As Hinata flew away, her posture remained regal, unbothered by Sentry's presence trailing behind her. Though he kept his distance, his mind was restless. He had encountered powerful beings before, but something about her presence unsettled him.
Her power was undeniable—he had seen her speed, felt the sheer force behind her attacks, and yet, it was her attitude that disturbed him more than anything. She acted as though she were above the laws of this world, answering to no one but herself and her sense of justice.
Just like him…
Sentry clenched his fists. He had spent years struggling to balance the overwhelming power within him, to follow the system and not let his strength dictate his choices. He knew all too well what happened when beings as strong as them took matters into their own hands.
But she didn't care.
She called him a coward.
Him.
The man who had fought cosmic threats, who had held back the darkness inside himself for years to protect this world, who had done things no one else could even comprehend.
Yet, in a matter of seconds, she dismissed him like an unworthy opponent, like a child playing hero.
His pride stung, but it wasn't just that. It was the truth behind her words.
Sentry knew he had doubts—there were times he questioned if the rules he followed truly made the world better. He had watched villains escape punishment too many times. How many innocent lives had been lost because he had held back?
But if he let himself go, if he let himself become judge, jury, and executioner… he feared he wouldn't stop.
He feared The Void inside him would consume everything.
Hinata, however, didn't seem to share that fear.
He observed her as she continued helping people, but this time, she restrained herself. No more severed limbs. Instead, she subdued criminals with pure skill, knocking them unconscious or breaking weapons before they could be used.
She wasn't lying—she truly had changed her approach after their conversation.
But the way she carried herself, the way she looked at the world with such certainty, such conviction… it frustrated him.
Sentry sped up, matching her pace in the air.
"You really don't think you did anything wrong, do you?" he finally asked.
Hinata glanced at him with a faint smirk. "I believe I did what was necessary. But I adjusted my methods because I do not wish for unnecessary conflict. Unlike some, I do not let my personal emotions dictate my every action."
Sentry exhaled sharply. "You think this is about me? This is about what happens when powerful people like us decide we know best. There's a reason we have laws, Hinata."
"And there is a reason why the people live in fear, Sentry," she replied smoothly. "Your laws do not always protect them. Your restraint does not always save them. I have seen empires fall because men of power refused to act when necessary. You might not like my methods, but do not mistake me for someone who acts carelessly. Everything I do is a calculated decision."
Sentry's eyes narrowed. "And what happens when you're wrong?"
Hinata stopped midair, turning to face him directly.
"Then I will take full responsibility." Her gaze was unwavering, her voice unwavering. "That is what it means to have power. To stand above others is to bear the burden of those decisions. I do not fear the weight of my actions—do you?"
Sentry felt something tighten in his chest. The answer should have been simple.
No.
But deep down, he wasn't so sure.
Hinata didn't wait for his response. She simply turned and continued her mission, leaving Sentry to wrestle with his own thoughts.
For the first time in a long time, he questioned not just her actions… but his own.
Hinata flew through the night sky, the soft glow of her Tenseigan Cloak blending into the starlit expanse. As she moved, her mind reached out across the vast multiverse, connecting with two individuals who needed no introduction—Ino and Eda, her sisters in bond and duty.
They were more than Naruto's wives. They were rulers, architects of an empire that spanned realities, each entrusted with an aspect crucial to its dominion.
Hinata's mind settled into the familiar mental space they shared—a formless plane where time and space held no constraints. A vast library of knowledge surrounded them, its shelves infinite and filled with glowing tomes, each containing the wisdom of countless civilizations.
At the center of this realm sat Ino, the Custodian of Knowledge, radiant in her cosmic presence. With a single thought, she could grant mastery over any skill, any discipline, embedding knowledge into the mind of another as if they had studied it for a lifetime. She had long transcended mortal limits, standing as one of the mightiest beings in the empire.
Standing beside her was Eda, the All-Seeing Seeker, draped in ethereal robes that shimmered like liquid time. Unlike others, her power was not brute strength but insight—she could observe the past and present of any point in the multiverse, unearthing secrets that even immortals sought to hide. Her role was to guide, to inform, to ensure the empire never moved blindly.
Hinata's arrival did not disturb them—they had already been expecting her.
"Hinata," Ino greeted, looking up from a tome floating before her. "You've been busy."
"We all have," Hinata replied, stepping forward. "I had an encounter just now—one of this world's so-called strongest heroes."
Eda tilted her head slightly, her golden eyes gleaming. "Ah. Robert Reynolds, the Sentry."
Ino arched a brow. "The unstable powerhouse?"
Hinata nodded. "I was merely doing my work—helping those in need, punishing those deserving. But my methods did not sit well with him."
"And what did you do?" Eda asked with mild amusement.
Hinata's expression remained calm. "I educated him."
There was a brief silence before Ino chuckled. "Oh, I would have loved to see that. What did you tell him?"
"That he was disappointing. That he lacked the resolve to act as he should. That I have no respect for cowards."
Eda smirked. "And how did he take it?"
"Like any man who has just been exposed—poorly." Hinata's lips curved slightly. "He followed me to make sure I would behave. I let him."
Ino leaned back, her fingers lightly tapping against an armrest conjured from thought. "This world operates under different rules. Their 'heroes' have spent too long shackled by the idea that justice must be slow, bureaucratic, and merciful. They refuse to see that punishment must be swift and absolute to truly deter crime."
Eda nodded. "Though, to be fair, Sentry's mind is… fractured. His moral compass wavers between extremes. If you push too hard, you might find yourself facing The Void rather than the man."
Hinata waved a dismissive hand. "I am not concerned. I could feel his hesitation. He is powerful, but he lacks true conviction. If he does not know how to wield his strength properly, then he is no different from the criminals I judged."
Eda hummed, her eyes closing briefly as she sifted through the present threads of reality. "He will think on your words. But whether he changes or resents you for them is uncertain."
Hinata shrugged. "It is of no consequence. My goal is not to reform him, only to make it clear that I do not recognize weakness disguised as virtue."
A Greater Purpose
Ino absorbed the information, and with a mere thought, the records of Hinata's actions, observations, and insights were added to the empire's ever-growing Library of Skills and Knowledge. Every encounter, every lesson learned, became accessible to those worthy within their dominion.
She tapped a floating tome, and in an instant, the knowledge of Earth's moral philosophies, hero dynamics, and their flawed justice system was dissected, organized, and stored. At any moment, she could grant another being instant understanding of this world's ideological structure as if they had lived through it themselves.
"Done," Ino said smoothly. "This information will be useful for those who interact with this world in the future. I've already prepared a few individuals to receive it."
Eda turned to Hinata. "And what will you do now?"
Hinata's eyes gleamed. "Continue my work. But I will shift my methods. There is no need for unnecessary conflict. Instead of wounds, I will leave marks that will ensure criminals never escape their crimes—a seal that brands them for all to see."
Ino smirked. "A refined punishment. Fitting."
Eda nodded in approval. "Then I will keep watching. Should anything arise, you will know."
Hinata inclined her head. "As always, I am grateful."
Before Hinata could leave their shared mental space, Ino let out a dramatic sigh, leaning back against one of the floating bookshelves. "You know, it's really not fair."
Hinata turned back, tilting her head slightly. "What isn't?"
"That you get to travel across universes, see new places, meet new people—and, most importantly, be with Naruto while doing it." Ino huffed, crossing her arms. "Meanwhile, Eda and I are stuck here, bound to the empire, overseeing things like dutiful wives while you and he run around having adventures."
Eda chuckled softly, an amused glint in her golden eyes. "I do believe we were the ones who encouraged him to take these responsibilities, Ino. And it's not as if he neglects us."
"I know, I know," Ino admitted with a wave of her hand. "He spends time with us, makes sure we never feel lonely, but it's not the same. You remember how it was in the early days? When we could just go anywhere, do anything? Back when Naruto still swore up and down that he wouldn't be an emperor?"
Hinata's lips curled into a knowing smile. "It's not like he had a choice."
Ino sighed, her expression turning nostalgic. "No, he didn't. The world—no, the multiverse—forced him into it. He kept saying he'd never become a ruler, that he wanted freedom. But when the moment came, when the chaos reached its peak, he did what he always does."
Eda's voice was quiet but certain. "He took responsibility."
The three of them fell silent for a moment, lost in their own thoughts. They had all been there, seen it happen. Naruto had never sought power for power's sake. He had fought against destiny, against expectations, against the weight of leadership. But in the end, he had chosen to bear it all—not for himself, but for those he cared about, for those who needed him.
Ino exhaled, shaking her head. "Sometimes, I miss those old days."
"Even you, Eda?" Hinata asked curiously.
Eda smiled faintly, her gaze distant. "I may be the quiet observer now, but in those early days of expansion, I had my share of adventures. The unknown was thrilling. Seeing the empire grow firsthand, uncovering lost civilizations, learning secrets that no one else had ever known—it was exhilarating."
She paused before adding with a rare, wistful expression, "But now, my role is different. I no longer explore; I guide. My place is here, ensuring the empire never loses its way."
Hinata gave them both a sympathetic look. "You both could still travel, you know."
Ino snorted. "And leave everything unattended? As if. Even if Naruto could create a way for us to go, we'd just end up worrying about what's happening back home."
Eda nodded in agreement. "Our responsibilities outweigh our desires. That is the price of leadership."
Hinata remained silent for a moment before stepping forward and placing a hand on Ino's shoulder, then another on Eda's. "You may not be able to travel with us now, but this isn't forever. One day, there will be a time when we can all go on an adventure together again."
Ino let out a small laugh. "I'll hold you to that."
Eda smiled. "So will I."
With that, the moment of nostalgia passed. Hinata gave them one last look before her form began dissolving from their shared space.
Before she fully vanished, Ino's voice reached her once more. "And if you do see Sentry again—"
Hinata smirked, already knowing what was coming. "I'll remind him the world is not as fragile as he believes it to be."
Then she was gone.