Neji is watching the birds as they fly. There is a part of him that wonders if he'll ever be able to fly like that. He's been told his father didn't die because of destiny, but because he chose to. He's lost.

The hatred is gone but the mark is still there.

: - :

Kakashi stares down at the names craved in stone, and reaches out to trace one in particular. His best friend whom he had lost to battle. He had thought they would be together always. Even if he had known realistically that people died all the time, he had been still young and foolish, he thought the four of them would always pull though together.

But now he is left with only his memories, and the eye, and the son. The memories were private, the eye scarce, and the orphan son was a constant reminder of how they had all failed - and kept on failing.

: - :

The Godaime Hokage is sitting in her office. She's back in the village and has accepted a position she had thought she would never want to. The high walls are lined with portraits, and she's staring up at one in particular. There is only one picture of the man she is staring at, and it is hanging on the wall in front of her.

She recognizes that the Sandaime had made his decision, and she respected it, but still she wishes that there weren't so many secrets. He was still only one boy, she thinks, and his shoulders could only carry so much.

: - :

It's another year, and it's Naruto's birthday again. It's still early in the day, and he's watching the sunrise from his little apartment window in the kitchen. He's sitting in a chair in front of his table. There is no cake here and he just finished singing 'Happy Birthday' to himself. He knows Iruka-sensei will come celebrate with him later in the day, and his friends probably will congratulate him, but it still hurts.

He's still waking up to the same empty apartment every year.

: - :

Sakura is training right now. She accepted that her skill level is not enough to go on the missions she is being sent off to. She's training to become better and more powerful. She was a ninja and she was sick of being underestimated.

Naruto, Sasuke, and her were a team. She was tired of them leaving her behind while they walked side by side.

: - :

Sasuke is standing one a hill, and his eyes are red. He is training, and he is getting stronger. His speed is getting faster, and his skill level is rising everyday. So much has happened, and he's learned to hate being the setback.

He's getting more and more powerful each day but there's an emptiness inside of him, and he doesn't know why.

: - :

Kakashi shares an apartment with his fiancée. There is no kiss welcome home, and he gives no hug to say he's back. They exchange words, and they live with each other. They had put off the wedding for some later time. It was an arranged marriage.

He had not been the one to pick, but had not objected when they chose for him. She was young but had not fought the decision. They had moved in together in an attempt to get to know each other a bit before the marriage as he would be out of the village a lot for missions and she had other activities to take up her time.

They shared the same apartment, but they did not share the same bed.

: - :

Tsuande is visiting her beloved and her brother's graves. Her head is bowed and tears are streaming down her cheeks. The pain never hurts less, no matter how long she grieves. She stays and prays for the two men who had been in her life, and then she walks to the graves of the pervious Hokages.

She means no disrespect as she lays flowers down for the Third, but she thinks the time for secrecy is over. The village cannot handle another surprise, so she prays for courage and forgiveness as she touches the portrait in her office, and walks down the streets of her village.

If he had lived, the man in the picture would have been celebrating his birthday and she was going to see his son to tell him of his father's identity.

: - :

Hinata is musing. She is not as weak as she had been before, but she was still not strong enough. She's sitting on the same hill as she used to train on when she was younger, but this time without any instructors or family members. She's grown. She's older.

She wants the pain in her heart to stop, and wonders how much more she has to give up for her family.

: - :

Neji is walking through the hallways of the main House. He has been requested to see the Head secretly. He has gotten more powerful since the battle with his cousin. His skill has risen far more than thought possible. And the evidence of him being Hyuuga was more than blaringly obvious. He is going to talk with his uncle.

They are willing to announce him as the Heir.

. : - : .