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Disclaimer: Hic! even all this sake can't dull the pain of not owing Naruto.
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"Uzumaki Naruto. A jinchuuriki. A demon. A shinobi of Konohagakure. . A person who changed my life. A person who understood me. My brother. Brother of Sabaku no Gaara." Gaara looked at the sunset. It was sad. Why were sunsets so sad? "You saved me. You saved my village. You saved your own village. You were a hero. But why did you go away? We needed you. She needed you."
Kankurou stood beside him.
"Gaara, how long will you hold on to it. You are the Kazekage. Your village needs you," Kankurou still remained calm, or at least tried to.
"Don't you feel what I feel?"
"I do, but then we have to move on. Life does not stop for one man. It must flow on," Kankurou tried to reason.
Gaara turned and walked away, with the sun on his back. Kankuro followed.
"Kankurou, tell her I'm sorry."
"I will."
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Sasuke closed his eyes. He had just heard of the news. All alone in the darkness of his room, he had time to think.
"Fine, the dobe is out of the way. Finally."
Still a part of him wanted to cry. Cry, at the death of his brother, his friend. Someone who was dear to him. What was he thinking?
"Naruto, why? Why do I feel this…pain? You were nothing but a hindrance. An obstacle in my way. That day, I'd have killed you. But why?"
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As birds chirped the morning jingle, Tsunade woke up clutching her head. The hangover was worse than last morning's, but there was something that ached more than her head. She was still in the office, with the window open. The door opened and Shizune entered the room.
"Tsunade sama. Please stop drinking so much. It hurts us to see you in so much pain," Shizune's voice was full of concern.
Tsunade got up from the chair and went to the window, looking up at the Hokage monument.
"He had said…..one day…..I can't believe he is gone."
"Tsunade sama, please."
She had dreamt, that one day, she would die seeing the face of a man with whisker-marks on his cheeks on that mountain. Now she knew the day would never come. Her vision blurred. She closed her eyes to prevent the flood from coming out. No, she had to be strong.
"Shizune, get today's papers."
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All was dark, except for a small crack from where light was coming into the cave. Sakura saw someone standing there. She did not recognize who it was, so she ran forward, kunai in hand. Then she caught sight of the orange and black jumpsuit. Yes, it was Naruto. "Naruto!" She coud not believe it.He turned to face her. "Sakura-chan?"
Then the earth started shaking. Rocks started falling from the roof of the cave.
"Sakura-chan look out!!" Naruto's yelling had the effect.
Sakura saw a big boulder coming right at her. She was frozen on the spot. She couldn't move. Then she felt a hand on her back and a push. Naruto had pushed her away. She hit the wall on the left. The boulder came down with a big force, sending small rocks flying in the air. Then it was quiet. "Naruto?" Realization dawned on her. It was too late. Suddenly she heard a creaking noise above her. She had only time enough to look up to see a big piece of rock coming at her before everything went black…….and her eyes flew open. She was looking at whitewashed walls and a creaky fan. It was a dream. She was at the hospital.
"Woke up? About time."
She turned to see Ino by her side. She saw a weak smile on her old rival's face.
"N…Naruto?"
The smile vanished from Ino's face. She turned her face, not knowing what to say.
Sakura didn't need the words. She let her head fall back to the pillow, her right hand gripping the bed sheet tightly. There was silence. It was painful. She had experienced it once before, when Sasuke was going.
"If only I was strong enough….."
Ino held her hand, trying to console her. She understood Sakura more than any one. She knew what he had meant to her. Sakura was still staring at the ceiling.
"I will get Sasuke back for you, I promise."
Her voice was firm, and yet, Ino felt that Sakura was trying to hide behind words. She knew her friend was crying.
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Thud…thud….thud….thud….Hands furiously kept hitting the practice log. Hinata's hands were bloodied but she would not stop. The pain was nothing to the one she had inside her. She was weak. She could not stop it from happening. It had happened before her, and yet she was powerless. Powerless to save her dear Naruto-kun. Powerless to fight. But this would not happen again. She will be weak no more. She will train and fight. Fight to protect the one thing that is precious to her……his memories. Hyuuga Hiashi looked at her from behind the tree. He had seen something change about his daughter. Her voice was now firm and calm. She was so sure of herself now. She was now a true Hyuuga.
"Only through pain one becomes strong. I know it is painful, but you must endure. We all fight our way through pain. He is gone now, never to return, but in turn he gave something to you. I see him in you. I think that is for the best."
He left unnoticed. Hinata kept hitting the log, knowing fully well that her father had come and gone.
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The Hokage monument is a majestic sight. After all, it is a tribute to the greatest leaders the village had since it was founded. Kakashi stood at the edge, overlooking the village. The wind caressed his hair. "You feel the same, don't you?", his voice addressed the white haired man behind him.
He didn't turn back to face Jiraiya.
"I feel I failed him. I could never be good sensei to him." Kakashi felt guilty for never being there for his student.
"Don't feel that way Kakashi. What has happened has happened. We can't turn back time. But then see the bright side, your words were with him - those who abandon their teammates are worse than trash."
"He died because of it."
"He was brave."
Kakashi turned.
"Yes, I guess so."
Naruto's wish had come true. He had been acknowledged. His name was there, among the martyrs of Konoha. On that memorial which stood on the Team 7 training ground. Hatake Kakashi now came even more late to appointments.
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