I groaned and rolled over, but pain exploded all over my body. I'm out of chakra, I have a sever head injury, my body's sore from fighting, and my hands hurt from that stupid shield around the Hokage.

I can't move. My body . . . it won't move. Gritting my teeth I tried to move, even the tiniest bit. My fingers twitched as I attempted to do so. 

I glanced at the two, my eyes shifting between them. Naruto was slowly using his chin to move to Gaara, who lay on his back.

Naruto, Gaara. I was right. If anyone were to understand Naruto as much as I do it would be Gaara. He may even understand him more. I don't hold a beast inside me. Only borrowed chakra.

Two children, hated for something they have no control over.

Such a tragic tale. Such a tragic childhood. Naruto must realize this by now. Gaara's feelings. And if I know my brother, he probably wants to help him, even in the tiniest way.

Gritting my teeth, I slowly moved my arms forward, grabbing the ground, I dragged myself forward. After one pull I hit the ground. But I didn't give up.

Naruto, Gaara. My brother and I slowly crawled towards the red headed boy. "No! Stay away!" He shouted, fear in his voice.

"It's almost unbearable isn't it?" Naruto asked, looking up at him. I pulled myself forward. "The feeling of being alone." I continued, looking at him as well. In truth, Gaara is afraid.

He's afraid, just like us. I looked at him sadly, along with Naruto. "We know that feeling. We've been there. In that dark and lonely place. My little sister always stood up, and fought for me. But now, I'm strong enough to protect her. And the others. Now, I have other people I care about. Other people who mean a lot to me. I care about them more then I do myself. And I won't let anyone hurt them. I will protect my precious sister and friends."

"But why? Why would you do this for anyone but yourself?" Gaara asked, genuinely confused. "Because they saved us." I spoke, making him glance at me.

I moved some more. "I've only ever cared about my brother. And that troubled him. He didn't want me to hate everyone. Even if they were cruel to him. But they saved him. Us. They save us from ourselves."

I answered. Naruto moved a little. "They rescued us from our loneliness. They were the first to accept me, and my sister for who we are. They're my friends." Naruto spoke.

He has grown. And he is strong. Things aren't like what they were before. I've realized this. "Gaara, you must have loved someone before. Someone that was precious to you. And they betrayed you."

He turned to me in surprise. I smiled sadly. "Even if they betrayed you, you still held that feeling of love. It's not something you can simply throw away. Love will always reside in your heart. No matter how hard you try to bury it."

I grunted as pain shot through my hands before going numb. "I don't think you're bad at all. You remind me of Naruto. And I want you to be happy, like he has." I told him honestly.

"Love? Is that the thing that makes them so strong?" I heard Gaara grumble. "Naruto, Miyuna, that's enough." I stopped moving and glanced up to see Sasuke, between my brother and me.

A smile made its way onto my face. And I looked back at Gaara. "I truly believe that you will understand this all. I believe the love that you have buried under that loneliness will grow, like mine has. There's no reason for us to fight anymore. The battle is over. And I don't want to kill you. Because I don't hate you."

"That's right. There's no need for us to fight. Gaara, I don't hate you either." Naruto's head hit the ground, passing out.

Suddenly Kankuro and Temari jumped in front of Gaara. I glared at them. "You two . . . Gaara . . . don't hurt him anymore."

They seemed shocked by my words. "How can siblings be so cruel to their flesh and blood? You treated him like a monster until he became one. He's your little brother! You should always love and protect your brother! A bond between siblings I strong, and is filled with undying love. So get your damn heads out of your asses and treat him with that emotion!" I shouted angrily.

They seemed shocked by my words. "Love him, treasure him, and never treat him like a monster." My vision went blurry and I passed out from exhaustion.

~Dream/Memory~

"Are you in a fight with Naruto and Sasuke?" Itachi asked me. I huffed in annoyance, as tears of frustration pooled my eyes but didn't fall.

Itachi sighed and jumped onto the tree limb I was sitting on. He sat in front of me, a kind smile on his face. "What's wrong Miyu?"

"Naruto and Sasuke were fighting and I tried to break them up. But then they turned to me and started screaming, calling me a traitor, a loser, and asked me to choose which side I stand on."

Itachi blinked in surprise. "And you didn't choose Naruto right away?" He asked. My face flushed. "I love Naruto . . . but I also . . ." My face went beet red. Itachi's eyes widened considerably.

"Miyu . . . do you, do you love Sasuke?" Steam rose and I buried my head in my knees. "Please don't tell him Itachi!" I pleaded. He chuckled and looked at me, amusement in his eyes. "And why not?"

I was still blushing madly. "Because the only reason he's friends with me is because he doesn't think I love him like all the other girls do." I grumbled.

Itachi watched me silently. "What if I told you he loves you too?" I shot him a glare, making him jump. "He doesn't." I grumbled.

Itachi tilted his head to the side. "So you took Sasuke's side?" He asked. I sighed, looking down. "Even if I do like Sasuke, Naruto is very important to me. But Sasuke's also important to me. I can't choose one and feel happy about the decision."

Itachi smiled. "Miyu, if they're both important to you, and you're important to them, don't you think they will set aside the fight." I snorted and crossed my arms.

"Like they'll do that." Itachi glanced down and smiled. "I wouldn't be so sure of that."

I looked at him curiously. "It's your fault she ran away!" I heard my brothers voice shout. Blinking, I glanced down to see Naruto and Sasuke walking side by side, whilst arguing.

"Shut up and look." Sasuke hissed. "It seems you're wrong. You're more important to them then their fight."

A grin broke out onto my face and I beamed at Itachi, wrapping my arms around him. "Thank you! You're important to me too! I love Naruto and Sasuke, but I also love you Itachi!"

~Dream/Memory End: A Few Days Later~

Naruto and I waited patiently. The sky is clouded over, almost like it was sensing our sadness. My brother and I wore all black and bandages were wrapped around our injuries. I left my hair down, cascading over the bandages around my head.

Hearing the sounds of footsteps, I looked over to see Sasuke, dressed in black, headed our way. We all stayed silent and turned, headed for the funeral. Gramps face flashed across my mind and I reached out and grabbed both of their hands.

They didn't say anything; they only held my hand back as we neared Sakura, who was waiting for us. Nothing was said, and Sakura grabbed onto my brothers hand as we continued on.

Everyone gathered at Hokage tower, a sea of black all over as we stared at the pictures of the fallen. Gramps picture stood out amongst the mass.

I stared at the picture, my chest tightened, but no emotion showed on my face or my eyes. Suddenly it started to rain. I ignored it and stared at his smiling face.

"Gramps, after this is done, tell me the story of how my mom and dad fell in love." I could hear the smile in his voice. "Of course."

"Liar."

My team, hearing my whisper glanced at me briefly before looking back at the photo's. I looked at the sky, letting the rain hit my face. It feels like the sky is crying because I cannot.

After the ceremony, everyone went up, one by one to place a white rose in front of gramps picture.

After awakening, Naruto and I were informed of his death. Since then, Naruto hasn't spoken much, and neither have I. Gramps was important to us. He really was. Why did he have to die? Why?

Konohamaru started crying from next to me. I looked at the boy as he sobbed. I kneeled down and hugged him to me. He stopped crying momentarily. "Miyu?" He whispered. I hugged him tighter. "It's okay to cry. It's bad to hold in your feelings. Cry, let it all out."

He shook and wrapped his small arms around me and sobbed into my chest and I clutched him to me.

Soon it was our turn to go in line. I hoisted Konohamaru up, and held him on my him, one arm around him and held onto Sasuke's hand. Konohamaru was silently crying on my shoulder.

I'm sorry Konohamaru. I wanted to protect him. I wanted to protect everyone. But I wasn't strong enough.

I'm not strong enough to protect those dear to me.

Somehow, I will get stronger. I'll become strong enough to protect them. So that next time, I can protect those I love.

I'm sorry Konohamaru. When we neared it, I gently put him down. His small hand clutched mine, the other holding reached up and grabbed Naruto's. He looked down at the boy and held his hand firmly. We each placed a rose down. Iruka walked over. "I'll take care of it from here." He spoke.

Nodding, we let go of his hands and he went to Iruka. "Miyu . . . its okay for you to cry." Naruto spoke.

I smiled lightly. "I know. I just can't right now." He nodded in understanding. Sasuke and Sakura stood near us, Sakura on the verge of tears.

I held open my arms. Her green eyes widened considerably. She flung herself to me and cried as I stroked her hair.

Right now, more then anything, I want to comfort them. Yes, I want to cry, but more then that, I want them cry it out so that they can move forward.

I realized over the period of time, that instead of sheltering them, I want to help them move on. Yes, I want to protect them, but I want to nudge them forward. Like a mama bird I guess. I'll nurture them, comfort them, protect them, all so that they can ready themselves so that they can do it themselves.

Yes, I'm sad that gramps died. I'm devastated. But he would be upset if I or the others didn't move on.

I pulled apart and smile warmly at her as tears of my own escaped. Her eyes widened at the sight. "It's okay. Because we still have each other. A team, family, and friends. We may have lost someone we loved dearly, but he will always be with us. We have to move forward. Because more then anything, he loved us, the children of the Leaf. It's okay. We still have each other. More people will die that are close to us. We will be sad, we will cry and scream, but we are always going to continue moving forward."

"But why did he sacrifice himself for others?" Naruto asked. I glanced at my brother, and the others who were listening, the other Genin.

"Because he loved us, and this village. You should understand Naruto. Because you would have done the same if my life was on the line right? Or Sasuke, or Sakura. We do it because we hold things precious to us. And we'd sooner die then let it be destroyed."

I looked back up at the sky. "People around us will continue to die, and we will mourn, but we will also move forward. Never give up. Isn't that your motto?"

A small smile made its way onto his face and he quickly hugged me to him. I embraced my brother, hiding my tears in his chest.

Gramps. I don't want you dead. I want you back. I want to turn back time. But I know. I know that no matter how sad, or how depressed I am, I must move forward.

It's still hard, but I still have others. And they'll help me move on. And I'll help them move on. After all, you said that the people of this village is our family. Our home. And I'll honor that to the very end.

I love you gramps.

Suddenly the rain stopped. My tears had as well and we pulled apart and stared up as the sun shone on us. My brother and I looked back at each other before grinning. "Last one to the grounds is a rotten egg!" Naruto turned and ran.

I laughed and ran after. We turned back to see Iruka. "See you later Iruka-Sensei!" Naruto called. We pushed past our team.

"Naruto! Miyuna!" Sakura scolded, running after us. We laughed as we ran into the village.

That's right. I may have lost him, but I still have them.

And as long as I do, I'll be alright.

Don't worry gramps. I'm no longer alone. And I won't let anyone be alone. We'll be alright.