Chapter 13: The Graveyard and a Rose...

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As the months roll on, Naruto buries himself into his training and studies. Yet no matter how much he entwines himself into training he can not drive the image of Sakura's face from his mind. He finds himself sitting up in his bed crying to the sketches of her face. He constantly runs his fingers over the graphite cheek on too many occasions. Even Kimiko, who has become much like a sister to Naruto, is unable to shake Naruto from his slump. She watches as Naruto pushes himself harder and harder, going beyond the warning limit, almost purposely self abusing himself as punishment for thinking of the taboo. Kimiko decides that she would take a week long trip so she leaves Naruto a simple note.

Dear Naruto-kun.

I'm heading out to visit my family's gravestones in Konoha. I know you'll be fine with me leaving you behind. I'll leave a rose on your grave for you. But Naruto-kun, you should take this time to rest your body. You've pushed yourself beyond your limits; I know Kyuubi's stopped feeding you chakra because of it. Maybe you should spill your heart onto paper; if you're not going to spill to me then spill it to the world. Teach them what you've learned.

Your Sis,

Kimiko

Naruto looks at the rough sketch of Sakura he had performed. He's wished for so long to hold her once again. To cradle her in his arms. To lay a kiss upon her forehead and whisper how she was the most beautiful thing in the world.

Yet he knows she would be happier without him. She would be happy with Sasuke. She always wanted Sasuke, and he was only second best. Naruto shut his eyes as he felt the tears fall down onto the dry paper. He tries to beat back the emotions that swell up inside him.

"Kit, Sis is right. Maybe you should spill your emotions onto paper."

"My pain is my burden alone. I will not burden others with my mistakes and losses."

"It is not a burden to enlighten someone in order to prevent others from following in your footsteps. Just one simple sentence can change a person beyond words; and a book can teach a world, preserving future generations from the mistakes of the past generation."

"But…"

"No buts Kit. You're tearing yourself up on the inside and outside. I won't give you any of my chakra until you sit down and express your emotions, whether it be talking to Sis or writing it down. At least if you use paper you can be alone still."

"Loneliness...a feeling I strive for...yet a feeling I hate."

"Without loneliness and sadness one can never truly understand happiness."

"I will write fox. I will write for the world. I shall write my childhood. I shall write my sadness and pain. I will write to inspire future generations to never keep their eyes so blind."

"What shall we call it?"

"The Uzumaki Chronicles."

"Baa. Where's my credit? I'm going to help you kit."

"Oh...so Mr. Fox is getting emotional."

"Grrr. No, I just don't want people thinking your greatness comes from just you."

"Ahh…you just want to preserve your name in another form."

"Heeheehee, destroying Konoha was fun, but that isn't known to the whole world. This book shall be."

"So what shall we call it?"

"The heart of a broken soul."

"The...Heart...of...a...Broken...Soul...I like it. It has simplicity and emotion in it, with a clear idea of what the book is like."

"Indeed. Let's begin Kit."

"Okay."

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Kimiko sneaks into Konoha. Her long trip, what could have taken her 2 days normally, seemed to splinter on a week thanks to her pregnancy which was now entering its 7th month. Kimiko walks around Konoha, noticing the usual business of the town. The first place she decides to stop at is Sakura's house. The house of her capturers, and also the house of her brother's pain.

Kimiko knocks on the door to see a man open it. His piercing green eyes seem warm and gentle. "May I help you ma'am?"

Kimiko nods her head. "Hai, is Sakura Haruno around? I'm filling a friend's request to thank her, Sakura once treated him."

The man nods his head. "Hai, please come in, it's so rude of me to keep you outside."

Kimiko bows her head. "Thank you."

As Kimiko enters the Haruno house she drags her eyes about the house in a cautious manner. She watches as Isuma raises his voice. "Sakura dear, there is a girl here to see you."

Within a few moments Sakura walks slowly down the stairs. Her face with small smile, yet her eyes still show her unhappiness. Kimiko notices how pregnant she looks, causing a small frown to form in the corner of her lips.

"Hello" Sakura says in a polite voice.

Kimiko bows her head. "Hello Sakura-san. I'm Rei. I came to pay my respects in thanks for saving my brother's life a year ago."

Sakura bows back. "It was my pleasure."

Kimiko smiles. "Do you have the evening off? I was hoping I could maybe buy you lunch to show my proper thanks."

Sakura looks to her father who nods. "I told you Sakura. You're on your 7th month, we can't train. Enjoy yourself."

Sakura bows her head. "Hai, thank you father."

Sakura leads Kimiko out of the house, letting Kimiko ease her nerves a little.

Sakura walks through the town in silence as Kimiko points out Ichiraku ramen bar. "Let's get some ramen. It's been ages."

Sakura nods her head. "Sure."

Sakura walks into the ramen shop waving a hello to Teuchi. "Oi! Old man, over here."

Teuchi raises an eyebrow recognizing the discourteous as none other than Sakura. Yet he no longer seems to mind it, but more welcomes it from her. "The usual for you again Sakura?"

Sakura nods her head. "What will you have Rei?"

Kimiko smiles. "Pork please."

Teuchi smiles. "Pork it is."

Sakura turns her head to Kimiko. "Who was your brother if I may ask?"

Kimiko frowns. "Ichiri Kishi."

Sakura frowns. "I'm terribly sorry but his name doesn't ring a bell."

Kimiko nods. "Its okay you've treated hundreds. Your time with him was short."

Sakura grabs he bowl of ramen Teuchi passes to her, handing Kimiko hers first. "How come your brother didn't thank me himself?"

Kimiko looks at the ramen. "This used to be his favorite food..."

Sakura catches onto the sadness in Kimiko's voice. "I'm sorry to hear of his passing."

Kimiko smiles. "It's okay, you gave me a few months longer with him, and that's more than I could ever ask for."

Sakura smiles a little. "I'm glad I could help."

Kimiko begins eating. "I've heard that you've quit medicine."

Sakura nods her head. "Sorta. I stopped working at the hospital."

Kimiko raises an eyebrow. "Why."

This time it was Sakura's turn to let out a sad sigh. "If one can not heal themselves or their friends, how can they heal others?"

Kimiko nods her head. "That's regrettable...I'm sure my brother would have been sorry to hear that, he spoke highly of you."

Sakura smiles as she finishes several bowls in much of a fashion Naruto used to consume his food, making Kimiko giggle. "How much would brother laugh if he saw her eating like that?"

Kimiko and Sakura talk general talk as Kimiko complements Sakura and even questions about Sakura's pregnancy. Yet Sakura brushes off the question with another. Kimiko finally decides its time for her to leave, she didn't want to spend more than a day in Konoha and she still had the graves to visit. "I must go Sakura-san. It was great meeting you."

Sakura bows her head as Kimiko pays for the meal. "It's my pleasure, it's nice to know that I've helped people."

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Kimiko passes through the flower shops, stopping at the Yamanaka flower shop and picking up six red roses. She looks for a black rose for Naruto's grave.

Ino notices Kimiko's struggle in the roses. "What rose are you looking for?"

Kimiko lower head. "Do you have any that are black?"

Ino raises an eyebrow. "Why do you want a black rose?"

Kimiko smiles. "For a friend. He's not returning from his journey I fear..."

Ino nods her head. "We have a few in the back. Pretty strange to buy a black one."

Kimiko nods her head. "I know it's a strange request."

Ino nods her head. "It's okay. Here you go. That will be 680 Yen."

Kimiko nods and pays for the roses. "By the way can you tell me a bit about Sakura Haruno?"

Ino folds her hands. "Why."

Kimiko smiles. "A friend of my kinda has a crush on her and wanted me to find out a little about her."

Ino chuckles. "Your friend's out of luck. She completely cold hearted and morbid. Besides she only swears her love to one man."

Kimiko frowns. "I see. What made her so sad?"

Ino points to a picture of the Academy days. The whole rookie 9 stands in the picture, yet in the distance slightly off the corner on a swing sits Naruto. "Sasuke Uchiha."

Kimiko cringes at the name. "Oh I see. Well that's a shame, she seems like such a pretty girl."

Ino nods her head. "Indeed but one can not change who your heart loves. A friend told me that."

Kimiko smiles. "That's very true. You have a nice day Ino."

Ino nods her head. "You two Ma'am"

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Kimiko looks up at the sky as it rains. "You always cry when I come here." Kimiko stands over her family's graves, more specifically, her brother's. Looking down, she runs her fingers across her brother's name. "You always looked out for me brother...look where it got you. I must return. I still have one more grave to visit before we talk again."

Kimiko walks over to Naruto's grave; the simple inscriptions speak very correctly of Naruto.

Naruto Uzumaki

The man who could change your life with just a smile.

Kimiko lays the black rose down, noticing a rose that seems to be no more than a day old. "Seems like you have a lover waiting for your return Naruto-kun."

Kimiko walks back over to her brother's grave as she looks up at the sky laying down right beside the grave. "You know, someone told me that no matter where a person is, when you're in the rain you are connected to them. Does that mean I'm lying next to you brother? Like we did in the old days."

Kimiko remains silent as she lays her hand over the spot of her brother. "I miss you brother. I wish you were still around. Why did you have to protect me? It was foolish, I ended up having to leave the village anyways. Mom and Dad must be really ashamed of us..."

"Why do you say that Kimiko?" Says a deep cold male voice.

"Isamu. It's nice to see you again." Kimiko responds.

Kimiko looks up at the sky. "Well brother, looks like I'll get to tell mom and dad sorry for messing up."

Isamu shakes his head. "No. I'm not here to kill you Kimiko."

Kimiko rises from her feet. "Why?"

Isamu frowns. "Because I came to pay my respects, not spill more blood."

Kimiko nods her head. "Very well. I'm done here."

Isamu nods his head.

Kimiko nods her head. "In thanks for sparing me I shall tell you. Naruto-kun is still faithful to only her. Goodbye Isamu I'm sure we'll meet again."

Isamu nods his head. "Goodbye"

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(AN: Sorry its been so long its just Early Team has kinda wrapped me up into it and I put this on hold though I have another chapter for you tomarrow and maybe another after that... The world keeps spining and my keyboard keeps working every day is a new day for new possiblites when it comes to my stories... I'll atleast end this story sometime this month or next depending on how long I make it but it will be complete. I never leave you guys hanging like this.)