Epilogue
Coming together is a beginning, staying together is a progress and working together is a success. ~ Henry Ford
Two weeks have passed since the execution. Sasuke's body has been preserved in an ice cooler at the morgue. Mayuri was handling the funeral plans and Yukimura was busy with his examination. Even though he had previously earned his title as a Jounin ranked ninja it was revoked with the discovery of his heritage.
He had to get used to a new way of life. People that were comfortable around him now avoid him, but he was prepared for it. He just focused on his training with Naruto. He had the chance to regain his title at the next exam.
Mayuri stood in front of the counsel of elders whom she has gotten used to seeing. Their grouch faces always rejecting her.
"You've come again today," the old woman said. "We've already rejected your notion a hundred times, yet you come a hundred more times!"
"And even if you reject me those hundred times I will ask a thousand more until I get your approval. Please, open the Uchiha land and let me bury Sasuke-san there with his family. It's been two weeks, we can't wait anymore," she pleaded.
"I don't care about a criminal's body," the old woman spat. "Just bury him anywhere or nowhere at all! Stop brothering us!"
Naruto was always with her when she meets the counsel. They were cruel to her and judgmental. If he weren't there with her they would have tossed her around with cruel curses.
"How about this," Naruto said with authority. This needed to stop. "If my student, Yukimura, is able to pass the Jounin exams without failing even one test then that would prove him to be chivalrous enough to take the Uchiha clan on his own shoulders. You would open up the land and give it up him who deserves his family's land." Naruto paused and smiled, "I know you love a good gamble Advisor Shinkuro."
The old man chuckled. "And what would you give if you lose the bet?"
"How about never talk about this again," Naruto said, this time appealing to the interest of the old woman.
"Deal! Never speak of this again if the boy fails. Now get out of here, we are busy people here," she yelled, weaving her hand as if shooing a fly.
"I'm glad we are on terms," Naruto said. "I'll see you again at the arena," he said as he walked out.
"I won't be there to witness your failure, boy!" Advisor Shinkuro said.
Mayuri bowed quickly and exited the room following Naruto.
"Thank you for that, Naruto-san," she said, satisfied, there was no way that Yukimura will fail at something he has already passed and has even more training for.
"It's nothing. To deal with people like them you just need to know what makes them interested," Naruto said.
"Well it saved me from going there a thousand times," Mayuri said. "Now we can finally find Sasuke-san a resting place among his family."
"I was thinking," Naruto said looking down at Mayuri. "You've always been thinking about how to deal with Sasuke's body. What about Uchiha Itachi?"
"He's buried already," she said quietly.
"Well, I think, when everything is settled let's relocate your late husband's grave among his family's also."
Tears weld up in Mayuri's eyes. She has never visited Itachi's grave after she had Yukimura. He was buried all the way in the land of Amekagure. There was no way she could travel all the way while trying to raise Yuki.
"That would be lovely," she said.
Naruto smiled. "Now let's get Yuki ready for that exam."
Yuki was practicing in his usual spot. He couldn't find the will to concentrate on self-training anywhere except where he and Sasuke trained in the past. Beads of sweat trickled down his brow and he wiped it away with his wrist. Training helped a lot. It calmed him down.
Mayuri and Naruto came from behind the woods that surround his secret training area. Their mood seems happy which a surprise was since Mayuri would look dejected by the rejections all the time.
"What's going on?" Yuki asked.
"We got permission," Mayuri said with a large smile Yuki had missed.
"Really?"
"On one condition," Naruto said. "You have to pass the Jounin exam with no problems."
"That's it?" Yuki asked. He had worried for a second of what bizarre condition it would be. He just needed to pass the exams?
"Yes," Naruto said. "And we know you can do it."
The exam was in a week and Yuki had been training every hour to every second. There was no doubt that he could pass without problems. But he wanted to make sure nothing can back fire. This match has the Uchiha name riding on it.
On the exam day Yukimura stood at the center of the large arena facing opponent for the match. The crowd was watching intently as the students pulled out every little trick they knew in their battles. Naruto and Mayuri were watching and so were the counsel.
"State your name," the proctor said before starting the match.
"Sasaki Kenjo," his opponent affirmed.
"And yours?" the proctor asked turning to Yuki.
Yuki said with certainty and a handsome smirk across his face, "My name is Uchiha Yukimura!"
So there were a lot of questions asking if the last chapter was really the end and one question asking if Sasuke is really dead. Well, I hope the epilogue answered your question.
I just want to thank all of the readers for the support and reviews. Ever time I see a little email from fanfiction labeled [Review] I get all excited. So thanks guys.
So I guess this is me saying, "To be continued."
Check out the next edition of the My Father... sequel, The Minstrel and The Ninja.
RueLin,
