Naruto, the 4th member of Team 7

The sun after the rain

Snip snip snip.

The room was filled with the soft, quick sounds of scissors. I placed the scissors down on the table, letting out a sigh of relief as I admired my handiwork. Sasuke's hair had grown longer over the month, so I decided to help him trim it.

"All done." I gently brushed away the small bits of cut hair from his face and shoulders, letting it fall onto the small pile of hair on the newspaper that was placed on the floor. 

"Thanks, I'll throw away the trash." Sasuke thanked as he stood up from the chair, searching for a plastic bag in the cupboards to stuff the newspapers in. "Ah, okay thanks." I brought the scissors over to the sink to wash it. 

"The ceremony is about to start, I'll get changed, so wait for me." I wiped my hands dry on the towel by the sink, rushing to my room to get changed. "Alright." 

I quickly changed into the outfit that I had already prepared before Sasuke arrived, an all-black outfit, fitting for the occasion. Tying my forehead protector around my forehead, I left the house together with Sasuke to our rendezvous point with Sakura and Naruto.

2 days had passed since the Chuunin exams finals. 2 days since Konoha was attacked, since Hokage-sama had died. After Kakashi sensei and Guy sensei returned to tell us the news, we had to help them release the Genjutsu on everybody in the stands, ushering them home afterwards. News of Hokage-sama's death began to spread, an official notice of his ceremony to be held two days later was released on that afternoon.

Neji and I went to the hospital afterwards, our sensei's wouldn't allow us to go home without being checked first. There were a lot of injured people in the hospital, both ninjas and civilians alike. As our injuries weren't bad, we had to wait longer than usual but we didn't mind, understanding that there were others who needed urgent help. 

I was there when I saw Sasuke walk in with an unconscious Naruto around his shoulder, followed by a man carrying an unconscious Sakura in his arms, and Shino. Turns out the man was Shino's father, Shino had followed Sasuke and fought Kankuro, guess he was unsatisfied of winning by default when Kankuro forfeited.

I didn't manage to talk to them as the nurses quickly attended to them, leading them further inside to be treated. By the time I was finally seen by a doctor to treat me, Sasuke had already been treated and had rested enough to be able to leave. He saw me and waited for me so that we could leave together. We then caught each other up on the events that happened while the other was away.

"Naruto's gotten stronger." I remember Sasuke gritting his teeth and clenching his fist as he told me that, his voice quiet. Sasuke told me about what Naruto had managed to do in his fight against Gaara, including the summoning jutsu, he had summoned a giant toad in his battle. "Yeah he has. But we have gotten stronger too." I didn't see Naruto's fight outside of the arena, but I could tell he has improved in his fight against Neji, as he used his brains to trick Neji into thinking he had won.

Sasuke didn't say anything more at the time, so we ended the conversation then.

I could see Naruto and Sakura already waiting at the rendezvous point, "Naruto, Sakura!" I called out to them, waving. Sakura gave a small smile when she saw us approaching, but not Naruto, he looked up when I called his name but then returned his gaze to the floor.

We walked towards the academy building in silence alongside the rest of the villagers, that was where the funeral ceremony would be taking place. Once there, we made our way to the rooftop, it was already packed with many other people. The ninjas get to join the ceremony from the rooftop, whereas the villagers would remain downstairs.

Everybody stood in rows facing the Hokage Rock, where an elegantly long table has been set up, with pictures of the deceased resting on it. Hokage-sama's picture was on a tall stand in the center, above the others, to symbolize his role as the Hokage. A large bouquet of white chrysanthemums and lilies were placed in front of his picture. There was also a pot of incense and other ceremonial items such as scrolls with protective blessings arranged on the table.