**I do not own "Naruto" or any related characters**
Sakura wandered in a numb daze. Her rage had cooled and a listless feeling settled in its place. Her feet drug languidly as she ambled on. Naruto – dead. It was still a difficult concept to swallow. Sure, she had been told of his demise by the Hokage, had been given his bloodstained forehead protector, and attended his funeral, yet it all seemed to be a terrible and twisted lie, a dream from which she could awaken. To hear Kiba say the truth so bluntly – the truth she cowered to face – was simply more than she could take. She had learned to accept the death of so many others: Sasuke, Sai, and Kakashi. She had attended their graves and left flowers of remembrance by their headstones, but Naruto's grave was left unvisited and unadorned by her.
What led her to the cemetery escaped her knowledge, but soon enough she found herself near familiar rows of Konoha's best, laid to rest. She laid a gentle hand on the tombstone of the last Uchiha. Only two rows away, lay Sai's last resting place. Three places to the left of him stood Kakashi's modest memorial.
The sound of footsteps made Sakura suddenly aware of the presence of others in the cemetery. She turned suddenly, her pink hair whipping around her. Pale blue eyes looked curiously at her. For one heartbeat, those blue eyes belonged to one knuckleheaded ninja.
"Gosh, Sakura, don't look at me like you've never seen me before."
"I… I wasn't expecting you, Ino." Sakura replied.
"Well don't sound so sad about it, forehead." Ino quietly placed a small bouquet of flowers at the foot of Sarutobi Asuma's headstone. "You look terrible, you know." Ino commented without turning her eyes away from her Sensei's grave.
"I got beat by Kiba in a sparring match," Sakura remarked casually.
"Hum," Ino stole a sideways glance at her childhood rival. "I know you hate to lose, but I wonder if something else is bothering you."
Sakura slipped a strand of pink behind her ear and lied, "Well, you know, it really is embarrassing to lose to him of all people."
"Right, and because you lost, you decided a visit to Konoha's cemetery would perk you up."
Sakura struggled for a response.
"You've never been a good liar," the other responded frankly.
"But I really did lose to him." She put up a feeble protest. Ino looked hard at the woman in front of her.
"What happened?" her voice was authoritative in its request.
Begrudgingly, Sakura relayed the events of the morning – conveniently leaving out the part about her sleeping at Naruto's apartment. Ino merely nodded as she listened attentively. As she spoke, the anger she had felt resurfaced.
"How could he say that!" Sakura bit back hurt.
"Because, regardless of his lack of tact, he's right," Ino's bold eyes looked straight into Sakura's. "You've never been one to be beat – unless it was against me of course. You can't let this beat you; you can't let the loss of Naruto crush you. You're stronger than that. And maybe Inuzuka is the only person stupid enough to challenge you to see it." Her words were honest and blunt.
Sakura looked down into her hands. This all seemed too much for her. How was she supposed to continue? Maybe she had been beat and it was time to admit defeat.
Ino's voice softened. "I never said you had to forget or that you had to stop caring for him, or any of those whom you have lost." She placed a tender hand on the shoulder of her comrade. "But they would not want to see you this way. And you know it."
"I just never thought… never thought he would be gone. I didn't know it would be this hard. I underestimated how much he meant to me – to all of us." The words came out slowly. Her green eyes drifted to the place where Naruto lay. To her surprise, someone else was there – Konohamaru. The two kunoichi fell into silence as they watched.
"Naruto, I keep practicing the rasengan that you taught me." The youth's voice was steady and sincere. "I think I'm getting better, but I can only do one. But I hope I'll be as good at it as you one day." He paused, a slight smile played on his lips. "You were right about Moegi. But she says she won't go on a date with me. Girls are hard to figure out. But I'll remember what you told me 'Never give up.'" Konohamaru paused again. "I wish you were here to talk to. I miss you." He stood up silently. "But I won't ever give up; I'm going to become Hokage one day. Just you wait," his voice faintly reminiscent of the blonde he so adored. He smiled solemnly. "I have to go; sensei has us training really hard. I'll come back soon though." The young shinobi wiped a stray tear away from his eyes as he left the hallowed ground.
"You should go over there," Ino nudged gently.
Sakura fidgeted uncomfortably. She could not face it – not just yet. "I will; I'm not ready yet."
Ino looked hard at her friend. "Well, at least you're not lying now."
Sakura feigned a smirk. "I think I should go make things right with Kiba." Ino nodded in agreement. The pink-haired woman stood slowly. Her eyes took in the entire scene once more before she turned and walked away. "Thank you, Ino."
"Sakura," Ino began, "I'm here… if you need me." The two parted ways. Sakura turned her attention to making things right with the hound-nin.