The next day everyone in the village was at the cemetery mourning over the death of the third hokage. Instead of standing with her team naruko stood beside Iruka while holding Konahamaru as he cried. Naruko always hated funerals mainly because of how much it reminded her of the day of Akito, Yuno, Jinora, and Riba funerals. Also the day when Niles murdered everyone in the village of light. She wanted to cry but she just couldn't.
She knew the shinobi rule 'never show your feelings. Keep your mind focused on your mission no matter what no matter how much your hurting inside you can't shed a tear' but that's not why. Naruko has been through the same heartbreaking situations many times before that she's at the point where she can't find the strength to cry anymore.
To everyone the third hokage was a respectable and powerful leader but to naruko and Iruka he was more like a grandfather to them. Both naruko and Iruka where crushed when they heard that the third hokage died.
Even though naruko couldn't cry the rain made it look like she was. Seeing this Iruka pulled her into a hug. 'Why?… Why does almost everyone I care about end up dying?' Naruko thought as everyone said their last goodbyes to the third hokage.
A week after the third hokage's funeral, the whole week naruko was being a bit distant from everyone because she wanted to be alone to think things over. One day naruko was taking a walk to clear her head when she saw hinata. "Hinata" naruko said then started to walk over to her.
Hinata looked over and saw naruko walking towards her so she smiled and said "hey naru-chan." "Hey I was wondering if you were busy" naruko said. "No I'm not busy why?" Hinata said. Naruko scratched the back of her head and said "well I was wondering if you'd wanna hang out." Hinata blushed a little and said "of course I'd love to hang out with you." Naruko smiled and said "ok how about we-." Before naruko could finish what she was saying her and hinata heard someone say "naruko."
Both naruko and hinata looked at the person who called naruko's name. They saw sakura walking towards them. "Oh hey sakura" naruko said. "Do you need something?" Hinata asked. "No I'm good hinata." Sakura looked at naruko. "Naruko I wanted to ask you something" sakura said.
"Ok what is it?" Naruko asked. Sakura looked away and said "well I was wondering are you… are you-." Naruko looked confused and said "am I what?" Sakura sighed, looked back at naruko and said "a-are you and sasuke… in a secret relationship? And don't lie to me." Upon hearing this hinata's eyes widened in terror as she was looking at naruko with tears in her eyes hoping that she would tell sakura that her and sasuke weren't in a relationship.
Naruko was extremely disturbed that sakura even asked her that. "Ok look sakura I don't know why you would even think that but never in a million years would I ever date that bastard. He is way to girly for me and he is so not my type" naruko said.
Sakura sighed while hinata wiped away the tears in her eyes. It was obvious that both girls were relieved. "I thought you two weren't but I wanted to make sure" sakura said. "Yeah there is nothing to worry about sakura, sasuke is all yours" naruko said. "Ok but with that being said, I have to go so bye" sakura said then started to walk away. "Bye" both naruko and hinata said.
'I've should've known better. How stupid of me to think that naruko and sasuke were in a relationship. I don't even know why I was worried. Naruko doesn't love sasuke. Like I told ino she only sees him as a rival so I've got nothing to worry about' sakura thought.
Naruko turned her attention towards hinata and said "anyways, like I was saying how about we hang out at my place today." "Sure that sounds nice" hinata said. Both naruko and hinata started walking to naruko's apartment. "By the way, have you gotten something to eat yet?" Naruko asked. "No why?" Hinata asked. Naruko smiled and said "if you want I can make you something." Shocked hinata said "a-are you sure?" "Of course you're my best friend and I really like cooking" naruko said.
When they got to naruko's apartment naruko unlocked the door. Both of them went inside. "You can go ahead and make yourself comfortable and let me know if you need anything" naruko said taking off her jacket. "Ok" hinata said then went to sit down while naruko made her way to the kitchen.
Twenty minutes later naruko walked out of the kitchen with two plates of food in her hands. "Here" naruko said handing hinata a plate. "Thank you naru-chan" hinata said taking the plate. Naruko sat down across from hinata as both girls began eating.
After a couple minutes, "hey naru-chan" hinata said. Naruko looked at hinata and said "yes hinata." "I was wondering where did you learn how to cook?" Hinata asked. Shocked naruko said "well it was when I wasn't in the village. I couldn't remember were I was from so I ended up staying with someone until I remembered were I was from. At times that person would ask me if I would help them with cooking but I didn't know how so they ended up teaching me how."
After I told her that I may have had a calm expression on my face but on the inside I was freaking out hoping that she wouldn't ask any further questions because what I told her was mostly a lie. When I was still living in the village of light, one day when mom was cooking I asked her if I could help. Mom was always doing house work so she didn't have anytime to do anything else and I wanted to spend time with her so I would help her with the chores but mostly with the cooking.
"Oh ok well who ever that person was they must have been a chef or something 'cause you're really good at cooking naru-chan" hinata said. Naruko was relieved and surprised that that lie actually worked. Naruko blushed a bit and said "thanks hinata."
"By the way, there is one more thing I wanted to ask you" hinata said. "What is it?" Naruko said. "Earlier you said that sasuke wasn't your type so I was wondering who is your type?" hinata said. "To be honest I haven't thought about it. I'm not ready for a relationship yet plus I've got more important things to focus on" naruko said.
"Ok but when you are what are you looking for in a partner?" Hinata asked. Naruko thought about it for a bit then said "in all honesty I'm not really looking for anything in a partner. I just want someone who is nice and kind, someone who will always stay by my side no matter what, someone who will comfort me when I cry, but what I really want is for that person to make me feel loved and important. That's all I want in a partner."
Once naruko finished what she was saying hinata smiled and blushed a bit. 'So that's what naru-chan wants in a partner. She just wants someone who's nice and kind then that means I've still got a chance. Naru-chan says that I'm nice and kind all the time and I can make her feel loved and important' hinata thought.
What hinata doesn't know that naruko is already in love with someone else. Even though it's been years and he may be dead, naruko still loves Akito. It doesn't matter what she does or happens, whether he is dead or alive, naruko's heart belongs to Akito and him alone.