The heart of the matter

Chapter 9

Tsunade watched as Naruto's panting chest slowly came to a stop. Her heart felt like it was about to burst out of her chest. Wherever Naruto was now, he was no longer suffering.

"Minato-sensei, I hope you were there to greet him." Kakashi said as he released his hold on Naruto's hand. There was something unnatural about seeing the blonde so still. It wasn't right, Naruto had always been the most hyperactive person that he had ever met. Now seeing him just lying there, no breath escaping his lips. Nothing about this scene was right and never had Kakashi ever wished that he could go back and change things more than he did in this moment. If Kakashi had been a better sensei than maybe this wouldn't have happened.

Tsunade stared at the peaceful looking expression on Naruto's face. As much as her heart hurt her in this moment she wouldn't do anything to take that expression away. Naruto had suffered so much, he had finally gained his reward for all that he had been through.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't find the answers that could save you brat" She murmured as she reached up and gently ran a finger down his cheek. "But you look more at peace than you ever have when you were still with us." Tsunade took a few more minutes, silently grieving the young man lying in front of her.

Finally though, she began to remove the tube that was still in his throat, and as she pulled it out, the mechanical rising of his chest stopped. Tsuande closed her eyes for a moment, before removing the needles from his arms.

"Report Uzumaki Naruto's time of death at 9:30 pm." Tsuande told Shizune, who nodded and jotted it down.

"Give me a few minutes with him before you take his body." Kakashi told Tsuande who turned and exited the room.

Kakashi turned back to Naruto, he wondered how he would inform Naruto's teammates of his passing. They would be heartbroken that they couldn't be there, but Kakashi didn't think that this was something they had needed to witness. The only regret Kakashi had was that Iruka hadn't been there. Iruka had been Naruto's favorite teacher, he had deserved the chance to say goodbye.

As if reading his thoughts, Kakashi heard footsteps in the doorway and looking up Kakashi found Iruka in the doorway. Tears were streaming down his face.

"I was supposed to have been here with him" Iruka said as he came forward. "He wasn't supposed to be alone." Kakashi didn't bother pointing out that Naruto hadn't been alone.

"I didn't think it would be this quick." Iruka sobbed as he leaned forward and picked up one of Naruto's limp hands. "I'm so sorry, Naruto. You didn't deserve to go like this."

"It's better that he had a quick death than a slow drawn out one." Kakashi spoke softly. The pain in his chest was growing. Naruto had wormed his way into Kakashi's heart over the years. Now it looked like Kakashi's life would be empty of the pranks that Kakashi had slowly grown accustomed to.

"I would prefer that Naruto not have had to die at all." Iruka said bringing his red rimmed eyes up to meet Kakashi's. "He was only 13, he didn't deserve any of this."

"I agree" Kakashi said looking down at the body of his former student. He wished he could think of a better solution than having caused Naruto's loved ones so much pain. But as it was Kakashi hadn't been able to think of anything else. If someone was trying out poisons in the village they had to find out who was responsible. Glancing at his watch, he knew Tsunade would want to meet in her office for funeral arrangements.

"Come on, Iruka. They need to take his body now to be prepped for his funeral." Kakashi said softly, and at the word funeral Iruka burst into sobs again.

"I don't want to have to say goodbye!" Iruka cried out "I don't want to have to let him go. Letting him go means he's really gone and he won't ever be back." Kakashi felt his a sharp pain in his heart.

"He's with his family now." Kakashi said "I imagine he's happy now that he's out of pain, he finally has the love that he has always deserved." Kakashi gently tugged Iruka away from Naruto.

Once out in the hall, Kakashi stayed with Iruka until the younger man had stopped crying. Kakashi had never felt more guilty for what he was doing at this moment. He just wished this situation had never popped up in the first place. A lot of innocent people were being hurt and when the truth finally came out Kakashi had the feeling they would be planning his funeral. However, what was done was done and he couldn't change it. He watched Iruka hoping that the man wouldn't go out and get drunk. He really wished he could tell Iruka what was going on but at the moment no one could be trusted. In the words of Shikamaru the situation was troublesome.

Shoving his hands into his pockets, Kakashi headed towards the exit. He had the feeling he would be in for a long night. Tsunade would want to get everything for Naruto's funeral done tonight, so that they could get that nightmare over with. Kakashi found himself dreading it. He had always hated funerals, this one would be no different.

When he entered Tsunade's office, she was sitting at her desk with her back towards the door, staring out the window.

"Naruto's body is being prepped as we speak." Kakashi informed her. She nodded and frowned before turning to face him.

"Was there really no better solution than this?" she asked "I think in the end it will cause more pain than its worth."

"Maybe but we need to consider the safety of the village too." Kakashi replied. "Naruto would want us to protect the village at all costs."

Tears welled in Tsunade's eyes and she nodded. Before looking down at the papers in front of her. For the most part the funeral had already been planned, they just needed a day. It looked like they would lay him to rest in a couple of days. Tsunade dreaded that moment. It meant admitting that Naruto was no longer among the living. She didn't know how she would get through it. She wondered briefly if the necklace she had given Naruto had had something to do with his untimely death. If that were the case she wished that she had never given it to him. She closed her eyes and leaned back in her chair, she could see Naruto's bright blue eyes and wide smile. She had known he'd hidden behind a fake smile for a long time, but seeing the real smile made you feel warm. Naruto didn't just trust everybody even if he worked hard to protect everyone, even those that had mistreated him. The village had truly lost a special ninja when they lost Naruto. The sad thing is no one else would realize just what had been lost, no one outside of his team had even bothered to care about Naruto.

"If that's all you wanted me for" Kakashi said interrupting her thoughts "I am going to inform Sasuke and Sakura of Naruto's passing."

"I wish you luck with that." Tsunade replied as she her thoughts drifted back to Naruto.

Seeing that Tsunade was finished, Kakashi exited the tower and headed towards Sasuke's place. He figured it would be best to tell the Uchiha first. Kakashi wondered briefly how Sasuke would take it. Naruto was his best friend and his rival on any given day. Not to mention that Sasuke had always been a little protective over Naruto. Kakashi knew that Sasuke didn't like anyone knowing that little fact. But Kakashi being their sensei had known all along, and he encouraged it. Naruto needed someone to care about what happened to him.

"What are you doing here?" Sasuke demanded when he saw Kakashi approaching. "It's late."

"I wanted to inform you that Naruto has passed on." Kakashi said slowly. Sasuke froze where he was handing and he dropped the kunai that he had been throwing. He stared at Kakashi, and Kakashi could see the shock in his eyes. Sasuke dropped to his knees in the dirt as his mind struggled to comprehend the news that Kakashi had just given him.

"I thought he had more time." Sasuke said in a monotone. "I didn't think he would leave us this quickly."

"The poison was faster than we thought." Kakashi said "It caused too much damage to Naruto's heart." Sasuke closed his eyes, he didn't want to break in front of his sensei but someone needed to grieve for his lost friend, the stoic man in front of him didn't look like anything bothered him.

Naruto had always been there for as long as Sasuke could remember. Naruto had always challenged Sasuke to fight harder, to become stronger. Naruto had always acted like he was better than Sasuke but in truth Naruto had always known that Sasuke had judged his own strength based on Naruto's. Naruto may have always acted dumb, Sasuke had always known the truth. He had somehow seen underneath all of Naruto's bluster to the lonely boy who longed for someone to love and care for him.

"How can he be gone?" Sasuke asked looking up at the sky. "How can the world be so cruel to take someone like him?" Kakashi remained silently, though his own heart ached, this was not the way he wanted things, but for the time being it was how they would have to be.

"The important thing is that Naruto's Will of Fire will live on through you and Sakura." Kakashi said "No one will ever forget about the boy who dreamed of being Hokage."

"Have you told Sakura yet?" Sasuke asked numbly and Kakashi shook his head.

"No, I figured it would be best if I told you first." Kakashi replied watching as Sasuke climbed to his feet. His hands clinched into fists at his side.

"Let me tell Sakura." Sasuke said and Kakashi could tell the stoic boy was fighting tears. "She should hear it from me." Kakashi wasn't sure about that but he figured if Sasuke wanted to tell her he would let him. Sasuke passed Kakashi his hand clinching and unclinching, Kakashi could tell that Sasuke was having a hard time processing it. When the truth it, it would hit hard.

They walked silently, Kakashi's thoughts drifting to his current mission, while Sasuke's thoughts were on how he was going to tell Sakura about their fallen teammate. By the time he reached her door, he still wasn't sure what to say. But the words were taken from him when she opened the door. Her face fell as she immediately realized why Sasuke was there.

"Tell me he's not gone." Sakura begged as tears filled her eyes. "tell me he is still fighting."

"He's gone." Sasuke murmured "he passed away a few hours after we left the hospital. He's with his family once more." tears burst from Sakura's eyes at his words. She hadn't been there to tell Naruto goodbye. Naruto didn't know how precious he was to his own teammates. Who would replace Naruto on team 7? Sakura didn't want to think about it. No one could ever replace Naruto, not on in the team and not in her heart.

"When's the funeral?" Sakura asked, looking over at Kakashi.

"In a couple days, certain arrangement's have to be made first." he replied hating the pain he saw in his student's eyes.

"I'm going to tell you what I told Sasuke. Naruto's Will of Fire will live on in you guys. As long as you guys carry it, you will never forget Naruto or what he meant to you."

Sakura looked up at the sky. She had known how much Naruto longed to know his family. She hoped that he was happy now that he was with them. She would grieve for him but Kakashi was right eventually the pain of losing him would fade and she would be able to think about Naruto without it hurting so much.

Thanks for reading and reviewing (hope I didn't cause too many tears) Liz