Disclaimer: I do not own the anime/manga Naruto, neither am I making any profit out of this. It is merely just for entertainment nothing else.

Enjoy! by Know-it-all-Hermione

CHAPTER TWO: Naruto's Funeral

A crowd gathered around the cemetery as Sasuke had to stare out at the upset faces of the village. It was the day of Naruto's memorial service and surprisingly many people come to give their last respects to Naruto; Sasuke didn't know how much Naruto had done for the village once he had left, it was said, Naruto would have become the next Hokage...but now, those words meant nothing.

For some reason Sasuke was allowed back into the village, he was the one who brought Naruto's body, and almost everyone in the leaf village knew that Sasuke had been the most important person to Naruto, it was Naruto's life goal to bring Sasuke back, and he had succeeded...'but was the price worth it', most had to wonder.

Once Sasuke arrived, he had given the body over to a heartbroken Tsunade, she received the blonde, she received the only person she considered a little brother...or a son. She removed the necklace she had given him years ago as a reward, "another life was taken by this accursed necklace...it will never end" she whispered in a choked voice. 'This was why, I never wanted to become a Hokage,' the sentenced plagued her mind as she added another loss of a life to her list.

Sasuke had told her that he was with Naruto when he had died before he was asked reluctantly by Tsunade to give a speech for his funeral since he was the only one by Naruto's side at the time.

And now here he was, he didn't prepare a speech, he couldn't but he decided to just speak from his heart instead. Classmates, friends, teachers, everyone was there, glaring at Sasuke. They didn't know the full truth of how Naruto died, they just knew that Naruto had set out to fight Sasuke and bring him home to Konoha but instead, came home dead in Sasuke's arms. Sasuke glared back as he always did, his dark eyes almost daring them to yell at him with accusations as he continued to move forward until he was in front of Naruto's open coffin.

Tsunade moved aside as Sasuke took to the podium, he spoke "Years ago, I was in Team 7...with Naruto and Sakura." Sasuke's eyes glazed over as he smiled sadly at the memory, "Naruto and I have always competed with each other, and we motivated each other to become stronger." Sasuke sighed in sadness, he realized too late as he continued to speak, "Naruto has always considered me like a brother as well as his best friend...and I," he gritted his teeth in anger, " I deserve to be neither, I can never forgive myself for what I have done to him," slamming his fist on the podium, cracks appeared as the crowd moved back, Sasuke was releasing chakra, "I was always too focused on my hatred, I needed to avenge my family, I needed to kill him, I needed to kill my older brother!" Sasuke unclenched his hand before staring at Naruto's pale face, "But Naruto...he was still my best friend, even when I left, he made it his goal to help me, he was the only family I had left... and I will never forget him" Sasuke stopped, he had said enough, he just wanted to go home, he nodded to Tsunade before heading down, refusing to stay for the rest of the ceremony as the clouds darkened...rain.

As the rain fell from the skies, it hid the tears streaming down his face, adding to the glares he threw at many of the villagers who, in the past, had countless times wished Naruto's death, just for being burdened with the Nine Tailed Fox concealed inside of him. When he arrived home he slammed the door shut, staring around the house. Nothing had changed; everything was how he had left it...apart from the dust and the odd spider web or two.

Once he was sure he was alone, Sasuke did something he hadn't done for years, something an Uchiha would never do...he showed weakness as he walked over to the sofa, sat down and buried his head in his hands, he had lost everything, he realized now that nothing mattered, he had no one to go to, and nothing could change this. He sobbed for the loss of the blonde haired, hyperactive ninja who he had caused the death of and who had once been his friend .

To Be Continued ……………………….