Two years had passed since the end of the Fourth Great Ninja War.
In the depth of autumn outside the Hidden Leaf Village, a freezing cold full moon overlooked a deep forest. Many oddly-shaped rocks stuck out above the trees, towering towards the sky. Accompanied by two subordinates, Hyuuga Hiashi was waiting for a certain man.
A low, heavy, moan-like voice came echoing from an uncertain direction.
“This is fate. It is the fate with which the Hyuuga clan has been charged.”
The shadow of a person appeared at the top of a rock.
It was a handsome young man. His mouth smiled, but his eyes were closed.
The two subordinates took out their kunai and prepared themselves.
“Hyuuga Hiashi, let’s hear your answer tonight. The answer that will decide the future of your clan…”
“The Hyuuga clan’s answer is this!”
Hiashi leapt up, and extended the palm of his hand in midair as he approached the man. However, the man didn’t move.
The distance shortened. He entered range.
The instant that Hiashi was convinced he could defeat him, the man’s body disappeared and turned into countless balls of light that scattered in all directions.
“!”
As Hiashi landed and looked around dumbfounded, ten or so shinobi appeared around him out of the ground. They were an eerie group wrapped in bandages that completely covered their faces. The strange shinobi jumped high into the air, then swooped down and attacked Hiashi. The two subordinates covered Hiashi, standing in the way.
“Hiashi-sama, quickly!”
“Yes, I’m counting on you!”
Hiashi jumped and withdrew from that spot. Bandaged shinobi chased closely after Hiashi, leaving several to deal with the subordinates. They clung to Hiashi’s arms and legs, swarming around him to the point that his form could hardly be seen.
“Hakkeshou kaiten!”
Hiashi created a tornado with his jutsu and sent his enemies flying with a single blow. When he lifted his face, a tall, single enemy shinobi was holding out both hands to create a giant, glowing bubble as he glared at Hiashi. Intense bloodlust!
“Ack-!”
The thrown bubble sphere exploded. Hiashi narrowly avoided a direct hit to a vital spot, but took a heavy wound to the shoulder. He was losing chakra rapidly. Even so, he fled from certain death. The enemy shinobi repeatedly launch attacks with the bubble spheres.
Hiashi saw the entrance to a cave and took refuge.
However, the bubble spheres chased him inside. Several shots exploded.
The ceiling collapsed and rocks fell from above Hiashi.
Rumble-rumble-rumble-crash!
A massive number of rocks covered the crouching Hiashi’s body.
********
Invited by Umino Iruka, Naruto was visiting the academy.
For one day, it was decided that he would instruct the children as a special lecturer.
“Sorry to have you come here when you’re busy with missions.”
“Sensei, don’t worry about it –ttebayo!”
“Your lesson is really popular with the kids… oh? Have you gotten taller?”
In the past, Naruto had to look up to Iruka, but now he had surpassed him in height.
Feeling both happy and embarrassed, Naruto gave a strained smile and scratched his head.
“Alright, your basics are important for both ninjutsu and taijutsu.”
Teaching kids was fun. He had assembled only the boys in the schoolyard, and was instructing them in taijutsu.
“I’ll show you an example, so watch real closely –ttebayo!”
“Yes!”
Naruto had grown up splendidly, but it wasn’t as if he had a special skill for teaching things to people. If he was going to be able to convey something to the kids, he figured it would be not with words, but with the fists he had trained through actual fighting, and the jutsu he had refined in life and death situations. This was only a performance.
First, the basics of the basics, from the correct fist thrust—
“Urya!”
His fists sliced through the air. In the same way, he jabbed to the right, then delivered a finishing thrust with his left palm.
“Hiya!”
These fists, jabs, palms—they had taken down many rivals.
Meters away, the children held their breath as they were being shown the “real thing.” They were in a state of having their hearts strongly struck as they were each trying to begin walking down their own path of rigidness. However—
“Naruto-senpaaaaai!”
“Kyaaa, Naru-samaaaa!”
“…………”
Instantly, Naruto felt dizzy. He had assumed a taijutsu pose with complete seriousness, but the high-pitched voices had killed the mood.
Girls had lined up by the window of the third floor of the school building, and were cheering for the famous Naruto.
Since becoming famous in the ninja war and having been called “the hero of the village,” there had gotten to be a lot of instances of girls calling out to Naruto. It wasn’t that Naruto himself wished for this, but he even had fans who chased him, and sometimes several of them would even wait for him in front of his house.
Ino, Shikamaru, and others laughed about how Naruto had become popular, but Naruto didn’t understand why they kept coming and was completely bewildered.
The shopping district was overflowing with shoppers.
Next month, the “Rinne Festival” would be grandiosely held in the Hidden Leaf Village. Originally, it had been a solemn festival for offering prayers to the souls of the deceased, but in recent times, that meaning had faded. It had turned into an “anticipated event” where close friends would hold gatherings and exchange presents.
Among the crowd of people in the shopping district was Hinata. She came out of a store with a slight blush on her cheeks, and a happy expression. Against her chest, she held a paper bag with red yarn sticking out of it as she made her way through the crowd.
Ino, Shikamaru, and Chouji were visiting Kurenai’s house. They had brought birthday presents for Mirai, the child that their deceased teacher Sarutobi Asuma had left behind.
“I’m sorry, thank you.”
“She’s already two… it went by fast.”
With her complete “motherly face,” Kurenai smiled at Shikamaru’s words. Nobody would have thought that this gentle mother was a fierce jounin. Kurenai was deeply grateful that even now, Asuma’s students showed concern for her and her daughter like this.
“Mirai looks like Asuma-sensei.”
As Chouji murmured while looking at a decorative photo of Asuma, Kurenai hugged her young daughter and nuzzled her affectionately.
******
In the evening, Naruto was eating ramen at Ichiraku.
He was sitting in a line of seats at the counter with academy kids slurping hot ramen.
“Today is my treat. Eat as much as you want!”
The children called out to him as “Naruto-sensei” while they wiped their sweat.
“You’re a special lecturer, huh… yahoo, you’ve gotten pretty important,” teased Kiba, who coincidentally happened to be present.
Accompanied by his enormous ninken Akamaru, Inuzuka Kiba was eating at a table outside. His teammate Aburame Shino was with him.
“Naruto likes ramen… he’s always at Ichiraku.”
“Ah, ramen is great! It’s ok even for three meals a day –ttebayo!”
Naruto laughed as he responded to Shino’s dull words.
“I thought you might be here!” a familiar voice called. Naruto peered outside the shop to find Konohamaru standing there.
“Naruto-nii-chan, there’s something important I need to talk to you about.”
Sarutobi Konohamaru was the grandson of the third hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen. Naruto was grateful to Hiruzen, who had supported the fox child from the shadows. Konohamaru was also Naruto’s adorable junior, who adored him like an older brother.
Konohamaru told Naruto that there was something he wanted to give him. Naruto headed towards the Sarutobi residence at Konohamaru’s invitation.
An old shed stood in a corner of the huge plot of land that was the Sarutobi residence. They opened the heavy door and stepped into the darkness. The smell of rancid mold stung their noses.
“Hang on a sec… I’m going to light the lamp now.”
After the sound of a match being struck, the flame of a candle was lit. Konohamaru pulled out a wooden box from a corner of the shed and placed it in front of Naruto.
“It’s something Grandpa Hiruzen left behind… It showed up while I was cleaning the shed.”
Konohamaru opened the lid of the box, and inside were books, letters, and other personal items packed in tightly.
“Well, most of it’s junk, but… there’s one thing in here that will be special to you.”
“Something special to me?”
“Look at this.”
Konohamaru held out a paper bag.
********
Hinata secluded herself in her room, knitting a red scarf. Stitch by stitch, she advanced in her work, putting her whole heart into it. When she grew tired, she gazed at an old, tattered, children’s scarf. It was the same scarf that Naruto had worn around his neck on the day they had first met. Ever since that day, she had admired Naruto. As she grew up, those feelings became stronger.
—What might Naruto-kun be doing right now?
When she fell into danger on her missions, when she doubted her nindou, she would always think of Naruto. When she did so, she felt as if Naruto was encouraging her. Naruto had always been the one who showed her which way she ought to go. She wanted to somehow convey her growing affection and her feelings of gratitude.
She looked at the calendar and saw that there was one month until the Rinne Festival. Hinata resumed her work.
*****
Several days later, Naruto was walking through the shopping district in the afternoon, accompanied by Konohamaru. He was carrying two extravagantly wrapped presents in his hands. His fangirls had given them to him—one in front of the bath house, and one on an uphill road in a residential area.
The Rinne Festival’s not even here yet! If they start now and keep giving them at this pace… What’ll happen?
In contrast to Naruto’s disturbance, Konohamaru was in a good mood due to his respected big brother figure’s popularity.
“Just as I would expect for you, Naruto-nii-chan.”
How can you say that so calmly dattebayo?!
The moment that Naruto breathed a sigh, he again found himself surrounded by the sound of female voices.
“Naruto-kun! Have a happy Rinne Festival!”
Several girls held out presents with flashy wrapping while all screaming “Naruto-kun!” or “Naru-sama!”
“Oh, the Rinne Festival… Th-thanks…”
Naruto felt completely puzzled as he accepted a massive number of presents.
After Naruto and the others had left, Sakura walked from an alleyway with shopping bags in her hands. At the same time, the doorbell of a craft store rang, and Hinata came out holding a bag of red yarn. The yarn she had purchased a few days ago had run out, and she had come back to buy more.
“Ah, Hinata!”
“Sakura-chan!”
The two girls met in the middle of the shopping district.
“Red yarn… are you knitting something? That’s unusual!”
“……..I’m knitting a scarf.”
“Hmmmm….”
A shopping district banner with “Rinne Festival” written in large characters entered Sakura’s line of vision.
Instantly, Sakura completed the math in her head:
Hinata + Rinne Festival + hand-knit scarf = a present for Naruto!
The shy Hinata was finally going to make her move on Naruto.
“Go for it!”
“Eh?”
“You’re going to give it to him as a present, right?”
“…………”
Without answering, Hinata turned red all the way up to her ears, and looked downward. Sakura liked Hinata’s diligence and sincerity. She didn’t want to see Hinata cry. Sakura supported her friend’s romance.
Naruto returned home carrying tons of presents. Without eventurning on the lights, he tossed the presents onto the bed and flopped downnext to them.
“Sigh… I’m beat –ttebayo.”
He gazed aimlessly through the dimness at the mountain of presents. They weren’t just on the bed. As he looked around, there wasn’t even a place in the small room to set foot around the mass of presents.
Suddenly, Naruto’s nose began to stir.
“A-a-achoo!”
He looked out the window to see that a light snow had begun to flutter about.
“S-snow… that’s why it’s getting cold.”
Naruto turned on his bedside lamp, and took a scarf out of a drawer. It was a carefully knit scarf with a subdued border pattern.
Naruto pressed the scarf to his face, checking the feel of the wool, and wrapped it around his neck.
“…Ah, it’s warm,” he happily murmured as he smiled.
*******
Snow continued falling at the Hyuuga residence as well. Snow covered the entire surface outside, piling up on the tree and lanterns in the garden.
The snow had stopped in early evening, the clouds had cleared, and a crescent moon was floating in the night sky. Next to a foggy window in a room warmed by a heater, Hinata continued to knit a scarf.
“It’s done!”
Hinata held the long scarf that she had completed over her head, and was greatly please. Having put all of her feelings into relentlessly knitting, the scarf had ended up becoming quite long.
“Maybe it’s a little too long…”
No, this is the result of knitting with all my heart! I’m sure my feelings will reach Naruto-kun…!
Hinata changed her clothes and left the room.
I wonder if I’ll really get through to him… it’s late today… tomorrow would be better… no, I’ll give it to him tonight… tomorrow’s better… no, tonight… tomorrow’s better…
“Going to go confess already?”
As she was going back and forth down the corridor, a voice called to her from the garden.
“Hanabi… how long have you been there…?”
“How long have you been there, Onee-chan?”
“…If you’re there, at least come greet me.”
In an awkward manner, Hinata turned her eyes to Hanabi.
“The appearance of a girl worrying about love is amusing.”
“Don’t say things too mature for children.”
“I’m not a child. Even the insight of my byakugan is no match for adults.”
Hanabi ran over to Hinata, confidently throwing out her chest.
“Anyway, look! Isn’t it cute?”
Hanabi was staring at her older sister and skillfully twirling a kunai. From the kunai, there hung a small, pink shinobi doll. She had put a cute strap on a kunai, which was a weapon. In the past, Hanabi had been an ultra-serious girl who boasted “my hobby is training” as her nindou. However, since the death of her cousin Neji, who had been esteemed in the previous war, something inside of her had changed. The former Hanabi never would have thought of hanging a doll on a kunai. To Hinata, having her younger sister behave with the innocence of a young girl was surely welcome, but a pink doll was overdoing it a bit. To start with, it would be hard to use.
“Turning ninja tools into toys again… You’ll be scolded when Father returns.”
“Speaking of Father, he hasn’t contacted us, has he?” Hanabi muttered.
There were times when their father, Hiashi, would be absent on missions for long periods, but even in those cases, there was some form of communication. The mission might have needed to be kept classified this time.
Just then, Hinata’s stomach growled.
“…….Ah”
“Did you spend all your time knitting and not eat dinner? You’ll get laughed at if your stomach growls when you confess.”
“I’m not going to confess!”
Aside from whether or not Hinata was going to confess, Hanabi had hit the nail on the head. During her last stride over the past few days, Hinata hadn’t put anything in her stomach aside from some dried candies.
“Sheesh, you’ve got some nerve! ….I’m going out for a bit.”
“To confess?”
“I’m not!”
To avoid her embarrassment, she left the house half-running.
******
“You say the moon is falling?” the Raikage barked, sitting at a huge round table in a conference room.
The leaders of the shinobi villages of the five countries were gathered in one building as the Gokage council in an emergency meeting called by the Hokage, Hatake Kakashi. Aside from Kakashi and the Raikage, surrounding the table were Iwagakure’s Tsuchikage, known as the old raccoon dog; the lone woman, Kirigakure’s Mizukage; and Sunagakure’s Kazekage, the young leader Gaara—all of them capable shinobi.
“From the results of our measurements, it’s evident that the moon is drawing closer to Earth,” Kakashi calmly answered.
Kakashi had brought with him an astronomer from Konoha. She wore the trademark apron and glasses of a girl scientist.
“Even without measuring, you can tell by looking… I’ve never seen the moon so big,” the Tsuchikage, who was a small old man, sneered at Kakashi and the astronomer.
“What about all of the recent meteorites?” Gaara asked.
Prompted by Kakashi, the astronomer began to explain.
“When two celestial bodies gradually move closer, the gravity from the two of them begins to affect each other.”
“I’m not so great with the scientific talk…” The Mizukage looked away as she stated her confusion.
As per the astronomer’s prediction, as the moon approached Earth, it would become distorted and torn apart due to Earth’s gravity, and gradually crumble from the surface. As the broken fragments drew closer to Earth, they would encircle it like the rings of Saturn, and many of the fragments from this ring would be drawn in and fall to Earth—the astronomer explained that this was the origin of the increase in meteorites.
“Then, what will eventually happen?” Gaara stared at the astronomer, rushing her to the conclusion.
“If this continues, the moon will completely break apart… the ruins will rain down from above. In this case, the end of humanity… no, practically no living thing on Earth will probably be able to survive.”
“So, what do we do? What’s the counter plan?” The Tsuchikage pointed a finger at Kakashi, questioning him.
“We will destroy the falling moon fragments before they arrive.”
“That’s too much of a makeshift solution! Obviously, we should stop the moon from approaching!” The irritated Raikage yelled.
“I want to ask one thing… is this a natural phenomenon? Or a man-made attack?” The Mizukage asked the question that was on the minds of everyone present. Their gazes all fell on Kakashi.
Kakashi had thought that both were possibilities, but he didn’t actually know at all.
“That’s rather questionable…” Kakashi confused everyone in his usual manner.
Around the same time, Naruto and others were eating ramen at Ichiraku.
There were five people, Ino, Sakura, Naruto, Chouji, and Shikamaru. Lined up at the counter, they were slurping delicious ramen.
Outside was a snowy landscape, but thick steam shrouded the inside of the warm shop. The five of them were sweating as they filled their stomachs with ramen that was almost hot enough to burn their tongues.
“Oh, right… I don’t want to ruin it.”
Naruto took the bordered scarf from his neck, folded it carefully, and put it under the counter. The scarf was unfamiliar to Sakura. The scarf that Hinata was knitting was red, and it didn’t look like something bought from a store. It was hand-knit.
Sakura became curious and asked Naruto about it.
“Hey, Naruto… about that scarf…”
As Sakura pointed to the scarf under the counter and began her question, Ino raised her voice.
“Oh, Hinata! If you haven’t had dinner yet, want to eat with us?”
Hinata appeared in front of Ichiraku, warmly clothed and holding a gift bag.
Naruto also noticed Hinata and greeted her.
“Today is my treat.”
Hinata noticed that Naruto was there and became hesitant.
“B… but…”
Sakura stood from her seat to let Hinata sit next to Naruto.
“No need to hold back. Look, you can sit here.”
“O… okay…”
Just as the hesitating Hinata sat down next to Naruto, two of Naruto’s fangirls entered the shop.
“Naruto-senpai! Did you like the presents from before?”
“…Thanks. Oh, right, you guys eat something you like. It’s my thanks for the presents. Oh, you too, Hinata!”
“Thanks for the meeeeal! Senpai, let’s eat here togeeether!”
The two fangirls dragged Naruto away, clinging to his chest.
Watching them, Hinata quietly stood from her seat.
“I’m sorry. I’m actually already full…”
With an apologetic expression, she started to leave holding the gift bag.
Sakura furrowed her brow as she spoke to Naruto.
“Walk her home?”
“Walk her home…? Hinata…? Why?”
“Eh… because, for a girl that age to be alone on the streets at night…”
“Huh? Hinata’s strong! Anyone in the village trying to bother her would be…”
Hinata left the shop to run away.
“You idiot!”
Sakura glared at Naruto and ran out of the shop, chasing after Hinata.
“What happened just now? What was that? Did I do something?” Naruto began to ask his friends—but Ino let forth an exasperated sigh, and Chouji and Shikamaru just silently continued eating their ramen without any concern.
Sakura and Hinata were walking down a snowy road overlookedby a gigantic crescent moon.
“That guy really is dense.”
“…….”
Hinata was staring at her feet, walking silently.
“…You were going to give him the scarf, right?”
Hinata weakly nodded.
“You’ll be alright, Hinata. Have confidence!”
“Thanks…”
Only the sound of the two girls’ footsteps on the snowy road could be heard.
“…But, why are you supporting me so much?”
“Th-that’s…”
In a completely unrequited love, she had pined for only one man since she was young—when she watched Hinata going through the same thing, she just couldn’t leave her alone.
“Hahaha… well, let’s do our best together!”
Dodging the question, she cheerfully patted Hinata’s shoulder.
“Ah, thanks…”
Regardless of whether or not she understood, Hinata bowed to Sakura and left slightly running.
Before she knew it, the day had completely turned to night. Holding the present close to her chest, Hinata trudged down the snowy road. She realized she was standing in front of the gate of her own home.
You’ll be alright, Hinata. Have confidence!
She remembered Sakura’s words.
Tonight after all… I made that decision on my own, so I’ll give Naruto-kun the scarf tonight!
Becoming fully determined, Hinata turned back onto the road from which she had just come.
From above, three large shadows came flying. They were strange birds far larger than humans. With the wings and beaks of eagles, and thick legs and claws like those of lions, they were “eagle beasts.”
Several shinobi dived from the backs of the eagle beasts that were gliding through the night sky. They landed soundlessly in the garden of the Hyuuga residence. They were creepy shinobi whose limbs and faces were covered with bandages.
Without hesitating, they invaded the inside of the building, and silently ran up the stairs. The bandaged shinobi opened the sliding screens in succession, proceeding further and further inside. When the final screen opened, there stood Hanabi, ready with her kunai. From the bottom of the kunai, there hung a strap with a doll.
“Who are you!?”
The next moment, Hanabi let out a small scream and lost consciousness, then fell over into the arms of the enemy.
*******
Sai was drawing ink paintings. He was sometimes slandered, being called “former anbu” and “the guy with no heart,” but in actuality, he was fine and elegant. Tonight, with his artistic inclination being moved by the snowy landscape and crescent moon, he was sitting in a bamboo thicket, working with a paintbrush. Trying to capture the rough form of the scenery, he squinted and gazed at the crescent moon beyond the bamboo thicket.
“The moon is considerably big…”
A strange spectacle flew into his field of vision. The gang of shinobi riding on the eagle beasts were flying at low altitude above the snow. Their faces were covered in bandages, and one of them carried one young girl on his shoulder. The girl appeared to be limp and unconscious.
“I just cannot ignore this… Ninpou, choujuu giga!”
He drew a bird on his scroll, which materialized, jumped from the scroll, and began to flap its wings. Riding on the ink painting bird, Sai chased after the eagle beasts and soared into the night sky.
When they noticed this, the bandaged shinobi turned the heads of their eagle beasts, and took refuge in the big trees of the forest. They flew at high speed through the dim forest. Sai chased the eagle beasts while avoiding the approaching trees and bushes to his left and right.
The bandaged shinobi turned towards Sai and threw glowing bubble spheres at him. The bubble spheres exploded when they hit, smashing the large trees. Sai continued his pursuit while avoiding the bubble spheres and collapsed trees. He accelerated and shortened the distance between him and the enemies. He was in range to confirm the face of the girl who was being carried.
“…Hanabi-chan of the Hyuuga?”
Just then, a bubble sphere exploded within range, and destroyed the wing of the ink painting bird. Its speed fell.
“One more time… Ninpou, choujuu giga!”
In the time it took for him to draw a new ink painting bird and try to switch over to it, the enemy’s bubble sphere approached before his eyes.
“Oh no!”
Trying to avoid the bubble spheres, the two birds each were thrown against the trees. Having fallen onto the snow, Sai was unable to move for a while, then finally turned face up, and looked up at the sky.
An overly large crescent moon floated in the sky. Expressionless, Sai breathed a deep sigh.
*******
“Naruto-kun! Until now, I’ve only been watching from behind you. But from now on, I want to always be by your side, so I put my whole heart into knitting this… please accept my feelings!”
Hinata bowed her head an held out the wrapped present. There wasn’t a single sound in the snow-covered residential area.
“Fuuu…”
Hinata let out a big sigh. Alone in front of Naruto’s house, Hinata was repeatedly practicing giving Naruto the present. It seemed that Naruto had not yet returned, as his room was dark.
As she inhaled to practice one more time, someone became present behind her.
“Hm? Hinata?”
He-he’s back… What should I do? What should I do?
Both of her knees began to tremble. But here, she had no choice but to muster her courage.
“Um…”
Hinata turned to Naruto. Before her eyes there was: a bordered scarf already wrapped around his neck.
Ah!
Hinata had chosen red wool to look good with Naruto’s blonde hair, but this scarf with gray and white lines looked much more refined.
“What is it, Hinata?”
“Th-that’s a nice scarf, isn’t it?”
“You think so? It was knit just for me… it’s warm.”
Naruto smiled happily. And then—
Gyurururururu.
Hinata’s stomach growled. Yet she didn’t feel hungry at all… Surely somewhere mean-spirited gods were mocking her. To have already been outdone by someone regarding the scarf, and then to have the sound of her stomach be heard, it was completely pitiable.
“You must be hungry. If cup ramen is ok, I have some in my room…”
“Goodnight.”
Hinata interrupted Naruto’s words as she bowed and walked off.
“Is there something you need to do? Hey, Hinata! Hinata –ttebayo!”
“……”
Hinata continued walking without looking back. She was so miserable that she was brought to tears.
.
Hinata was alone at the park, swaying on a swing. As she gazed at the red scarf on her lap, she recalled what had taken place not long ago.
It was knit just for me… it’s warm.
Naruto spoke happily as he touched the scarf wrapped around his neck.
I wonder who gave him that scarf…
Naruto had a lot of fans. He would probably receive a huge number of presents. Surely there had to have been several scarves and gloves among them. The scarf that Naruto was wearing must have been one of those presents.
“Good for you, Naruto-kun…”
She tried to think positively, but for some reason, tears fell onto the scarf on her lap.
“Why are you crying? Your scarf will be ruined.”
Startled by a sudden voice, Hinata turned her head to see a young man standing there. He had soft-looking white hair, and was dressed in white robes.
He was quite handsome, but for some reason, both eyes were closed.
“You… don’t need it anymore? In that case, I’ll take it.”
Hinata involuntarily gripped the scarf.
“…Who are you?”
“I am Toneri… I’ve come for you.”
Although his eyes were closed, Toneri spoke as if he could see Hinata.
“……”
Hinata didn’t want to deal with this, but as she stood up and tried to leave, her shoulder was grabbed from behind, and her breathing stopped involuntarily. When Hinata turned her head, there stood a big, creepy man who was over two meters tall. He wore a long cloak, and the lower half of his face was concealed with bandages.
“!”
Hinata was surrounded by the two men. Toneri took a step towards Hinata.
******
Naruto was looking for Hinata. Hinata had seemed somehow odd tonight.
Sakura had gotten unusually agitated about Hinata at Ichiraku, and when Hinata had come to visit Naruto’s house, she had also seemed strange.
In front of the park, Naruto thought he heard a girl scream and stopped walking.
When he looked, a tall man was restraining a struggling Hinata. A young man held out a bubble-like sphere and made it strongly radiate, then Hinata’s movement stopped and she hung her head.
“Bastard, what are you doing to Hinata!?”
The shouting Naruto went to interfere.
Naruto first leapt at the young man who had used the bubble sphere, but his form abruptly disappeared. Having suddenly lost sight of his target, Naruto took several steps too many due to the excess energy. He kept his footing and promptly looked back. The tall man leapt high into the air holding Hinata under one arm.
Wh-what is that guy?
Several enemy shinobi appeared from between the playground equipment and trees, and attacked Naruto. He flipped away a kunai from the right with his hand, and in the same way, back-handed an enemy in the nose. They also had their faces wrapped in bandages. He avoided a kick from the left, then spun behind him to deliver an elbow thrust to the back of the head. They were many in number, but they weren’t the type of guys whose taijutsu ability should be feared.
However, Naruto couldn’t chase after Hinata and the tall man like this. He formed a hand seal.
“Tajuu Kage Bunshin!”
He left the small fry enemies to his clones, and chasing after the tall man, he jumped.
Naruto jumped from roof to roof. With a roundhouse kick, he knocked down still more enemy shinobi who chased close behind him. When he looked up, ten or so enemy shinobi were suspended in the sky.
How long will they keep on?
The enemy shinobi all dove at once, attacking him.
“Rasen Shuriken!”
Four sharp blades that extended from the rasengan began to rotate at high speed. Naruto jumped as if to attack, and threw it at the enemies.
Zubababababababa!
Drawing an arc, the rasen shuriken flew, and in succession, cut the enemies in half.
He then chased behind the tall man, higher and higher along the rooftops.
When he landed on a large, steeply slanted roof, he lost his balance for a moment for lack of a foothold. This was the water tower, the height of which could only be compared to one or two other buildings in the Hidden Leaf Village.
There was now only a small gap between Naruto and the man.
When he sensed killing intent and looked back, from the top of a roof, the tall man holding Hinata under one arm created a glowing bubble sphere and took aim at Naruto.
“Damn it!”
He reflexively twisted his body. The bubble sphere exploded near Naruto’s feet. He was blown away and fell from the roof. A shuriken he threw while falling cut off one of the tall man’s legs. In the instant that the tall man flinched, he dropped Hinata.
Unconscious, Hinata rolled down the slope of the large roof. Falling from this height, the unconscious Hinata wouldn’t survive.
Fortunately, the end of the scarf in Hinata’s hands extended and caught on the steel frame. The scarf stretched out.
“Hinataaaa!”
At Naruto’s scream, Hinata finally woke up and narrowly gripped the edge of the scarf in her hands.
The scarf held Hinata’s weight. It tore almost completely through.
“Hinata, don’t let go!”
Naruto ran down the slope of the roof, moving at high speed. Trying to hinder Naruto, the tall man repeatedly fired bubble spheres.
In succession, they made impact on Naruto’s surroundings and exploded. He couldn’t move forward.
“Uryaaaa! Rasengan!”
While slipping past the bubble spheres, Naruto closed in on the tall man, and drove the rasengan into him.
The tall man scattered into tiny pieces. Now for Hinata. He had to save Hinata!
The scarf that was supporting Hinata was at its limit.
Her hands slipping, she let go of the scarf. The narrow edge hanging from the roof gave out.
“Hinataaaaaa!”
Naruto ran down the roof. The roof tiles rang clamorously. He dove from the edge, and rescued Hinata just before she could crash from above ground.
The scarf that Hinata had knit had torn through and become battered.
“Your scarf was ruined…”
“Yeah…”
Hinata made a painful-looking expression.
In a moment, Toneri’s form emerged in front of them. Yet again, his eyes were closed.
“The final day is approaching… Before then…”
“You!”
Naruto tried to strike him, but Toneri disappeared.
Toneri’s form again floated in the sky above them. He was like a hologram.
“Hinata… I will surely come for you.”
Toneri left these words and disappeared.
Just then, a strong light shone on Naruto’s and Hinata’s faces.
“What is that?”
Accompanied by an intense shockwave, a burning, deep red meteorite crossed straight through the night sky. The two looked up dumbfounded as the sound of an explosion echoed in the distance. A rising pillar of fire once again brightly lit up their faces.
The next morning, on the outskirts of Konoha, a giant crater had opened up in the middle of a field.
Rock Lee and Tenten, who had come to investigate, were peering into the crater.
“Mmm, the destructive power of a meteorite… Do not take it lightly!”
“It makes me shudder to think of what would have happened if this had fallen into the center of the village.”
“When that time comes, we shall risk our lives to protect the village and everyone in it!”
The hot-blooded Lee tightly clenched his fist.
-
“Your mission is to rescue the kidnapped Hyuuga Hanabi. You will be a four man cell with Shikamaru as commander… Also, Hinata will join you, as per her wish.” Kakashi commanded Naruto and the others in their group of five, who stood before the desk in the Hokage’s office. Izumo, Kotetsu, and the astronomer stood in waiting behind Kakashi.
Normally, this would probably never happen…
Feeling uncomfortable with the member selection, Shikamaru mentally expressed his discomfort. He got stuck with nuisance missions like this every time.
He could understand why Sai, who had experience with enemy hostilities, was chosen.
It was possible that Hanabi was injured, so Sakura, who could use medical ninjutsu, couldn’t be left out.
The problem was Naruto and Hinata.
On a mission where it was required to be composed—or even callous depending on the situation, why bring along Hinata, who was a relative of the victim?
Moreover, the village was currently in a state of crisis with the moon approaching and the meteorites falling. Naruto, who was the hero of the previous war and possessed the greatest amount of chakra, ought to stay in the village.
Kakashi-san, what are you thinking?
Shikamaru shifted his eyes to see that Kakashi was also watching him.
“Shikamaru, hold out your hand.”
When he held out his hand as he was told, the astronomer formed a seal.
Before long, a small, thin disc with characters etched into it appeared on Shikamaru’s palm.
“This is a top secret clock that only the five Kage possess.”
Kakashi showed them his palm also, indicating that he had the same thing.
“What time is this?”
Naruto peered at Shikamaru’s palm.
“The time limit before Earth’s destruction,” Kakashi coolly declared.
The limit to how long Earth could endure the approach of the moon—it was a watch to indicate the time until then.
“I don’t get it…” Shikamaru opened his mouth for the first time while staring at the clock in his palm.
“We probably don’t need this kind of thing to save Hanabi.”
“The one who is moving the moon might be Toneri, who kidnapped Hanabi.”
“Is there some basis for this?” Sai asked.
“….My gut. Your main mission is to rescue Hanabi. However, depending on how it unfolds, you may end up carrying out two missions at the same time.”
“Two missions?”
Sakura gazed at Kakashi with unease.
“If the opportunity arises while rescuing Hanabi… What I mean is ‘if you can save the world, save it.’”
“The world… that quite a grand ‘opportunity’ isn’t it?” Sai expressionlessly retorted.
“Two, or even three, I’ll take care of it –ttebayo!”
Naruto cheerfully struck his chest.
I see… Just what I would expect from the Rokudaime.
Shikamaru’s doubt towards Kakashi had cleared.
Even though he had said “my gut,” Kakashi had to have been holding some more concrete evidence. Kakashi was convinced that Hanabi’s kidnapping and the approach of the moon were somehow connected. It was because of this that he had dared to add Naruto, the strongest, as a team member.
Hinata had been an actual target of the enemy’s kidnapping. By having her as a team member, the enemy might reveal its movement and come into contact with them.
Basically… she’s a lure…
Kakashi’s cool-headed judgement as Hokage sent chills down Shikamaru’s spine.
*****
In each village of each country, air defense preparations were being carefully made in order to destroy meteorites and minimize damage. However, both offense and defense were practically made up of “human activity.” More than any state-of-the-art air defense equipment, the “unity of comrades” was what was needed. The leaders of each village faced the air defense teams they had lined up and appealed to them, encouraging them to fight hard.
In Kumogakure, the Raikage, who was accompanied by Killer Bee, bellowed out.
“Listen up people, very soon a multitude of meteorites will come pouring down to Earth!”
In Iwagakure, the Tsuchikage called attention to the members of the air defense team, who were kneading chakra in a cross-legged meditative stance.
“Destroy them without leaving even a single pebble!”
In a downpour of rain, the Mizukage of Kirigakure warned everyone to be ready.
“Polish your rusted kunai!”
In Sunagakure, accompanied by Temari and Kankurou, the normally quiet Gaara gave a fervent speech.
“If the giant meteorites come falling down, Earth will have no tomorrow… Those who wish for a tomorrow, fight today!”
Kakashi gathered those selected for the mission in a wide space looking up at the Hokage monument. Among those lined up in front of him, the forms of Yamato, Kiba, Chouji, Lee, and Tenten could be seen.
“This fight is a fight to protect the world, our country, our families and comrades… and the future!”
“Yeeeaaahhh!”
The team members raised their spirits, showing their will to fight alongside the Hokage.
*****
Far overhead in outer space, a gigantic mass of rock began to fall towards the ground.
Two years had passed since the end of the Fourth Great Ninja War.
In the depth of autumn outside the Hidden Leaf Village, a freezing cold full moon overlooked a deep forest. Many oddly-shaped rocks stuck out above the trees, towering towards the sky. Accompanied by two subordinates, Hyuuga Hiashi was waiting for a certain man.
A low, heavy, moan-like voice came echoing from an uncertain direction.
“This is fate. It is the fate with which the Hyuuga clan has been charged.”
The shadow of a person appeared at the top of a rock.
It was a handsome young man. His mouth smiled, but his eyes were closed.
The two subordinates took out their kunai and prepared themselves.
“Hyuuga Hiashi, let’s hear your answer tonight. The answer that will decide the future of your clan…”
“The Hyuuga clan’s answer is this!”
Hiashi leapt up, and extended the palm of his hand in midair as he approached the man. However, the man didn’t move.
The distance shortened. He entered range.
The instant that Hiashi was convinced he could defeat him, the man’s body disappeared and turned into countless balls of light that scattered in all directions.
“!”
As Hiashi landed and looked around dumbfounded, ten or so shinobi appeared around him out of the ground. They were an eerie group wrapped in bandages that completely covered their faces. The strange shinobi jumped high into the air, then swooped down and attacked Hiashi. The two subordinates covered Hiashi, standing in the way.
“Hiashi-sama, quickly!”
“Yes, I’m counting on you!”
Hiashi jumped and withdrew from that spot. Bandaged shinobi chased closely after Hiashi, leaving several to deal with the subordinates. They clung to Hiashi’s arms and legs, swarming around him to the point that his form could hardly be seen.
“Hakkeshou kaiten!”
Hiashi created a tornado with his jutsu and sent his enemies flying with a single blow. When he lifted his face, a tall, single enemy shinobi was holding out both hands to create a giant, glowing bubble as he glared at Hiashi. Intense bloodlust!
“Ack-!”
The thrown bubble sphere exploded. Hiashi narrowly avoided a direct hit to a vital spot, but took a heavy wound to the shoulder. He was losing chakra rapidly. Even so, he fled from certain death. The enemy shinobi repeatedly launch attacks with the bubble spheres.
Hiashi saw the entrance to a cave and took refuge.
However, the bubble spheres chased him inside. Several shots exploded.
The ceiling collapsed and rocks fell from above Hiashi.
Rumble-rumble-rumble-crash!
A massive number of rocks covered the crouching Hiashi’s body.
********
Invited by Umino Iruka, Naruto was visiting the academy.
For one day, it was decided that he would instruct the children as a special lecturer.
“Sorry to have you come here when you’re busy with missions.”
“Sensei, don’t worry about it –ttebayo!”
“Your lesson is really popular with the kids… oh? Have you gotten taller?”
In the past, Naruto had to look up to Iruka, but now he had surpassed him in height.
Feeling both happy and embarrassed, Naruto gave a strained smile and scratched his head.
“Alright, your basics are important for both ninjutsu and taijutsu.”
Teaching kids was fun. He had assembled only the boys in the schoolyard, and was instructing them in taijutsu.
“I’ll show you an example, so watch real closely –ttebayo!”
“Yes!”
Naruto had grown up splendidly, but it wasn’t as if he had a special skill for teaching things to people. If he was going to be able to convey something to the kids, he figured it would be not with words, but with the fists he had trained through actual fighting, and the jutsu he had refined in life and death situations. This was only a performance.
First, the basics of the basics, from the correct fist thrust—
“Urya!”
His fists sliced through the air. In the same way, he jabbed to the right, then delivered a finishing thrust with his left palm.
“Hiya!”
These fists, jabs, palms—they had taken down many rivals.
Meters away, the children held their breath as they were being shown the “real thing.” They were in a state of having their hearts strongly struck as they were each trying to begin walking down their own path of rigidness. However—
“Naruto-senpaaaaai!”
“Kyaaa, Naru-samaaaa!”
“…………”
Instantly, Naruto felt dizzy. He had assumed a taijutsu pose with complete seriousness, but the high-pitched voices had killed the mood.
Girls had lined up by the window of the third floor of the school building, and were cheering for the famous Naruto.
Since becoming famous in the ninja war and having been called “the hero of the village,” there had gotten to be a lot of instances of girls calling out to Naruto. It wasn’t that Naruto himself wished for this, but he even had fans who chased him, and sometimes several of them would even wait for him in front of his house.
Ino, Shikamaru, and others laughed about how Naruto had become popular, but Naruto didn’t understand why they kept coming and was completely bewildered.
The shopping district was overflowing with shoppers.
Next month, the “Rinne Festival” would be grandiosely held in the Hidden Leaf Village. Originally, it had been a solemn festival for offering prayers to the souls of the deceased, but in recent times, that meaning had faded. It had turned into an “anticipated event” where close friends would hold gatherings and exchange presents.
Among the crowd of people in the shopping district was Hinata. She came out of a store with a slight blush on her cheeks, and a happy expression. Against her chest, she held a paper bag with red yarn sticking out of it as she made her way through the crowd.
Ino, Shikamaru, and Chouji were visiting Kurenai’s house. They had brought birthday presents for Mirai, the child that their deceased teacher Sarutobi Asuma had left behind.
“I’m sorry, thank you.”
“She’s already two… it went by fast.”
With her complete “motherly face,” Kurenai smiled at Shikamaru’s words. Nobody would have thought that this gentle mother was a fierce jounin. Kurenai was deeply grateful that even now, Asuma’s students showed concern for her and her daughter like this.
“Mirai looks like Asuma-sensei.”
As Chouji murmured while looking at a decorative photo of Asuma, Kurenai hugged her young daughter and nuzzled her affectionately.
******
In the evening, Naruto was eating ramen at Ichiraku.
He was sitting in a line of seats at the counter with academy kids slurping hot ramen.
“Today is my treat. Eat as much as you want!”
The children called out to him as “Naruto-sensei” while they wiped their sweat.
“You’re a special lecturer, huh… yahoo, you’ve gotten pretty important,” teased Kiba, who coincidentally happened to be present.
Accompanied by his enormous ninken Akamaru, Inuzuka Kiba was eating at a table outside. His teammate Aburame Shino was with him.
“Naruto likes ramen… he’s always at Ichiraku.”
“Ah, ramen is great! It’s ok even for three meals a day –ttebayo!”
Naruto laughed as he responded to Shino’s dull words.
“I thought you might be here!” a familiar voice called. Naruto peered outside the shop to find Konohamaru standing there.
“Naruto-nii-chan, there’s something important I need to talk to you about.”
Sarutobi Konohamaru was the grandson of the third hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen. Naruto was grateful to Hiruzen, who had supported the fox child from the shadows. Konohamaru was also Naruto’s adorable junior, who adored him like an older brother.
Konohamaru told Naruto that there was something he wanted to give him. Naruto headed towards the Sarutobi residence at Konohamaru’s invitation.
An old shed stood in a corner of the huge plot of land that was the Sarutobi residence. They opened the heavy door and stepped into the darkness. The smell of rancid mold stung their noses.
“Hang on a sec… I’m going to light the lamp now.”
After the sound of a match being struck, the flame of a candle was lit. Konohamaru pulled out a wooden box from a corner of the shed and placed it in front of Naruto.
“It’s something Grandpa Hiruzen left behind… It showed up while I was cleaning the shed.”
Konohamaru opened the lid of the box, and inside were books, letters, and other personal items packed in tightly.
“Well, most of it’s junk, but… there’s one thing in here that will be special to you.”
“Something special to me?”
“Look at this.”
Konohamaru held out a paper bag.
********
Hinata secluded herself in her room, knitting a red scarf. Stitch by stitch, she advanced in her work, putting her whole heart into it. When she grew tired, she gazed at an old, tattered, children’s scarf. It was the same scarf that Naruto had worn around his neck on the day they had first met. Ever since that day, she had admired Naruto. As she grew up, those feelings became stronger.
—What might Naruto-kun be doing right now?
When she fell into danger on her missions, when she doubted her nindou, she would always think of Naruto. When she did so, she felt as if Naruto was encouraging her. Naruto had always been the one who showed her which way she ought to go. She wanted to somehow convey her growing affection and her feelings of gratitude.
She looked at the calendar and saw that there was one month until the Rinne Festival. Hinata resumed her work.
*****
Several days later, Naruto was walking through the shopping district in the afternoon, accompanied by Konohamaru. He was carrying two extravagantly wrapped presents in his hands. His fangirls had given them to him—one in front of the bath house, and one on an uphill road in a residential area.
The Rinne Festival’s not even here yet! If they start now and keep giving them at this pace… What’ll happen?
In contrast to Naruto’s disturbance, Konohamaru was in a good mood due to his respected big brother figure’s popularity.
“Just as I would expect for you, Naruto-nii-chan.”
How can you say that so calmly dattebayo?!
The moment that Naruto breathed a sigh, he again found himself surrounded by the sound of female voices.
“Naruto-kun! Have a happy Rinne Festival!”
Several girls held out presents with flashy wrapping while all screaming “Naruto-kun!” or “Naru-sama!”
“Oh, the Rinne Festival… Th-thanks…”
Naruto felt completely puzzled as he accepted a massive number of presents.
After Naruto and the others had left, Sakura walked from an alleyway with shopping bags in her hands. At the same time, the doorbell of a craft store rang, and Hinata came out holding a bag of red yarn. The yarn she had purchased a few days ago had run out, and she had come back to buy more.
“Ah, Hinata!”
“Sakura-chan!”
The two girls met in the middle of the shopping district.
“Red yarn… are you knitting something? That’s unusual!”
“……..I’m knitting a scarf.”
“Hmmmm….”
A shopping district banner with “Rinne Festival” written in large characters entered Sakura’s line of vision.
Instantly, Sakura completed the math in her head:
Hinata + Rinne Festival + hand-knit scarf = a present for Naruto!
The shy Hinata was finally going to make her move on Naruto.
“Go for it!”
“Eh?”
“You’re going to give it to him as a present, right?”
“…………”
Without answering, Hinata turned red all the way up to her ears, and looked downward. Sakura liked Hinata’s diligence and sincerity. She didn’t want to see Hinata cry. Sakura supported her friend’s romance.
Naruto returned home carrying tons of presents. Without eventurning on the lights, he tossed the presents onto the bed and flopped downnext to them.
“Sigh… I’m beat –ttebayo.”
He gazed aimlessly through the dimness at the mountain of presents. They weren’t just on the bed. As he looked around, there wasn’t even a place in the small room to set foot around the mass of presents.
Suddenly, Naruto’s nose began to stir.
“A-a-achoo!”
He looked out the window to see that a light snow had begun to flutter about.
“S-snow… that’s why it’s getting cold.”
Naruto turned on his bedside lamp, and took a scarf out of a drawer. It was a carefully knit scarf with a subdued border pattern.
Naruto pressed the scarf to his face, checking the feel of the wool, and wrapped it around his neck.
“…Ah, it’s warm,” he happily murmured as he smiled.
*******
Snow continued falling at the Hyuuga residence as well. Snow covered the entire surface outside, piling up on the tree and lanterns in the garden.
The snow had stopped in early evening, the clouds had cleared, and a crescent moon was floating in the night sky. Next to a foggy window in a room warmed by a heater, Hinata continued to knit a scarf.
“It’s done!”
Hinata held the long scarf that she had completed over her head, and was greatly please. Having put all of her feelings into relentlessly knitting, the scarf had ended up becoming quite long.
“Maybe it’s a little too long…”
No, this is the result of knitting with all my heart! I’m sure my feelings will reach Naruto-kun…!
Hinata changed her clothes and left the room.
I wonder if I’ll really get through to him… it’s late today… tomorrow would be better… no, I’ll give it to him tonight… tomorrow’s better… no, tonight… tomorrow’s better…
“Going to go confess already?”
As she was going back and forth down the corridor, a voice called to her from the garden.
“Hanabi… how long have you been there…?”
“How long have you been there, Onee-chan?”
“…If you’re there, at least come greet me.”
In an awkward manner, Hinata turned her eyes to Hanabi.
“The appearance of a girl worrying about love is amusing.”
“Don’t say things too mature for children.”
“I’m not a child. Even the insight of my byakugan is no match for adults.”
Hanabi ran over to Hinata, confidently throwing out her chest.
“Anyway, look! Isn’t it cute?”
Hanabi was staring at her older sister and skillfully twirling a kunai. From the kunai, there hung a small, pink shinobi doll. She had put a cute strap on a kunai, which was a weapon. In the past, Hanabi had been an ultra-serious girl who boasted “my hobby is training” as her nindou. However, since the death of her cousin Neji, who had been esteemed in the previous war, something inside of her had changed. The former Hanabi never would have thought of hanging a doll on a kunai. To Hinata, having her younger sister behave with the innocence of a young girl was surely welcome, but a pink doll was overdoing it a bit. To start with, it would be hard to use.
“Turning ninja tools into toys again… You’ll be scolded when Father returns.”
“Speaking of Father, he hasn’t contacted us, has he?” Hanabi muttered.
There were times when their father, Hiashi, would be absent on missions for long periods, but even in those cases, there was some form of communication. The mission might have needed to be kept classified this time.
Just then, Hinata’s stomach growled.
“…….Ah”
“Did you spend all your time knitting and not eat dinner? You’ll get laughed at if your stomach growls when you confess.”
“I’m not going to confess!”
Aside from whether or not Hinata was going to confess, Hanabi had hit the nail on the head. During her last stride over the past few days, Hinata hadn’t put anything in her stomach aside from some dried candies.
“Sheesh, you’ve got some nerve! ….I’m going out for a bit.”
“To confess?”
“I’m not!”
To avoid her embarrassment, she left the house half-running.
******
“You say the moon is falling?” the Raikage barked, sitting at a huge round table in a conference room.
The leaders of the shinobi villages of the five countries were gathered in one building as the Gokage council in an emergency meeting called by the Hokage, Hatake Kakashi. Aside from Kakashi and the Raikage, surrounding the table were Iwagakure’s Tsuchikage, known as the old raccoon dog; the lone woman, Kirigakure’s Mizukage; and Sunagakure’s Kazekage, the young leader Gaara—all of them capable shinobi.
“From the results of our measurements, it’s evident that the moon is drawing closer to Earth,” Kakashi calmly answered.
Kakashi had brought with him an astronomer from Konoha. She wore the trademark apron and glasses of a girl scientist.
“Even without measuring, you can tell by looking… I’ve never seen the moon so big,” the Tsuchikage, who was a small old man, sneered at Kakashi and the astronomer.
“What about all of the recent meteorites?” Gaara asked.
Prompted by Kakashi, the astronomer began to explain.
“When two celestial bodies gradually move closer, the gravity from the two of them begins to affect each other.”
“I’m not so great with the scientific talk…” The Mizukage looked away as she stated her confusion.
As per the astronomer’s prediction, as the moon approached Earth, it would become distorted and torn apart due to Earth’s gravity, and gradually crumble from the surface. As the broken fragments drew closer to Earth, they would encircle it like the rings of Saturn, and many of the fragments from this ring would be drawn in and fall to Earth—the astronomer explained that this was the origin of the increase in meteorites.
“Then, what will eventually happen?” Gaara stared at the astronomer, rushing her to the conclusion.
“If this continues, the moon will completely break apart… the ruins will rain down from above. In this case, the end of humanity… no, practically no living thing on Earth will probably be able to survive.”
“So, what do we do? What’s the counter plan?” The Tsuchikage pointed a finger at Kakashi, questioning him.
“We will destroy the falling moon fragments before they arrive.”
“That’s too much of a makeshift solution! Obviously, we should stop the moon from approaching!” The irritated Raikage yelled.
“I want to ask one thing… is this a natural phenomenon? Or a man-made attack?” The Mizukage asked the question that was on the minds of everyone present. Their gazes all fell on Kakashi.
Kakashi had thought that both were possibilities, but he didn’t actually know at all.
“That’s rather questionable…” Kakashi confused everyone in his usual manner.
Around the same time, Naruto and others were eating ramen at Ichiraku.
There were five people, Ino, Sakura, Naruto, Chouji, and Shikamaru. Lined up at the counter, they were slurping delicious ramen.
Outside was a snowy landscape, but thick steam shrouded the inside of the warm shop. The five of them were sweating as they filled their stomachs with ramen that was almost hot enough to burn their tongues.
“Oh, right… I don’t want to ruin it.”
Naruto took the bordered scarf from his neck, folded it carefully, and put it under the counter. The scarf was unfamiliar to Sakura. The scarf that Hinata was knitting was red, and it didn’t look like something bought from a store. It was hand-knit.
Sakura became curious and asked Naruto about it.
“Hey, Naruto… about that scarf…”
As Sakura pointed to the scarf under the counter and began her question, Ino raised her voice.
“Oh, Hinata! If you haven’t had dinner yet, want to eat with us?”
Hinata appeared in front of Ichiraku, warmly clothed and holding a gift bag.
Naruto also noticed Hinata and greeted her.
“Today is my treat.”
Hinata noticed that Naruto was there and became hesitant.
“B… but…”
Sakura stood from her seat to let Hinata sit next to Naruto.
“No need to hold back. Look, you can sit here.”
“O… okay…”
Just as the hesitating Hinata sat down next to Naruto, two of Naruto’s fangirls entered the shop.
“Naruto-senpai! Did you like the presents from before?”
“…Thanks. Oh, right, you guys eat something you like. It’s my thanks for the presents. Oh, you too, Hinata!”
“Thanks for the meeeeal! Senpai, let’s eat here togeeether!”
The two fangirls dragged Naruto away, clinging to his chest.
Watching them, Hinata quietly stood from her seat.
“I’m sorry. I’m actually already full…”
With an apologetic expression, she started to leave holding the gift bag.
Sakura furrowed her brow as she spoke to Naruto.
“Walk her home?”
“Walk her home…? Hinata…? Why?”
“Eh… because, for a girl that age to be alone on the streets at night…”
“Huh? Hinata’s strong! Anyone in the village trying to bother her would be…”
Hinata left the shop to run away.
“You idiot!”
Sakura glared at Naruto and ran out of the shop, chasing after Hinata.
“What happened just now? What was that? Did I do something?” Naruto began to ask his friends—but Ino let forth an exasperated sigh, and Chouji and Shikamaru just silently continued eating their ramen without any concern.
Sakura and Hinata were walking down a snowy road overlookedby a gigantic crescent moon.
“That guy really is dense.”
“…….”
Hinata was staring at her feet, walking silently.
“…You were going to give him the scarf, right?”
Hinata weakly nodded.
“You’ll be alright, Hinata. Have confidence!”
“Thanks…”
Only the sound of the two girls’ footsteps on the snowy road could be heard.
“…But, why are you supporting me so much?”
“Th-that’s…”
In a completely unrequited love, she had pined for only one man since she was young—when she watched Hinata going through the same thing, she just couldn’t leave her alone.
“Hahaha… well, let’s do our best together!”
Dodging the question, she cheerfully patted Hinata’s shoulder.
“Ah, thanks…”
Regardless of whether or not she understood, Hinata bowed to Sakura and left slightly running.
Before she knew it, the day had completely turned to night. Holding the present close to her chest, Hinata trudged down the snowy road. She realized she was standing in front of the gate of her own home.
You’ll be alright, Hinata. Have confidence!
She remembered Sakura’s words.
Tonight after all… I made that decision on my own, so I’ll give Naruto-kun the scarf tonight!
Becoming fully determined, Hinata turned back onto the road from which she had just come.
From above, three large shadows came flying. They were strange birds far larger than humans. With the wings and beaks of eagles, and thick legs and claws like those of lions, they were “eagle beasts.”
Several shinobi dived from the backs of the eagle beasts that were gliding through the night sky. They landed soundlessly in the garden of the Hyuuga residence. They were creepy shinobi whose limbs and faces were covered with bandages.
Without hesitating, they invaded the inside of the building, and silently ran up the stairs. The bandaged shinobi opened the sliding screens in succession, proceeding further and further inside. When the final screen opened, there stood Hanabi, ready with her kunai. From the bottom of the kunai, there hung a strap with a doll.
“Who are you!?”
The next moment, Hanabi let out a small scream and lost consciousness, then fell over into the arms of the enemy.
*******
Sai was drawing ink paintings. He was sometimes slandered, being called “former anbu” and “the guy with no heart,” but in actuality, he was fine and elegant. Tonight, with his artistic inclination being moved by the snowy landscape and crescent moon, he was sitting in a bamboo thicket, working with a paintbrush. Trying to capture the rough form of the scenery, he squinted and gazed at the crescent moon beyond the bamboo thicket.
“The moon is considerably big…”
A strange spectacle flew into his field of vision. The gang of shinobi riding on the eagle beasts were flying at low altitude above the snow. Their faces were covered in bandages, and one of them carried one young girl on his shoulder. The girl appeared to be limp and unconscious.
“I just cannot ignore this… Ninpou, choujuu giga!”
He drew a bird on his scroll, which materialized, jumped from the scroll, and began to flap its wings. Riding on the ink painting bird, Sai chased after the eagle beasts and soared into the night sky.
When they noticed this, the bandaged shinobi turned the heads of their eagle beasts, and took refuge in the big trees of the forest. They flew at high speed through the dim forest. Sai chased the eagle beasts while avoiding the approaching trees and bushes to his left and right.
The bandaged shinobi turned towards Sai and threw glowing bubble spheres at him. The bubble spheres exploded when they hit, smashing the large trees. Sai continued his pursuit while avoiding the bubble spheres and collapsed trees. He accelerated and shortened the distance between him and the enemies. He was in range to confirm the face of the girl who was being carried.
“…Hanabi-chan of the Hyuuga?”
Just then, a bubble sphere exploded within range, and destroyed the wing of the ink painting bird. Its speed fell.
“One more time… Ninpou, choujuu giga!”
In the time it took for him to draw a new ink painting bird and try to switch over to it, the enemy’s bubble sphere approached before his eyes.
“Oh no!”
Trying to avoid the bubble spheres, the two birds each were thrown against the trees. Having fallen onto the snow, Sai was unable to move for a while, then finally turned face up, and looked up at the sky.
An overly large crescent moon floated in the sky. Expressionless, Sai breathed a deep sigh.
*******
“Naruto-kun! Until now, I’ve only been watching from behind you. But from now on, I want to always be by your side, so I put my whole heart into knitting this… please accept my feelings!”
Hinata bowed her head an held out the wrapped present. There wasn’t a single sound in the snow-covered residential area.
“Fuuu…”
Hinata let out a big sigh. Alone in front of Naruto’s house, Hinata was repeatedly practicing giving Naruto the present. It seemed that Naruto had not yet returned, as his room was dark.
As she inhaled to practice one more time, someone became present behind her.
“Hm? Hinata?”
He-he’s back… What should I do? What should I do?
Both of her knees began to tremble. But here, she had no choice but to muster her courage.
“Um…”
Hinata turned to Naruto. Before her eyes there was: a bordered scarf already wrapped around his neck.
Ah!
Hinata had chosen red wool to look good with Naruto’s blonde hair, but this scarf with gray and white lines looked much more refined.
“What is it, Hinata?”
“Th-that’s a nice scarf, isn’t it?”
“You think so? It was knit just for me… it’s warm.”
Naruto smiled happily. And then—
Gyurururururu.
Hinata’s stomach growled. Yet she didn’t feel hungry at all… Surely somewhere mean-spirited gods were mocking her. To have already been outdone by someone regarding the scarf, and then to have the sound of her stomach be heard, it was completely pitiable.
“You must be hungry. If cup ramen is ok, I have some in my room…”
“Goodnight.”
Hinata interrupted Naruto’s words as she bowed and walked off.
“Is there something you need to do? Hey, Hinata! Hinata –ttebayo!”
“……”
Hinata continued walking without looking back. She was so miserable that she was brought to tears.
.
Hinata was alone at the park, swaying on a swing. As she gazed at the red scarf on her lap, she recalled what had taken place not long ago.
It was knit just for me… it’s warm.
Naruto spoke happily as he touched the scarf wrapped around his neck.
I wonder who gave him that scarf…
Naruto had a lot of fans. He would probably receive a huge number of presents. Surely there had to have been several scarves and gloves among them. The scarf that Naruto was wearing must have been one of those presents.
“Good for you, Naruto-kun…”
She tried to think positively, but for some reason, tears fell onto the scarf on her lap.
“Why are you crying? Your scarf will be ruined.”
Startled by a sudden voice, Hinata turned her head to see a young man standing there. He had soft-looking white hair, and was dressed in white robes.
He was quite handsome, but for some reason, both eyes were closed.
“You… don’t need it anymore? In that case, I’ll take it.”
Hinata involuntarily gripped the scarf.
“…Who are you?”
“I am Toneri… I’ve come for you.”
Although his eyes were closed, Toneri spoke as if he could see Hinata.
“……”
Hinata didn’t want to deal with this, but as she stood up and tried to leave, her shoulder was grabbed from behind, and her breathing stopped involuntarily. When Hinata turned her head, there stood a big, creepy man who was over two meters tall. He wore a long cloak, and the lower half of his face was concealed with bandages.
“!”
Hinata was surrounded by the two men. Toneri took a step towards Hinata.
******
Naruto was looking for Hinata. Hinata had seemed somehow odd tonight.
Sakura had gotten unusually agitated about Hinata at Ichiraku, and when Hinata had come to visit Naruto’s house, she had also seemed strange.
In front of the park, Naruto thought he heard a girl scream and stopped walking.
When he looked, a tall man was restraining a struggling Hinata. A young man held out a bubble-like sphere and made it strongly radiate, then Hinata’s movement stopped and she hung her head.
“Bastard, what are you doing to Hinata!?”
The shouting Naruto went to interfere.
Naruto first leapt at the young man who had used the bubble sphere, but his form abruptly disappeared. Having suddenly lost sight of his target, Naruto took several steps too many due to the excess energy. He kept his footing and promptly looked back. The tall man leapt high into the air holding Hinata under one arm.
Wh-what is that guy?
Several enemy shinobi appeared from between the playground equipment and trees, and attacked Naruto. He flipped away a kunai from the right with his hand, and in the same way, back-handed an enemy in the nose. They also had their faces wrapped in bandages. He avoided a kick from the left, then spun behind him to deliver an elbow thrust to the back of the head. They were many in number, but they weren’t the type of guys whose taijutsu ability should be feared.
However, Naruto couldn’t chase after Hinata and the tall man like this. He formed a hand seal.
“Tajuu Kage Bunshin!”
He left the small fry enemies to his clones, and chasing after the tall man, he jumped.
Naruto jumped from roof to roof. With a roundhouse kick, he knocked down still more enemy shinobi who chased close behind him. When he looked up, ten or so enemy shinobi were suspended in the sky.
How long will they keep on?
The enemy shinobi all dove at once, attacking him.
“Rasen Shuriken!”
Four sharp blades that extended from the rasengan began to rotate at high speed. Naruto jumped as if to attack, and threw it at the enemies.
Zubababababababa!
Drawing an arc, the rasen shuriken flew, and in succession, cut the enemies in half.
He then chased behind the tall man, higher and higher along the rooftops.
When he landed on a large, steeply slanted roof, he lost his balance for a moment for lack of a foothold. This was the water tower, the height of which could only be compared to one or two other buildings in the Hidden Leaf Village.
There was now only a small gap between Naruto and the man.
When he sensed killing intent and looked back, from the top of a roof, the tall man holding Hinata under one arm created a glowing bubble sphere and took aim at Naruto.
“Damn it!”
He reflexively twisted his body. The bubble sphere exploded near Naruto’s feet. He was blown away and fell from the roof. A shuriken he threw while falling cut off one of the tall man’s legs. In the instant that the tall man flinched, he dropped Hinata.
Unconscious, Hinata rolled down the slope of the large roof. Falling from this height, the unconscious Hinata wouldn’t survive.
Fortunately, the end of the scarf in Hinata’s hands extended and caught on the steel frame. The scarf stretched out.
“Hinataaaa!”
At Naruto’s scream, Hinata finally woke up and narrowly gripped the edge of the scarf in her hands.
The scarf held Hinata’s weight. It tore almost completely through.
“Hinata, don’t let go!”
Naruto ran down the slope of the roof, moving at high speed. Trying to hinder Naruto, the tall man repeatedly fired bubble spheres.
In succession, they made impact on Naruto’s surroundings and exploded. He couldn’t move forward.
“Uryaaaa! Rasengan!”
While slipping past the bubble spheres, Naruto closed in on the tall man, and drove the rasengan into him.
The tall man scattered into tiny pieces. Now for Hinata. He had to save Hinata!
The scarf that was supporting Hinata was at its limit.
Her hands slipping, she let go of the scarf. The narrow edge hanging from the roof gave out.
“Hinataaaaaa!”
Naruto ran down the roof. The roof tiles rang clamorously. He dove from the edge, and rescued Hinata just before she could crash from above ground.
The scarf that Hinata had knit had torn through and become battered.
“Your scarf was ruined…”
“Yeah…”
Hinata made a painful-looking expression.
In a moment, Toneri’s form emerged in front of them. Yet again, his eyes were closed.
“The final day is approaching… Before then…”
“You!”
Naruto tried to strike him, but Toneri disappeared.
Toneri’s form again floated in the sky above them. He was like a hologram.
“Hinata… I will surely come for you.”
Toneri left these words and disappeared.
Just then, a strong light shone on Naruto’s and Hinata’s faces.
“What is that?”
Accompanied by an intense shockwave, a burning, deep red meteorite crossed straight through the night sky. The two looked up dumbfounded as the sound of an explosion echoed in the distance. A rising pillar of fire once again brightly lit up their faces.
The next morning, on the outskirts of Konoha, a giant crater had opened up in the middle of a field.
Rock Lee and Tenten, who had come to investigate, were peering into the crater.
“Mmm, the destructive power of a meteorite… Do not take it lightly!”
“It makes me shudder to think of what would have happened if this had fallen into the center of the village.”
“When that time comes, we shall risk our lives to protect the village and everyone in it!”
The hot-blooded Lee tightly clenched his fist.
-
“Your mission is to rescue the kidnapped Hyuuga Hanabi. You will be a four man cell with Shikamaru as commander… Also, Hinata will join you, as per her wish.” Kakashi commanded Naruto and the others in their group of five, who stood before the desk in the Hokage’s office. Izumo, Kotetsu, and the astronomer stood in waiting behind Kakashi.
Normally, this would probably never happen…
Feeling uncomfortable with the member selection, Shikamaru mentally expressed his discomfort. He got stuck with nuisance missions like this every time.
He could understand why Sai, who had experience with enemy hostilities, was chosen.
It was possible that Hanabi was injured, so Sakura, who could use medical ninjutsu, couldn’t be left out.
The problem was Naruto and Hinata.
On a mission where it was required to be composed—or even callous depending on the situation, why bring along Hinata, who was a relative of the victim?
Moreover, the village was currently in a state of crisis with the moon approaching and the meteorites falling. Naruto, who was the hero of the previous war and possessed the greatest amount of chakra, ought to stay in the village.
Kakashi-san, what are you thinking?
Shikamaru shifted his eyes to see that Kakashi was also watching him.
“Shikamaru, hold out your hand.”
When he held out his hand as he was told, the astronomer formed a seal.
Before long, a small, thin disc with characters etched into it appeared on Shikamaru’s palm.
“This is a top secret clock that only the five Kage possess.”
Kakashi showed them his palm also, indicating that he had the same thing.
“What time is this?”
Naruto peered at Shikamaru’s palm.
“The time limit before Earth’s destruction,” Kakashi coolly declared.
The limit to how long Earth could endure the approach of the moon—it was a watch to indicate the time until then.
“I don’t get it…” Shikamaru opened his mouth for the first time while staring at the clock in his palm.
“We probably don’t need this kind of thing to save Hanabi.”
“The one who is moving the moon might be Toneri, who kidnapped Hanabi.”
“Is there some basis for this?” Sai asked.
“….My gut. Your main mission is to rescue Hanabi. However, depending on how it unfolds, you may end up carrying out two missions at the same time.”
“Two missions?”
Sakura gazed at Kakashi with unease.
“If the opportunity arises while rescuing Hanabi… What I mean is ‘if you can save the world, save it.’”
“The world… that quite a grand ‘opportunity’ isn’t it?” Sai expressionlessly retorted.
“Two, or even three, I’ll take care of it –ttebayo!”
Naruto cheerfully struck his chest.
I see… Just what I would expect from the Rokudaime.
Shikamaru’s doubt towards Kakashi had cleared.
Even though he had said “my gut,” Kakashi had to have been holding some more concrete evidence. Kakashi was convinced that Hanabi’s kidnapping and the approach of the moon were somehow connected. It was because of this that he had dared to add Naruto, the strongest, as a team member.
Hinata had been an actual target of the enemy’s kidnapping. By having her as a team member, the enemy might reveal its movement and come into contact with them.
Basically… she’s a lure…
Kakashi’s cool-headed judgement as Hokage sent chills down Shikamaru’s spine.
*****
In each village of each country, air defense preparations were being carefully made in order to destroy meteorites and minimize damage. However, both offense and defense were practically made up of “human activity.” More than any state-of-the-art air defense equipment, the “unity of comrades” was what was needed. The leaders of each village faced the air defense teams they had lined up and appealed to them, encouraging them to fight hard.
In Kumogakure, the Raikage, who was accompanied by Killer Bee, bellowed out.
“Listen up people, very soon a multitude of meteorites will come pouring down to Earth!”
In Iwagakure, the Tsuchikage called attention to the members of the air defense team, who were kneading chakra in a cross-legged meditative stance.
“Destroy them without leaving even a single pebble!”
In a downpour of rain, the Mizukage of Kirigakure warned everyone to be ready.
“Polish your rusted kunai!”
In Sunagakure, accompanied by Temari and Kankurou, the normally quiet Gaara gave a fervent speech.
“If the giant meteorites come falling down, Earth will have no tomorrow… Those who wish for a tomorrow, fight today!”
Kakashi gathered those selected for the mission in a wide space looking up at the Hokage monument. Among those lined up in front of him, the forms of Yamato, Kiba, Chouji, Lee, and Tenten could be seen.
“This fight is a fight to protect the world, our country, our families and comrades… and the future!”
“Yeeeaaahhh!”
The team members raised their spirits, showing their will to fight alongside the Hokage.
*****
Far overhead in outer space, a gigantic mass of rock began to fall towards the ground.
