I saw a prediction on Tumblr that I thought was interesting. This is my own spin on that.

Disclaimer: Characters/places are M. Kishimoto's property. I receive no money from writing about them.

He wonders why. Of course, that's always been his problem—wondering why people made the choices that they did. Surely there was a better alternative. There was always a better alternative.

That's what he'd taught himself.

His Hokage hat laid abandoned next to him. He knew he should feel happy, and he was. . . But he couldn't enjoy this day completely. Not with her gone.

Naruto had dreamed about this day for years. He had always believed in himself to achieve it, reassured himself in the face of his scoffers. But every time he'd dreamed up his awesome and extravagant anointing as Hokage in front of the entire village, Sakura had always been there, looking at him with the admiration he'd sought from her their whole lives.

It had never crossed his mind that she would never be there. She was Sakura. She had to be there.

Except she hadn't been.

His last fight with Sasuke had brought its own doubts. Sasuke was powerful; there was no denying that.

But Naruto was powerful too. He was nothing if not resilient and stubborn, and maybe a little prideful. He believed in himself to get the job done, to bring Sasuke to reason, to knock enough sense into his head to fix those loose screws.

But he had not accounted for Sakura.

Naruto looked down from his spot on Hokage Mountain, glancing over his city, his home. There were banners flying over streets, celebrating his inauguration.

For so long he'd waited for this day. But he'd always wanted his friends by his side. He'd always wanted Sakura and Sasuke and Kakashi there with him. His family. But it was impossible now.

"Not down there celebrating?"

Naruto shook his head, curious as to how Kakashi had known where to find him.

His old sensei leaned against the railing, hands deep in his pockets.

"I used to come up here a lot, when I was younger. Being up high gives you perspective," Kakashi said. After a heavy pause, Kakashi continued, "She would have been proud of you."

"Yeah," Naruto replied, brow furrowing.

Maybe he'd relied on himself too much. Maybe he never should have tried to deal with Sasuke without her. Maybe . . . maybe he should have set out to finish it from the beginning. Maybe things would have been different.

Instead, Sakura had tried to do what she'd been attempting since they were children—save the boy she loved from his own crooked heart. And Sasuke had responded the only way he knew—out of selfishness and hatred. With darkness consuming them both.

Naruto had had no choice.

Kakashi watched as the scene replayed over Naruto's face, guilt filling his heart. Always the bystander, never the intercessor. They all had their roles to play.

"Come on. I'll treat you Ichiraku."

Naruto stood and turned to his teacher, settling his Hokage hat on his head. He forced a grin.

Review, if you please.