NaruHina: Postscripts

Thirty-three

I have a request. Can you write one where Naruto takes Hinata to the waterfall of truth where he trained to control the nine tails? This can be before they got married or after. I'm curious to see what would Hinata see in herself or what her inner demons would be.

Plus

Drabble request! I know you don't really like to write angst, but a story of Hinata feeling sad and insecure, thinking naruto is only with her out of pity, because he still has feelings for Sakura (he doesn't though) would be absolutely great and heartbreaking to read (but with a happy ending ofc lol)

Stopping by Kumo seemed like a good idea since it was on the way to their honeymoon destination. Besides, it was always nice to see Killer B and the Raikage. Naruto had something to discuss with the men, and instead of waiting, she decided to leave them on their own. Hinata found herself wandering by herself, taking the paths that led her away from the main parts of Kumo and exploring this wonderful place she'd never been before.

Until she came to a waterfall.

And heard the whisper of her own inner doubts said aloud.

Something beyond the veil of water called to her, beckoned her into the dark cavern where Hinata was startled to see another version of herself.

It was almost like she was looking at a mirror, but something was off. The eyes meeting her were angrier, upset, filled with self-hate and doubts.

The whispers became louder until she heard the other her say, "What makes you think he's happy with you? That you should be the only woman in his life?"

Hinata drew back, amazed to hear the strength of the accusation, making her quiet because she knew who he was.

The voice only grew stronger, feeding on her lack of confidence. "He deserves somebody better than you. Somebody strong and confident like Sakura, who's also a good friend and has been by his side all this time."

Hinata's heart started beating, the voice was louder now, more powerful because they had the ring of truth to the words. "Are you really the right woman for him? Why not give him up now? It's not too late..."

Hinata flinched, hurting as she drowned in the thoughts that she'd been holding at bay, that she refused to think about because they made so much sense.

She really didn't deserve him.

"He can find another person who can shine just as brightly as he does, somebody who will lift him up and not drag him down."

Like you.

Unspoken, but Hinata heard the message clearly.

It was so obvious, of course. She wasn't meant to be with Naruto because she wasn't as glamorous and as beautiful as others. There were women out there who could fit him better, who would match the brightness of his personality, not dim it.

Not somebody shy and timid like her.

"Hinata!"

Naruto's voice. In the back of her mind, it registered. He was calling out her name.

Something in her resisted, forced her to confront this Hinata with angry and hurt eyes burning red in that pale and lonely face.

That's right.

"It is always my name that he calls out in the night. My name. No other," she whispered.

Then she looked down at her hands and remembered something else. She looked up and held her hand out to the other Hinata.

"It is always my hand that he reaches for when we're together. The one that gave him the confidence to fight against his enemies, the only one. Mine." A small smile lit her face as she remembered everything so clearly. "He held it so dearly to his cheek when we were at the battlefield. And he never let go, continued to hold it for a long time."

The other Hinata wavered and grew dim, giving her the strength to continue.

"I was willing to die for him. Can another woman say that?"

The other Hinata flickered again but no response came from her.

"Maybe I'm not as strong and confident as other women," Hinata said, her voice echoing with strength in the cavern. "But I defied his wishes during his fight with Pain. Can anybody else say that? In hindsight, it wasn't my best, but I was prepared to give up my life. And I did it a second time, on the battlefield to try to protect him."

"Hinata! Where the hell are you?!" Naruto's voice came again—clearer and closer than it had been a little bit ago.

Hinata smiled at the red-eyed figure across from her. "You hear that? Even as you continue to try to make me doubt myself, he's always there trying to find me."

And with that, the Hinata with hate-filled eyes disappeared, just as Naruto burst through the waterfall with a loud splash.

He found her and he grinned, a bright ray of sunshine that illuminated the cavern.

"Hinata! Don't leave me again," he said teasingly as he started for her. "I was everywhere looking for you."

Hinata ran to him and his arms wrapped around her tightly in response. She looked up into his blue eyes, smiled, and said, "You found me."