It's been 10 years since the year that changed my life happened.

I still have the picture of the three of us in my wallet.

I just finished a long shift scrubbing in during procedures and attending to post-op patients. I was tired and was happy to head home.

Yes, who knew that I'd become a doctor? I was currently in my first year of

surgical residency and the hours had been brutal.

As soon as I got outside the hospital glass doors, I was greeted by the sweltering heat.

It was summer again, and I couldn't help but smile.

Outside by the parking lot, I saw two people I loved the most waiting for me.

A pregnant Sakura was with Naruto. She was holding his hand as she wiped his face free of dirt. Well, seems like nothing changed.

I waved to them as I got outside, and they smiled at me. Naruto was excitedly waving his hand.

Seeing him happily waving at me, I recall the image of Naruto 10 years ago just before he had his surgery.

From behind the OR door, I saw my last glimpse of Naruto, smiling and waving at us as he mouthed "I love you".

"Otou-san!" Naruto shouted as he ran, latching on to my leg me as he reached me.

I patted my son lovingly on the head. "How did your day go Naruto?"

"Look! I got a star in class!" He said as he showed me his hand marked with a star.

"That's good. How about we celebrate and get ramen later?"

"Yes! You're the best otou-san!" He exclaimed.

"Otou-san says I'm getting ramen!" He shouted at her mother as he scampered off running happily.

Sakura came waddling just after him, watching the two of us from afar with a contented smile on her face.

"You're spoiling him." Sakura argued good-naturedly.

"A little but he deserves a reward for doing well. Our son is growing up smart." I said feeling proud of him.

"And hey, is that how you greet your husband?" I teased her as she reached me, my hands automatically going to her pregnant belly and wrapping around her.

"I missed you and I love you, Sasuke-kun." She said as she hugged me before burying her face in my neck.

"I missed you and I love you too, Sakura." I said, enjoying the feeling of holding her close and inhaling her familiar scent, cherry blossoms and vanilla. Well nothing's changed about that.

Slowly, she disentangled from me and I was able to stare into her eyes, the feeling of getting lost in them never growing old.

And as always, Sakura leaned in and kissed me. Definitely, nothing's changed.

Naruto had told his parents beforehand that he wanted to have a short funeral and be cremated. He also requested that his ashes be spread out in the sea.

His whole family, my kaa-san, Sakura and I were aboard a yacht watching his ashes scatter with the wind and then fall among the waves.

So it's over, this is how it ends. Naruto is free.

"Hey loser, I want to be mad at you for dying but I can't. You had always been resilient, beating the odds. Why can't you have stayed a little bit longer? Your light burned too brightly and quickly Naruto but it had been a pleasure knowing you and being your friend. I hope you're happy wherever you are and don't cause trouble. I hope they are serving ramen there. And if you meet Kakashi over there, tell him...that he's been the best father I've known and I miss him, okay?"

I laughed a little then I felt myself tear up. Mentally asking for Naruto's forgiveness for breaking my promise not to cry.

I felt someone reach for my hand. It was Sakura's. I looked at her still figure silently grieving and squeezed her hand back.

I looked back at the vast open sea. Knowing that Naruto was somehow a part of it, I felt a little of the sadness ebb away.

I wondered whether life restores balance this way. And whether in this moment, it was being fair or unfair.

I'm thankful of everything that has happened in my life so far.

I still miss my bestfriend, my brother, Naruto but I have my son with me that I have named after him.

I have my wife, Sakura whom I've been married for 5 years now, and who has never failed to make me fall more in love with her every single day.

I have tried to live my life with as much love for life and love as Naruto did in the last year of his life.

And I have never regretted what I did 10 years ago.

The hurt and the pain were all worth it.

It has taught me the value of life, friendship and most of all love.

So now, I'm ending our story knowing that there's still something I haven't told you.