Since I always seem to mention what songs I was listening to while I wrote each fic, here it goes: I was listening to Remember Me performed by Josh Groban. On repeat. Try it some time.
The sky was sunny as the young man walked through the village gates. It was almost too beautiful of a day to be borne, considering the danger the village had so recently been threatened with. At the sight of him, the guards on duty were to call for the Hokage and ANBU. When they saw what he was carrying, all thoughts of their duty ended. They stared, frozen, as a traitor walked past them, cradling his heavy burden.
All along the traitor's path, his destination known only to him, the shinobi and civilians stopped and stared. The ANBU designated to capture him if he ever set foot in the village forgot their duty and followed him silently, watching over the large crowd that now also followed along behind the man.
The man's destination was apparently the memorial stone, and it was here that a long-awaited meeting occurred. Three shinobi stood in his path, another slightly off to the side.
Sai had no lasting bond with their visitor, but he couldn't take his eyes away.
Sakura and Kakashi had waited so long to see him again, but never wanted it to be under these circumstances. Even if Sakura's infatuation had not ended years ago, she still wouldn't have been able to fully appreciate his presence. Even without Kakashi's guilt at his past failure, he couldn't happily face him. All because of the reason that he stood before them.
Tsunade said nothing. She merely moved out of his way and the other three followed.
Sasuke stepped forward to the memorial. Standing in front of it, he placed his precious cargo gently on the ground and kneeled next to it. He carefully brushed red-soaked hair, once blond, to the side. He wiped some of the blood off of the cold, once joyful face. With more tenderness then anyone had ever seen him use, he straightened the torn clothes over the shattered body of his once strong best friend.
Sakura found her way into her former sensei's warm arms, her head turned from his chest, her tearful eyes unable to leave the scene, as Sasuke's hands started to tremble. She and Tsunade both started to silently cry as his fingers gripped the torn jacket. The crowd watched as his forehead was lowered to rest on the still chest of the village's source of light and hope.
They listened as the once stoic Uchiha let out a scream of true and pure pain.
The sound ripped through the hearts of those watching. It was heard throughout the village as the news of what was happening spread. The man who hadn't cried since childhood openly sobbed on the body of his only true friend. Further cries of anguish and anger tore through his body as memories shredded his mind. The only bond that he had kept, the only bond he cherished, was as broken as the body lying under his hands, as broken as the heart in his own chest.
Even the power of the Kyuubi could not save someone from death.
Naruto was gone.
And without the light of the sun, the moon cannot shine.
If I get enough reviews/PMs requesting it, I'll continue this story. It would make my beta very happy...