Hi, everyone! Today is Wednesday and as promised, here's Chapter 2! Enjoy! ^_^

Chapter 2: Kakashi

I ran through the forest at a brisk pace with my faithful companion, Pakkun to the area where Naruto and Sasuke were fighting in an attempt to retrieve and bring them both home safely.

Along the way, I couldn't help but reflect on the current state of my team.

First of all, I had Sakura Haruno, the girl with self-esteem issues who at first had little to no skills as a ninja other than her book smarts. I remember how when we first met she was obsessed with boys and I initially rolled my eyes at her, especially considering how easily I dealt with her using Genjutsu back during the Bell Test. Although, sometime later, she amazed me with how great her chakra control was when we practiced walking on top of trees, being able to do better than Naruto or Sasuke, especially on her first try. Soon after, she made me proud with her performance in the Chunin Exams and right then and there, I was certain she'd become a very skilled kunoichi one day. Maybe even stronger than Lady Tsunade.

Next was Sasuke Uchiha, a kid lost in the depths of revenge. It's sort of ironic in a way. In the past year since we've been a team, I was certain that with our time together, it'd make the hatred and revenge in his heart go away but instead it intensified it. Mainly due to the growth of Naruto who continued to excel at a rapid rate. Who would've guessed the dead last who passed on a fluke could handle opponents such as Haku and Gaara? Then again those two were rivals ever since their early days in the academy. Heh, it most feels like their rivalry towards each other was destined in a way. Which brings me to my last point.

Naruto…the son of the man who made me the person I am today. It feels like it was only yesterday when he was that naïve kid tied to a tree stump after trying to sneak some lunch during the bell training and now he's a shinobi who was able to use a jutsu that the fourth hokage took a while to achieve only a week. At the rate he's going, he'll definitely surpass me and he'll definitely become hokage like his father. Especially if he manages to get that demon under him under control.

I was then snapped from my current train of thoughts by the thick rain above.

I grunted in frustration at the weather before turning to Pakkun.

"It's raining. Will it wash away the smell of Naruto and Sasuke?" I asked the ninja hound, hopeful that I wouldn't lose their trail.

"The rain's no problem. Besides, we're here." Pakkun replied before we descended towards a valley. The first thing I noticed was a trail of red leading down a particular path. Curiously, I followed the trail of blood before I saw a sight that would forever be engraved in my mind.

It was Naruto….only except there was a gaping hole in his chest where his heart was, leaking blood at an alarming rate.

"Naruto!" I yelled in horror at his state. It was obvious that Sasuke was the one who gave him the horrible wound. How could he do something so horrible to a comrade? A friend who tried bringing him home safe.

"Kakashi, you better check up on him!" Pakkun yelled, equally horrified as me as I ran over to Naruto to feel a pulse. I checked for several minutes until the harsh reality hit me….

Naruto Uzumaki of Konohagakure was dead….

Killed by someone he thought of as not only a friend but a brother as well.

I numbly stared at his corpse as tears slowly built up in my eyes. I can't believe it….

When I look at the area where Naruto was stabbed, it was obvious Sasuke had used the Chidori in order to kill him….

Same as what he did when they both fought on top of the rooftops yesterday.

It's morbidly funny. The jutsu I taught Sasuke in order to protect his comrades ended being used to kill one of his comrades.

As I darkly chuckled at this my words to him, Sakura and Naruto rang in my head.

"Those who break the rules are scum but those who would abandon even one of their friends are worse than scum."

Heh…so it looks like everything I tried doing for Sasuke amounted to absolutely nothing in the end….

I don't want to hate him as I believe it's the duty of a sensei to unconditionally love their disciples but as it is now, not just my standards but by the Leaf's standards, he's nothing more than trash.

I have no doubt Lady-Tsunade will have Sasuke definitely marked down as a ninja wanted for death….

As I looked around I realized this was the place where the First Hokage fought with the rogue ninja Madara Uchiha in a fight that would later determine the future of Konoha. Heh, so I suppose this was the perfect place for Naruto's final battle with his ex-friend.

I kept on staring at Naruto's dead body which was thickly being soaked with rain…Almost like the gods themselves are crying for the loss of Naruto….

It's really depressing. If he survived, I have no doubt he would've surpassed me and then become a ninja like Minato-Sensei.

But no, he's dead.

The way of his death….It's similar…too damn similar to Minato-Sensei, Obito and Rin.

I slowly picked his body up as I stared at it for what seemed like an eternity.

Before I knew anything my tears hit his face as I remembered how I had to watch over his mother while she was pregnant with him.

Although I wish there was more I could've done for Naruto.

Seeing him as a child…All alone…maybe I could've done more for him…been there for him as a child but Lord-Third insisted he had everything under wraps.

But I still could've done more for him…Especially when we were under a team.

When I think about it, I suppose I was subpar in the sense how I focused more on Sasuke. I saw so much of myself in him but I failed to do more with the son of one of the people I admire in the world.

"Forgive me…..Naruto….Minato-Sensei….I failed you both!" I said as more tears cascaded from my eyes.

"It looks like Sasuke's smell is still on his headband. If we take it, we can locate him." I heard Pakkun said but as of right now, I wasn't too concerned with Sasuke. Naruto and my failure with him reigned in my mind before Pakkun repeated himself.

I sighed before reluctantly picking up Sasuke's headband and slipping it in my ninja pouch before turning to the dog.

"We…should return back to Konoha. Lady Tsunade needs learn about what happened to Naruto along with everyone else…" I barely choked out as Pakkun nodded before we decided to leave the valley.

As we headed back to the village I imagined everyone's reactions to the death of the energetic ninja. Shockingly, the villagers would be hurt since I heard that ever since the Land of Waves mission, Naruto has slowly been earning their respect.

As I thought of that, the tears I thought left me began stinging my eyes again as I remembered Naruto's words to me when we first met.

"My dream is to get everyone in the village to acknowledge and accept me! I want them to treat me as a fellow citizen and ninja of Konoha rather than just hating me and treating me like some pariah!"

It's so sad…just when Naruto was started to get the acceptance he desired, his life was snuffed out.

Maybe…in another world, Naruto would still be alive, would save Sasuke and would be the village hero and then the hokage like he deserved.

But that's just mere fantasy and some time travel nonsense I'd hear only in a manga. This was the reality. He was snuffed out after barely being thirteen years old.

I have no doubt the ones who'd be affected the most would be Lady-Tsunade, Iruka, Sakura, Hinata, Konohamaru and those Ichiraku people that he goes to on a daily basis.

Speaking of Iruka, I suppose he was right.

Maybe he knew and understood Naruto better than I ever did….

I was snapped from my thoughts as I nearly hit a tree. I regained my balance before going ahead while Pakkun followed me.

Maybe…there's a bright side to all of this. Maybe I shouldn't let Naruto's death get me down…He died as a Shinobi would and his name would even be added to the Leaf Memorial Stone. Heh, it's funny. He wanted to be on there when we first became a team and now he'd finally be getting what he wanted.

But maybe…there'd be a bright side to all this like I said. Maybe…the Leaf Village will continue to get better and prosper. Even if that happens, it definitely won't be the same without him there.

No! That's not what Naruto would want. He'd want us all to continue looking forward and be positive.

I stopped on a tree branch before looking at the sky.

"Naruto! I promise to not let your sacrifice go to waste! I, Kakashi Hatake, promise on my life to protect the Leaf Village and I will bring Sasuke back to the Leaf Village. Please count on it!" I yelled before catching up to a puzzled Pakkun.

"What was that about?" Pakkun asked me as I shook my head.

"Nothing." I answered and as I began to jump, I could've sworn I heard laughter.

Not just any laughter but…the laughter of Naruto Uzumaki.

"Good for you, Kakashi-Sensei and thank you for everything!" Was what I heard before I heard no more.

For the first time in a day, I smiled a smile of pure happiness. That's right….Naruto would continue living on through the heart of the Leaf.

The same way the Third and Fourth Hokage did.

As I slowly continued to Konoha, one thing was certain.

Naruto Uzumaki would've definitely been the best Hokage the Leaf would've ever had.

Wow….poor Kakashi… He lost his father, sensei and his teammates and now he has to bury his student with the most potential. Talk about a downer huh? :( Next chapter will be Sakura's reaction to the news of Naruto's death and that chapter will be released Friday so please expect it then!

Now until then, please don't forget to let me know your thoughts on today's chapter and I'll see you all in the next one!