Destroyed

By Incara

I hope you like this. Please Review!

The war was sudden, no one expected it…. To this day no one even knew the people who launch it. A small city, not known for its military, not known for anything really… attacked us, a strong village full of extremely talented ninjas, and nearly obliterated all that we loved dearly. Though, for some stories to begin….. Others must end…….

Fire stormed through the streets, devouring house after house, store after store. All the things they thought seemed invincible to time, fell to its power. The swing at the tree near their once proud school fell from its branch and was engulfed in flames. The memorial stone outside of town crumbled and fell into shadows. The training grounds were no more… The hot springs, which brought much laughter and joy, steamed in fury as the trees and relaxing pool boiled in its own heat. The sacred house of the Hokage and the mountain behind, holding the memories of loved ones, disappeared… never to be found again.

Naruto watch dumbfounded as his home crumbled beneath his feet. His eyes were wide and his mouth hung open. There was nothing he or anyone else could do. There was no water to quench the fire's thirst. No chakra left to try to bay it to submission. All possible solutions were not available to them. How had they, the mighty Konoha, fallen so far? How was it, that none of the genius's he knew so well had nothing to say…. Nothing in mind to stop it? He trembled slightly at the thought of the town being gone forever. To never run down the streets escaping from a jounin chasing him for his most recent prank. Would this place which he had come to love, never be the same again?

Naruto shook his head in dismay…. "Worse…." He thought. "Who would never return?"

Tenten and Neji stood neck deep in a river in the middle of the death forest. The trees near them were searing and moaning under the pain of the inferno eating at them. The fire bit into the river but never reached them in the center. They clutched each other while helping the other ninja stay afloat in the rapid water. They had come to the river to get water to the village, but the fire spread faster than they expected. In the end their valiant intentions had gotten them into a situation they were 

not well prepared for. The fire was too close the banks to climb out of, and their chakra was nearly depleted… not enough to let them graze along the top. Both were breathing heavily and dog paddling as much as they could. "Neji, I don't know how much longer I can hold out!" Tenten screamed as her head dipped under the water and Neji pulled her back up.

Neji didn't reply but held her slightly closer and looked around to for a possible safe haven from the elements. Sadly his work left him with no joy. There was no shelter from the fire except for the water and no small oasis of land not resembling hell. He looked at Tenten sadly for a moment and said, "I have no choice…. We'll only be safe if I let go."

Tenten struggled to look at him as the water slipped over her head again. She looked at the strong hand gripping the root under the water slide closer and closer to the end of the small twig. Understanding that once the small root gives out, or the power of her team mate falls into slumber from over usage, that she and him will float down the river and possibly never breathe air again. Safe was death…. There was no safe place here in life. She squeezed him a little in fear and pulled herself up for one last breath. Neji's hand slipped from the branch and their heads disappear from the surface, and together they accepted the inevitable.

There was only one place the fire had not reached, the one haven that only one ninja had found. Her light pink fluttered by her face and in front of her emerald eyes as she sat on her only reminder of the one she loved, a lone bench at the edge of town. She touched the bench tenderly, happy and yet sad at the same time. Her love was not there he would live…. But she may not. Sakura sat quietly and thought for an instant that she may run, live her life, never to return to the burning town. But then she remembered all the others she loved….. Her friends…. Her family….. She couldn't leave them could she?

The fire crept closer and closer to the one place she didn't want to vanish. She squeezed the arm rests of the seat and stood. Breathing deeply she walked towards the town. She loved him….. and she would never forget him…. Never stop fighting for him…. But for now there was another battle she needs to deal with. "He would understand" she told herself. "He would help, so….. In his place…. I will."

The horizon gleamed red and the night was warm. Ino sat shaking near Shikamaru and Chougi. They both tried to calm her as she looked towards their home. A tear escaped from the corner of her eye. She made it out with the help of her team to a safe distance from the town. All of the people that made it out sat on base of the statues beside what was once a great river. She glanced at Naruto at the top of the statues gazing steadily at the town. When had he become so strong? How could he stare at his home and not tear at the site of it? She hugged herself, and closed her eyes. This was a bad dream right? She would wake up and everything would be the same. She would go to her flower shop, smell 

her beloved Rose and open the shop. People would come-. What was she thinking? That would never happen. Her town was gone and nothing would be the same. She shook her head…. Never……..

Hinata stood quietly in a small group of her family along with Kiba and Shino. They had made it out alive like many of the other villagers. Her family was as solemn as she was, not for the town but for their missing member. Neji may have been from the side branch but they cared for him more now since the chunnin exams. He had left with Tenten after arriving with Lee and Gai to get water for the fire or the refugees. She felt bad but Neji held no fret in her head, she was more worried about the defenseless villagers fighting for their lives. She was helping the wounded and scared for a while now and was severely worried about Naruto. She rubbed her head as she bandaged another person.

She glanced at the small rows of people that didn't have the strength to live on. She had tried to help them but she didn't make it in time. Sighing she stood. She knew the number of rows would grow.

After a few days the fire subsided and the survivor gathered in what was the main area of town. Naruto stood at the front of the group, and turned and looked at them. "We have lost many, friends, family, heroes, idols…. A person every single one of you looked up to. I did… she had my dream. I may have mocked her but she protected this town till her death, just as her predecessors did. She was my friend too. May our Hokage rest peacefully." Naruto took a breath. "May we not stop but continue on and give birth to a new age! Let us not forget the lost!"

Everyone gazed upon Naruto, he truly had grown, and the disaster had changed him far more than any imagined. Then in a massive roar the crowd screamed in approval. They would not forget the past.

I hope you like this chapter. Don't worry more will come! Please review! I don't own any part of Shippunden Naruto or Naruto.