Chapter: The Burial and "I love U"

Hinata got up early in the morning to get ready. She had withdrawn more and more into her house over the past two days. She had lost the person she loved more than anything! She remembered the bad hours after Naruto's death ..

-Flashback-

Hinata wept and her tears wet Naruto's robe. He just left her like that! And now let her in the lurch ... She felt how all her friends and also Naruto's friends arrived and looked at the scenario with terrifying eyes. They were just as shocked as they were. Tsunade had sent them to prevent THAT, but it had happened and everyone shared the blame. Sakura held Sasuke tight and the two cried. Tenten had sunk into Neji's arms and clung to him. Shikamaru, who found everything just annoying, was comforting Temari. Even he was speechless. Ino had her head on Kiba's shoulder and was sobbing hard!Even Gaara and Shino cried. Choji had dropped his bag of chips and Kankaru looked dismayed. Lee sat on the floor sobbing. EVERYONE took this death with them. They remembered the time when their blond-haired friend almost died once before. In the fight against Orochimaru!

Hinata felt herself grab a hand by her shoulders and pull it up. She was slowly led away by the person into her house. It was tsunade!

-Flashback end-

She had ordered the most beautiful flowers. After all, he should have a nice funeral and his memory cherished! She would take care of that ..

"Sa ... Sasuke are you finished?", Sakura asked timidly and stepped into the bathroom where Sasuke and Itachi were staying. Yes, Itachi had moved into the Uchiha estate even if the memories of his father caught up with him. She looked at the two men and a smile crossed her face for a few seconds. The first since Naruto's death! Because she saw Itachi tying Sasuke's tie.It was just a beautiful sight ... Two brothers reunited. For the price of a good friend! This thought hurt and Sakura quickly rejected it, knowing that she had to be strong for her lover. For Sasuke! "You look good!", She said and took Sasuke's hand. It felt cold and lifeless. How Sasuke's feelings lately! But Itachi didn't have it easy either. He blamed himself for Naruto's death, although everyone tried to convince him otherwise. "Thank you!", The older of the two brothers answered tonelessly. Then they left the house and went to the funeral.

But not only them: Tenten and Neji, Temari and Shikamaru, Ino and Kiba, Gaara, Kankaru, Shino, Choji and Lee too. They all wanted to pay their respects to the lively, bright shinobi. Because he was a loved and good friend!

Hinata stood in front of Naruto's open coffin and looked down at the lifeless body with expressionless eyes.She couldn't have guessed it yet ...
Tears gathered in her eyes and wanted to go out, but the young Kunoichi bravely held her back. "For you Naruto!" She thought over and over again. Then she went to her seat and looked from there at the decorated coffin. It was open and you could see how pretty he was. Hinata loved his blond, messy hair and his good-natured demeanor. At that time he had stood in the rain and had overcome admitting his feelings to her. Back then, her heart had done somersaults and loops. She almost burst with joy! But now ... now she only saw him in photos and in her heart! She could never love anyone again. She never WANTed to love anyone again!

Gradually the others arrived too. All in black and with flowers! They walked up to Hinata and mumbled words like “Condolences!” “Cheer up!” “Be brave!” “I'm here for you!”. But these words didn't interest them. That didn't bring Naruto back for them either.You all! But when she looked at Sasuke and Itachi, she smiled encouragingly at both of them. Yes ... Itachi couldn't help it! She wasn't mad at him. No, she didn't look to anyone to blame! Naruto wouldn't have wanted that! He had always been a good and kind person. Then a voice pierced the mist of her thoughts and she looked up at the priest. "And now we want to hear the speech. Tsunade please!", He was just saying and asked the Hokage to begin her farewell speech. This stepped solemnly and sadly at the same time onto the podium. "We are all gathered here to pay our last respects to a person. A person who was the pillar of Konoha. A person who meant a lot to us all! But I don't want to tell you how he died ... but how he lived! Naruto Uzumaki should be remembered as a ROLE MODEL for all of us. He had risked his life 3 times for our village and when he was born his father had sealed Kyuubi in him.By doing this, Naruto lost his parents and was left to fend for himself. But instead of seeing him as a hero, we ALL despised him. But he paid us back for that. By sacrificing his life. Naruto was a funny boy, but behind that facade was deep sadness. He was lonely until he was 12 when he found friends, love and family. I think EVERYONE noticed this change. Because he was supported by his friends, he became a strong shinobi. All of Konoha mourns you Uzumaki Naruto! "She was about to continue when something moved behind her and rubbed its aching head with a groan.

-Flashback-

Naruto had fallen into a dreamless sleep. All parts of his body stopped working. Naruto knew he was dead. He missed Hinata and Sasuke. You were the reason for his joy! Just like Sakura and the others. THEY had accepted him and found a friend in him! "Naruto ... it's not time for you to die yet!", a very familiar voice answered." Kyuubi! ", shouted the blonde shinobi, visibly astonished." The god of the dead demands a soul. Not two! And ... since you are supposed to LIVE I'll go! "said the fox demon. Now Naruto was really flabbergasted." That's a trick, isn't it? ", he asked cautiously." No! If it doesn't suit you, you can go too ... ", he replied, slightly offended. Naruto shook his head:" We will fight ... AGAINST the god of the dead because he won't get us! "was the only answer.

A tremendous struggle ensued. But this was not about physical strength, but about mental strength! Naruto and Kyuubi struggled hard because the god of the dead wanted to find out if they were strong enough to live. But the two did not give up! They wanted to go on living. Back to the people who loved them! And so they won the fight that was to decide for their life! "And ... and now?", Naruto wanted to know from Kyuubi, "I mean ... I'm dead!"" Only as long as your chakra stops flowing and your body parts stop working differently. Get it going again! You can do that! "After that, Naruto fell asleep but Kyuubi's words echoed in his head. The blonde shinobi turned black again and when he woke up he was surrounded by flowers and ... he was in a coffin!"

-Flashback end-

Hinata had jumped from her seat and ran towards Naruto. But shortly before that she stopped. She was afraid. Afraid that this was an illusion. Afraid that he would disappear as soon as she touched him. Afraid that he would go again and leave her behind. She couldn't do it again! "I ... you're not real!" She gasped and saw Naruto climb out of the coffin. He looked at his hands in disbelief. Then he looked up into Hinata's eyes again. "I ... I'm alive!" With one big step he stood in front of her and before she knew what was happening she was held by two strong arms.She understood. Naruto had been given back to her! She wrapped her arms around his neck and cried. The people around her were forgotten. Everything was forgotten, only the two counted. After an eternity they separated again and Naruto looked into the faces of those who wanted to see him off. In some he could read joy and disbelief. In others, however, fear and anger that he was alive. It had been better to know he was dead! But he didn't care, because he had just seen a face. One that he should never forget. A face streaked with tears. Sasuke's face! Naruto scratched the back of his head, embarrassed. "I ... um, I'm sorry if you can't bury me yet!" He said, embarrassed. But he would have preferred to keep these words to himself because Sasuke was already standing next to him and slapping him in the face. "Baka! Don't shit!" He hissed. How happy he was to see Naruto alive.And now the others came running up to them too. Above all, Sakura and Kakashi, who happily hugged the blonde. Yes, he didn't have to be liked by everyone. But as long as he had FRIENDS and a FAMILY he was happy!

-4 years later-

Naruto was sitting at his desk and just received three Jounin who had successfully completed their mission. They were Neji, Tenten and Lee. They were all Jounin now. A little blond-haired boy sat on Naruto's lap and looked proudly at his father. "When I grow up, I'll be a Hokage!" Said the 4-year-old with conviction. "This line seems to run in the family, right?", Neji said with a grin. Then the three wanted to leave the room. "Stop! Are you coming tonight?", Naruto asked curiously. "At your party? Of course!", Tenten said confidently and her two male companions nodded happily. "Well then!" Naruto sighed in relief. Then he turned his attention back to his son."Well, my little one? Do you want to play with me?" He asked thoughtfully. He set out to be a good father. Because he hadn't had one and doc he was incredibly proud of him. Yondaime, the fourth generation Hokage! His portrait was on Naruto's desk and he always remembered him fondly. "Yes papa!" The little one squeaked happily. Then the two went to the playground to play.

As evening fell, Naruto and his son left the office and made their way home. "Mama is waiting and we're too late for our OWN party!" Whined little Taro. It was named after his uncle, a powerful shinobi from Kirigakure. When the two finally reached the house, they noticed that everyone was already there! Sakura and Sasuke with their two children. They had a girl, Hisa, and a boy, Ryozo. Tenten and Neji with their son Akira were also there. Then there were Ino and Kiba with little Izanami and Shikamaru and Temari with their two Miki and