Believe it

It ended like life does. Not the happy dreams and fairy tales we like to listen to as innocent children. The hero being victorious in all of his quests, and living happily ever after. It was a sad story, one of loss and a little too late. A horror story. So tragic.

Sakura sniffled as she wiped at her cheeks running with tears. She wishes she was stronger… maybe then she could have helped Sasuke, but she wasn't. She was too hurt to help him with his pain. Kakashi was a mess as well. Iruka was helping Kakashi, soothing him with words… words that cut like a fine honed blade because of their truth.

The rookies and team Gai were also there. Everyone in varying stages of tears and hysterics. Hinata was shivering and crying silently. The Godaime was sobbing into Jiraiya's arms… something about never should have given him that cursed chain.

Sasuke was the worst though. He was on his knees, head bowed and chest heaving in the sobs echoing through him. He'd use what little words he could to say sorry three times, and curses himself six. Sakura knew it wasn't Sasuke's fault, anyone's really. It was a guilt to them all. To even the Hokage, to her, to her sensei and teammate. No one was free from the punishment of ignorance.

Sakura looked at the un-cheery urn that held her bright hopeful teammates ashes. His body had been so rotten that no one could bear to see upon it. Iruka had said it was unfair to Naruto to try and ease those who were the cause of his death. Iruka hadn't cried at all today. He'd shed his tears weeks ago… when it actually mattered. When the death truly was worth crying for.

Sakura looked over to where the proud little Chunin teacher stood. He had been the one who had found Naruto. He had gone against the Hokage's own orders… and brought back a corpse that would have been found so late that only a ghastly ruin of bones and molded bug eaten flesh would have remained. He brought it back and spit on the ground before the entire village as he called them monsters, demons so sick and evil it must have been Kami-sama's orders to the Kyuubi no Kitsune to wipe such vile beasts from existence, and only a pity that it failed.

Sakura bowed her head as more tears rained down her face. She had been happy Naruto hadn't been around to pester her. He had been gone for a whole month! How wonderful! A month with Sasuke-kun alone! Sasuke hadn't minded much either, he had said once that it was good to not have to take twice as long to do a mission with the dobe away. Kakashi had commented that Naruto was clumsy and should change his clothing choice. Everyone, even the Hokage and Jiraiya had said something to the effect of Naruto's short comings. Everyone except Iruka. He had been worried and asked about when Naruto was to return. If he could go look for him. If he could make sure that something hadn't come up on his way back… perhaps a sudden attack by someone or something.

Everyone made the mistake to mock Iruka's worry.

It became a joke. People would say, oh yeah, Naruto will run out of food and starve! No no water! Or Orochimaru will pop up and attack! Bandits! A demon! A tree will trip him and he'll fall of a cliff and into a river and drown.

It was a sick wake up call when Iruka brought Naruto back dead. A mangled corpse to haunt their nights, and laugh hollowly at them with it's rotten flesh and maggot filled eyes. The broken legs, twisted arm and deep gapping wound that slash from left to right, exposing that Naruto was another flesh and blood human like everyone else. All the right bits of human inside… minus what animals had torn out and eaten.

Iruka had known Naruto had needed him. That he was taking too long for a simple mission. He had hated the village when he returned. He now no longer wore the headband of Konoha. He said he'd serve no Hokage that held no heart.

As Sakura again looked over to Sasuke trying to find some outlet to a pain that nothing would ever soothe… she wanted to laugh bitterly. Naruto was a man to the end. He had been captured… a group of Stone nins had caught him on his return. They tortured him, he died without a word past his lips. He stated only one sentence before he went silent. His last words, as future would go. The ANBU who'd uncovered the truth of Naruto's death and torture were shamed, but reported it to Hokage and when Iruka demanded to know how Naruto was killed, she told him. He had lifted his own chin and said that he wasn't surprised, Naruto was a TRUE shinobi. A man. It was only a shame no one ever cared enough so that he might have had a turn to make Konoha a village to be proud of.

The sudden crack of thunder shook everyone. The sky opened the ocean upon their heads. Lightening danced angrily in the sky. Nature cursing them all. Sakura had the presence of mind to pull Sasuke with her when everyone was leaving, he tried to fight, but was too weakened and drained to do much. She cast one last glance to the proud little grave that now held Naruto's ashes.

The tiny shrine held a stone figure of a fox kit, looking as though it was laughing at you. Sitting down, head tilted to the left, eyes curved in mirth. The mouth open in a laugh, the bushy tails –all nine of them- danced about it. A small leaf, caved to look like one that might have fallen upon the statue –as opposed to being part of it- laid upon the forehead of the fox. A shrine offering of a cup ramen sat to the right of the fox, under the tiny roof shelter of the shrine. The engraving that made the base upon which the fox sat was 'Uzumaki Naruto'. To the left and right of the small shrine was two polished stone rocks. Engraved upon the left one was the cause of Naruto's death, his treatment as a child, and his way of life to all others. His dreams, loves, and hopes that were killed in his death.

'Be remembered, the death of Naruto. A shinobi hated, and despised by all. Looked down on, spat on, and called all manner of ill names. A shinobi who at birth was charged with the care of holding the Kyuubi no Kitsune. Who held this charge with no ill to others. Who smiled towards those whom hit, beat, and abused his existence. A boy-man who held no ill to his village or teammates. Who was loyal, true to his word and never broke his word. Who showed compassion even to those whom he fought against. Naruto, the shinobi who found the simple love of ramen a pleasure to eat. Naruto who dreamed, bleed, sweat and died trying to be acknowledged for himself, and to become Hokage. Be remember the death of Uzumaki Naruto. The death of a shinobi who would give his life and everything he had for all of his village… and died because no one cared he was missing. No one looked for him. No one came to save him from torture in the hands of enemies he should not have encountered. Be remembered the loyal shinobi who was abandoned by the village he gave everything for…. Including his life.'

The one of the right side of the shrine was the final words Naruto would speak. The last ones to his teammates and those who had been at the grave site. And the last words he said before the Stone nins began their torture. They had admitted to the ANBU to what his last words were. They had been impressed by the fortitude a young chunin of sixteen had had.

'Oi! When I come back I want a Miso cup ramen! So Don't forget right? I should be back in three days tops!'

'…You might as well kill me now. I will say nothing to you all. I am a Konohagakure shinobi. I am loyal to my village. My heart, soul, body, mind and blood is to that village. I could not, would not, will not, and never will betray them. My most precious of people live there, and I will be a rotten corpse before I will ever allow anyone to use me to attack my village. And THAT is my nindo. I will die for Konoha. Believe it.'

And in the end… everyone was sad to realize… they had never listened. Never believed. But now….

Now they Believe it.

Drace: a little darker than the others. just popped out when i read some drabble and the word loyalty came up.. i'm like... oh... idea... better go write that. so here it is. I decided that i wanted to slap up everyone... Iruka is the only one who really cares i think. anyways... feel free to give a suggestion to write something... i'm just kinda popping these out randomly.