gradually failing and thus, wasn't functioning properly, but he was certain of one thing...

He was fully overcome by Hinata's beauty, by her in general, to the point where he began to doubt reality once more.

The female creature appeared to be an angel to the blonde huntsman, emerging only to comfort and persuade him to leave the land of the living and transcend into the spirit realm.

Naruto was so taken by Hinata's beauty, her beautiful grace, that he couldn't tear his gaze away from her. He desired nothing more than for this moment to last forever.

The spiky-haired blonde sighed contentedly, his hooded blue eyes constantly taking in all of Hinata, every aspect of her that he's fallen in love with.

"Ahh, such a beauty you are. A fool I w-was not t-to see it before.." He complimented his little minx eagerly, unable to restrain himself from doing so.

But his smile faded when he spotted the frown tugging at the lush lips of the female creature above him.

The blonde frowned too.

"Oh, my darling, Wh-Why do you frown? You should be rejoicing. You should f-f-feel happy."

Naruto's nonsensical words jolted Hinata, causing her eyes to widen substantially.

Her lavender eyes blinked rapidly, "Happy? Wh-Why? What could I possibly be happy f-for??"

"I kept my word, little minx." Naruto's smile resurfaced once more, "I've completed my mission."

It was only that response that stopped Hinata dead in her tracks, bringing her words to a complete halt.

Her lavender eyes widened down at Naruto beneath her, from which she cradled him to her body, tightly clutching his hand. She watched at that moment as a triumphant smirk slid across the face of the whiskered male before her.

His voice was so hoarse, barely above a whisper but she heard him.

She heard him as clear as day, as if the blonde huntsman yelled his stammer, rather than whispered it.

More tears streamed down Hinata's cheeks but it was at that moment that she managed to break free from her frenzied state to glance over at the mangled carcass positioned a few paces away from their beings.

Hinata's entire body froze as she faced the wicked beast, which had been ripped into pieces and reduced to nothing more than shreds of flesh; flung to the ground floor to dwell forever.

Hinata noticed that the beast was missing a number of bodily parts, but one, in particular, caught her attention...

The creature's head.

She warily shifted her head to the left, only to find the head of the Norowareta-jū on the ground floor, eyes discarded, hair messy, and mouth agape; a countenance that would remain forever.

Hinata couldn't believe her eyes. She couldn't believe the images that lay before her.

Her brain couldn't register a single thing.

She was so worried about Naruto, so worried about him throughout the entire battle while she stood back and listened, that when she heard his groans of pain and the thud of his fall, she rushed to his rescue without hesitation.

Hinata failed to notice that the barrier that separated her from the Norowareta-jū had been removed upon its death, allowing her to enter its lair and aid Naruto.

The midnight blue-haired satyress hadn't noticed the cursed beast's slaughtered body across the meadow, or even that the darkening heavens above her were clearing to make way for a sky of unblemished blue.

An ocean blue sky.

Hinata didn't notice any of it.

Her mind was entirely focused on Naruto and Naruto alone.

Naruto watched as the lovely creature above him began to cry—happy tears—adding to the torrent of tears that were already dropping like rain on his body.

He, however, accepted it all.

He embraced the scene in front of him in all its entirety, storing every ounce of it in his mind and savoring the moment to the fullest.

Naruto smiled as big as he could muster, grasping Hinata's paw tightly, not wanting to leave her.

Hinata sobbed, shaking her head, "Y-You k-killed the beast, N-Naruto-kun?" A hiccup sprung forth, "Y-You k-killed the Norowareta-jū?"

Naruto nodded weakly, "Yes, I killed the beast. Heh, it's what I pr-promised, wasn't it?"

Hinata's sobs grew louder by his joyous response, his words of confirmation jolting her heart causing it to flutter in her chest. She, too, became overwhelmed, but this time by a rush of happiness. But it only lasted for a moment.

Hinata sniffed, nodding her head frantically, "Yes, oh Naruto-kun, it was. It's exactly what you promised, my dear huntsman." More hiccups sprang forth, "I am so, so proud of you-"

"I couldn't have done it w-w-without you, Hinata-chan."

"Oh kami, that means s-s-so much, b-b-but...."

Tears streamed down Hinata's rosy cheeks, splattering against Naruto's whiskered face once more, the female creature peering down at him from above.

Naruto watched as immense sorrow and despair took over Hinata's face, causing her weeping to turn into sobbing, her lips to form a deep pout, and her face to express an expression that tore Naruto up inside.

Hinata's expression of anguish was one he wished she would never have to display, especially not because of him.

Naruto felt a pain that his body's wounds and even the poison coursing through his veins couldn't match, just by witnessing the intense look of grief on Hinata's precious face.

Hinata shook her head wildly, clutching his hand tighter. She also closed her eyes, her lips spread apart so croaky sobs could escape.

"I-I-I can't bear to celebrate, Naruto-kun. I-I can't bring myself to feel a single ray of happiness while you're in pain, when you're hurt because of me-"

Naruto shook his head weakly, quickly denying her claims, "No, don't you do that. Don't," A groan slipped from his lips, "blame yourself."

Blonde eyebrows furrowed up at the guilty creature above him, "Don't you d-dare take responsibility f-for my ch-choice. I was already a-aware that this was a p-potential for my f-future from the very beginning and even st-still I marched onward." Naruto groaned out again, "I chose this, Hinata-chan. I wanted this."

Hinata shook her head in denial, her long hair swaying along with her abrupt movement, "No, you're mistaken. I'm to blame for all of this. This is something that always happens, Naruto-kun. Anyone who wishes to assist or follow me suffers or, worst, dies-"

"Little minx, l-listen to me; you are not to blame. Those who a-assist you do so of their own v-volition. The people who help you do so out of love, a love you c-cannot possibly fathom, regardless of whether it r-results in death-"

"No, please don't s-say such things. I did not wish for any of this. I do not wish for anyone to die." A sob broke free from Hinata's lips, "I do not wish for you to die."

The weepy satyress sobbed, her shoulders trembling, "I cannot bear losing anyone else-"

"Oh, come now, don't be so e-emotional, love." Even in his crippled state, Naruto couldn't pass up the moment to tease Hinata for her emotional state.

Hinata's lips trembled as she looked down at Naruto, only to see him lift one hand to delicately caress her right cheek.

He smiled up at her, a smile of pure happiness; unadulterated joy.

Hinata was surely taken aback by such a smile. It was a smile that certainly took her breath away, leaving her gasping for air.

Even though wounded and bloodied, Naruto managed to conjure a genuinely, passionate smile, just for her. She was grateful to be showered with such a smile.

Naruto's bloody thumb rushed back and forth across Hinata's cheek, caressing her skin, "Hinata, darling, I have something important that you must know...I-I must tell you quickly, before my t-time runs out." Naruto's hoarse voice moaned, only promoting Hinata's heart to ache.

Hinata sobbed, her head shaking wildly, "No, Naruto-kun, no, pl-pl-please."

"Shh."

Hinata was shushed once more.

In a shaky manner, Hinata began to caress Naruto's hair as a form of comfort, running her fingers back and forth through his spiky blonde strands as she peered down at him, listening and clinging to every word he spoke.

Only then was she given the blessing of another sincere smile from her dear huntsman.

Naruto's eyes gleamed brightly, "Hey, Hinata-chan, do you want to kn-know what I discovered today?"

Hinata pouted, nodding her head frantically, her fluffy ears twitching, "Y-Yes. G-Go on, tell me, Naruto-kun." Hinata's soothing voice pronounced, "I'll listen, and I will listen well."

Hearing such a response brought much comfort to Naruto's world that it warmed his chest, giving him the strength he required to proceed forward.

Naruto hummed softly, "I-It took a while for me to accept it b-but, after everything that's happened, I have no choice now."

"Wh-What?"

"I love you, Hinata-chan." Naruto whispered breathlessly, "I love you, with every fiber of my being."

Hinata swore her heart froze as she gazed into the eyes of the blonde huntsman in front of her, who had just confessed his love to her.

At that time, Naruto made the decision to offer his heart completely to her and welcome her inside to live and establish as home. He was deciding to entirely let down his ice-cold defenses in order to accommodate Hinata within to cherish, hold, and protect.

To love.

Naruto was coming to terms with his emotions, with what his heart had been screaming at him for days. But he was simply too stubborn to admit it. Until now.

He loves Hinata.

But his confession only opened Hinata's eyes to a revelation of her own, one that's come to consume her heart entirely.

She sniffed, giggling softly down at the blonde huntsman in her arms. She moved her fingers from his hair to caress his whiskered cheeks once more, "Oh my dear huntsman, I love you too. I love you so much, I can hardly contain it." Hinata confessed, declaring her love as well.

All the while, Naruto listened to every word Hinata uttered, his gaze fixed on the magnificent creature above him.

His newfound lover, his lifeline, his soulmate.

His eyes welled up with tears as he felt eternally grateful to Hinata for returning his feelings, for accepting him into her heart to remain forever.

His blue eyes twinkled, "Hinata-chan, I-I have absolutely no regrets about a single thing I did today. I promised to lift your curse, and so I did." Naruto mumbled, his heart using his lips as a conduit to communicate with his lover,  "And if I had the chance to d-do it over again, I would. If only it meant that you and your p-people could o-once again live in freedom, I wouldn't change anything at all."

Hinata sobbed, a flood of emotions rushing in to completely engulf her.

She didn't know what to say.

She could only cry.

"Oh N-N-Naruto-kun. Oh kami." More tears fell from her cheeks but such tears were wiped away by Naruto's sullied thumb, smearing her cheek with his blood.

But she didn't mind.

She hiccuped, her body lurching upward sporadically, "I-I am happy to have met you, Naruto-kun. I am overjoyed that you have given me the opportunity to get to know you, to love you, to experience your warmth, and to be blessed by your protection." Hinata sniffed, "I'm pr-proud of the man you've become."

Naruto's lips spread wider and wider till his cheeks ached, his heart fully awake and alive, fluttering like a butterfly's wings as a result of finally declaring his love and Hinata's heartfelt compliments.

He watched a bright smile surfaced on Hinata's face, a look where her eyes momentarily closed and a visage of pure joy was present.

"I'm c-certain that your parents and even your grandfather are proud of you also, my dear huntsman."

Only then did a tear stream down Naruto's whiskered face, smearing everything in its path.

Naruto's lips shook with intense emotion as he peered up at Hinata, relishing in her words, words he's needed to hear for years.

It was Hinata's words that filled the void in his heart, the void that formed when he lost his grandfather to death.

Naruto clutched Hinata's clawed hand, caressing her cheek with the other, "Oh, my little minx, wh-what a way of words. How dare you put mine to shame."

Hinata giggled, ruffling his blonde hair playfully, "Oh your words were just as precious. It's not a competition, my love-"

"It is when you say things like that-erg!" Naruto's words of amusement were cut short when a groan of pain slipped out of his mouth. It was at that moment that the two were brought back to reality.

Hinata's eyes widened down at Naruto, only watching as his tremors worsened, more groans slipping from his mouth.

His hold on her hand tightened, "H-Hinata-chan. Hinata-chan, s-something's happening, I-I-"

It was those words of total confusion from Naruto that brought back the tears, bringing them to rush down Hinata's face.

She shook her head, "Kami, oh my! My tears w-w-won't stop f-falling. I can't help but feel so s-s-sad, N-Naruto-kun."

She shook her head once more, peering down at the blonde male's wounded body yet again. Her eyes connected with all the blood that stained his body.

Kami, there was so much blood.

Hinata felt her heart shatter as her cries grew louder, filling the entire area.

She felt powerless, completely helpless to save the man she loved. She couldn't heal him because she lacked her powers. She couldn't even soothe him in a way that would relieve his agony and restore him to his former self.

She could only hold him and remain by his side till the end. The only thing she could possibly do to help was to speak over Naruto in an effort to divert his attention away from his suffering.

But, in Hinata's eyes, that just wasn't enough.

Hinata sobbed, her heart slowly crumbling away, "Naruto-kun, I-I-I can't heal you. You're in a lot of pain, and I'm un-unable to put you at ease or s-save you-"

"No, my darling. L-Look at me, please." Naruto shook his head wildly, moving his hand forth to cup her chin, pulling it down so her eyes were locked on his own.

He gave Hinata another shake of the head, "Nothing else m-natters right now, Hinata-chan. Just c-concentrate on me and i-i-ignore everything else." Naruto clutched her chin a little tighter, peering at her through clouded vision.

"Can you do that for me?"

Hinata nodded obediently, sulking in Naruto's hold, "Y-Yes. Anything for you."

"Good, now I'd like you to do s-something else for me now. But you must v-vow to do so." Naruto muttered under his breath, "I need to hear you say it."

"I will, Naruto-kun. I will, just t-tell me, please."

Naruto tightened his grip on Hinata's right paw with his left hand, resting her limb on his chest, over his heart, which she could hear beating slower and slower.

Hinata held his palm back just as tightly, her eyes peering deep within his eyes, taking in how his lips moved weakly and his deep voice no longer surfaced.

His blue eyes had become cloudy and indistinct, no longer bright and energetic. His eyes no longer held the same sense of strength and resilience they once displayed.

No.

Yet, Hinata can plainly recognize the residual emotion that was still blazing bright within his eyes as he stared up at her, conveying that specific emotion tenfold.

Love.

Naruto furrowed his brow, "Hinata-chan, I w-want you to promise me that you will be strong, even without me by your side. You must promise me that you w-will lead your people the rest of the way, to p-peace. I urge you to s-seize this newfound opportunity to defeat Danzo and reclaim your home, reclaim Nantgarth."

Naruto shook his head, rocking his thumb along Hinata's chin, "Pr-Promise me that you will be strong and fearless no matter how difficult or fr-frightening things become. Promise me that you will continue to be the light for your people, that you will always p-pave the way."

Naruto's lips trembled, sorrow and desperation apparent in his voice, "Tell me you'll do this for my sake, little minx."

Hinata's lips trembled, trying her best to not burst into tears again, to not fall completely apart.

Instead, Hinata chose to demonstrate to Naruto that she was capable of keeping the promise she had been urged to uphold. She wished to demonstrate her ability to remain strong even in the most heinous circumstances.

As a result, she used all of her strength to nod, taking up Naruto's mantle; his way of life.

She sent a faint smile down at Naruto, bringing one hand forth to clutch his extended hand.

She grasped it tight, bringing it up to her cheek to embrace, caress, and hold.

"Yes, I promise I will be strong and fearless for you, Naruto-kun; and for my people. I will make sure what you have done today will not go in vain." Hinata sniffed, "I promise I will avenge you, my dear huntsman."

"Thank you, my little minx."

That particular response and Hinata's love confession were the last things Naruto needed to hear in order to feel fully contented and relieved of the burden that was weighing heavily on his shoulders.

He must admit that he was beginning to lose the fight against death, a battle even he knew he cannot win.

He knows it was going to be a matter of time before he has to finally do what he's always vowed not to.

Give up.

In agony, Naruto began to cough, spitting up blood in the process. His head bobbed, his torso shook, and his legs rattled against the grass as his body lurched forward upon Hinata's lap.

His grip on Hinata's hand grew increasingly tight, which alarmed Hinata.

Her lavender eyes widened and she dropped his raised hand to instead clutch his shoulder. She gave it a frenzied shake, "Naruto-kun! Oh Naruto-kun, oh kami!! H-Hold on, please!!"

Hinata's screams slowly began to grow more and more distant to him as Naruto's coughs grew worse, as the poison in his veins began to race over every inch of his body and in turn cause his organs to fail, one by one.

Trembling, sputtering, and in agony, Naruto was held tight by Hinata who visibly watched as her lover began to lose the battle to hang on to consciousness.

Naruto groaned in pain, whimpering out, "H-Hinata-chan, i-it hurts! Fuck, it hurts!"

"Oh Naruto-kun! Oh kami! Naruto-kun!" Hinata wailed out in agony, watching as her lover battled with the scorpion poison inside of his system, damaging everything it touched.

In no time, Naruto's eyes began to grow lifeless, and the trembling in his body grew worse and worse, as though he had no control over it.

He appeared to have lost the ability to speak, simply opening and closing his mouth desperately.

He kept his gaze fixated on her, peering up at her through half-lidded orbs. His spiky blonde hair was messy now, covering his forehead and seeping down his nose, to threaten to cover his eyes as well.

The image before Hinata was tearing her heart to pieces.

She couldn't bear it.

But she must.

She must be strong.

Hinata blew out a deep breath and decided in that moment to put her emotions to the side, to speak solely to Naruto to confront him in his last moments.

She put aside her urges to call out to him to stay with her, to not leave her, to fight the poison that crippled him.

She instead shushed his constant groans and desperate utterances, moving her hand back to caress his hair, "It's going to be o-okay, Naruto-kun. I'm going to be okay." She whispered softly, watching as his eyes widened, "You can rest assured that you will always be in my heart. I'll keep you safe with me, where you can live forever."

"H-H-Hi-Hinata.."

It was those words that Naruto needed to hear before he finally was convinced to stop fighting, to stop trying to hold on, and ultimately surrender.

Naruto surrendered to death.

It was only then did his body ultimately shut down, prompting him to come to a permanent standstill within Hinata's arms.

The last and final breath escaped his mouth in a pleasant exhale and thus, rendering him...

Gone.

Dead.

Hinata's spirit finally gave way at that point, and it was only then that the floodgates within her plunged wide open, causing her to burst into tears.

And only then did she allow herself to fall apart.

Her wails rung far and wide, filling up the entire clearing and traveling on for miles. Her cries were so loud that they unintentionally alerted a number of neighboring beings, who hurried to her assistance across great distances within the Linvor forest.

In a sea of limitless blue, the sun emerged from the shadows and beamed its light down on Hinata's body as well as the dead body of her human lover from above.

Naruto lay in her arms as he once did but now his body no longer moved.

No.

He just lay there, unnaturally stiff in between her arms, his eyes hooded but stuck in place, frozen on Hinata.

Hinata was no longer gifted with his deep voice, which no doubt comforted her when he spoke. She no longer was blessed with his warmth, cheeky grin, touch, or even his wisdom and courage.

No.

Now, her lover lay within her arms, cold and bloody, entirely hollow and lacking the fierce soul she fell in love with.

Hinata cried out in despair, racing her fingers across Naruto's bloody cheeks.

She gazed down at him, hoping for him to come back to life, to open his eyes wider and offer her a playful grin.

She was hoping Naruto would confirm to her that this was all a joke and that she hadn't just lost someone else she loved.

But Naruto never woke up.

He never budged.

Such a harrowing display only made Hinata's cries of misery worse, the realization striking her time and time again every moment she glanced down at Naruto's dead body.

She sniffed harshly, gently rocking Naruto's blonde bangs away from his face with her clawed fingers, revealing more of his facial features to her.

Her lavender eyes raced over every inch of his frozen form and she used her paws to further caress his tan skin, to soothe his body for her own sake.

She sniffed once more, "I love you, N-N-Naruto-kun. Forever and always."

And it was only after those words that she pushed her head forward to finally press her lips against Naruto's, blessing him with a goodbye kiss.

Her lips slid gently against his to commence a passionate smooch of love, which only opened Hinata up to an entirely different world.

Immense emotions erupted inside Hinata's body as she kissed Naruto's lips for the first time, showering him with feelings she had never shown anyone else.

Her eyes closed as she enjoyed the moment of Naruto's lips pressed against hers, fresh tears streaming down her face to sully Naruto's tan skin.

Hinata wanted nothing more than to kiss Naruto's precious being, to shower him with all her gratitude, to recompense him in a way that words could not for the courageous deed he had done for her.

She thought her kiss would never be enough to repay everything he'd done.

But she couldn't be more wrong.

At that very moment, she suddenly felt the motionless lips beneath hers begin to move, coming to life, and reacting against her lips as an expression of unbridled joy.

Hinata's eyes shot wide open, only to be met by ocean-blue eyes peering back at her through hooded lids.

Naruto's lips kissed her own with such passion and affection that it was too much for her to endure.

She felt herself changing.

Shifting.

Transforming.

She felt herself blossom into something new entirely.

Such a kiss of mythical intensity was quickly disrupted by an act of profound shock.

A loud plop resonated across the clearing as Hinata drew her lips away from Naruto's lips, thereby ending the kiss.

Her teary lavender eyes grew so wide they began to ache, doing so as if she saw a ghost as she stared intently down at her conscious lover once more.

Naruto returned her gaze with his bright blue eyes, which were no longer dull and lifeless but filled with passionate fervor and adoration.

He looked healthy, happy...

Alive.

Hinata's breathing became five times faster by such a sight, her chest heaving.

'But how? How can this be possible?' Hinata was perplexed, her entire body frozen in the same posture she had been in before.

Her respiration rate increased as she peered down at her conscious lover, with several questions filling her mind, further overwhelming her.

The spectacle in front of her was both mind-blowing and startling. It was all too much for her to comprehend.

She was relieved to see Naruto alive again, but it just didn't make sense to her.

Hinata watched with a gaping mouth as Naruto's tan facial features brightened up in joy, a hum slipping out of the cracks of his lips.

"Oh, Hinata-chan... Thank you. Thank you so much." He breathed softly, conveying his appreciation for an act she was unfamiliar with.

His words of adoration brought out the richness of his voice, which was unaffected by stutters, hoarseness, or diminished volume.

It was now powerful, deep, and strong—exactly the way she had grown to admire. Just like normal.

It took Hinata a moment to speak, her mouth opening and closing several times, "N-Naruto—wh-what?" Her words were cut short when she felt a tingly sensation rush through both of her arms like a shockwave, prompting her to snap her head toward her limbs, directing her attention away from Naruto.

The lavender-eyed creature gasped, her heart hammering in her chest as she felt the same tingly sensation shoot through her entire body at breakneck speed, consuming her entire being.

"Wh-Wh-What's happening? What's happening to me?" Hinata whimpered out in confusion, expressing her concerns in a frenzy, eager for an answer as to why her body felt so strange.

But Naruto knew such answers.

He watched her, now conscious, as Hinata began to shift her body away from him in order to stand.

Blue eyes of joy peered back at the distraught satyress as she began to glow in a piercing ray of light.

The burst of light consumed her hooved feet first, then extended all the way up her body, ending at the very points of her horns; the very top of her head.

Hinata's entire being was engulfed entirely in a searing burst of light similar to the sun above, which was an element not easy for one to gaze upon; therefore prompting the blonde huntsman to squint his sensitive blue orbs.

Surprisingly, however, there was more to the scene than just the magnificence in front of him.

Countless rustles of trees and shrubs began to emanate throughout the entire clearing, causing Naruto to remove his gaze from Hinata and instead pay his surroundings his attention.

His blue eyes instantly widened as he noticed a swarm of beasts and critters surrounding the entire clearing, peering out from the trees to watch their Queen transform and reclaim her true form.

But she wasn't the only one who transformed.

Naruto began to notice that the creatures all around him began to emit the same tremendous glow, one by one, bursting with light.

With excitement, Naruto's body lurched up to a sitting position. His arms seemed to have their own minds and began to draw out the jagged blades that pierced his body, pulling them from his flesh with ease.

Naruto threw the jagged limbs of the Norowareta-jū to the ground one by one, freeing himself from further impairment and agony.

He also began inspecting his body more closely, bringing his fingers out to pry apart the tear along his hunter's sleeve.

He was astounded to discover the wound that had completely vanished and the poison that had formerly encased his veins and enveloped his flesh had vanished without a trace, as if he had never been harmed in the first place.

He examined the rest of his body, only to discover that all of the scratches, puncture wounds, and even the blood that had previously stained his clothing and flesh had vanished.

Naruto's entire body was now pain-free and instead filled with vitality and restoration, completely cleansed.

All wounds that littered his body beforehand were healed, all poison was expelled, and all organs were mended.

Naruto can proudly state that following his near-death experience, he felt ten times better than he had previously, and it was all thanks to...

Hinata.

After fully expecting his body, Naruto pulled his gaze back onto the magnificence that was presented all around him; the pure light that radiated all around now illuminating the formerly gloomy clearing.

Such a sight was so beautiful, Naruto couldn't put the scene before him into words. He didn't know where to begin to convey how magical all of it was or how much it took his breath away.

He's never seen anything like it before.

His entire being felt overwhelmed with excitement, masses, and masses of emotions rushing to consume him, which was far too much for the now-conscious male.

It wasn't long before Naruto's eyes began to well up with happiness.

A single tear slipped down his cheek, "W-Woah." He whispered in awe, unable to utter any other word. He couldn't describe how breathtaking it was to witness all the beings of Linvor transform, to be uplifted from the curse that was afflicting them.

Hinata included.

Naruto angled his head around the entire clearing, taking in all the Linvor creatures that littered every crevice and corner of the place.

But his motions were halted as his ears picked up a voice; the same heavenly voice from before.

"Naruto-kun."

Naruto's body jolted up upon hearing such a soothing voice call out his name from a distance. He found his head whipping forth to follow the voice, to plant his eyes on the culprit that such a voice belonged to.

But as soon as he did, he felt his mind, no, his entire world seemingly explode.

Nothing could possibly prepare him for the beauty he saw in front of him at that very moment.

Nothing at all.

Naruto's eyes grew to the size of flying saucers as he observed the magnificence before him. The light that was emitted previously was now completely gone, only to leave something absolutely stunning to take its place.

Naruto's breath hitched, his body frozen amongst the grass, "O-Oh my k-k-kami."

His blonde head tilted in bewilderment, "Hinata-chan? I-Is that you?"

Hinata, or more specifically Hinata free of her curse, stood just a few steps away from his fallen body.

Naruto stared face to face with a feminine being of grace and elegance, with immaculate skin devoid of imperfections, fur, or deformities.

Hinata's body was exactly what she had described her former self to be, from head to toe.

Composed entirely of flesh and blood.

A being, unlike anything he has ever seen before.

Her hooved feet and bushy limbs were replaced by lovely pale feet and legs that resembled those of a human but rivaled the perfection of an angel.

Her bushy tail that once followed behind her was now long gone, entirely disappearing from her backside.

Her hands and arms were now freed from the fur that once covered them, revealing exquisite, velvety flesh that brimmed with vigor and life; much like porcelain.

Her horns and fluffy ears were gone, leaving her instead with pointy elf ears and a crown strewn with pink roses around her head. Her midnight blue hair was just as long and silky as it was before, but now it displayed a different side of it.

Her hair was no longer carelessly flowing down; instead, it was now arranged in extravagant curls that were wavy, dark, and robust. Her hair was styled in a wavy half-up, half-down hairstyle that was adorned with a crown of flowers.

The brown dress she wore previously was long gone, and a green dress fit for a queen, brimming with splendor and majesty, had taken its place.

Hinata was dressed in an enchanting green garment that cascaded loosely from her figure like water and colored the space around her.

The vivid green of her dress, which was reminiscent of verdant grass, and the huge pink roses, green foliage, and brown branches that covered the long sleeves gave the impression that Hinata's dress had been produced by nature herself.

Hinata's sleeves were so long that the transparent green layer of fabric fell down her entire curvaceous figure from her arms to cover the ground beneath her.

Her shoulders were strewn with pasture fabric, and the bodice of her dress formed a translucent V-neck pattern, with long gold embroidery draped down her frame and embellishing the margins of the first layer of her exquisite apparel.

Below her hips, the top of her dress opened up to reveal a second layer, which appeared to transform from a light green to a forest green as it ventured down her body.

Last but not least, more pink flowers, greenery, and vines could be spotted around the very ends of her garment, appearing to crawl up her dress in a design that showcased the true beauty of nature.

The entity in front of him was one of beauty and love, benevolence, and grace—a being that not even man deserved to behold.

But here she was.

After seven long years...

Hinata, her true self, has finally emerged.

Time appeared to stand still as Naruto faced his one true love, his blue eyes widening more than they'd ever done before. His jaw gaped so low that it threatened to touch the grass floor below him.

His body was splayed across the grass as before, his arms propped up behind him as the only thing holding him up. His head was raised, allowing his attention to be drawn to the beauty in front of him.

Hinata peered back at him with teary orbs, a wide smile of joy and relief present on her glowing face. She sprained her now perfectly manicured hands up to cover her mouth.

A sob broke forth, "Naruto-kun, y-y-you're alive. You're okay!" The beautiful midnight blue-haired nymph exclaimed in relief, displaying her lovely voice once more which functioned like a lullaby to Naruto's ears, further mesmerizing him.

Naruto opened and closed his mouth several times, as failed attempts to speak.

He simply settled on presenting a joyous smile, one full of gratitude, "Yes, milady, I'm alive. I'm a-alive because of you."

Naruto chuckled softly, in relief, "Y-You healed me. You saved me." Naruto voiced with much appreciation before bringing his body forth to bow his head before the magnificent creature that stood a few steps away.

His strapped axes rattled and swayed at his sides due to his abrupt movement, his blonde bangs falling forth to cover his forehead and eyes.

He didn't know why, but now that he was in front of Hinata and all of her majesty, he felt compelled to bow, to show her his respect.

She was a Queen after all.

But Hinata, however, thought differently.

Hinata grimaced slightly as she noticed her lover bowing his head before her.

His body was on all fours, his hands placed against the ground floor on either side of his head, and he pressed his forehead against the ground as an act of allegiance and respect.

It was a stark contrast to how he had previously addressed her, which certainly bothered her.

Hinata shook her head before delicately gripping the sides of her dress and beginning her journey across the clearing to her bowed lover. Her long dress trailed behind her as she took a seamless stride forward across the grass.

Her steps were delicate against the ground floor beneath her, giving the impression that she was floating.

The newly turned creatures of Linvor remained in their original positions throughout the entire clearing, merely watching the entire scene play out.

All eyes were on Hinata as she approached the bowed human, only to bow herself.

Hinata lowered herself to the same level as her lover by lightly bending her knees. She spread out her dress with her fingers so that it could fall over her lifted knees and cover the ground floor around her.

Gently, she leaped her hands forward to cup the sides of Naruto's cheeks, urging him to raise his head to face her.

Now within striking distance, Naruto was given a completely new perspective of Hinata's visual appeal.

Her beauty was so radiating, even more so up close which caused an overwhelming sense of distortion to overwhelm Naruto, driving him to almost faint.

Not only that, but the gorgeous creature smelled of flower aromas, a delicious scent similar to flower nectar that rushed forth to fill his nose, exacerbating his frazzled state.

It was all so much.

His blue eyes widened largely as he peered into the lavender eyes of the beautiful nymph before him who began to gently caress his whiskered cheeks with her thumbs, all the while peering  into his eyes deeply.

Hinata shook her head down at him, causing her midnight blue curls to bounce amongst her backside.

A soft pout also formed across her porcelain face, "Naruto-kun, I do not wish for you to bow in my presence or resort to calling me any formalities. I may have returned to my former self but I am still me. I remain your lover. I am still the one who liberated you from hatred, opened your eyes to the truth, and helped guide you out of the darkness. I am still the one with whom you fell in love with." A bright smile formed on Hinata's pale cheeks, "I am still yours, Naruto-kun, your little minx." Hinata whispered softly against her dear huntsman's lips who gazed up at her warmingly, his ears perked, and thus, listening to every word that escaped her mouth.

Naruto nodded in agreement, leaning his head against Hinata's touch, "Oh, my darling, you're right. But how can I not bow before your majesty, hm? It is truly an honor to kneel before you and witness your true form with my two eyes." Naruto halted his speech to grin, a grin so wide it hurt his cheeks. But that certainly didn't bother Naruto.

His eyes were on Hinata and Hinata alone.

"You, milady, certainly emit the aura of a Queen, a Queen worthy of allegiance and respect from all who lay eyes on her."

Hinata's eyes widened upon Naruto's words, "O-Oh Naruto-kun, y-you really believe s-so?"

Naruto nodded without hesitation, "Of course. Heh, I'm afraid this beautiful form of yours is going to take some time to get used to, my love."

Hinata giggled a giggle of delicacy before her lover as she took in both his husky voice, which was full of astonishment as he lauded her true form, and the way his cheek caressed her flesh, which increased the temperature of it tenfold.

Naruto snickered, "You know what, little minx? I do recall that you were right in regards to another matter as well." Naruto nodded to himself, dragging his eyes up and down Hinata's form, "Heh, oh yes, you were right all along." Naruto stated matter-of-factly, lavishing praise on Hinata once more, but this time about an issue of the past; an issue Hinata was not quite familiar with.

Hinata quirked an eyebrow in response, tilting her head in confusion, which was a sight that was just adorable to the blonde huntsman.

"Wh-What is it, Naruto-kun? I was right... about what?"

Naruto hummed softly before bringing his body up to his knees, extending one knee while he was at it. Now in such a position, the blonde male moved his hand forth to take Hinata's own hand from his cheek and instead place it in his hold.

But as soon as he did, he realized how incredibly soft her skin was. It was almost as if he was rubbing the finest velvet, a fabric fashioned from the clouds of heaven themselves.

Naruto felt a shudder rush through his spine before he pulled Hinata's drawn hand to his lips, to further present his allegiance to her.

He kept his gaze locked on her as he pressed his lips gently against the back of her supple hand.

Hinata sighed softly upon such a display.

Naruto smiled, "You were right. The magical being that you are, Hinata-chan, is unlike anything I have ever seen. You are nothing less than absolute perfection-"

Hinata's pale face burned red, and she instantly whipped her head away, to hide due to Naruto's grand compliments, "O-O-Oh Naruto-kun. St-stop it, you'll make me blush."

"Oh, Hinata-chan, making you blush, heh, seeing your face blaze like a thousand fires have always brought me so much joy. Besides, I want you to know something..." Naruto carefully lowered Hinata's hand, extending his fingers to cup her chin and trace his thumb across her cheek.

He was once again gifted with her soft skin, and as a result of his touch, he found himself falling further in love with her.

Naruto smiled wide, "No matter what form you take, you will always be graced with my love. For as long as there is air in my lungs and my heart beats, I only wish to remain by your side through it all, through whatever comes our way. I wish nothing more than to fight for you, just as I fought and killed the Norowareta-jū here, I wish to take up your cause in all battles from here on out." Naruto voiced wholeheartedly, "Needless to say, I wish to adore you and appreciate all that you are, Hinata-chan."

Throughout his entire grand speech, Naruto didn't know what the hell he was saying. He had no idea that he was capable of evoking such lovely phrases of romance.

He had no idea how liberating it was to lower his guard and simply allow his heart to speak for itself, to freely express his emotions to the one true woman he loves.

It was all so new.

But Naruto was truly looking forward to getting used to it.

The blonde huntsman's smile only widened as he carried on with his love confession, "You have done so much for me that I am at a loss for words to rightfully express my gratitude to you. You have helped me see the world more clearly, you've indeed helped me break free from my hatred, and you've loved, accepted, and trusted me. Y-You saved me-"

"Oh Naruto-kun." Hinata sobbed, tears rushing down her cheeks due to Naruto's confession, her heart fluttering about in her chest. She shook her head, "I truly believe you and I have saved each other, my love."

"Yes, yes we have, my little minx." Only then did the two finally lean in for a kiss, a kiss of true love and adoration.

Once their lips touched, it was as though fireworks erupted inside of them. The two extended their arms to embrace and hold one another, reveling in the other's devotion.

Their bodies gently rose off the ground to take a stand, but their lips remained pressed together all the while.

Naruto groaned in ecstasy, one hand reaching out to cup the back of Hinata's head, burying his fingers inside her midnight blue locks to keep her as close to his body as humanly possible.

His tall form towered over her petite frame as she was held in his strong arms, provided warmth while resting amidst his broad chest, and graced with ecstasy due to the sensation of Naruto's lips pressing deep against her own lips, remediating her very soul.

Hinata felt herself melt within Naruto's hold, within the kiss he showered her.

Naruto was in the same boat, unable to function properly thanks to the intense but novel sensations he felt, all brought on by passion.

Naruto savored Hinata's soft lips, which mashed against his own lips like cushions. He relished the delicious flavor of her saliva, a flavor that he's quite grown quite addicted to and craved more of.

Not only that, but Naruto's actions of exploring the world that lie past the beautiful nymph's lips also seemed to fuel him twice as much.

He even enjoyed her delicate hands running along his chest, her fingertips brushing against his hunter's garb which only sent shivers up and down his spine. 

Hinata's body was pressed firmly against his own within the kiss, held tight within his grasp, as they allowed their emotions to run wild, take control, and thus, physically display how much the two beings have grown to love one another.

Only after the air in their lungs fully dissipated and their lips grew sore did they end their kiss, ending it with another wet plop.

"Oh Hinata-chan..." Naruto whispered against her lips, staring deeply into her teary eyes.

Hinata smiled, a smile of joy up at her lover. She caressed his tone form once more, right where his prior wounds were discovered, on his chest.

"Oh Naruto-kun." She whispered her lover's name dreamingly which sent more shivers down Naruto's spine.

Naruto was about to speak again but he was interrupted by all the creatures in Linvor who suddenly let out cheers of happiness and excitement as a result of their exhibition of their love.

The creatures dashed forward, emerging from their hiding places among the forests, charging into the clearing where their Queen and savior were waiting.

The entire area was filled with boisterous natural vocalizations, roars, and chirps, which surprised both Hinata and Naruto.

Naruto only had a second to look before his body was pushed over by numerous critter animals, ones that jumped on his body in glee.

Naruto yelped in surprise, springing his hands up as he caught sight of the numerous creatures that littered his body.

"Hey! Hey! Watch it!" Naruto exclaimed, clearly overwhelmed as wolves licked his cheeks and jackalopes, frogs, birds, and reptiles pounced all over his body.

His body swayed back and forth amongst the grass as he was overwhelmed by the love and gratitude of the Linvor's creatures who showered him with attention.

At the demonstration of Naruto being welcomed by her people, Hinata couldn't help but giggle.

The Linvor creatures roamed his fallen body, leaped on his chest, licked his cheeks, and even tugged at his blonde spiky hair and ears, all signs of their happiness upon his heroic act of lifting Linvor's curse.

Hinata's kind was proud of Naruto, just as she was of him too.

Hinata smiled down at the scene before bringing her head forth to spare attention to the rest of the Linvor creatures.

All around the once dark and gloomy clearing, her people celebrated in glee, jumping about, flailing their arms, and screaming to the heavens how happy they were to have their Queen back; to be free of their curse.

Her people were formerly monsters, but since the Linvor curse has been lifted, they have all transformed back into their original, beautiful selves.

Hinata's people were no longer forced to live as hideous creatures with twisted looks, enormous proportions, and hatred in their hearts.

No.

The clearing was now populated with a mix of mythological and fantastical beings that symbolizes tranquility and harmony. Such beings were huge masses of light elves, dwarfs, unicorns, mythical dragons, flower fairies, and forest fairies that were the size of humans, pixies, sprites, kitsunes, snawfus, elementals, centaurs, valkyries, mages, wizards and many other mythical creatures.

There were a plethora of differentiating creatures presented around the clearing, all of which displayed their beauty while having fun and for once, being totally carefree.

Hinata viewed the wondrous scene with tears in her lavender eyes, a huge grin on her face, and warmth in her heart.

Such a scene was like a fulfilled dream; a dream come true.

For so long, Hinata has wished for her people to live in peace, to take on their normal appearances, to be free of hostility, and to be joyous once again.

She had always desired for life to return to normal and for her to be free of her curse.

And here, at last, it has come.

All thanks to Naruto, her beloved.

The softness of Hinata's cheeks was marred by several tears that flowed down her face before slipping off her chin, disappearing in the grass below her where colorful flowers grew in its place.

Hinata sniffed back her happy tears, also wiping them away with her palms before moving her gaze back over to Naruto.

Her eyes brightened to see he was still writhing on the ground floor, overwhelmed by the attention the Linvor creatures were steadily giving him.

"Argh! That's enough! I get it, dammit!"

Hinata giggled in amusement, "Alright, alright. I believe that's enough, my precious ones. Let's give my dear Naruto-kun some air." The midnight blue-haired nymph called out before the ecstatic creatures.

And she watched as the creatures instantly stopped their actions and jumped off of Naruto's body, delivering a few chirps and squeaks in relation.

However, the creatures did not go without first being showered with their Queen's love and devotion. Hinata knelt down and rushed her hands over the bodies of every living thing around her, caressing every one of the beings that held her dear in their hearts.

When she was finished tending to her precious ones, she turned her attention to Naruto, pulling him from the ground and onto his feet.

The midnight blue-haired nymph laughed as she noticed the blonde male rubbing saliva off his cheeks and ears with the back of his suit's sleeve.

Hinata hummed, clinging onto Naruto's right arm tightly, "Oh, Naruto-kun, seeing my people shower you with such love and acceptance makes me so happy. For all you have done for them, they truly adore you." Hinata moved one finger forth to poke his cheek, causing the blonde to blush.

He turned to her and groaned, a deadpanned groan, shrugging his shoulders, "Tch, that was your people showing their love? Licking me to death?" Naruto scoffed playfully, "Heh, I'm afraid I've failed to receive the message."

Hinata giggled, pushing her body forth to nudge Naruto's bulky body.

Naruto's frame swayed a bit causing him to chuckle in amusement.

"Oh be nice, my love."

"Fine, fine. I'll try to be nicer, Hinata-chan."

Hinata hummed softly but she was surprised once she felt Naruto pull one hand forth to clutch hers, drawing her in closer to his warm body.

Naruto took a glance at the happy creatures dancing around the clearing, laughing, smiling, and just having a good time amongst one another.

Such a sight easily placed a smile on Naruto's face. It made him extremely happy to see his courageous deeds pay off and provide peace and harmony among the innocent.

Even if such innocents are creatures.

Hinata has opened his eyes, helping him appreciate all living things. Humans and creatures.

Naruto's smile widened even more before he peered down at Hinata, once more taking in her grand beauty.

He smiled brightly, "Now, you know what you must do, Hinata-chan..." Naruto breathed out softly down at his lover, peering deep into her eyes, the same as she did his.

He bent his head down to give her pointy ear a soft kiss, "You must go, my love. Your people need you." He whispered, directly within her ear which was a sound that consumed her entire world completely, given her keen sense of hearing.

Tears of joy began to form within Hinata's eyes yet again but she took the time to depart from Naruto to do just that...

Go to her people.

But she didn't depart without giving Naruto another kiss, this time on his whiskered cheek.

"Thank you, Naruto-kun. Thank you for everything." She whispered joyfully before she finally ventured away from his side to make her way to her people who gathered around her in glee.

Her people danced, cheered, and presented their joy and happiness all around her and Hinata relished in it all.

Hinata, now in her true form, summoned her magic, utilizing her fanciful talents to spruce up the area further in order to make it even more festive for her people.

With a casual wave of her hands and a few chants, she released a puff of golden magic from her palms that truly rivaled the appearance of pixie dust.

The lovely nymph expertly swirled her power around within the air, causing everyone to stop, gawk, and observe as the remarkable creature exhibited her gifts.

Hinata sprained her hands forward, in an effort to erase all traces of the Norowareta-jū with one simple flick of her limbs. Her power blasted forth from her fingertips, traveling across the clearing and settling over the mangled body of the slayed beast, where the corpse quickly vanished.

Hinata's power resurfaced once more, taking away all of the blood and bones that had been splattered across the area, erasing the cursed beast's skull cave, the dark magically illuminated lanterns, and the eerie entrance of the clearing.

Hinata removed all depravity from the clearing and reclaim control over all aspects of it, allowing all forms of life to freely roam the area.

Once the entire region was filled with nothing but positive energy and illumination, Hinata thrust her hands forward and launched more of her enchanted magic into the sky far above her head.

Everyone watched as Hinata materialized a massive wave of flower petals in every color of the rainbow to blanket the clearing and her people who relished in her enchantment.

Flower petals fell from the sky and sprinkled the heads of Naruto and Hinata, the Linvor creatures, the bushy trees, and the green grass, presenting a magnificent spectacle for all to marvel at.

Even Naruto stared in awe above, his vision cultivated by numerous petals of color. Once more, he found himself in a state of pure astonishment, now that he has finally witnessed Hinata's use of her magic; the use of her power.

And Naruto found it to be a grand sight.

He whistled in glee, "Wow." He muttered under his breath.

Hinata, on the other hand, cheered in glee, springing her hands about amongst the falling flower petals, "My fellow comrades, rejoice! For today, our prayers have finally been answered. My prophesied vision has come to pass in the form of a brave man, a fearless human who gave his very all to defeat the Norowareta-jū all in the name of fighting for justice and defending the defenseless." 

Hinata enthusiastically awarded Naruto, offering him a special endorsement for the important role he plays in the emancipation of her people.

Hinata's smile steadily grew and grew, "Walking alongside Naruto-kun, getting to know him, and going on this incredible adventure with him has given me new perspectives of the world. I am now stronger, wiser, and braver than I have ever been, thanks to him." Hinata announced wholeheartedly, pressing her hands upon her chest, just over her strong beating heart.

"Naruto-kun, my dearest huntsman, has given me hope that, despite the challenges we all face, we must persevere, and fight for what we believe in, no matter how stacked the odds seem to be. He showed me that we can accomplish anything with the inner strength we have within us." Hinata voiced out proudly, "We are resilient. We are brave. We are worthy, so we must lift our heads high and demonstrate this to the rest of the world."

Hinata thrust one fist overhead, her eyes staring back into the numerous eyes that peered back at her intently, "We must fight. We must do so for all those who laid down their lives for our cause! We must forward till the bitter end!"  Hinata yelled loudly, pouring her heart into her words and thereby bringing her people and Naruto even closer together.

"In addition to being our salvation, Naruto Uzumaki is also a blessing—a true blessing—for which we are eternally grateful." Hinata proudly presented her lover with the raise of her hand, turning her gaze towards the blonde male behind her.

Naruto cooed in appreciation, before giving Hinata a chivalrous bow, trying his best to hide the blush on his cheeks, "Oh, such beautiful words, my Queen; you certainly know how to bring one to tears." Naruto pulled his body back up to a stand, "It's an honor to have played a significant role in you and your people's liberation, Hinata-chan. I'm happy that I made the right choice to stand by your side and assist you in breaking free from the chains that formerly shackled you and your people." Naruto smiled big and wide.

"Now, you're free. You're all free."

Once more, cheers from the Linvor creatures filled the area, but this time they were in support of Naruto, yelling his name and welcoming him into their hearts.

"Naruto Uzumaki, our hero!!!

"Naruto! Naruto! Naruto!"

"Our prayers have been answered!"

"What a brave human! What a miracle!

"What a major turn of events!"

Hinata returned her lover's joyful smile before placing a palm over her lips, only to blow Naruto a kiss, yet another sweet gesture she couldn't resist giving her lover.

Naruto returned the gesture with a seductive wink.

Hinata blushed but turned towards her people to resume her speech, "Yes, as my human lover has proudly stated, we are finally free from our curse, free to live, free to be happy." Hinata declared loudly amongst her people, a jolly grin stretching across her face.

More cheers were heard.

"But..." Hinata trailed off, her voice echoing across the clearing and now letting off a solemn tone, "there is still another battle out there on the horizon. We may rejoice today but peace is not yet granted to us, not until we have rightfully reclaimed our home, Nantgarth." Hinata roared, "We must take this second chance and fight, fight for our land, fight for our freedom!"

Such words of might and resolve rang throughout the entire clearing, instilling courage in all the creatures surrounding her and thus, preparing their hearts and minds for the impending battle. 

Hinata was determined for what is to come.

Even though her and Linvor's curse was uplifted, peace was yet not guaranteed for her and her people.

There were still those that stand in the way.

The Nantgarthians.

Lady Chiyo.

Lord Danzo.

Hinata blew out a deep breath, steadying her breathing. She turned her head to peer at all the creatures around her who gave her looks of determination, looks of allegiance.

Such looks solidified the Linvor creature's yearning to follow Hinata and follow her always.

Even Naruto kept his gaze on her, listening to every word she spoke and giving her props for her newfound determination.

Like a proud father, Naruto was immensely proud of Hinata's transformation.

'Hinata-chan's come so far.' Naruto thought in happiness, unable to erase the wide grin on his whiskered face.

Hinata has truly undergone a significant transformation, not just physically but emotionally and psychologically.

She has transformed from a timid, frightful creature to a strong leader, willing to lead her people to battle in the name of justice.

Such a sight brought tears to Naruto's eyes.

Hinata struggled with her tears as well, now that she was surrounded by all of her people, the ones that love and adore her for all she is.

She could feel in her very spirit how much love was being expressed by every living thing in the clearing around her.

She held back a sob, cupping her hands close to her chest, "I am truly happy to be back as my true form again, back as the Queen you all have always known me to be." Hinata glanced around the area, her lavender eyes twinkling, "I am truly happy to share this moment with you all, to be surrounded by the ones I love dearly. My heart is so happy." Hinata announced, causing some creatures to coo and aww in admiration.

Hinata giggled as a response, "I love each and every one of you and just know from here on out, we all stick together, always!"

It was those words that wrapped up Hinata's speech, successfully implementing the needed strength in the souls of her people.

"We love you, milady!"

"We will fight by your side, to the very end!"

"Let's take back our home!

"Let us take back Nantgarth!"

Hinata smiled large and bright, her elf ears twitching as she took in the many voices that flooded all around her, shouting out their agreement to her heartwarming speech.

She took in her people's reaction to her speech in glee before turning her body around, only to connect eyes with proud ocean-blue eyes.

Naruto gave her a look of pride, a smile so big stretched across his face. He nodded in astonishment, rocking one fist in the air, "Atta girl. What an excellent speech, my love. I knew you had it in you." Naruto gave her yet another nod, his blonde locks rushing forth to cover his eyes momentarily.

"Such a glorious queen you are."

Hinata sobbed upon such compliments from her valiant lover, numerous flowers from her magic constantly dropping forth to cover her head, burying themselves within her dark blue locks.

"Oh, thank you so much, Naruto-kun!"

Without hesitation, she rushed toward Naruto who opened his arms wide for her, accepting her into a cozy embrace.

Happily, she plunged into his warmth and sighed happily to feel his arms encircle her entire body, keeping her safe and protected amongst him.

Naruto hummed, moving his lips down to kiss the top of Hinata's head, "You are right. We will all fight for you, Hinata-chan, without hesitation. We will help you take down Lady Chiyo and Danzo, once and for all." Naruto gave her head another kiss, "You're no longer alone in this, my love."

Hinata beamed up in joy, "And neither are you, my dear huntsman." Hinata whispered back against her lover's body, encircling her arms around his neck.

Naruto's lips trembled in immense relief upon Hinata's words and he clutched her slender body tighter, gripping his only loved one close.

"Oh, Hinata-chan, that means so much to me. Thank you.."

Hinata couldn't help the tears that rushed down her face as she listened to the words of her lover and the cheers of her people all around her.

She felt so happy she couldn't express it in words.

She felt so safe in Naruto's arms, safe by his side.

Naruto's words and the cheers from her people once more erased the worry and doubt that was stored inside of her and filled her spirit with strength and tenacity.

Just by hearing her loved ones' words, she felt as if she could do anything, anything at all.

Even defeat the tyrant that has taken over, and thus, corrupted her precious home.

For once, Hinata felt strong enough to conquer her battles and do what she must to ensure peace for her precious people, to ensure that the happiness and merriment they feel now reign on forever.

Hinata smiled big and wide before turning her head up to face Naruto again.

Tears of joy rushed down her face as she peered into the eyes of the human that she loved with every fiber of her being.

She tightened her arms around his neck, pressing her body into his own, "Oh Naruto-kun, I love you. I love you so much."

"Mmm, and I love you, Hinata-chan."

Only then, did the two commence another kiss of love, pressing their lips gently against one another.

Naruto marveled within the kiss, all the while holding his lover in his strong arms, where she will remain, safe and sound by his side.

No longer was she doomed to the danger of this world but now protected by her dear huntsman.

Now, Naruto and Hinata, human and creature showered the other one their love, doing so as they were surrounded by the merriment of the Linvor creatures who danced around in joy, celebrating in delight upon the day their curse lifted.

But lifting the curse of Linvor was only the first step to peace.

The second step to peace was near and demanded all the strength of Linvor's creatures, Naruto and Hinata too, to accomplish.

Taking down Danzo is next.

But now, the Linvor creatures only relished in victory, filling up the entire forest with happiness.

And Naruto and Hinata settled in one another's embrace and in one another's heart's where the two will remain....

Forevermore.

◤──•~❉᯽❉~•──◥

The End.

A.N.

Well, well, well, for those who made it this far, omg, I cherish you immensely. I worked so, so hard on this story and I am so proud of the result.

For starters, I want to present you all the dress that Hinata wore once she transformed to her true form. It's soo pretty. Take a look!

Gorgeous, right?!? 😆❤️

Truly, I never thought I would write a story like this, a true fairytale story with a mix of angst, tragedy, dark themes, an enemies-to-lovers trope, and of course, fluff. Just a mix of emotions! Happy and sad!

I had soo much fun writing this!! Like I had a lot of fun! You can definitely tell by how long the story is as a result. I just kept writing and writing. So sorry if it took you a while to read. I couldn't help myself.

As you have read, and probably predict, I have come to the decision to actually make this long Oneshot into a full fledge story. I love this plot so much and I have done so much thinking and researching for it that I decided to extend it and go the whole way; to make a full-fledged fanfiction story.

I hope you all like that idea.

I hope you all enjoyed this story!

There are more stories to come! I still have a few more prompts to write and those have plots I also enjoy as well. I really hope you enjoy them too!

Once again, don't forget to comment and vote!!

And farewell!!

-Powerful_Niya