Naruto laid on his bed, simply staring at his ceiling. Immobile. Just breathing and hardly ever blinking. He was so deep inside his own mind, he almost forgot that he was conscious.

"I can't do it." Thought Naruto, "I can't go to the funeral. It'll be too much for me to bear, seeing all her friends and close ones, crying over something I did..." He sighed and fought back tears. He felt that he'd done enough crying over this subject.

In the back of his mind, he could hear Kyuubi taunting him, poking at his nerves. She called him weak, useless, soft-hearted, everything she could think of. But Naruto knew, that not one of those adjectives described him. He tried to tune her voice out and gripped his hair.

"I'm sorry, Sakura." He mumbled out, sitting up on his bed. "I really hope you forgive me... For everything."

"I can't forgive you."

Everything within Naruto's body stood still for at least a whole second. He looked up, and his eyes and jaw opened at what was in front of him.

Or rather, who.

She smiled at him, "Hi, Naruto-kun."

Naruto sat there, at a loss for words as he looked at the long, loose, white kimono dress that hung perfectly on her body. The pink hair he'd grown to love stopped right before her shoulders, free from the lack of a Hitai-ate, as she usually would wear. There was now what seemed like white smoke gracefully floating above his floor boards, stopping right at their ankles.

What amazed Naruto the most about her, was that her body seemed to be slightly transparent.

He couldn't say a thing, his mind practically shut off on him.

"I can't forgive you for something you didn't do, Naruto-kun." She says. Naruto noticed that there was a slight reverberation to her voice as well.

"S... Sakura-chan...?" He whispered. He has not blinked since his eyes settled on her, "Is that... really you?"

The angel gave a small smile, "Yes, it's me, Naruto."

Two liquid streams rolled from each of his eyes.

"No way..." He finally said. He closed his eyes and looked away, "I don't believe it. Someone is messing with me through a Genjutsu."

Sakura chuckled slightly, "This is no Genjutsu, Naruto. It's me. Not really in the flesh, but this is the real Sakura." She smiled, "Believe it."

Naruto looked back at her, unable to take in what he's seeing, "...So... you're like... an angel?"

Sakura nodded.

He looked her over one more time and buried his face into his hands, "...I'm sorry..."

Sakura moved closer, "Don't apologize. There's nothing to be sorry for."

"Yes there is." Naruto said, "On that mission, I could have tried to keep my emotions in tact better than how I did. If it wasn't for me, and what I have contained inside me, you wouldn't be like... this. You'd still be here."

"Naruto..." She caressed his cheek. Naruto noticed that the contact felt like a breeze of cool air against his skin, "In your heart, I'll always be here with you. And Ino. And Tsunade-sama. I've seen everything you've been doing since I passed away, and I want you to know that I'll always watch over you."

"But..." Naruto mumbled, "I regret everything that happened on that mission... Everything could have been avoided, you could have still been alive as if nothing happened. I feel like shit..."

She gazed at him sympathetically, "Don't, Naruto. Ever since you've met me, all you've done was care for me. You've saved my life on previous missions countless times, and I know you would sacrifice a lot in my name. Even as I treated you like a complete jerk, you still found it in your heart to want to be my friend and protect me." She sat on the bed next to him, staring down at the ground, "I really regret how I've treated you back then. If anything, what happened on that mission was what I deserve for neglecting you and putting you down for almost a whole year."

Naruto looked into her dazzling green eyes, "No, you don't deserve anything like that, especially not... death." He said.

"Well, either way, what happened on that mission was an accident. I know you would never do anything to hurt me, so stop blaming yourself." She told him, looking back at him.

Naruto shook his head, his thoughts making him frustrated, "But if I wasn't here, you still would be!" He groaned, "I would take my own life in a heartbeat if it you could come back! I've always wanted to protect you, Sakura-chan, but I end up killing you instead! I'm such a screw up! I failed to bring Sasuke back, and now you're gone because I wasn't strong enough to hold back my emotions! I'm sorry, Sakura-chan, I'm so so sor-"

An Angel's Kiss gracefully landed upon his lips, bringing his words to an immediate halt. The sensation took his breath away. It didn't even feel as though she were kissing him on a physical level, but on a spiritual one.

Sakura slowly pulled back a few inches, opening her eyes to look at him. Naruto finally opened his once he heard Sakura's giggle, "You always did talk way too much." She says. Naruto blushed. He always dreamed of kissing Sakura, but never imagined it happening like this.

"It's okay, Naruto, I'm in a better place now. I'm happy that I get to watch over you, and watch you climb your way up to become Hokage, because I know you'll do it. I support you one-hundred percent of the way, and know that I'll always be in your heart."

"Sakura..." He murmured, once seeing that Sakura was becoming more transparent.

She smiled softly, "Looks like I have to go soon. But remember what I said Naruto. Don't drag yourself down, and I'll always be looking out for you."

Naruto slowly nodded, "...Okay."

"Oh, and before I go," said Sakura, "Tell Tsunade-sama what happened on the mission. It'd be better for her to hear it from you, than anyone else." Naruto frowned, but nodded, "And I want to ask you for two favors while I still can..."

"Sure, Sakura-chan, anything." He said.

She looked straight in his eyes, "Talk to Ino for me. She's having a very rough time right now, and she could use the help from you and that big heart of yours." Naruto nodded, "And that scary lady, Anko? Always keep her close. She really cares for you, Naruto-kun, and I wish I could thank her for getting you back on your feet. She has a good heart." She says with a sincere smile. Naruto gave a small smile as well and nodded.

"I'll do everything you said." He told her honestly. As Sakura smiled, Naruto noticed that she was now barely visible.

"Thank you, Naruto. I can't thank you enough for all you've done for me." She leaned forward and kissed him again, caressing his face. Naruto closed his eyes, kissing her back.

"I'll always be with you, Naruto-kun."

Naruto opened his eyes. She was no longer there.

But somehow, he could still feel her presence.

Naruto woke up the next day feeling strange. Not strange in a bad way, but felt as though a weight as been lifted from his shoulders.

Just as he kicked the covers off his body, there was a knock at his door. He groggily walked up to and opened it.

"Oh, Anko..." He greeted, rubbing his eye. Anko stepped inside, despite his absence of an approval.

"Hey, Naruto. How you feeling?" She asked, sitting on his bed.

Naruto yawned and stretched, "Fine, I guess." He then raised an eyebrow her way, "Um, how do you know where I live?"

"Kakashi told me." She says, "I just wanted to check on you, since I didn't see you at the funeral, or for the rest of that day as well."

Naruto shrugged, "I'm fine. I just didn't want to go."

Anko nodded. "So Kakashi says that he'll be ready to continue your training when you are."

"I'm ready, but there's a few things I want to take care of first." He says, "I'm going to tell Tsunade what happened."

She showed interest in his announcement, "I saw her at the funeral, too. She wondered why you weren't there."

Naruto sat on his bed next to her, "Oh... How bad was she mourning while she was there...?" He asked carefully.

Anko shrugged, "Not bad. She let a few tears fall, gave a small speech in Sakura's honor, but nothing too bad." She looked at him, "She's old, I'm sure she's dealt with situations like that quite a few times in the past."

Naruto nodded and looked down at the floor. Anko studied him, "You don't look like you're ready to tell her."

"I don't know if I am." He told her honestly, "But I have to do it before she manages to find out from someone or somewhere else."

Anko hummed in agreement, "I respect that. And I'm sure Tsunade would, too." Just as Naruto looked at her, she stood up and stretched her limbs, "Well, I gotta get going. They have a buy-one-get-one-free deal at the dango shop if you get there before a certain time." She gave him a small wave and headed for the door.

"Hey, Anko?" Naruto mumbled with a slight amount of hesitation before Anko stepped out of his home.

She turned around, "Yeah?"

Naruto walked up to her, giving a small smile, "Thanks." He said before enveloping her in a hug.

Anko didn't hide her confusion for his sudden action, "Uh, you're welcome? What exactly did I do?"

He pulled away, still smiling, "I just wanted to thank you for everything you've done for me in the past couple of days. You're... a really good friend."

Anko simply stared at him, "Oh. Well, don't get all sappy and sentimental on me like this. It makes me uncomfortable."

Naruto chuckled, "Right, I don't really know where that came from... So I'll be seeing you later?"

Anko was still a bit confounded, but shrugged and gave a short smile, "Yeah, sure. See ya." With that, she turned around and left his apartment.

Naruto left his apartment sometime after eating breakfast and getting dressed. He headed for the Hokage tower, setting his mind on getting things over with.

Once he entered the building, he relaxed his heartbeat as he navigated his way to her office. Once he reached it, he saw that her office door was open. Tsunade was behind her desk, distracted by paperwork, as usual.

He hesitated before stepping inside, "...Tsunade-sama?"

The blonde Hokage looked up, not expecting to see Naruto, regarding the way she was addressed, "Oh, Naruto... I was wondering what happened to you. I haven't heard from you since..."

Naruto nodded, "I know. What happened on my last mission is actually what I want to talk to you about."

Tsunade placed her papers on her desk and gave him her full attention, "Alright. What is it you want to tell me?"

Just then, everyone's attention shifted to the door that opened behind Naruto. In it, walked Ino Yamanaka.

Naruto and Tsunade looked at her carefully and frowned. The first thing that they noticed was the bags under her eyes. Her usual lusterous platinum blonde hair was a bit dull and lacking life. It was a bit more untidy as she usually kept it, as if she carelessly brushed it before leaving her home. Her face seemed tired and stressed, seemingly aging as if she were a middle-aged woman.

"You've requested to see me, Hokage-sama?" She asked, her voice lacking her usual peppy tone.

Tsunade frowned, but nodded, "Yes. I just wanted to know how you're feeling..."

Ino shrugged, barely making any eye contact, "Okay, I guess."

There was a slight pause in the room before Tsunade spoke again, "Actually, I'm glad I have both of you here right now." Naruto wondered what she meant by that, "Now, as busy as I always am due to me being Hokage, I shouldn't be doing this. But I care about both of you a lot, since you, Ino, are one of my favorite apprentices, and you, Naruto, are like the son I never had."

Ino and Naruto said nothing as Tsunade took a brief pause, "...I noticed that neither of you showed up to Sakura's funeral."

...Ino broke down.

Tsunade could tell that she tried to hold it in, but failed. She fell onto her knees and dove her face into her palms, sobbing. Naruto's immediate reaction was to kneel beside her, holding both her shoulders in a consoling manner.

The Hokage sighed and took a deep breath, regretting her choice of words, "I know, Ino, I know exactly how you feel. But this is something that I feel we should discuss."

Ino eventually gained some of her composer and stood up, with Naruto's assistance. She nodded and wiped her tears while giving a short apology.

Tsunade cleared her throat, knowing that she was going to give a somewhat long speech, "Deaths of loved ones is something that most, if not, all shinobi will experience at least once in their life. Most of the time, they will happen unexpectedly. And as a result, it will cause a lot of stress, pain, and even heartache. You were taught in the academy, or by your Jounin instructors, to prepare for such scenarios since shinobi frequently risk their own lives for the sake of the village. However, that is very difficult for many people, and when it actually happens, it can cause a lot of pain." Tsunade chose her next words carefully, "I know Sakura meant alot to everyone in this room, including me. But she's in a better place now. And now she can watch over us as we continue on with our lives."

Then two other blondes said nothing. Tsunade shifted most o her attention to Ino, "And the same applies to Asuma." At this, Ino gave a wimper, like she close to bawling out with tears again.

Naruto gave a shocked look to Tsunade. He was wise enough to give her a nonverbal look that said, "Asuma's dead?". Tsunade nodded to his reaction.

"So that must be what Sakura was talking about..." Naruto thought.

Tsunade sighed, "They will be missed. Asuma was a fine shinobi, and Sakura was a great kunoichi. But they knew, that accepting their headbands meant that they would end up this way. And since they... left from performing missions for the benefit of the village, I can say that I'm very proud to call them Konoha-nin. And I'm sure the both of you feel the same way."

Ino still had streams falling down her cheeks, but nodded, as did Naruto.

"I know you both are sad. And hurting a lot on the inside. There's no true way to avoid those feelings, but all I can say is to try be happy. Asuma and Sakura wouldn't enjoy seeing you guys hurt, so do them a favor and be happy that you got to share portions of your lives with such great people."

Naruto nodded.

"...Tsunade-sama."

"Yes, Ino?"

"I wish to be relieved from my kunoichi duties."

Tsunade and Naruto were not prepared to hear her say such a thing.

"...I-Ino, I understand that you may feel-"

"With all due respect, Tsunade-sama, I don't want to talk about this anymore. I wish to hand in my title as a kunoichi."

The room fell silent.

"...Ino-chan, you can't just quit like th-"

"Naruto, with all due respect, I'm not looking for any opinions. This is my decision."

Naruto reluctantly backed off.

Ino untied her hitai-ate from around her neck and held it out for Tsunade to take.

The Godaime looked Ino straight in the eyes, "Are you sure you want to do this? You know that once you give me that headband, you wont be getting another one..."

Ino hesitated, "...I know."

Tsunade closed her eyes and slowly took the headband.

She then looked at Ino sympathetically. She saw Ino's hesitation when giving up her headband, "How about this? How about I give you the rest of the day to think about this decision? You can ask for this back if you change your mind by tomorrow before sunset. But if I don't see you by then, I'll assume that you're sure about this decision and will officially dispatch you from our shinobi ranks. Deal?"

Ino was silent in thought for a brief moment, "Okay, Tsunade-sama. May I be dismissed now?"

Tsunade nodded with a frown. Ino turned around and left out of the office.

"I can't let her do this." Naruto said. He turned for the door, only to be stopped.

"Naruto, you shouldn't interfere. It's her decision if she wants to quit being a kunoichi, you don't have a right to stop her."

"But she can still be a great kunoichi! She shouldn't quit just because she's depressed!"

"Naruto..." Tsunade mumbled. She loved the fact that he cares so much for his friends, but she feels he needs to learn that he can't change everything, "I don't want to see Ino quit, either. But even with my title as Hokage, I can't stop her if she wants to be a regular citizen of Konoha now."

Naruto's mindset had always been a stubborn one, "...Well I just can't sit here and let her do that."

With that, he was out the door, "Naruto, wai-! Ugh..." She sighed, thinking that she can't stop him now. She actually could stop him, but a big part of her wanted him to do what he was doing.