A Tale of Happiness and Sorrow

By: Wind Sage 00

Chapter 1

The sun began to set behind the great stone faces of the Hokages, a cool wind lightly brushed by the Ichiraku Ramen shop blowing the steam off of Naruto's freshly made ramen. He had been sitting there for what seemed like an eternity, barely noticing the old man sliding his favorite dish beside him. Not even ramen could bring Naruto out of his depressed slump.

"Pervy Sage...hmmm…", said Naruto.

Naruto sat there staring into his ramen, the noodles still swirling around; much like his rasengan he thought…the same one Jiraiya-sama had taught him.

Naruto paid for his uneaten meal and left the ramen shop, still half aware of what was going on around him. He didn't care though, how could he? The man who had taught him the 4th's technique, the one who had saved him from the Akatsuki, and…the first one since Iruka-sensei that had been like a father figure to him.

(Thinking to himself) "Well, maybe not a father but a grandfather…he was like, what over 50?"

A smile managed to creep onto Naruto's face as he thought back to the first time he had met Jiraiya-sama. He remembered how Jiraiya taught him how to first walk on water, then summon toads, and the time he and Naruto had split an ice-cream after training for the rasengan…

A tear began to flow down Naruto's cheek and a somber pain rushed all through his body. He was about to wipe the tear away when all of a sudden he heard, very quietly and softly…

"N-Naruto kun."

Naruto looked up to see he had wandered in front of the Hyuuga Manor, and there was Hinata standing at the front gate, her finger held close to her lips (as he had seen her do often when she was younger). He quickly brushed away the tear that had strolled down his cheek and said in the cheeriest voice he could muster…

"Oh, hey there Hinata. Didn't realize I wondered off this far."

"…W-What's wrong, you look sad.", said Hinata.

"Its nothing, really I'm fine…thanks for asking Hinata-san, I really appreciate it…"

(Thinking to herself) "N-N-Naruto-kun appreciates me?"

"I'm just really…I don't know what to say even… I could really use someone to talk to right now I guess…"

(Thinking to herself) "Naruto-kun wants to talk to me??? Here? Alone?"

She started to quiver as she looked into his wet fierce blue eyes… (Thud!)

Hinata immediately fell strait back onto the stone pave-way of the manor. Naruto quickly rushed over to her.

"Hinata, you ok?" (To himself) "Why does she always faint like that? She's so weird sometimes."

Hinata slowly regained consciousness and opened her eyes to see Naruto kneeling beside her.

"Hinata, are you ok?", asked Naruto.

"Y-Yes, I'm fine Naruto-kun."

"Right, you gave me a scare; I was worried for a second…You should get some rest if you're not feeling well. I'm going to go take a walk."

(Thinking to herself) "He was worried about me?"

"No, really I'm fine Naruto-kun. I-I would like to talk…if that's ok with you.", said Hinata.

"Yeah sure."

Hinata gets up and the two walk out together back towards town. The sun sets behind the great stone faces of the Hokages, as the two make their way up to the top, looking at the buildings below. All the while, they've never stopped talking.

"I remember when I was in the academy, the 3rd and I were standing up here looking out over everything; I wanted to then and still want to become Hokage one day."

"I think that you would be a great Hokage Naruto-kun.", said Hinata with a big smile on her face.

"I thought so too; but everyone I get close to gets hurt because of me, leaves or dies because of me. I can't save anyone."

"No, that's not true! You never give up and always believe in yourself and others, even when they don't believe in themselves. You stand up for everyone and are not afraid to fail. You're going to make a great Hokage! Jiraiya-sama probably thought so too."

"Hinata…"

Around the same time, Sakura was looking around for Naruto. She had just heard the news of Jiraiya's death, and wanted to see if Naruto was ok.

"I wonder where Naruto could be?"

(Thinking to herself) "Naruto…I can't imagine how your feeling now…Where are you?"

She searched and searched. She checked by his room, she checked the Ichiraku ramen shop, and even checked their old training area. Midnight passed and the sun started to creep above the rooftops. Tired and cold, she was just about to give up when she happened to glace at the Hokage faces…

"That's gotta be where Naruto is!"

Sakura climbed the stairs and was about to reach the top when she stopped and saw Naruto with Hinata. Just as the sun rose completely over the rooftops, Sakura saw Naruto and Hinata come together and kiss.

A wave of feelings gripped Sakura as she stepped back, then ran down the stairs into town. She ran and ran, the tears flowing down her face.

"Why am I crying? I was just looking to see if Naruto was ok, right? But then…why do I feel so empty?"

Confused and sad, she ran to her house where she went to her room and crashed on her bed. Exhausted from looking all night, she eventually fell asleep upon her tear drenched pillow.

End of Chapter 1