H.Shuyo

23

Hiroto creaked the door open and looked around. Mostly everyone in the village that were attending the funeral were already there and as second in charge he was late, like really late.
Hiroto wore a loose black long-sleeve t-shirt, back joggers with some old bandages wrapped around his upper thigh, (were a weapons pouch would be) and a pair of black ninja boots. He stepped out fully and quickly locked the door before hopping over the fence that went around the first floor of the complex.
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"If anyone has a story to tell please speak after you pay your respects." Hiroto (who was now in his early thirties btw) gently took the white rose presented to him with a bow.
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The professors closest living relatives (by blood) went up first. Konahamaru cries were muffled by Iruka, who was holding onto him tightly. Almost everyone in the arena immediately felt a great amount of sorrow for the boy. Asuma placed the flowers on his fathers clothed chest before scurrying back to their place in the crowd. (A/N: fyi: The oldest went to pay their respects first so the youngest went last. The clan heads and their wife's usually went up before everyone else but they chose to go up either along with their children and their teammates or right after. I think it's just in my story though.. but i don't know for sure.) Hiroto recognized most of the jounin that went up before team ten, team nine walked up after them, followed by team eight and team seven were set to go up next.
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Hiroto filed in behind his teammates since he knew they wouldn't say much. Sakura went first, tears fell down her face like a silent river. Sasuke silently followed her lead and placed his flower down, determination in his eyes. Unlike the other two Naruto didn't even try hold back his tears. After he placed his flower down Naruto turned around and saw his brother. He only to cried harder. Hiroto gently pulled him into a hug as Kakashi walked up to the casket. Naruto refused to let the older brother go, so Hiroto had to force his blonde friend up the steps. He placed the flower down before shielding the crying boy from prying eyes. "Be strong Naruto." Said boy hiccuped and nodded.

Hiroto turned and faced the crowd. He didn't know why but he felt like he had to say something. Hiroto gulped before clearing his throat.
"Many of you don't know me, but all of you know the man behind me. He is a great man who lives only to protect this village. He lives to protect each and every one of you. He lives on in our memories, in our hearts." For once Hitoto didn't bother with the fact that he was the center of the village's attention. "I personally will remember how he let me live in such a great place. I will remember the days I'd help him in the office. Working overtime to help him complete the stacks of paperwork that piled high on his desktop." Hiroto's closest friends flinched at the empty chuckle. He was looking up at the dark rain clouds. "I will remember the way he talked, the way he always laughed, and the way he admired the small things in life." Tears pricked in the young man's eyes. "He's the grandfather I never had and I think most of us feel the same way." He glanced behind him, at the third Hokage." The professor talked a lot, but he talked the most about the will of fire. The thing that lives in each and every one of us that reside in the leaf village, his home, our home." He looked around and noticed the sunlight that peaked through the clouds, shining on certain people. "He wouldn't have wanted us to be sad. He died protecting the very thing that he loved after all." Hitoto breath slowly, in and out. He looked to the floor, wiping the rebel tears that fell down my face.

The last Shuyo as he bowed his head. "May all of our loved ones here rest in peace." Many people followed his lead and bowed. The funeral continued for another hour or two. Many stayed as all of the caskets were lowered into the ground.
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The same people who had stayed stopped by the young man who had yet to move from in front of the grave nodded once more before turning around and going home.

It was only after Naruto was finally dragged away from his adopted older brother and out of range that Hiroto let himself fall to his knees and let go.