Another Naruto Fanfic

(Inoichi's POV)

I returned to the Yamanaka compound. I am very tired, what seemed to be the day of happiness and celebration has turned into a day of sadness and regret. I kept a strong front in front of the guests. After the party, I met the elders and started discussing the correct course of actions that the clan should take.

I went to the bed, next to my wife, and tried my best to sleep, but I couldn't, the guiltiness I felt kept me from sleeping... 'I am very tired, but I can't sleep!' I thought as I started cuddling my wife, trying to find comfort in her hugs, but I was met with a cold "I need to sleep, stop annoying me!".

For the first time I felt very burdened. I killed many people, and I never felt a guilt such as this!

After a sleepless night, the first thing I woke up to were Shikaku's screams! I tried to ignore it, but as I started hearing the screams of my clansmen, I headed outside to check what is happening. The moment I stepped outside I heard Shikaku screams "INOICHI YOU BASTAAARD! GET YOUR A.S.S OUT HERE YOU SON OF A BITCH!".

I looked at Shikaku, -who was keeping himself occupied with the poor clansmen that tried to stand in his way- and said "Shikaku what are you doing? why are you doing this!". He didn't take any time to think, but screamed "WHY AM I HERE? REALLY!? You could have told me about Voidne yesterday! But you idiots chose to keep it a secret just so your clan doesn't lose face! It was a mistake to let you adopt my nephew you bastard! I should have adopted him myself!".

The moment he said that, most of the clansmen, that were trying to stop Shikaku, were shocked. Those who knew of what happened to Voidne lowered their head and didn't say anything. While those who didn't know about what happened looked at me with very curious and anxious eyes.

I couldn't refute what Shikaku said, because it was true... I tried to lower my head as I didn't have any courage or face left to face Shikaku, but before I could even lower my face Shikaku dashed toward me and started beating me in the face. If it was normal circ.u.mstances, I would have defended myself, but right now... I am having my best friend beating me up, for the grievous mistakes that I've made. If only I had asked for help instead of being blinded by our clan's sensor abilities... My pride was my downfall...

After receiving 3 punches to my face, Choza grabbed Shikaku's arms and said "Let it go, Voidne isn't dead yet! Blaming Inoichi will only make matters worse, we should unite and try to find a cure for Voidne!"

Shikaku hearing this, stopped resisting Choza grip, but the moment we thought he clammed down, he kicked my stomach with his legs very hard and screamed "Inoichi, I swear to god, if Voidne died, you are going to follow him! YOU HEAR ME!?"

Just as he said that, he stopped shouting and walked away with Choza. I invited every clansman that happened to be around inside my house; trying my best to limit the information from spreading. But in spite of me trying my best to conceal the information, it was still leaked, and I soon fell into an unfavorable position. After the leakage, I discussed with the Hokage about the matter. We concluded that we should block Voidne, so no one can reach him inside the hospital, nor know his exact location, this way they won't have any prove to support this information leakage, and it will pass like a rumor.

I was wrong... My clansmen started venting and targeting the Uchiha, so did the Nara and the Akimichi. Surprisingly, they were met with no retaliation at all, the proud Uchiha are keeping quiet for the first time, I can't help but get concerned.

........

Two years have passed... I already figured out that my course of actions weren't the best. My seniority in the clan was damaged severely. My relationship with Shikaku didn't recover one bit, and despite being my friend, Choza refuses to help me fixing my relationship with Shikaku every time I ask him for help. The clansmen are very angry at me because I didn't allow them to visit Voidne for a whole year... It went so far that they started throwing stones at my wife, and started ignoring Ino. I quickly granted them visitation rights before the situation spiral out of control.

I started drinking more intensely; my drinking habit started getting on the way of my work, and I became less efficient. I tried to turn to my wife for moral support, and she was there to support me. Through bitter and sweet, we were always supporting each other!

My nights are sleepless, my days are spent in drinking, I became a wasteman. It didn't take the elders a lot of time, before suggesting removing me from my position of being the clan's head. They started looking at suitable candidates to replace me. Some were against replacing me... Those, who supported me at my lowest, filled me with hope. I started working hard to recover, to be a better person! But soon after, those who I was seeing as beacons of light... Their light disappeared. Soon, most of the elders were in favor to replace me, and I had no chance to stay as the clan's head... Most of the elders were in favor of appointing Santa Yamanaka as the new clan head, but things changed once Fū came forward and asked for the position. Fū received a lot of support from outside the clan. Fū was encouraged by clans, such as the Aburame and the Inuzuka clans, to step forward to take the clan head position. Fū also received support from so many small clans and the customers that bought from the Yamanaka's flower shops.

I ,who encountered the second shock after the elders betrayed my trust, was paralyzed from over drinking, and couldn't leave the bed for few months. I never thought that I, Inoichi Yamanaka, the Yamanaka's clan head, will ever be the laughing stock of the village. Sometimes you do things in life that you regret... and sometimes you wish you can turn back time to fix what you did... It is just one word that will make the biggest difference in your life; but no matter how much you wish you said that word, what is in the past, cannot be fixed.

(End of Inoichi's POV)