For Hinata Hyuga, the boy she loved, Naruto, had become the culprit behind the village's destruction, shunned by everyone. Even her own clansmen and her father urged her to give up on him completely!
All Hinata could do was grieve and endure. Like a drowning girl with no one to help her, she waited to be saved.
So... when Sakura Haruno, one of Naruto's peers, stood behind her and said, "If you want to know how to save Naruto, come with me."
Hinata had no reason to refuse. She went over to Sakura.
"Sakura, were you serious about what you just said... about saving Naruto-kun?"
"Of course." Sakura turned to her with a smile.
Hinata's eyes flickered. "You believe... Naruto-kun is a victim?"
Sakura nodded. "Yes."
"Thank goodness..."
The mere fact that a friend from their class was willing to believe Naruto was innocent—something that should have been only natural—brought Hinata to the verge of tears.
Looking at Hinata, Sakura fell into thought.
On the way back from Sunagakure, she had thought about a great many things.
With her current abilities and position, what exactly could she do? What should she do?
If she followed her heart, her most urgent wish was to go to Sasuke's side!
In her previous life... she had possessed both the impulse and the resolve to throw everything away!
But in this life... her resolve ran deeper.
With my current strength, having me at Sasuke-kun's side wouldn't make much difference either way. I might even distract him.
So she would go to Sasuke's side sooner or later, but not now!
If she did not go to him, then she had only two paths before her: stay in Konoha or leave it.
Leaving Konoha... Sakura had considered it. After all, the atmosphere in Konoha was terrible