naruto and anything that involves it does not belong to me.

(except this)

The Hokage's Path

Chpt. 1 "A Sannin's Funeral"

-- Including the Toad Family the entire village has gathered around the monument dedicated to the fallen Sannin. Everyone's there, everyone except Naruto. A few minutes pass and Tsunade starts the ceramony. The sorrow is clear throughout the crowd. "Attention everyone!" Her voice echoes through the already silent crowd. "We're here today to honor the memory of Jiraiya the Toad Sage, a Sannin, a sensei, and what's more... a friend."

-- Hinata turns to Sakura when she notices Naruto's missing. "Sakura, where's Naruto?" Sakura looks up from the ground at Hinata and then searches over the crowd. "I don't know. Hey Kakashi sensei, where's Naruto?" Kakashi glances over the crowd. "I don't know. Why don't you two go look for him." Despite his efforts his sadness was even more noticable then Tsunade's. The girls nod and make thier way out of the crowd. Tsunade continues to speak. "He was one of the greatest shinobi in the Hidden Leaf Village!... and he will be missed."

-- Hinata and Sakura reach an empty town square. Sakura turns to Hinata. "Where do you think he could be?" Hinata, "Well, there's not many places he could be... maybe you should check Ichiraku's and I'll go to the academy." "Why the academy?" "He likes to hang out there when he's sad." Sakura gives a puzzled look and then turns in the direction of the ramen shop. "Your the expert." Hinata turns red then makes her way towards the academy.

-- Sakura reaches the ramen shop first. No one. She decides to meet up with Hinata.

-- Hinata arrives at the academy and finds him sitting on the swing. When she sees him talking to himself she descides to watch from the bushes. "He's gone. He's really gone." He stares at the ground as tears stream down his face. "It was my fault... I should of been there..." Hinata starts to cry as she sees Naruto's tears hit the ground. "I should of saved him!... why couldn't I save him?" The bushes rustle. "Who's there?!" Hinata steps out of the bushes with her head down. "Uh... Hinata." Naruto jumps from the swing. Hinata looks away to try and hide her tears. "Hinata what's wrong?" She looks up in suprise to see that Naruto's tears had disappeared. "You weren't... listening to me, were you?" "... I'm sorry... it's just that you weren't at the ceramony and ... I got worried." Naruto manages a smile. "I'm fine you don't need to worry about me, but why were you crying?" "It's just that I... I don't like to see you cry Naruto." Her face starts to turn red.

-- Sakura arrives in a near by tree unnoticed.

-- Naruto looks at Hinata curiously. Then they all turn to the souds of funeral bells. Naruto's sadness returns, followed by Hinata's. Naruto sits down while Hinata and Sakura turn to head back. "Hinata..." Both girls stop. "Yes, Naruto?" "Will you ... stay with me for a while?" Hinata nods and walks over to sit on the swing.

--After a while Naruto lays his head in Hinata's lap. Hinata startled calmly, puts her hand on his head. Sakura watching starts to shake with anger. Inner Sakura, 'What does he think He's doing!' "Huh..." Sakura puts her hand to her mouth. 'What am I thinking? Am I... Jealous?' With that Sakura turns and heads back to the ceramony. Leaving Naruto and Hinata to sit there for to them felt like forever.

the next chpt will not be as sad.

please review so I know what not to do.