a/n: Hey guys! I thank you all sooo much for the reviews. After the recent poll result I will write my story accordingly. My other fic is also in progress so please read both! There will be an array of new jutsu lined up within the up coming chapters plus a twist. So without further interruption:

Chapter 25: The Tears of Mount Hokage

The sky couldn't look any grayer than it did those 3 days. The wind howled in agony over its loss. The summer heat that kept their spirits up had now disappeared and replaced by a cold that reminded them of death. The first day consisted at first of sakura and Naruto holding each other's hands crying. Sakura's shoulder was rested on Naruto's. Kakashi kept a brave face and walked ahead of all of them. The dinners were quiet, and the nights were even quieter. Kakashi kept the night watches. He listened to the wolves and owls sing a lamenting song for their fallen comrade. His book had lost its interest so he tossed it back into his bag for the remainder of the journey. I couldn't save him, Kakashi thought to himself, He sacrificed himself for the good of the mission…just like Obito. He turned to Sakura. I pray she doesn't die like Rin did. His gaze fell on Naruto. Naruto…I knew you wanted him to be your best man. You two were brothers since you were first assigned to each other. Sure you were rivals, but you were the greatest of friends nonetheless. He closed his eyes and lowered his head. So much unnecessary grief. He looked up to the starry sky. The only thing that looked beautiful that night. What would you have done Sarutobi? He asked the deceased third Hokage.

By the third day, they walked passed the Konoha gates, not uttering a sound. Izumo and his partner in crime Kotetsu raised their hands to greet them but stopped when they saw the expressions on their face. "What do you think happened?" Izumo asked Kotetsu. He shook his large head of hair.

"Beats me," his eyes widened, "where's Sasuke??" They put two and two together and lowered their heads. "Just when they reunite…"

Kakashi turned to his teammates. "I'll report to Tsunade-sama. You two go and sleep." He turned to Sakura. "Please walk him home. I'll let myself in." He walked over to Naruto and put a hand on his shoulder. "Don't be too hard on yourself Naruto. Remember that Sasuke's spirit lives on in all of us." Naruto wiped his nose and nodded his head. The Copy Nin turned around and poofed for Hokage tower.

Pop! He arrived in Tsunade's office. The blonde bombshell lifted her eyes from her papers. "Kakashi! Your back!" She looked around. "Where's Sakura?" She looked back at him and his stoic demeanor didn't change. No hint of emotion. "Kakashi what happened?" He sighed and sat down.

"We were attacked plenty of times. When we stopped in Yukata for information, I was ambushed. I was physically dead for 6 minutes but Sakura did all she could and revived me. Right before the crowd killed us, Sasuke and Naruto emerged and saved us." Tsunade grimaced.

"You weren't supposed to know about them." Kakashi waved his hand.

"It's alright. I'm actually glad that they showed up." He lowered his head. "Naruto developed two new jutsu that we all took time to learn. However, one of them was only to be used as a last resort. The user would have to die because of the extreme depletion of chakra." He gripped his pants. "We were ambushed while at the capital building. Yusuke-sama and I engaged in a fight. I killed him…." He closed his eye and gripped his pants even tighter. "Sakura, Naruto, and Sasuke were cornered. Sasuke…Sasuke…." Kakashi shut his eyes with so much force that it hurt. "…Sasuke used Naruto's kinjutsu…Sakura teleported out with Naruto…and Sasuke sacrificed himself for the good of the mission…" Kakashi slammed his fists on the desk in front of him. Tsunade didn't move, but instead softened her eyes at the Copy Nin. He hasn't felt this down since his former teammates died. She stood up and walked around to put her hands on his shoulders.

"It's alright Kakashi," Tsunade said soothingly, "it was unavoidable. Don't blame yourself for what happened." Kakashi stood up and walked towards the door. "Where are you going?" He stopped with his hand on the doorknob.

"Sakura is really hurting over her friend's death. As her guardian I have to sooth her." He walked out and poofed once he was on the other side of the door.

Kakashi appeared outside the house. He slowly reached into his pocket and pulled out his key. Slowly, he opened the door and walked in. "Home sweet….home…" He said halfheartedly. He walked in, and took his sandals off. As he walked down the familiar hallway, he heard sobs coming from Sakura's bedroom. He slowly opened the door. Sakura stood there holding a picture of team 7 when they first started. Kakashi's eye softened. He walked silently forward and wrapped his arms around the young kunoichi. She leaned into the warmth and turned her head to the side so that she was looking out the window.

"I can't believe he's gone." She said, tears streaming down her face. Kakashi tightened his grip.

"He did it for us." He managed to choke out. "We should honor his memory." They both stood up. Sakura looked up at the masked jounin.

"Let's go for a walk." She said quietly. Kakashi nodded. They stepped out of the house, arms linked. Rain started to fall from. Sakura looked up in dismay. "Right before we were going to walk…" She turned to go back inside, but was surprised to find that Kakashi still had hold of her hand.

"Walks in the rain help me clear my head." She paused for a second then went back to his side. They walked down the street towards Mount Hokage.

"Naruto is a mess," Sakura said quietly, breaking the silence, "he broke down in tears and started to smash up his apartment." She closed her eyes and looked down. "The village saw him as a traitor. Do you think people will still miss him?" Kakashi looked down at his lover.

"Of course they will." he replied. He pointed to Mount Hokage. "Look, even the Kages are crying for him." Sakura looked up and watched as an accumulation of rainwater made it look as if the stone faces had tears falling from their eyes. She gave a small smile.

"The third always praised Sasuke." She said softly. Kakashi pulled her into his side. The kunoichi snuggled her head into his side. They walked farther down the street, letting the rain wash away their pain.

"Sasuke…" Naruto said, sitting on his knees in his apartment. He had wasted his chakra demolishing everything he could see. "I couldn't save you Sasuke." He put his hand to his kunai holster. "I can't live with the memory of your death on my mind." He pulled a kunai from the pouch and put it to his stomach. "Here I come Sasuke." He drew it forward then thrust it towards his stomach. Something stopped him. He tried to move his arms but he couldn't.

"What do you think you're doing Uzumaki?" Kyuubi growled.

"Leave me alone. I'm setting you free." He replied.

"You're being a coward you little brat."

"You don't know what pain I'm going through! You're just a demon that causes destruction."

"I have no friends to care for yes. But I have seen the way you care for this friend of yours. Sure he has passed on, but killing yourself to eliminate the pain is only fit for a coward." Naruto closed his eyes. "Your father died protecting the village from me. Though to this day I hate him for it, I find it better he died containing me rather than killing himself to escape responsibility like you are doing now!" Kyuubi roared at his container. Naruto's eyes shot open. He dropped the kunai. "Pick yourself up and go on with life. Grow stronger and harness my power. Your friend did not die in vain, so don't make it that way by taking your own life." Naruto stood up and looked at himself in the cracked mirror.

"I still have a dream," he said quietly, "I will not rest till I have fulfilled that dream." He ran outside to train his new techniques.

"Kakashi senpai!" Izumo called after the jounin. "Tsunade-sama wishes to see you." Kakashi gripped onto Sakura and poofed to Hokage tower. When they reapperead, the jounin let go of the pink haired kunoichi's arm.

"You wish to see me?" Kakashi asked lazily.

"Kakashi," Tsunade began, hands on the desk, "I wish to discuss what we talked about before you left." Kakashi's eye widened.

"Tsunade-sama, I don't know if I am ready-"

"I'm sorry Kakashi, but it must be done." Sakura was confused.

"What's going on?" She asked. Kakashi opened his mouth to speak.

"Your guardian is being appointed Hokage as soon as you turn 18." Sakura's jaw dropped.

"That's wonderful!" She said with a smile on her face.

"No it's not," Kakashi said firmly, "have you spoken to Naruto yet?" Sakura's face fell. Oh my God will he be pissed.

"Tsunade-sama, I implore to talk to Naruto first before doing any of this." The honey eyed woman sighed and nodded her head.

"I'll send for him," she replied, "dismissed." They turned around and walked out.

"How do you think he'll take it?" Sakura asked.

"He will first throw a fit, then blame it on me and never speak to me again." Kakashi said his head hung low.

"Don't worry so much," Sakura said with a bit of cheer in her voice, "you'll make a great Hokage. And Naruto will still be by your side no matter what." Kakashi looked to his lover and smiled a thank you. She returned the smile.

"I only wish he were here to see it." Kakashi said with a sigh.

"Yeah me too." Sakura said slowly. He pulled her into his side.

"Come on let's get some sleep." Kakashi suggested. She nodded and they poofed to their house.

(Later that Night)

Kakashi woke up three times, having Sasuke's death on his mind. He kept seeing the Uchiha boy screaming as a white light engulfed his body and destroying everything in its path. The Copy Nin held his head in his hands and tried to contemplate what he kept seeing. Dammit Sasuke…I should've been more careful. He got up and walked to the kitchen. He was wearing only his mask, and his boxers. The silver haired jounin opened the fridge and pulled out a bottle of water. He took the cap off and began to drink through his mask, not wishing to take the damn thing off. He looked out the kitchen window to look at the moon. It was full, indicating the half way mark through the lunar calendar.

"At least you died under a full moon Sasuke." He said softly. He raised his bottle to his lips and took another swig of the clear liquid. His heart suddenly stopped and he dropped the bottle at what he saw outside.

A raven haired young man was clutching onto a lamppost near the gates. He lifted his head and he had the sharingan ablaze.

It can't be Kakashi thought dumbfounded.

You were supposed to be dead!

"The user will surely lose his life" he remembered what Naruto said.

But then how is he standing there? Kakashi grabbed the counter to keep his balance.

Sasuke…

Sasuke!

"SASUKE!!" Kakashi screamed to the figure. Sakura woke up and ran to the kitchen.

"Kakashi what's-" She looked outside and saw the Uchiha heir panting, holding on to what little life he had left. "SASUKE!" She cried and ran outside. Kakashi poofed outside keeping up with her. Sakura caught the black haired boy before he collapsed. Kakashi rested his head on the grass while the medic got to work healing him.

"He's pretty much depleted of chakra." Sakura said quickly. Kakashi thrusted his palm to his stomach. Sasuke groaned.

"RASENGAN!" Kakashi cried. The chakra started to swirl through his systems again. Sasuke felt the life being slowly returning to him. He raised his hand.

"S-s-sorry…about…that..f-f-finale…" He said with pain.

"Don't speak Sasuke. Conserve your energy!" Sakura cried. Kakashi performed a few hand seals and slammed his palm to the ground.

"Kuchiyosen no jutsu!" Pakkun appeared before him.

"Yo." The nin dog greeted.

"Pakkun, go get Tsunade and a medic team quick!" The nin dog nodded and poofed away. He turned his head back to Sasuke.

Thank God, Kakashi thought. He stared in wonder for a second. How the hell did he get out alive? Suddenly, he sensed a large amount of chakra getting closer. He turned to see Naruto running at break neck speeds to reach the three.

"SASUKE!!!" he screamed. He slid to a stop and stooped down next to his friend. "What the hell was wrong with you? You scared the shit out of me!" Naruto said, sobbing. Sasuke smiled and opened his mouth.

"S..Sorry…Dobe.." He said with a small laugh. Naruto laughed slightly and held his friend's hand.

"Now you have to be my best man." Sasuke nodded slightly.

"Y-you got it champ." Team 7 stood there over their comrade's body helping him back to life. Sasuke looked up at the starry sky.

I won he thought to himself, Can you hear me Itachi? I won. He smiled to himself and slipped into unconsciousness.