Kei-Kei Yuki: Hey! Guys, so the commissioner finally got in touch with me, and I'm thinking of requesting a picture of Gaiden Sasuke and Naruko with Daisuke, featuring a scene from my version of the Boruto: Chunin Exam Arc.

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.3

Sitting beside Hinata as the waiters came and set down dish after dish of steaming seafood, Naruko could not stop herself from drooling. The restaurant they had reserved a section for themselves had just recently opened two weeks ago, and since then, people had been saying nothing but praise for the delicious cuisines. Naruko, being the huge foodie that she was, knew she had to try the place out.

It was just her luck that Ino had decided to have their annual all-girls-get-together here. Something which the gossiping blonde requested after learning how once a month the boys of their group would meet up and talk amongst themselves without the girls present, and Ino, being the petty person that she was, requested that the girls should do the same.

So far, the group, despite their busy schedules, had managed to regroup at least once a month, hanging out at whatever new food establishment had recently opened. After finding out how each time they visited a new food place to eat the owners, upon seeing Naruko, would offer them a huge discount, Ino took full advantage of it by ordering the most expensive dish that was on the menu.

Naruko had placed a mouthful of the soft meat of a ruby queen crab, a rare type of lobster imported from the Kirigakure, in her mouth when she heard Ino talk to Karin, sitting across the table beside TenTen. It had been a full two years since Karin and Suigetsu became citizens of Konoha. Naruko had extended the invitation to Jugo, but the man had declined for some reason.

While most people would consider her weird for inviting criminals to become citizens of their village, Naruko did not view their criminal past as that harsh when compared to Orochimaru and Kabuto, who got full amnesty thanks to the meddling of the councils. Voicing how since the two led a considerable hand in the war, their past transgressions should be forgotten.

When in actuality, they wanted to get their hands on Orochimaru's research, valuing the man's wicked intelligence more than the evil deeds he committed in the past. The anger Naruko felt upon hearing the council's decisions had needed the full strength of both Sakura and Kakashi to hold Naruko back from barging in there and throwing a tantrum.

Especially when the blonde recalled how those senile old fools chose to sentence Sasuke to spend the rest of his life in chakra binds or take a freaking death sentence-despite them being one of the main reasons that caused Itachi to kill his clan and for Sasuke to take his path of vengeance. Since those old fools were going to play dirty, then Naruko was going to play too, by dragging up old dirt on both of them, threatening to release it to the public if they did not listen to her commands. The pardoning of Sasuke from his crimes, and enlisting Karin and Suigetsu as full citizens of Konohagakure, was the least Naruko could do.

After learning how loyal Team Taki was to Sasuke despite how hard he may have treated one of their members, Karin, Naruko was surprised to learn that she was related to the redhead, seeing as Karin was Uzumaki. When the blonde had found this out, she couldn't help but cry and hug the bewildered red-headed girl. Since that day, Naruko claimed Karin as family, enlisting her under the Uzumaki name and worked hard to get closer to the girl, who, in a way, reminded her a bit of Sakura.

"Some of the staff are finally starting to warm up to me, and working under Sakura-san is quite enlightening. This woman literally has the entire hospital under her control," joked Karin as Sakura couldn't help but smile when hearing such praise. Since enlisting Karin as a Konohagakure citizen, Naruko suggested that Karin try working at the hospital, and after taking her advice, the redhead found herself working under Sakura. The pink-haired medical kunoichi was currently assigned as the assistant head of the hospital.

"So Ino, what's this I hear of you wanting to open up your own cosmetic brand?" Sakura asked her best friend. Tossing her long blonde hair back, Ino began to brag.

"Well, since I'm held as Konoha's top beautician, I have decided to spread my love for beauty by opening up my own cosmetic brand. Plus, a girl should have the right to feel beautiful when not busy with work, especially when it comes to date nights! Speaking of dates, what is this I hear about you finally giving Lee a chance?" Wagging her eyebrows suggestively, Ino mischievously pointed her eyes onto the blushing Sakura.

"I-I'm just a kind individual! Besides, I wanted to thank him for the flowers he is always giving me!"

"There's also the fact that bushy-brows somehow got hot after Ino's little make-over. Just admit you find the man attractive, Sakura-chan!" Naruko calmly busted Sakura on the spot, too busy eating shrimp but aware that Sakura's face was probably the same color as her hair when she heard Naruko's little remark.

Besides being shocking, this statement was also very accurate, and it was all thanks to Ino, who, after deciding to make a name for herself as the village's top beautician, had used Lee as her practice dummy, and the results were very shocking. No longer could Naruko call the boy bushy-brows anymore; his signature bowl cut had grown out, now worn in a low ponytail. And after adding a few alterations to his jumpsuit, Lee somehow jumped himself on Konoha's top ten hottest bachelor list. Something which no one could have predicted coming true in the past.

"Now Naruko-chan, you have no room to tease billboard brow here! When you and Sasuke still haven't-ouch!" Ino yelped in pain when Sakura pinched her thigh under the table. She only noticed the pinkette shaking her head after seeing the crestfallen look on the blonde's face upon hearing Sasuke's name.

"Oops, seems his name is still a sour subject for our Naruko-chan, huh?" Ino whispered over to Sakura, who sighed, glancing at the gray clouds that hung over her the blonde moping head as Hinata tried to cheer her up.

"Well, the only contact she has with him is the letters she sends to him. She tries to hang in there and be strong, but I think it is starting to take its toll on her." Sakura had to pity Naruko. For three years, the girl had chased down Sasuke, and when he finally returned, he left for an extra two years. Gosh, if Sakura was in Naruko's shoes, the pinkette didn't know whether or not she could've hung in there that long.

After leaving the restaurant, the girls split ways; Sakura and Naruko walked the road together. "Do you think that teme will return soon?" Naruko was the first to break the silence between them.

"Honestly, Naruko, I was going to ask you that same question. No one can read Sasuke-kun as you can." Sakura glanced up at the night sky, thoughts directed at Sasuke, and if he would finally return. Not for her sake, having grown out of her love for the Uchiha, Sakura's only concern now lied with seeing her two teammates happy.

Similar to Sakura, Naruko's thoughts were also on Sasuke and recalled Kiba's words from earlier. 'Why are my emotions so complicated when it comes to that stupid teme!? Argh, I hate how he is the only one to make me feel so frustrated that I want to punch him in the face one second and the next, console him in a hug! Gaah, just when is that stupid teme coming home already!?' Naruko was so busy ranting in her head that she mistakenly bumped into a solid hard chest. Realizing her mistake, Naruko looked up and found herself momentarily stunned.

The same went for Sakura, both girls eyeing the handsome man standing before them. Wavy dark brown locks of hair framed his alluring face, eyes were in the shapes of crescent moons, smiling down at the shorter blonde. "Sorry for bumping into you!" Naruko quickly apologized, only to earn a chuckle from the guy, who so daringly could give Sasuke a run for his money in the looks department.

"No need to apologize! If anything, I can not believe my luck to run into Naruko-sama of all people!" Upon hearing the praise of worship in his voice, Sakura immediately concluded that this guy was one of Naruko's fanboys. The poor girl couldn't go a day without running into a group of them, confessing their undying love for the blonde before requesting a date.

After apologizing, Naruko was ready to leave when the guy suddenly seized hold of her wrist and brought his face a little too close to hers. Sakura, upon seeing the man's actions invading Naruko's personal space, was suddenly on guard and ready to wrench him away if he so much as touched Naruko inappropriately. While Naruko found herself paralyzed when the man touched her wrist, oddly enough, she did not sense any malice emotions from him despite the fact that he was a little too close in her personal bubble.

Even though the man's eyes remained close, a charming smile blossom on his face, Naruko could feel him analyzing her, chuckling once again before saying, "You really are adorable, Naruko-sama~! So pure and untainted that this world does not deserve you. But don't worry, very soon you'll be where you belong." Still holding her wrist, Sakura and Naruko watched as the man pressed a soft kiss against the back of her hand as if he was prince charming in a fairytale book, before taking his leave. Both Sakura and Naruko stood rooted in the middle of the road, both blushing from head-to-toe as the scene that just took place replayed itself in their heads.

After getting over the shock and embarrassment of the stranger Naruko had encountered, the girls parted ways as Naruko jogged up the stairs leading to her apartment. Only to freeze mid-step. 'Wait a second... This chakra signature... No way, it can't be!' Racing up the stairs, Naruko rushed to her apartment, only to freeze again when she saw a figure sitting outside against the door.

"S-S-Sasuke?!"

Naruko had a hard time believing the sight presented before her, mouth gaping, eyes feeling misty, as the person turned his head in her direction and smirked.

"I'm home, dobe."

End of The Last-Pt.3!