Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any characters found in this fic, nor do I gain profit from it.
Sorrowful Endings
By: Ky Hakubi
He was going to die. The cold emptiness in his foe's eyes spoke volumes as he raised his energy charged hand eye level. They had fought once before, but his former friend couldn't kill him last time. He had no illusions as to the outcome this time. He knew that the last thing he would hear would be that hideous chirping like that of thousands of birds. Their cacophony would follow him to Hell.
He risked a glance to his left. His teammate's pink hair was soaked with blood from a head wound she had received earlier in the fight. He could hear her labored breathing. He knew she wouldn't last much longer.
She, at least, would be missed. How many would mourn for his death? Would his name be carved in amongst those on the memorial stone? Would he be placed among the fallen heroes? Those who died for their homes and precious ones? Or was he to be forgotten? His memory left to fade away as if he had never even existed?
His thoughts were drawn back to the present as his foe smirked and slowly walked forward. Funny how not even that expression touched those cold eyes. How oddly sad. Even in the face of death he pitied his former friend. He held no grudge. He knew his friend was being controlled, and he would hold to that belief in the afterlife.
His teammate's breathing had stopped now and he shed a tear for her. Killed by the man she once loved. Life was funny that way.
His death was being drawn out, his friend turned enemy appearing to revel in his victory. Power seemed to be the only thing to affect those eyes. He knew the snake pulling the strings like some demonic puppeteer from Dante's Inferno was also delighting in the scene playing out between the former comrades. His friend was merely a marionette for that heartless bastard. The demons of Hell would be laughing at the show.
Minutes seemed to fly by. He watched as the glowing hand, that device of his execution, reached back for the killing stroke. He saw the messenger of death coalesce in his peripheral vision and he knew his end had come. "Hinata…."
He shed another tear for the woman he was leaving behind as the stroke fell, piercing his heart. Her name echoed throughout his mind as the life faded from his eyes.
The funeral was a short one. Not many had come, save for his precious people. Those he trusted. Those he called 'friend' and 'teacher'. Those he vowed to protect. They had felt the same of him, and they were the only ones to mourn his passing.
They had made sure his name would be remembered. They had made sure that it was carved into the memorial stone. He deserved nothing less. He had died for his home. He belonged with the other heroes.
As they mourned one passing they had failed to notice that another life had ended on that sorrowful night. The grief of his passing had blinded them to hers.
He had died. He who seemed almost invincible in her eyes. Always getting back on his feet no matter how many times he was knocked down. Always managing to come out on top. Always being there for her to draw strength from. Now he was gone and she had lost her strength.
It started raining the day of the funeral. How fitting. She waited for darkness before leaving her bed. She took a single kunai with her. She knelt before his grave weeping silently. She traced his name carved into the stone and let memories of his face, his smile, and his laughter consume her. "Naruto…"
Her tears came more forcefully now. Her small body trembled as her heart was wracked with grief. She took her kunai in hand and studied the sharp edge. She ended her pain the only way she knew how.