A/N: Well, here's the long awaited epilogue. Sorry for taking so long. I'll be working on the continuation for "Must Be The Heat" due to requests. My apologies to those waiting for the sequel for "Overcast". That'll take some time. Well, enjoy!

Ahh...

Tsunade inhaled deeply and slowly as she relished the silence in her office. She closed her eyes and listened to the soft breeze whisper in her ears and caress her face. She leaned her head back and reclined on her chair as she slowly surrendered to slumber and sank deep into the ocean of unconsciousness – when Kakashi suddenly burst into her office.

"TSUNADE-SAMA!"

He was definitely acting out of character, hands gesturing furiously and he sweating and babbling incoherently like a cretin. She had to shake him violently and yell at him to get that moron to shut up. Whatever it was, it must be bad to get the normally calm and laid back Copy Ninja this agitated. For now, all he could say was "Naruto".

Tsunade frowned. What about Naruto? What happened to him? Only after a few breaths did Kakashi tell Tsunade what had happened.

Hyuuga Hinata wandered around the village looking for Naruto. She finished training early just so that she could talk to him. She finally mustered enough courage to talk to him like a normal person and ask him out. The problem was, she couldn't find him. His teammates were nowhere to be found. The next logical solution is to ask his sensei, who conveniently appeared, along with the Hokage, who saw him off with a few words, outside her office building.

She approached Kakashi with her usual apprehension before asking him. "A-Ano...Kakashi-sensei, do you know where Naruto is?" Only after the question had just left her lips had she noticed his downcast expression, which turned deeper after hearing the question. He took a deep breath and slowly explained what happened.

Sakura wandered around the village streets rather dejectedly. She had just gotten off a severe tongue lashing from a furious Kakashi. She heaved a regret-filled sigh. He was right...Naruto's gone because of her. This was her entire fault. She didn't mean for this to happen, didn't mean to go overboard. She never really did see Naruto as anyone significant, but wouldn't have wished him ill. Oh, how she regretted those venomous words she had said in anger earlier!

Not only will she have to endure the guilt, but there will also be the Rookie 9 and their senseis. No doubt they'll be more than pissed at her once they find out who's responsible for this. They also won't let her live it down. (And of course, there's Iruka-sensei. Oh, joy.) Well, whatever the consequences she'll have to face, she'll need courage to survive.

And large amounts of it she'll need right now, as she saw a very angry Hinata approaching her.

Before Sakura could utter a single word, Hinata bellowed a battle cry as she charged and thrust her hand towards her heart. Seized by panic and surprise, Sakura tried to parry the deadly strike, but it was a bit too late. Though the blow was parried from her heart, Hinata's hand connected with Sakura's cheek. The chakra enforced blow sent her to the ground, the left side of her face screaming in pain.

Hinata wasted no time. No sooner had Sakura hit the ground, she continued her attack...

or at least tried to.

Neji suddenly appeared and stopped the attack. "Hinata-sama, please stop!" He's gotten rather fond of her and looked after her as her "big brother". And to see her like this is most unusual to say the least.

"LET ME GO! I'LL KILL THE BITCH!" Hinata screamed, her Byakugan throbbing with power and her usually gentle and timid eyes full of fury and rage. She struggled with a bewildered Neji while shrieking obscenities at the pink-haired girl, who was still on the ground, paralyzed with shock and pain.

Hinata calmed down a bit and told everything to Neji before burying her crying face in his chest. His eyes widened with surprise. She said those things to him? He...he left? Wha...? Neji's eyes turned cold as he glanced down at Sakura. "Haruno..." he began, with as much ice in his voice as he could gather. She flinched at the frigid contempt in his voice. "I don't know what possessed you to do such a thing, but I definitely cannot stand someone to do that to the one who helped me. I won't kill you - the others will do that for me."

Sakura shivered at his words. Was this to be everyone's reaction?

Tsunade slumped back in her chair and sighed, a few tears threatening to escape her fatigued eyes. Naruto...how she wished he never left! But she knew that he didn't have much of a choice. She could only hope that he won't be back for retribution. She had failed as a Hokage and as a 'big-sister'. She was supposed to be there for him. She was supposed to take care of the villagers.

She did nothing.

It also tore at her heart at how this village treats its own. Idiots! Why couldn't they see that Naruto was not the demon?

She failed him. They all did. And now, he was gone. For once in decades, the powerful and respected slug Sannin, renown for her insane strength and skill, broke down and wept.

Another win.

Shikamaru suppressed a smirk as he collected the stones and prepared for another round of Go with Asuma.

Life was good. There were no missions for a week now, he had slept in till noon, had done nothing but play Shogi and Go with Asuma and Chouji, the weather had been great as of late, with billowing snow-white clouds of different curious shapes scattered all over the sky; and last but definitely not the least, Ino, or any members of the opposite sex for that matter, hasn't shown her face and bitch at him for a few days now. It just couldn't get any better than this.

Of course, thanks to a guy named Murphy, everyone knows that there is no such thing as perfect. Life just has to be screwed up every now and then. Shikamaru knew that; he could actually feel 'something' amiss in his gut.

He squashed that ominous feeling and continued the game. Whatever it is that will ruin his good fortune, it will come sooner or later. It's just a matter of time. Nothing lasts forever...ugh, how troublesome...

"What's wrong? What's with the long face?" Tenten gently cooed as she rested her head on Neji's shoulders. Her boyfriend seemed dispirited. The fact that he didn't want to train (they met regularly to train) and the absence of the condescending arrogance that she had come to associate with him with for so long now, meant that something was very wrong. A very dejected Neji heaved a sigh as he pulled her closer and told her everything, from Hinata's outburst to when he dropped her off at the mansion and informed Hiashi.

Like Neji, the first thing that registered was surprise. Naruto left? The next thing that came was sorrow and regret. It was because of him that she had Neji. He was the one who released Neji from the shackles of his foolish philosophy and gave him a new lease on life.

And he left without hearing the couple thank him. Why didn't they thank him sooner? If only...

"You may enter now," said the ANBU. Iruka nodded in response and entered the Hokage's office. Why did she call for him? Hundreds of thoughts raced through his mind at a thousand miles per hour. A promotion? You wish. A mission? I'm a teacher now. It's not likely. A reprimand? I didn't intentionally do anything wrong. I've always done my job to the best of my abilities like any other true shinobi of the Hidden Leaf. After bowing to the Hokage and the other Sannin, he cleared his throat and asked, "How may I help you, Hokage-sama?" He failed to notice her red eyes and nose. Tsunade looked at the other two occupants in the room and started in a quiet voice. "Jiraya, Iruka...Naruto, he-" She stopped abruptly, trying to stop her voice from breaking and to stifle the sobs trying to escape.

At the mention of his name and the grave tone accompanying it, both senseis' hearts raced and they feared the worst, but patiently waited for Tsunade to gather herself.

"Naruto left...the village." It came just like a cold, hard slap resounding through the cavernous, noisy silence.

Their worried, racing hearts stopped. Shock possessed them, the numbness almost painful.

The first to speak was the frog summoner. "Have you sent ANBU to find him?" "Of course I have!" her voice sounding sharp in the equally harsh silence. "They found nothing-" "Of course they found nothing! Do you think they want him in the village? Those bastards hate him! The blind fools see nothing but the damned demon!" Iruka yelled, pushing himself into the conversation. Both Sannins looked down. They all knew it to be true. No doubt the entire village will be celebrating once the news spreads.

Iruka slumped down, tears starting to fall and body shaking in grief while Jiraya banged his fist on the wall while muttering a 'stupid kid'. His shut eyes and shaking voice betrayed the tough façade he tried hard to put up.

A fresh batch of tears pooled the Hokage's eyes. 'Naruto...I'm so sorry this happened...I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me for my failure...'

The first thing Sasuke saw when he opened his eyes was pink. Just light pink...he soon realized that he was looking at Sakura's hair. He groaned as he sat up, fighting the wave of nausea that hit him. What had happened? Ah, yes...that damn Naruto tackled him, they fell down a ravine and...that's as far as his memory goes.

He shook his head and chuckled slightly. That Naruto's always getting them in trouble. This time, it's the hospital this time. That dobe. Heh, that's all he'll amount to.

"Sasuke-kun, you're awake!" Oh damn. So is she. He repressed the urge to sneer at her stating of the obvious. "Where's the dobe?" he asked, ignoring he girl's shower of attention. Sakura's expression fell. "He..." "He left the village." came a third voice. The two whipped around to see Tsunade enter. Sasuke looked at her. "What?" She nodded. "He left...because he couldn't take it." She said, giving a pointed glare at her student. Sakura looked ashamed. Even her sensei knew. "What? Couldn't take what?" Sasuke asked loudly, irritation getting to him. What the hell are they talking about? Tsunade sighed and took a deep breath. "Naruto has been ostracized and hated by the entire village. While you were unconscious a few days ago, he finally snapped and left." Oh, Kami. Please don't ask why... "Hated? Why?" Damn...!

Suddenly, a slam was heard. All three turned to see a wide-eyed Konohamaru by the door. "B-Boss? He's gone? No! You're lying! He's just gone training! You lie!" he screamed. Before he could advance towards the three, Ebisu appeared and grabbed him. "LET ME GO!" "Konohamaru-sama! Please!" The screaming of the now-crying grandson of the Third soon died down as Ebisu carried him off.

Sasuke turned to Tsunade and asked his question again. "Hokage-sama, please answer my question. She heaved a sigh. "I'll tell you all once you've all gathered. As his friends, it would only be right to let you know."

The two genins nodded, curiosity eating their insides up.

The knock on the large, imposing door was cautious, even timid and hesitant. "Come in. " The door opened to reveal 11 Genins. "Hokage-sama, we're all here." She nodded and motioned them to enter and close the door. She then steepled her fingers and rested her chin on her thumbs as she eyed them with a tired, studying gaze. "What I'm about to tell you is and will remain a secret. Understood?" After receiving affirmative replies, she took a deep breath and proceeded to reveal the secret of the legacy of the Fourth.

As news of the hated demon boy spread through the village, surprise and elation, but sadness for a few, erupted. Through the festivities, nobody noticed the overcast sky above foretelling the chaos that was to come. An angry rain came that night, halting the celebrations...it was as if the heavens were mourning the departure of the ninja- no, savior of the Leaf.

A/N: Well? Like it? I hope you guys didn't get too disappointed. Wish me luck in the midterms.