Mikoto Uchiha sat on her grave stone staring out over the city she loved, it had been years since anyone had visited her grave, years since she saw anyone. The last person had been her son Sasuke, when he visited to tell her and Fugaku that he had graduated as Rookie of the Year at the academy, and that he wanted to visit before his first mission. There was nothing after that though.
Being a former ninja she knew how busy the life of a new genin could be, but something told her that there was something deeper wrong with Sasuke. He hadn't crossed over, that much she knew, but something deep in her heart told her that Sasuke wasn't visiting anytime soon.
Wiping away the tears from her eyes, she sighed and settled in for another lonely day of being alone. She wanted to wait to guide Sasuke, but Fugaku had crossed over never was one for waiting, but she knew that he was going to prepare anywhere he was for the arrival of his wife and youngest son.
Her musings were interrupted by a boy with sunshine yellow hair, and the most god awful orange jumpsuit walking up to her grave. A second after he laid the lilies in his hands down before her gravestone and clapped his hand twice in prayer, she realized who her visitor was. It was Naruto Uzumaki, not Minato Namikaze, whom she would have sworn it was. The main reason was that his whiskers were covered by bandages, like he had just come from the hospital.
"Hello Mikoto-sama..." Naruto began slowly, his voice ladened by guilt and pain. "I know that today is Mother's Day, and I felt that someone should visit you today. I also know that I am likely the last person you'd ever want visiting you, but since... since I failed Sasuke, it's my duty to take over his burdens..."
Mikoto winced at the reminder of how long it's been since her son had visited, and wanted to tell the boy that she was just glad someone was here for her, but she never had the chance as he just continued talking.
"I tried to bring him back," Naruto ground out, tears in his eyes, "I failed... He's turned his back on me... his team... his entire village... everything I thought he loved, just to avenge you guys..."
Mikoto's eyes widened in shock, finding out that her son had betrayed the village she'd loved, just to avenge her death. She knew he took it hard after the Uchiha massacre, but it wasn't his to avenge. Even if it was, he would need a lot more training to take on his brother.
"He left to join Orochimaru," Naruto continued, each word seeming to drive stakes into his heart, "He left for the power to kill Itachi... he... he didn't even think to ask us for help. We're his teammates, and he thinks we'd just slow him down!"
"I... I failed him and you... and everyone..." Naruto whispered, sounding broken and hollow while his tears dripped down on her grave, watering the long parched land. "I know you must hate me for what I did... what I contain... but I am going to continue visiting you. Until I can bring Sasuke back... I will visit and bring you flowers when I'm in Konoha... and if I can't do that, I know Iruka-sensei will visit if I ask... I just ask one thing... if... if my mom is with you... could you tell her that I love her, and I'm sorry."
Mikoto watched the young boy continue muttering 'I'm sorry', while wiping the tears away from his eyes. Kneeling down she wrapped her spectral arms around him and willed every fiber of her being into hugging him, but there was nothing she could do. She wasn't really there. Looking up, she saw Minato and a woman with long, red hair watching them with sad expressions in their eyes. And she knew, that today she wouldn't be alone. A sad smile spread over her face, as she whispered "It's okay, Naruto-kun..." into the blond's ear softly.
Yards away, Kakashi watched his pupil crying at the gravestone of his best friend's mother. He had been worried about the boy keeping too much inside, hiding it behind that smile of his. Now... now he knew that he'd be alright.