MTL NOVEL Chapter 2: Pain
Naruto turned back towards the village, his senses on high alert as he intercepted the person he had sensed earlier - Hinata Hyuga. The scorching midday sun beat down on his skin, casting dappled shadows across the forest floor. The air was heavy with the scent of blooming flowers and fresh greenery.
Meanwhile, Hinata, heading in Naruto's direction, detected his chakra and presence looming larger. "Naruto's chakra is growing stronger... Is this an illusion created by the enemy, or did he somehow manage to deceive the Akatsuki by pretending to be dead or surrendering, only to backstab them?" Hinata's thoughts racing with uncertainty, she cautiously approached the area, her guard up, her senses heightened. The rustling of leaves and snapping of twigs beneath her feet seemed amplified in the tense silence.
In a nerve-wracking moment, Naruto and Hinata crossed paths. Hinata stood on a tree branch, the rough bark digging into her palms, while Naruto seemed to vanish into thin air, only to reappear standing back-to-back with her. Hinata's eyes widened as she realized too late that Naruto had used a shadow clone to misdirect her.
Before she could turn around, Naruto grabbed her hand firmly, his grip aggressive, his fingers wrapping around her wrist like a vice. "Hinata, don't turn around, but I have to tell you something. I'm not an illusion, nor was I defeated." Hinata's confusion and tension rose as she felt Naruto's hand holding hers firmly, his warm skin a stark contrast to the cool forest air.
"Naruto-kun, what's going on?" Hinata asked, her voice barely above a whisper, her words trembling with concern. The sound of her voice seemed to hang in the air, echoing off the trees.
Naruto's response sent a chill down Hinata's spine, his voice low and detached, like a cold wind blowing through the forest. "Go back to the village, Hinata. Now that you know I'm fine, there's no need to chase after me or save me."
Hinata's eyes welled up with tears as she sensed something was terribly wrong. The forest around her seemed to grow darker, the shadows deepening, as if the very trees were closing in on her. "Naruto-kun, this isn't like you. What do you mean by this? I don't understand."
Naruto's voice turned cold, detached, his words dripping with an air of finality. "Don't make this difficult, Hinata. The only thing I'll say is that I've decided to aid the Akatsuki in their plan to bring peace. Their goals align with mine, and I've accepted Pain's method for achieving it. Go back to the village, Hinata. I'm asking you nicely."
Hinata felt as though she had been punched in the gut, her breath knocked out of her. Tears streamed down her face as she struggled to comprehend Naruto's words, her mind reeling with shock and confusion. The forest around her seemed to spin, the trees blurring together in a mad whirl of color and sound.
"Naruto-kun, what do you mean by all this? What about your Ninja Way? What about your dream to become Hokage?" Hinata's voice trembled with desperation, her words tumbling out in a frantic bid to reach Naruto, to bring him back from the brink.
Naruto's response was like a knife to the heart, his words cutting deep, leaving Hinata breathless and bleeding. "I don't care anymore about any of that. I don't care about being Hokage. That's all you need to know. Now, this is the last time - go back to the village."
Hinata's voice trembled with desperation, her eyes pleading with Naruto to come back to his senses. "Forgive me, Naruto-kun, but I don't believe any of this. There's no way you'd do this, Naruto."
Naruto's eyes seemed to bore into Hinata's soul, his gaze cold, detached, his expression unyielding. "Fine, then. Have it your way."
In an instant, the Naruto standing behind Hinata vanished, replaced by the real one. Hinata's eyes widened in shock as Naruto appeared in front of her, a kunai glinting in his hand, the sunlight catching the blade and sending shivers down Hinata's spine. With a swift, merciless motion, Naruto stabbed Hinata in the stomach.
Hinata's eyes went wide with shock, her body crumpling to the ground, the forest floor rushing up to meet her. Naruto's kick sent her crashing against the tree, the sound of her body hitting the trunk echoing through the forest, leaving Hinata lying there, broken and battered, her world shattered by the person she trusted most.
Meanwhile, Pain waited for Naruto in a secluded spot deep within the forest, the trees towering above him like sentinels. The air was heavy with the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves, and the only sound was the distant call of a bird. Pain's expression was nonchalant, his eyes fixed on some point in the distance. "He's taking too long," Pain muttered to himself, his voice barely audible over the rustling of leaves. "I did warn him that his feelings about the Hidden Leaf would get in the way. Or is he planning to betray me? Hmph, he knows better than that."
As Pain stood there, the sunlight filtering through the trees cast dappled shadows on his face, making his expression seem even more enigmatic. His eyes seemed to bore into the distance, as if he could see right through the trees.
Either way, I could see it in his eyes - his decision and resolve to join the Akatsuki were absolute. For a ninja who abides by the rules, he wouldn't break one he set for himself."
Naruto arrived at the spot a little while later, his footsteps quiet on the forest floor. Pain's expression remained unchanged, his eyes still fixed on some point in the distance. "So, you're back. Took you way longer than expected, but at least you got it done."
Naruto's eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing as he looked at Pain. The air seemed to vibrate with tension as the two stood there, the only sound the distant call of a bird. "... You did mention during our fight that you weren't the real one , Katsuyu said that you're a puppet and that the real Pain controls this body from somewhere around here."
Pain's expression turned thoughtful, his eyes glinting with a hint of curiosity as he gazed at Naruto. The sunlight filtering through the trees cast a warm glow on Pain's face, illuminating the intricate network of scars and tattoos etched into his skin. "Ah, yes. I see. Well, I guess there's no use hiding it. The one I'm speaking through and controlling is one of my bodies. I'm Nagato, although this is a secret not known to many."
The air seemed to vibrate with tension as Naruto's eyes locked onto Pain's, his gaze searching for any sign of deception. The rustling of leaves and snapping of twigs beneath their feet seemed amplified in the tense silence. "So, I see. What happens from now, Pain?"
Pain's expression turned serious, his voice dripping with an air of finality. The sound of his voice seemed to echo through the forest, sending shivers down Naruto's spine. "I'll guide you to one destination - the Hidden Rain. My real body is not far from here. You'll follow the Deva Path, and I will meet you face-to-face in the Hidden Rain. Let's go, Naruto Uzumaki."
Pain's eyes seemed to bore into Naruto's soul, his gaze cold, detached. The air seemed to grow colder, the shadows deepening, as if the very forest itself was responding to Pain's words. "Yes, Naruto. I hope this will make you understand."