Standing on the famous Hokage Mountain was a man with flowing blond hair tied up in a pony tail; staring at the sunset. Wind gently blowing through the great Hidden Leaf Village below him stirred the cherry blossom tree next to him, releasing petals that glided on the gust of air for a bit, circling around the man. His eyes grew gentle as he watched them, reaching out to try to grasp a petal, which evaded its cage and flew out over Konoha.

"Naruto?" Two men walking up the side of the mountain close to where he was called out to him. One with spiky hair, the other with flat hair, who had spoken.

Naruto turned to them as they approached, flashing a sad grin. "Hey Sauske, Sai; what's up?"

"Idiot. The ceremonies about to begin. What are you still doing up here? I thought you had gone home to change?" Sasuke snapped at Naruto, a bit concerned for his friend.

Naruto, unaffected by Sasukes normal coldness, went on, "Just thinking." Turning his eyes back to the magnificent view of the village before him. "I miss her." He admitted awkwardly, with a mourning smile on his face. "I always imagined, that when this day came, she would be her to share it with us."

Sai and Sasuke shared a knowing glance, but it was Sai who spoke up. "Naruto. Its been five years. I thought that you had gotten over it." He walked over to put a comforting hand on Narutos shoulder.

Suddenly, anger flared in Narutos eyes and he lashed out at Sais hand. Sai wisely stepped back in time; cautious in case of another swipe at him.

"How can I forget!? How can I forget about her?! HOW CAN I ACT LIKE SHE NEVER EXISTED?!" He yelled at them both, voice raising with each word.

Sauske stepped forward, narrowing his eyes in anger of his own at Naruto. "Do you really think that we are all that uncaring that we would forget about her! As if we COULD!"

Taking a deep breath, he spoke in a lower voice, looking out over the village. "I'm sure that all of us would forget about her if we could, just to make the pain go away."

Clenching a hand in his hair, Naruto looked down in shame for taking his frustration out on his friends.

After a few moments of silence, Sai broke it. "Naruto, Sauske, her unit disappeared five years ago, only one man came back. He told us all about how there was a traitor, and that he was the only one who survived. He was questioned countless times Naruto, and she would definitely have returned by now. Give up Naruto, she's gone. She's not coming back… no matter how much we all want her to." His voice faded out, as he clenched his pant leg, trying to control the emotions that she had once awakened in him.

At first, he had found joy in his new emotions, sharing them with her and everyone else. But now they had become a burden. Just as everyone else's had.

Silence reigned over the solemn trio once again until it was broken by the striking of a bell.

Not one of them moved to acknowledge that they had heard it.

"I guess we should probably go. Don't wanna miss you own coronation into being a Hokage, do you Naruto?" He joked softly.

Naruto looked up, searching Sasukes eyes with his own, then Sais. Finally, he took a deep breath as if to steal himself for what was to come; letting out a heartbreaking smile. "Ok. Lets get going."

With that, the three disappeared with a flourish, leaving the cherry blossoms to settle in their places.

999

In the center of Kohana, a large crowd had gathered, overwhelming the plaza. It was filled with people craning their necks to get a better view of the man advancing on the platform. Small children were placed upon their fathers backs for a better view, much to the dismay of those behind him; who grumbled about not being able to see. There were also many ninja up on tall buildings, just in ear shot, on trees, even hanging upside down or sideways somewhere.

As Naruto walked up the platform, taking in this site, he didn't feel the least bit nervous. Instead, he was excited and nearly jumping out of his skin; itching to run across the platform to the head council member waiting for him in the middle.

With each step, his excitement grew.

Then, he was standing in front of the council member, who he had just recognized as Head Council Member Higurashi.

He was an old man, probably in his mid-eighties, with a neatly trimmed gray beard and laugh lines covering his face; instead of the frown lines that most council members seem to acquire over their time in office.

Smiling at him, Higurashi spoke in a voice that was actually very low, but because of a jutsu placed on him, it made him seem like he was talking through a microphone. Sure, it was probably convenient for those to far away to hear normally, but frankly it gave him a headache.

"Naruto Uzumaki, please kneel."

Naruto gently lowered down to one knee, his newly fitted Hokage robes brushing around him.

"Naruto Uzumaki" the council member continued "Do you swear that you shall, within all of your ability, protect and guide the Village of the Hidden Leaf, until either your dieing day or when you step down to hand off the position of Hokage to your successor?"

Naruto answered without hesitation "I do." It feels more like I'm getting married, he thought in the back of his mind.

"Do you swear to always deliver judgment justly and in the better will of this Village?"

"I do."

"Do you swear to never commit treason to this village?"

"I do."

Naruto, whose gaze was focused on the wood floor of the platform, felt something be placed on his head, pieces of white cloth falling on either side of his face.

"Now rise, Naruto Uzumaki."

Taking one last deep breath, Naruto rose to look at the massive crowd, still deathly silent in front of him.

Putting a hand out towards the villagers, Higurashi addressed them "People of the Village Hidden in the Leaves, I present to you your Hokage! Hokage Uzumaki!"

Even before the council member had finished his words, there was a deafening roar from everyone gathered. Some of the more enthusiastic ninjas even sent kunai bomb tags high up in the sky to explode.

Naruto proudly raised two thumbs up high above his head, and let out his trademark grin.

Another deafening roar.

Council Member Higurashi gave him a wide smile, shaking his hand and indicating that he was aloud to exit the platform. "Congratulations Naruto."

"Thanks Higurashi!" Naruto exclaimed, turning to walk off the stage, "Thanks so much for everything!"

Council Member Higurashi just smiled and shoke his head, exiting the other way off of the platform. No matter how grown up he seems he's still just a little kid inside.

Laughing, he had another thought which he would be sure to share with the other Council members. When he gets his face carved in the Hokage Mountain, he'll probably go and paint his own face just for kicks.

Naruto was escorted to the dining table for the after feast, to which the whole entire village was invited. While he greatly disliked these formal things, he knew that he had to go though with it, or a bunch of old geezers would be after him later.

So he did the right things; made a speech, greeted ambassadors, talked to supposedly important people about a wide variety of things ranging in everything from political to personal.

Eventually, he was released out into the party to have a breather away from all of the Hokage stuff. He got a bunch of 'Congratulations' from people, and then was tackled to the ground.

"Naruto!" Kiba yelled strait into his ear, "You did it! You finally became Hokage!" Naruto gently pushed him and the drooling Akamaru off of him, both of the boys grinning from ear to ear.

Only to be tackled again.

"You did it! Now we can all go out to the steakhouse and get free meals because you're the Hokage! Can we go now? I'm starving!" Of course Choji was thinking of food.

"Come on! Stop tackling me!" Pushing yet another person off him, Naruto got up and brushed off his annoyingly white Hokage robes.

"So troublesome." Shikimaru sighed, holding back a yawn. "Can we go somewhere a little quieter? I can't even hear myself think, and definitely can't hear you talking."

Naruto, glad to get away from the head pounding noise from the party, followed the rookie nine and Gai's team out.

999

After arriving at team sevens old training grounds, Naruto was congratulated by all of his friends, and of course, tackled a few more times.

After that was over, everyone sunk back into the comfortable feeling that they all had around each other. The feeling of have experienced so many things with each individual person, tying you together.

Naruto flopped down onto the grass next to Shikimaru, Sasuke, and Sai and took a look around at his friends.

Everyone had grown so much, matured into the adults that they were today. Most of them were at least 22 years old, but Gai's team were mostly 23 years old.

Ten Ten was over by Choji, trying to get him to put down the chips for once, which was obviously not happening.

Shino and Neji were playing a game of Chess, staring intently at the board as if trying to see before hand what the others move would be. Lee was sitting in between them at a side of the board, tense as if ready for an attack. Every time one of them would go for a piece, Lee would stop breathing and watch it with an almost frightening intensity, then let it out when the piece was placed.

Ino and Hinata were with Kiba, trying to ride Akamaru. Kiba was telling Hinata, who was the one currently on Akamaru and terrified, that she had to loosen her grip because she was choking Akamaru. Ino was rolling around on the ground in tears from laughing so hard.

Looking back over at the ones he was sitting with, Sasuke was staring off into space, Sai was drawing on his recently acquired ink pad, and Shikimaru was dozing off.

Looking up, Naruto looked up at the moon.

"So," startled by the unexpected speech from the Uchiha, Naruto turned his attention to him. "How does it feel to be the Hokage at last? Your life dream finally fulfilled?"

Falling down onto his back with a smile and a sigh, he replied "Truthfully, it feels really great! I always dreamed of this day…and now that its finally come, I know exactly what I'm going to do for the rest of my life!"

Ino, who had come over and sat down next to Shikimaru and was currently poking him with a stick spoke up. "And what exactly is your new life goal? Oh powerful lea--" Cutting off when Shikimaru, who had finally gotten tired of being poked; tackled her and sent them both rolling down a hill, that had been caused by one Team Sevens countless training sessions, laughing.

"I'm gonna watch over the Village Hidden in Leaves for the rest of my life!" He exclaimed jumping up, once again broadcasting his trademark grin, while everyone else in the clearing cheered.

999

It had been almost one month since Narutos assent to the position of Hokage; and now Naruto could clearly see why Tsunade always drank so much sake. With the amount of paperwork, problems, and complaining ninjas that spilled into his office every day, most of the time Naruto just wanted to slam his head against a wall for a couple of hours.

Signing yet another treaty that he hadn't really read, something about fishes or something like that, putting it aside to grab another from the never ending pile.

He looked up from his paper when he heard the door open, hoping it was something who could possibly give him an excuse to leave the office, but was disappointed that it was merely a genin handing in what looked to be a mission report.

Nonetheless Naruto smiled at him, holding out his hand requesting the report; signed it quickly, then dismissed the genin, who quickly ran out of the room with a thank you.

Listening until he could no longer hear the sound of the young boys footsteps, Naruto looked back down to his paperwork; getting an idea.

"Well," Naruto started, rising from his chair with a grin "I can't keep this Village in peace if I'm not paying attention to what I'm doing can I?" Quickly scribbling down a note to his secretary, who happened to be Council Member Higurashis son, Naruto opened the large window behind him.

Just as he was about to jump, he heard the door open once again behind him. "Hokage?" his before mentioned secretary ask knowingly. "You're not seriously skipping out again are you!"

Grinning out to the city, raising his arms out horizontally on either side of him like a bird feeling the wind on his face, answered him "Even Hokages need a break sometimes right?"

With that he leaned forward just the smallest bit, suspended in the air for a heartbeat, then plummeted down towards the ground.

Landing gently on the ground, Naruto took off over the rooftops heading to a place that he had visited more then could possibly be healthy, according to most of his friends.

999

"Another bowl!"

"Coming right up Hokage!" the owner of the Ramen shop Naruto was sitting at called back to him.

Stacking yet another bowl on top of the multiple bowls that had already accumulated in front of him, Naruto leaned back and rubbed his stomach, looking around at the familiar place.

The man who owned this place with his daughter had always been so kind to him, even though he had known that he was the Kyuubi, so Naruto had long ago developed a habit of coming to the place where he was accepted.

"Hey Naruto, what's up?" Shikimaru greeted him, plopping down in the seat next to him, slipping in an order to the waitress. "So what are you doing here? I thought that you would be busy getting all nervous about tonight?" Laughing he accepted the bowl given to him, as Naruto hungrily devoured the bowl placed in front of him.

Between gobbling down his ramen Naruto somehow managed to talk. "Not at all! I'm totally siked about tonight!"

"Good. We wouldn't want you to be the one slipping up tonight in front of everyone." Shikimaru commented half jokingly, elbowing Naruto in the ribs.

"Hah! So where's the lucky girl?" Naruto questioned, pushing the now finished bowl aside.

Shikimaru, rolling his eyes answered, "With the girls, getting ready."

"But the ceremonies not for two hours!" Naruto, looking at his watch said disbelievingly.

"Well you know girls, they're all crazy." Shikimaru shrugged.

"So I'll see you then?" Standing up Naruto got ready to go, looking down at the not yet finished eating Shikimaru.

"Yup. Guess so." Shikimaru said, turning back to his food.

"Ok…. Well then, see ya!" Shouting over his shoulder as he ran away from the store.

"Excuse me, sir?"

Looking up agitated at being interrupted again. "What?"

Looking sheepish, the shop owner held out his hand, "Naruto said you were paying?"

"Wha?" Confused, Shikimaru looked over… at the massive pile of bowls next to him…..

Naruto was once again running along the roof tops, listening for what he was waiting for. "NARUTO!!"

"Better get out of here now before Shikimaru gets enough sense to come after me," he chuckled to himself, speeding up.

999

"Do you Shikimaru Nara accept Ino Yamanaka as your bride, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness or in health, to love and to cherish 'till death do you part?" Naruto, dressed in his stifling Hokage attire, asked Shikimaru.

Shikimaru, staring into Inos eyes across from him answered without hesitation. "I do."

"Do you Ino Yamanaka accept Shikimaru Nara as your groom, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness or in health, to love and to cherish 'till death do you part?" Naruto turned to Ino to ask this time.

Dressed in a long white dress, and doing the same as Shikimaru across from her, she also answered without hesitation. "I do."

"Giving them both a warm smile Naruto continued. "Then I now pronounce you Husband and Wife. You may kiss the bride."

Shikimaru then leaned forward and gave Ino a sweet, gentle kiss, while all in the audience rose clapping, screaming, and some even crying.

Seeing that the kiss had not yet ended, and it had probably been over a minute by now, Naruto decided a little humor was in order. "OK, ok you two, save it for the honeymoon!"

This got a laugh from almost all present, including the newly wedded couple, who finally broke apart.

As the best man, Choji, made his speech, the cake was cut, people danced, and everyone had a wonderful time at the after party. People laughed, got drunk, and all just celebrated happily at the joining of the close couple. But throughout the whole thing, everyone continued to notice the one empty spot next to the bride where the maid of honor was to sit.

Back in the early stages of planning the wedding, Ino, Shikimaru, and the entire bridal party had agreed that that seat was to remain empty, because the one who was meant to fill it, had been dead for five years now.

999

Walking home along the shadowy road after the wedding party, Naruto was absolutely exhausted. Being a little drunk, he hadn't been paying attention to where he was walking, and when he looked up, he saw where his feet had taken him.

The Memorial Stone clearing.

Silently, Naruto advanced slowly across the clearing towards the memorial stone.

Stopping in front of it, his eyes traveled through the to long list of names, reading them, thinking of who these people might be, who they were. Who missed them, and cried when their name was added to the Memorial Stone.

The wind blew, stirring the trees around him, along with the cherry blossom tree a few yards away from where he was standing.

Reaching out, he watched as one solitary petal landed in his palm. Bringing it closer to him, he examined it. But when he was going to touch it, the wind unleashed another gust and sent it swirling back through the air to join its counterparts.

Looking back towards the stone, Narutos eyes continued to glide down the names, trying to find one specific one. The one that had broken his and all of his friends hearts when it was carved upon the stone.

When he found it, he reached out and gently traced the name with his fingers.

With a small, sad smile of one who lost one of the most important things in his life, he whispered into the silent night, "In the end, you really were like a cherry blossom, even though you tried so hard to prove to everyone that you wouldn't honor your namesake."

"Blooming in the summer, so bright, it draws everyone to you, capturing all of their hearts, no matter who they were." He continued, voice growing husky from pent up emotions.

"But just like a cherry blossom, you bless those around you with your beauty for only a short time. Then you are taken from the world, from our lives, all to soon." He ended, clenching his hand against the cold stone.

"Why?" Naruto whispered brokenly, falling to his knees before the large stone.

Naruto did not move, even when he felt rain droplets on his head. Not until his tears had run out, did Naruto stand up, take one last look at her name, and slowly trudge back home in the pouring rain.

Sakura Haruno