This chapter takes place partially during episode 479. I wanted to post this because I never wrapped up the war. This piece has been written for a long time. I want to finish this story but its currently not in my heart to do so. I'm still a fan of Naruto just haven't been writing for Naruto a lot lately. I've been working on another project.

Sharing Emotions

Chapter 31

Her eyes peeled open as if a fog had lifted after a stormy night, but unlike after a storm, she was slow to process what had happened. She felt as if she had lived a lifetime, but the vision of her dreams were only a night's rest. It left her disoriented to remember what was before. To remember what was before the perfect dream.

She had recognition, validation, acceptance, and love. All the things her heart had desired most in this world. She had a chance to experience them inside her dream. To have others acknowledge her for her own skills in battle, to be remembered not by the association of her last name, and to have achieved jonin in record time before her comrades. She had her family's support and had a hand in helping her brother become a ninja like he wanted. Her mother had not disowned her but supported her. Her father had not remained silent and he had uprooted his farm to live in the city to further Saryie's dream. Sai was beside her, proud of her, confident in her, and fully trusting how capable she was.

She had everything inside that dream.

However, from the perfectness of that dream, Saryie saw the cost. Her success was for naught. She achieved praise for the price of nothing in that dream world. All the obstacles she had faced had been erased. She wasn't the same shinobi she was in that dream.

All her struggles that she had faced in this imperfect world was the reason she was the shinobi she was today. Her mother may have been unkind, but Saryie learned to preserve and be independent early on. Her father may not have sacrificed his farm to show that he cared, but he had allowed her to attend the academy in the first place. Her little brother was not a ninja and may never become one, but that wouldn't stop her from helping him see the world like he desired.

Saryie smiled slightly to herself suddenly. She may not have high ranks or glory, but she did have one aspect of her dream in real life.

Sai.

He had been there for her. He trained with her. He dated her. He was there in her heart and his friendship helped her feel loved.

She lifted her eyes from the dirt and found the strength to lift herself off the ground. She ripped at the white stems that clung to her body. She pulled her gaze from herself and spotted Michi sitting up. He was slow to rise almost unbalanced. He seemed uncertain as his eyes were inspecting the dirt under his hand.

"They did it." Azumi announced quietly in the still air.

Saryie's gazed fled to her other teammate. Azumi was already standing as if she was never dazed by the dream. She looked poised and her chin was tilted, looking off into the horizon.

Saryie followed her teammate's line of sight to the huge stump where the plant had once reached the sky. The full moon had faded, and, in its place, a bright sun shone of a new day. The night of dreams had ended and perhaps the war. They weren't entirely sure.

Others were wiping the sleep crust from their eyes. Many were groggy and still in a daze as they lifted themselves from the ground, pulling away the wilted vines that had encased them.

There was a silence among the alliance before joyous cheers erupted along the ranks with laughter and smiles. The enemy had been defeated and they were no longer trapped in a world of fantasy. The fighting was over, the enemy was nowhere in sight, and they had all won together.

"It's over?" Michi questioned steadily. His guard was still up, afraid to put it down.

"I believe so," Azumi answered, not sparing him a glance.

Saryie's face broke out into a grin suddenly as she hollered in victory, shocking the dazed shinobis that had accompanied them. However soon they chuckled at her excitement. Michi smirked, feeling his shoulders shake as he suddenly slumped back onto the ground.

"Thank goodness."

"Michi are you resting already?" Saryie asked incredulously.

"I had a long night," he mocked jokingly, his fang tooth spilling from his smile.

Saryie rolled her eyes but smiled all the same at her teammate.

"We should get down there. They might need help," Azumi spoke evenly like the leader she was.

"'With what?"

"Taking count of the bodies, scouring the remains, and sorting the injured," Azumi answered Saryie's question.

Her answered soured the taste of their victory. War always had its costs and it was time to learn what they had paid for their victory.

Saryie's belly tinge with nervousness unexpectedly. She had never experienced such nerves. She always had a belief that the shinobi she knew were capable and could not be cut down. She believed that nothing bad could happen to them, but after seeing the carnage of this war, she wasn't so certain. She wondered about Sai's wellbeing along with Lee's, Tenten's, Kakashi's, Gai's, Kiba's, Shikamaru's, and Neji's.

Her concern grew as their company descended into the battered battle grounds. Azumi had led the team, taking charge to see what was needed of them. Saryie did what was asked, all the while keeping her eyes peeled for her friends. She wanted to extinguish her doubts.

The longer she had to wait to confirm their safety, the more impatient she grew until she spotted a familiar face among the crowd with jet black hair. Her heart immediately quickened as she sprinted over to him, abandoning her team.

"Sai!"

The man she called turned to see her and greeted her with that thin lip smile she grew to love. She spied a large scroll across his back as she hastily made her way to him. Others parted and watched their display, witnessing Saryie step through others without care until she nearly bulldozed Sai.

She wrapped her arms heavily around his frame, hugging him. Sai was surprised but appreciated the contact and soon missed it as she let go.

She was smiling beautifully up at him as his keen eyes roamed over her.

"You're okay?"

"Of course I am! I told you I would be." Saryie teased with a smirk.

Sai smiled at her buoyancy as he lifted a hand to cup her face. His fingers tangled themselves in her messy bangs before leaning down to press his lips to her forehead. He was pleased to know she was safe. He had thought of her during the war throughout, wondering in the back of his mind if he would see her again. He was afraid he would lose her like he had during Pein's attack.

"I'm glad you're okay," he mentioned after pulling away from her.

Saryie flung her arms over his shoulders, clinging to him with her short frame. This time Sai had the chance to wrap his own arms across the small of her back, supporting and returning the embrace. He held her to him, supporting her to take the weight off her toes. In such proximity he caught the smell of her, reminding him of when he slept over at her place. Her face was buried at his shoulder, but he heard her mumbled a whisper.

"I'm glad you're okay too".

Her grip was tight, communicating to Sai how much she was feeling.

They held each other in those few seconds, leading others to stop spectating and carry on with whatever they were doing. Soon they both parted as Michi came upon them.

His expression was grave.

"Saryie."

She turned at her name being called, looking over at her teammate curiously, knowing only a few moments ago he was more jovial.

"It's Gai." He mentioned solemnly.

Saryie's eyes widened like saucers, fearing the worse. "Where?"

She was already stepping towards Michi as he led the way. Sai was on her tail. His expression blank at the possible news. He wasn't sure what state Gai was in and more importantly he wasn't sure how Saryie would handle it.

When Michi delivered Saryie to where Gai was resting, they were alone. Gai was laying on the ground looking undeniably broken. His legs were distorted as his bones were nearly smashed, cracked, and fractured. His arms were shaking with a mind of their own. His face was red with sweat culminating at his brow.

It was easy to tell Gai was in pain and he was overly exhausted as he struggled with deep breaths. His eyes were closed but despite the pain, he seemed to be smiling.

Saryie's brain could barely comprehend the state he was in. She didn't understand how. Her mentor that brought her to train with Lee, her hero that saved her family when she was little, her inspiration to become a ninja lay broken on the ground.

Unknowingly her eyes filled with tears as she fell to her knees at Gai's side beside Lee, who was already kneeling by his sensei. He had not looked up at Saryie's approach but noticed her presence when she sat beside him. His face turned briefly to look at her. A pool of tears cascading down in his cheeks, openly. His fist shaking and tightening on his knees.

Tenten stood on Gai's other side. Her eyes full of sympathy with her arms wrapped around herself. Her lips quivering in a frown.

"What happened?" Saryie demanded thickly.

"He had opened all eight inner gates… and fought fiercely against Madara," Lee answered, struggling between his words.

Shock and anger flowed through Saryie's bones. The eight inner gates were dangerous to open and can cause a mighty strain on the body, but to open all eight led to death. Her back quivered while holding in her emotions. She knew she should be lucky that Gai was breathing but… he looked so broken and he wouldn't have been brought to this state if it weren't for Madara.

She was angrier at the bastard that started all this. That made Gai have to resort to his ultimate move even at the price of his life.

Hot tears trailed down her face as there was silence among the shinobi that surrounded them.

"Someone go get Sakura!" Saryie spitted out, heatedly. Her voice was thick, choking on her own emotions. She couldn't even look up at anyone in particular. Her only focus was on Gai.

Lee's sobs became more apparent at Saryie's demand.

"I'll go," Sai spoke quickly, exiting.

"Saryie… She won't be able to fix his legs," Tenten spoke quietly.

"You don't know that!" Saryie snapped.

"Heheh." The laugh emitted from Gai's form with his brilliant teeth showing, caught everyone's attention

"Don't you kids fret about me," Gai spoke through a strain voice but his optimism was clear to hear. "I'll be right as rain in no time. My fountain of youth has not dried up yet. I promise you that."

Gai cracked his eye open and peered at the sniffling face of Lee that was struggling to contain his tears, before sweeping after Lee to look at Saryie's whose face was hurt and angry. Lastly his eyes drifted up to Tenten's features that were distressed and unsure.

"My wonderful students," he began, struggling with breath due to the pain in every tissue of his being but he pushed through. "I've taught you all that there is nothing you can't overcome. We can overcome this. This is not the end for me, so do not feel sorry for me. I would not take back the sacrifice I made. For everything I gave was all for you. You were all on my mind when I decided this. I had protected those precious to me," he admitted, smiling as his eyes closed from their heaviness.

"Gai-sensei, we are all so grateful," Lee responded, closing his eyes to wipe at his tears.

"You'll get better," Saryie admitted stubbornly, her fist clenching tighter at her lap.

Tenten was too numb to speak.

Lee's hand gripped Saryie's fist in a comforting gesture. He could feel the waves of her tamed anger rising and offered a hand of support. Saryie's gaze turn to Lee's firm ones as he squeezed her hand in reassurance.

Her fist slowly unclenched and came to hold Lee's hand as acceptance washed over her. There was nothing she could do now. The war was over and Gai had gave his all like he had stated. It was his decision and the more important thing was that he was still here with them. He was still able to be a part of their lives. She could have lost her hero completely, so she smiled slightly as tears fell more openly from her eyes.

Sai did not bring back Sakura to attend to Gai as he could not find her right away, but he did bring with him a different medic ninja that was available. When the medic ninja arrived, Saryie, Lee, and Tenten had to backup to let the medic do their job.

It was when they all stood watching Gai get attended to, that Saryie peeled her eyes from Gai to look around. She noticed a member of Team Gai was missing from the scene. She sniffled, before she wiped at her nose with her bandaged hand.

"Where's Neji? Someone should go find him. He should be here," Saryie mentioned calmly.

After the name left her lips, she saw Lee and Tenten stiffen. They both did not answer for a couple of seconds, drawing Saryie's attention. Tenten's lips were struggling to say the dreaded news as Lee swallowed thickly. Sai stood beside Saryie and too noticed their reaction. Michi felt uneasy at the daunting silence as Tenten delivered the news.

"Neji is… gone."

The news hit Saryie in the gut as her last practice with Neji resurfaced to the forefront of her brain. She remembered the morning they trained together for the first time. Neji had offered to spar with her and with excitement and disbelief, she accepted. Their conversation replaying in her head at that moment.

"What has changed?" She asked with suspicion that day before they begun. She was eager and excited but her curiosity was boiling at the back of her mind. He never wanted to spar with her before. It had always been Lee and her training together.

"Your eyes," Neji responded.

"My eyes?" She looked at him dubiously.

He confirmed she heard him right with a brisk nod before he went on explaining. "Your eyes have cleared as to what's important to you in battle. Before you had always fought for your own ambitions to be the best.

"I was like you once. Before the chunin exams. Before my fight with Naruto. I was blinded to others and their struggles. I fought to the best of my abilities to spite the Hyuga clan. I focused on my own pain and the injustice that was done to me. That fate controlled me. I had perceived everyone in such a way. Ignoring those that fate had deemed inferior.

"Back then, I ignored you because I saw you as inferior. A farm girl with restless energy and rash temper with ill dreams of becoming a ninja.

"But after that fight, I began to see others not as tools at fate's hand but as people that used their tools to chip away their fate. I saw Lee a little more clearly after each training session. He had to use what he was given to become a strong ninja and he did so not out of spite, hate, envy, pride, or glory. He did so to protect those precious to him, he fought to be stronger for others."

"Ok, so how does that involve me?" She questioned, wondering where all this was going.

"Before, your eyes were clouded, by confidence and excitement. You were always ambitious to be the number one ninja. I may not know your reasons. Perhaps it was out of envy for your relative Kakashi. Perhaps you wanted the glory of your family name raining down on you. I do not know."

Saryie did her best to hold her tongue. Her first instinct was to become defensive, but she restrained herself to listen with open ears. He wasn't done talking and he was only guessing at her reasons. He did not know half of why she fought so hard.

"Now, however, your eyes have changed. They are clear like I have mentioned before. You fight for others as much as Lee does now. The claim of victory does not entice you as much as wanting to better yourself and wanting to be able to protect those that need to be protected. You've changed, Saryie; and that's a good thing."

Neji held her gaze wholeheartedly and she could not forget his next set of words.

"I want to help you on your journey, so be sure to take this lesson to heart."

Neji gracefully got into his gentle fist stance.

Saryie smirked playfully knowing they were about to begin. "Since when did you become a sensei?"

"Once I schooled you in this lesson."

Neji smirked as they began.

Tears slipped down Saryie's cheeks all over again. There were no words. One look to her right she saw Lee and Tenten struggling with the news as well.

Without thinking, Saryie opened her arms, stepping forward, and wrapping her arms around the remaining members of Team Gai. The contact broke both of them as they clutched at each other with choked sobs.

They were huddled together, sharing in their fresh grief. Even Michi step forward placing his hand on Saryie's shoulder. He may not have been close to Team Gai but he knew Saryie was. Sai was left feeling helpless. He could sense the sorrow emitting from the area. He hated hearing and seeing Saryie cry. He didn't know how to show that he was there for them and that he felt their grief, and that he wish he could make it better but he knew he couldn't.

Saryie's heart went out to Lee and Tenten. Team Gai was broken. It would not be the same and all she could do for them was offer her comfort and support.

I was never satisfied with Neji's death. I felt there should have been a lot more exploring and grieving in the show. The war left a big impact and damage. Half of the armed forces died in battle and weren't brought back to life at the end of the war. I'm pretty sure there were still some individual wounds and scars that others had to bear. Like I doubt all of the ninja in the alliance stayed strong and fought. Some probably abandoned their post. Others might have felt betrayed by certain villages. Others might have grown closer to other villages. Some might feel slighted after the war if they didn't get certain recognition. Especially, the Land of Lightning might not be peachy about the war because the war was on their lands and destroyed most of it. So, I hope to maybe share some light on those events in future chapters or in a whole other story entirely but that's all folks for now. Thank you for reading.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. I own Michi, Azumi, and Saryie.