Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Precious ❯ Precious Farewell ( Chapter 6 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]
Precious Farewell
By Silver Dragonfly

He stood numbly as the autumn breeze whispered past. The name
was only one of several that had been recently added to monument,
but it would be one that he would never forget. He stiffened as he
heard soft footsteps and then relaxed as a familiar presence came
up beside him. Her smaller hand reached to wrap around his, their
fingers intertwined. She rested her dark head against his broad
chest, her other hand holding a small bouquet of flowers.

"He was the first to truly acknowledge me…"

"I know."

"He helped raise many of Konoha's finest shinobi. He truly cared
about each and every one of his students…" His lips lifted in a small
grin, "Even the loudest troublemakers… I think he may have even
cared about them more."

"I think so to." She said softly.

"I never told him…but he was like the big brother I never had."

"He knew. He often referred to you as his younger brother to others."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

He took a shaky breath. "He taught me so much, and I wish he could
have taught our children those things too…" His voice trailed off,
strained by the threat of tears.

"He will-through you."

He smiled. "Where are-?"

"With Neiji and Tenten."

"Ah."

"Your students are worried about you; Sakura and Sasuke as well.
They all know how close you two were."

He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer.

"Tsunade sent Kakashi after the employer didn't she." A brief shifting
of her head against his shoulder was the answer.

"Gai, Shikamaru, and Lee as well. She would have sent you…"

"But I have my team and the kids, not to mention the possibility of a
trap set just for the event that I'm the one that goes after him. No I
would be best off remaining in Konoha and protecting those that could
yet be targeted here." He sighed. "I don't understand Hinata… they're
only children. Why attack children?" But he knew the answer. They had
been attacked in order to get at their parents and family. Children of the
Hyuga clan and the Rokudaime Hokage were bound to be powerful.
Hinata pulled herself tighter into his arms. Naruto looked up at the sky
for a moment, then back at the memorial. He almost lost them, the
brightest jewels in his life, his children, save for the efforts of one
Chuunin academy teacher.

"Thank you Iruka-sensei….Iruka-niichan…" he whispered loosening his
hold on Hinata long enough for her to place the flowers on the memorial,
then slowly turned towards the village with Hinata close at his side. Times
would be rough, and the loss of such a great sensei would be felt. But
as long as they had hope and a desire to protect those precious to them
Konoha would remain strong.






I had the urge to write somethin set when they were all older, and
this sort of just presented itself.