Funeral ======= ======= =======

Perhaps, it would have been more fitting if it were raining. It certainly would have suited the mood of the procession more accurately. The blindingly bright and warm early autumn day, full of red falling leaves, was in stark contrast to the waves of sorrow emanating off of the war party returning home to Konoha. The war had been won, but at a terrible cost. Through the course of the two-day battle the mainstay forces had suffered approximately ninety percent casualties. Konoha, being the largest village in the Alliance, contributed twenty thousand to the eighty thousand total effectives. Of those Konoha contributed, six thousand had died, and twelve thousand had received medical discharges from service before the day for healing could take place. Such losses were nothing less than catastrophic. Beyond the city walls, the citizens of konoha remained oblivious to everything save the fact that their warriors had brought back a great victory. Flowers were laid and bands assembled in preparation for the fanfare that would accompany the triumphant return of their heroes. They would be sorely disappointed.

Konohamaru's smile was wide as gates opened.

"Yayy! Boss is finally coming home! I can't wait to hear all his war stories." Then he noticed something was wrong. At the front of the procession, the one leading was not the Hokage, but Kakashi, with Sasuke at his right and Sakura at his left. They were all bearing black. In fact, all of the returning Konoha shinobi were wearing black. It reminded Konohamaru of a funeral procession too much. An image flashed in his mind of his grandfather's passing, and his funeral procession.

"Where's Naruto-niichan? I don't see him yet."

"He's probably just somewhere else. The line is really long, after all." Moegi answered.

"I guess…"

Also present was Hyuuga Hanabi, patiently waiting for the return of her sister, father, and clansmen who had been called up for service. For victorious warriors, the shinobi passing before her were awfully quiet and haggard. The village soon picked up on this. The bands never started playing. The colorful parade flowers rained down in silence as the thrumming of marching boots rang through the avenues. Most shinobi were smiling. Some more forced than others. A whole array of brave, soft rictuses that held no joy or pride. Hanabi could only frown in consternation.

What happened?

Then the injured came. There were gasps as row after row of amputees hobbled forwards on crutches. Columns of blinded pattered along, each holding on to the man in front. Anxiety pooled in her stomach when she realized that the mass of disabled was about as large as the number of fit shinobi who led the procession in the front, and even those in the front tended many minor injuries or unfinished healing jobs.

And then the coffins. Rolling on horse-drawn carts, a stream of coffins bearing the Leaf sign rolled through the streets. Hanabi stared numbly as the heartbreak widened by the minute, the minutes dragging on. Yet the dead kept coming. If ever someone asked Hanabi what she thought of war, it would be this moment that would define her memories. The seemingly endless line of people who would never be seeing their families again.

Nee-san… please be alright.

The procession proceeded to the parade grounds near the Hokage Tower, where the shinobi and expectant civilians gathered. Kakashi stepped up to the podium.

"Yesterday morning, the fields of battle fell silent. A great tragedy has ended. A great victory has been won... Our rejoicing is sobered and subdued by a supreme consciousness of the terrible price we have paid to rid the world of Madara and his evil band. Let us not forget, my fellow people of Konoha, the sorrow and the heartache which today abide in the homes of so many of our neighbors -comrades whose lives have been rendered as a sacrifice to redeem our liberty. Among those lost was the hero, of not just Konoha, but of the entire Shinobi Alliance, Uzumaki Naruto, as well as our Hokage, Lady Tsunade. Let us pray for them and all the other souls sacrificed." Kakashi bowed his head, and the rest of Konoha followed. "As of now, Konoha has no Hokage, a state of being present in not just the Leaf, but also shared by Stone and Cloud. Know that the crisis is passed, and a new era is upon us. We must go forward to preserve in peace what we won in war. That is all."

After a few minutes of silence, the crowd slowly dispersed as the injured went to the hospital to finish their healing, and people moved about to find friends and relatives.

Konohamaru pushed his way to the front, to confront Kakashi.

"Hey… Is it true?! Naruto-niichan is… Naruto-niichan…"

"Yeah. I'm sorry."

Konohamaru stared at his feet, then ran away, hoping to find some place to cry alone.

Hanabi, noticing her classmate dash away, decided to go find her own family members.

If it's true that Naruto died… I hope nee-chan handles it okay.

Deciding not to use the Byakugan in such a setting, Hanabi used her eyes to scan the crowd in a normal manner for familiar features as she navigated the mass of grieving humanity. Finally, she found what she was looking for.

"Father!" She called out. Hiashi turned his head in response, showing Hanabi the full range of his facial expression. Right off the bat, she could not remember a time that her stoic father had ever seemed so… severe. "What's wrong?"

He seemed to have trouble answering at first.

"Many things. Your sister is not well."

"Is she hurt?!"

"Physically, she is fine… but she is suffering from acute combat fatigue. Your cousin Neji is dead."

"Oh." The double shock left her rigid. On one hand she felt relieved that her sister hadn't ended up in one of those innumerable coffins as she'd been starting to fear. On the other hand, this comfort was quick to dissipate when it hit her that her gentle cousin Neji was in one of those coffins…

"Where is she?"

"I sent her to the hospital to be examined. It doesn't hurt to be careful, and a psychologist will try to talk to her."

"I see." Hanabi looked back up, to examine the faces of her clansmen that had gathered around father. There were far too few. "If you'll excuse me father, I'd like to go to my sister now."

"Very well. Hanabi…"

"Yes?"

"Take care of her."

"Of course."

####### ####### #######

"I'm here to see Hyuuga Hinata."

"Hyuuga Hinata-sama is in the west wing. Do you need a nurse to show you the way?"

"No, just tell me the room number."

Walking through the hospital halls at a brisk pace, Hanabi couldn't help the pounding in her chest. She just couldn't wait to make sure with her own eyes... The room came up, and Hanabi paused in front of the door to knock softly. When no response was forthcoming, Hanabi knocked again, more loudly. Again, no response. Is she sleeping? It's not even noon yet. Well then... Habani tested the door handle. It was unlocked, so she let herself in.

There she was. Beautiful as ever, white porcelain skin adorning her delicate features. Her straight black hair framing her soft feminine face. Hinata sat upright in her hospital bed, staring emptily at nothing in particular a bit above and to the left of her feet.

"Mou, onee-chan, if you're awake then answer when someone knocks!"

"..." Hinata continued to ignore Hanabi. Hanabi walked right up to the bedside.

"Well, how are you? Are you okay? I heard about Naruto… I'm sorry." She placed a hand on Hinata's, which finally prompted a reaction when Hinata flinched at the contact.

"Hanabi... good morning." She whispered vacantly, as if greatly distracted by whatever invisible thing was hovering by her feet.

"What have they been doing with you in the hospital?"

"Made me… talk to a doctor."

"Onee-chan, look at me when I'm talking to you."

"..." Hinata's eyes traversed slightly to the right, but then drooped before reaching Hanabi.

"You look really tired. Maybe you should get some rest."

"Mmh." Hinata's response was a minimal sub-vocalization.

"I heard later today we're going to bring you home. You'll get some good home-cooked food and get some good sleep in your bed."

"Not hungry."

"Well, maybe not now… but food out in the field must have been pretty bad compared to home, right? You'll feel much better soon! Anyways, it's good to have you back home." She had never felt so… helpless. Isn't there anything I can do to make her better?

"... Home."

Hanabi retreated, closing the room door carefully.

I hope she feels better soon…

####### ####### #######

Despite his nervousness, Kakashi kept his hands in his pockets and continued to glare at Sasuke, who had taken his seat in the Hokage's chair in the Office of the Hokage. He also pointedly ignored the gloating snake that stood next to Sasuke.

"Sasuke… Why did you make me lie?! What's the deal?"

"It would become problematic if the civilians knew I was the one who killed the three Kages. Keeping everyone's mouths shut is simpler."

Sakura entered the room, catching Sasuke's eye.

"Sakura, good timing. Did you do as I asked?"

"Yes… But, what I don't get is why we're preserving the body instead of giving it a proper burial."

"Naruto-kun's body is special. There is much than can be learned or done from it, much in the same way that Madara enhanced himself and the zetsus with Hashirama's cells…" Orochimaru elaborated lightly.

"Even in death Naruto will be a valuable resource for this village... and my rule." Sasuke affirmed.

Sakura shuddered at the thought of Orochimaru getting his slimy hands on her friend's body.

"If you say so…"

"That reminds me... Kakashi, how are the funeral preparations?"
"Proceeding on-schedule."

"Good. Things are in order. It won't be long now…"

A few moments passed before Sasuke reclined in the chair.

"There is one more matter." Kakashi noted as he pointed at a stack of paperwork on the desk. "It seems some of the depots have been emptied of equipment we had stockpiled for the war. No weaponry, though."

"Oh, that. Pay it no mind, I know what I'm doing. Good work today. Kakashi, you may go." Not bothering to bow, Kakashi slunk out of the office. Sakura turned to leave as well, but Sasuke stopped her.

"Sakura."

"Sasuke-kun?"

"Do you have more work to do, or are you free?"

"What? You want to…" go on a date right now, of all times? Sakura's brain nearly shut down in confusion.

"I've been away from the village for a while, right? How about you show me around, take some time to catch up."

"I... um, Okay?"

Orochimaru watched the young man leave the room with interest. For Sasuke-kun to display interest in female company... Kukuku… Could it be?

"Anyways, back to work for me."

He slithered away silently.

####### ####### #######

It felt positively surreal, casually eating at a ramen stand together after all that had happened. Sasuke swallowed the savory noodles carefully, not betraying his surprise at how good it tasted. Really, Orochimaru and Obito hadn't been very concerned with the quality of their cuisine back at their bases, and food was merely a necessity of nutrition, like medicine -not something to enjoy. Loathe to admit it as he was, Sasuke missed the food from Konoha.

"What's with you today, Sasuke-kun? You seem different from before. I was beginning to think you'd never spend time with me like this…"

"Hn. I guess I could explain. Naruto made me understand what it means to have friends. Before, I thought caring about people was a weakness. So I tried to distance myself from you and Naruto… tried to cut our bonds to get rid of my weakness. But Naruto never saw it that way. My behavior up until now... I apologize for it."

Sakura smiled brightly. Thank you, Naruto. You really did keep your promise. Sasuke is back.

####### ####### #######

It had been a week. Hinata hadn't yet left her room once. Branch house servants would bring trays of food for her regularly for her meals. They would all go ignored. Pacing back and forth across the dojo, Hanabi fumed, ready to break something, or someone. The clan elders had claimed that Hinata would be seen by a therapist, but that hadn't happened yet. The clan elders instructed that none were to disturb Hinata 'for fear of perturbing her mental balance'.

You know what, I have a right to see my own sister! I don't care if they punish me, they can't isolate her like this… those damn slimey elders. They've been out to get Hinata ever since she's been old enough to be considered weak. Now this 'combat-fatigue' is a perfect excuse to isolate her.

Decision made, Hanabi strode straight to the section of their house containing the bedrooms, and knocked on Hinata's door. This was just a formality, as many had knocked and none had gotten a response, so she burst in anyway after pausing a beat. The abrupt opening of the door made Hinata flinch where she sat on her bed.

"Onee-chan. Have you eaten anything today?"

Hinata slowly shook her head no.

Hinata belted off to the kitchens and came back with a plate of food.

"Eat."

"Not hungry." Came the mumbled reply.

"I don't care. I'm not going away until you finish this plate. You've at least been drinking water, right?"
"Mh."

Hanabi grasped Hinata's hand and forced the chopsticks into her sister's fingers.

"Do I have to force-feed you?"

Hinata sighed, as if giving up.

"Alright…"

She proceeded to eat mechanically.

"Good. I'll be back, so be sure to keep eating properly. Don't make me worry like this."

"Worry…"

Jumping up on the bed, Hanabi drew her sister into a hug.

"We'll help you get better, I promise." Feeling warm droplets fall against her chest, Hanabi cradled Hinata tightly.

####### ####### #######

"What do you mean they're too busy?!"

"I'm sorry miss, but appointments with our resident therapists are all booked."
"Why?"

"Well, the war was very hard on the veterans… Many are suffering from combat fatigue and battle neurosis."

"When will a doctor be available for my sister?"

"We're inviting in doctors from neighboring countries to help deal with the veterans. Come back in a week and you'll probably be able to get an appointment."

"Okay."
"Goodday."

Hanabi kicked at the dirt as she trudged back the Hyuuga compound. She cursed the war and Madara for starting it. It was too bad that he'd already been killed or she would find him and beat him up herself. The war had taken away too much. Her sister was inconsolably depressed, her first cousin was dead, and many other more distant cousins and uncles had also been killed.

The funeral ceremonies are starting soon. I wonder if Hinata will pay respects for Naruto. Somehow, she doubted it. Hinata was too unresponsive to do much of anything at home, much less appear in public.

Slowing down, Hanabi read the text on an announcement sign bearing the seal of the Office of the Hokage. It seemed that on the advice of the doctors, considering the huge number of veterans living in the village, use of fireworks was temporarily being banned. Hanabi wished she could go back to that time when she had been younger and understood less. She'd heard people whispering and gossiping. Apparently, the war was so gruesome that half the returning soldiers had gone crazy to some degree, some cases more serious than others. 'Gross Stress Reaction' the doctors called it in public. The civilians knew better. From the past experience of three previous shinobi world wars, it wasn't unusual to have soldiers return home with cases of war neurosis and shell-shock. Even the famed and elite Anbu rotated their members often to prevent 'exhaustion'. Hanabi shrugged, tired of seeing pity or sadness at every corner ever since the war ended. These days, it wasn't unusual to see a random stranger burst into tears anywhere one went. To think that they still had to suffer such tragedy despite being the victors.