Bright sunlight shone all around, illuminating the beautiful flowers a bright orange color. Orange flowers. Flowers for Naruto. Flowers for Naruto, here at his funeral. All around, a few hundred shinobi could be seen, each carrying an orange ice folly for Naruto. A few others could be spotted, such as Konohamaru or the man who ran the ramen shop.

God must be mocking us, Kakashi mused. The sun is shining beautifully today. Everything is in full bloom. And it hasn't been this warm in ages...Is God mocking us, or is it you, Naruto? Are you laughing at us? Is this all just a joke to you?

Kakashi bowed his head in reverence, listening aptly to every word the Hokage choked out. "It was all thanks to Naruto, that many of us have changed for the better..."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hinata stared ahead, her soul feeling as dead as Naruto's. "Naruto-kun..." Ever since she heard of Naruto's death, the poor girl had been completely distraught. Why did Naruto have to die? He was such a good person...Naruto-kun...you were my inspiration.

"Hinata...Hinata-sama, come. It's our turn now." Our turn? What did tha---oh. Our turn to visit Naruto, to get one last look at his body before they buried it forever, never to be seen again.

"Neji-kun...I don't think...I c-can't. I can't do this!!"

"Yes you can Hinata-sama, come with me". Holding out his hand, Neji remembered that fateful night, two nights ago, when they received the news of Naruto's death.

--------------two nights ago------------------------------------------------------------

Neji jumped, startled, when he heard someone entering the living room. "Who is it? Who's there?"

"It's me, Neji-kun. I couldn't sleep". Earlier that night, Hinata was having nightmares, horrible visions of a weeping ghost, chanting, "Please stop crying. Please...stop crying." Ever since then, she hasn't been able to get to sleep.

"I just keep feeling that...something's wrong. Something's out of place, Neji, and I don't know what it is!!"

Just as Neji was about to reply, a knock was heard, and soon every important Hyuuga elder filled the elegant living room, including 3 ANBU. Neji shivered as chills ran down his spine. Normally he would retort with something rude, wondering why everyone just barged in like that...but this time, it felt different.

"Please, sit down." The ANBU instructed. "Something horrible has happened. Something horrible indeed..."

Hinata inadvertently took in a sharp breath. Without knowing it she began to hyperventilate, her eyes dilating. The room began to spin.

"We're just going to cut to the chase here. Neji-san, I suggest you sit down also. You haven't fully recovered from your injuries yet."

The ANBU quietly sucked in a deep breath, preparing himself for the outburst that was to come. "Uzumaki Naruto...is dead".

--------------back to the funeral----------------------------------------------

Neji closed his eyes as he tugged Hinata. He didn't want to remember what had happened after that...no, he couldn't remember, it was too painful. He couldn't think about how Hinata-sama reacted to the news of Naruto's death. 'Just put it in the back of your head' he whispered inwardly. Forget about the past...and look toward the future. Just look toward the future.

As they neared Naruto's coffin, Hinata tensed up. "Neji..." She could've sworn she saw...no, it just wasn't possible.

Naruto lay there, stiff and cold and unmoving. His skin was unnaturally pale, his beautiful hair hanging limply over his face. His right arm, which still held Sasuke's forehead protector, was already tense with rigor mortis. Even his jaw had already begun to loosen slightly, causing his lips to part a little. This was what Neji saw. 'This is what everyone saw...'

Hinata, however, was in hope. Why were her eyes lighting up like that? "Neji-nii-san!" She whispered urgently. "Look at him, look at him!"

Neji was highly confused. "Hinata-sama...come on. Put down your flower and let's go. He's gone. Just look toward the future...Look toward the fu--"

"Look Neji, see his chest? It's moving up and down!! He's breathing, he's breathing!!" Hinata's chest rose rapidly up and down, up and down. Her eyes widened, and her fingers clenched the flower tightly.

"S-see Neji? Look at his skin! It's glowing!! It's glowing!! See!! He's alive, he's alive!!" Hinata's breath caught in her throat as a far away glassy look appeared in her eyes. Her fingers continuously clenched and unclenched, and spittle began to appear at the edge of her lips.

Neji stared ahead also, dropping the flower from his limp fingers. At that very moment, fraction of his heart tore off. It tore off, withered up and died, never to be seen again.

"See his hair? It's shining like the sun!! It's shining!! SEE?? SEE!! HE'S ALIVE!! HE'S ALIVE!! I KNOW HE'S ALIVE!!"

Hinata wailed with all of her might, tearing at her skin, her hair, the innocent flower, anything. "AAAUHHH!!! He's...Neji!! Neji!! He's alive!! Please..wake him up...WAKE H IM UUUUUP!!!"

Hinata continued to scream and clawed at Neji with all of her might. Blood began dripping from her eyes, caused by burst blood vessels. Foam frothed and writhen out of her mouth, and her feet tore up the flower Neji dropped on the ground.

But Neji didn't notice. He just stood there, limply, gazing at Naruto's lifeless body. "No, you're wrong, Hinata-sama." He breathed softly. He didn't even wince as Hinata hit one of his most sensitive areas."

"You need to look toward the future...look toward the future."

Tsunade gazed on in shock, until she finally snapped out of her stupor to grab Hinata in time, before she killed Neji. "Hinata!! Neji!! Get a hold on yourselves!!" she hollered.

"GET MEDICS HERE, STAT!!"

Gai-sensei also felt another piece of him die away, as he watched one his most prized students succumb to insanity. "The future...the future. Look toward it..."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There ya go!! Finally, I finished typing chapter four!! Lol. I'm sorry it took so long for an update!! And I'm also sorry cuz I know it's not that long either...lol. You know, the first few chapters of this story is supposed to be depressing and angsty, and it's hard to get into that sort of mood just to type one chapter.

::shrugs innocently:: So in other words, I'm sorry if it's not as angsty/creepy as the other chapters!! The next chapter or two is still going to have depression, but not as much angst. Maybe even none at all.

Please tell me what you think!! Is this story still worth continuing?

-cardcaptor eternity