"Naruto, you've been on this mission long enough, consider it a success. Both of your teammates are now strong enough to protect themselves." Lady Tsunade says suddenly, to the clear confusion of both Sasuke and Sakura, who are now yelling out various questions and insults.
"What do you mean Baa-chan? Jiji gave me this mission to get me out of the corps because of my mental state, do you mean you're sending me back?" I cry out in frustration. The anbu black ops had me in a dark place that I was finally getting out of. I can't go back there full time.
"But did you ever truly leave? You've still been taking on quite a few missions taichou." Kakashi speaks up and I shoot him a glare. It's not my fault I'm the best for these missions. If someone else would train instead of reading a perverted book I wouldn't have to be the only one.
"Shishou, what are you talking about? The only mission Naruto has been on is the one we just finished!" Sakura exclaims, both of my teammates are clearly confused and angry about having been ignored for so long.
"Naruto is one of Konoha's finest elite Jounin and has been for seven years now. The Sandaime gave her a mission five years ago to protect a clan heir and whomever was the other teammate after noticing the decline in her mental health. Since we are on the outbreak of a war I need my best ninjas training a new generation before I have to send them to the frontlines. I actually want all three of you to train a team, I just figured I should also explain some things too." Tsunade says with a grim expression, but I know she's lying. This is a recently thought of plan.
"Don't lie to me, or them. We are already at war, boss is on the frontlines right now, we discussed the matter of taking on a team months ago when the beginning stages were happening. We both decided that the villagers wouldn't accept a 'demon' training any kids." I scowled as anger started rushing through me, splitting my hair into nine waving strands. I quickly take a deep calming breath, something is obviously going on, and I need to be able to think clearly to understand.
In the time it took me to calm myself, Tsunade already gave the other two their teams and was now waiting for me.
"Naruto, I know this is sudden, but Iruka believes you're the only one that could teach these students. The kids on your team are called murderers within the village: Chinoike Haru, an orphan named Akio, and Shio Yua." I vaguely remember hearing those names mentioned around the village, but never paid too much attention to them.
"The monster children!" Sakura gasps and I scowl, these are children, they are easily influenced, they hear more than they let on. Then again, this village isn't very good at keeping their opinions to themselves.
"They are children, not monsters. " I manage to say through gritted teeth.
"They've murdered people!" Sakura yells, and I just stare at her dumbfounded for a minute. I know she did not just say that.
"Sakura, we've killed people." We're ninja? Thats literally part of the job description.
"Naruto, listen. They killed before they were even out of the academy! We were at least an actual ninja before we ever did!" Sakura tries to reason with me and I'm still confused. There's not really much of a difference. Ninja learn to kill eventually, some just start a little earlier.
"Naruto actually had her first kill when she was almost five. It's when the Sandaime decided I needed to train her." Kakashi says, looking up from his book. I give Kakashi a grateful look before grabbing the file for my students and walking out the room. I love Sakura, I really do, but she's so close minded at times. She doesn't understand the struggle one faces to stay alive when they don't have a home, especially when living on the streets.
I sigh as I get to my decoy apartment, Boss should be here soon and then I can finally dispel myself, but while I'm waiting I might as well read the files and end the lease here, I miss my real home. Pretending to live off of Genin pay sucks. I also miss being in the house Tenzo built me, I barely get to see it.
Reading the files on the children breaks my heart. Akio had a hard life from the start and was the youngest of the three to kill, albeit on accident. His dad killed himself after his mom abandoned them, forcing him to live with his dad's sister. She would leave him alone with his baby cousin, even though he was only five himself, and one day the baby started choking. Akio tried to reach into his mouth to pull the food out but pushed it farther down, causing the baby to die. The aunt then kicked him out and he went in the orphanage, but the orphanage treated him terribly so jiji got him an apartment in the red light district.
Chinioke Haru is one I already know about from Sai. He killed a root agent when they kidnapped his sister for the family kekkai genkai. I don't know why Tsunade set them up in an apartment instead of the orphanage after their parents died on a mission, but Haru was the one with the Ketsuryugan and put the ninja in a genjustu while he killed him.
Shio Yua is probably the only one that planned her murder. After being beaten by her father and older brother, she overheard them talking about selling her into sex trafficking. She put crushed up sleeping pills in their tea, and when they went to bed snuck into their rooms and killed them. She then went to the Hokage and told her everything, from the abuse, them talking about selling her, to her killing them and how. Tsunade gave her a stipulation, if she didn't want to go to a center for juvenile murderers and await a trail until she was sixteen, then she had to become a ninja. Yua jumped on the opportunity, but is still scared of men that she doesn't trust. Once I get back to Konoha and dispel my clone, hours go by as I sit back and just feel for my students. They were too young to go through what they did, and none of them are evil, if I can only ever teach them one thing, I hope it's that. Team 7 really didn't get a choice in the fact that they have to teach a genin team, then again this is in preparation for war, they need all the troops they can get, and better trained troops last longer.
I suddenly hear a knock on my door, but before I can open it up, I'm being pounced on by Sai and I look up to see Shino walking through the door.
"Naru, we are excited. Why? Because my kikaichu have identified you as the real one and not a clone."
"I think I missed you. I don't fully understand the emotion I'm feeling." I just smile and hug my two best friends closer. Just being around them makes me feel better about life. Both are extremely understanding and know who I really am.
"So does Shikamaru know you're finally home?" Sai asks as he sits down to draw. Shino gracefully sits on my couch and feed on my chakra. They've done this since the first time I let them when we were younger.
"Not yet, he's on a mission with Temari. I plan to surprise him once he's home though, especially since Temari is still trying to make moves on him." I sigh as I plop down on the floor beside Sai. Temari seems to think Shika is joking when he tells her he's in a relationship, that could be because he refuses to tell her with who. We wanted our relationship to be a secret while it was new, especially with all the attention we both receive. The privacy is nice, but people tend to disbelieve what they can't see.
"You will out your relationship then." Shino states and I simply nod, still exhausted from my trek back home, and knowing that I'll now have three kids to look out for and protect on missions. I wonder if I should invite them to live here, that way they aren't struggling to find a place to live, that would have me taking care of four kids though, but it's not like I don't have the room. At least none of them would be homeless then. I sigh as I slowly drift off to sleep, feeling safe for the first time since I left for the frontlines.I stand in the back corner with Sakura and Sasuke while waiting for Iruka to finish his speech to the students. Sasuke doesn't care that mine are murderers, he's just upset that I lied to him for so long, and Sakura has stopped arguing about them. She understands that I'll be the one to best help these kids since I've experienced similar things in life.
Things are still awkward between us, but I feel like we're all closer now that the truth has been told. Sakura cried when she heard the story of my childhood, and Sasuke is just proud of how far I've come, but also jealous. It could be because I was trained by Itachi, and although Sasuke hated him for eight years, even to the point of becoming a missing nin and killing him, he still loved him and finding out he was innocent was a hard blow. Of course an Anbu coming to him with Danzo's head and proof of him using Kotoamatsukami on the Sandaime helped smooth things over so that he didn't try to destroy Konoha. Especially since Itachi was cleared of all crimes. Sadly Itachi had already died from his illness by the time we got everything organized and past the council.
If Sai and I had to forge some papers before putting the man on trial, killing, and delivering him, well who said Sasuke had to know? We're ninja, sometimes deception has to happen, I'm sure he'd understand if he wasn't so emotionally invested. Tsunade was just way too happy to get the councilor off her back. He was doing good deeds for Konoha, moreso in his death than when he was alive. Especially since we have a loyal sharigan wielder back with us, one that has the mangekyo.
"So, Naruto is the one that carries on the next generation of team seven? How is that fair?" Sakura yells, dragging me out of my thoughts and turning the attention towards us. I just sweat-drop, she acts like team seven is such a good thing when it's probably the most unlucky team there is. That just means my team is gonna be a shit show, and given the track record one will become a missing nin and try to destroy the leaf. Also that I should avoid C ranks, otherwise they'll turn into an A rank.
"Oh shit, you're right. Nevermind, you can keep it!" Sakura nervously laughs and I realize I said that out loud. Oops, probably shouldn't have said that around my future students. Hopefully it didn't ruin their hope that I'd see them differently than the rest of the village. Well apart from Iruka, apparently he treats them out to eat often, but his teacher salary can't afford them all. I should know, I eat enough ramen for three people.
"Naruto! It's been awhile since I've seen you." Iruka smiles at me and I wince, I have been neglecting to spend time with those that I care about. I need to remember that although I will and could die for the Leaf, I also have a life and those that care about me waiting and hoping I stay alive.
"Sorry Iruka, I was finally released from a five year long undercover mission, while also being called back home from another mission while my clone was here. I wasn't expecting to be given kids considering how I'm seen by most the villagers, but I hear I have you to thank for that." I scratch the back of my head and give him a smile. It really has been too long, I should take him out for ramen one day, I do make more than him, plus I've taken a lot of money from him over the years when he paid. Or at least invite him to my house for dinner. A home-cooked meal would probably be best.
"Are you sure it's ok to say that?" Sakura whispers and I quietly laugh before whispering back.
"Sakura, I'm the one that assigns the missions that anbu take. Well after the Hokage sends them over at least. I know how to give enough information to get my point across but not give away any secrets." Plus the mission for protecting them, although an S rank, wasn't really a secret. Only the younger shinobi didn't know who I was. Well, the part where I kept an eye on Danzo through Sai was a secret. And being on the frontlines? Only really a secret to genin, and again, my classmates. Although I guess it really isn't considered the frontlines just yet since war hasn't officially been declared.
I shake the darker thoughts out of my head and watch as my students just stare at me, probably wondering how I'll react towards them. Poor children. Luckily for them, Iruka is almost finished assigning teams now that there are no longer any interruptions. I can grab them and quickly leave. Just so that they can get away from the glares I see the other adults giving them. How do grown men and women justify treating kids like this? Especially shinobi, who I can guarantee have done worse things than these kids have. We spend days planning out how to kill someone, these kids started out the day not even knowing what was gonna happen, well Yua might have known. But girl power to her for accomplishing it.
"Alright, the sensei's will be here to pick you up. Naruto could you and your team please stay? I would like to speak with you before you go." Iruka says and I sigh as my plan goes out the window and I nod. I'm not very good at denying Iruka anything, he has such a pure soul, and I hate to see his sad and dejected gaze. He's so precious, I should adopt him.
Luckily the room quickly clears out, unlike when my own team was assigned, and I had to wait for Kakashi. It was especially weird since I'm his superior and had to listen to him boss me around, but we made it work.
"Naruto, I thought you were supposed to be undercover to protect your generation?" Iruka asks and I rub the back of my head nervously. I thought so too, but apparently not. It's not like I get to decide these things when it comes directly from the Hokage or doesn't concern anbu.
"Tsunade says that it's time I take up my rank since they can take care of themselves now. Apparently she needs her elites training a team up to par before we're too busy. We do gotta pass on our knowledge just in case we die after all." I give him a genuine grin; I have been wanting a team for years and this is the first time I'm getting that chance. Although I'm annoyed that it pulled me from previous commitments, especially after being denied just a couple months beforehand, I'm happy too.
"That's good though, you've always wanted a team to train. I mentioned you taking this team but I didn't think it would actually go through." Iruka smiles and ruffles Haru's hair.
"Well of course. Who else to train a team of monsters but the demon herself? The one that killed younger than they did. That's the only reason it was approved. I figured this demon would show them just why they shouldn't treat kids this way, we respond better to love than hate." I grin, showing off my pointed canines; I briefly feel sorry as I see Yua flinch at the term monster, but I push it down. The village will only see what they want, and we're the team straight from hell in their eyes. Might as well embrace the love from the few that care than reflect on the others hatred. The sooner they can realize this the sooner they will get over their need to seek approval. Seeking approval gets you killed.
Before Iruka can respond I sense chakra rushing towards us and can barely identify it as Sai before he's jumping through the window and ignoring Iruka's spluttering in order to talk to me. That's kinda rude, but this is Sai. He doesn't understand emotions or why some things are considered rude, afterall.
"Naru, Shikamaru is almost to the gates, figured you'd want to be there before he arrived." I jump excitedly before grabbing my three students and rushing towards the gates, I'll finish talking to Iruka later. This is more important. Well, I guess that was rude of me too, but, I never said I understood these things very well either.
As soon as I see Shika walk through the gate I jump on him, shocking everyone when I plant a kiss to his lips and he wraps his arms around my waist. I need to introduce him to my team, who I've decided would be living with us, but I've missed him so that can wait. Besides, telling him we now have children is a scary thing. Hopefully Yua doesn't take too long to warm up to him either.
Once the catcalls start I let go of him, getting suddenly embarrassed and dragging the first kid I see over, which happens to be Akio. Embarrassment seems to have overpowered my reluctance.
"Shika, our new kids. Well my team but they don't have an adequate place to live and I don't like that so they are moving in with us whether they like it or not. Nice talk." I give a brief salute and laugh as I have my clones grab the kids again and we're off to my house. I have another clone tracking down Haru's little sister, Yuri. It's time to show these kids the love they should have been receiving, instead of hatred."So, why did you kidnap us?" Yua asks once a clone set her down. I'm surprised she was the first to speak, but then I notice that Haru is knocked out on my other clones shoulder. He must've been fighting so that he could return to his sister. I calmly slap two seals on him, one to wake him up, and the other to keep him still and silenced until I finished explaining.
"Did I really kidnap you though? I'm your superior, and technically your legal guardian until you reach chuunin, or sixteen, since you're all orphans. I was unsatisfied with your living conditions, and therefore rectified the matter myself, since the village can't be trusted to do a damn thing." I grin as I explain. How cute, the kids thought they were legally adults since they made it to genin; that's still considered a child since they don't lead a squad or go on dangerous missions.
My clone comes in the room and hands me a small, sleeping child and I gently place her on the couch, knowing that Haru needed to see her unharmed, he fought hard to keep her safe all these years.
"So we will live with you? All thr-four of us?" Akio questions.
"Yep, oh and Shikamaru! He's my boyfriend and lives here too. My best friends, Sai and Shino, will probably come over in every so often, well that's a lie. They'll come over very often, and Lady Tsunade has to make sure I haven't killed myself with experimental seals. Oh and Iruka likes to visit. Yua, i read in your files that men scare you, but you can trust these. I would never let harm come to you in my own home, especially since I went through similar things as you. The village may call you three monsters, but ill always be the ultimate demon in their eyes." I give them a soft smile as I take the seals off Haru and head towards the kitchen. I know they don't fully trust me yet, but I really will save them from themselves. This village could turn innocents evil if they don't have the right support.
They're all skinny and need to be fed, plus I already know I'm going to have a house full tonight since Sakura and Sasuke are bringing their teams here so i should prepare a big meal. I may be the sensei of team 7, but all three of us decided we would occasionally train our teams together. Each of us have different strengths that we could teach to the nine students, although Sakura's will mainly be a medical team.
I inform the kids that Shikamaru was about to be home as I continued making ramen, and sushi for those that didn't eat it. I didn't want his entrance to scare them, especially Yua.
"So, Naruto. We have kids now?" Shika asks as he traps me in his shadow. I laugh as I'm spun around, lips meeting his. So, he's not mad then. That's good, although he would have just had to deal with it or move back into an apartment or with his family if he wasn't okay with it.
"So, you're not mad right? About the kids, or exposing our relationship? " I tentatively ask, unsure of what to do if he was.
"Troublesome woman, why would I be upset? You care about these children. You took them in because you knew they didn't have a home; you did what you didn't have to do, and what most wouldn't. That just makes me love you more. Raising them will be practice for when we finally have a kid of our own." I feel tears come to my eyes and I hug him tighter. He always knows what to say to reassure me.
"He's just saying that because it means he has a reason to avoid my advances." Temari says from the door and I laugh, skipping over to her. I hear Shika mumble, "what a drag," before he pulls out a cigarette and walks outside.
I smile as I reassure Temari that she doesn't have to apologize for wanting to be with Shikamaru, I mean, who could blame her? He's smart, caring, protective, and extremely attractive. Besides she didn't know, and immediately backed off once she did. That's respectful, some women would keep trying.
We both talk about different wind jutsu as I move around the kitchen, both listening to the children play as Shika chases them with his shadows. I even occasionally hear Yua laugh and that warms my heart. They need to be children while they can, because being a shinobi doesn't allow much room for it. Soon we will be at war with the one calling himself Madara."Aito, Dai, leave Haru alone!" I growl as I slap the both of them in the back of the head. Sasuke's boys are constantly trying to start fights with mine. They've already sent Akio to the hospital earlier in the week. We were unlucky in the fact that Sakura was training her team in the hospital that day so she couldn't heal him at the training grounds. Luckily all the girls get along, and Haru decided he wanted to learn medical jutsu after that experience. That does not excuse the fact that they attacked unprovoked and together.
"Teach them why they shouldn't then, dobe. I don't care if you hurt them." Sasuke calls over his shoulder as he helps Akio correct his posture to throw shuriken and kunai.
I won't hurt them, but maybe a scare tactic would work. I allow my eyes to turn red and flare my chakra, causing it to surround me. The boys stumble away from Haru and I in fear when my hair starts floating and split into nine strands. I kept it long just for this reason.
"A demon!" Dai stutters and I smirk, they played right into my hands.
"Do you really wanna mess with a demons kits? Especially when said demon is near? Next time I'll show you why I was made a member of the black ops when I was younger than you." Anger is still swirling inside of me so I face away from everyone and blow out. Trees are decimated as I release the chakra that built up during my anger. Good thing we have Tenzo.
"Bubba, will mommy teach me that? When I'm bigger? I'll take care of you then!" I hear a little voice say and I quickly spin around to see Yuri tugging on Haru's pants. Wait a second, did she call me mommy?
I squeal as I rush over to hug her. I figured she would start calling me some variation of mom even if the others didn't, since she's only three, but I didn't think it would be this soon, or that I would be this excited about it.
"Naruto, send Haru over to practice with my team if he really wants to be a medic!" Sakura yells, interrupting my little moment and I sigh. I hate that I couldn't get to these kids sooner to give them a childhood, but I'll be damned if I don't train them well enough to survive, even if I myself won't be alive to see them succeed. We only were given enough time to train the kids to chuunin level so that they can help protect the village while we get sent out. I've already been requested to send clones to the battlefield.
I gently push Haru in Sakura's direction as Yua heads towards me. She has a build thats very similar to mine, I bet she would do well at kenjutsu. She is fast, so I need to teach her a taijutsu style that's based on speed. The academy style just doesn't work in real combat situations where you have to make split second decisions, but it's never brought up because people often learn a clan style to compensate. I can probably teach her the Uzumaki Style that I use as it combines with kenjustsu, it also combines with fuinjutsu but that's not necessarily needed.
Haru has perfect chakra control, possibly because of his ketsuryugan and his ability with genjutsu that is on par with those possessing the sharingan. Sakura says he'll be an amazing medic and could learn her and Tsunades 100 healings jutsu since his chakra control is so impressive. She's already tried taking him away from me by making him her apprentice. She can be a Godmother, he's mine, but I really do appreciate her teaching him iryo ninjutsu. It will help this team survive if at least one is a medic.
Akio is good at taijutsu and ninjutsu, and he has more chakra than the average person. His chakra control is terrible, and his taijutsu isn't refined, but those are easy fixes, especially since that's something I struggled with.
Since I use kenjutsu, I'll teach all of my students that, especially since its something im known for. They may not use it like I do, but it's always better to have the skill just in case. Although I do hope they share my love of it. Fuinjutsu, now that's a difficult art, but it came easy to me as an Uzumaki. I'll try to give them a basic knowledge, but it's not something I'll focus on unless they show some skill in it and wish to pursue it further. Especially since I only have a couple months with them. I'll leave scrolls for them before I leave, and a blood clone that can hopefully train and protect them along with the village.
I still need to figure out their chakra nature's too, but luckily, between team 7, we have all of them. Well technically my original is only wind, but I've recently mastered water. Sasuke has both fire and lightning, and Sakura is earth. Really does explain how stubborn the woman is, but between us we won't have to find others to help our students master it. I hated leaving Kakashi to ask Asuma what to do, especially since he was still one of the 12 guardians so I had to wait until he visited. A few tears fill my eyes as I think about Asuma but I shake them away. I don't have time to be sad right now.Before I know it, all three kids are Chuunin level. Haru and Akio's chakra nature being fire, and Yua being the odd one out with water. It breaks my heart to leave them and I hug all four kids tighter to me as Shika stands at the door with our bags. I don't want to leave yet, but the war was officially announced and they need me on the battlefield. I created a blood clone a couple days ago so that my body could build chakra back up before we left and she sits on the couch, waiting to comfort the kids when I leave. She'll only dispel if she receives a death blow, or if I'm dying. I sigh as I kiss four little foreheads before standing up.
"I left scrolls for each of you to study while I'm gone and my clone will help you. If something happens to me, I've left each of you a note. I love you all." I say as I walk towards the door, hoping this isn't the last time I see them. "Mom!" Three kids shout as the Naruto clone suddenly dispells for no reason. They were all working on learning a new ninjutsu and none had hit the clone.
"No no no, mom will be okay, she's strong." Yua says as tears stream down her face. Akio and Haru want to agree, but they remember what Naruto told them. This would only happen if the clone was delivered a death blow, or if she herself was dying. Tears slip out of three pairs of eyes as they all rush back to the house where Naruto said she left them a note.
"Where's mommy?" Yuri asks, and that makes Yua sob as she grabs the little girl close to her chest. This wasn't supposed to happen, Naruto is one of the strongest there is!
"Here are the notes." Haru says, as he slowly walks back to the group and passes them out.
Yua opens hers first and reads it aloud.
Dear Yua,
I left each of you a note and they all say practically the same thing. I just wanted all of you to have one last thing from me in case the worst came to pass, we are at war afterall, so I had to be prepared. I hope you never have to read this note and that I'll get to see each of your beautiful faces again. If the worst does come to pass then I hope you'll still have Shikamaru to depend on, If not then Sakura has been made your Godmother. If the unimaginable happens and all three of us are gone, then the house will become yours, as it is now your home too. I don't know when this war will be over, but I love each of you as my own and I hope you know I did the best I could, not only for your success, but to also return to you. If my clone dispelled then I am close to death, and the chakra is returning to me in order to prolong my life until I'm able to receive help. This isn't guaranteed so try not to get your hopes up too high, but it's still possible I'll return to you. I love you.
Naruto
p.s, all my family scrolls are in the library if you want to consider yourself an Uzumaki and learn about my family.
Tears pour down everyone's face as they all curl up together, hoping for the best.
*
"Naruto you can't die! What about our kids? What about me? I don't think I could live without you." Shikamaru sobs as I lay dying. I didn't think they would extract Kurama, and I don't have a Chiyo to bring me back to life like Gaara, this is it for me. I smile as my clone gives me the memory of my kids training, glad to see they're smiling faces for the last time, even if I'm saddened by the fact that I'm leaving them.
"I love you Shika. Take care of our kids for me?" I ask as my breathing gets slower.
"Of course Naru, I promise. I love you too." Shika says and I smile as my heart stops and everything changes.
I feel light for the first time in years and look around in confusion. The last thing I remember is telling Shika goodbye, and just the thought of that sends a pain through my heart. If I'm dead then why do things still hurt? I thought all of that was supposed to go away.
"It's because you aren't dead. You're in between the living and the dead at the moment. Your friend Sakura is desperately trying to save you and the only thing keeping you alive." A voice from behind me says and I spin around to see my mother, looking at me with tears in her eyes.
"Mom?" I ask as I envelope her in a hug. I can't believe I get to see her.
"Yes, I am so proud of you Naru. You are so strong and led a harder life than me or your father wanted, but you've become an amazing woman. I see you even adopted four kids, although I hope you and the Nara boy still give me grandchildren of your own. You did so well sweetie. You may have my body and face shape, and even the same ninja skills I preferred, but you have your fathers brains along with his coloring and I could never be happier that you became such a mix of us. I could never ask for a better daughter. Open your eyes, it's time to continue living your life, it's not your time yet." Kushina says and I gasp, air flowing into my lungs as my eyes open to see Sakura crying above me.
"Thank God that worked. We almost lost you." Sakura cries, wrapping her arms around me when she saw my eyes open.
"What worked, where's Shika?" I ask, looking around for the man I plan to ask to marry me as soon as the war ends. He's taking too long to ask, and if almost dying has taught me anything, its that I should do the things I want so that I don't have any regrets. It's then that I notice a presence in my body again as I hear his rumbling laugh. Kurama is back in me, but how?
"Obito turned on Madara and put the nine-tails back inside of you. Shika is out for blood. He's scary when he becomes cold and calculating." Sakura nervously laughs and I smile, typical Nara. I close my eyes and feel for his chakra before rushing to his side, we have a war to win and freaked out kids to return to. I may not be as smart as Shika, but I still have a brilliant mind, and together we can win this war.I wait anxiously in the Hokage's office as the anbu take forever to come back with my kids. I would have went straight home if my presence wasn't needed as a war hero. I don't care about any fancy title for being a key factor to winning the war, I just want to go home.
"No! Stop trying to drag us places! We were training." I laugh as I hear Haru's loud mouth and there is immediately silence before I hear pounding feet as the kids run into the room.
"Mom!" They all yell as I wrap them in a hug, feeling them shake against my body. It breaks my heart knowing they thought I was dead, but at least I'm here now and the war is finally over. I pick Yuri up and hold her little body against mine, so thankful that Obito had a change of heart and that Sakura was able to keep my body hanging on to life. I smile as I look at my not so little family. I look over to look at Shikamaru and gasp when I see him down on one knee.
"Naruto, I know we're still young but love you and our family. If the war taught me anything it's that I don't think I could live without you in my life. Will you do me the honor of marrying me?" I nod as I have tears fill my eyes. The village may have rejected my team and I as murderers, but I found people that love all of us, even knowing our past. We grew up with hate, but in the end found the love that will carry us through the rest of our lives.
