Siren (A Naruto Fanfiction)

Chapter 17 ~ Siren Of Death

 Night had fallen, and the group of Shinobi had decided to sleep for the night, some sensory and strong ninja guarding the perimeter of the make-shift camp. Naruto sat facing the flickering fire, unable to sleep. Something shifted to his right and when he looked, he saw Sakura sitting there with a sympathetic and sad look in her eyes.

"It's hard to think that only a year ago she was walking around the village with us." She whispered and he nodded, staring at the star filled sky with a longing look in his blue orbs. He sighed and turned his gaze to his pink haired teammate.

"Am I weak, Sakura? I couldn't stop Sasuke from leaving, and I couldn't save Aika from the Akatsuki. How will I become Hokage if I can't even save two people dear to me?" Her eyes widened at his question. Her face softened. "No, Naruto, you aren't weak. If anything, each time an obstacle shows itself to you, you become stronger after it, meaning nothing will ever bring you down for forever. As much as it hurts to lose a friend, it is even more important that you take that loss in stride, because they will always be with you, they never truly leave, all that matters," She pointed to the left side of her chest. "Is what this decides to do. Sometimes it takes longer to move on, but the people around you will help you get right back on your feet if you fall." Tears came to her emerald eyes and she sniffed and wiped them away. "I learned that myself, and look where I am now. I know that he never really left me, that he's still here, even though he claims to go on another path." She wiped yet another one and looked into the darkness behind the trees.

She then stood up, brushing off her skirt. "I should head back to the girls. I said I wouldn't be gone long." And so she walked into the very darkness she'd been looking at. Naruto leaned his head back against the tree and sighed, closing his eyes.

I won't let your death go unresolved, you will not have died for nothing.