(A/N: Thanks to all who reviewed, I really appreciate it.

Review feedback

2pax - I know what you mean, but I just didn't want to. You could call me a lazy author, but I just wanted to make it a two-shot kind of thing. I've never written anything like this, even on paper. Thanks for reviewing.

Relicarmor - Thank you very much, I wrote the chapter the morning after finding out about my auntie's death. At first, I thought it was a drug overdose, since she took a lot of medication, but I know the real reason she died.

Yuffie's Ninja Insanity - I know, I know this is cliched and all that shit, but seriously, why did you read it if it's so cliched and overused? I forgot to mention that Hinata and Ino are both medic nins too, and seeing as they too, know that Naruto has the Kyuubi in his navel, that he should be fine enough to last a while before checking up on him. It was obvious that Sasuke was hurt more than Naruto. I don't really know how to explain this, but after thinking about what you said, I'm blaming the 'slapping Naruto' incident to hysteria, and panic. He IS still the last Uchiha, and fangirlism just doesn't die that easily with those two, you know? Thanks for the review anyway.

Nara-chan25 - Unfortunately, I'm not going to continue it. I've already made up my mind about it being a two-shot, and I already have another story I'm wanting to work on, and I refuse to work on more than three at a time. I'll probably end up forgetting about one of them sooner or later, so it's easier this way. Thanks for the review!

Nuramon - I thank you, I sincerely do, and you are correct. We always have our memory. Thanks for the review.

Lamson - I tried my hardest to make the chapter as 'feeling' as possible. I'm not that good at angst stuff, I'm more of an adventure kind of person, willing to write about someone doing something or other and being a hero. Thanks for the review!

J7nx - Thanks, I'm that way too. I always cry with 'Naruto dying' fics, it's just so sad.

Shankstar89 - Thanks for the review!

UchihaSakuraXItachi - To be truthful, I laughed at this. The first thing that popped into my head was, "Why do you only have one contact in?" Hehe, thanks for the review!

Mangalover248 - Yeah, thanks. It does happen, and I kind of forgotten to point out that is was hysteria and panic that drove them to do that, but I suppose it ain't a good explanation either. I don't know, I only had about an hour and a half to write it, and lots of authors knows that that is not very long to write something even that short, and remember every little detail. Thanks for the review.

Mage Ronin - I know it's too cliched, I've read a lot of them myself. But how many people realize how hard it is to write a completely original plotline, that no one, and I mean no one has written before? It's harder than many people think. And I've heard that it has potential to become an epic, but I simply refuse to write anymore on it. I might in the future, but that's then. It's kind of hard to explain, but I don't like writing stories about Naruto when Naruto isn't there to write about. I feel my motivation will slip away for it sooner than I may think and I don't want to have to discontinue any of my fics. Too many authors have discontinued good fics, and I refuse to be one of them. Thanks for the review!

Okay, now I know how my aunt died. She died in her sleep, having a big blood clot near her heart, and in the end, giving her a massive heart attack that killed her in an instant. She died peacefully, and fast.

This story is still dedicated to her. May she rest in peace, forever.)

Rain was pouring heavily, drowning the sorrow and grief of those who were close enough to the blonde to feel how he changed their lives. None of them could really grasp the fact that they wouldn’t be able to see the sun they called their friend, the one who banished bad thoughts, lit up their day, saw the good in people, the one who wore his emotions on his sleeve, the one who was now lying upon a granite pedestal, wood and other necessities around him.

His only wish when he was dead was to be cremated and his ashes tossed to the wind on top on the Yondaime’s head on Hokage Mountain. When Jiraiya asked him why, he said, “Because then I would fly where the wind flies, see what the wind sees, and caress the cheeks of those I love. And what better place to spread my ashes than on top of my idol’s head?”

Jiraiya shook his head sorrowfully, tears threatening to fall, his sadness threatening to engulf him. He thought of how Naruto changed his life, made it have meaning again, making him see that even though shinobi were surrounded by death, there was still something to live for, to forget the blood on your hands that seemed to stain the skin, refusing to come off like some cursed tattoo.

The brat made him feel again, made him feel his age, yet… like the inner child everyone seemed to ignore. Jiraiya was angered at Naruto for leaving, yet happy that he was no longer in pain. He remembered the pride he felt when Naruto let the fact slipped that Naruto thought of him as his own grandfather, all the teasing he did to the blonde, making him pout. How the brat managed to worm into his heart remains a mystery, he had closed it off to anyone, keeping everyone at arms length so he wouldn’t be hurt. But somehow, Naruto got the best out of anyone.

Neji was one prime example of that.

Neji was always cold, hating his uncle and the main branch of the Hyuuga’s. Training day in and day out, getting stronger and stronger to prove that the ones not worthy to be in the main branch was just as strong. Believing in fate, destiny, only to have it beaten out of him at the chunnin exams. Naruto was the only one able to get through to his thick skull, himself not believing in fate, or destiny, for they were a load of bullcrap weak people thought up when they cannot change their fate.

Uzumaki Naruto was never weak, not in the slightest. Despite what he had been told all his life, he kept his chin held high, his shoulders squared, and looked ahead to a better future with the Will of Fire burning brighter than it ever had. No one could ever say that Naruto was weak, for he went through stuff most people wouldn’t dream of, and still kept his humanity.

And that was what set him apart, made him unique.

Jiraiya looked over to Iruka, he must be taking it the hardest. Naruto always told him that Iruka was the most important to him, being the first person, other than the old man, to acknowledge him. He was like the father he never had, and was certain he was ever going to get.

His eyes wandered over the other shinobi and kunoichi that were at the funeral, going over what he learned from the blonde over several training trips.

Sakura, his childhood crush. No matter how much she abused and belittled him, he thought of her as a sister, someone precious to him.

Kakashi, his sensei. Jiraiya felt a little anger rise in him when he remembered what Naruto told him about how he played favorites, and taught only Sasuke, occasionally Sakura. But Naruto told him that it was okay, Sasuke needed the attention more than he anyway, he is more important after all.

It marked the first day and last day Jiraiya slapped him hard enough to leave a shiny red handprint on his cheek for a week.

Shikamaru, the one that Naruto went to for advice. No matter how ‘troublesome’ the blonde was, he always helped him out, and occasionally played shougi or watched clouds with him.

Kiba, his resident partner in crime. Kiba was always seen fleeing the scene, hot on Naruto’s trail, laughing maniacally at the success of the prank. From what Jiraiya heard, Naruto was the mastermind behind all of them, even Kiba unable to think up the plans that the blonde seemingly stored for later use.

Lee, the one who helped Naruto out with his taijutsu, and a fellow holder of the Will of Fire.

Tenten, she never knew the blonde well, but she came out of the respect she felt for him.

Hinata, always the one who saw the blonde for who he was, and still loved him deeply. He was the one who gave her the confidence she needed to become the Heir that was expected from her.

Shino, no one knows how close the two were, but Jiraiya had the sneaky suspicion that they were the best of friends.

Gaara, someone who felt the pain of loneliness being a host. He shared a bond with the blonde that had a deeper meaning, like brothers-in-pain, but something stronger.

Kankuro and Temari, they weren’t close to Naruto as they would’ve liked, but they respected him more than anyone, and were thankful, beyond anything else, for giving their brother back to them.

Tsunade, Naruto’s surrogate mother, and overprotective sister. She stood firmly in front of Naruto’s body, no tears escaping.

Ino, one who was like a sister to Naruto. Tears streamed down her face.

Chouji, Naruto’s eating partner, and best friend. Naruto often told Jiraiya how Chouji and him would have eating contests, with Naruto coming out on top more often than not.

Jiraiya rested his gaze on Sasuke. He was apart from the rest, staring at Naruto’s face, his emotions carefully hidden.

Jiraiya heard Tsunade clear her throat, and turned his attention back to her, “Naruto’s final wish was to be cremated and his ashes thrown to the wind on the Yondaime’s head.” She turned and began a sequence of seals, ending in tiger. She was about to announce her jutsu when the rain stopped, and the sun revealed itself in all it’s bright glory. Everyone looked up, seeing snow white clouds. The wind picked up slightly as Tsunade lit the pyre.

As Naruto’s body burned, everyone could feel another presence nearby, one that was painfully familiar.

“Don’t be sad…sad…sad…” A voice whispered, everyone looking around in alarm. “Never be sad…sad…sad…” It whispered again.

Sakura suddenly sucked in her breathe when she felt something caressing her cheeks, pushing the tears away, and soft lips kissing her on the forehead. “Not for me…me…me…”

Everyone stared at her, before Hinata did the same, giving a small shriek as her tears were wiped away, and a soft kiss planted on her forehead.

“Live…live… for me… me…” It whispered as it moved on to Ino, Tenten and Temari, doing the same.

Tsunade couldn’t breathe properly when she felt ghostly arms wrap around her frame and give her a soft hug. “Be strong…strong…strong…Don’t be sad… never sad…sad…sad…”

The boys, except Sasuke and Jiraiya, all felt someone patting their backs, or giving them hugs, saying whispered words of encouragement. Gaara actually seemed to pale when it reached him, giving him a meaningful hug, and kiss on the forehead, right in the middle of the kanji for ‘ai’ or love. Gaara actually fell to his knees and cried.

It reached Jiraiya, giving him a hug too, but it had more meaning in it, before disappearing, leaving his heart racing, and a warm feeling to spread all the way to the tips of his fingers and toes.

When it finally reached Sasuke, he stiffened when he felt ghostly arms wrap around his waist and kissing him chastely on the lips. He felt something else wrapping around him, seeing translucent white. “I love you…you…you…my brother…brother…Live free…free…”

“N-Naruto?” Sasuke asked, choking slightly. He was trembling when he brought his arms up to hug the blonde back, mildly surprised to feel his solid form. He hugged him tightly, tears streaming down his face as his mask broke, showing the scared little boy he felt inside. He felt fingers caress his cheeks, wiping away the tears, “I’m not worth your tears…tears…please stop crying…crying…”

It moved away, leaving Sasuke feeling impossibly warm inside. He followed the almost invisible form with his eyes, until it stopped high up in the air. Everyone else followed his gaze, and looked up at Naruto, whose form was now visible against the deep blue sky. He smiled gently and whispered, “I love you…you…you…”

“No! Don’t go Naruto! I don’t want to say goodbye!” Hinata screamed, not wanting him to leave.

Naruto smiled gently again, “It’s never a goodbye…goodbye…never…never…”

And after his whispered that, two other translucent forms appeared behind Naruto, smiling. With one final wave, they were gone, and the sun shone even brighter.

On top of the Hokage Mountain, everyone that was present at the funeral was present there, and where watching as Tsunade held the jar that held Naruto’s ashes. With one shaky breathe, she held out her arms, and threw the ashes into the wind, where it blew across Konoha.

“Never a goodbye.” She whispered before turning with her head held high, and leaving, a few stray tears remaining. Everyone followed suit, in their eyes, the Will of Fire burning ever brighter.

The only one left was Sasuke, who looked out over Konoha, remembering all the times he and the blonde argued, sparred, bonded… One tear escaped, sliding down his cheek, before he turned and left.

If anyone saw him leave, they would have seen a peaceful look on his face, and a smile almost as big as Naruto’s.

“Live free…free…free…”

(A/N: Okay, as I mentioned before, I'm only making this into a two-shot. I thank all of those who reviewed.)