Chapter 7 - Remembrance

AN: Hello there, hope I haven't kept you waiting for too long. We begin with this new chapter. Warning, for those of a sensitive nature, this chapter could make you tear up. I teared up in the process of writing this. Anyway on with the fanfic. Oh and disclaimer I do not own Naruto, as much as I may want to take the adorable guy away and shower him in affection.

Kuro hurried as fast as he could back to the classroom. All the while that dark voice in his head seemed to go on and on.

"Suffering is all you deserve! What right do you have to any HAPPINESS!" Kuro's breath caught in his throat at that, and he let out a soft gasp as he stumbled, he could feel the tears starting to gather in the corners of his eyes.

Kuro's mind as fragile as it was, was starting to collapse inwards.

"I'm… worthless.. I'll only hurt them.. Only fail them.. Like I failed Kaa-san… I.. I gotta shut them out.." Kuro thought to himself, his head seemed to sag down towards his chest.

Arriving back at his classroom, Kuro hurried to his seat at the back, trying to make himself as small and inconspicuous as possible.

Iruka-sensei was at the front of the class at his desk, sorting through his papers as he prepared for the afternoon class. He glanced up and noticed how withdrawn Kuro seemed to be, it was a slight difference from that morning, but noticeable.

"Did something happen at lunch?" Iruka thought concerned, he might not have had a chance to really build a bond with Kuro, but he was still one of his students.

The door slid open admitting Choji, Naruto and Shikamaru. Choji and Naruto were slightly out of breath. The three hurried to their seats. Choji did turn to look at Kuro as though he was going to say something, but then seemed to think things through and just remained silent.

"Right then" Iruka-sensei started to speak as the last student took their seat. "This afternoon we will be reviewing the Transformation Technique" He announced, which was greeting with groans from the students. "Now now! It's a requirement for your graduation, plus it is a useful skill for a shinobi to have! Come up to the front when I call your name!"

Internally Kuro was panicked, he had never looked at the transformation technique before. Nervously he glanced around, trying to look for hints or tips, out the corner of his eyes he noticed another student forming the hand seals required for the jutsu. Kuro paid close attention.

"Hand seals.. Dog… Board… Ram… Right!" Kuro was nervous, as he clumsily practiced forming the hand seals in the precise order. His bandaged fingers were not as flexible as they once were.

"Well.. i..it shouldn't be too hard… I think.. I need to have a person in mind.. S.. so I can transform into them.." Kuro deduced, the issue was… Who did he choose to transform into? Only two people came to mind, a slight transformation to his body. That would make him appear, as he was before… That day. The other… was.. Kaa-san. As the second idea came to mind, an immense sadness descended over him. He lowered his head nearly to the desk and rubbed at his eyes.

"That.. just leaves me.. Well who I used to be.." Kuro thought to himself.

"Kuro Uzumaki, come up here now please.." Iruka-sensei said as he consulted his list of names.

Kuro jumped slightly at this, not having expected to be called so soon. Even though he was one of the last few students. He slowly pushed himself up from his seat and descended to the front of the class. He could feel every eye on him, glancing up, he saw Choji, Shikamaru and Naruto looking at him. Naruto giving him a thumbs up.

"Go ahead Kuro. Use the Transformation Technique" Iruka-sensei said, watching closely. He himself was curious as to who Kuro was going to transform into. Most students chose to transform into himself.

Kuro let out a short sigh, before focusing. Picturing how he used to look in his mind.

"Here… we go!" Kuro thought as he clumsily performed the hand seals. First dog, then boar and finally ending the sequence on the ram seal, holding it as he molded his chakra.

A slight shimmer of blue chakra started to flow around his body, barely visible waves of chakra were visible.

"H… Henge… no Jutsu!" Kuro called out, before vanishing from view in a dense cloud of smoke.

This cloud was much denser than normal, so the class broke out into laughter thinking the new kid had failed with such a simple E rank jutsu.

Slowly the smoke cleared, the first thing to materialise into view was Kuro's red hair, it appeared slightly longer and almost seemed to be swaying slightly in a non existent breeze.

Slowly, the rest of the smoke cleared and little by little, the rest of Kuro appeared in the classes view. The laughter seemed to catch in everyone's throats as they all stared, stunned at Kuro.

Kuro appeared exactly as he had on that day, before the tragedy. He was wearing the same elegant kimono, that had been beautifully crafted from blue, red and orange fabrics that were finely woven together. The bandages that covered his body and face were gone, revealing pale skin. He had his fingers held out in front of him still in the ram seal. His eyes were closed, but he slowly opened them, the blue-green eyes seemed to shine with a bright interest and an air of purity and innocence.

He looked up at the rest of the class, and he himself was stunned by all the faces staring back at him, equally stunned.

The fangirls of the class were all mentally re evaluating, comparing their precious Sasuke, to the new kid. A few of them were pondering conversions. Even Iruka-sensei was staring amazed at Kuro.

""I.. Is something wrong?" Kuro asked in a somewhat dull and worried tone, as he looked around shyly.

"No.. nicely done Kuro.. you can release the technique now." Iruka-sensei said as he wrote some notes in his files.

In another puff of smoke, the bandaged up Kuro was back, he turned to Iruka-sensei and bowed politely, before turning and heading up towards his seat, feeling every eye on him. A couple of the students were whispering amongst themselves as they stared at Kuro, making him feel really uneasy. Almost to his seat, he caught the bright blue eyes of Naruto, who was staring at him in amazement.

Naruto had a huge grin on his face, practically having stars in his eyes. "Wow he is so strong! I need to catch up with Kuro-kun!" Naruto thought to himself. "To be able to protect all of my precious people and become Hokage. I must become stronger!" He thought, as he turned slightly in his seat to watch Kuro return to the back of the room and take his seat next to Choji.

He was so distracted that he ended up getting hit on the back of the head with a piece of chalk, thrown by an irate Iruka-sensei.

"Naruto! Get down here!" Iruka-sensei shouted, almost to the point of using his Big Head no Jutsu.

Naruto jumped to his feet, a huge grin on his face. "Just you wait Iruka-sensei! I got a super awesome technique to show you!" He said excited as he headed for the front of the room.

Kuro ignored the two stares that Choji and Shikamaru were directing at him, he lowered his arms to the desk and rested his head on top of his arms.

"I just want this day to be over.." Kuro thought letting out a soft sigh

"Here I go! Transform!" Naruto shouted at the front of the room, this drew Kuro's attention as he watched, his eyes widening at the visibility of Naruto's chakra. "He has.. So much!" Kuro was staring in amazement.

Naruto vanished in a huge puff of smoke, the smoke seemed even denser than it had been when Kuro did it. Once the smoke had started to clear. Kuro's eyes widened in disbelief "What the!?" Kuro stared, he could hardly believe his eyes.

In Naruto's place, there was a… clearly naked blonde woman, with clouds of smoke covering… certain areas.

A quick glance around, revealed a good portion of their fellow classmates were laughing at the hilarity of the scene before their eyes. A few seats over and a row down in front of Kuro, the boy Kuro thought for certain was an Inuzuka, had collapsed with bright crimson blood jetting from both nostrils, and his white puppy whining and nudging the near unconscious boy with his head.

As for Iruka-sensei, right at ground zero,... yep he was having a nosebleed to.

He quickly recovered and was glaring at the blonde. "NARUTO! UZUMAKI!" Iruka yelled, his head seemed to grow 3 times larger than before. He looked livid, a vein throbbing in his temple.

'Naruto' vanished in a puff of smoke and when it cleared, the blonde boy was back and he was laughing like crazy.

"You like that!? That was my sexy jutsu!" Naruto was laughing like crazy.

Then Iruka-sensei grabbed him by the ear and proceeded to yell at him.

Kuro shook his head, but he was smiling ever so slightly.

"He is so silly.. But… he's so funny too.." He thought before letting out a very soft chuckle.

Finally Iruka-sensei had ranted himself out, breathing heavily, he looked at the rest of what he had planned for that lesson, although it was extremely hard to decipher them through the blood that had poured from his nose. He shook his head angrily. "Self Study! Review your notes!" He snapped before leaving the room, slamming the door behind him.

Naruto still laughing, made his way to the back of the room, a huge grin on his face and he perched himself on the desk next to Kuro and looked at the redhead Uzumaki.

"Ne. That was pretty funny right Kuro?!" Naruto asked with an overjoyed chuckle.

"H… Hai…." Kuro mumbled softly, before sighing, lifting his head to better look at Naruto. Noticing the emotion swirling in the bright blue orbs that gazed at Kuro.

"Kuro that transformation of yours was amazing!" Naruto said with a huge grin on his face.

Kuro blushed lightly at the praise and rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "A.. Arigato.. I.. it was hard to mold my chakra for that.. The hand seals.. Are.. tough to do with the bandages on my fingers…" Kuro trailed off, feeling his mood start to drop, as he gazed down at his hands.

"You'll never be the same person again! You will always… be useless!" That dark voice yelled causing Kuro to shudder slightly, this slight shudder drew concerned looks from the others around him.

"Ne.. Kuro? Wanna go for ramen again today?"Naruto asked, a hopeful tone in his voice.

Kuro shook his head. "N… not… to.. Today.." He said softly, emotionless. Today had stirred up the past in his mind.

Iruka-sensei finally returned to the classroom, back to his calm and collected self. The bell rang for the end of the day and he dismissed his class.

Kuro immediately stood up, and with his head lowered he quickly headed down to the front of the room and out of the door amidst the throng of other students.

Unaware of the eyes of Shikamaru, Choji and Naruto that followed him out, before they looked to each other, sharing a look.

"Follow him?" Naruto asked the others.

"Yep.." Choji said as he opened yet another bag of chips before the blonde and the Akimichi stared expectantly at Shikamaru.

"Troublesome… alright.. We follow." He said with a sigh.

The three nodded and left the classroom, following the redhead at a distance.

Kuro sighed as he walked out of the Academy, Before he managed to work his way out of the throng of students.

"I need.. To find a flower shop" Kuro thought to himself, he wanted to put together some sort of memorial for Kaa-san. Reaching a cross street, he looked first one way and then the other, pondering which way he should go. He chooses one of the directions and starts to slowly walk down the street, eyes scanning the shops that lined the sides of the street. He was unaware of the three pairs of eyes that trailed after him.

A short distance behind Kuro, Naruto turned annoyed to Choji who was still munching on his chips.

"Choji! Stop munching! You're gonna give us away dattebayo!" Naruto hissed

"Hey! 'Munch' I have to keep my chakra reserves up!" Choji said, looking a little ticked off, a vein starting to throb on the side of his forehead.

"Quiet.. You are both being too troublesome!" Shikamaru grumbled, keeping his eyes fixed on the redhead a short distance ahead of them.

Seeing Kuro stop and look at a shop, he signals to the others to stop and they duck into an alleyway to the side and peer towards the redhead.

"Seems he's going to go into the Yamanaka Flower Shop." Shikamaru murmurs.

"I wonder why?" Naruto asked with a frown, flowers?

Kuro headed inside the shop. "Yamanaka.. Flowers?" He wondered if the shop would hold what he was looking for. He pushed the shop door open, a bell sounded as the door was opened, filling the space with its musical tone.

The blonde haired man behind the counter looked up and smiled.

"Welcome to Yamanaka… Oh Kuro-san, welcome to our shop!" Inoichi said with a kind smile on his face.

Kuro was initially surprised as he recognised the man behind the counter, he politely bowed his head slightly and started to browse amongst the shelves. Looking for a particular flower.

"I need.. To find a red rose.." He thought to himself, his blue-green eyes scanning the shelves.

Red roses symbolises love, passion and devotion. These were why they had been Kaa-san's favourite flower, plus they matched the fiery shade of red of her hair. However, there was another meaning to the flower that Kuro wanted this flower in particular besides it being Kaa-san's favourite. Red roses symbolise sacrifice. Kuro remembered that day, how Kaa-san had pushed him to relative safety from the fire. Sacrificing her own life for his.

Wiping his eyes clear of the shimmering layer of tears that had formed at the thought, Kuro finally managed to locate the flower he wanted, he carefully picked one out, mindful of the thorns, looking at it and a finger gently caressing the petals.

Looking at the singular red rose, a memory came to the forefront of Kuro's mind.

The innocent laughter of a young child, echoed in his mind. Before a child's voice started to speak, echoing slightly.

"Kaa-san! For you!" The younger Kuro said happily.

"Oh Kuro-kun! That is so nice of you. Roses are my favourite! I love them!" His Kaa-san's voice was so serene.. So peaceful even as it slightly echoed.

"My ray of Sunshine. You always brighten my day, musuko.." His Kaa-san's voice echoed before slowly fading away.

The child's laughter echoed as the memory faded away. Kuro was now made aware that he was shaking quite a fair bit and a few tears were falling from his eyes. He quickly used his hand and arm to wipe the tears away.

With the rose clutched delicately in his hand, Kuro turned and approached the counter. Not having noticed the concerned look that Inoichi was giving him. Inoichi had noticed the shaking and could tell that Kuro had been crying, he wondered what impact just a rose had had on the boy's mind.

"Y.. Y.. Yamanaka-san.. I.. I'd like to purch…" Kuro was interrupted by the door opening quickly

"Tou-chan! I'm home!" An excited girl's voice said.

Kuro turned to look and his eyes widened as he recognised the blonde haired girl who had entered. She was in his class, wasn't her name Ino?

"Oh.. my little princess! Welcome home!" Inoichi said smiling happily.

Ino (?) noticed Kuro. "Oh.. your that Uzumaki kid right? From my class? That was a very impressive Transformation!" Ino said smiling at Kuro.

"Uh… Y.. Yes.. I.. I am…" He muttered softly, before looking away shyly.

Ino let out a soft giggle, before smiling. "I'm Ino Yamanaka! It's nice to meet you Kuro-kun!" She said, before turning and heading behind the counter. "I'll just grab my apron Tou-chan then I can help in the shop!"

"Of course my little princess!" Inoichi said smiling, before returning his attention and gaze to Kuro.

His eyes found the flower in Kuro's hand and he smiled. "One red rose, that comes to 40 ryo please." He said professionally but kindly.

Kuro nodded and rummaged in his pocket and pulled out the appropriate coins to pay for the flower and he placed it gently on the counter.

Bowing politely once again, he turned and headed for the door into the shop, the bell tinkled once again as Kuro left.

As he left, Ino came out from the back, an apron tied around her waist.

"Ino.. can I ask that you watch out for Kuro. He's… been through a lot.. Can you do this for me, my flower?" Inoichi asked, wanting to make sure that people were looking out for Kuro.

"Sure thing Tou-chan!" Ino said, looking at the now closing door, curiosity in her eyes.

Kuro emerged from the shop back into the sunlight. He sighed softly, holding the rose delicately as he turned back the way he had come, to head back to the main road, he had a few more things to purchase. "I.. need to get some incense.. And…. if I could just find a cheap shrine.." Kuro's thoughts trailed off as he walked, he was so lost in thought that he didn't noticed the three boys who had been peeking around the corner of the alleyway, their eyes focused on Kuro.

Naruto was paying close attention and noticed the rose.

"Kuro-kun has a rose in his hand.." He relays the information to Shikamaru, who was thinking.

"I wonder.." Shikamaru murmured

The three boys realised Kuro was nearly out of sight.

"Hey! We gotta get after him!" Choji said as he polished off yet another bag of chips.

The three gave chase and quickly resumed their following from a safe distance.

They quickly found themselves back in the main street area, amidst all the stores and shops. Naruto looked around nervously, as the villagers gave him dirty looks. He almost walked into the back of Choji as Choji stopped suddenly.

"Kuro's stopped!" Choji said, the three watched the redhead gazing in through a shop window.

"Ah! T.. That looks right!" Kuro said softly to himself, before he entered the shop, sweet scents of various flowery, aromatic scents emanating from the shop. "Incense! Just what I need.. Now.. what scent.. Was it?" Kuro frowned trying to remember the scent of the perfume that Kaa-san had worn always. It was a flowery scent, a very sweet and aromatic scent. He looked around, lifting up various candles and sticks of incense, before he finally located the exact same scent.

"This is it!" Kuro thought triumphantly as he inhaled the same scent, he quickly looked at the box. Jasmine Incense. He picked up the box and headed for the counter, grabbing an incense holder on the way, at the counter he quickly paid and just as quickly left the shop,

"First a rose, and now incense?!" Naruto was beyond confused. Having grown up orphaned, he didn't know much about the proper customs of mourning for those who were one with the Shinigami.

Shikamaru sighed. "Troublesome… He's gathering stuff to mourn someone.." He informs the others.

Naruto's jaw dropped and he turned towards Kuro, an almost agonised expression on his face.

"He's… lost someone?" He murmured, bright blue eyes watching the redhead head off into the distance.

Kuro scanned the shop windows as he passed, he wanted to see if he could find one more thing, it wasn't essential, but he thought it would be useful. Slowly, the sun set and the stores started to close. Kuro sighed.

"No.. Luck.." He murmured, before shaking his head, and instead turning towards his home.

There were loads of villagers around, heading home or heading for restaurants to eat, Kuro got buffeted a little bit by the crowd, he passed by Choji, Naruto and Shikamaru and didn't even notice them as he was focused on making sure his purchases were safe.

They quickly turned around and followed Kuro at a distance in the crowd, trying their best not to lose him.

Kuro finally arrived back at the stairs that lead up to his apartment and slowly he headed up them, shifting the three items he had bought to his left hand, he rummaged in his pocket with his right for his key. "W.. Where are they?" Kuro murmured, as he rummaged.

He was focused on finding his keys, he didn't notice the three boys who were peering up the stairs, just tucked around the corner.

Naruto looked up at the apartment building, it was a nice building that seemed in a decent condition, a far cry from the state of his own apartment.

"Aha!" Came the triumphant cry from up the stairs as Kuro had finally located his keys. He unlocked the door and pushed it open, before pushing it closed behind him. He slipped his sandals off and stepped further into the apartment, setting the rose, the incense and the incense holder on the small table that he had noticed before.

"I need.. A vase.. For the rose.." He murmured, before heading into the kitchen, and starting to peer through the cupboards, searching for something he could use. Finally he uncovered a dusty looking glass vase, he quickly washed it off and wiped it clear. "Perfect.." He whispered as he filled it with water and carried the now heavy vase over to the table. Gently placing the red rose into the vase, he gently caressed the petals. He set up the incense, placing a fresh stick in the holder and then lighting it, the sweet, aromatic scent of jasmine started to slowly fill the apartment. "If only… I had a photo.." Kuro murmurs as his hand went down to his blue charm necklace. The one thing he had that had belonged to his Kaa-san. He slowly got onto his knees before the table and placed his hands together, inhaling the scent of jasmine and started to pray.

Outside the apartment, the three boys were now in front of the door, staring at the front door almost as though they could see through it.

Naruto wanted nothing better than to just open the door and go in to comfort Kuro.

"Do we knock?" He asked Shikamaru and Choji.

Choji looked like he wanted to say yes, but Shikamaru intervened. "No.. this is a private matter for him, we shouldn't interfere with his mourning. All we can do is support him', but only if he allows us in, can we comfort him. All we can do.. Is just.. Be there for him." Shikamaru said, even though he wanted to go in and comfort Kuro too.

"Come on.. We better get home.." Shikamaru said to the others, they all started down the stairs towards the streets and then went their separate ways.

Inside the apartment, Kuro was crying softly as he prayed, letting the tears fall down his cheeks.

"Kaa-san.. I'm so so sorry… sorry that you died.." Kuro murmured, his voice trembling with sorrow.

"F.. Forgive me.." He murmured as he slowly rose to his feet. The apartment had fallen into darkness, the sun having gone down.

"I refuse to let this happen again!" Kuro thought to himself, before visibly shaking as that dark voice shouted. "Are you sure about that!" He shivered, before looking towards the kitchen. He didn't feel hungry, so instead he headed for the bedroom to prepare for bed, preparing his futon for sleeping. He got ready for bed and rested his head on the pillow.

"Tomorrow is a new day.." Kuro said softly as he slowly shut his eyes and fell asleep.

AN: Hope you enjoyed this chapter!