AN: I said I'd give you the name of this arc here so her it is, the Death Arc. Good name huh? I think if fits well. Anyway, back to the story, oh, and thanks for the reviews, I'm lovin' em.
Oh, and I forgot to say at the end of the last chapter, that thing with Naruto and his legs, it really happens to people, I think its when they get shot in the stomach, it pretty much shows that there's a lot of nerve damage and paralysis is in the best case scenario.
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Chapter 9: The Funeral
They reached the Hokage's office and the dog ANBU knocked. When the response came from the other side the four walked in, one ANBU in front of Sasuke and Sakura and one behind.
"Sakura, Sasuke! What's going on? Why are you here? What's in the bag?" demanded Tsunade.
"Excuse us Hokage-sama, but we insisted on escorting Sasuke here, he still is a missing ninja," said the dog ANBU.
"I'm not missing anymore now, am I?" Sasuke asked setting down the bag.
"You two may leave, I'm rather certain what they have to say is privet, at least for now," Tsunade said and the ANBU nodded and left. "So, Sakura, did Naruto land himself in the hospital again, trying some stupid stunt?" Tsunade asked leaning back and smiling.
"No, he didn't. it wasn't some stupid stunt, and it didn't land him in the hospital," Sasuke said, Sakura was beginning to lose her war on tears.
Tsunade's grin vanished to be replaced by a look of fear, she had a feeling what was coming, and she prayed she was wrong. "Sasuke, please, don't tell me…" she said.
"Lying won't help. He was outmatched and killed, his bodies in the bag, it's not all that pretty," Sasuke said looking at the bag.
"I need to know what happened," Tsunade said.
"I know, but there's something else you need to know first," Sasuke said, Sakura looked at him confused.
'Is this that organization he mentioned at the gates?' Sakura wondered.
"First off, the man who killed Naruto also removed my cursed seal and killed Orochimaru," Sasuke said.
"WHAT?" yelled Tsunade standing up. "He overpowered Orochimaru?"
"No, he tricked Orochimaru, with the technique he used; a child could've killed Orochimaru. But once he was dead the two of us destroyed the rest of the Sound Village, it's gone," Sasuke said.
"What's his name, this man who killed Naruto and Orochimaru," Tsunade asked.
"Roken, he's the one who sent you the Akatsuki heads. It was your gift. Orochimaru's was a dud body, Jiraiya's was the death of Orochimaru, Naruto's was the elimination of Akatsuki, mine was Itachi's unconscious body, and Sakura's was… the possibility of me returning here," Sasuke said and Sakura looked at him, a look of shock on her face.
"So, he had gifts for the Legendary Sennin and their apprentices. Is Itachi dead?" Tsunade asked.
"Yes, which is why I came back," Sasuke said.
"Who is this Roken exactly?" Tsunade.
"He's part of an organization, I don't know if he's the leader or not, but I think he is. The organization is called the Alliance, and I have no idea how many are in it, he kept talking about his allies," Sasuke said.
"Allies? That man, Red, the one who attacked Gaara, he mentioned his allies, maybe he's a member," Sakura said.
"Was he looking for bloodline limits?" Sasuke asked and Sakura nodded, "Then he probably is, that's what their goal is, for the moment anyway," Sasuke said.
"For the moment?" Tsunade asked.
"He said they don't want the abilities for themselves, they know its worse for the body, but he wouldn't tell me what they wanted the abilities for unless I joined, which I refused," Sasuke said.
"Is there anything else you know about them?" Tsunade asked.
"No, there were some people in the Sound village that were in a similar situation as me, not really loyal to Orochimaru just using him for power, and when we took the village down we left them alive. Four joined him, the others came with me, but Itachi killed them," Sasuke said.
Tsunade nodded, "now, tell me what happened with Naruto."
"I only know the last part, I came late, you'll have to ask Sakura for the rest," Sasuke said looking over at Sakura.
Sakura inhaled sharply, nodded, and started telling Tsunade what happened.
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"I don't want to hear this. It's bad enough I had to live it," Naruto said getting up.
He was standing in front of the mirror that Chaos showed him before, Chaos sitting on his throne behind, leaning forward hands folded and his chin on his knuckles.
"Yes, most don't like to watch it," Chaos said.
Naruto waved his hand in front of the mirror its image vanished instantly and the surface turned red with the word 'Fear' written across it.
"You chose to be alerted of fear, for whom, the boy or girl?" Chaos asked.
"Sakura, I have a promise to keep, and death won't stop me from doing it," Naruto said turning around and walking into the darkness.
"How quaint," Chaos said leaning back.
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"Roken seems like an intriguing person, his ability could be beyond my own or Jiraiya's," Tsunade said once Sakura and Sasuke finished.
"You see why I hope he is the leader, the leader is the strongest, and if there's someone stronger than him…" Sasuke said.
"Well, we can judge him slightly. How many tails did Naruto have when Roken attacked him," Tsunade asked.
"One, but, what does that matter?" Sakura asked.
"Because me or Jiraiya could also easily defeat Naruto with one tail. Even with two, but if he had three or four, then he would be stronger that both of us together. He could very well be on par as me," said Tsunade.
"Well, that is some good news," said Sasuke.
"I'm afraid it's the only good news you have. You have to be punished for what you did. You'll be in jail while it is decided, but you'll be let out for Naruto's funeral, if you want to go," Tsunade.
"Thanks, I'd appreciate being able to go," Sasuke said.
Tsunade nodded, "the ANBU will take you now," she said and Sasuke nodded.
Tsunade walked over to the door, opened it, and told the guard something. By the time she sat back down two ANBU members were in the office before her. She nodded towards Sasuke and they took him out, each ANBU had a tight grip on one of Sasuke's upper arms, he didn't resist.
Once the three had left Tsunade turned to Sakura, "go home, I'll clean up his body and tell you, as well as the rest of the village, when his funeral will be," she said.
Sakura nodded turned and walked out. Her face still had the look of deep sorrow, but there weren't any tears, she hadn't let one go since she and Sasuke started walking back. She managed to hold them back as she walked home, as she greeted her mother and told her she was going to bed. She held them off as she unpacked her stuff from the mission, but when she finally laid down on her bed, the tears finally came in full force.
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Tsunade told Sakura to take time off from the hospital, her chakra control had started to slip, and she didn't want any problems coming from it. Also, with Sasuke's news about Itachi being dead Akatsuki is proven gone, so Sakura's mission was labeled a success and Tsunade said she wouldn't get another one until after the funeral.
The funeral was a week after Sakura returned. The rookie nine were all there, as were their sensei's and team Gai. Konohamaru, Moegi, Udon, were there, as were Iruka, Jiraiya, Tsunade, Gaara and his siblings, several ANBU members and people Sakura didn't even know.
"Wow, I never knew Naruto affected so many people," Sakura said.
"Yes, he affected people in two ways. Those here were affected positively, and those affected negatively are currently partying in bars and homes," Tsunade said.
"What, they're celebrating his death? Why don't you stop them?" Sakura asked angered.
"I don't have the power to, and anyway, they wouldn't listen, they're the ones who think he is the Kyuubi, not just its vessel. We could never change their minds," Tsunade said.
"He saved my life twice, and even saved me from myself and the hatred that consumed me. He was the first I could call friend. I regret that I could not save him," Gaara looked down and put his hand over his heart, "and I know the pain I feel here is for the loss of him."
Sakura looked at Gaara 'Naruto was his first friend? He was the reason he changed form being heartless to caring?' she looked around at the others that were there, 'did he affect everyone here that much? …Yeah, he did, he even affected me that much.'
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"You know I've seen feudal lords' funerals with less people," said Chaos.
"A lot of them are ANBU; they're probably there to protect Granny Tsunade. But still, even old man Ichiraku and Ayame showed up," Naruto said staring into the mirror.
"The Ramen shop owner. You certainly acquired unusual friends," Chaos said, Naruto just laughed.
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After the funeral everyone started to leave. Sasuke, Sakura and Kakashi were the last ones there. They stood next to each other in front of Naruto's grave.
"When you left, Sasuke, there was still a team 7. Because we knew we'd get you back. But, this isn't the same thing," Sakura said.
"I lost my friend on the battlefield too, and, although we still had missions, with just the three of us, you're right, it doesn't feel the same," Kakashi said.
"Would this have happened if I hadn't left?" Sasuke asked.
"Probably. You didn't start the Alliance, Naruto would have probably still run into Roken out there, and you might not've been strong enough to hold him back if you didn't leave," Kakashi said.
"Yeah, plus, you got us information about the Alliance, no we're prepared better," Sakura said.
Sasuke didn't respond. He just stood there, silent, staring at Naruto's grave. 'you're wrong Roken, I'm still an avenger. I've avenged my family, now, I must avenge my best friend.'
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AN: hey, just a reminder to all you readers, first with the attack that killed Orochimaru gets to make one of the OC's I introduce in the next arc. I don't name it in the chapter so you'll have to know where it came from, it'll have the same name. good luck to you all, and I'll post the next chapter as soon as I can.