To my Grandmother, who always had will in her.

They stood at the front of the crowd, which made sense due to Kakashi's prominence and Naruto's connection to the deceased Third Hokage. Haruhi stood stiffly, back ramrod straight as people sniffled and sobbed around her.

She sniffled too, but not from tears. It was getting really cold in Konoha as winter approached, and even Fire country's hotter climate could only dull winter, not prevent it entirely. They were fortunate to be wearing black, a color that absorbed the most heat. Has she really arrived here at the beginning of spring?

She wondered if she could muster up a few tears as well. It wouldn't be good for her activities if people didn't see her mourning their beloved third Hokage. Quite frankly, Haruhi didn't like the man and didn't feel sad about his passing. He wasn't really even there in the past few months anyway, and while he was nice to her when they first met, Haruhi couldn't forget all the harm he did to people she cared about. May he rot.

Another thing she was pondering was his cause of death. It could have been assassination, but Haruhi had first hand experience with her father with how quickly someone could kick it when elderly. The Third Hokage was very sick these past few months, and it was just as likely to be natural causes that killed him rather than assassition. Besides, with Tsunade officially hokage, killing the former Hokage wouldn't make as much sense.

But if they ever found out who assassinated him, Haruhi wants to know. She would need to send them flowers.

She was very interested to see the different ways funerals were held here. Much of it seemed western, to the design of the casket, to some of the embalming rituals she could see evidenced on his face. Most Japanese were cremated back home.

Her own father was buried. He was Orthodox Jewish, and they were always buried. Cremation was not allowed. Orthodox Judaism was also matrilineal, and due to that fact and her darker skin(especially in comparison to her European cousins) Haruhi never really felt at home with her father's religion. Maybe when she got home she could try to connect with her relatives…

Yes. That sounded good. Judaism was different. It didn't require belief in a God to be a part of it. There were other branches of the religion, called Reconstructionist and Secular Humanist that practiced through a agnostic/atheist lens.

Kasumi sniffled behind her. Thinking of Rin, probably. Nobody here hadn't lost somebody.

Tsunade stood stiffly next to Koharu, face grim. Haruhi noted with fascination as Tsunade's attention flickered to Sasuke and Sakura next to Haruhi. They two of them were unusually quiet when they appeared this afternoon, Sasuke wearing sunglasses despite it being overcast, and Sakura clearly exhausted. She wondered just what kind of training session they had, but answers would have to wait for later.

Multiple people had spoken by now. Giving eulogies, reciting heartfelt speeches, and proclaiming their devotion to the Third and honoring his memory.

"-He was like family to us all!" Koharu said, and Haruhi quickly hid her snort as a short sob in her hand. She felt a retired kunoichi pat her back comfortingly. It was kinda funny, but also horrifying that they deified him and actually thought their dictator cared about them like family.

Naruto's face twisted up and she immediately felt bad. He actually was the closest thing to a father Naruto had. It was Haruhi's turn to provide comfort, and she placed her hand on his shoulder, and squeezed lightly. Naruto took that as permission to hug her around the waist.

"...Haruhi-sensei?"

"Yes?"

"Is your dad alive?"

She shook her head no, the tears not faked now. It had hurt so much when he had died that she had distanced herself from everything that reminded her of him, including the Synagogue their family had gone to. She may not ever fit in at the Synagogue, but she swears she would try to again when she got home. It's not like there were never any black Jewish people before. They exist, even if it was uncommon.

Kakashi nudged her, eye sad, not necessarily at the Third's passing, but all of those who had died, and the harm that caused. The Third had seen the village through two wars, the nine tails attack, the Uchiha massacre, economic depressions, and attacks. Despite being partially responsible for some of those, they held him in high esteem. He survived when many of their loved ones did not, he represented hope and endurance to them, and to finally see him go was a huge blow for the whole village.

They shuffled out after the service, all somber. Haruhi held Naruto's hand as he said his goodbyes, the conflicting emotions he was feeling were subtle, but obvious. The third practically raised Naruto, and was like family to him. But he let Naruto grow up alone, was responsible for the murder of his teammates clan, and lied to Naruto about his parents. It made Haruhi's regrets over her father look like nothing.

The genin went home, and Haruhi and Kakashi went to his father's grave. They sank into prayer in front of the tombstone, and instead of sitting quietly and respectively for Kakashi like she normally did, she began to recite El Maleh Rachamim. The lesser known Hebrew prayer for the dead. It had been a long time, but it had been seared into her mind with her father's passing and she was glad for that, as now she could properly mourn again.

They cleaned off the stone as always, and it felt like she was honoring her own father. They went home, and lit candles with a slight pleasant fragrance. Kakashi lit the fireplace, the crackling of firewood comforting and warm. She turned on the tv to one of the few channels that existed that Haruhi actually liked-the cooking show. The woman on tv was teaching her audience how to make gentle foods for upset stomachs. Her voice was light and soothing. Haruhi was struck by inspiration.

"You know what Kakashi? I'm going to make Latkes." It had been awhile, but just like the prayer, she still remembered. It seemed no matter how hard she tried to forget somethings stayed with you. Seh remembered large gentle hands holding her then small ones, helping her shape the potato shreds into balls, and flatten them, and a deep voice rumbling praise to her as she got it right.

"Okay, what are those?" Kakashi said. He seemed relieved she was feeling better.

"Food recipe from back home. They're normally eaten during holidays, but…Can you get the potatoes out?"

She diced and shredded, Kakashi watching with fascination as she worked on the onions next. She heated the oil, and got out the eggs to act as a binder and salt to flavor was in the process of frying the first batch when someone knocked on the door.

Haruhi was surprised to see team seven at the door, Karin, Haku, Sai, Sasuke, Sakura, and Naruto were all there, either sniffling, looking around shyly, or neutral. Haruhi jolted when she noticed the lazy snow drifting down behind them, the ground lightly dusted with it.

"Come in!" Kakashi said, smiling gently. They shuffled in, and Kakashi directed them towards the couches in the living room, where the bookshelf was where she used to sleep, and the new Tv they got. From a certain angle, the Tv and bookshelf was visible from the kitchen.

"Kakashi, can you make hot chocolate for them?"

"That sounds awesome, dattebyo!"

The rest agreed quickly, and Sai expressed excitement over trying hot chocolate. Haku and Karin were quick to fill him in on how great it was. Haruhi noticed Sasuke had shed his sunglasses. His face seemed strained, like he was recovering from something. Haruhi remembered his dislike of sweets.

"Sasuke, we have dark chocolate too. It's pretty healthy, and not sweet like milk chocolate."

Sasuke startled, then nodded as a small smile crept up on his face.

Kakashi and her got busy in the kitchen, him pulling out the chocolate and milk and warming the saucepan why she continued to make the Latkes.

"Do you all want Latkes too?"

"I've never heard of those over in Kiri before. Are they foods exclusive to Konoha?"

"No. From my home. Potato pancakes. See?"

Haruhi walked around to the couches and showed them one of the pancakes. They had changed the channel to a documentary about fire country holidays. The narrator was describing funeral rites and festivals.

"Wow awesome! Can I help Haruhi-sensei?"

Surprised, Haruhi agreed, instructing Naruto to go and wash his hands in the guest bathroom. He rushed to comply, almost tripping, and she fought back a smile.

He followed her into the kitchen, jacket off and sleeves rolled up. Haruhi carefully got the step stool, stood behind Naruto to keep him from falling, and carefully explained the process to him. She helped him shape the batter, and seeing his smaller hands in hers as she spoke praise to his efforts evoked a certain feeling in her. As he ran off to show the others, Haruhi felt Kakahi hug her.

"You already put salt in these, Haruhi." Kakashi teased gently. He wiped her tears away as the kids got settled down with their Hot Chocolate Kakashi had given them. He had done so to give her privacy. He then took over, having already watched her do it.

"Go clean up. I got this."

She washed up in their shared bathroom, mind swirling with thoughts of her father, the stress from this world, and the passage of time. She thought of the picture of Rin on the dresser as she cleaned her face with a warm washcloth. She suddenly wasn't hungry anymore. She shouldn't be eating like a pig when so many others couldn't.

A knock at the door.

"Haruhi? Dinners ready. The kids found a good action movie I think you'd like. It's about a princess."

"I"ll be right there."

"They are loving the Latkes."

"Good."

"I saved you some."

"Thank you, but they can have them."

"...You know, they kids will feel guilty if they knew you didn't get to have any." Kakashi said carefully.

She laugh. It was bittersweet.

"Well, I guess I have no choice then, huh?"

She opened the door to find him standing there, He smiled and pulled her into a hug. He smelled of chocolate, and the candles he had it earlier.

"You do. But I know you'll make the right one."

With his faith, they returned to the living room, ate their meal, and enjoyed their evening as much as they could. Sai swirled patterns into his drink with the pretzels she had given him, while Sakura, Haku, and Karin had started a braid train in order to mimic the princess on TV, with Haruhi chiming in to give them tips due to her expertise. Naruto proudly ate his Latkes he made, Sasuke complementing him on the food.

Haruhi wondered if she could make the right choice, but even as she thought that, it didn't stop her from enjoying her time with the loved ones she still had with her right now.

Curled up next to Kakashi, warm and fed, Haruhi was suddenly overwhelmed with the feeling that everything was going to be alright.

This chapter on grief and mourning and family was an experience to write, due to the fact we just got the news that my grandmother had just been diagnosed with an extremely aggressive malignant cancer and has less than a month to live. We can't even visit her due to Covid-19 protocol at hospitals.

So yeah. I hope everyone is alright.