A/N: I HAVE AN ORIGINAL STORY CALLED: Cursed Beauty
It's a secret fanfiction of this book, TaniaJanae923

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Chapter 87: The Light Inside Naruto -
FINAL CHAPTER

An hour had passed since Nia's passing. Being covered with a black sheet, she was escorted out of the room as Naruto was left to rest after the transfusion was a success.

Naruto lay there swathed in blankets with his eyes barely open -as if his eyelids were too heavy to fully lift them - with only the faintest hint of blue showing through his dark tangles of eyelashes.

"Naruto," Yamato noticed this and breathed a sigh of relief, "Thank goodness, you really did make it through. Nia can rest easy now. You're alive."

As he watched, Naruto slowly, painfully lifted one IV riddled hand up and pulled the oxygen mask down from his face.

"Curly Brow.... where... where is she?" He rasped, visibly struggling to put thoughts into coherent words. His breathing was labored, as if the simple effort of speaking was almost too much for him to manage. "I don't see her... anywhere..."

"Naruto," Yamato said, anxiously leaning forward. "Don't push yourself. You need to rest. Don't worry, you're safe now. Here-" he said, and began to lift the oxygen mask back onto the boy's face. But Naruto just lolled his head to the side to avoid it.

"No..." He croaked, weakly shaking his head. "I don't want it... just tell me... did that bastard... take her while I was unconscious again?"

By now the others had begun to gather around his bed, sorrowfully trying to figure out a way to tell him of Nia's sacrifice. Shino hovered near the foot of the bed, hesitant to come any closer.

"What's up with you guys? Why do you all have such long faces?"

"Oh, Naruto..." Hinata murmured, coming up to the other side of his bed across from Yamato. She tenderly ran her fingers through Naruto's hair, petting it back from the boy's face. There were tears in the girl's eyes.

"How are you feeling?" Shino asked.

"Different..." The blonde answered, "I feel... warm."

Hearing that, everyone once more stayed quiet.

"We're glad to know you feel that, but... there's something... we need to tell you... about Nia." Yamato decided to be the bearer of bad news.

"Hm? What about Curly Brow?"

An almost visible wave of pain passed over the faces of everyone there. They knew what they needed to say wasn't going to be pretty.

"Naruto, I'm going to need you to listen very carefully... and understand what I'm going to say... is not going to sound pleasant to you..."

"Why? What's wrong? Did something happen to Curly Brow while I've been unconscious?"

He waited for an answer, but Yamato was hesitant. Naruto was always extremely emotional over sad news... always took it to heart.

"While you were unconscious... you needed a blood transfusion..."

"A blood transfusion? Okay, that's fine. I'm alive so that's not bad news, Captain Yamato." Naruto stretched his arms over his head.

"Sure, but... you required a lot of blood... and there were no bags of it compatible for your blood type. No one in this village had your type either unfortunately... you were going... to die."

"Hm?" This alarmed him, "Then how the heck did I receive a transfusion if there was no blood to donate to begin with?"

"Someone... just one person had the blood compatible with yours to donate..." Shino spoke up as he kept his hands in his pockets, "Nia was the one who gave you her blood..."

"Curly Brow did? Man, she's a lifesaver. She always comes through for me, ya know?"

"Sure, but..." Yamato's face became very solemn, "Naruto... Nia was in no position to really be giving any blood. She was anemic meaning she doesn't have as many red blood cells as the normal person. Seeing as the amount of blood you needed would make the average person fatigued, someone anemic giving that same amount of blood... well..."

Naruto's smile quickly became no more as he cast his gaze onto the ground and his eyes darkened. He glanced back up at the adult. Somehow, the way the man was wording everything so far was making his stomach feel like they were in knots.

"What happened? Where is she?" His voice sounded more pained than anything as he began to fear for the worst.

Yamato paused and sighed but stared the boy straight in the eyes.

"You won't... be seeing her any longer... She's... dead, Naruto. She gave her life... to save yours. I'm... sorry."

At that moment, Naruto felt as if his bright world had gone dark, like a big curtain being pulled across the sky. He felt his heart cracking like glass, spreading its pieces throughout his body. His eyes trembled and became incredibly dull, looking as if they had become soulless. They shifted shakily to his lap and became glazed with a glassy layer of tears.

"No..." His lower lip quivered as he whimpered, "Captain Yamato... please... please tell me you're lying or something.... This is... all a joke, right? Right?!"

Closing his eyes and lowering his head, the brown haired man shook his head softly while the sight of this had made Naruto feel as though his heart had been twisted so much it became that of a skinny string.

"You just... let her... do that?!" He curled his fists so hard it turned white.

Shino this time was the one to answer, "She... wouldn't back down... no matter our pleads. The reason being..."

"I DON'T CARE WHAT THE REASON WAS!" The blonde lost it as he ripped the sheets away from him and stood from his bed, "Why the hell would you let her sacrifice herself like that?! It's her birthday and you just... Did you forget I have the Nine-Tails to heal me?!"

"You were losing blood faster than you could heal," Yamato explained, "Once your body loses a certain percentage of blood, your heart stops working and you die. Even the nine-tails healing power couldn't work fast enough to save you from the blood you were losing! Nia gave her life because she loved you! She entrusted the future to you, Naruto! She sacrificed everything for your sake!"

Feeling as his world suddenly collapsed right before his eyes, Naruto fell to his knees as he could no longer keep in the misery that was eating away at him. As he blinked, tears dripped from his eyelids and slid down his cheeks. He bit his lip tightly in attempt to hide any sound that wanted to escape from his mouth but failed miserably as his crying became both ferocious and noisy.

He blinked briny tears from bloodshot eyes, his thick lashes stuck together in clumps as if he'd been swimming. The tears made wet tracks down his face and dripped from his wobbling chin. Clear watery snot streaked from his flaring nostrils down his red mottled skin to his open quivering lips. His hands open and closed, rhythmically clenching as if there could be some violent solution to his pain if only he could find it.

"Naruto..." Yamato squatted and placed a hand on his shoulder, leaning over him. "It's going to be alright, I promise. You've just got to hold on."

"But it hurts so much..." He whimpered, staring at the man as though begging the guy to somehow stop the pain, "I... I loved her, C-Captain Yamato... I didn't... I didn't even get to say g-goodbye... or that... I loved her one final t-time, ya know..."

"I know, Naruto. I know..."

Hinata saw Yamato visibly have to fight to keep his composure, tears shining brightly in the older man's eyes as he never seen the boy in so much agony except the time he believed Sasuke to be dead a long while back.

"Oh Naruto..." She mumbled as she held her fist to her heart while tears streamed down her face as well.

"I want... to see her..." The boy choked, his voice hitched with the effort it took to keep it from trembling, "Let me see her..."

Not even bothering to argue, Yamato ordered Shino to force the medical team to let Nia be taken back into the room they were in.

Meanwhile, devastated over seeing her crush crying as if there was no hope left in him, Hinata got onto her knees as she rested her hand on his, causing Naruto to look up at her as she too was overwhelmed with sadness.

"Nia... died knowing you'd be upset... knowing there was a chance you'd end up hating her forever for the decision she made." She told the genin as he listened, "At the same time... she died holding your hand. Praying for you to accomplish your goals, praying you'd find another to make you happy and share your life with, praying that you'd live a long life even without her physically here with you, Naruto. She gave her life not only for your sake... but for all our sake... My sake as well."

"Hinata..." He just stared at her dumbfounded by what she had to say.

Not too long after, Shino came into the room with Nia in his arms as the doctor that had pronounced her as dead came along behind him as well.

Carefully, he sat Nia close to his friend as Naruto shakily wrapped his arm around her and kept her up while softly brushing his finger down her temple and onto her cheek.

She looked as lifeless as lifeless could get. Even so, he refused to look away, even as his lips trembled and his shoulders heaved with emotion, unwilling to back down. His lashes continued to brim heavy with tears; his hands clenched into shaking fists again, in a desperate battle against the grief.

"Why did it... have to come down to all of this?!" He sobbed, his misery almost tangible as his tears dripped right onto the girl's cheek as she was in an everlasting sleep, "Why did I... have to lose her like this?! She didn't... even deserve to be the one... to have to die this way. This was all... my fault! I should've never... I should've never..."

Closing his eyes, Naruto then buried Nia's face to his chest as he gave in to the pain in his heart that was so intense he could no longer find the strength to speak. As those waves of pain washed over him and his body convulsed to meet each one, all the blonde had left was a fading image of what Nia once was.

All those times she had annoyed him whenever they argued over something ridiculous suddenly seemed to not be as annoying. All the times he had became frustrated whenever she'd get down on herself or couldn't get pass her insecurities didn't feel as frustrating to him anymore. Even if he had to deal with that for all eternity, even if he had to deal with her being hard-headed and stubborn for the rest of his life, the blonde would instantly choose to deal with that all over again if it just meant she'd stay by his side and be able to live once again. He missed her terribly.

However, he'd never be able to get the girl back no matter what he would do. She was gone, her light consumed by death's empty darkness.

He would no longer be able to hear her laugh at the jokes he'd crack, gaze longingly in her eyes, feel the soft touch of her fingers, feel the gentle kiss she'd give him or the tight hugs she wouldn't let him get free of, nor the sincere feelings she'd express to him while going red in the face as she'd do so.

All of it was no longer... just like she was.

In despair, he still burrowed onto the girl's shoulder as if trying to somehow escape his suffering. "I'd do anything..." he finally muttered, his voice painfully weak and devoid of hope. "I'd do anything just to have you back... even if I have to give up everything just to have you here with me. I'll never touch another bowl or cup of ramen again, I'll never joke about that weird eyebrow of yours, I'll listen to your insecurities over and over again no matter how frustrating it gets, I'll even give up on being hokage and settle down with you if you'd just come back and be with me, Nia!"

'Naruto...' Yamato wore a long face as he listened to the desperate pleads from the teen.

If such a thing was possibly, everyone in the room saw the genin's heart literally break.

"You sacrifice everything for me... loved me with all of your heart... stayed by my side..." He trembled uncontrollably as he couldn't stop weeping, "I'll do anything for you! ANYTHING! Even if we had to trade places and I have to die instead! I'll do it in a heartbeat! I love you... I LOVE YOU WITH ALL MY HEART, NIA!"

And with that, Naruto just gave in to his sorrow, sobbing as he desperately kept Nia close to his heart. As he did, however, a small pink glow came from the girl's right hand as kanji for the word "love" mysteriously began to be carved onto her skin.

Once it did, the light then surrounded her entire body as everyone other than Naruto quickly took notice of this.

They all gasped.

"She's glowing pink..." Hinata placed her hand over her mouth as she couldn't believe what she was seeing.

"But for what reason?" Shino stood by as he was curious to why that was happening.

Yamato didn't say anything as he just kept watch of what was going on.

Ba-dum... Ba-dum... Ba-dum...

The light then shrouded around Naruto also as he could hear the faint sounds of an beating heart. He felt his heart jump when felt the sudden warmth of Nia's skin when it had previous been cold. The color of her skin seemed to have been rejuvenating and he felt love coursing through his veins.

"Huh?" He pulled away from her a bit as he watched her lips go from blue to their natural color, "What the heck... is going on? Why is she glowing? Why am I... glowing?"

Ba-dum... Ba-dum... Ba-dum...

Again he heard the beating of a heart. Seconds later, a single tear raced down his cheek once he saw the kunoichi seemingly stir as she was in his arms.

"N-No way..." His voice trembled.

Seemingly as if she were in pain and her eyes were heavy, Nia weakly but surely fluttered her eyes open as the light that enclosed around her and the genin seemed to dissipate as she did.

Naruto's face to her was a blur until her dark brown eyes were able to focus and clearly see his tear-stricken face. The lively and cheerful blue eyes she loved so dearly had looked so helpless, lost, and lifeless... breaking her heart.

"Na...ruto?" She mumbled as everyone in the room just stared in utter disbelief as Nia had mysteriously  came back to life, "W-What's wrong, baby? Why is... my hero crying?"

"Nia..." There were no words to describe the level of relief and gratitude the blonde was feeling as his girlfriend was once again breathing.

Though the tears had stopped momentarily, they all came brimming back to the surface as Naruto could no longer hold them in and allowed them to come crashing down his chin and splatter on the girl's face while his own face quickly became red with the feeling of love overwhelming him.

"NIA!" He embraced her once more, crying uncontrollably as his prayers seemed to be answered, "You're alive! I can't believe you're alive! Tha-Thank goodness... I love you so much, ya know? I love you more than anything in the world, sweetie."

"Naruto..."

"Impossible..." Yamato's eyes quivered at the sight, "How? How is it she's alive? She was dead?"

"What's... that on her hand?" Hinata pointed as the adult man looked where she did.

"!"

'Love...' He read as this suddenly brought a past conversation to his head, 'Wait a moment... Master Jiraiya spoke about this once before... about how in the genjutsu he put Nia in... there was this same kanji written on her hand that would heal her instantaneously. Could it be... this thing brought her back to life?'

"Excuse me..." The doctor in the room spoke up as he was too in disbelief of what he had just witnessed, "May I see the queen? I just wanna confirm if she needs any treatment of sort."

"Sure..." Naruto wiped the tears from his eyes and allowed the medic to hover his hands over the girl as a green glow emitted over it.

"This is... impossible. The queen's blood has nearly replenished. She just needs half a pint of blood and she's completely free to go."

"How the heck are we going to do that?" Naruto wondered just as someone unexpected stepped into the room.

"My blood is type B, Doctor. I can lend her some of it if that's fine with you." The person with a cast on their arm said as the dog next to them barked.

"Kiba! Akamaru!" Everyone but Yamato gasped at the big reveal.

"What're you guys doing here?" Shino questioned, "Weren't you told to stay at the small village?"

"Yeah, well... you know me. You guys were taking an awfully long time to get back so Akamaru and I began to worry and came to check on you all, huh Boy?" He grinned.

"Arf!" The dog confirmed as Kiba glanced at Naruto as the blonde protectively brought Nia to his chest again when he did.

"Yo, Naruto."

"...Yeah? What is it?"

Kiba placed his uninjured arm on his hip and sincerely smiled as he said, "That's one hell of a good woman you're holding, huh?"

"Eh?" The ninja tilted his head as he didn't expect to ever hear this from the Inuzuka himself.

"Naruto... I'm... really tired. Let's... start the transfusion." Nia tugged softly on the boy's jacket.

Still concerned over her, he only replied, "You sure? I don't want anything to happen to you, ya know?"

"I'm... sure," She nodded then looked to the medic, "Doctor..."

"Yes, your majesty. We'll get everything set up. I'm glad you're okay."

•••

Thirty minutes passed as the transfusion from Kiba to Nia had been a success. Currently, the two was left alone to rest it out on two separate beds.

"Hey Nia..." Kiba turned his head to the right as Nia looked to her left, "I... I'm sorry... for the pain I caused you. I'm sorry... for trying to tear you and Naruto apart and for trying to convince him you weren't worthy of being loved or accepted by him..."

The kunoichi only listened as the Inuzuka went on.

"I was such an ass to you; a big jerk just cause I didn't find you attractive. I didn't even give you a chance and I hated you and felt you were worthless before I even tried getting to know you," He said, "I even attacked you back at that small village and made you feel horrible about yourself. You just wanted to be friends and even offered forgiveness, but I rejected you and beat you up physically but worse than that... psychologically."

"..." The girl didn't say anything.

Kiba only smiled softly, "But then I saw you giving your blood for Naruto's sake, knowing that you'd die if you did so."

"Yes... I did." She finally said something while Kiba took a deep breath before saying:

"That... hit me deep. It opened my eyes to see just how willing you are to sacrifice everything for his sake. It opened my eyes to see how much you actually care about the guy and it opened my eyes to see... how wrong I was about you, your worth, and your value as a girlfriend, woman, and human being."

"..." Nia didn't know what to say as she was speechless from Kiba's seemingly genuine apology.

"But now I see that Naruto is actually lucky that you like him so much. At first I felt he was just cursed or his standards were incredibly low, but now that I'm seeing the effort you put into your relationship and the amount of love and patience you have for the guy... it makes me... jealous of him."

"Huh? Jealous?"

"Yeah, you heard right. If you weren't Naruto's, I'd definitely make you my woman! You're freakin' hot!"

Hearing this, Nia turned to stone as everything became quiet while wind came blowing in from the window. The girl had no words.

"Anyway," Kiba moved the conversation further, "I'm just asking for your forgiveness. I was extremely wrong to have been so unfair and cruel toward you. I mean it from the bottom of my heart. My proof was in giving you my blood so you'd understand I'm being sincere."

"You did hurt me... and you did make me question my own self-worth," The kunoichi answered as it was hard for her to maintain eye contact, "You did and said so many things that just... ate me alive. I tried to ignore how it made me feel and I definitely tried to show I wasn't put down by it so Naruto wasn't bothered... but... you are right about some things..."

"Hm?"

"Naruto's trying to be hokage... which means he'll need a good image and reputation with the people of the village. He needs respect and needs them to look to him for leadership and protection. One way for him to have a good image... is for him to have a trophy girlfriend or wife by his side. Someone who's sexy and drop dead gorgeous to them or at the very least-pretty."

Kiba kept silent.

"Hinata would be a good candidate for that role. She's pretty and has a great figure even though it's obvious she hides it under her baggy clothing. She seems impossibly pure and though she doesn't really talk to the guy, she has a big crush on him at least and thinks good of him."

"You're right, but... even so, Naruto has never noticed Hinata in a romantic sense, Nia. Ever since we were small, the idiot would practically ignore her. She wasn't someone whom he'd notice in a crowded room. I'm sure that had something to do with her being so shy and not having the courage to talk to him when she should have. What I'm saying is... maybe you are the one that should be with the guy."

"...It's hard to agree with that cause I know how rude I was to the guy at first," Nia responded as she appeared remorseful, "I also know my negativity was toxic as well. No one should really have to have been someone so in the dark like I was. I had a bad attitude and started petty arguments with Naruto for no real reason except that I was just trying to protect myself from being hurt in whatever way. I was lonely and just trying to find acceptance from somewhere or someone. I was sad... but... that gave me no excuse to act out the way I did to him... and I'm truly sorry about it. I was wrong."

"You ever told him you were?"

"Yeah... a lot of times actually. Over and over. Still though... I did change a lot since then. The only thing I needed to work on after that was accepting and loving myself. My flaws, my imperfections... all of it. I didn't choose my looks so... there's not much I can do about that. I can't just snap my fingers and make my nose smaller or my eyes bigger and more lively. I just needed to find love in the features I was born with or I'd be hating myself for something I have no control over forever."

"People like me hindered you from doing that, huh? Always insulting your looks, making fun of you, and saying no one could ever love or accept you..."

With a lump in her throat and an aching heart, Nia nodded.

"You people had your part..." She spoke with a shaky tone, "In... b-breaking my heart and se-self-esteem much further than anyone should ever feel it go down."

Kiba mentally slapped himself, "Nia, I should've never hurt you like that and be a reason why you stumbled on your way to accepting yourself. I'm so, so sorry. I can't even imagine how you must feel."

The girl sniffled as memories of her personal torment brought tears to her eyes, making them appear bloodshot. She used a hand to wipe them away before they could slip down her face but they did so anyway before she could catch them.

"Forget about Naruto's image..." The Inuzuka told her, "Forget that others may perceive you as unattractive... if the guy likes you then he likes you. I had no right to say you were wrong for him because I thought you weren't pretty. I was wrong for trying to break you two up when you did everything you could to keep him on his feet and make him feel the things he wanted to feel since he was a child."

"Nia," Naruto came back into the room with some things in his hand, "It's your birthday and I just wanna give you these bouquet of roses I bought and a card I wrote for you too a while back."

"Naruto," This made Nia smile widely as she held the bouquet in her arms then took the card, "Thank you... this means the world to me. I'm so happy you'd be so kind as to do this for me. I appreciate it very much."

"You're welcome," He reddened and grinned sheepishly as he urged the girl to read his card, "C'mon Nia, read the card."

"Yeah, of course." The girl agreed and began to read.

When she did, though the card had very bad handwriting, spelling, grammar and punctuation, the heart of it was very warming and me the girl feel very cherished and loved. The card brought a smile to her face as she kept reading and her love strengthened by the time she finished and stored it within her heart.

"Aww Naruto, it's adorable." She blushed heavily as she hugged the genin, "I love it. Thanks for taking the time for writing this. I know writing isn't your thing, but this seriously means everything to me. Thanks so much. I love you."

"Yeah, I love you too." He replied as he held onto her hand before leaning down and brushing his lips onto her's all while squeezing her hand and being extremely grateful to have another chance at having her around him.

At the same time, Nia could only smile into the kiss as her thoughts were clouded with admiration for the genin.

Naruto... before I knew you, I was so lost in this never-ending tunnel of darkness, hopelessness, and sorrow. As a child I always thought you were some really obnoxious, attention-seeking kid that dreamed big yet constantly got yourself into trouble. I would've never dreamed in a million years, as a teenager, I'd think of you as the most amazing guy ever. You're so different than you were before and much more attractive inside and out.

I would've never guessed you'd be the one I'd look up to and admire and even wish to be more like and be with. Your light gave me hope and your smile gave me life. Because of you, I'm now able to move forward from my trauma and look to the future with a positive mindset. Because of you, I never gave up on myself and even overcame my depression. I'm now able to smile and laugh again when I had thought I'd never be able to do so again.

I'll continue to change and better myself each and everyday so that I may be that woman years down the road saying, "I made it."

Thank you... Naruto Uzumaki.

With Nia's resurrection thanks to the effects of her being amongst one of the Nine-Tails' guardian, specifically the "love" guardian, she was able to return to life once as her ability was activated through sacrificing her life for the one she loved then having that loved one acknowledge this sacrifice and feel a love strong enough to wish to even trade places  with her thus showing true love.

As everything turned out sometime later, Nia had forgiven Kiba for all he had done and managed to even establish a friendship with him and Akamaru. To everyone's relief and horror, Akihiko was revealed to have been killed by Fuyuka whom she had posed as to cause negative feelings in Naruto's and Nia's hearts before she decided to try and kill Naruto by a mean of poisoning him with a substance even the beast within him couldn't heal fast enough from all in the hopes that Nia would end giving up her blood so she would die and one guardian would be put to rest.

However, this had backfired as the girl ended up living and has since then been working on her relationship with the ninja in the Leaf and has also spent her time going on dates with Naruto and getting more training in with Jiraiya and others. As for her feud with Hinata... the Hyuga has learned to accept her crush loves another girl, but... her love for him continues and... she still hasn't given up on the idea of being able to win the blonde over.

And thus... more than half a year has passed since Nia's sacrifice. Now... the Akatsuki has once more moved into action. Their goal: The last remaining jinchuuriki and their guardians...

To be continued...

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A/N - OMG I CANT BELIEVE THIS STORY IS FINALLY OVER 😭😭😭😭

Three years, you guys... three years I've been writing this! Phew... I don't even know where to begin. Hmm... for one, I wanna thank you all.

This story would've never been anything without your support and love. I'm glad this story was able to entertain you all, touch many hearts, and even inspire and save so many people's lives who were going through a similar experience as Nia. I'm just so honored by the many messages I received over the course of this story telling me how my writing and OC has impacted their lives. It's so very touching and makes my life feel very much more meaningful.

I've learned so much over these last three years and I'm glad to say that this story will continue with a sequel!

It's name? Heart In You

This story will actually tie in with the events of Naruto Shippuden but at times with a little twist.

Throughout the story, there will be a lot of things I may skip due to the fact that you can watch it online lol. However if there is a change, I will be writing about it.

Also, since I literally thought Naruto was 17 close to the Pain saga, he will be about 17-18 throughout the course of the sequel lol thanks to my screw up. I've literally only watched the whole show once back in 2015 so there may be mistakes with pacing and order of how things went but just bare with my ass 😂

I'll try to stay true to the show if I can but I am not definitely rewriting a ENTIRE show when you can just rewatch it so that's why I'll try to throw in twists every now and then and skip some scenes that aren't so important to the development of the fanfic.

Also, I think you'll be surprised with Nia in the sequel and her growth. This sequel will be how I have been patiently dying to write her as it will contain her true personality.

If you aren't following me, it's probably a good thing to do so so you'll get a message of when the sequel will be out. I'm planning on releasing it next week or the week after.

Anyway, thanks for reading this story I have created. Funny thing is, I ended my first Gohan book on June 11th of 2014 I believe and I'm ending my first Naruto book two days before and about four years later lol.

Please comment and vote and have a great day ❤️ I'll see you guys on: Heart In You

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Light In You||Naruto Uzumaki Love Story

Published:

January 1st, 2016 - June 9th, 2018

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QOTD:

1. Fave Part?

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3. Any Last Words For This Book, The Ending, NaruNia, Or Me?