(A/N: Thank you for all your reviews! As requested, I've written another chapter, the aftermath of Naruto's suicide.
To esther: A NaruHina? I've written one, "Missing Piece". Check it out. Sweet ending.)
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, its characters, or anything else besides this fic.
He was right.
It took a whole week before anyone actually noticed that he was missing. It took a few days before anyone got settled back to their mundane lives after the obscenely lavish wedding reception the Hyuugas held. It would've been longer if not for the special promo period the Ichiraku had; it was then that the people started to wonder why the resident ramen addict of Konoha wasn't around. Even then, it was nothing urgent. They thought nothing of it and carried on with their lives.
It started getting serious when the absence of the loudmouthed shinobi's chaos began to make it felt, gradually at first, then into full wonder. Where was that moron? The first to notice was Naruto's colleagues, his fellow shinobi. They started asking questions first, shrugging it off. They started searching for him only when a mission was handed out, with Naruto being a part of the team assigned.
The first to find him was Hinata. She peeked in his apartment a bit, half-expecting to find it unoccupied, half-expecting a sleeping or busy Naruto. The sight that beheld her shocked her to her very core. Her knees turned to jelly as she, still refusing to believe, stumbled towards his bloody form, her pure eyes wide with shock and horror.
Naruto's still form was curled up into a semi-fetal position, his eyes half open. The pillow was drenched with his tears, while the bed was still dripping with some his blood that hadn't dried. His hand was curled limply around the kunai, part of the hilt still sticking out of his chest. His lips were curled up in a weak, hollow, haunting smile. The stench was unbearably repulsive. It was too much for her.
She broke down and threw up, tears flowing almost immediately. Her delicate frame shook with sobs and wails. "Naruto! Why? W-Why?" The only answer given to her was the drip-drip of his blood. Kiba then entered the room. "Hey, Hinata-koi, wha-" the horrifying sight cut him off. He reeled backwards and stumbled towards the exit, running to tell them about Naruto.
In a few minutes, they were all there, including Tsunade. A few threw up, some cried out, while others stood frozen in shock. The question once again arose in the still, rotting air "Why?"
Iruka took it the worst. After reading his letter, he broke down and wailed, screaming his unanswerable questions at his former student's empty, lifeless form.
Thank you sensei. You were the family I never had.
I am leaving now because I cannot take it.
He could not be comforted. He refused to. The kid that he treated like his little brother, the one he always looked out for, the student he treated to ramen, was now dead.
Sakura recalled back when they were still Genins. He used to have a crush on her...he would invite her to ramen, greet her every morning, ignore the abuse she would heap on him...sorrow and guilt set in on her as she cried, burying her face in Sasuke's shoulder, who stood shocked, tears silently gliding down his face. Despite their rivalry, he loved him. Loved him like a brother. Naruto brought him back from the Sound to the Leaf years ago...how could he leave without Sasuke repaying him?
Neji's eyes filled up with tears. It was Naruto who changed his cynical outlook on life. It was he who made him what he is now today. Now he's gone. He didn't care if he was crying in front of everyone. He had just lost a friend. Tenten hugged him to comfort him, which he accepted gratefully.
Shikamaru's lazy expression changed to that of a stunned one, and his "troublesome" drawl was replaced by silence.
Kakashi looked glum, devoid of his usual lazy, carefree energy. His...his student... He still couldn't accept it. No...strong Naruto? It can't be.
Tsunade was struggling so hard to stop the tears. She adored him, a son to her. She felt like a part of her died. In a way, it did.
Why? Why didn't Naruto see that they loved him? Because they didn't show it. They never did. He never got a shoulder to cry on, anyone to lean on. He had to handle the harshness of life and scorn of the village alone...and he reached his limit. Wasn't it obvious that they neglected him? It took everyone to notice that he's been missing. Now they were mourning for him.
They didn't know he was pushed to the brink. They didn't know that even an energetic guy like Naruto has his limits. The rest of the village would not care.
Hinata was still wailing, along with Iruka. Hinata felt responsible for his death...
His funeral followed. Many attended, including the owner of the Ichiraku and his daughter. During his eulogy, there were many who rose to speak. Iruka, overcome by grief, could not continue midway and had to be led away by a Jounin. Hinata, between sobs, told them of how he helped her excel and come out of her pitiful shell. He cheered her on, encouraged her, protected her, strengthened her, and inspired her. She was what she was now because of Naruto. Many recalled and agreed silently. Neji said likewise. He came and gone, but changed them so much. Many praised his bravery and resilience, how he refused to give up, and his remarkable fighting spirit. They told of how he always bounced back up after a setback, how he was never one to suffer lying down. He always had to take charge. He wanted to prove himself to everybody, who ridiculed and looked down on him. His ambition was great, and so was his spirit. He fought against the demon in him. He never held bitterness towards others. Had he done so, he would have released the Kyuubi a long time ago and destroyed the entire village. But instead, he chose to channel the inevitable destruction, formed by abuse and repression, towards himself. He was so pure, so well meaning and selfless. His actions were without malice. He was a sweet and loving man. He went against all odds to go as far as being a Jounin. He fought and lived a ninja but his will was crushed the last minute, the pressure was too great for him.
He was buried the next day, with the ninjas watching the ceremony. All were morose and reverent in silence. A few were wailing. Some were silently weeping. Still some were in disbelief. The Naruto? Being buried right in front of them? It just couldn't be. The village seemed devoid of life at the absence of their most energetic shinobi. Gone were the jokes, the laughs, and the pranks of Naruto. An essential life force of the village was taken from it. A cheerless, still guilty, and wailing Hinata clung on to her new husband, Kiba, who silently vowed, with tears running down his face, to Naruto that he would honor his last request.
Kiba...love her for me...take care of her.
It was a beautiful, bright, sunny day, like his personality. He brought joy into their lives and changed them all so much. His ghostly presence still seemed to linger around, comforting them, assuring them. They were forever grateful to him and his sacrifice. He was given a hero's burial. On his tombstone was engraved the Konoha symbol and the text:
"Uzumaki Naruto, a true ninja.
Savior of Konoha, vessel of the Kyuubi.
May he rest in peace."
Goodbye now, everyone.
Have a nice day without me.
(A/N: No, I still don't agree with suicide. Hope ya liked the epilogue! Please tell me it made you cry...)
