Over the next few months, Shanan and Naruto spent as much time as possible together between their missions. Shanan was happy to be somewhat back to her regular life, even though she knew she wasn't, not really.

So much for their squads, though. The Jonin were usually out on missions lately and teams were often mixed. But it was fun getting to know all of her friends better and to see how they all worked together. It just made her love Konoha more.

She and Shikamaru had actually become good friends lately, too. He ended up leading a lot of missions being the only Chunin their age, he was a year between her and the boys and he really was a genius. They spent a lot of their free time together just hanging out.

She didn't cry as much about Sasuke after the first few months. She just thought about him constantly and was happy for each day that had passed, as it brought them closer to seeing one another again. Naruto always talked about how he would find him and bring him back, but Shanan didn't think she could ever see him the way she saw him in Naruto's head. Not in person.

And her and Hinata had become closer than ever. Hinata had more freedom these days, ever since the Chunin exams and Shanan and Naruto invited her over whenever they could, along with Neji, Lee and Shikamaru. All of which, had matured significantly since the exams and Neji was always kind and helpful with Hinata when they all trained together.

It was strange how one event had changed so many things for so many people. But overall, she was proud of the direction things were going.

She still hadn't had the chance to sit and talk to Kakashi since that day. They only ever saw each other in passing, but he always was one of the busier Jonin in the village. They had never even had the chance to do a mission together. She missed him a lot, but she kept a list of things she wanted to talk to him about when they finally got the chance.

One of those topics being her Storm Cloud Jutsu. Now that her headaches were gone, she had no problem performing it regularly. Even adding in the Chidori worked really well. She also learned that not only could she turn herself into water, but others too, if she held onto them. She took Naruto up once during a mission and brought him back safely, no problem.

And her Sharingan. She didn't use Kurushimi on any more of her friends. But it proved useful when they needed to interrogate an enemy during a mission. It was never easy seeing anyone's most painful memories, but it did help for her to speak with them in the darkness before leaving, just like she had done with Naruto on the swing. They almost always broke down and told her everything she needed to know for the mission. Well, three out of the four times that she had thought to use it.

Her Sharingan had other capabilities as well, mainly psychic related. She could read people's emotions and tell when they were lying. Which was also very useful in interrogating enemies. Or just catching Naruto in a lie about whether or not he drank her ramen broth when she ran to the bathroom once.

Enough time had passed that Shanan thought maybe Jiraiya had changed his mind about training Naruto. But the day had finally come where he'd returned and it was time for Naruto to leave.

Shanan helped him pack and made sure he had a few pictures of her and Sasuke and some of their other friends. She made sure he had some of his favorite cups of ramen. And she made him pack extra underwear, which he didn't even fight her on.

Saying goodbye was much harder knowing that it was goodbye. A part of her wished he'd snuck away like Sasuke, but not really.

When Jiraiya showed up, Naruto told him he would meet him at nightfall so that he and Shanan could just spend the day together.

They sat on Shanan's bed together and snuggled up the way they used to and Shanan read his favorite book to him all day. Of course he interrupted constantly. And she would miss it. He always made her laugh. He'd always made Sasuke laugh too.

Shanan walked with him to the edge of the village where Jiraiya was waiting.

And all she could do was stand there and look at him trying not to cry.

"Don't worry about me. I'll come back stronger than ever! No damn Akatsuki will get me. I promise," he said as he wrapped his arms around her.

Shanan couldn't stop crying to say anything back.

"I'll come back and then I'll find Sasuke and bring him back. But I need to get stronger. I have to help you two, because I still wanna be Hokage someday. And your guys' safety and your happiness is the number one most important thing to me."

He squeezed her tighter as she sobbed. She still couldn't say anything.

"I know you love me and I know you'll always be here for me. Even if you can't say it right now." He was being really calm and mature and Shanan could tell he was smiling as he spoke softly. "And I love you too, big sis."

Shanan squeezed him tight until she calmed down. Then she leaned back and kissed his forehead. She realized they were the same height now.

Tears continued to stream down both of their faces until everyone else that had come to see him off started saying goodbye as he waved big at everyone.

He gave Shanan one last hopeful look and a thumbs up and then turned around and walked away with Jiraiya.