Chapter 17
"Hokage-sama... has fallen in battle..."
Gasps fill the room. People began shouting out from shock.
"What do you mean Sarutobi-sama is dead!"
"Yeah! He's the Hokage! He can't die!"
"This is an outrage!"
"Everyone! Silence!" Kakashi shouts, then sighs to himself. "This is the doing of Orochimaru. It would appear Otogakure and Sunagakure created an alliance to destroy Konohagakure. But we've chased them out, destruction has been done, but we're still standing. We must work together and rebuild."
Gai nods at him. "We'll have to talk to the feudal lords about our next Hokage.." He mutters to Kakashi.
"Yes, and also about Sarutobi-sama's ceremony." Kakashi mutters back. They nod to each other then disappear within a puff of smoke.
Neji walks over to me, Lee and Tenten. "Neji, are you alright?" Tenten asks, seeming concerned. After all he did seem pretty battered.
"Yes I'm fine." Neji says.
"That's good..." Tenten says then sighs of grief. Everyone, including me was staring at the ground, taking a moment of silence for Hokage-sama. A sobbing interrupted the silence. I look over seeing Konohamaru shedding countless tears and clinging to Iruka-sensei who was sympathetically rubbing Konohamaru's back.
"It's not fair!" Konohamaru cries. "Why did Grandpa have to go.. Why?"
I could see that Iruka-sensei didn't really know what to say.
Neji sighs. "Come on, lets get back into the village." He says. We nod and I look at Lee. He had that stubborn expression, he wants to walk on his own this time.
"... Hold on, I'll be back in a jiffy." I say, they look at me and I run out the door.
I run back to where the main matches were held, and through the corridors, up the many stairs and into the crowd which were still sleeping. I saw a few Sound ninjas either unconscious or dead laying around, and one or two Konoha Jonin the same. I look around where we were standing beforehand and see Lee's crutch laying on the step.. it had a crack in it. I pick it up and determine it's condition.
It seems fine enough for now. I run back to the evacuation center where people were already leaving. I wait until I see them three walk out. Tenten had Lee's arm over her shoulder and Neji was walking in front of them.
"Lee-san!" I call, then run to him. "Here." I say, holding out his crutch.
"Oh! Thank you Setsuki-san." Lee says, taking it with his bandaged arm and removing his other arm from Tenten.
I walk with them back to the main street of the village. It was slow because of Lee but I didn't care, I walked beside him the entire time.
"I seriously can't believe he's..." Tenten says.
"Yeah.." I reply.
"That Sunagakure.. we were allies and they betrayed us.. now we're without a Hokage, things are going to be on edge from now on." Neji says.
"What do you mean?" Tenten asks.
"Think about it.. word will get out, and other village's will be tempted to attack us. After all Konoha is the strongest village in military terms." Neji explains.
"Then we must become stronger.." Lee says, still staring at the ground. Neji sighs.
"Lee, when they said your body was too severely injured to be a shinobi, they meant it." Neji grumbles. I notice Lee tense up.
"Neji!" Tenten gushes.
"What? It is the truth, you know that as well Tenten!" Neji shouts.
".. Yeah! But that's no reason to-"
"Stop it.." Lee says in a small sigh. Neji turns his back to Lee with a huff and Tenten looks at him. Lee stops walking, still staring at the ground, but only now I couldn't see his face and his body began shaking slightly. Tears fell from his face and drop down to the ground. I felt bad. I wanted to say something but I didn't know what. "J-Just stop it.."
"Lee for God's sake, you can't be a ninja anymore! Just accept it!" Neji snaps, turning back to Lee. Lee looks up at him, tears rolling down his cheeks.
"I will be! I will not allow these injuries to stop me!" Lee shouts back. Tenten backs off and I step forth.
"You will kill yourself doing that! Are you an idiot or what!" Neji shouts, clenching a fist. I could see an attack coming. I just hoped Lee wouldn't shout back and provoke him.
"I have worked so hard to get where I am! I will not give up now!" Lee shouts. Neji growls and goes to attack to knock some sense into Lee.
"Neji!" Tenten shouts, trying to make him stop, but he ignores her. Lee raises his good arm to block. I jump between them, taking Neji's punch into my stomach. I choke.
"S.. Setsuki!" Lee stutters.
"What the hell do you think you're doing!" Neji questions.
"It's.. disrespectful to attack someone when they can't fight back. Especially your own teammate!" I exclaim, building up some courage to shout at him.
"Tch." Neji turns around and walks off.
"Setsuki! Are you alright!" Tenten panics stepping over to me frantically.
"Yeah. I'm fine, don't worry about it." I say, then cough.
"Setsuki, why did you..?" Lee asks. I turn around to face him.
"Don't worry about it. As I said, you're in no condition to fight.." I say. Lee quickly wipes the tears from his cheeks with his good arm. I put a hand on my stomach because it really hurt but I didn't want to show it.
".. Lee don't let Neji get to you, he's just being a jerk." Tenten says.
"I know..." Lee says, not facing either of us. Tenten sighs.
"Come on, lets get you back to the hospital." Tenten says. ,
".. No. I will walk there myself." Lee says, and begins walking again. Me and Tenten stand there and watch.
"Tenten?" I ask in a soft voice.
"Yeah?"
"Do they always fight like that?" I ask. Tenten rubs her arm.
"Well.. yeah." Tenten says. "Neji thinks he's better than Lee so.."
"And.. Lee thinks the opposite right?" I ask.
"Sorta. Lee thinks he'll surpass Neji one day, but Neji thinks otherwise.. this argument has been going on like, forever." She says then sighs. "I'm scared that one day things will get out of hand. Especially if there's a repeat of just before.. speaking of which, are you sure you're alright? I mean, that looked like it hurt."
"It.. hurts a bit, but I'll be fine." I say, still holding my stomach.
"Alright.. well lets go get something to eat." Tenten says.
"... Ichiraku Ramen?" I ask.
"Sure."
Later on that evening, when the sun was almost ready to set, I take a walk, alone. I didn't like it much, but I have to grow out of his fear.
I wonder out of the village with my hands in my pockets, staring at the ground, just thinking about Hokage-sama's death.
It wasn't too long before I found myself in the training grounds. I look at the three vertical logs for a moment but then something caught my eye. Blood. I look around wondering if someone has been here. But the grass was empty as usual. I look up at the sky seeing dark clouds slowly rolling in.
"In for some rain tonight.." I mutter to myself. "And it's getting late." I turn around to walk but something was paranoid about something. I didn't know what, but it was annoying. I look around again. 'The training grounds are empty.. there's nothing here. What am I worrying about?' "Maybe it's Lee-san.." I think aloud. "I should go visit him on my way home." I walk around, circling the training grounds just in case.
Something else caught my eye in the grass. I had to look carefully, but there was a small trail of blood. I follow it and it lead into some bushes and past a few trees. I look around and saw something. My eyes widen.
"Lee!" I shout, seeing him laying on the ground. I run over to him and kneel down. His eyes are closed and I hoped he was severely injured. "Lee wake up!" I shout, shaking his arm slightly. I notice blood coming from his knuckles on his good hand.
"One... mo..re..." Lee croaks and his arms shake.
"What?" I ask. His eyes didn't open it was like he was still unconscious. "Have you.. been doing push ups?" I ask. There was no response and I sigh. "You push yourself too much.. more than Naruto-kun." I pick him up and carry him on my back and see his crutch leaning against a tree and wonder how to carry it back with me. Upon closer inspection, I notice it's broken and sweatdrop. "Looks like you're going to need a new crutch." I say. But again, no response.
I run back to the hospital, and once, inside was slightly demolished, but still in good enough condition to use.
"Oh, what happened here?" A nurse asks, walking over to me curiously.
"Hm? Oh, this is Lee-san, I think he snuck out of the hospital before. I found him like this in the training grounds and his crutch is broken." I explain.
"Lee-san? Hm, let me go check the records." She says and goes behind the counter and flicks through a book. "Lets see.. Rock Lee... Rock Lee... hm, nope, I'm afraid Lee-san didn't check in today, but here it says someone by the name of Maito Gai has signed here to uncheck him this morning, but he hasn't checked back in." She says.
"He didn't check back in?" I ask. She shakes her head.
"So he didn't go to the hospital back then.." I mumble.
"Sorry?"
"Oh, nothing."
"Alright, well.. lets get him checked in again." She says and scribbles something down in the book. "Now I'll take you to his room." She says, coming out from behind the desk. I nod and follow her down the hallway to his room. I lay him down in his bed while the nurse checks his file at the end of his bed. "Oh, I heard about this. Crushed arm and leg.. poor boy." She says then puts it down.
"Yeah..." I reply, looking at the sweat pouring off Lee's head.
"And you said you found him on the training grounds? What on earth was he doing there in his condition?"
"I.. dunno." I reply.
"You seem very concerned, are you his girlfriend?" She asks. My eyes widen slightly and I face her shaking my hands.
"Oh no no no, we're just good friends!" I exclaim.
"Oh, my apologies." She says, giving a small giggle. I scratch the back of my head out of awkwardness. "Well, visiting hours are technically finished, but I'll let you stay here for about 10 minutes, okay?"
"Oh, thank you." I reply, giving her a quick bow before she leaves.
I face Lee again and put my hand on his forehead, he was very warm. I sigh. "You try so hard.. but if you don't try and recover, you never will.." I mutter, taking my hand away. I walk over to the small sink and grab a small face washer and wet it then wring it out and fold it up and sit it on Lee's forehead. His face then seemed to lose tension and he began to look at peace. ".. Take it easy from now on.. goodnight Lee-san." I say then head home.
The next morning those same grey clouds as yesterday linger in the sky. I look through my cupboard finding a black dress and put it on and do my hair up as nicely as I could then go downstairs. Uncle Takashi was wearing a black suit.
"Ready to go?" He asks. I nod.
As we went outside I could hear thunder and I didn't like it. I stay close beside Takashi because I hate storms.
We get to the top of the Hokage Mansion and stand around. At the front was a coffin and Sandaime's pictures. The two village elders stand up the front staring at them.
Just as they began speaking, the rain began to fell.
"The funeral for the Third Hokage, who lost his like in this battle..." Homura speaks. ".. as well as the other victims who gave their lives, will begin now."
We all lower our heads in respectful silence. At the front I could hear Konohamaru sobbing. Beside him, Iruka-sensei puts an arm on Konohamaru's shoulder to comfort him.
Later on we all line up and place a white flower on the tables for Sandaime. We then stood around quietly talking to one another when suddenly the rain stopped and the sun peers through the clouds, shining directly onto Sandaime's picture, then eventually the clouds disappear, giving a nice blue sky.
"Ame-chan!" Naruto calls.
"Yes? Naruto-kun?" I ask
"Wanna go get some ramen?" He asks, I was wondering about his big smile, after all I thought he'd be very sad about all this.
"You bet I do!" I exclaim.
"Haha! Race you there! One two GO!" Naruto says then starts running.
"Wh- hey! Naruto!" I whine and chase after him. "Head starts are unfair!" I exclaim.
"I never said I was playing fair!" Naruto chuckles. I roll my eyes laughing and keep running.
"One large serving of miso ramen with roasted pork fillet please Teuchi-san!" Naruto shouts then dives into the store. Teuchi, inside, laughs.
I run inside a few seconds after. "Just plain miso please Teuchi-san." I say.
"Sure thing." Teuchi chuckles. "Ayame, heat up the pots!"
"Already on it!" Ayame calls back.