Hotora and Sasuke walked down the hall in the hospital and headed for Gaara's room. When they entered, they saw Gaara arguing with the nurse. "Why can't I leave now?" Gaara said angrily.

"You are still hurt," the nurse replied in an annoyed tone.

"I think I would know if I am able to walk or not," Gaara argued. "I am not some wimpy villager."

Hotora walked further into the room. "Gaara is not going to give up until you let him out," Hotora informed the nurse.

"I'm sorry but he can't go."

"Don't tell me what I can and can't do," Gaara stated angrily.

With that Gaara got out of the hospital bed. "Please you must get back in bed and get some rest," the nurse pleaded. "Hyuga-san please make him understand."

"I...I...can't," Hinata stammered.

Gaara started to but on his gourd, and the nurse seemed frantic. "You'll open the wound carrying that thing," she said still trying to convince him to stay in bed.
"I can handle it, besides I need to be out of this boring room."

Hinata giggled at Gaara's statement. "Just let him out," Sasuke said. "If he opens the wound, Hinata is capable of fixing it."

"Fine, he won't listen anyway," the nurse stated as she led them to the front desk to release Gaara.

-----

"We have two hours until the funeral so what should we do?" Hotora asked the others.

"Let's go to the memorial," Sasuke suggested. "Maybe some others will be there."

"Okay," Hotora replied.

They made their way towards the memorial. When the finally came to the memorial, they saw Kakashi and some girl with purple hair talking. Naturally they decided to listen, though they stayed in the open so they couldn't be accused of eves dropping. "What are you doing here Kakashi senpai?" the girl asked.

"Just visiting as usual Uzuki," Kakashi replied. "Are you here for Hayate?"

"Yes," Uzuki replied. "Are you going to try and make it to the funeral on time?"

"I always try to be places on time. When I come here in the mornings I start to blame myself all over again for Obit's death, and I always end up being late."

"Then leave your place earlier."

"That just gives me more time to blame myself."

"Oh, I see."

As Uzuki knelt down beside Kakashi, he noticed the four rookies. "What are you four doing here?" Kakashi asked loudly.

Hotora ran up to Kakashi to explain. "We were getting bored so we came here to see if anybody we knew would be here," Hotora informed her sensei.

The others walked up behind Hotora. "Who are these kids exactly, Kakashi senpai?" Uzuki asked.

"Quit calling me that would you," Kakashi demanded politely. "This is Hotora and Uchiha Sasuke, my students, Hotora's brother Gaara, and his girlfriend Hyuga Hinata."

"May I ask who exactly you are?" Hotora asked.

"Oh, of course," Uzuki replied. "I am Yugao Uzuki. Kakashi was the leader of the ANBU team that I was in. Well I should be going so I can change it to my black out fit for the funeral."

"Bye," Hotora said as Uzuki walked away.

"Eves dropping is a very wrong thing to do," Kakashi stated with a half chuckle when he saw the groups scared looks.

"Sorry Kakashi-sensei, but we had to know who she was," Hotora said quickly.

"Whatever," Kakashi said. "You guys should go get changed into your black uniforms for the funeral. Then meet me at the Hokage Mountain."

"Okay," the rookies said.

-----

Once the rookies were all changed, they headed off towards the mountain. It was only a few minutes until the funeral, so they speed up their pace. When they finally reached the mountain, Kakashi put them into their positions.

"We are here to remember our great and revered Hokage," Manish Radio stated gravely. "Let's have a moment of silence to remember the Third Hokage."

All the ninjas in attendance hung their heads in a silent remembrance of the eminent Hokage.

-----

The service part of the funeral went on for about an hour. It was finally time for them to congregate with each other.

One jonin walked up to Hotora, Hinata, Sasuke and Gaara. "It is because of you that we no longer have a Hokage," he informed Gaara.

"What's your name?" Gaara questioned.

"Yamashiro Aoba," he replied.

"Aoba listen up," Hinata stated with an uncharacteristically even tone. "Gaara did everything he could to help us in the assassination attempt. If it weren't for the information he sent to us, many more would be dead."

"Hyuga-san that was so unlike you," Yamanaka Inochi stated as he walked up and entered the conversation. "Aoba, what did you do to cause this change."

"All he did was accuse my brother of something he didn't do," Hotora replied for Aoba.

"I see, but how does that bring a rise out of the shy Hyuga-san?" Inochi asked.

Hinata just started to blush and couldn't say a word. "She is my girlfriend, and his comments bothered her," Gaara replied with an ever so slight chuckle.

"Okay, well I hope to see you kids around soon," Inochi said as he pulled Aoba away from the small group.

Gaara smiled when he saw that Hinata's blush was not diminishing. Gaara wrapped his arms around Hinata's small frame, and whispered, "I love you Hinata-chan."

"I love you, too Gaara-kun," Hinata stated happily.

"Hay you guys let's go home before we have to suffer through a few more tear filled hour of this sad day," Hotora stated.

Gaara unwrapped his arms from Hinata and followed Hotora, Hinata and Sasuke back to Gaara, Hinata, and Hotora's house.

-----

Once they reached the house, Gaara and Hinata went inside while Hotora stayed out side with Sasuke. "I am so glad Hinata and Gaara are together," Hotora stated. "My brother really needed her in his life."

"Hinata needed him too," Sasuke notified Hotora. "She has changed since they have been together. She is more confident and a little less shy. Are happy we are together, Hotora?"

"Of course I am," she replied. "I couldn't be happier. Sasuke, I love you."

"Good, because I love you, too."

He gave Hotora a kiss on the lips and said, "Good night."

"Good night, Sasuke."

As Sasuke walked off towards his house, Hotora went inside of hers'. She left the couple who were sitting on the couch alone and went up stairs to her room.

She changed her clothes and turned off her light. She laid down beneath the covers and drifted off to sleep.

----------------

Thanks for reading. If you have any suggestions on how I should fix it, please do not hesitate to inform me. I always appreciate good constructive criticism. I will try to get the next chapter out as soon as I possibly can, but it may be awhile. The reason is I am doing a 100 Themes Challenge on deviantART.

I am odd. I am American and I am in love with everything Japanese; music; art; everything. If any of you would like any of the Jrock or Jpop I listen to, just ask I will get you a link.

I listen to Gackt/Gacktjob, Malice Mizer - Gackt era, Hyde, AAA, Moi Dix Mois, Eve of Destiny, W-inds, Dir en Grey, and some of L'arc en Ciel. Remember, if you want to know anything about the story or me, just ask. I will answer most questions.