Hyūga Hinata walked along side Naruto-kun. He had asked her to walk with him, and she had agreed, her mind numb with grief and confusion. Usually she would have blushed and remained flustered walking with him, but not today. Hinata still remembered holding Shino's hand as he died. He didn't say any last words to his teammate; he only closed his eyes, the dark brown eyes that Hinata had never seen before. Until now his eyes had been obscured by his glasses. She had put the glasses back on Shino's face, even though they were cracked and broken. Hinata had been certain that Shino had heard her crying. He had told her once that hearing was the last sense to go before death. But even then, Shino had said anything as he died. He had passed quietly like so many others, like Kiba, Akamaru, and her father. Unlike Hyūga Hiashi, Shino had always believed in her strength. Kiba had loved her like a younger sister, and Akamaru would always wag his long white tail whenever he saw Hinata walking by. Now her teammates were dead. Hanabi, her younger sister, was an orphan, and Hinata was now the leader of the Hyūga clan.

Hinata hadn't wanted to be the leader of the Hyūga clan. Her father had expected as much from their spars together; Hinata had no self-confidence even then and had hated fighting. As soon as Hinata had graduated from the Ninja Academy, her father had intensified his training with her younger sister, Hanabi. Even when Hinata had become a chūnin, her father had still been convinced that Hanabi was stronger than her. But Hanabi had revealed that she didn't want to be the leader of their clan when Hinata had come home with their father's body. "I just wanted to make our father proud," she had whispered, his lavender and pupiless eyes brimming with fresh tears as she stared at the white sheet that had covered their father's body. "I just wanted him to see me, Hinata. And…I truly just want to be a Konohagakure kunoichi, and protect our clan, just as you have done for so long." Hinata's eyes were uncharacteristically dry now as compared to the past days. Other shinobi had died as well besides her teammates, and she was not the only one grieving. Neji had lost his sensei had teammate. He was inconsolable and spent his time lying in the field where he and Tenten-kun would practice from their time as genin. Hinata wondered if that was the place where he shed his tears. He should be the leader of the Hyūga clan, not me, Hinata sadly thought.

She broke her thoughts and looked sideways where Naruto-kun was walking beside her. He had a sad expression on his face, as if reading her thoughts. He was looking to the ground and didn't meet her gaze. "Hinata," Naruto-kun began to speak, and she felt a familiar flutter in her heart. His beautiful blue eyes met hers, and she saw him swallow nervously. "I'm sorry about your teammates…and your father." Suddenly his eyes closed shut, and with alarm, Hinata realized he was trying to stop his tears. "This shouldn't have happened," Naruto-kun murmured, gritting his teeth. "We…should all be here." Faintly the tears fell to the ground, and Hinata took his hand as he started to shake. Abruptly he stopped, staring at Hinata with wide eyes.

Naruto-kun…I've always…always been chasing after you. Even…now. But…once this war ends, I'm going to stop once and for all. Next time, I'll be next to you, holding your hand…walking with you. Wait for me! She had vowed herself this as she ran with the Allied Shinobi Forces, determined to reach Naruto-kun. Now here she was, holding his hand, although she was comforting him instead of the other way around.

"Hinata..." Naruto-kun was strangely at loss for words. She smiled brightly at him, trying to mask her own sorrow. She felt his warm hand in hers.

"Naruto-kun…grieve for the dead, but don't forget what they died for. Who they died for. They gave their lives for you because they believed in you. Kiba-kun, Shino-kun, Tenten-kun, and my own father were willing to die for what they believed in. For the vision of peace you shared with them." Naruto-kun remained speechless as she continued to speak without stuttering or blushing. You always made me brave, Naruto-kun. Maybe this time…I can install my own bravery in you. "Death comes with being a shinobi and a kunoichi. My sister is just starting to realize that. So…accept, Naruto-kun, and remember what they died for. Their sacrifice must not be in vain."

Naruto-kun continued to stare at her with amazement on his face. Then he smiled, as if his sadness had never occurred. "Hinata, you truly are strong, aren't you? When you faced death against Pain and told me that you weren't afraid…that you loved me…that was only my first glimpse at what an amazing kunoichi you are." Hinata was as silent as Naruto-kun had been moments before as his hand held hers. I'm an amazing kunoichi in his eyes? Hinata wanted to weep with happiness, but instead she kept smiling at the shinobi she loved. "The Hokage is going to host a funeral for all the Konohagakure shinobi and kunoichi who died in the Fourth Shinobi World War," he continued. "Then Gaara and the other Sunagakure shinobi are going to go back to their village after that, with Shikamaru as an escort with their own dead. I wasn't certain if I would go, but if you're there, I just might." Naruto-kun faced Hinata with serene eyes. "Will you come with me to the funeral?"

Hinata continued to smile warmly at him despite her heart furiously beating against her chest. "Yes," she whispered, nodding her head. Naruto-kun continued to hold her hand, but his smile slowly faded into a worried line. "Sasuke still hasn't woken from his coma."

Sasuke-san… Hinata remembered how the former Konohagakure shinobi had appeared out of nowhere, protecting the Allied Shinobi Forces with a dōjustu known as Susano from certain death. "What will be his fate?" Hinata knew that the raven-haired Uchiha was an international criminal and a missing-ninja. It was also common knowledge that the Yondaime Raikage wanted Uchiha Sasuke dead for kidnapping his brother and his association with the Akatsuki. "What will happen to him once he wakes up?"

"The Hokage already knows the reasons behind his actions, and there's going to be another Gokage Summit to decide Sasuke's future. There's a rumor that he'll be pardoned from his crimes for releasing Edo Tensei." Strangely, Naruto-kun was calm. He seemed certain that his friend would be alright, and Hinata could actually see a vague smile on his face. Before she could react, Naruto-kun pressed his lips to hers.

Hinata felt herself melt into his lips.