4. It'll All Be Worth It
He jumped quickly from branch to branch, tree to tree.
His village was only a few meters away, a few minutes away where he could get some rest.
Finally, the war was over.
This war had devastated the world and left only small scatterings of semi-villages left in its place. Only Konoha was left, and still, it was missing much of its former glory.
He leaped down to the ground as he approached the gates and studied the foreboding stone and the huge, faded doors that were currently shut tightly.
He summoned up whatever chakra was left and pressed his hand to the door, a red glow covered it as the justu placed on the door recognized his chakra signature.
Tentatively, he placed one foot through the gates and then walked in more confidently. This justu allowed anyone who surpassed the security to walk through the wood. Of course, the subject would also be tested another way. Their height, weight and identity would've been sent straight to the Hokage.
Years ago, those gates had just been straight and open; welcoming anyone into this prosperous village. That was in the peacetime, when the Akatsuki hadn't been prowling about and various tailed-demons hadn't been unleashing their latent fury.
In the Hokage's office, the tired and weary ninja gave a full report to the blond-haired Hokage. He recounted the death of the Kazekage a few weeks earlier and the final surrender of the Akatsuki and the villages they conquered. The Kazekage had died valiantly, he said, a true hero who defended his people with all his power. The Hokage's blond eyes watered for a moment and he said, "Well, Sasuke, I guess this is it, huh? The war's finally over…"
His gaze went out to the gray sky and the trees overlooking the grave of the former Hokage, Lady Tsunade. It seemed that her old body finally gave out near the end of the war, when she killed the six-tailed after using up most of her chakra healing almost a hundred people. It had automatically made Naruto, her apprentice of twenty-two years, the new Rokudaime.
Not to say Naruto wasn't happy about finally achieving his ultimate goal, but he sometimes wished that maybe being a Hokage was just it. Tsunade was dead, Shino, Kiba, Ino, Kakashi, Sakura and Kurenai were all KIA, Shikamaru and Lee could never fight again. Now the Kazekage was dead too.
To him, at least, the war hadn't been worth it.
Naruto turned back to his former teammate and ANBU captain, silent tears dripping down his face. His face was an emotionless mask and there was blood splattered all over his clothes. Naruto's lip quivered a bit, "You know, Sasuke. Maybe it wasn't worth it, all those people dying and…and…"
"It's just a war, Naruto. Wars are like that, they kill people just like Kakashi and Gaara. Face it."
"I know. Maybe this was why my father risked his life to save this place. So more people wouldn't die," Naruto took a deep rattling breath, "I'm sorry, Sasuke. She's gone."
He could feel the sudden stiffening in the room before Sasuke could gather himself up. His eyes flickered, glaring at the newly appointed Hokage. Naruto braced himself before he faced his former rival and best friend. He looked him straight in the eyes and whispered, "She's dead, Sasuke. After saving me and everyone else from the four-tails. I'm so sorry, Sasuke…but…she's really…gone…"
Before he could blink, Sasuke was grabbing him by his collar. His eyes were furious, trying not to believe what Naruto was telling him. His voice cracked, "You bastard! Don't lie to me. It's not true. It can't be. Talk!"
Naruto closed his eyes and looked away, he knew how hard it was for Sasuke. This was just the way it had been after Sakura died too. Now Sasuke was going through it too, dammit, why couldn't he just save everyone?!
"You were supposed to be the frickin' Hokage, you baka! How could you just let her do that?! You knew that she wasn't strong enough! Why?!"
"She pushed past me, Sasuke. I couldn't stop her in time, but you should've seen her, Sasuke. With her juuken and Byakugan in their full effect, she was so powerful—"
"I don't frickin' care! Why didn't you just stop her?! Why? Why…?" Sasuke's grip on the shirt loosened and silent sobs started to go through his body. His voice was hoarse as it kept in the same repeating words. He felt Naruto move beside him and something light and crispy was shoved in his face.
"Here. She wanted me to give this to you. Just open it, damn it all. Just take it, I know it wasn't worth it, but I can't reverse the past."
Sasuke took the paper and opened it slowly. Unfolded was a page of shaky and lightly formed kanji.
Dear Sasuke,
When you open this, I probably won't be here anymore. I'm sorry, it seems as though I wasn't strong enough after all. Don't be sad, Sasuke. I tried to wait until you came back, but how long would that be? This war has already been going on for four years and it seems like everyone was dying. Sakura died a few weeks ago and Tsunade a month ago. I'm the only one skilled enough to be a field medic in the war zone. I had hoped to be sent where you were, but that was impossible since your squad is a secret assassination unit. But those were the best days of my life, Sasuke. I felt useful, like I was actually needed. It was a wonderful time for me.
Please don't blame Naruto-kun or all the others. Promise me, you won't hurt yourself or blame yourself. Just because I'm gone doesn't mean that you'll have to follow me. It was all worth it. Saving all those people and seeing the look of hope in their eyes. Don't cry and don't follow me, Sasuke. Konoha needs the Sharingan to become prosperous again, so marry someone else. Do it for me.
Love,
Hyuuga Hinata
"Marry someone else…?" Sasuke reread that sentence over and over again in his cold bedroom. He folded the paper carefully and put it into a drawer. Then he walked over to the window and pulled open the heavy sheets covering it. His head was still swirling from the words from her letter.
The happiest days of her life was while working among the sick. Did she feel happy when defending her friends? Did she feel happy when she was dying? Was she truly happy like that?
Sasuke thought of the exhilarant look in his squad's eyes when Pein keeled over. The look when they finally realized that the war was at its end. When they realized that no more people would have to fight and die. That look of triumph and victory over true darkness.
Then Sasuke decided, it was totally worth it.
It was all worth it. Everything…
Author's Note: Tragic, angsty. My type of fiction. Any objections?
moonlight haku