Chapter 30: Living On

"How is he?"

Baki scoffed. "How do you think he is chibi? He just lost his wife."

Shibuki bit his lip as he stared at the wooden door of Kyo's home. "Yeah but…shouldn't he have…moved on by now? We're in a war. Er…right?"

Baki's glare was filled with fire as he swung around to face the Tokigakure leader. His hand shot out and grasped the frightened boy by the front of his shirt and drug him up so that they were face to face.

"If you are ever that callus again I will string you up by the strap of your holy water's gourd. Do you really think it would be that easy? We've been here for five years but you still don't know anything." Baki threw the shaking boy to the ground and turned. "You make me embarrassed to have been your instructor."

Shibuki's body shook as he stared after his teacher in shock. How could that man think that he didn't know the pain of loss. Kyo wasn't the only one that lost someone dear! It wasn't to long before that Shibuki lost his own father. There wasn't anyone who could tell him that that pain was less then what Kyo was feeling right then. Shibuki glared at Baki's retreating back before he quickly forced his eyes away.

Sighing he slid down the grass until he rested at the bank of the large lake. His mind was filled with the pain of remembrance. His father had been a strong and dedicated man. There was no one who cared more for the well being of others then his father had. And there was no one more greatly missed. Not even Kairi. She had been a great person. A wonderful wife and a mother to everyone. Even him.

A twinge of guilt struck Shibuki's heart as he realized how cold he was being. He was blocking that woman out of his heart. But why? What reason did he have to do that? A quiet sob reached his ears and Shibuki's eyes shifted to his left where Ichigo sat with Gaara, cradling a sobbing Akira in her arms. Hanabi sat curled up between the two older children, silent tears sliding down her own face as she absently patted her friend on the arm.

More sounds reached Shibuki's ears and slowly his eyes moved around the village taking in all of the sad sights. A stone eyed Neji using all of his chakra to attack a broken stump, a sobbing Lee, a snackless Chouji, Ino crying into Shikamaru's shoulder as he leaned back on the porch glaring at the sky. Temari, Kankuro, Tenten, Shino, Kiba, even Akamaru was mourning the loss of Haruno Kairi; his mournful howls filling the thick air with an even deeper sense of melancholy.

The pain in Shibuki's heart grew sharper as hot tears began to well up in his own eyes. He knew now. He knew why he was pushing Kairi from his heart. She had become his mother. Just as Kyo had become his father. Their pain, their losses, their struggles; they belonged to everyone here. Everyone in the village felt it.

Shibuki's fingers dug deep into the earth as his tears began to fall faster; hotter.

"Why…" His voice was broken. "Why…What did she do? What…what did…Kyo do? What? ...What? …Why…?"

Images of the past five years flew rapidly through his mind's eye.

Kairi…

"WHY!!!!"

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Sasuke sat cross-legged against the wall as he glared at the unconscious boy lying on Tazuna-san's spare futon. It had been a week and he still had yet to wake. Instead he just lay there in unconsciousness. Sasuke's glare deepened. Freeloader.

Sakura's hands were soft and smooth as she easily rebound the wounds he had received in his fight against Naruto. Her hands brushed gently against the boy's naked torso as she finished tying the last bandage. From the corner of her eye she noticed Sasuke's eye twitch just barely as he continued to stay plastered to the wall. Sakura giggled as she wiped her forehead and turned to face him.

"He's not going to attack me. He's still knocked out."

"I don't trust him."

"He was just doing his job Sasuke-kun. It's not his fault that we were pitted on opposite sides."

"He should have known he was being used."

Sakura rolled her eyes and repacked her medical bag. "We are all being used Sasuke. We are shinobi. Tools. Our only reason for being is to serve as weapons for others." Sadness filled her emerald eyes as she gently reached out to brush the boy's stray bangs from his face.

"I don't care."

Sakura blinked in surprise as Sasuke suddenly grabbed her wrist before she could touch the boy's face. Curious she looked up and she jumped slightly as Sasuke brushed off a tear she hadn't even noticed fall.

"We may be tools, but shinobi are still people. We have every right to live life by our own means. We do not have to live our lives as weapons. He had a right to turn down the offer."

Sakura smiled slightly. "What's with the funny words Sasuke-kun? You almost sound like Naruto."

A look of horror flashed across Sasuke's face. "D-don't you compare me to that idiot! I am nothing like that dobe!"

"Hai, Sasuke-kun! Of course!" Sakura giggled and pulled her hand away from Sasuke's. "I'm going to go look in on-Hey!"

Sakura didn't get to finish as Sasuke suddenly pulled her back down next to him. "You've still got a patient here." He pointed at his stomach. "Besides. The dobe can take care of her. It'll be alright."

Sakura bit her lip but finally she nodded. "I guess I can look in on her later…"

Sasuke nodded. "Aa."

XXXXXXXXXXX

Glass. That's what she was. Perfect glass with no flaws at all. Her pale skin and deep blue-black hair added an unearthly appearance as she lay sleeping on her futon. Her soft white yukata made her appear like an angel. He clenched his fist tight. It was his fault. He was the one that stayed behind. He should have insisted that she stayed with Sasuke. He should have known what would happen; that they would be attacked. And his stupid mouth! If he would just think before opening it. She could have died because of his mouth. His disgusting voice.

"Hinata…" His fingers brushed the pale skin of her forehead. "I'm sorry…" Suddenly his hand snapped back and he glared at his fingers in disgust. He had no right to touch her. It was his fault that she was like this. His voice, his words, his fault. He had no right to even be in this room.

Making up his mind he shifted in order to stand but he froze as a soft pressure reached out and grasped the sleeve of his jacket.

"It wasn't your fault Naruto-kun." Hinata's pale eyes opened slowly and Naruto's heart sped up. "You are not the one to blame."

Forgetting his desire to leave Naruto quickly grasped Hinata's hand with his own. "No! It is my fault! I was the one that distracted you!" Pain filled his eyes as he remembered back and unconsciously his hands tightened around hers. "It is my fault that you almost died. If Sakura hadn't gotten rid of the poison…if those senbon had gone just a centimeter deeper…"

"Naruto."

Naruto started at Hinata's abnormally firm tone and his eyes grew wide as she struggled to sit up.

"D-don't move Hinata! You're wounds—." His voice instantly died as to small arms wrapped around his waist. His body trembled slightly but he gently rested his own arms on Hinata's back as she buried her face in the crook of his neck.

"It wasn't your fault Naruto-kun. And no matter what you say, I will never believe that it was. You are my protector. You would never do anything to hurt me."

"H-Hinata…" Tears fell from his eyes and onto her hair before he suddenly tightened his grasp on the smaller girl and rested his forehead on her hair. "Thank-you, Hinata."

Hinata just smiled and leaned deeper into her friend's embrace.

XXXXXXXXXXX

Tenten sniffed as she threw another rock into the lake, distorting the image of the setting sun.

"It's too pretty today."

"Aa."

Tenten jumped slightly before she turned to face the source of the voice, several kunai held at ready in her hands.

"Neji." She said as she lowered her weapons. "What are you doing here?"

"Hn."

"That isn't a real answer you know."

"…Aa."

The two sat in silence for a minute before Tenten tossed another rock into the still rippling water.

"Do you think that Kyo-sensei…will be alright?"

Neji was silent for a moment before he nodded, his eyes focused on the sleeping forms of Hanabi and Akira only a few feet away. "Aa. Once he remembers that what is left is still important."

Tenten nodded and rested her chin on her knees. "How long do you think it will take?"

The door to Kyo's house slowly opened and the two of them jerked around in surprise as the form of their beloved sensei appeared; perfectly prepared for the future.

"Don't worry Tenten," Kyo said. "I'm sure it won't be too long."

The two of them stared in shock as Kyo smiled. "Training has been put off long enough. It is time that we return to life."

Neji nodded. "Hai, sensei. We will gather the others."

Tenten turned to follow Neji but at the last second she paused and looked back. "I'm glad that you are back sensei. We missed you."

Kyo smiled softly at Tenten's retreating back as he ran his hand through his sapphire blue hair. "It's good to be back…I missed you all too."

XXXXXXXXXXX

"Seven weeks is a long time Kakashi. What if something happened to them? What if the mission was a trap and they were overwhelmed, they are only kids. Or maybe we didn't give them enough money and they ran out of food. What if they're starving! Or what if they—!"

"Rin! Please!" Kakashi said as he held his palm against her lips. "They're fine! In fact they're probably on their way back."

The sound of the front door sliding open reached their ears and Kakashi sent Rin an 'I-told-you-so' glance before he moved over towards the entryway.

"Well, It sure took you all long enough. Did you have any problems—?" Kakashi stopped short and he quickly pushed Rin back into the main part of the house as an unfamiliar man grinned madly from the lower level of the entry hall. Slowly the man stepped up onto the tatami mat floor, his muddy sandals forcing dirt into the small crevices.

"I didn't have any problems at all." The man's crazed grin grew wider as his pupils suddenly began to bleed blackness onto the whites of his eyes. "You on the other hand, well, that depends on how good you are."

End Chapter 30

Kaliea: Wow. Long time no update. Sorry bout that. Writer's Block sucks. Anyway, things are moving along, it's been about a week since Kairi died, the corner kids won their fight, Naruto's transformation has yet to be talked about but if you go back to the Uzumaki scroll I'm sure you'll be able to get the gist of it. Anywho, thanks for sticken with me!
Review Answers:

ShinkuNoTenshi: Not really. I just realized that things were too happy and somebody needed to die. Sadly enough Kairi was the only one I could spare.

Twerplified: Not much in this chapter but there is quite a bit to come.

Cunning Angel: Kyo and Kairi are married. Their son is Akira and they joint taught the kids from Konoha.

Tears like Crystals: I hate Makoto too, which is odd because I usually like all of my characters. Anyway, Kairi's death was very hard to write because she is in my top two favorites. Not that I would have enjoyed killing any of my characters. I'll hate it as much in the future as I do now.

grim reaper sakura: I'm glad that you like my story. And yes, Hikari is getting moody. She is starting her sixth month.

Hiei-Touya-icedemon: I promise that there will be more ItaHika to come in fact the next saga thingy is mostly about them so they'll get a lot of fic time in the future.

Dragon Man 180: I love torture rooms for bad guys. I'm also glad that you liked Kairi so much. She was a great character to write.

CrazyGirlofManyNames: She wasn't dead but it wasn't a fake death. He really was trying to kill her, Hinata just got lucky.

Suki dah Turdle: EEP! I'm sorry!

Danny-171984: "And every one lived happily ever after…" Heh, well, it's just not real life. Even if this is a fic that doesn't mean that it is immune to the laws of life and death. Not every one can have a truly happy ending.

Shinobi Darkbeak: I'll try my best!

Kaliea: Thanks so much to all of my reviewers! I hope you like the chapter and until next time, ja ne!