Chapter Thirty Seven

Back On Track: Countries Combine

A few months had passed since the summit, it had been October then, now it was January in the land of Fire. There was actually snow in the land. It was rare to have such a thing and the children were out playing in it happily, while genin shoveled snow out of the way and other shinobi did higher up missions.

This leads us into the forest, where Team 7 was running to catch that damn cat again. The cat had gotten bigger, drinking some kind of tonic, making it grow to the size of a damn wolf. It had already tried attacking Sakura head on, but was pushed back by a monstrous punch.

"That cat is freaking evil!" Sakura yelled as she attacked the feline again. "How does that women deal with it?" Sasuke asked out loud as he tried to use wire to trap the cat, but failed, as said feline dodged the kunai and subsequently, the wire. Kakashi shrugged his shoulders. "Hell if I know." he said as he dodged a swipe to the face.

Finally, after much maneuvering and tactical alignment in Sasuke's part, they caught the wolf sized cat, by wrapping it in ninja wire and dragged it back to the Hokage Tower. Where it was given an antidote and returned to normal size and almost squeezed to death by the Wife of the Fire Country Daimyo.

Sakura and Sasuke couldn't help but laugh at the cat's poor situation. Kakashi shook his head and went back to reading his book. Tsunade nodded in approval and said they could take the rest of the day off. They had been at it most of the day anyways. It was already one o'clock in the afternoon.

So with that, Kakashi, wearing a scarf, while his students wore cloaks, that were white with blue trim, went to their favorite place, Ichiraku's Ramen. Sakura and Sasuke taking off their cloaks as the inside was warm and Kakashi taking his scarf off so he could eat.

Sakura's hair was still short, her pink hair falling just past her shoulders, now even. Sasuke had grown his out a little, his duck butt style hair now drooping a little in the back. Both had also changed their outfits. Sasuke now wearing a short sleeved blue shirt with white long sleeves coming out, a high collar and an Uchiha crest on the back. Long black pants that had several pockets on it to hold scrolls and the such. Black ninja sandals finished it off, his forehead protector around his forehead. His shuriken and kunai holsters in their usual places.

Sakura wore a red short sleeved shirt that had orange long sleeves coming out of it. The Haruno crest on the back, long white pants that sagged around her feet at the moment and had several pockets for kunai and scrolls. Shuriken and kunai holsters in their usual places, forehead protector on her forehead, no longer held on top of her head. Black sandals that went up to her knees, but couldn't see due to the pants, black fingerless gloves with medal plates on the back finished it off.

Both seemed to be better since their breakdowns months back after Naruto had died. Both had lost their friend, Sakura losing a love. They had both lost a lot already and Naruto was just another lost to that list. But once they broke down, Sakura in Ino's arms, and Sasuke in Itachi's arms, both had slowly gotten back on track and helped with the countries forming to become one. Sakura helped Tsunade with paper work and to run messages between countries with Sasuke and Kakashi.

Her medical skills had picked up and she was already on the same level of Shizune. She also knew many earth and water jutsu alongside her medical jutsu. She learned to summon Katsuya as well, the Slug boss was impressive in her own right. Sakura was shaping out to be a great Kunochi.

Sasuke had learned many lightning jutsu, Earth, fire, water jutsu as well, he couldn't master wind though, it usually blasted him in the face, making Kakashi chuckle at that. He didn't have the Sharingan but he could memorize things just as fast and predict his opponents moments without a problem. He had also signed the contract with Kakashi's dogs. The mutts listened to him and understood when he needed help. Sasuke also found out he could summon them when he only needed comfort and Kakashi and Sakura were already asleep.

To be short and to the point though, both had grown to be very powerful ninja. Kakashi couldn't be prouder. But he had wished his other student had been alive to see this and to see how strong the blonde would've been. It would've been nice to see his sensei's son grown.

Now wasn't the time to dwell on such a topic. He was watching his two students finish off their bowls of ramen as he did as well. Once they were done, they paid and left to go to the Uchiha mansion. Sakura had moved into the mansion, as well as Kakashi. Neither felt right living by themselves anymore. So the three grouped together in the huge mansion with Sasuke and his brother Itachi, who in fact was now a leader of his own Anbu team once again.

None of them realized two cloaked figures watch them enter their home. As soon as they entered their house though, the two figures disappeared in a pillar of flames.

34

Tsunade groaned in frustration. The Hyuuga's were being a bunch of idiotic bastards that didn't seem to want to forgive and forget just yet. Hiashi Hyuuga just wouldn't agree to get along with Cloud. He still held a grudge against them for kidnapping his daughter, or at least trying to.

Tsunade rubbed her forehead with the palm of her hand as she waited for the Hyuuga head to appear again. They were to have a talk about this once again. She wasn't really looking forward to it, mostly because Hiashi kept yelling at her about the audacity of such a thought.

Tsunade just wanted to get the meeting started and then finish it. She wanted her bed and a bottle of sake. The uniting of the two countries was really starting to tax on her, and she could hardly keep up with all of the new paperwork, and all the new laws and such being made to help each country, Tsunade had also successfully gotten the Hyuuga's to ditch their caged bird seal.

She had every branch member freed of the seal, even though the tattoo remained, they were free to use their Byakugan freely without any punishment jutsus or stuff.

A knock on the door knocked Tsunade out of her thoughts. She straightened in her chair and looked at the door. "Come in." She said in a firm voice, and in came Hiashi in his usual clothes, all pale and white and just dull. Nothing exciting about the Hyuuga.

"I believe I came here to let you know that I agree to the joining of the countries." Tsunade fell out of her seat in surprise. That was the last thing she thought she'd hear from the Hyuuga head. He was being very strong about this and it was a few days since he started to voice his opinions.

Tsunade climbed back into her seat, laced her fingers together as her elbows came to rest on the desk, she leaned her head on her entwined fingers. Her golden eyes shown with surprise, suspicion and thoughtfulness. "What's with the sudden change in opinion Hiashi?" Tsunade asked as she took in a full scope of the man in front of her.

He seemed rather pale, and his eyes a little dull and full of fear, he was shaking and sweating horribly, but trying to hide it. "I just want to end this and if the Cloud promises to only marry into the family and then not use the doujutsu we hold against us, I will be happy." Hiashi said as he looked anywhere but into the Hokage's eyes.

Tsunade figured that someone must've threatened him to agree with the treaty. Otherwise he wouldn't be here agreeing fully, but Tsunade not wanting to look a gifted horse in the mouth, she let it be. "Alright then, I'll make sure the Cloud knows that and then we can get the treaty finalized and continue on in peace." Tsunade said as she dismissed the head. But before he left, she said on last thing, "Oh and Hiashi, next time someone threatens you, come and tell me who, and I'll take care of them." Tsunade said as the head bowed his head and left.

"Well that's one worry done with, now to summon the other Kages once again and finalize the treaty." Tsunade said to herself as she summoned an Anbu to bring Team 7 to her at once.

34

Sakura was heading to Suna, to talk with Baki. She had just been told to head out and go to Suna. The combining of the countries was to commence soon and she could hardly wait. The blood shed would soon stop and she would finally be able to work on her medical skills in peace.

34

Sasuke was heading to Cloud. He had just been told to get the Hokages summoned. The Hyuuga's had finally agreed to the alliance between countries. Sasuke still scoffed at how long it took the stuck up bastards to agree. He was beginning to think that he was going to have to threaten them into agreeing. Sasuke chuckled at the thought.

34

Kakashi was reading his book as he jumped among the trees, the Icha Icha series were starting to pick up again, since Jiriya's books were being passed over to other shinobi in the countries, and Kakashi already had all of his signed, making them priceless. But now wasn't the time to think about that, in fact, he was busy getting to Water and then Rock. The Summit was to happen again soon and he couldn't wait. The peace was soon to reign. Just like Obito and Minato had said before they died. Both were right. The countries would live in peace once again.

And with that thought in mind, Kakashi put his book away and increased his speed to deliver his message straight away. He wasn't going to be late this time.

34

Two figures sat in the trees of Konoha, watching as the sun set and the stars come out. Both just relaxing. "So, what are you going to do now that Akutsuki isn't going after total world domination anymore." A soft voice said as the figure leaned further into the tree for comfort.

"I don't really know. All I know is that we missing nin are actually being given a second chance. Most are returning to their home village, while others are just moving around." Another much rougher said as that figure fingered his bandaged wrapped sword.

"Missing nins have practically been given a get out of jail free card. Even I and Itachi have been given pardoned because everyone is beginning a new." the same voice said. The other chuckled humorously as he looked at his partner. "You could always live here Kisame, I'm sure Konoha would love to have one of the seven swordsmen of the Mist."

Kisame looked at his friend with a smile. He replied easily enough. "I might just do that, I might have to get a new outfit though. I can't keep wearing the Akutsuki uniform. Anyways, what about you, what are you going to do now?" Kisame asked seriously.

The figure looked up at the sky, the umbrella hat covering their face. The Akutsuki cloak was black with crimson clouds, but was open, revealing a black tank with metal mesh over the top. "I have no idea. I'm not sure what exactly what I want at the moment. Like you, I've been given a second chance or my fourth. I'm not sure what I'm going to do just yet."

Kisame only shook his head and stood up, slinging his sword onto his back. "Well, I'm going to check into a hotel, I signal so you know which one and which room. I also want to say that you need to decide sooner or later. This will not only affect your life, but others." and with that, Kisame left, leaving the figure behind to star off into the stars and think about his future.

34

Sakura went to her hotel room, she had reported to the substitute Kazekage, and told him that the plan would proceed. He would be at the summit with the trainee Kazekage, Gaara, who seemed calmer and smarter then before. She was happy to know that a friend of Naruto's was safe and sound, and even happy to know that he was being treated better, thanks to Baki. She hoped that wherever Naruto was, that he was safe.

She hoped she'd meet him after she died, because she truly loved him with all of her heart. She wouldn't let her love for Naruto die, not in the eternity she had ahead.