NOVEL NEXT Chapter 28: What is a Bond?
Shikamaru, Lee, and Hanabi exchanged looks as they watched Naruto and Hinata interact. Shikamaru's eyes glinted with mischief, Lee appeared confused but intrigued, and Hanabi seemed downright annoyed.
"This Naruto... he's way too shameless," Hanabi thought, pouting slightly as she crossed her arms.
"Naruto, if you've got the potion, just give it to Hinata already," Shikamaru said, his tone impatient. He wanted to get out of the Hyuga compound—it felt like all the Byakugan eyes were piercing through him.
"Oh! I almost forgot!" Naruto slapped his forehead, quickly pulling out the green potion and holding it out to Hinata. "Here, Hinata. If you're still hurt, try drinking this. It's amazing! It healed Bushy Brows' leg completely!"
Hinata's face turned an even deeper shade of red. Her heart raced as she thought, "Naruto-kun brought this... for me? He really cares about me... I'll definitely cherish this kindness!"
Hinata nodded shyly, her hands trembling slightly as she took the potion. Under Naruto's eager gaze, she opened the bottle and took a small sip.
In an instant, a warm sensation coursed through her body, making her feel lighter, energized, and completely healed. The lingering pain from her injuries disappeared entirely.
Hinata looked down at her hands, stunned. "My injuries... they're gone?"
"How do you feel? Are you all better now?" Naruto leaned closer, his bright blue eyes filled with concern.
Hinata froze. Naruto's face was so close she could feel his breath. Her blush deepened, and her heart pounded so loudly she was sure he could hear it.
"So close... Naruto-kun's face is so close..."
Naruto tilted his head. "Hinata? Are you okay? You're still red... Do you have a fever?" He reached out and gently placed a hand on her forehead.
"BOOM!"
Hinata's brain short-circuited. Steam seemed to rise from her head as she fainted on the spot.
"Hinata! Are you okay?! Don't scare me like that!" Naruto shouted, panicking as he crouched next to her.
"This is your fault!" Hanabi snapped, puffing out her cheeks in frustration. She pointed accusingly at Naruto. "Look what you did!"
"What did I do?! I didn't do anything!" Naruto flailed his arms defensively, looking genuinely confused.
Shikamaru sighed. "Relax. She's fine. She just fainted. Can't you tell?"
"Tell what?" Naruto blinked, utterly clueless.
Shikamaru shook his head, muttering under his breath, "Never mind. You wouldn't get it anyway."
After a few moments, Hinata stirred and opened her eyes. She looked up at Naruto and the others, her face still pink.
"Thank you... Naruto-kun," she whispered, her voice barely audible as she avoided eye contact.
"It's no big deal. We're friends, right? Helping each other is what friends do!" Naruto grinned, scratching the back of his head.
Hinata's heart swelled with happiness at his words, even though she felt too shy to say anything more.
Suddenly, the sky trembled. A booming sound echoed across the land, drawing everyone's attention to the massive celestial screen above.
"What's this? Another question?" Naruto exclaimed, his excitement barely contained.
On the screen, glowing letters formed the question:
"What is a bond?"
The entire ninja world fell silent, pondering the meaning of the question.
"A bond...?"
"Does it mean friendship? Or something deeper?"
"It's not just that simple. There has to be more to it," some speculated.
In the Land of Lightning, the Fourth Raikage thought of Killer Bee. "If there's a bond in this world, it's the one I share with Bee," he murmured.
In Konoha, Kakashi stared at the screen. The word "bond" stirred memories of his late comrades—Obito, Rin, and Minato. His expression turned somber as he sighed deeply.
Naruto stood silently, lost in thought. His mind wandered to Team 7 and, inevitably, to Sasuke.
The screen darkened, and a scene slowly emerged.
Two figures stood opposite each other in an open field. One, with strikingly handsome features and the glowing red pattern of the Mangekyō Sharingan in his eyes, radiated a fearsome aura.
The other, though less striking, possessed an equally commanding presence.
"Ashura!" roared the man with the Mangekyō Sharingan, a massive purple Susano'o forming around him.
"Brother!" the other cried, summoning an enormous Thousand-Armed Buddha.
Their clash shook the land. Mountains crumbled, and forests were obliterated in the wake of their power.
The ninja world collectively held its breath, stunned into silence.
"What... what are they? Are they even human?"
"That's the Mangekyō Sharingan! And a complete Susano'o! But who are they?!"
"That's wood-style jutsu... Is that the power of the First Hokage?"
In Iwagakure, the elderly Tsuchikage Ōnoki stared at the screen, his face pale. "It's... it's just like when Uchiha Madara used the Susano'o all those years ago. That power..."
His granddaughter, Kurotsuchi, looked at him in confusion. "But that's not Madara. Who are they?"