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Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, but I do own the word "Hamsterpile". Now, I only have to find out what would be a good place to use it.
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We have come here today, to honor the memory of Uzumaki Naruto.
Shinobi, prankster, and loyal friend.
I would now like to ask Hyuuga Neji to come forward and say a few words.
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As many of you may or may not know, neither Naruto nor I led very happy lives.
As my teammates will confirm, I spent almost a decade blaming everything in my life on fate.
Many of you were there when Uzumaki defeated me during my first chuunin exams.
Many of you watched as Uzumaki re-opened his tenketsus after I had closed them with my family's techniques.
Even to this day, I have no trouble admitting that I have never even seen another shinobi manage to accomplish the same feat.
Then, when the truth regarding his fight with Sabaku no Gaara was revealed, I admired Naruto even more.
Then, when Uchiha Sasuke betrayed Konoha, and left to join Orochimaru, Naruto was part of the team sent to retrieve him, as was I.
On that mission, we numbered four genin and one rookie chuunin, not mentioning the reinforcements that Sunagakure sent.
Though most of the original team sent out had to be put into intensive are, each of us managed to defeat one of the sound five.
Naruto, however, went past all of us in order to catch up with Uchiha.
According to the reports, Uzumaki unleashed enough chakra to rival at least two kage-level shinobi.
And yet, Uchiha walked away from that fight.
Not because he was stronger, but because Uzumaki had made a promise.
He had promised Haruno Sakura, the girl who he had been infatuated with for years, to bring back the object of her affection.
And so, despite having enough power to completely crush the traitor, Uzumaki spared him, all to make Haruno Sakura happy.
Upon his return from the mission, he was surrounded by a mob, who blamed him for the Uchiha's betrayal.
It was in the moment that I really learned what kind of horror Naruto suffered in his life.
It was in that moment that I truly saw Uzumaki Naruto as my better.
Thank you.
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As many of you know, I am Sabaku no Gaara, current Kazekage of Sunagakure.
What many of you may not know is that Uzumaki Naruto was one of the few reasons that I did not slaughter most of you back during the Sand/Sound invasion.
When Naruto defeated me in my transformed state, not only did I begin to take control back from the demon inside myself, I also saw something about him.
There is something about Uzumaki Naruto that makes you want to be his friend.
Something about him that told you exactly how much he valued his friends, and how he would rather himself die then see any of his friends suffer.
In order to see this however, you have to look past any prejudices and first impressions.
Only when you see it, will you truly find the person beneath the mask.
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I, Tsunade, Godaime of Konohagakure, commit to the earth, the body of Uzumaki Naruto.
In his memory, I vow to live as honorable as a shinobi can, and never let those around me pressure me into what I know isn't right.
I vow to never judge harshly without good reason, and to be open-minded about what is around me.
In honor of Uzumaki Naruto, the name of a shinobi will be carved here today, the name of a best friend, a rival, a little brother.
The name of a hero.
Uzumaki Naruto
Your burden has finally been lifted.
Rest in peace.
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End of Vengeful Thoughts
Author's notes next chapter as well as acknowledgements and special thanks.