Sorry for the long wait guys! I have had a lot of things to do with school. (Homework, UGH!) I also had a bit of writer's block, and had to look for some inspiration.

I was thinking of having Naruto paired with someone. Maybe an OC? Let me know what you think!

Anyways, Enjoy this chapter of Menma Rises ;D

-DinglberrySauce

Chapter 2: Mission

Naruto was walking through the desert of Kaze no Kuni adorning his new cloak with red clouds for his first mission in the Akatsu-

"This is going to be so much fun! Isn't it partner?" Came the loud, child-like voice of his...partner. Naruto glared at him in annoyance. Out of all people he could've got for his partner, it had to be Tobi. He had the same black cloak blazoned with red clouds. On his face was an orange swirl mask with spiky black hair similar to Naruto's own.

"Yeah, yeah. Just calm down a little." Naruto said with a growing twitch in his eyebrow. (Not that it could be seen.) "We should be in Suna in a couple hours, let's pick up the pace." Naruto said thinking about his mission to capture, and extract the Ichibi from its Jinchuriki. This mission was originally intended for Sasori, and Deidara, but they were retasked to deal with the Sanbi.

=Konoha=

It has been 3 years since Naruto died at the Valley of the End by Sasuke's hand. That was the hardest day for the blonde Hokage, she had lost another precious person to that cursed necklace.

-Flashback-

Kakashi was walking with Sasuke in tow back towards Konoha, a depressed air around the duo. When they arrived at the gates, they could see Sakura, Ino, and Hinata waiting there for them, worry evident on their faces.

Sakura, and Ino's faces brightened seeing their preciou-

"SASUKE-KUN!"

Speak of the devil. The two annoying harpies lunged at Sasuke, and glomped him. Hinata's face got even more worried and tears threatened to fall, thinking the worst.

"K-Kakashi-sensei, wh-where is N-Naruto-k-kun?" She asked shakily. A lone tear fell from Kakashi's only visible eye as he looked down. "I'm sorry. H-he's...dead."

Hinata's eyes widened, and tears started freely falling down her cheeks. Sakura had an uncaring look, while Ino had a look of disbelief, and sorrow. While she hadn't liked Naruto in a romantic way, but she did like him as a friend when they hung out with Shikamaru, and Choji.

"N-N-No...you're lying! He can't..." She didn't say any more, and started sobbbing.

Sakura scoffed. "Ah, who cares! He was just a pathetic dobe. Who needs hi-" WHAM! Sakura flew back, and hit the trunk of a tree. Hinata stood there with her Byakugan activated, and tears still streaming down her face.

"How could you say that? Naruto-kun is the one who saved us all from Gaara. He's the one who brought back the pathetic Uchiha! NARUTO-KUN IS THE ONE THAT HAS SAVED THIS ENTIRE VILAGE FROM BIRTH! DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHAT HE'S BEEN THROUGH HIS ENTIRE LIFE?" Hinata yelled very uncharacteristicly. She walked up, and grabbed Sakura by the collar. "Naruto's the one person who I loved." Hinata dropped her with a dull thud.

"You can die in a hole for all I care." Hinata spat, and walked away. Kakashi, Ino, and Sasuke looked at Sakura in disgust. "I can't believe you Sakura, he was your teammate. I'm ashamed to call you my student." Kakashi said before shunshining away.

"Seriously, Sakura. All he did was be nice to you, and you just spit on his grave. I'm ashamed to call you my friend." Ino said, walking away.

"Hn. Pathetic. Don't talk to me." Sasuke said as he was walking away as well. He stopped, and turned around. "In fact, don't even approach me. You think that hating Naruto will get my attention, because it won't. You insulted my best friend even in death. That was the last straw...scum."
Sasuke walked away leaving a crying Sakura.

=Hokage's Office=

"WHAT!?" Everyone in the entire village had to cover their ears due to the loud voice of the Hokage, Tsunade Senju.

Kakashi was still looking down at the floor, too ashamed to look her in the eye. "He's dead, Hokage-sama. Naruto is d-dead." He repeated while shaking due to his silent sobbing.

The busty Hokage plopped down back in her chair, and bangs covered her eyes. "Thank you, Kakashi. you're dismissed." Kakshi nooded, and walked out still sobbing.

A single tear could be seen on Tsunade's face as she pulled out a bottle of sake. "Damn that necklace. First Dan, then Nawaki, and now Naruto." She took a swig, with tears now falling freely down her cheeks. 'Why? Why does everyone I love have to die?' She thought sadly.

-Flashback End-

Naruto's funeral was held the next day. The person that took the news the hardest was unsuprisingly Hinata. She locked herself in her room for weeks, not even letting her father inside. After that, she became a cold, and very formiddable kunoichi, losing her studder entirely.

Tsunade was brought out of her musings when the door opened, and revealed Team Uchiha consisting the former Team 8, and Sasuke. After Naruto died, Sasuke lost his holier than thou attitude, and might've caught Naruto's obsession for ramen. He became a Chunin in a couple of weeks,
and was promoted to Jounin not long after.

After all of Team 8 became Chunin, the exception being Hinata who is also a Jounin, Kurenai disbanded Team 8, and took on another batch of Genin. The blonde Hokage originally didn't trust Sasuke, but when he confessed that he was influenced by the cursemark, she decided to trust him.

"You needed us Hokage-sama?" Sasuke asked. Tsunade sighed, and tossed him a scroll. "The Kazekage has been captured by the Akatsuki, give that to the guards when you get to Suna. This is an S-Clas Mission of utmost importance. Go now." Sasuke nodded.

"Hai, Hokage-sama" he said turning to his team. "Meet me at the South Gate in 30 mintues." He said shunshining away. The rest of Team Uchiha nodded, and shunshined to their homes.

The busty blonde slumped back in her chair, and took a swig from her ever present bottle of sake. "Everything has gotten much worse since you died, but I have this feeling that you aren't. Why is that?" She whispered to herself.

Sorry for the short chapter, and for the lack of Naruto too. I sort of new to Fanfictions, and it is hard for me to think of this stuff :P, so yeah.

Let me know what you thought of this chapter! And again, let me know who you should Naruto be paired with? Thanks!

-DinglberrySauce