I don't own naruto this is a simple one shot if you haven't read the manga this has some huge spoilers so turn back now. It is my first story so please be gentle with the reviews.
Neji's funeral was hard on everyone I could tell but I could naruto was suffering the most he was taking his death personal everyone in the crowd felt sorry for him. The audience was dressed in all black, ninja from every nation were gathered to show respect for the stoic ninja. Choji was standing next to me in the front row I always hated Asuma's smoking but today I decided to light one up in honor of a true friend. As the funeral proceeded the entire huyga clan made their way to casket to they there final goodbyes, but strangely no one else in the crowd felt compelled to say any goodbyes. For several moments nothing moved just all of us in attendance stood and bowed our heads thinking what the future may hold and how it would have been different. Awkward silence were however never Naruto's strong suit so in typical naruto fashion he stood up limped to front and began.
"I'm sorry I promised to protect everyone and I failed I am no hero no rather the villain, I am sorry Neji," He said. Instead of returning to his seat in the front row he continued standing just peering into the box as if expecting an answer one we all knew would never come. Almost if the sprits high above were watching down there was a sudden flash of lighting followed by a clap of thunder then a light sprinkle. Not hard enough to force anyone to leave just a soft shower like heavens tears. This sudden display of nature was too much for several members as they started to weep softly even temari who rarely showed any emotion started crying on my shoulder. I couldn't keep a few tears back myself as they ran off my chin and splashed on the ground.
000
Later that night the remains of us 12 students who took the chunins exams gathered around a table in a bar somewhere on the outskirts of town. To think that out of us 12 one turned rouge and left another went on to become a hero and would defiantly be hokage and well neji he would always be with us in sprit. Lee who was dealing with losing such a close friend had decided to try and forget his problems by drinking which only lead to the entire group of us getting removed from the bar. So still not wanting the night to end we decided to head out of town into the forest to a small meadow neji and tenten would often train.
We were all sprawled out on the grass many of us just reminiscing the good and the bad times the fun and hard times. Naruto thou he didn't speak one word just sat in silence, that was until hinata had decided that she had it with naruto's sulking and slap him in the face and said," you and I both know this is not how he would want you acting and for goodness sake stop blaming yourself for what happened you know it was madara's fault but nothing you can do is going to change that but you can make best out it and live a life he would be proud of" and after ending her speech tears streaming down her face she buried her face in his chest crying for a solid minute. Everyone else had postponed their own conversations to see what would happen next and after about a minute naruto finally took a hint and wrapped his arms around her and kissed her. My jaw dropped because I never had seen hinata act so bravely before and everyone just stood still feeling the warmth of friendship that seemed to exploded outward from that kiss. Kiba was the one who broke the silence "Well it's about time isn't it" he said laughing. So for the rest of that we partied not because we were trying to get over neji no because we knew at that exact moment that he was still here with us and he would always be.