Step by step {Naruto fan fiction}: Book one

Chapter 36- Akatsuki's Ring

It was sad today; first of all it was raining. Hard.

Secondly, after that fight I was in serious pain and haven’t gotten a good wink of sleep in forever. But I've got to say the sadist thing was the death of our very own Hokage.

When we got back to the leaf after battling with Gaara we had found out, I didn't even know how much the old fart placed in my heart until I found out. I didn't know I could cry so hard, the tears had just come down my face as I heard the news of his death. I didn't even know I was crying until Sakura told me.

So now we all stood in front of the third's grave, getting soaking in the rain and getting out black mourning clothes wet. I really had no emotion for the longest time, not even Naruto, Teno, or anyone in particular could cheer me up.

It wasn't even the Hokage's death that turned me like this, in a way I mean. His death was really like the air that you put into a balloon that was at its full capacity and the balloon just exploded in a ton of emotions. Everything horrible that has ever happened to me, the people I couldn't protect and everything just came flowing out and I could take it.

I couldn't even bare to look at Naruto, I knew the third meant a lot to him and somehow I felt that it was my fault.

I sighed, I had enough mourning. I silently slipped to the back of the crowd and walked off home, looking down at the ground the whole way there. No one made a move to stop me, not even Teno, or maybe they just didn't notice in the middle of their grief, I didn't care though. I wanted to be alone; I needed more time to think things through.

I looked up and noticed the rain had stopped; I couldn't help by smile at this. The first real emotion I've had for the longest time. I sighed and continued, this time looking up and ahead. Instead of heading home though I walked towards the training grounds, like I said, I needed some time alone.

...

I gasped in a large breath of well needed air. For the past seven to ten hours I've been practicing and training. I was sweating like crazing and I couldn't seem to catch my breath.

I collapsed on the ground and leaned against a tree, I really needed a drink of water right now.

"Having fun?"

I looked up and saw a familiar flash of silver hair and in a second Kakashi-sensei was standing next to me leaning on the tree, reading that pedo book of his.

"What does it look like," I rasped.

Kakashi shrugged.

"Why are you here?" I asked, my breath becoming steady once again.

Kakashi shrugged once more, "You teammates are worried about you. Say you've been... um.... how did they put it.... lifeless..?"

I huffed, "Well I'm perfectly fine as you can see!"

I gestured to myself.

Kakashi nodded, "Right..... Well, why don't we take a walk?"

I sighed and reluctantly stood up and followed him out of the training grounds and back into the village.

We walked for a while in silence but that Kakashi suddenly froze in front of a small restaurants.

I glance at my sensei curiously and peered past the materials at the shop entrance and I froze, my body went rigid. It couldn't be?!

But it was no doubt them, the familiar red cloud design and the black robes. The similar chakra, I was

looking at Itachi and his shark partner, Kasami.