Kei-Kei Yuki: Hey! Who's ready for the next chapter?! Okay, so I'm picturing the: The Last to have at least six-parts maybe seven. Also, does anyone knows any good Naruto commissions artists? I've tried DeviantArt, but most artists are on break or no longer interested in the fandom. I would love to see my SasuFemNaru family come to life! So if you have a few names in mind, please send them to me.

Pairings: Naruko x Sasuke, Fem!Iruka x Kakashi, Sakura x Lee, Hinata x Kiba, and the rest are canon.

Beta: Ana-DaughterofHades

The Last-Pt.2

"Oh, would this be nice?" Naruko held up an antique marble flower vase, imagining that it would look good in Iruka and Kakashi's new home. Standing beside her, Hinata smiled as she watched Naruko inspect the vase, turning it over and peering inside.

"Naru-chan, I believe Iruka-sensei would be happy with whatever you give her as she knows it comes from your heart," said Hinata, aware of how much the brunette cherished the blonde, having treated Naruko as if she was her own blood. Hinata knew that whatever present Naruko decided to give Iruka, the woman would be happy, seeing as it came from a person dear to her.

"I know, but this is a super special occasion! It has to be the best!" exclaimed Naruko, when something across the antique store caught her attention. A boy and girl were cuddled together; the girl pointed towards this cute ring encrusted with a pink heart-shaped diamond. Naruko watched as the boy picked out the ring and placed it on the girl's finger. His action surprised the girl who blushed when he mouthed sweet romantic words to her.

The boy and girl were obviously a couple, something which Naruko was starting to see a lot of lately. Even among her own group of friends. Recalling how she was spotting Temari a lot more, catching sight of her strolling in the village holding hands with Shikamaru. The time she caught Sai doing a personal portrait of Ino in the park and how the Yamaka blushed when Sai called Ino a beautiful piece of art.

Even bushy-brow was starting to step up his game of wooing Sakura over. Every day he would appear and present her with a different flower bouquet. Sakura might not show it, but Naruko could tell the pinknette was starting to cave in. Which confused Naruko, because wasn't Sakura still in love with- 'Ah, let's not even mention him.' Naruko had to stop herself from referring to a certain someone's name.

Yeah, when Sasuke had left for his self-redemption journey, Naruko had acted casual and did not kick up a fuss, but inside she felt like dying. She had just brought him back, even sacrificed an arm for him, and he still left! Don't even get Naruko started on how she felt about him cutting off her hair! She was still pissed at him for that, but in a way, Naruko could understand why Sasuke had to leave.

Hell, she understood why he left the first time, but just once- 'Why can't he think of me before he goes off on his own?' Naruko asked herself; tan fingers stroked the smooth exterior of the vase before shaking her head, not wanting to fall into depression once again.

'At least that bastard replied to my letters,' Naruko tried to cheer herself up. Unaware that her mood swings were all surveyed by Hinata, who silently stood beside Naruko.

'She's thinking about him,' Hinata tried to control the jealousy burning deep inside of her. Years may have passed, but Hinata still bore nothing but distrust and a coldhearted grudge against the Uchiha. Naruko may have fought for him, forgiven him, and was still oblivious to her true feelings towards the man she called her rival, but Hinata wasn't.

Since that cold, snowy day, she had loved the blonde who appeared out of nowhere like spring and defended her honor. That moment a small bud of love was born in the Hyuuga Princess's chest, and this love only grew bigger the longer she watched the blonde from a distance and later as her best friend. Yet despite Hinata's love for Naruko, in the end, she was no Uchiha Sasuke.

"Yo! So this is where you guys are!" Walking into the store, having caught sight of them from the window when he was passing by, was Inuzuka Kiba.

"What's up, dog-breath?"

"Back at you, shorty!"

Both fox and dog grinned at each other before brown eyes shyly turned to the Hyuuga heiress standing beside Naruko. "So, H-Hinata, I was wondering if y-you would like to try out this new dessert place that just opened up a block from here later?" Since the war ended, many new food shops and restaurants were starting to open, not to mention the expansion of construction.

Narrowed blue eyes were pointed at Inuzuka, noticing that slight blush on his cheeks that he tried to hide by turning his head to the side. Trying to come off as casual but was failing. 'Ha, still so obvious with his feelings.' Naruko may be dense when the situation concerned herself but was the opposite when it came to others. She had known about Kiba's crush on Hinata since they were genins

Before Naruko could give Hinata a nudge, they were interrupted by the presence of Neji. Naruko was happy to see the man's injured leg had finally healed. If Naruko hadn't saved Neji in the nick of time during the war, they would have lost the Hyuuga, and that would without a doubt have made Hinata's, Team Gai's, and even her own, hearts heavy with grief.

It seemed the Hyuuga clan needed Hinata to discuss some clan business. Since growing out of her shy shell into a strong, confident, and sometimes straight-up terrifying woman, the clan had started to take Hinata seriously. The once timid girl had finally begun acting as the rightful heiress of her clan. "Sorry, Kiba-kun, maybe next time!" Hinata apologized before walking to Neji.

"Hinata, don't forget all the girls are meeting up later! Bye, Neji!" Naruko reminded the girl who promised she would be there before waving her hand at the handsome older Hyuuga. Neji graced Naruko with a small smile and glared at Kiba before taking his leave with Hinata. Once out of the shop, Kiba let out a breath that he didn't know he was holding.

Neji had been protective of Hinata ever since Naruko showed him the error of his way by using her fist. The Hyuuga prodigy stood at her side as if he was her bodyguard, glaring off any man who dared to show an ounce of interest in Hinata. "Ha, you need more guts, Kiba!" said Naruko following Inuzuka out of the store, changing her mind about the vase and decided to look for a different gift later. The two walked side by side until they suddenly reached the old training forest.

"Naruko, why are following me?" Kiba sounded a bit annoyed that Naruko had been following him. Ever since Naruko became the village's darling little hero, the girl got herself an army of fanboys. Kiba thought fangirls were the worst, but fanboys were just as bad! Whenever they spotted Naruko chatting or gossiping with one of her male friends, their minds automatically jumped to conclusions. They thought the friend was dating her, which always resulted in them challenging that said person to a fight.

They were no match against well-trained war veterans, but it got tiring fast when they kept popping up like cockroaches. It had gotten to the point where Shikamaru would run from Naruko whenever she spotted him, which would follow in a hilarious chase of cat and mouse before finally the lazy Nara could stand no more and announced his relationship with Temari.

"I wanted to ask you something!" Naruko asked the Inuzuka

"Ask me what?" Kiba was confused at what Naruko wanted to ask of him.

"I know you like Hinata, but even after all this time, why haven't you confessed your feelings to her yet?" Instead of acting flustered as Naruko expected, Kiba said nothing and remained calm. Which was weird and the exact opposite of his usual rowdy self.

"Tch, that's just like me asking you why you wasted all those years chasing after Sasuke."

"Hey! For the last time, the teme and I are strictly rivals!" Naruko didn't know why everyone misunderstood her relationship with Sasuke all the time. Yeah, no normal person would go through the ordeals she faced when trying to bring him back, but as she mentioned before, Sasuke and her share a special relationship. Besides, even if Naruko did share an ounce of feelings for her raven-haired rival- which she does not!- she doubted Sasuke viewed her or anyone in a romantic light.

'Ah, why does my heart feel heavy all of a sudden? Damn it. This is why I don't like to bring up his name.' So yeah, Sasuke and her may be the reincarnation of two ancient lovers but the Uchiha had shown utter indifference to this fact once they had found out. Yet, for some reason, all her friends, heck even Sakura, somehow felt there was more between them.

"Yeah, I know. You keep spouting the same thing over and over. Rival. Friendship. But you see when you fall for a person, it makes you act impulsive and foolish. No matter the pain you endure unintentionally, you can't control yourself when it comes to that person. Right now, I know she only has you in her heart." Hell, Kiba had known Hinata was in love with Naruko since they formed Team Eight.

You had to be a fool to have mistaken those strong, pure feelings as simple friendship. "I can wait until she's finally ready to have room for one more. I just hope by then, she'll give me a chance." Wow, Naruko had to give it to Kiba, not many people would have the patience nor the strength if placed in his shoes.

"Wow, since when did you become so manly~!" Naruko may have admired him, but this still would not stop her from teasing him.

"Shut up! Better yet when will you finally wake up and realize the type of relationship you and Sasuke have? 'Cause this whole rival bs you keep using is getting real old, Naruko! The same goes for Sasuke! It's about time you two ended this childhood love story!" Hands shoved in his pockets, Kiba delivered this piece of advice to the clueless blonde, before taking his leave.

Watching him leave, Naruko folded her arms over her chest and shook her head. "To think there would be a day where I get love advice from Inuzuka Kiba. The world must be ending." Naruko really shouldn't have jinxed herself, too bad she wouldn't realize this mistake until some time later.

Elsewhere, in the wild open plains of the desert, a lone figure in dark clothing concealed from head to toe looked towards the open blue sky, which reminded him of her eyes. In a different location, a man stared down at the crystal ball left behind by his ancestors and saw the girl he had been observing who had held a special place in his heart for so many years and smiled.

"It's time to head for Konohagakure." Despite existing in separate locations, these two men replied at the same time, sharing similar intentions with each other.

End of The Last-Pt.2!