Chapter 3: Grieving

A.N: This chapter is about the grieving process of the known dead in the war. It's like in 3 part. 1 part is the ceremony, part 2 happen all at the same time. We follow Naruto comfort Hinata about Neji's death, Sakura comforting Ino's about Inoichi' death and Choji comfort Shikamaru about Shikaku's death. It end with Naruto exiting of the prison cell and talking with Kakashi about Obito's will.

It was a sad day. The clouds were gray but no rain would fall. There was a small breeze that could make the leaves dance. Everyone has arrive at the cemetery. They added a couple of name on the stone dedicated to remember the fallen ninjas that have fought valiantly through the war. It was their day for mourning their lost one. Among the new carved names, you could read Shikaku Nara, Inoichi Yamanaka and Neji Hyuga. To give you a picture of the main crowd, you got Naruto Uzumaki in the front row at the center. To his right, you have Hinata Hyuga with her teammate, Kiba Inuzuka and Shino Abruame plus Rock lee and Tenten. To his left, you have Sakura Haruno next to Ino Yamanaka, Shikamaru Nara and Choji Akimichi. Behind him you could see Kakashi Hatake with Sai, Yamato and Shizune. Gai couldn't make it since he was still recovering from the 8 gates. The 5th Hokage goes in front of the crowd and take the stage. She then said:

"Today, we're here to give the proper ceremony to our loved one. We here to remember the noble sacrifice they made for us to give us peace. For some of you here, it was your 1st war. Now that you have live one, remember that it is an awful thing that we should tried to avoid as any cost and that peace isn't free as well. War only bring pain, horror and death to those who live it. Those men, women, father, mother, family, some younger, some older have paid the ultimate price to protect what was most precious to them. I've lost too much due to war as most of you know and I sadly can't say that the pain will cease completely. But we have to live on, to progress with our live because it would tarnish the sacrifices our comrades have made. We're shinobi. We're fight and die. Let's our lives be their legacy and I promise you as Hokage that we will do everything in our power to maintain the peace that they fought for. Their ideals and their will have been pass to us and their Will of fire will stay strong in our village. Now, let's take a moment of silence to honor their memories."

After the ceremony was over, Kakashi goes with Lee and Tenten to see how Guy was doing at the hospital. Meanwhile, the other rookie said good-bye to each other and leaving with different group after saying their condolence to Shikamaru, Ino and Hinata and good bye to each other. Naruto leaves with Kurenai's team, while Sakura leaves with Asuma's team.

On the east side of Konoha, we have Naruto with Kiba, Shino and Hinata.

"Well I hate funeral, it is kind of grim. Plus you were really strong Hinata, you didn't even cried. How about we spare on the training ground to help us forget a little bit this scene." Said Kiba

"Agreed, we could do a team sparing exercise."added Shino

"Sorry guys, go without me, I don't really feel like training. I think I will head you."

"I'd pass too, I will take Hinata back home before going visiting Teme. Will be my 1st time alone with him since Sakura-chan said she prefer take the day with Ino."

"Ok guys, then I guess we'll see you around." said the dog boy

"See you later guys." Naruto said

Hinata and Shino didn't answer before both guys disappear to the training ground. The real reason Naruto wanted to take Hinata home was because he knew she wasn't fine because of the look she had. The one where you bottle all you emotion inside and you're about to break down. He had the same at a younger age and when he grief for his late master. The blond decide to raise up his voice and ask simple question :

"Are you alright?"

The look of concern she saw the Jinchuriki give her was the last straw before she break down in tears.

"Why? Why it wasn't me? Why I wasn't strong enough?"

"Hinata, what happen to Neji wasn't your fault."

"It was Naruto, it really was. I was too emotional and I just step in front of you to protect you from harm. I didn't think about saving myself, I didn't think like a ninja, I just step in front ready to die while I could have just deflect this attack with my rotation. Neji jump at the last second so he couldn't but I could have, I should have."

The leaf hero remember all too well how this situation was familiar with Jiraiya, how he think that if he were with him, he could have save him. He should have save him. He decide to envelop the Hyuga heiress in a hug, lightly tap her back and said:

"Listen Hinata, I don't have all the answer but I know this. Neji was a genius. If he could use rotation, he would have. You both use your Byakugan up to a level of extension during the war. Remember what you said to me during the war and what granny just said now. The will of fire from Neji has been pass out to you. I told him during the chunin exam that I will change the Hyuga way. I intend to keep that promise but I will need your help for this one. Let it all out, it's normal but don't felt guilty about what happen. Neji make is choice, not because of destiny, not because of the bird seal, but because he wanted to save his cousin that he loves."

Hinata keep sobbing a bit before she finally calm down.

"You right Naruto. Thank you for the heads-up , I really need it."

"Well let's just say we're even after you snap me out of it in the war."

"Even then."Hinata said smiling

"Even" answer the blond while returning the smile.

Naruto drop her home afterward before going to the holding cell.

At the same time on the west-side of Konoha. The current Ino-Shika-Cho trio were walking with our favorite pinkette who ask:

"So what do you want to do guys."

"I guess I'm going to go on a nice rooftop to watch the cloud and think a bit about today." said Shikamaru

"May I come with you?" asked Choji

"Sure man." said Shikamaru

"I'll think I'll pass on the watching cloud movement, what do you think forehead?"

"I guess I'll pass too and stick with you Ino-pig."

"Well we better get going before their go at it Choji"

With that both ninja head up to a rooftop, leaving the girl together. Sakura begin to ask

"On a more serious note, are you alright?"

"Yeah, I mean Shika and I were already mourning before everyone else our parents."

"What do you mean?"

"Because the last thing my father did was to enter with Shikaku into Shikamaru's and my mind. They both gave us their last word and then, I felt him Sakura, I felt him die. She said with watering eyes as she recall the memory."

"Oh my god Ino, I didn't know." said the pinkette before giving her best friend a hug.

Ino return the hug and they stay like that for like 30 sec before breaking the hug.

"You know what my father said to me?"

"I sure like to know."

"He said that I have grown into a beautiful flower and that he was glad I have found a positive love. At 1st I though it was talking about my feeling for Sasuke, but he said that it has other meaning. He was proud of the bond I have made with my friends. I know that Shikamaru ad Choji will always be there for me but I'm glad to see that you really are my best friend Sakura. I told you you'll blossom in a beautiful flower and boy was I right."

"Well thank you Ino, I'm glad to have you has my best friend too. Without you, I'll probably never been the person I am today. I really glad I met you too."

" Thank you." Ino said while starting another hug with Sakura. The Yamanaka being the more devious of the two whisper to the other girls hear

"I'll always be there for you, even with that big forehead of yours."

"Me too Ino-pig."

The girls let go of the hug and decide to go shopping.

Back to the rooftop, Shikamaru and Choji were relaxing watching the cloud.

"Hey Choji,"

"Hmm".

"You want to ask me how am I doing with my dad death?"

"Still has perceptive as ever."

"Well, it's a little like when Asuma-sensei pass away. The difference is that I can go to get revenge this time since everyone involve in his death are already dead. I did have the chance to say good by to him. I've already cried for him when we get back from the war but now I have to take care of my mom. I suddenly become the man of the house. All those new responsibility keep coming and coming. It's such a drag. But then again, I can't really complain. We're alive, we survive and we must learn the new generation all we did learn from this war. The 5th is right."

"I know what you're talking about, I mean I just become leader of my clan. I need to be strong for the sake of my people. I don't know if I'm ready but we must try to do our best to fill our parent shoes in a way."

"Yeah you're right."

"And I have nothing to worry, I've got you and Ino to back me up if I'm in trouble."

"Yep, we still a team and we'll always have each other back."

They turned around and fist bump. Shikamaru then pull a bag of his friends favorite chips out from his pocket and they pass the afternoon at looking at the sky and eating chips.

It was late in Konoha and Naruto just come out from the holding cell. The sky was dark and the blond decide to go home. On his way, he see Kakashi near the commemorative stone. The student initiate the conversation:

"Kakashi-Sensei"

"Hi Naruto, guess I really was deep in my thought, I didn't hear you coming."

"You came here to visit him."

"Yeah."

"He was really a good guy in the end, I'll never forgive him, Obito Uchiha."

"He was a good guy indeed, he really make me think of you. He lack talent discipline, was loud and sometime goofy."

"HEY"

"But he has a good heart, never stop trying until he get it right, you were just like him when you started. I couldn't believe it was him all along."

"What's matter is that he learn from his mistake and he even help us to defeat Kaguya in the end. He was saved from darkness."

"You're right he was. You know Naruto, if Obito would be alive and never left the village, he might have been the Hokage as we speak."

"He sure would have been XD."

"He ask me something about you, want to know what this is?"

"What is it?"

"He wants you to be the next Hokage, the 7th Hokage to be more precise, he wants me to be the 6th."

"Kakashi-sensei … Hokage"

"Here what I promise to you Naruto, I'll make everything in my power for you to become Hokage. It was my job as a teacher but now it's the last will of my best friend as well. So after the summit, I'll be training you to be the next Hokage."

"Don't worry sensei, I will be Hokage, the greatest of them all, that's my dream and it won't change."

"That's all I want to hear."

Naruto then greet Kakashi good-bye go back to his apartment and fall asleep.

Ok this one is done as well. Next chapter is about that 5 Kage summit. It'll be called the aftermath of war