*Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters in this story.

Warning: Violence.*

The group was exhausted by the time they finally reached the Hyuga mansion. They had momentarily lost each other, but luckily they found themselves together again after discovering the others on the road. Knowing that the others who were still missing would find them at the mansion also put their hearts at ease. Some members of the group whined when they had to climb the gate, but it was done quickly enough. Kakashi went first, cautiously climbing over the tall black gates. Once he landed on the other side, he gestured for the others to follow. Lee stood guard as the others climbed over, looking from side to side for any indication that a zombie might be close. Sai helped Ino climb over, making sure the petit blond didn't fall over the edge. Once everyone was over, Lee climbed over quickly with a grace and ease that had many jealous of him.

The group walked slowly to the door, looking around cautiously. It was silent, the only sound being that of the wind rustling in the trees. Kakashi took a deep breath, comforted by the simple glance he took over his shoulder, seeing his friends, previous students and fellow teachers, some people he didn't even know before this disaster, all were tense, each looking in different directions, ready to defend him at a moments notice. Completely reassured, Kakashi wasted no time in typing in the code that Hinata had previously given to them in fear of something like this happening. Kakashi was relieved when a soft, almost silent buzz reached his ears, breaking the silence. Cautiously, Kakashi wrapped his fingers around the wooden door, slowly pulling it open. The door made no sound as it opened, the moon casting it's white glow slightly into the room before him.

Kakashi stepped slowly, softly into the room, taking deep breaths to calm his rapidly beating heart. A warm glow came from a distance, not too far into the home. Kakashi looked back, silently asking the others for guidance. Should he call out to the people who were already there? Stay silent and catch them by surprise? Shrugging, Kakashi quickly walked into the room, as silently as possible. He was followed closely by Kisame and Sai, as the three of them looked in every room they passed, checking to see whether anything living was around. Slowly, they approached the room with the warm glow of light, though it flickered constantly. Kakashi guessed that there was most likely a fire, that or the light was about to flicker for the last time. He took a moment to prepare himself before he turned into the room, a startled yelp and the sound of a chair scraping and falling over reaching their ears as the three men stared at the other.

This man was like looking at an older version of Neji.

"Hiashi?" Kakashi asked cautiously.

"Kakashi? Is that truly you?" The white eyed man asked, relief clear in his voice.

Kakashi relaxed, causing the others to relax as well as Kisame and Sai left to gather their friends.

"I am so relieved to see someone alive." Hiashi spoke as he picked his chair back up.

"So am I, we were not looking forward to a battle." Kakashi sighed tiredly, feeling extremely old and exhausted.

"I would imagine so. Tell me, where is my daughter and nephew?" Hiashi asked hopefully.

Kakashi felt his heart sink. To be honest, he had no idea how Hinata was doing, whether she was okay, alive even. If she were, he knew she and Sasuke would come here as soon as they possibly could.

And Neji, well Neji had died when Danzo and his men had decided to try and take over their mansion. If Kakashi remembered correctly, Neji was shot in the face when he tried to save both TenTen and Lee. The two teens had stood there, frozen in shock. Thanks to Hidan, Danzo got what he deserved, though the same couldn't be said for his men, Kakashi was sure that they would get what they deserved eventually, though.

"I'm sorry, Hiashi, but unfortunately Neji had passed trying to save his friends and I am currently unaware of Hinata's whereabouts. We got separated not too long ago," Kakashi spoke with sympathy, nearly cringing at the broken look in the man's eyes as he sank down into his seat, clearly distraught.

"I am so sorry for your loss," Kakashi whispered, though his voice cracked.

Hiashi nodded absently, though Kakashi's voice breaking didn't go unnoticed by the older man.

"And I offer my condolences to you, as well. I am sure that you must have lost quite a few precious people yourself," Hiashi offered, trying and failing to smile at the clearly heartbroken man.

Kakashi nodded as well, not sure what else to do. He cleared his throat, wanting to thank the man, though the words refused to leave his lips. He felt as though he were being suffocated, crushed by the weight of the reality of the situation. So many people had died.

"Please, I offer my home to you and anyone you have with you. There are bedrooms upstairs if you wish, make yourselves at home, I'm sure you are exhausted." Hiashi gestured with his hand, trying his best to seem polite.

"Thank you," Kakashi bowed respectively before turning and leaving the room, though he did not bother to be quiet. He just wanted to get some sleep.

"Kakashi?" Iruka's voice broke him out of his thoughts.

"It's alright, we can stay." Kakashi nodded, noting the collective sigh of relief coming from everyone.

"Rooms are upstairs, so, make yourselves comfortable." Kakashi gestured to the stairs.

There was a moment of hesitation before the teens and young adults gathered their things, walking up to the bedrooms. Ino led Sai into the closest room she could find, tiredly throwing her bag to the side while toeing off her shoes before she collapsed onto the bed. Sai took more time than she had, taking extra care in placing his bag as well as hers in the corner of the room, taking her shoes and placing them by the door, near his own.

Ino felt tears gather in her eyes as she got lost in her thoughts. She had no doubt lost her parents, not to mention Choji, and Sakura? She had wasted so much time being rude to the pink haired girl, all because they both had a crush on the same guy. It all seemed so pointless now. Sakura was gone. She'll never be able to argue with her again, or tease her about her large forehead, which, in all honesty, wasn't even that big. She'd never be able to hear her voice again, or see that smile of hers she so affectionately referred to as Sakura's 'crack head smile.' Not only that, but she had always wasted time in chastising Choji about his eating habits, that she rarely had the time to actually get to know him. But now, he was dead too. She would never see them, or her parents again. Ino turned onto her side, slightly curling into herself as she placed both of her hands on her face, her shoulders shaking as she cried. Sai climbed into the bed silently, reaching forward and clutching onto the blond, holding her as she cried.

In another room, Lee was in a similar state, though there was no one there to comfort him. He was clutching his pillow, crying into it. He was crying for his sensei, who had so bravely gave up his own life for the safety of his students. For Hidan, who had so desperately tried to make him feel better. And Neji, who had tried to save him and TenTen, only for TenTen to die a few moments later because she was too frozen in shock to move. His precious Sakura had died, too. And she was attacked in her sleep, when she was most vulnerable. A heavy weight settled onto his chest, he could have saved them! If only he were better! They could all still be alive! It was all his fault! Lee's cries grew more violent as he a desperate thought crossed his mind.

'What do I do, Gai sensei!?'

Kisame lay on his bed, listening to the muffled cries of both Ino and Lee, though the two soon cried themselves to sleep. He was staring blankly at his ceiling, not knowing what to do, how to react. Should he cry? Act like nothing happened? What would Itachi do in this situation? He didn't know. He missed his lover and his friends, the only thing he had left now was the memories of a once happy group of friends. Though he didn't necessarily know Deidara, Konan, Tobi, Hidan and Itachi that well, he feels as though this entire ordeal had made them closer. He honestly missed Pein and his sometimes ridiculous speeches, though they mostly happened when the other was drunk. He missed Zetsu's arguments with himself, though he was still alive, this whole ordeal had changed the man, made him more silent. He missed Kakuzu's grumbling about wasting money as they forced the other to go drinking with them. He missed the rare moments where they would see a true smile on Sasori's lips. But mostly, he was missing the laughs, the fun times, his memories. But that's all they are now. Memories.