Naruto: Reincarnated

Chapter 4

Upon entering their bedroom, Sakura led Sasuke over to the bed where he collapsed upon the mattress. Tears that had slowly started leaking from his eyes, now streamed freely down his face.

"Why did this have to happen now?" Sasuke asked. "Why couldn't he be loved the way he wanted to be? Why did he have to die for Itachi to acknowledge that he had feelings for the other?"

"I don't know" Sakura answered. "Naruto deserved better than to be treated like he was a dirty little secret. He deserved for his feelings to be acknowledge."

"I hope that he's at least with his family again." Sasuke said. "If Itachi couldn't or wouldn't love him in life then I hope he's with the ones who will love him in death." Although, Sasuke didn't want his best friend to be dead, he wanted him to be living and happy and annoying Sakura and him with his complaints on their missions. Why wasn't it possible to go back in time and change things? Sasuke would do it in a heartbeat. He would go back in time and convince Naruto not to take that mission, that Sakura and him wanted to be able to spend more time with him, and not just Sasuke and Sakura as a couple. Sasuke couldn't help but feel like maybe he'd had a part in driving Naruto away from them, because unknown to Sakura. Sasuke had asked Naruto to give Sasuke and Sakura some time to get accustomed to being a married couple. Sasuke hadn't intended for Naruto to just completely stay away, but aside from his visits with Itachi. Naruto spent next to no time with them before his untimely death, Sasuke couldn't help but feel like that was mostly his fault.

Closing his eyes, Sasuke struggled to pull himself together, he didn't want Sasuke to think that he was weak because he was falling apart at his best friends death. Physically he wasn't weak but emotionally Sasuke did not feel like he would ever be strong again. Ninja weren't supposed to let things bother them emotionally but how was one supposed to do that when it was their best friend that was lost to the land of the living? Could Naruto's death really be blamed on him? It killed Sasuke to think that if he had treated Naruto a little better, if had been a little more open to Naruto hanging around then perhaps Naruto would have been alive still.

"Did I drive Naruto away with my actions?" Sasuke asked suddenly. "After the wedding I wanted to spend more time with you and I asked Naruto not to come around as much." Sasuke found that he couldn't look Sakura in the eyes as he admitted this. "Is it my fault he's dead?"

"No." Sakura said. "I think if anyone drove Naruto away, it was Itachi by his refusal to admit that he cared about Naruto, and his refusal to accept Naruto's feelings for him. I think Naruto understood your need to not have him around as much, we had just gotten married and needed time to adjust as a married couple."

"I still feel like it's mostly my fault." Sasuke said, wiping at his eyes. He wished he could wipe away his heart ache as easy as he could his tears, but he knew that this wasn't anything that would go away so easily.

"It's not." Sakura reassured him as she ran her fingers through his hair, she hated how much Sasuke was hurting over all of this. She hated that now there would be a permanent Naruto shaped hole in both of their hearts. She didn't care if Kurama said Naruto would be given back to them in a different form? What did that even mean? As an animal or would his soul be placed in a completely different person. She didn't know, she just wished that he would find his way back to them quickly.

"No matter what you think, it's not your fault, what happened to him. Naruto wouldn't blame you either." Sakura said, closing her eyes and trying to blink away the image of the birds picking away at his skin. It disgusted her that those so called ninja hadn't bothered to bury him. Naruto deserved that much respect at least for all the hell that he had grown up with.

"How are we going to get through the funeral?" Sasuke asked turning over on his side and pulling Sakura down so that her back was pressed against his chest, his hand splayed across her stomach even though it was too soon to be able to feel the life that was growing within her.

"I don't know." Sakura answered honestly, "I know that it's going to be difficult, but we have to keep in that mind that Naruto wouldn't want us to grieve over him."

"Too late for that." Sasuke said burying his face in Sakura's hair. "It's always easy for the person to say not to grieve for them, but after they are gone it's next to impossible to not grieve for them." Sakura placed her hand over Sasuke's and gently squeezed his fingers. Tomorrow Naruto would be laid to rest and they would have to figure out how to move on without him in their lives. It wouldn't be easy, but Naruto would want them to live their lives no matter how difficult it was. Sighing, She wished the funeral was over already, she was dreading the moment she would have to look upon on her friend's face again. Like Sasuke, Sakura wasn't sure how they could get through this without grieving for them. As it was her heart ached just thinking of how much the blue eyed boy was going to be missed.

"I wish he had known how much he was loved." Sakura murmured. "It seems like a crime that he didn't realize how much he meant to people." Sasuke sighed again, feeling more tears welling up in his eyes, his heart felt like it was so broken that it could never be put together again.

"I just hope that Itachi's guilt doesn't drive him into an early grave." Sasuke said. "I'm sure he'll feel like his cowardice is what drove Naruto to take that mission."

"Maybe it would be better to allow Itachi to join Naruto." Sakura said. "I know that his death isn't easy to think about, but it would mean that Itachi wouldn't have to grieve for him. It would put an end to all of his suffering."

"I know you are right." Sasuke said. "I just don't like thinking about losing my brother either, I've already lost our parents, and Naruto. I can't stand to think about losing him too."

"As ninja's we face more loss than anyone else. Of course, we can't be the emotionless robots that they expect of us, but by now we should know how to handle the loss of those we care about." Sakura said, thinking about lost Sensei's and Hokage's. No one that had died had deserved it, neither had they wanted it to end so soon. It was for their memories that Sakura kept fighting on, she wouldn't let their dreams die just because they did. The Will of Fire lived on in her and every other ninja that continued fighting for their village.

"The will of fire doesn't die so easily even though those that carry it with them do." Sakura murmured. "From now until we die, Naruto's will of fire will always be with us even though he no longer is."

"I don't care about his will of fire, I want him back. Not only for Itachi's sake." Sasuke said. "I want my sparring partner back."

"I want him back too, but since I don't think that's going to happen in the way we want, we will have to work at keeping his memory alive, even if that makes things more painful for your brother." Sakura said. "No disrespect to him, but if he had just accepted Naruto then we wouldn't be in this position now."

"He can't be blamed for everything, he's sick. I can sort of understand where he's coming from." Sasuke said. "He didn't want Naruto to be in the position that he is in now. He knows that dealing with the loss of a loved isn't easy. He didn't want Naruto to go through that."

"And in trying to save him from that pain, it only to Naruto being stolen from us." Sakura said. "And that leaves us struggling to find a way to deal with an unexpected loss on top of Itachi's." Sasuke sighed, his fingers running lightly over Sakura's stomach.

"Life sure has taught some damn hard lessons." Sasuke muttered. "I wish they would get a little bit easier."

"I doubt they will suddenly get any easier, but I believe we will get stronger with each lesson we are dealt." Sakura replied. "Sometimes they take us to the edge of breaking and that's when we really find our strength. Maybe not so much as physical strength as it is emotional." Sasuke sighed and tightened his grip around Sakura, he was relieved to have her to hold throughout the night, Itachi was left with nothing but an empty, broken heart. For that Sasuke felt sorry for him, but maybe Sakura was right and letting him go would be the best thing to do. Sasuke his head, it might have been easier on Itachi but it would add another pile of grief to Sasuke's shoulders. He had to find a cure of some sort to help Itachi, he couldn't let his brother go.

"Try to get some sleep, Sasuke." Sakura murmured "Tomorrow is going to be a long day."

"Don't I know it." Sasuke said. Tomorrow Naruto would be laid to rest, and Sasuke would have to figure out how to get Itachi to the funeral. That was if Itachi didn't refuse to go to the funeral. At this point Sasuke wouldn't be very surprised if Itachi flat out refused to go. Even if he did, Sasuke would find a way to make him go. Itachi would need his chance to say goodbye, whether he realized it or not.

The next morning, Sasuke awoke to the sound of Sakura throwing up in their bathroom, Sasuke winced as he sat up. It sounded like morning sickness had finally made it's appearance.

"Are you okay?" Sasuke asked, plodding into the bathroom, to kneel down beside Sakura.

"I will be." She said. "You should probably go on and get Itachi ready for the funeral."

"I would rather go catch a skunk." Sasuke muttered sourly, dealing with Itachi's mood swings could be more than a little difficult.

"Surely, he's not that bad." Sakura said, chuckling before groaning and leaning over the toilet and heaving again.

"You would be surprised." Sasuke said, as he turned and headed out of the restroom. He sighed, he had the feeling that things were going to get worse for Itachi from here on, and he didn't like it. For once Sasuke wished that things could be easy on his older brother. They had both been through enough hell to last a lifetime.

Exiting his bedroom, Sasuke made his way down the hall to Itachi's room. Knocking on the door, he opened the door when he heard Itachi's voice call out for him to enter.

"Did you get any sleep?" Sasuke taking in his brother's ragged appearance. Itachi had dark circles under his eyes, and if anything his skin looked even paler than it did the day before. That only served to tell Sasuke that his brother's condition was only getting worse.

"Not really." Itachi admitted tiredly, his voice so weak that it made Sasuke's heart ache.

"Do you need helping getting ready for the funeral?" Sasuke asked.

"I don't know if I should go." Itachi said.

"Why, you were his friend even if he wanted you to be more. He would want you there."

"I don't know that I have the strength to go." Itachi answered, and Sasuke took a good long look at his brother. While yesterday, Itachi had been tired, he still had the strength to stay awake. Now Sasuke could tell that Itachi barely had the energy to hold his head up, much less keep his eyes open. Sasuke also noted that Itachi's hands remained at his sides, Sasuke doubted that Itachi could even reach for him. Which meant that Itachi's condition had worsened in the night.

"I'll stay here with you then." Sasuke said, fear filling his heart. All of these signs seemed to point out to Sasuke that the end was near. Sasuke didn't want his brother to die alone.

"You need to say goodbye to Naruto." Itachi said sleepily. "He was your best friend after all."

"But you're my brother." Sasuke protested. "I don't want you to be alone." Itachi offered Sasuke small smile.

"I'll still here when you get back little brother, I'm just a little more tired today." Itachi said. Sasuke had his doubts, considering how bad that Itachi looked.

"Fine, I won't go to his burial though." Sasuke said. Itachi chuckled weakly.

"At some point you are going to have to realize that I'm dying and you are going to have to let me go." Itachi muttered.

"I will never let you go." Sasuke swore. "Not without a fight." Itachi heaved a small sigh, and Sasuke knew his brother was only humoring him.

"You need to accept the fact that Lady Tsunade isn't going to find a cure." Itachi said.

"Yes, she will." Sasuke said stubbornly. "If she don't I will. You just need to hold on a little longer."

"I'm tired of holding on." Itachi admitted. "Now that Naruto is gone, I don't have any reason to hang on anymore." Itachi's confession hurt more than Sasuke wanted to admit. It wasn't fair to ask Itachi to keep holding on, but Sasuke wasn't sure that he could handle another loss without losing his sanity.

"You'll be okay." Itachi murmured. "You'll have Sakura, and your little one to distract you."

"I don't want to be distracted, I want my family to be with me." Sasuke said, sighing. He didn't like leaving Itachi but he didn't want to miss Naruto's funeral either. He wished Itachi were strong enough to go, but it was pretty clear that Itachi's life was down to only mere days if not less. Tears filled Sasuke's eyes, he didn't want Itachi to die, but at this point he wasn't sure what could be done.

"You'll get through this." Itachi said suddenly. "You won't always be left to grieve for those you love."

"That's because everyone's getting taken from me." Sasuke said closing his eyes, and fighting against the pain that he was feeling.

"You still have Sakura, Kami forbid anyone come after her. She'd knock them into the next century." Itachi murmured, Sasuke couldn't help the chuckle that escaped his lips. Itachi was right if anyone came after Sakura she would kick their ass and hand it back to them. Itachi heaved a sigh, and Sasuke knew that he was going to try and go to sleep.

"I'll see you when I get back then." Sasuke said. He hated leaving Itachi like this, but what choice did he have. Most Nin would be at Naruto's funeral, who would that leave to sit with Itachi? Sakura would want to say goodbye to their teammate as well so Sasuke couldn't ask her. He supposed he could have Tsunade send over an Anbu but Sasuke would want someone with medical experience.

"Is Itachi coming?" Sakura asked as Sasuke exited the bedroom. Sasuke shook his head and Sakura frowned.

"I don't think he has much longer, he's extremely weak." Sasuke said. "There's no way he would be able to handle the service." Sakura reached out and touched Sasuke's arm. She knew how much Sasuke wanted to be beside his brother if and when he should die.

"Naruto would understand if you didn't attend his funeral." Sakura said. "He knew how much Itachi meant to you."

"I can't do that to Naruto, I need to say goodbye since we were robbed of that opportunity." Sasuke said. "Who would be a good nurse to have sit with him while we are gone."

"The only one I can think of at the moment is Rin, next to Tsunade she is one of the best." Sakura said.

"Can you see if she can come and sit with him?" Sasuke asked "I really don't want him to be alone." Sakura nodded.

"Go get dressed and I will see if she can come." Sasuke nodded and disappeared into the restroom. Turning the shower on, Sasuke stepped underneath it.

"God, Naruto" Sasuke murmured. "Everything is such a mess since you left. Nothing feels right anymore, I feel like things are too damn different, too damn quiet." Tears filled Sasuke's eyes and he wondered how he was supposed to just move on without his best friend? It felt like a huge part of him was missing, and with Itachi dying, he would take another piece of Sasuke. What would be left to give Sakura and their unborn child?

"I want to do right by them." Sasuke said, wishing that he was actually talking to Naruto. "But nothing feels right. Everything feels alien, completely different from what I'm used too. I want you back so that things can go back to normal, you can drive me and Sakura crazy with all of your complaining on our missions." A sob tore past Sasuke's throat. "Just don't make me say goodbye. Just come home, don't make me have to let you go too." Sasuke slid to his knees not caring that the water was turning cold. His heart was broken and he didn't know when or how of if it could even be fixed.

"Kami, Naruto just come home and fix the things that broke when you left." Sasuke sobbed, "don't really be gone, because I don't know if I can handle it."

"I'm sure he's happy, wherever he is." Sakura said, sliding the shower door open and climbing in behind Sasuke. She wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her lips to his back. "Naruto wouldn't want you to be like this?"

"How else am I supposed to be?" Sasuke asked brokenly. "We have to say goodbye, and I don't think I will ever be ready."

"Maybe not." Sakura said. "But don't forget that he's still in your heart and memories. And don't forget what Kurama said, that Naruto will be returned to us only in a different form."

"Do you actually believe in reincarnation?" Sasuke laughed a bitter sounding noise. "Because I'm not sure that it's possible."

"I wouldn't be surprised if Naruto didn't find a way." Sakura replied, "he knows how much you need him, so if it is possible. I believe that he will find a way."

"I hope you are right." Sasuke whispered, as he turned in Sakura's arms and pulled her in for a hug.

"When am I not right?" Sakura asked, offering Sasuke a small smile. She hated that he was hurting so much, if she could she would fix it, unfortunately they were both going to have to find a way to deal with the loss of their teammate.

"Do you think you can get ready?" Sakura asked. "Rin got here a few minutes ago and is already sitting with Itachi."

"What choice do I have?" Sasuke asked miserably. "I can't let Naruto go without telling him goodbye."

Thirty minutes later Sasuke and Sakura arrived at the cemetery and went and stood beside Iruka and Kakashi. A small coffin that contained Naruto was waiting for burial. Sasuke walked up to his and placed his hand on it.

"This isn't fair." Sasuke whispered. "You shouldn't be here. You should still be alive, threatening to kick my ass for moping about Itachi's situation." Sasuke closed his eyes as memories of finding Naruto's body by the river flooded his mind. "You didn't deserve to go like that. Kami, I wish you had told us about that mission. I would have gone with you if you had asked, but I made you feel like you couldn't come around didn't I?" Sasuke murmured. "I wish I could take that back." Opening his eyes, Sasuke averted his gaze to the ground. His heart hurt so badly, he felt like it was his fault that his best friend was getting ready to be buried.

"I hope you finally found the happiness you deserve, even if it wasn't with us." Sasuke whispered. "I hope you can finally be with your parents again." Sakura placed her hand on Sasuke's arm, offering him comfort. Her own heart hurt too much to even think of things to tell Naruto. How did you say goodbye to someone you thought would live for many more years?

"I'm sorry, Naruto, that we couldn't get to you any sooner. That we were sent out after it was too late to anything for you. I promise though that I will become a better medic and I will carry your will of fire with me always." Sakura said as tears flooded her green eyes. Like Sasuke, she just wanted him back home safe and sound, but now that was too late.

"He knows how much you guys loved him." Iruka said quietly, seeing how hard both Sasuke and Sakura were struggling to say goodbye to their teammate. "You two made his life better, you gave him the friendship that he always longed for."

"It's not fair Iruka Sensei" Sakura murmured. "He didn't deserve to go out like that. He deserved more of a ninja's death, because if he was going to go out that's the only way I could see it happening. Not strapped to a table like he was an animal."

"We don't get to choose our deaths." Iruka murmured. "But yes, I could only see Naruto going out in a battle. He was determined to protect those he loved."

"He deserved to have his dreams come true." Sasuke said bitterly, thinking about the Nin that had ended Naruto's young life. He wished that he could bring them back just so he could put an end to their miserable lives himself.

A few minutes later, a teary eyed Tsunade started the service and Sasuke struggled to keep his tears at bay. He didn't think they should have been there burying Naruto. Naruto and him should have been out on a training field somewhere, destroying it. Sasuke closed his eyes as Naruto's coffin was lowered into the ground. He couldn't bear knowing that he would never see Naruto again, never hear Naruto calling him a bastard and in return Sasuke calling him a loser.

"You weren't a loser." Sasuke murmured as he opened his eyes and watched as dirt was thrown on the coffin. "You were the best friend I could have asked for, and you didn't deserve this." Unable to watch anymore Sasuke turned and walked off, his heart hurt so much that it almost felt physical.

Going several feet away from where Naruto had been lowered into the ground, he heard a small whimper coming a few feet away from him. Frowning, Sasuke turned and a small blonde blue eyed fox pup, laying shivering in the grass.

Thanks for reading and reviewing and sorry for taking so long to update. I've had writers block and I've been working on some of my other stories. Hopefully the next chapter won't take so long to get posted. Thanks again. Liz