The day was not a dark one, though many wish it was.

Unfortunately, a date where all Shinobi are in the village is not a date that exists in the near future, so Tsunade had to settle for when most were. There were still many on missions, some of which who had no idea of the many ninja who had been killed. Sadly, they would have to figure out what had happened for themselves, the dead could not wait to be put to rest, the village felt they had waited long enough.

And so, all who could be present were gathered at the around Konoha. Names had already been carved into the Memorial Stone, and now, everyone just waited for Tsunade to arrive.

Yamato watched in sorrow as the aging Hokage emerged from the crowd. Her delicate footsteps were no longer so frail, disturbing the ground beneath her. He watched as she maneuvered herself so that she was standing with her back to the blossoming Sakura tree. Just thinking of the name of the cherry blossoms beckoned Yamato to close his eyes in remembrance to a girl he had known who had also shared that name.

He faintly heard Tsunade read off the introduction to the ceremony. It was not held often, so she had not memorized it.

The soft hum of voices was quiet, an unsettling air of anguish hung over the large crowd like a storm.

Yamato heard a gentle cracking sound. Looking to his left, he saw another teammate of his, Naruto, fighting back tears. Although sadness tugged at his own heart, Yamato fought to be strong for his teammate. He felt as though this was not the time for words, however, so he rubbed a hand along the younger boy's arm whilst turning his attention back towards the Hokage.

She had already begun reading off the names of the dead. Yamato had not realized so many had died in this seemingly futile attack, but the list seemed to stretch on forever.

Perhaps everyone had lost someone.

Of course, the thought was vain. The list only seemed so long because the Hokage was reading off ANBU code names, clan names, and then the name of the ninja who had departed. Was that custom, or was she doing that to elongate the ceremony? He did not know, nor did he know if he wanted to.

The blossoms of the tree behind her began to fall as a heavy wind picked up, sending the flowers cascading into the crowd.

He noticed the man to his right, Hatake Kakashi, pluck a bud from the air just as Lady Tsunade read the name on most ninja's mind, "Haruno Sakura."

Yamato hadn't been listening enough to hear her code name, nor the name of her clan, if she had one. His head bowed, and from the corner of his eyes, he noticed several others had done the same.

Yamanaka Ino was brushing back tears as someone held her. Her smile wriggled on her face until she finally allowed it to fall. Her hair was in a disarray, her distress evident.

Hagane Kotetsu was shuddering somewhere in front of him. Kamizuki Izumo was patting his back gently. Yamato had not thought about it before, but he supposed even those who he had never seen with the young girl, or if only briefly, were close to her.

Even Might Gai was shaking. His usual green spandex had been traded in for one of a dark tone, the normally orange accessories now a dull gray.

Perhaps the girl had touched more lives than he had realized. Perhaps every ninja in Konoha had known her, or turned to her for assistance, whether it be for advice or healing purposes. And, maybe even citizens had been touched by the light she left, which although the source was gone, would continue to shine on in the memories of those who knew her best.

Yamato trembled as countless unhappy thoughts crossed his mind.

And what of the other boy? Lee-san, was his name? Yamato couldn't have been sure, he looked too much like Gai to remember his name at a time like this. Was he not affectionate towards Sakura? Was he not still on a mission, where he had been for several months? What of when he came back?

His shaking only got worse, but he was jolted from his questioning as he felt a slight warmth on his arm.

Looking to his left, Yamato had noticed Naruto had placed his arm on his, and was rubbing his heat into him gently.

Yamato offered the best smile he could, which wasn't very impressive, and turned back to the Hokage. She looked as though her own tears willed to spill onto the ground below.

If the Hokage could allow a moment of weakness, Yamato felt as though he could, as well. And so, he did not protest when tears streaked down his cheeks, nor did he try to alter their path with his movements. He wept silently for the teammate he had lost, for the friend no one would see again, and for the girl who shared the same name and color as the tree behind the Hokage.