"Mom! Mom!" Naruto ran over to me, and I cougehd up blood. "No, no, no! This can't be happening!" Naruto said, shaking his head. "Just hang on! Don't worry! You're going to be okay!"

"No, Naruto... I don't think I am. I'm not.. going to make it." I said, weakly. "No! Don't say that! You are going to be okay! We'll get you out of there! We will!" Naruto said, persistently. 

"It hurts... It hurts so much..." I whispered. There's no way to escape something like this.

The only way I can end this pain... is if I tell Naruto the truth. It's time for him to know everything. "Naruto..." I whispered, weakly. "Naruto... I'm afraid this is it for me."

"No, don't say that, Mom! You're going to be alright!" Naruto said, tears flowing down his cheeks. "No, Naruto," I weakly shook my head. "I won't be okay because... I'm already dead."

"What...?" Naruto's voice was filled with confusion, as well with sadness.

"Naruto... Please listen to what I'm about to tell you. I'm about to reveal... everything to you. A long, long time ago... I committed a terrible sin. To make up for my crime... I had to perform a good deed. For years... I traveled the world, trying to make up for what I've done. The price that came with that... was that I couldn't die. No matter how much pain I endured, I couldn't die. That's why... I was able to heal so abnormally," I explained. 

"Countless good deeds I've performed and I felt like it was for nothing. I felt like I was wasting time. Then... I met you. Your spark... your smile... is what gave me the courage to go on. After I met you... I didn't want to leave you because you gave me the courage to keep going." 

I slowly lifted my head to look at Naruto and gave him a weak smile. "Naruto... Meeting you was the best thing that's ever happened to me. You... Kakashi... Jiraiya... Everyone. I loved and cherished every moment I spent you all. Naruto... No matter what the village may think of you... no matter how hard times may get... Remember to never give up. Keep chasing your dream of becoming Hokage because one day... you will..." I said as a tear rolled down my cheek.

"Mom..." Naruto whispered before slowly shaking his head in disbelief. "No... Please tell me this is all a joke. Just a sick joke... Please, Mom. Tell me you're lying..." Naruto said, smiling with a bit of hope.

"Oh, Naruto... How much I wish this was a cruel joke, it's not. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry I didn't tell you this before," I apologized. "Naruto... You... My son... Are not a monster... You're someone with a pure heart... Someone who gives people hope and the courage to never give up... You are the light that pulls people out of the darkness..."

I threw up blood and coughed before panting again. "Naruto... Even though I cannot die... this pain... It hurts so much... It really hurts..." I said, crying a bit. Naruto closed his eyes tightly as tears spilled down his cheeks. 

He sniffled before wiping his eyes with his sleeve. "This all sounds so crazy. It's hard to understand, and I don't wanna believe it. But because I love you... I want to help you," Naruto said. "Mom... Tell me what I can do to end your pain. Please... What can I do?"

"In order to free me from this pain... you must..." I trailed off as I coughed up more blood. "Haru..." Kakashi said with guilt in his eye. "Ki...ll... me..." I whispered. "You must... kill me..." Naruto and Kakashi's eyes widened in disbelief when I spoke those words.

"End it, please... Release me from this pain... Please... Kill me..." I begged. "To end your pain... we have to kill you..." Kakashi asked, hesitantly.

"Naruto... He has to say that he's happy. He has to say that he's satisfied with what he has today. Then, I will leave this world... once and for all..." I explained.

"But I won't be happy! If I say that, you'll die and...!" Naruto closed his eyes tightly, his face filled with both sadness and anger. "Without you, I won't be happy. My happiness... will disappear because you won't be with me anymore." He said.

"Naruto, please... It hurts so much... It's unbearable... Please... Do it for me... I beg of you..." I pleaded. 

"No... No, no!" Naruto yelled, shaking his head. "There has to be another way! I don't wanna lose you again! Please... There has to be another way."

"There is no other way. Naruto, if you truly love Haru, you have to do this. Do it for her. She's in so much pain. Release her. You have to let her go, Naruto," Kakashi said, placing a hand over his shoulder. "I know it's hard... But we have to set her free. I love her too much to see her in pain like this." 

"Naruto... Please... Let me die... End this pain of mine... Please... My son..." I begged as I began to sob. I didn't want to leave, not like this. Not with the people I love with sorrow on their faces. I want to leave them with a smile on their face. 

"I'll do it... I'll end your pain... Mom..." Naruto said. I could hear the pain in his voice as he didn't want me to go. "Thank... you... Naruto..." I smiled weakly while losing my eyes. 

"Mom... Thank you for everything you've done for me. For feeding me, taking care of me. For making the ninja I am today. I really... am happy. You've made me... very happy." Naruto forced a smile on his face as tears escaped his eyes. 

Naruto's POV

Mom weakly smiled again and tilted her head down, closing her eyes. "Mom?" I called in worry. Her body glowed a white aura-looking color until it turned gold. Her spirit slowly and gracefully emerged from her body and hovered to the ground. 

She floated there with her feet barely touching the ground as she was dressed in the clothes from when I first met her. She didn't say anything as her eyes were closed. "Mom?" I said, softly. She opened her eyes, then looked at me. "Naruto..."

A smile appeared on her face as she floated in front of me. "I didn't want us to depart like this. But at least... I get to see you one last time... my son..." Mom said, softly. "Mom..." I started crying again.

"Oh, Naruto... Please don't cry." Mom said with a sad look on her face. "I'm sorry.. I'm just... I don't want you to go..." I said.

I hugged her close to me. I thought my arms would go right through her, but they didn't and I was glad because I could hold her one last time. "Please don't go, Mom... Please..." I begged.

"I wish I could stay, Naruto. Believe me, I do. But it's my time. I've done what I had to do," Mom said, hugging me back. "I wish... I had more time." 

I could tell she was on the verge of crying and she was trying her best to keep her tears in. "Naruto, do you know what my dream for the future was?" Mom asked. 

"My dream for the future... was to become a mother. And thanks to you, that dream of mine was able to come true. Thank you for that... My son." 

Mom broke the hug and placed her hand on my cheek, assuring me that it was going to be okay as she wiped a tear that had escaped from my eye with her thumb.

She looked over at Kakashi and smiled, floating over to him. "I'm sorry, Kakashi. I'm afraid this is goodbye." Mom said. 

Kakashi didn't say anything as he hugged her tightly. His eyes were closed tightly and I could see the tears he was trying to hold back.

"I... I love you, Haru. Do take care in the other world." Kakashi confessed. "And I love you, Kakashi. Please continue to watch over my son." Mom said back. 

She broke the hug and gently kissed his mask, where his lips were. 

"Haru."

Mom, Kakashi, and I looked forward as we spotted a man with dark hair in front of us from afar. He was dressed in a dark uniform and there was some kind of scar on his face. 

"Haru, it's time. Come." He said as he held his hand out to her. "Is that him? Setzoku?" Kakashi asked Mom. "Yes." She answered, sadly. She lowered her head a bit before walking over to him, taking his hand.

"Wait!" I called to them. Both Mom and the strange man known as Setzoku looked at me. "Can you... Can't you just let her stay? Just a bit longer?" I asked.

"It's not that simple, Naruto," Setzoku said, closing his eyes. "Haru had completed her assignment, so there's no need to be here anymore. Even if I were to allow Haru to remain by your side, it wouldn't make a difference. This woman, Haru no Hana, has been dead for a long time. If I made the mistake of letting her stay here, what happened in the past may repeats itself here in the present."

"I don't care about that!" I suddenly snapped as Setzoku opened his eyes to look at me. "If it's just her, I would be fine with that. If she ages or not, whatever type of wounds she would endure, I'll help her through it. I don't care if she stays young or grows into an old woman. I just want her to stay. Please let my Mom stay with us. Please..."

"Naruto..." Haru whispered in slight shock. "I'm sorry, but it's been decided. My decision is absolute. I can't risk it." Setzoku said. I lowered my head in disappointment the same time Mom sadly gazed at the ground.

I lifted my head back up when I saw the two of them beginning to fade away as small balls of light surrounded them. The balls of light kind of looked like fireflies. 

"I love you, Naruto. I love you, Kakashi. I'll always be watching over the two of you." Mom said. She smiled a closed-eye smile while a tear rolled down her cheek. With that, she and the man vanished. "Good luck on your journey... Mom. I love you." I said, quietly. 

I let a tear escaped my eye as I watched the balls of light float towards the sky. 

3rd Person's POV

Setzoku and Haru appeared between the link of Heaven and Hell, where Haru's parents were being held in Setzoku's grasp. "It is done. You have done your good deed to make up for your crime. As promised, you and your parents are free." Setzoku informed. 

He snapped his fingers and Haru's parents were released from the chains they were bound in. They were gently placed on their feet as Haru waited for either of them to speak. 

"Mom? Dad?" She said, softly, taking a step forward. Her mother was the first to react to her voice as she slowly opened her eyes.

"Ha... ru...?" Her mother said, slowly. Haru stared at her in shock as the father began to regain consciousness as well. 

"Haru..." Her mother said, softly. "Is that... really you?" Her father said.

"Mother! Father!" Haru cheered, running over to them and hugging them. "It's been so long. I've missed you guys so much." Haru said, hugging them tightly. "We've missed you as well, Haru." Her father replied, smiling. 

"I wish the three of you good fortune on your journey." Setzoku said. "Thank you... for finally setting them free, Setzoku." Haru thanked. "I'm only doing my job." He replied, nonchalantly. He snapped his fingers once more and the family vanished into balls of light, then entered through the gateway of Heaven.

Setzoku watched as they entered before sitting back in his chair he had just summoned. "Out of all the people who committed the worse sins... Haru was definitely the most interesting one, even if she did burn an entire village." He said, crossing his legs. 

Meanwhile, in the Leaf Village, Team Kakashi returned to the village. However, Haru wasn't with them, which left Tsunade concerned and confused. "Where's Haru?" She asked. "Well... It's kind of hard to explain." Kakashi said. 

He did his best of explaining the situation to Tsunade, not leaving out any detail. He explained how Haru already died, why she wasn't in the records, the sin she committed years ago, and how she passed from this world to the next.

By the time Kakashi was explaining, Tsunade was dumbfounded. But nonetheless, she believed the story. 

Afterwards, a funeral was held for Haru, burying an empty casket. Everyone was sad that Hru was gone, but they know one thing for sure that they will not forget her. Naruto especially. 

The young Uzumaki will always remember her kindness. The tender, loving care she provided for him for all these years. "Rest in peace... Mom," Naruto whispered as he placed a flower over the casket.

Once the casket was buried and the funeral was over, everyone left. Everyone except Naruto. He stayed standing in front of Haru's grave, remembering the kindness she had showed him over the years.

"I will always remember you, and I will always love you, Mom. One day, I will become Hokage, and I will make you proud. Until then, keep watching over me. Watch your little knucklehead grow up and become stronger than ever." Naruto said, smiling for her.

Naruto may have lost the person he loved most of all, but that doesn't mean he's gonna stop fighting. He will always remember her, Haru no Hana.

The mother he never had.

END