Since I got a ton of reviews, I got inspired to write, so here is another chapter!

I do not own Naruto nor its characters! I don't make any money off of this!

"speaking"
'thinking'


Chapter 9:

Naruto could hear crying. He opened his eyes and saw everyone gathered around him. But the view was blurred by a sheet covering his eyes. The sheet allowed Naruto to see them but they couldn't see his eyes. "Why?" Sasuke asked. "Why did this happen?"

"Was Naruko depressed?" Tsunade asked.

"She did seem down lately," Raiyuki said. Tsunade nodded as she made a note in her notebook.

"Do you think her heart couldn't handle her depressed state?" Mikoto asked.

"It seems that is the case," Tsunade said. "However, it could also be because her heart couldn't handle the stress her body was going through. Her heart failed because it couldn't continue to work."

"It's my fault," Sasuke said.

"It is no one's fault," Tsunade said. "She was lucky to live so long."

"It's not fair," Sasuke said. "She's too good of a person to just die like this."

"I'm sorry," Tsunade said. "But there is nothing we can do. She's already..."

"No!" Sasuke yelled slamming his hand against a wall. "She can't be dead!"

"Sasuke," Raiyuki said. She pulled the boy into her arms. "Oh Sasuke." She began to cry along with Sasuke. Yori and Mikoto took them out of the room. The other followed, not sure what to say or do.

"It seems they love really love you," Tsunade said.

"I'm sorry," Naruto sat up, letting the cloth fall on his lap. "Thank you for doing this."

Tsunade sighed. "This is hurting them."

"This may hurt now, but they will move on," Naruto said. "It is better this way."

"For who?" Tsunade asked.

Naruto smiled. "For everyone."

Tsunade closed the door behind her. She felt bad for everyone, but she felt the worst for Naruto. As Naruko, he had people who loved him. But they thought he was someone else, someone he could never be. Naruto was right. This was the best thing to do. She only hoped that it was also the right thing to do.

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The funeral was huge. The death of a member of royalty was always the saddest thing for a kingdom. They had agreed to bring Naruko's body back to Konoha. The day that this was to happen, Iruka gave Naruto another pill. Just like the first one, it knocked Naruto out. Naruto would be in a death-like sleep for four days. On the fifth day, Iruka would remove Naruto from the coffin and they'd hide until the coffin was buried. Then they would go to the orphanage. This was the second part of the plan. And it worked.

Naruto was hiding, dressed as a commoner with brown hair. He watched them lower a coffin into the ground. Several people cried. Mikoto was crying on Fugaku's shoulder while Kushina was crying on Minato's. Itachi had an arm around Sasuke. All of the girls were in their lover's arms. Raiyuki was in Yori's arms. Kiba was in Shino's. Shikamaru had to hold Temari up or she'd fall. It amazed Naruto that these people had cared so much for "Naruko." He waited until they left before he walked over to her grave. He bent down and touched the headstone.

"Thank you," Naruto said. "For letting me meet so many people. I will cherish the memories."

"Are you ready?" Iruka asked.

"Yes," Naruto said. He walked with Iruka to a carriage and got in it. Neither of them noticed that they were being watched.

The drive to the orphanage seemed longer than the first ride. Naruto and Iruka stayed silent, not wanting to talk. Iruka was going to miss Naruto just as Naruto would miss Iruka. When they reached the orphanage, Naruto hugged Iruka. "Promise me you'll visit."

"Of course," Iruka said hugging back. "Be safe."

"Good bye Iruka," Naruto said.

"Good bye Naruto," Iruka got back into the carriage. Naruto watched the carriage disappear. Then he turned around and walked to the door. He raised his hand and knocked.

"Hello?" Suki asked opening the door. She gasped.

"Hi Suki," Naruto said. "I'm back."

Suki hugged Naruto, tears running down her cheeks. "Welcome back, Naruto."

"Naruto?" Konohamaru asked. He saw the blond and ran at him, jumping him. Naruto landed on his back and Konohamaru buried his face in the blonde's chest. "Thank Kami-sama that you're ok, Naruto."

"Naruto?" Several boys and girls appeared. They too jumped on Naruto. Naruto laughed as he was pig piled. Once the hugging and greeting was done, Naruto walked into the house. Suki made some food for Naruto as he told her everything that had happened.

"You fell for him?" Suki asked. Naruto nodded. "Oh, Naruto!" She wrapped her arms around Naruto, and he finally broke down. Suki rubbed Naruto's back as he cried. Soon, he was asleep. Suki called Konohamaru to help bring Naruto to his room. Suki stayed in the room well past bed time. After everyone was asleep, she leaned down and kissed Naruto on the forehead. "I'm really glad you are back."

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After Naruko's death, Sasuke didn't care who he married. The decision was given to Fugaku. He picked Hara. Haruka and Sakura was angry that they hadn't been picked. They tried to sabotage the wedding, but they were caught. They were forced to go home, depressed. Carrie and Kassina had already left, not minding that they weren't picked. Avriannah stayed behind to hang out with Yori and Lilly liked talking to Raiyuki. The four of them knew that Sasuke didn't want Hara. He only wanted Naruko. But because he couldn't have her, he had to settle for Hara.

Even after the wedding, Sasuke refused to touch Hara. Hara understood that Sasuke was still in love with Naruko. Weeks went by and Mikoto caught Hara throwing up. She assumed that Hara was pregnant with Sasuke's child, but she wasn't. Hara apologized and admitted that the child was one of her servants. Sasuke and Hara's marriage was annulled. Fugaku instantly called Carrie, Kassina, Haruka, and Sakura back. Sasuke's friends were made to vote on Sasuke's new bride. Lilly was picked with two votes over Kassina, but she refused to marry Sasuke. When Fugaku asked Kassina instead, she turned him down as well. It seems that Carrie and Kassina had gotten engaged to each other. So that next one was Lilly. But again, Lilly and Avriannah came out as a couple. Fugaku threw a minor tantrum.

Sasuke's friends were not happy. They were left with the choice of Haruka or Sakura. None of them could decide who was the lesser of two evils. Fugaku finally decided that Sasuke would marry both of them. By now, Sasuke was an empty shell of his former self. Itachi was afraid that his little brother was going to die. He took his worries to Raiyuki who also didn't know what to do. Yori overheard them and began to form a plan. She knew of a way to bring Sasuke true happiness and she was going to make it happen.


I made three Yuri pairings in this story. I didn't know if I was going to keep it that way. They could have just pretended to be together to spite Fugaku, but that would be counter productive. So, I guess I'll leave it this way.

Also, Lee and Jiriya seem to not exist in this story. There are other characters (Gai, Asuma, Kurenai, etc) also missing, including almost all of the Akatsuki members. So far, I don't think any of these characters are going to appear. I'm still iffy on Orochimaru and Kabuto. They have been in almost every one of my stories. I think I'm going to leave them out of this story.