Let It Burn: Death [Sasuke Uchiha]

Chapter 67

The other Hidden Villages took over every mission until further notice as the Leaf was thrown into chaos within the walls. All those in the field were called back, and every single person who witnessed the events leading up to the Be Fong's death were interviewed. To try and understand what led to this point. It lasted for weeks and the Hokage kept the other Kages at bay as to what was wrong. She assured them all they needed was a little more time. Only then would she send out the final reports as to Mai's removal from the roster. Whether she wished to include the Uchiha's name or not remained the question.

Those outside the Village could seek out his death and the woman was unaware of how many contacts Mai made beyond the walls on missions. Though judging by the list of interviews she was going through the number could be rather surprising. The Be Fong was so secretive and closed off Tsunade never knew just how many people enjoyed working with and respected her. Not only as a ninja, but as a civilian as well. That's what made this harder.

Sasuke had not said a word in the weeks that passed. Even when interrogated, beaten, and threatened. None of it seemed to matter. When Ino was brought in to try and open his mind to gain information she was cast out so violently it left her with a splitting headache for days in the hospital. He was completely closed off. It was quite possible he was still in shock. The blood on him when approaching the gate was rather gruesome. Ibiki's suspicions that the death of his most prized ninja was quick, but violent, were only confirmed when laying eyes on the body before examination. He had seen countless others die in worse ways, but this one hit him hard because she was an asset. One that didn't come around very often.

Then there were the bodies of Taka that were to be examined as well. Sai had sealed them up in a scroll to carry so not to weigh down the journey home. There was no mercy in these killings. Kakashi confirmed it was all the Be Fong's doing. It was surprising. Especially when recognizing Jugo, but the Hokage knew to never doubt the young woman. Not when she was on the warpath. They were to be cremated after the trial.

No one spoke at the funeral. No one could find the right words to say. Half of the ninja the young woman worked with couldn't speak of anything regarding her life in the field. Civilians didn't know the Be Fong personally, only knowing her as a protector of the Village. They could offer their thanks, but now didn't seem to be the time to voice any of that.

Teammates didn't really know where to begin because of all the secrets she kept. What was real and what wasn't had only blurred together in the last few days. What stories could they tell about Mai Be Fong? That she was a skilled ninja, whose powers could be unmatched... or so they thought. How she had a habit to fall off the grid without their knowledge and suddenly appear the next moment. That wasn't remembering the young woman's life in a positive way. Just further confirming that they did not know her as well as they thought they did. She was loved by many, more than she knew... but she never seemed to understand the emotion and how to accept it and rarely gave it back.

And those that had been close enough to call themselves her friends could barely speak through tears and heartbreak. Belva couldn't bring herself to look at the body, standing towards the back of the gathering silently suffering. Kakashi managed, but it was painful to witness when approaching the coffin to pay his respects. At least the injury was no longer visible. She wore a black dress that came to the knees, the collar high enough that none of the chest area was visible in the slightest as the fabric wrapped around the neck.

"I keep waiting to wake up," Sakura whispered beside him. "Or for her to suddenly sit up and say it was all some cruel joke of hers. That this is all a nightmare... but why would we all be having the same nightmare?"

Because this was reality and nothing could be rewritten so there was a happy ending. They were stuck with this terrible outcome for the rest of their lives.