Chapter with grievings... So this fits with the one page in chapter 699 that focuses on the funerals. I have added a bit I definitely wanted to see and I hope you will appreciate that bit too ^^

Reviewer Lux: If I say yes, may I have half of your moneys then? Because I'll say yes then... :D And thank you so much for that review! I'm glad you like my characterisation of them all! To me their personalities fit, but I can never be sure... So I am glad you don't feel like they seem wrong. And I hope you will enjoy other stories written by me as well then ^^ Though not everything will be as in character as this one I have to admit. Thank you again!

Now enjoy!

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Dressed clad in black every ninja in town was now present at the small field right outside of the village. A place Pein's attack had missed a few months ago and had stayed preserved while the whole village needed to be rebuilt. It still had this peaceful nature, the leaves softly rustling due the wind. No one uttered a word as they slowly made their way through the graveyard, passing stone after stone, making sure they wouldn't trample flowers that had been carefully laid out for a loved one.

It felt odd to be here, among all these people, walking in a straight line towards the person they would be remembering today. Even if he had every right to be here. And it was important to him to be here. It was just never a place he had visited often. Which now that he thought about it, was even stranger. Hadn't he lost many people at an early age to begin with? His parents when he was only a baby and then throughout the years others that had changed his views on life. His sensei had cut deep, but it wasn't just him. Naruto had so many people to mourn for, but this was the first time he would share this with so many people. Not in private, but with his friends.

A few people were missing today. Some were still in the hospital and were not allowed to move yet, but no one wanted to wait with the funeral till everyone was back on their feet. It was time to bury the dead, show them the respect they deserved and honour them with a few final words.

Another face missing from the crowd was Sasuke, but Naruto hadn't expected him to come anyway. What kind of bond did Sasuke still have with these people? Naruto wanted them to get along again, but he understood it wasn't that easy for others to accept him the way Naruto had. Sasuke had no business being here, had no need to mourn people he hadn't really known. And yet how well did Naruto know all these people?

Many fresh graves were dug at the back of the graveyard. Trees had been cut to make room for more graves, more stones, more lost memories. The field stretched on so far and as Naruto let his eyes follow all the new stones, he felt a deep pain settle inside his chest. No matter how often they told him it wasn't his fault, Naruto would always feel guilty. This had been his war, his fight. It had been all about him. None of these people were meant to die.

The large group of people started splitting up, moving towards the graves of their loved ones. Ino, Shikamaru and Chōji had been inseparable today, hands brushing together from time to time as a sign of comfort. Shikaku and Inoichi were right beside each other, the Konoha symbol edged into the grey stone right above their names. Chōza had it the hardest during the burial. Seeing their friends graves lined up in front of him was something he had never expected to see, but here he was, outliving them all because he was not right there with them during the war. As he should've been. As a part of InoShikaCho. But InoShikaCho would live on, in the children beside him. Ino would mourn, Shikamaru would mourn, and Chōji would be there to pick up the pieces and get them back on their feet. Because they were one big family, always had been and always will be.

Naruto, he joined the Hyūga's. He wanted to visit every grave and show everyone his gratitude for what they had done during the war, but there would be enough time for that. The one he knew best and had sacrificed his life solely to save Naruto, was the one in the grave before him. Unlike his father, Neji did get the honour he deserved. Hiashi made sure Neji would be close to his family and would feel the comfort his twin brother should've felt among the Hyūgas. Somewhere Neji was the son the head of the family should've had, but what Hiashi had learned most from Neji, was that it was important to love your family. And Hinata had gotten so strong and she did not need to prove herself anymore. She fought well and would become stronger and stronger.

Whispers hung in the air as people started murmuring their private farewells to the many headstones. Confessions bubbled up of feelings that will forever be left unanswered. And the painful awareness of parents outliving their children was heavily present. War… It broke far more than it healed.

Shuffling his feet uncomfortably Kiba was beside Hinata, staring down at the grave of Neji. A guy he never really liked, all due to how he had once treated his teammate. He had never really gotten over the grudge. The memory of the bastard almost killing Hinata was still fresh in his mind, but Hinata cared for her cousin, so Kiba was here and he would support her. It would've been better if Akamaru had been allowed to come, but this was no place for a dog. Not Kiba's words though. Akamaru should be allowed anywhere. But a funeral was not a place to complain, so he had bit his tongue, after Shino had threatened with his stupid bugs.

Blue eyes sliding through the crowd Naruto took in every ninja that was present. There were a few villagers present who did not participate in the war and had no business in it in the first place, but most had been there, had seen the deaths, had suffered the instant pains. Most looked pretty beaten up still. Scratches on their faces and arms. The remains of the battle they had gone through only a few days ago. The medics were too busy with the more serious wounds and had left the smaller ones to heal on their own.

Naruto's empty sleeve waved up in the wind, pulling his attention back down to his missing limb. Something the medics couldn't fix. Lady Tsunade was working on a solution, but for now Naruto was living without his right arm. Like Sasuke was living without his left. It had left him unable to perform certain jutsus and even eating his favourite ramen dish felt odd. He might get a fake arm at some point or a borrowed arm, but it would never be the same. It would never be his arm. And the scar would remain, reminding him of the battle he had with Sasuke. The one he had come out victorious. Not because he had defeated Sasuke, but because he had changed Sasuke. Because Sasuke was now home, where he belonged. Naruto did see himself as a winner, but only because of that. The losses were far worse. His best friend might be back, but many other friends were now gone. The other scars covering his body would remind him of that. The fresh scar on his cheek and other marks littered all over him. And he would wear it with pride.

Hinata stepped forward and softly placed a white lily right in front of Neji's stone. Leaning forward she whispered a few words and then wiped a single tear from her cheek, wanting to show her strength in front of her cousin. The one who had taught her so much and had, in the end, supported her through so much. Their family bonds might not have been fair, but they both had suffered from it, and now Neji was finally free.

The first heavy hand landed on her right shoulder, Kiba squeezing her shoulder softly. And then on her left another hand was placed, her father shooting a kind smile at her. The next was Shino, placing a hand on her back, while his covered eyes were still focused on the grave in front of him. Another hand joined in, but at this point Hinata couldn't keep up anymore. The only thing she knew was that her friends were here to support her and that Neji would be missed, not just be her. The love she then felt was overwhelming and even though the grieve was still very present in her heart, she couldn't help but smile. Everything would be alright now. Neji's sacrifice would not be a waste.

Without a warning someone suddenly broke down in loud sobs, screams of sorrow leaving his throat as he threw himself in front of Neji's grave. Cries of despair filled the air, pulling everyone's attention towards him. Confused Naruto tried glancing around Hinata and then just shook his head when his eyes fell on Rock Lee. It seemed like a joke, disrespectful towards the other grieving people around, but it wasn't like that. Lee was honestly grieving and everyone around understood that. And somewhere Naruto felt jealous, because he would never be able to mourn that way, to show his emotions so upfront. Naruto envied Lee, as many others around.

And this time they let Lee cry. No one stopped him, no one commented. They all just watched in silence as a friend broke down before another friend. The painful sobs echoing the feelings everyone around felt deep in their hearts.

About a kilometre away, right outside of the city, two other people were standing before a large flat stone. Silence stretched on between them as the wind fluttered through their hair. Their eyes were fixated on the stone in front of them, eyes sliding over the words edged into it. So many names… All sharing the same last name. A way to honour a family who had almost been completely wiped out, by the hands of someone who's name was on there as well. A gravestone made especially for the Uchiha family, to honour their hard work and show they were once a loved asset to the Leaf.

Kakashi's eyes moved over the stone, halting at a few names of people he once knew very well. And on the other hand hadn't known at all. It was odd to now realise this and therefore he felt out of place here. As if he didn't belong. He should be with the others, grieving the deaths of people he had known far better. But he was here with Sasuke. This was the first Uchiha remembrance that was for everyone. That let people know they were an honourable family and deserved to be acknowledged as such. No matter what once happened. No matter how much trouble they had caused. The Uchihas had helped in starting this village and they would always be part of it.

And Kakashi preferred grieving in his own time, being late to appointments because he lost track of time. He wouldn't fit with all the people currently invading the graveyard. He would go there later.

'Thank you,' Sasuke suddenly muttered, making Kakashi look back towards his former teammate. The dark eye had turned to its bright red, the Sharingan swirling as it focused on the stone before them. A way to remember all the names present, but also to show his love for his family. Something that never left him and never would. A silent tear slid down his cheek and he didn't stop it from falling.

But this made Kakashi feel more out of place. This was not his place to mourn the dead. 'I'll leave you alone for a while,' he announced plainly and then turned around, casually strolling away as if he had not noticed the tear. As if he did not understand the pain Sasuke now felt. 'Make sure to meet Tsunade at the hospital around four. She'll be waiting for you.' And with a last wave he disappeared, leaving Sasuke alone.

Sasuke would be an hour late to the appointment, blaming life got in the way.

As cries filled the air louder and louder, other people having joined the painful chant Lee had started, Naruto's eyes slid up. Maybe he was hiding the tears that were about to spill and maybe he just couldn't bear to look at the grieving people anymore. But there in the sky his blue eyes landed on a bird flying back and forth, circling the grounds as if it didn't want to leave the painful song that rose up to the sky.

And then as Naruto let a smile grace his lips the bird flew off, as if it knew it was finally okay to leave.

...

Characters © Masashi Kishimoto

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Facebook page: Dana-Eliza, link can be found on my profile! I now have a contest running. When I reach 50 likes on my facebook page, I'll pick a random person out of the list and write them a short drabble of 500 words. Find the post on my profile to see how it exactly works!

And as you can see I've added the bit on the Uchiha family, because I think it should've been there. A memorial for all of them.

Love, Dana