Chapter one: The shadows of Death
"Goddammit" he muttered
Kakashi was not a man cut for celebrations or summits, much less organising them.
And Now, with the victory celebrations and the five Kage summit only a few days away, he was stuck …
"Stop complaining" Shikamaru growled, "You have got Naruto and me doing the whole work, while you are merely observing and reading your Icha Icha bull…"
"Angry for getting you off your Lazy bum, Shikamaru, in fact, I am doing you a favour, you get to meet the delegations and I know you are quite fond of them, especially Sunogakure's"
Shikamaru seemed flustered for a minute, before rapidly throwing an emphasisable 'It is non of your concern' line
A good five minutes of argument ensued before Shikamaru finally gave up with a 'whatever', After all, he was too tired to go on with this 'Ridiculous' chitchat and he had more stuff to do as he put it.
"You mean more napping to do" Naruto chimed "Come on mate, give me a hand, I am fried here"
"Later, Naruto"
Any ounce of guilt Shikamaru felt for leaving most of the work to Naruto was effectively drowned by his own urgency to lay back and rest.
'After all, he is the one who wants to be a Hokage'
Sasuke looked upon his imminent death with relief rather than bereavement
'At least I get to join the clan'
As for his clan's succession, reviving their legacy and such, Sasuke has had his resolve a long time ago, the world has had enough unfortunate Uchihas, he was going to be the last of the cursed clan, the one that loved too much and hated with unrivalled intensity.
His heart was sealed anyway.
He reluctantly sets off back to Konoha … to bid his one dear friend goodbye.
It was hard to get over Neji's death.
The elder Hyuuga seemed to have gotten older since his Nephew's demise, Hanabi was training harder to fill the gap her cousin has left.
Hinata became more withdrawn, more silent save with Tama.
"You should go out more" the elder Hyuuga admonished "Walk around town, meet your teammates, village and clansmen"
"I was already planning to take Tama on a walk , he wants to see the decorations more up close, TenTen will join us as well"
"I meant without Tama and TenTen, on your own accord, you have been grieving for too long now, it is wearing you out, you need to stop"
"You are talking as though I am the only one who is still grieving"
He looked at her wearily, she was right.
he wasn't over grief himself.
Tama was practically awed by the sight of all the brightly coloured banners.
They were mostly orange
The whole town was illuminated save for the cemetery and the Uchiha district.
"Look Hinata-sama, those lights"
"I have to admit, Hinata, Naruto did a damn good Job on this"
"Yes, he did" she replied absent mindedly
TenTen observed her friend, no longer did she blush at the mention of Naruto, no longer does she seem interested in anything , anyone but Tama who was currently absorbed by the merry displays in town.
"Your guilt complex is getting the best of you , my dear friend"
"Huh"
"Hinata, He made a choice, one we should cherish and respect, not only to protect you but to protect the clan and Konoha"
"I can't seem to shake the feeling of his blood on my hands, TenTen. I can't seem to stop despising myself every time I think about all the things he had missed, Tama's smiles, his first step, his first word, and all the other things he would miss. I can't seem to stop wondering about what you and Tama are missing with him gone. I can't stop thinking that it would have been easier if it was me who took the blow, not him."
"Hinata, it does not go this way, I am sure he can still see Tama and feel him somehow, somewhere. He can still watch over the both of us, over you as well. He liked you so much Hinata, despite everything, even at the zenith of his animosity towards the main house. And honestly Hinata, all of us are doing a hard job to ensure Tama isnot missing out on anything Neji would have done, especially Hiashi-sama and you"
It seemed like Hinata has blanked out amid of the conversation.
"Oh, look who I have bumped into" Naruto's voice bellowed as he lifted Tama off the ground.
"Naruto-Sama" the boy giggled, the years Naruto spent as an outcast orphan made him particularly kind towards children his like.
"Tama-kun, how are you? You have gotten taller since I last saw you"
The little boy seemed to be pleased by the compliment.
"God, you look exactly like, Neji-kun, rest his soul. TenTen, Hinata, how is it going?"
"Fine, Naruto, you did a grand job on that"
Naruto grinned as he scratched the back of his head "Thank you, TenTen. I did most of the work on my own since Kakashi and Shikamaru practically bailed on me. Wait, till the real celebrations start and you will be blown away, especially you, Tama"
"When will they start, Naruto-Sama?"
"Soon enough buddy, when the Kages arrive, in fact Gaara is almost here and the rest will follow after, I will get going now, Kakashi sent for me, see you around; Tama, Hinata, TenTen" he nodded
'This cannot be good news'
The Kumogakure's messenger has just left Kakashi's office,
The Raikage was Dead