Chapter 3: Planning…

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

Rating: Undecided

Pairing: Kakashi/Naruto

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Normally, Hinata liked the sound of the rain.

It was peaceful and calming, a constant, never-changing rhythm, enough to lull a person to sleep.

Today, Hinata hated the rain. She hated the clouds, the heavy sadness they brought with them.

Still... It was fitting for this day.

The morning of the funeral, Hinata was still wishing that it was just a nightmare. She shuffled through her morning, doing her normal routines, getting herself into the mourning kimono, all the while, saying in her head, "What an awful dream. I hope I wake up soon. Then I can laugh about it. Everyone knows there is no way Naruto can never die." It wasn't infill she saw her reflection in her mirror, her mourning kimono, long hair lying limp on her shoulders, dark circles under her puffy eyes, from crying all night, every night, did the cold reality hit her.

This wasn't a dream.

Neji half walked, half carried Hinata to the funeral.

Hinata couldn't really remember what happened next. She remembered standing there, in hysterics. She remembered her teammates, Neji, trying to comfort her. Kiba had an arm around her, rubbing her back with his palm, trying to offer the girl some soothing words every now and again. Shino stood next to Kiba, listening to what was going on in front of them, though his eyes was glued on his sobbing teammate. Neji stood on the other side of Hinata, dutifully, but Hinata knew his concern ran deeper then that.

Hinata only picked up bits and pieces of everything.

She remembered being led to the grave site.

She remembered that they stood there for a while, watching the crowd disappear.

That was it. What happened after that was a complete blank. She didn't remember much of the couple of weeks after that, actually. Later on, Neji had told her that she had had a fever, off and on, for most of the two or three weeks after wards. It seemed her depression had drove herself to illness. Neji, almost angry with Hinata, had told Hinata that she couldn't continue on like this. She was going to send herself to the hospital, that way. And Neji was always there, whenever humanly possible.

Hinata was grateful for that.

She couldn't bear to be alone.

It was raining.

Hinata, sitting on the walkway on the perimeter of the courtyard of the Hyuuga manner, feet folded underneath her, hands folded in her lap, dressed in a kimono with the Hyuuga crest, watching the rain fall into the courtyard. Her father sat next to her, ivory eyes also staring at the courtyard. Silent. Then, finally...
"Do you understand, Hinata?" He asked, unblinking.
Hinata nodded.
"It is necessary. We are all discussing a possible candidate, and the marriage will take place shortly after your twentieth birthday."
Hinata nodded.
"You cannot take over as clan leader in till you have a fiancé. This clan is depending on you."
Hiashi turned to look at his daughter, silent, waiting. Hinata's eyes darted to her hands.

"I understand." She said, looking back up and straight forward, back straight, an air of authority about her. Her voice was firm. "It's my duty. To be able to lead this clan, I won't be able to do it by myself."

Hiashi stared at her a bit more before returning his gaze forward as well. "Good. You're excused."

Hinata rose slowly, hands clasped in front of her, turning to move slowly down the walkway in till turning the corner. She stood quietly in till she heard her father leave, too, walking in the opposite direction. Hinata's hands fell to her side, her shoulders slumped, and she leaned heavily against the wall, her face full of distress.

Hinata had become a skilled actress in front of her father. She could make her face blank, become emotionless, professional, and all business-like. She had to. She was going to be the clan leader. In reality, though, she didn't know what she was doing. The politics behind this role, everything she was expected to do, she had such a difficult time to understand it. She knew her clan was depending on her, but she was wondering if she really was cut out for any of this...

Hinata, still leaning against the wall, slid down in till she was sitting on the ground, long hair that almost passed her hips coiling itself on the ground. And now this... She had to marry... Of course, Hinata supposed she always knew she would have to marry, to carry on the Main Branch blood line, but she always thought the decision would be hers to make.

Now she didn't even get that.
Hinata closed her eyes.
She couldn't marry someone she didn't love. And there had only been one person she had ever loved...
Hinata bit her bottom lip, closing her eyes tighter, fighting back the tears.
She only wished that none of this had to happen.

Rain had flattened the silvery white of the Jounin, the hair hanging over his face as he stared down at the ground. How could he have let this happen? He had promised himself that none of his students would die but...Naruto had died. The one who had resembled his old friend had died. Dammit! Why couldn't he have been there to protect him? Kakashi's impassive face stared at the casket but inside of him he was breaking down, tears freeing flowing inside of him but he made no sign that he had broken down. He remained impassive as ever, his hands in his pockets and his one eye on the casket.

Once the funeral was over he walked forward and put of his back pocket he produced a pack of ramen. With a small smile he set down beside the smiling face of Naruto, a small smile of his own crossing his masked lips before he disappeared in a wisp of wind and leaves.

"Good bye...Naruto-kun."

His soft voice floated through the air even as he left. He didn't want to be around the sad faces of Naruto's friends. Kakashi wouldn't be able to stand that type of suffering. Instead he had appeared in front of his house and quickly walked into his house, discarding his mask and headband before walking briskly into his room, the door slamming behind him.

"Kakashi we really need you to take a team. There are still three teams waiting to be taken."

Iruka spoke up to the still impassive Kakashi whose face was in the latest Icha Icha Tactics Jiraiya had got for him before it had officially come out. A quiet chuckle passed through his lips as he continued reading, a sign that he wasn't paying attention to Iruka and a way of saying no. Kakashi could hear a sigh but paid no attention. Ever since Naruto's death he was never able to take a team. There was always a trouble maker in one and it always brought up memories of Naruto, painful memories in fact. He missed that loud boy so much that it hurt him deeply inside.

'You sure like Sasuke a lot, Sakura-chan... That's why, I'll bring him back for you. I'll bring Sasuke back for you, Sakura-chan! It's the promise of a lifetime!'

'... Crying... crying will not get us anywhere...!'

'... N-Naruto...'

Bright rays of sunlight poured and washed into the empty-looking room of none other than Haruno Sakura--age nineteen, rank that of a higher leveled--perhaps special--Medical Jounin. No one could expect any less from someone trained under Tsunade--the Godaime. Today--it was the anniversary of Naruto's, say, "death." Sakura didn't believe it still, after even these long and terrible four years. Someone could call it denial, but... Naruto? Uzumaki Naruto; her teammate who always cared for her in Team Seven; his death? Was that even possible? Sakura jolted upward from her creaky bed with a start, panting slightly. She slid her hand to the back of her neck, gripping onto her long pink hair. Long? That's right--in memory of Naruto, Sakura had grown out her hair; she laughed quietly as she wiggled her toes and recalled how funny and odd the blonde had looked when he first woke from his unconsciousness and found out she had cut it. Her laughing abruptly stopped when she remembered Naruto was not around physically, because Sakura believed no matter what, he was probably watching over the whole village anymore, to make her smile and laugh like she used to.

Sighing, Sakura rubbed her innocently-sparkling jade green eyes sleepily, and pushed the covers of her bed off her legs and her body, before letting her feet rest on the cold wooden-paneled floor of her home, while she stretched her long, slender slightly pale arms out. Sakura made her bed gingerly, straightening and flattening out the white sheets, before heading to the bathroom and performing her usual morning 'rituals', which included brushing her hair, going to the bathroom, showering, changing into her usual clothes, putting on her hitai-ate, and brushing her teeth. About twenty minutes after she had first entered the bathroom, Sakura finished doing her morning chores, and headed to her kitchen. Was she even hungry? Her gaze ran over the rounded table in the center of her kitchen, and crossed paths with the sink and counter, as well as the stove. She'd pass on the meal, for now.

Dragging her elegant hands across the wall of her home, Sakura daintily half-skipped over to another room no one had ever seen before, except herself. As it turns out, it was a memorial all set up for Naruto himself, complete with a picture that was framed neatly, which lay behind a plate full of ashes with incense, and flowers. "Ohayou, Naruto," Sakura said cheerfully, smiling at the picture as if it was the actual Naruto himself. "I'll bring some flowers to your grave today, as well as some more flowers for your place here in my house... okay? I'll do my best to keep Sasuke from blaming himself a lot today too--because I know that's the way you'd want it. Guess what? I think my hair grew a little more overnight--it's a little, only a little past midback now; I might have to ask Ino-pig to trim it." Her smile fading, Sakura stared at the picture a bit longingly, before heading to the door. "Ittekimasu..!" She shouted, even though she knew there was going to be no 'Itterasshai', returned. Sakura shut the door behind her, before tilting her head just the slightest bit upwards, squinting as she half-smiled at the sun.

Slowly, she strode down the street of Konoha. Sakura waved to the passersby that passed her a good morning, or a hello, or even a smile. She folded her arms, picking at the white stretchy bands on her elbows. Sakura still wore the same outfit she did when she was fifteen. She hadn't grown sick of it--not yet. She had the same white overskirt, the same black headband, black gloves, and black pants, as well as the ever familiar same red Haruno top with the symbol for her family--the circle--on the back of the shirt. Sakura even had the same long slightly-high-heeled kunoichi boots that were black, just like her other accessories.

Her jade green eyes wandered about the busybody streets. 'I wonder where everybody is... Specifically Ino-pig and Sasuke-kun... The village is so quiet and split up, nowadays... I wonder how Tsunade-sama is doing. She must be angry right now, what with all that paperwork on her desk. Oh well, this is my day off, I might as well enjoy... Oh... Naruto... one day, you better come back. When that day comes, I'm going to punch you so hard for being such a stupid idiot; for running off and trying to pose as hero, that's so like you.' She tightened her gloves with a determined look on her face. That look soon melted into a smile, however.

'... And I'll give you one hell of a welcome home, too.' She imagined herself running up to Naruto while he was walking through the Konoha main gates, screaming, "Okaeri!", and giggled giddily like a young school girl. Sakura lifted her head, stopped gazing at the ground so blankly while being so lost in her thoughts and finally realized she hadn't been watching where she was going. By the time she did, she was inches away from walking straight into someone--light, fluffy and short, blonde hair, bright blue eyes...

"Wah! Ino-pig, watch out!" Even though she had attempted to skid to a stop while jumping all around the streets, she had failed, and crashed head on into her best friend.

Ino had been much too busy stuck in her dream to even be prepared for the head on collision. Smack and Boom. That was the sound of their bodies and then the landing on the floor. Hitting her tailbone quite hard on the dusty ground, she howled in pain for a moment. Propping herself up, she winced, her left eye shut in a harsh wince, but concealed by the beautiful hair. Rubbing her head she glanced at the sparkling pink haired girl who was whimpering at the fall as well.

"Baka! Can't you ever watch where your going Forehead-Girl? Kami... Sasuke will never like a girl who has her head stuck in the clouds... Here, Take my hand. The blonde snapped at her playfully as she stood up and held out her hand to help out her best friend.

Her mind flashed the empty coffin again, and the dark pupils widened some before she shook off the memory. This was not the time or place to be discussing this with Sakura, they would need a more private place. Pulling her up, she began to dust herself off, shaking her head, making her hair ripple. The rich smell of flowers wafted the hair, it was her own special mixture from the shop. Biting her lower lip, she pulled her arms up and placed them on the back of her head and glanced at Sakura from the corner of her eye. Her bright eyes had a sort of examining look to them as she watched the girl mumble to herself.

"Probably arguing with her inner self... Kami, how many years ago had I encountered that thing inside of her? Too long..." Nostalgia hit full force for a minute, Naruto's raspy voice yelling out for Sakura's triumph. Chouji and Shikamaru on the opposite end for her sake, it was so long ago. And yet, the memory was as fresh as water, just like the memory of Naruto's alleged death. Looking at her pink haired rival she grabbed her by the hand and began walking steadily down the street with her.

"Don't ask too many questions... I just want to tell you before I forget anything... You have to know about my dream." She spoke quickly, but at a speed that only Shika, Chouji and Sakura had adapted to. Telling the dream in heavy detail and as they stopped they were right back in front of Ichiraku. Naruto's favorite place, and where the dream had just reoccurred. Locking eyes with her again, she waited for her response, hoping that she had faith in her dream as well. Sakura was her only hope right now, in trying to find out the truth, what really happened to Naruto.

Sakura squinted and held her forehead in pain as she mumbled to herself incoherently--cursing under her breath, most likely--pushing away the sandy ground with a glare as if she were shoving someone who had hurt her. Well, it was quite like the same case, just it was a something, and not a someone. Sakura overheard Ino's playful remark, and smirked slightly uncharacteristically. She had just as witty a reply as Ino, an "insult". "Heh, at least Sasuke-kun would like a girl who has her head stuck in her clouds more than a girl who has such a short fuse," Inside her mind, Inner Sakura supported the actual Sakura's decision with a bright and confident, determined and loud, "Hell yeah!", her teeth bared and her hand in a fist, putting it out before her. Sakura took Ino's hand a little reluctantly, but she took it for help all the same, and pushed herself the rest of the way up. Sakura brushed herself off as well as mended her hair, and nodded silently in thanks to the blonde.

Curiously, Sakura arched one of her delicate pink brows, and folded her arms when Ino's face expression suddenly became one of a dazed person, instead of one of a happy person. "Oi, Ino-pig, are you alright?" Sakura tugged on one of the blonde bangs covering left eye lightly, a bewildered look crossing paths with her face. Just then, her hand was grabbed, and the next thing Sakura knew, she was being half dragged along the streets by Ino herself. '... Dream? Questions? What's with Ino all of the sudden? To be panicky isn't like her... Something's wrong, then.' Sakura furrowed her brows and quickly adapted to the pace she was striding about at, walking beside her best friend and withdrawing her hand.

Once they were in front of Ichiraku, Sakura furrowed her brows, stifling the urge to joke about this--she was just too wary to be serious today, she had things to do, actually. . . Putting two fingers on her temple and tilting her head just a tad bit, Sakura closed her eyes with her brows still furrowed. "... This is about Naruto's death, isn't it?"

... Well.

They didn't call Sakura a genius for nothing.

The blonde looked at Sakura incredulously, as if she had just spoken French to her. She just told her the whole dream and now she asked if it was a dream about Naruto's death. Shaking her head, she pulled her underneath and they sat down at a table. Running a hand through her hair once more, letting it cascade forward before a sigh resonated through her body. This dream was becoming much more vexing than she had ever intended, she hoped that Sakura would understand this better. She was the only ally until she could talk to the rest of her peers. Glancing back to meet the pink haired girl's eyes, her bright eyes flickered an intense seriousness. She took this dream as a sign, she would not be deterred if Sakura decided to throw out her theory to comfort her own denial.

"I dreamt his coffin was empty... I believe whether you do or not... I'll talk to Sasuke and everyone else too... Someone will believe me if you don't..." Ino's once playful and childlike snappish tone was dropped, her voice was gravely serious. Of a Jounin woman, who had watched those she cared for be hurt and some even killed.

Glancing around she watched for anyone of their peers to walk past and to hopefully stop for a peaceful chat. Anyone to help her in this situation, who knows who could stop by. Turning back, she looked to Sakura and smiled softly, her face read a plot. She was planning in her mind already, faster than Sakura could at this moment. When Sakura thought of plans of ways to save people's lives, Ino thought up schemes. Now, she was scheming to sneak past ANBU, and get to Naruto's grave. She would prove that this was not all a fabrication.

Tsunade and Jiraiya were hiding something; why else would Jiraiya have been gone so long. Not to mention, that even Sakura being Tsunade's assistant it was apparent that she was constantly left in the dark. This was going to be a hard task indeed; she would have to plot everything. That shouldn't be too hard, she would just need Shikamaru's help, and he could plot out any possible disasters. This might just work, as long as she had some allies, she could find out anything.

Shikamaru was on his normal, daily routine. Nothing changed and nothing will change. Why? Because the troublesome guy that made all the commotion was gone. No Akatsuki terrorizing Konoha or any troublesome missions to find them. No more Sasuke problems, because he was back. And no more blonde-haired smiling kid (who would technically be a man now) to sometimes babble on and on about nonsense if they ever crossed paths. But now, Konoha was quieted down from a few years ago when Naruto had died.

Shikamaru was a little upset himself a few years ago. He tried not to show it, but it seemed to seep out sometimes. It's not like he ever cried, but he did hallucinate whenever he saw a blonde-haired academy student, or when he was looking at clouds. But now, everything was normal again. His mom still nagged like she used to, his dad was still the same--getting drunk with his buddies and telling Shikamaru to get a woman or something! But women never really interested Shikamaru. And he was NOT gay. He just found relationships troublesome.

Now as still-Chuunin Shikamaru teaches class sometimes, he tries to forget that Naruto died because that would nag on in his mind like his mother did every night and every morning. He didn't dare think about any secrets people may be hiding. If he got into something, he would have to finish it. Besides--he had more important things to think about. What's the next lesson, who keeps throwing paper balls and spitting spit wads, shut the talkers up, should I go visit Temari later if she's still here, are Ino and Sakura being troublesome again, where is Chouji, I'm getting really, really bored, I want to take a nap, and Dad needs to stop getting drunk, it's getting so troublesome...

But you know what? Shikamaru sometimes wished another crazy thing would happen. It would give him something to talk about, to call it troublesome, and get bullied into those troublesome missions. Or maybe, Ino could make a fool of herself in front of someone so he could bother her about it. Yeah... Fate could change as much as the clouds do. But it doesn't. How troublesome. So the Nara shinobi could wish all he wanted. Writing on a chalk board wasn't going to change anything.

"Ino," Sakura called, uncharacteristically seriously for herself. She had left off the suffix of pig. "... I ... believe you." The strawberry haired female whispered lightly. The way she said it had sounded so wispy--it felt as if her words could just slip past everyone in the wind. Sakura licked her lips, and furrowed her brows, looking quite distraught as she stared at the uncomforting counter of the Ichiraku Ramen Stand.

"... For these four years, I've been in much denial, about Naruto's 'death'. It just... can't happen. Naruto; he's always made it, why would he ever die now? Naruto would never die, not until he fulfilled his dream of being Hokage. And he didn't do it... yet. The puzzle pieces of this all don't fit together, you've noticed too, haven't you? Not only that, but I know for sure that something is wrong; Jiraiya-sama has been absent as of late, and though some claim it's because he's still mourning for his half student, I highly doubt anyone could mourn for four years straight. Tsunade-sama, when I go into her office to help her, she usually takes all the paperwork off her desk carelessly and hands it to me. But as of late, she only takes the top part of the paperwork pile and gives that to me. Whenever I try to look at the papers, she immediately shoves me out of her office, despite how close we are. When I last tried to take a peek at it, I saw 'Nar' written in Kanji. I don't know anybody else in this village that has the first name starting with those three letters except Naruto."

Sakura suddenly turned to her, smirking again--with such a burst of confidence. She hadn't done this ever since the encounter with her independent fight with the three Sound Genins at the Chuunin Exam in the Forest of Death. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking; Ino-pig?" Inside herself, Inner Sakura was parading about and pumping her fists in the air, screaming abnoxiously with self belief. 'Shannaroooo! Hell yeah, it's going to be Operation and Investigation: Naruto's Death!' Sakura stood up and adjusted her gloves--a habit she had grown into when she was preparing for something solemn.

"So, who's going to be the distraction?"

Ino's eyes met hers once more and it brightened even more as she heard her believe her. She knew that she could trust her in any situation; she was as loyal as ever. Listening to her explanation she nodded, her face becoming increasingly brighter. Eyes shining like a spring sky as she watched her best friend become more and more ecstatic. Standing up, she balled her hands into fists and looked to the pink haired ninja. They had both grown up, and she was glad that Sakura had finally blossomed, just as promised all those years ago. This was going to be a mission that Konoha would never forget, they would make sure of it. Her sadistic grin was now facing as she looked out the stand.

"I'm positive that Shika is bored out of his mind at the school, I'll go get him. We'll find a way to get Iruka to cover for him, tell him something stupid or other. She spoke with her usual cheeky tone, demeaning others with a friendly face, the blonde's specialty.

Heading out of the stand, Sakura and her stood a few feet outside it, the streets scarcely scattered with people. They would have to split up for now and meet up again in a short while. They were going to have to be extremely subtle about it. Tsunade was an intensely smart woman, this was going to take a lot of handling from all of them. Looking to Sakura, she watched as the simultaneously knelt down, rear to rear. Ready to run in opposite directions for those they needed. Looking ahead with a fierce determination, she was ready to go.

"Sakura... You find Neji and Hinata... We're going to need their Byakugan for this especially. I don't know what to do about Sasuke, but, we'll meet up at the Hyuuga residence and figure out everything from there. With the last words spoken, they both sped off in opposite directions, not looking back, only with the driving force of a memory.

Weaving her way through the masses of people who had almost suddenly appeared to stop her. She made it easily and flipped up to run along rooftops, she saw the academy in sight. A grin appeared once more, it had been quite awhile since she had seen Shikamaru. Everyone had drifted after this alleged death, so it had been scarce visits. Dropping down onto the grounds, she watched some children run laps and it made her lap. How she had hated running laps all those years ago. Now laps were merely a joke for them, she made her way swiftly to the building. Seeing Shika aimlessly scrawling on the board, she jumped into the window. The random oohs and ahhs of the students and the mass din that began made her laugh. She waked over to her companion with a fierce determination and placed a hand on his shoulder, before whispering very closely in his ear.

"I need your help... We're going to find out the truth... I've had dreams... Naruto isn't dead... And we're going to prove it, I already spoke to another teacher, Iruka should be here soon... Come on, we don't have a lot of time." She spoke with a fierce gentleness, which was common when she spoke to her male counterpart. He had helped her so many times that she had become very tender about him. But, if anyone ever her exposed her for it, a kunai or a shiruiken would not be too far from their face.

Four silhouettes made their way through the thick, expansive forest that led up to the Hidden Leaf Village. It was almost too dark for the group to see their way, for on top of the normal heavy foliage of the tall trees; the sky was a dark gray, the low clouds unleashing a fury of rain upon the world below. Just like four years ago. But, lucky for them, they could have returned home with their eyes closed for they knew the area like the back of their hands, despite the fact that they were rarely home because of their mission load.

As they rounded a small clump of trees, one of four seemed to slip, though thanks to their charka control, they were able to simply roll around the thick tree branch, ending up hanging upside down. A far-off memory flashed through the person's mind, one where they were in a similar inverted position on the underside of a tree branch, holding onto the ankle of a blonde, orange jumpsuit-wearing boy. A boy who was showing off just a bit too much that he had to run and save him-- one of several times they all had to rescue him; the person could remember that quite well.

A little too well.

Another memory came, one where a small group had gathered around a coffin in the pouring rain, the picture of the same boy seeming to taunt them as the photo smiled back at the little crowd. That time...was one time the person couldn't save him. Forming a fist under a black hooded robe, the person lost their concentration and plummeted towards the soft, wet ground. Their reflexes subconsciously kicked in before they made quick friends with the ground below, and the person landed on the ground rather gracefully, one knee touching down on the dirt while the other leg was bent, near their chest. The other three noticed the mild disturbance and halted, looking back at their fallen comrade.

"Are you okay, Sasuke-taichou?" one of them called to the boy, dropping down to land by his side. He was pushing himself so hard; the boy was beyond exhaustion, no doubt. Captain of the ANBU or not, the age of an adult or not, he was a boy in their eyes, and one who needed to act like one for once. They probably believed he had slipped on the damp bark of the tree, but nothing so miniscule as that could phase the highly skilled boy of twenty years. Nothing like that at all.

"Mm," Sasuke answered curtly, rising to his feet. Navy blue eyes peered through the eye holes of wooden Kitsune mask to glance at the fellow animal mask-wearing man, one of the other three people who were part of his ANBU group. Checking his arm guards and chest armor for any damage, though he knew there would be none, the boy then looked out behind him. This area... Was it mere coincidence that they were traveling near... "You guys go on ahead without me; take a little breather. I'll report to the 5th Hokage when I return."

The older man looked down at the Uchiha before nodding. There wasn't anything in Sasuke's voice that allowed even an inch of rejection of his words, and the man knew better than to even try to talk the boy out if anything unless it was something deadly important. "Ah. You be careful, taichou. See you soon." With that, the man joined the rest of the group and they continued onto the village without the youngest member, and captain, of their group.

Now alone, Sasuke turned his mask so that it was at the side of his face and walked forward, where the clutter of trees soon gave way to a wide clearing-- a clearing of tragedies, it seemed. The Hidden Leaf Village lost its 4th Hokage in that clearing, and now the body of his best friend lay in the exact some site. Pushing his worn out legs forward, the ANBU captain dragged himself towards the upright tombstone that marked the fifteen-year-old boy's grave. His legs gave out just then, though, and Sasuke fell hard onto his knees, face to face with the bolded words of the rock. Staring at it, he was surprised when his eyes began to sting with the salty water of his own tears, mingling with the fresh rainwater from the heavens above that splattered on his face.

Tears he never shed, not even on that day.

"Kuso!" Sasuke swore aloud, his gloved fist smashing into the muddy ground. He was way too tired to force the tears to stop flowing. "It's all my fault you're here...all my fault..." he muttered, continuing to beat up the ground. It definitely lifted an invisible weight off his shoulders: crying, letting his frustration out, saying words he never dared to say aloud otherwise. None of it helped to unchain the shackles that had a death grip upon his soul, though. If anyone should have been six feet under, it was him. Him, the snake Sanin, and his good-for-nothing brother.

There was one thing he was happy about for staying in Konoha, for he only did so for the late Naruto; Sasuke felt uncomfortable enough staying in the very village he left so voluntarily, and to join the man that had killed the 3rd Hokage, no less. With him staying, he became the leader of the ANBU-- the specialized group that handled highly skilled and dangerous ninjas...ninjas like his brother, Itachi, and man who had taken his friend away from him...Orochimaru. Sasuke swore that one day he will track down his brother and his former leader, and together, they will die. It was the only way he could pay back for everything he had done...everything he had caused to be done. Some probably thought it was insane for him to still wish to kill his brother, and that he was asking for trouble going after Orochimaru, especially after everything that had happened with Naruto, but something things really never changed. He clasped the nook between his neck and his left shoulder with one hand, where the curse mark surprisingly hadn't been reacting as of late.

"Though I'm sure you'll try to kick my butt again if you were still around," Sasuke joked bitterly as he looked upon Naruto's grave, wiping his eyes dry with the back of his free hand before flopping back to sit on his butt, his legs bent lazily in front of him. "...At least I'll be able to give you a proper apology if I do...and a slap upside the head for being a complete and total idiot like always." He smiled almost bitter sweetly before the rare light faded, his head dropping slightly. "Though sometimes...I want to live...just to be Hokage. That was your dream, wasn't it? That was taken away from you...because of me...the least I can do is fulfill your dream, right? Then you'll have to wake up and fight me for it, right! Like we always used to, right!"

He was yelling now, for all the good it did either of them. How childish was it of him to think he could provoke a surely rotting corpse back to life by trigger words that would have worked four years ago? How dare I even think about taking away the one thing that ever meant something to him, even if he's de-- Shaking his head and letting out a long, deep sigh, Sasuke rose to his feet, unable to say the word 'dead', even in his mind. He was afraid that if he ever said it, then it would be true, real, and something he wouldn't be able to take back. He wasn't ready to accept that yet. Still, it felt like old times, conversing with Naruto, though he really was just talking to a slab of rock. The thought saddened the twenty-year-old even more, reverting him back to the depressed boy he was moments ago. Giving one last lingering stare to the tombstone, the last Uchiha survivor replaced his mask to the front of his face, turned his back, and headed home.