13. The Flame Burns On
Yuki awoke to Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, Yoru, and Pakkun looming over her. She got up slowly and rubbed her head asking, "What happened?"
"You used up too much chakra," said Yoru. "I thought Kakashi told you to watch it when you try to take on a lot of enemies."
"Sorry." Yuki laughed. She suddenly realized that Sasuke was there with them. "Sasuke!" she blurted out and in instinct, she wrapped her arms around him. "What the heck were you thinking?"
"Sorry," said Sasuke, gently pushing her back. "The proctor told me to apprehend Gaara but…" Sasuke's face suddenly turned icy cold as he looked over at Naruto. He had scars all over his body and his forehead was bleeding badly.
"Gaara returned to his Village with the rest of his squad," said Pakkun. "We should do the same."
"Right," said Yuki. Sasuke helped her up as she struggled to stand. Together, they all walked back to Konoha. When they arrived, Kocha and Kakashi were at the Village entrance ready to go out looking for them but once they noticed them they stopped. Naruto and the others walked up to them and greeted their two Sensei but Kakashi and Kocha seemed very tired and depressed.
"What's going on?" asked Sakura. "Is everything alright? How is everyone?"
"We managed to protect the citizens," said Kocha. "However…" Kocha looked away.
"What happened?" asked Yuki. "Is everyone okay?"
"The Hokage gave his life to protect the Village," said Kakashi solemnly. Everyone stood awe –stricken.
"You've got to be lying." Yuki's eyes began to fill with tears. "It's a lie! It's a lie!!" She ran over to Kocha and began to punch her. Kocha did nothing to deflect her attacks. She stood there and stared as Yuki beat on her.
"You were supposed to protect him!!" Yuki cried. "What the hell kind of shinobi are you?! We counted on you!!"
"Yuki!" said Naruto. "Come on, it's not her fault!"
"Shut up, Naruto!!" Yuki called. She suddenly stopped what she was doing and realized what had happened. She looked up at Kocha. Yuki immediately backed away and bowed respectfully to her saying, "I'm sorry, Kocha-sensei."
"It's alright." Kocha said gently. "We are all in grief. Come, we should go help in town."
"There will be a memorial ceremony tomorrow," said Kakashi. "We will pay our respects to him then."
"Okay," said the small group. In sadness, the group followed Kakashi and Kocha into town and helped them fix up the Village. When Yuki, Kakashi, and Kocha came back home they did not say a word to each other. Instead, they all went to bed to prepare for the memorial ceremony.
The next morning was cloudy and raining heavily. The three of them joined Sakura, Naruto, and Sasuke in the alley and walked toward the Great Faces observation deck. There, everyone in the village laid a flower down next to the Hokage's portrait along with other shinobi that lost their lives in the attack. When Naruto returned, he stood next to Iruka who stood alongside them. Yuki stared at the expression on Naruto's face, blank. Yuki turned to Kakashi and asked, "Father, why did the Hokage leave us? He wasn't supposed to die but he did. It's not fair."
"I know it isn't," said Kakashi. "But, it was his duty."
"Duty?" The term seemed to anger Yuki with every letter. "What duty is there to die and leave your people? Where is the honor of dying by the hands of someone as filthy as Orochimaru?!"
"He didn't fight Orochimaru for honor." Kakashi said calmly. "He fought to protect his people. The Hokage loved every one of us with all of his heart and he wanted to protect that love with everything he had. He was willing to put his life on the line for us."
"He loved us…" repeated Yuki.
"Just as a parent loves their child," Kocha continued. "The Hokage loved all of us. Parents will do everything and anything to protect their children. The Hokage was no different. The Hokage is no different and neither are we."
"Within all of us burns a flame," said Iruka. "The Hokage wanted nothing more than to watch that flame burn on. He certainly has accomplished that."
"Yeah." Said Naruto. "He has."
Yuki stared at the line of pictures in anger as their words ringed through her head. At last she finally said, "Don't do it." Kakashi and Kocha looked at her puzzled. "Don't do what?" Kakashi asked.
"I'm not worth your lives!" she began to raise her voice. "I already lost someone close to me because they thought I was worth saving! I don't want to lose any more parents!"
"Yuki." Kakashi knelt down and hugged her. Yuki struggled to get out of his grip but it was too tight.
"Get off of me!" she cried as tears streamed down her face. "I don't want you to die because of me!" Kakashi remained silent. After Yuki began to calm down Kakashi whispered to her, "I won't die."
"You're a liar." Yuki sobbed. "You're as much of a fool as my real mother!" Kocha ripped Yuki from Kakashi's arms and slapped her across the face. Yuki rubbed her cheek as she stared at Kocha.
"Don't you ever speak ill of your mother." She said darkly. "Your mother protected you because you were that important to her! You will never dishonor her sacrifice, do you understand me?"
Yuki stared at the fire within Kocha's eyes. She could tell that Kocha held her just as highly as a real mother would. Yuki turned to Kakashi and noticed the same in his eyes. Yuki looked down at the floor then at the picture of the Hokage. "Then I will make this pledge." She told them. "I vow to protect those I care about too. I swear on my own life that I will protect my family and my friends. Just like the Third Hokage!"