A/N: I hadn't been planning on updating today, lol, but my better nature got in the way. n.n; So, enjoy this chapter!


Sakura hadn't realized that she'd woken from her sleep until her mind finally registered the white ceiling above her and she realized that her eyes were open. She didn't know how long she'd been lying like that, only that it had to have been a while. Her eyes hurt.

She blinked a few times to bring moisture back to her eyes and then she let in a deep breath of oxygen, hoping that it would clear her mind of all the negativity that clouded it. It didn't.

She had been swept up in those voices taunting her, telling her about how Itachi's death was her fault and how she could never go back to that happy life. And then, poof, she realized that her eyes were open and she was staring sightlessly upward.

"Itachi..." she whispered his name, remembering all of the times she'd had with him, from meeting him in Pein's office to watching him sleep in the forest to eating with him and talking. That time he'd swept her up in his Mangekyou and showed her the truth in her past, when they'd faked their deaths, going off to Waves, living a peaceful civilian life with him if only for a short while. He'd left her, but then he came back to her. And then all this time she'd spent with him in Konoha...

"Itachi..." she repeated, wondering if this could be real, wondering if Itachi really wouldn't come for her this time.

"Exodus will keep you safe," that horrid voice reminded her and she shook her head.

How could a stupid voice in her head keep her safe? How could a voice in her head ever replace that feeling of completeness that Itachi had put inside her? It couldn't... because it was just a voice.

"Sakura-... chan?"

She turned to see Naruto sitting at her bedside, holding her hand in both of his. She didn't even bother to try and force a smile; she knew there was no point. Why should she even pretend to act happy at this point?

"Naruto," she murmured.

He nodded. "I'm here."

"Itachi... he's dead, you know," she informed the blond even though he most likely already knew. "Shishou told me he died in the battle."

Again, Naruto nodded. "I know."

"Does Sasuke-kun know?"

Tears welled in his eyes at the question and, one more time, he nodded. "Yeah, he knows. He was the one that... that saw it happen."

"And...?"

"He didn't take it as well as you seem to be."

"I'm still in denial, I'm pretty sure I'll be going through those Steps for when something major happens because I've never really been in Denial before. I'll probably go into depression in an hour or so." She was oddly talkative. She wondered if it was the pain that made her feel compelled to voice her sad thoughts. "But it's not like it'll matter, anyway, Itachi's gone and Sasuke is probably insane with misery."

When the blond winced, Sakura wondered how close to home she'd hit, but she didn't voice it as he tried to assure her, "It'll be okay. Sasuke's just sleeping now, so maybe things will get better when he wakes up."

"No, Naruto... things will never get better again."

"But—"

"I'm sorry, but I just know it. If Itachi really is dead, then my spirit has died along with him."

"But you can't just—"

"Naruto," she whispered, "If... if you're going to try to make me feel better, can you please just stop? Because I don't want it. I don't want to feel better right now."

"Let her grieve," the two heard that familiar voice and they both turned to see that Tsunade was standing in the hospital room doorway, her arms wrapped around her and a look of weariness on her young-looking face. "She needs this. If she gets the emotions out sooner, then she can begin the recovery."

"But shouldn't we comfort her?"

"Of course, but we also need to give her the space she needs in order for her to come to terms with her loss and then deal with it. Our empty assurances of everything turning out alright in the end will so her no good."

"But—"

"Of course, there's no better way to come to terms with a death than to hold a funeral. So, I've scheduled one for two days from now. It'll be a ceremony for all the shinobi lost during the fight."

More people had been lost? Tears welled in Sakura's eyes at the realization that it hadn't just been herself who had faced the loss of loved ones. How many sons and daughters, parents, cousins, siblings and lovers had been lost to the Akatsuki? How many people would go to that ceremony with tears in their eyes to celebrate the lives of those who had been taken from this world far too soon?

Too many.

Naruto used the knuckle of his forefinger to brush away her tears and then turned to Tsunade, glaring. He stood from his seat and walked out of the room, the blond Hokage following.

XOXO

"What if Itachi isn't really dead?" Naruto asked, "What if he's out there? You're just going to make her lose all hope so soon?"

"He is dead, Naruto," Tsunade informed him, "We checked every body that turned up and none of them were missing a right arm. Itachi's body never showed up, but don't you think that he would come back here if he was able to."

"What if he's not able to? What if he's out there injured, dying?"

"We sent out search parties to find any dead or any survivors. Itachi wasn't in either category. He's gone."

"Okay, so, even if he is, can't we at least try to make Sakura-chan feel better?"

"You can try, but it'll just wind up irritating her when it doesn't work. Trust me on this, Naruto, the only thing that can bring up her spirits is the one thing that's out of reach and that's Itachi. He's gone and everybody has to deal with it."

Naruto sighed and shook his head, rubbing his forehead. Nothing made sense anymore. Seemingly invincible people were dead, unhappy people were not allowed being comforted and men the blond had thought were hated were actually missed. Everything was just wrong!

And then Sasuke started screaming in the other room and both Naruto and Tsunade winced. It looked like it was time for another dose of chakra for the last remaining Uchiha.

Naruto followed the woman into the room to help comfort the distraught young man inside.

And seemingly unbreakable men were brought to their knees with misery. Nothing made sense. All Naruto knew was that he wanted things back to the way they were, the days with the Dobe, the Teme, the always-late sensei and the young girl whose life had only just begun. He wanted things back to when they made sense.


A/N: Sorry, Naru-chan, but that's just not possible! Why? ... Because then there wouldn't be a story!