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For Hyūga Hinata, the boy she loved, Naruto, had become the villain who destroyed the village—shunned, condemned. Even her own clan, her own father, urged her to let him go.
All she could do was grieve and endure. She was drowning, utterly alone, waiting for a lifeline.
Her classmate, Haruno Sakura, stood behind her. "If you want to know how to save Naruto, come with me."
Hinata had no reason to refuse.
"Sakura… was what you said about saving Naruto-kun… serious?"
"Of course." Sakura turned, a faint smile on her lips.
Hinata's eyes shimmered. "You believe… Naruto-kun is a victim?"
Sakura nodded. "Yeah."
"Thank you…"
Just hearing a friend say it—something that should have been obvious—was enough to make Hinata's eyes well up.
Watching her, Sakura's mind raced.
On the way back from Sunagakure, she'd thought. And thought.
With her current strength, her current position… what could she do? What should she do?
If she followed her heart, her most desperate urge was to run to Sasuke's side.
In her past life… she'd had that reckless resolve.
But in this one… her resolve was deeper.
My current strength… at Sasuke-kun's side, I'd be one more fighter. Or one less. I might even become a distraction for him.
So she would go to him. Eventually. But not now.
If not to Sasuke, then her options were clear: stay in Konoha, or leave.
Leaving… she'd considered it. The village's atmosphere was toxic now. Naruto and Sasuke were both branded traitors.
But… she knew. Naruto, Sasuke, herself—none of them could truly cut ties with Konoha.
Naruto lived to become Hokage.
Sasuke, across two lifetimes, held a vow to protect this village, this world. Konoha was his home.
No matter how twisted the path, they would return.
So Sasuke chose the path of a rogue ninja. Naruto was forced onto it.
Sakura chose the opposite road. She wouldn't become a missing-nin. She would guard their home.
Since… she was staying.
After deep thought, Sakura made a choice that would shake the foundations. Finding Hinata was part of it.
"Hinata. Staying in the village like this, taking assigned missions… we'll accomplish nothing."
Hinata agreed. "Yes. I feel the same. But I can't defy my father. Unless I defect from the village… but."
For the one she loved, to betray her village, her clan… Sakura had that resolve in her past life. She'd almost acted on it.
But Hinata was different. Traditional, reserved, yet capable of fierce love and hate. She would give her life, but not betray her home.
Her solution was to train—relentlessly, desperately. Since the evacuation to Suna, she'd practiced day and night. But her own efforts had limits.
Sakura's expression turned serious. "Listen. Lady Tsunade will step down as Hokage. If all goes as expected, Kakashi-sensei will become the Sixth. That's the foundation of my plan."
Hinata leaned in. "Go on."
"Every Hokage has their own personal ANBU. And there was another organization—'Root.' It handled missions in the shadows, led by Danzō Shimura. During the Fifth's reign, Danzō was assassinated. Root was disbanded."
"I… overheard my father and the elders discussing that."
"Root is gone, but its members remain. For Konoha, they're an unstable element. If no one guides them correctly…"
Sakura paused. Then—under Hinata's stunned gaze—she revealed the plan that would change everything.
"So, after Kakashi-sensei becomes Hokage, I will propose we rebuild 'Root.' And I will become its leader—the Second Head of Root, after Danzō."
"What…?!"
Those words… would have shocked anyone listening. Even Neji, eavesdropping from the shadows, felt a cold sweat.
Hinata stammered. "Sakura… you said… you'll become what?"
Sakura glanced toward the shadows. "Was I unclear? The leader of Root."
"But… why?"
Sakura shifted her stance.
"First: The Root leader holds authority second only to the Hokage. Greater freedom. Fewer constraints."
"Second: Root's tradition allows it to recruit members from any clan as reserves. Even your father cannot refuse. Hinata, this is likely the only way for you to escape your father and clan's control without defecting. But it also means your identity stays hidden. You can't go public."
"This is… far too reckless!"
A voice cut through.
"Neji-nii-san?"
Neji stepped from the shadows.
"Forget you becoming Root's leader. Recruiting Hinata-sama into Root? You've lost your mind, Sakura."
Sakura smiled faintly. "Do you have a better suggestion?"
"A department with similar functions already exists: the ANBU. Why not start there?"
"I considered it. Konoha's ANBU has years of rigid structure. Even if Kakashi-sensei becomes Hokage, he can't overhaul it entirely. If I join, I start at the bottom. At best, I make squad captain. Too little authority. Not enough freedom. And it wouldn't free Hinata from the Hyūga's oversight."
"So rebuilding the defunct Root and taking control myself… is the surest path."
Neji lowered his gaze, considering. "I see your logic. But I doubt the Hyūga clan head will comply easily. The old Root recruited elites from every clan—except the Hyūga. Our status is too high, our rules too strict. Even Danzō couldn't reach us."
Neji-nii-san… is tacitly acknowledging Sakura's capability to lead Root?
Sakura's smile held an edge. "If that happens, I have a countermeasure. Though it will cause quite a stir."
Neji's eyes widened. "Your countermeasure… you don't mean…?"
Sakura's voice dropped. "I do mean that."
Neji looked conflicted. "I don't understand. Why are you so fixated on Hinata-sama? Is it because of what I said to you in Sunagakure?"
Sakura didn't answer.
Hinata's love for Naruto is that absolute. If I don't show her a viable path, this girl will wither in silence. I know that feeling too well. I can't ignore it.
Naruto… in my past life, you fought for me without regard for yourself. This time, it's my turn. The girl who loves you so fiercely, the woman who will stand by your side… I'll look after her, too.
BOOM!
In the distance, a reverse summoning gust—Katsuyu bringing Tsunade—shook the trees. Leaves rustled. Sakura pushed off the trunk she'd been leaning against and met Hinata's eyes.
"Hinata. I can't decide for you. I'm showing you the path. The choice is yours. You don't have to answer now. Go home. Think it over. Then tell me—"
"I'll do it."
"Hinata-sama, you…" In Neji's astonished gaze, the hesitant girl was gone. In her place stood someone who had made her choice.
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