„realm of pain"

Hanako opens her eyes and sees the mansion that she used to live in. She looks around and smells the familiar omelette that once made her mornings.

She walks towards the kitchen to see a small figure of a boy, tip-toing to reach the stove.

"Giro?", the boy glances to the directions of her sister's voice.

"Onee-san! You're home!"

"Giro!", Hanako feels tears in her eyes as she runs and hugs the little boy.

"Oka-san, Otto-san, and Ayumi-nee are waiting for you.", Giro says with a cheery voice.

"Hanako.", a voice calls out for her.

The girl stops at the familiar stop, feeling her body stiffen in nervousness. She turns around and sees the rest of her family.

"Otto-san.", she responds.

"We were waiting for you, and you came too early than expected."

"My baby girl!", Hanako's mother exclaims, embracing Hanako's body, "What happened? Why are you here too soon?"

"I-i don't know.", Hanako stutters, "I was helping the village fight a strong enemy but he got me."

"He got me..."

Hanako suddenly gets on her knees and bows, not wasting anytime to burst out in tears.

"I failed, I failed them, and all of you.", she said in between sobs.

"If I only knew better, I could've protected all of us."

"Stand up.", Hiroshi says with a stern voice.

I can't face all of you, why were you waiting for me?

Hanako feels two little hands forcing her to stand up.

"Stand up Onee-san!", Ayumi says.

"C'mon you're too heavy!"

Hanako hears her parents chuckle at the behavior of their two children. Hearing this, the girl stands up with the shame and guilt that haunted her to this day.

"It wasn't your fau—.", Hiroshi says to the young woman before being engulfed with a hug.

"Gomen! I missed all of you so much that it hurted to grow each day without seeing all of you."

She looks at her two little siblings, feeling more guilty to see their little bodies in a realm that should've been empty in the first place.

"You guys were supposed to be great ninjas by now, fighting by my side.", Hanako says, "And both of you didn't even have the time to relax and enjoy the rest of your lives."

"You tried your best, you helped a village and offered your life to protect them.", Hiroshi says, "We are very proud of you. What you have done is more than enough."

The heir smiles at her father's words, "Why did you wait for me?"

"To see if even without us, you still found your way back home.", Hanako's mother says.

"And you did, you still are the strong young woman that we have raised and cared for."

"But I'm not, I left the battle too soon, father.", Hanako sighs, "And I left the people that I have learned to love and care for after all these years of loneliness."

Naruto-kun, Sakura-chan, I'm sorry.

Her chest tightens in pain from the great sorrow that she was feeling. It felt like her life was about to start again but only for the universe to take it away.

I should have told you.

"It's alright, Onee-san.", Ayumi says.

"You can cry all you want! Ayumi-nee and I will wipe it off."

Hanako smiles in response before sobbing in regret that she has died, and happiness that she is finally with her family.

"Rest now, my darling."

—

Sakura gasps at the sight of her friend's lifeless body. She quickly runs to the girl and attempts to heal the wounds.

"Come on! Hanako-chan!", Sakura says in frustration and sadness, "Why!? Why would you do such a thing!?", she sobs.

Naruto has already lost so much, not you too.

Sakura recognizes the necklace that her precious friend would always wear and touch from time to time. She grabs ahold of it, wanting to keep it for her. To her dismay, the moment she touches it, her chakra felt drained and her body became tired. She lets go of it immediately

That's why she had a hard time training.

Sakura ponders on this for little while, acknowledging the fact that Hanako wore this draining necklace and has still managed to control her chakra greatly.

You are really amazing, Hanako-chan.

She sobs out of pain and grief, not wanting to stop.

"Is that?!", a voice says in a distance. Sakura looks up and sees Shikamaru struggling to run to her side.

"Shikamaru-san! Your leg!", Shiho says in fear.

Shikamaru falls but still managed to get to Hanako's side.

"What happened?! Who did this?!", Shikamaru says in shock, not wanting to accept the situation. He grits his teeth with anger before letting a tear fall for the fallen Shinozaki. He sits in front of the body and looks down the whole time.

Naruto, do your best so that Hanako's sacrifice will not be in vain.

—

Naruto stands in front of Nagato and Konan who willingly told their story of pain. However, despite of the story, Naruto firmly believes in his master's idea, not wanting to succumb into the darkness that Nagato has fallen into.

Nagato's memories of Jiraiya flashed through his eyes before hearing Naruto say, "The name of the hero in this novel is Naruto!", he continues, "My name is a precious keepsake from Pervy Sage!"

"I can't just give up and stain my master's keepsake. I will be Hokage, and I will bring peace to the hidden rain! Please believe in me."

"How? How can you say that you will never change. That you will not change no matter how great pain you will face. Can you still believe in yourself? Can you guarantee it? Can you have such faith in yourself?", Nagato questions the boy in disbelief of what he has said.

"I've experienced pain too.", Naruto says, thinking back to the days that the village looked at him in disgust. Thinking about his friend, Sasuke, whom he has fought for so many times but to no avail. Sakura, who he had hurt because he can't control Kyuubi.

And of course, Hanako, who sacrificed her life just to protect him.

I can't let you die in vain.

"And theres a lot of pain nesting inside of me as well.", Naruto continues, "Theres no telling what kind of pain will come after me."

"But if I stop believing because of that. If the hero should change, it'll turn me into another story."

"It'll turn different to what my master wrote. It wont be Naruto!", he says, "I can't write novels like my master did. That's why the sequel has to come from the life I live. No matter how great the pain, I'll continue to live. Because that's who Naruto is."

"If the hero changes, it'll turn into a different story.", Nagato repeats what the boy just said before continuing, "You and I are sibling disciples. We ought to be able to understand one another. That is what I said to you before. I meant it as a joke.", Konan looks at Nagato in disbelief, guessing what he's leading up ro.

"You are a curious fellow. You remind me of what I was once."

"Nagato..", Konan says.

"I wasn't able to believe in Jiraiya nor could I believe in myself. However, I have a feeling that unlike me, you will walk towards a different future.", Naruto's eyes widened at Nagato's statement. He watches Nagato release his arms from the binds.

"I think I shall believe in you, Naruto Uzumaki.", he states, "Gedo Art of Rinne Rebirth."

"Nagato, don't!", Konan exclaims.

"Konan, it's okay. I am making a new decision. A decision I once given up on."

"What is it? What kind of jutsu is that?"

"Gedo Art of Rinne Rebirth!"