Kanashimi
He was standing on the roof of the Hokage's mansion, his mansion, contemplating the statues of his predecessors. He had never gotten used to seeing his face carved next to the ones of such great heroes…unlike him. As the wind blew like a quiet whisper to warn him, he looked away from the mountain and turned his attention to the gate, Konoha's entrance. Though they were fast, he easily spotted the moving shadows from afar. Their destination was obvious; the hospital. He quickly noticed the Shinobi who had appeared behind him, but didn't turn around. "What is it?" he asked though he already knew the answer to the question. "It's them…They've returned," the woman standing behind him answered. "And…" she continued sadly, "One of them didn't make it…" "Who was it?" he asked. "It…It was Rock Lee…" the woman replied.
He closed his fist and tightened his grip while grinding his teeth. Keeping his tears from falling was very difficult, but he succeeded in doing so. "Ino…" he said. Ino interrupted him quickly. "Don't tell me you're going to…You can't!" she said with fear all over his face. "What else is there to do?" he asked. "Rokudaime sama! There must be another way!" Ino tried to convince him while keeping a distance, but it didn't work. "Naruto…" she said sadly, "You're really going to do it aren't you?" He looked down and said "I must see her first, I have to apologize." Ino announced she'd come with him.
Naruto had finally fulfilled his dream; he had become Rokudaime Hokage. However, it didn't feel as good as he had always imagined it would. He still wore an outfit similar to the one of his childhood because he didn't deem himself worthy of wearing one like Sandaime or Yondaime. They were great heroes, he wasn't. The times were dark for Konoha. It had lost many brave Shinobis because of the war with Suna no kuni and Kiri no kuni. After Gaara's murder, relations with Suna had significantly worsened because his successor was a fool who only cared about himself. Iwa no kuni had also entered the war indirectly; they supplied Suna with provisions and weapons constantly. Konoha's fall would only do it good since it had grown to powerful.
As he and Ino walked to the third training ground, where he had first become a genin and a member of team seven, then a member of Team Kakashi, several thoughts went through his mind, they all led to the same one as usual. "I've caused all this," he thought, "It's all my fault." He had never stopped blaming himself for the events of that day and its repercussions. Had he only been able to kill him, the war's instigator, things would've turned out differently. He knew very well who he was. He could never forget his face…never.
They reached the third training ground. It had changed a lot; it was now a field of flowers; roses, tulips…All kinds of flowers covered the ground. They crossed a wooden gate; the entrance. The small fence surrounding the training ground had also changed; it was now a wooden wall that surrounded it. It looked more like a shrine. There was a small part that wasn't covered with flower; it was a road that led to the center of the field.
He followed the road slowly. Ino was still behind him. When he was halfway to the center, he looked towards it and saw what he was looking for. "There she is…" he said sadly as he stopped as if frightened to continue. Ino looked at him with sorrow filling her eyes. She gently put her hand on his shoulder and said "You can do this…" sorrowfully though she was trying to encourage him. She knew how agonizing this was for him; despite the fact that it was a very short walk to the center, it was very hard for him to complete that walk. Every step he took was more painful than a sword being forced through his heart. He took a deep breath and resumed his walk.
The two reached the center. He looked down and closed his eyes. He was trying to gather enough strength to halt his tears' advance. There was a gravestone planted in the ground. It was surrounded by the most beautiful flowers in the whole field. During the moment of silence they respectfully took, Ino was also having a hard time standing there without bursting into tears. Like him, she too remembered that event like it had just happened less than a day ago. Finally, Naruto opened his eyes and looked at his target. He was having a hard time speaking. "Sakura…" he said. He continued his sentence with difficulty and said "I'm sorry…But I have to do it…Forgive me…" There was a name written on the stone: "HARUNO SAKURA."