Naruto lay in his bed silently. He was still reeling from the battle. He couldn't believe it had only been a week. Victoria was gone. There was no bloody mess. No cry of agony left to linger in their ears. She was just gone. She had dissolved into thin air like she had never been there to begin with. Truth hadn't said much to Naruto's surprise. He hadn't even given them that creepy grin he always seemed to wear. He'd just zeroed in on Lori who had still been crouching down grabbing the arm that was no longer there. All he said to her was, "Lori, leave my realm with your fox friend. I have other work to do here." She didn't respond verbally. She just got up grabbed him and pulled him out the door with her. The last thing he heard Truth say was, "I sincerely hope I never see either of you again." He'd asked if she was ok. He didn't think she was answer him, but she said "I thought maybe when she was dead I'd get some kind of closure, but nothing's changed. She's just gone."

It was in that moment that Naruto had realized Sakura had been right. Lori wasn't the little girl he had made a promise to be best friends forever with anymore, and despite what she thought everything had changed. "Are you going to tell her?" the Kyuubi asked interrupting his trip down memory lane. What Kyuubi had told him played over again in his mind. "I never needed my memories to help her did I?" "No. They were all fools from the beginning." Naruto smiled sadly."I'll tell her someday, but not now." he told Kyuubi. He thought about Lori's sad smiles though they were gradually improving as the days went on. He closed his eyes. "Not now."Kyuubi was for once silent, but he didn't need a response.

Lori smiled at Riyu and Naruto. They had gotten into a fight about who would win in a fight between an octopus and a squid. It was hilarious to see Naruto's yelling try to overpower Riyu's logic. Ryu was chatting with Shikamaru, and apparently was getting good advice on strategy from the prodigy. They had all decided to go out to eat after the meeting with the Hokage. It had been three weeks now since the fight and the world seemed to begin forgetting Victoria and Yore simultaneously. After all, it's foolish to hope to world just stops when someone dies. She smiled sadly accepting the ripple effect of her actions. She gave a real smile as Tia smacked Ryu in the back of the head for forgetting to purchase a map to Sunagakure. Tallah flickered at the edges of her mind. "Are you going to tell him?" She looked at her childhood friend who was still arguing with her…um…teammate. "No." she said calmly. She stood up saying goodbye to everyone and surprising Naruto by hugging him around the neck. He laughed motioning at Riyu's clearly annoyed face. Lori rolled her eyes, and waved goodbye.

She stared at the sky not really acknowledging where she was going. "After two long years it's finally over." Tallah said a hint of sadness in her tone. Lori laughed. "Did you want the universe to collapse?" She sweat dropped when Tallah didn't answer. "Um Tallah?" The winged Bijuu busted out laughing letting Lori know she was kidding. "Geez don't do that to me." she said letting out the breath she'd been holding. Tallah just kept laughing, and then abruptly stopped when she realized where Lori was. "Tell me a story." She said seeming to stare at the red and white fan symbol just as hard as Lori was. Lori thought about it. "Once upon a time there was this girl who kept running away from her problems." She said reaching out to touch the symbol. "Unfortunately, you can't run away forever, and her problems soon caught up with her and overwhelmed her." She traced the lines lovingly and frowned. "She tried to make herself solve the problems, but in her haste and fear only succeeded in making more." She dropped her hand. "What she soon realized though, was the problems weren't becoming more problems. They were the same ones, and with time had taken on new forms just like people. The same was true for the solutions. They may have a new face but they're still the same, and they work just as well as they did before. You need only change your outlook." She gazed around the Uchiha compound's ruins and smiled. "How was that?" she asked Tallah. "Your delivery needs a little work." She joked. Lori smiled. "Can you help me find him?" The dragon scoffed. "You should know better than to question my ability at this point."

To her surprise they didn't have to look far to find her brother. There he was as clear as day sitting on the edge of Madara's statue at the Valley of the End. It had turned really cloudy setting a gloomy mood. She sighed. Maybe it wasn't too late to turn around. Tallah flickered at her mind disapprovingly. Lori bit her lip. Right. No more running away. Same problems. New ways of facing them. She landed softly on the statue noticing Sasuke tense at the presence of her chakra. Lori winced recognizing what the bandages over his eyes meant. "Who's there?" Sasuke demanded drawing his weapon. Oh well, too late to turn back now. "Hey Ni-chan." She said staying at a close enough distance where he could still hear her, but not strike her. (1)

Sasuke's mouth gaped open his hand clenching his sword hilt tightly. "This is a trick." He said in a threatening tone. Lori shook her head even though she realized he couldn't see it. "You know it's not." She said smiling. "You recognize my chakra. You recognized it when you were fighting Danzo too." Sasuke, showing emotion for the first time in what she guessed was awhile, put down his sword in shock. Lori moved forward carefully until she was crouched down in front of him. Not really knowing what to do she gathered him in hug and was shocked when he actually reciprocated it. He hadn't hugged since they had gotten in the academy. Maybe there was hope for him after all. "How?" he said still in slight shock. Lori laughed. "It's a long story."

She told him the whole thing too. She detailed from the moment Itachi had murdered her clan and stopped shortly after entertaining him with tales of her training with Reika. He had been surprised to hear about her housing a Bijuu, but he didn't pry and she was grateful for that. She left out everything having to do with the Guardians including Naruto and Victoria. She didn't want to knit anymore people into that yarn. She simply told him Danzo had banished her with a price on her head and she had been wandering with her friends from Orochimaru's camp as a traveler for hire. She'd heard about the bounty on his head, and decided to come out of hiding. Surprisingly he listened to the whole thing. He had a scowl on his face when he was done. "**** Danzo and Orochimaru." He said. "I don't regret killing them for a second."

Lori grimaced picturing Victoria's face when she killed her. She gathered her knees up to her chest uncomfortably. The feelings were still fresh after the three weeks. "Did you like how it felt?" She asked seeking some level of comfort. "Killing the man who wanted my body and the man who ordered our clans massacre by our brother's hand? Of course!" Not exactly the comfort she had in mind. She flexed her hands in front of her suddenly remembering how many people her brother had already killed. "Destroying a life." She said clarifying her statement. Sasuke paused seeming to realize the intensity of the conversation. "They're not the only people I've killed." He said roughly. Lori smiled sadly. Killing was a ninja's job in a way, but that didn't mean she had to like it. "No I suppose not." She responded.

Sasuke tilted his head at her reassessing her tone. "You killed someone." It wasn't a question. "Twice. One was an accident." She said. "The other?" he questioned. "It was for a mission." She responded resting her chin on her knees. Neither of them seemed to know what to do for awhile so they sat in silence. "I saw Itachi about a year ago." Sasuke tilted his head absorbing the information. He took the statement as an accusation. "You know why I killed him." He said defending himself. "But…" he faltered a little. She finished for him knowing what he was getting at. "And why you want to attack the Leaf." Sasuke balked at this actually turning his head to face her. He had been looking ahead the majority of the time she had been talking. "Danzo told me when I first came back." She explained. "I guess Madara told you." Sasuke nodded in a detached manner. Lori smiled sadly remembering Itachi's face when he had captured her. "I forgive you." She had told him. He was so surprised he had let her escape right then and there. "I couldn't hate him you know." She told Sasuke. "I tried, but it never worked." (2)

Sasuke, who had been silent for awhile, finally spoke up. "Why are you here?" he asked as if he had just realized she wasn't staying. She pondered her response for a moment. "To say goodbye I guess." She finally said. "I leave for Suna tomorrow morning. I caused a bit of a mess in a lot of places." Sasuke gave his tale tell smirk she remembered so well from when they were kids. "You hate goodbyes." He said. "And sad endings." She reminded him playfully. "I remember." He said so softly she almost didn't hear him. His demeanor changed though. His tone dropped a little showing the tiniest bit of frustration. "You don't support me." he accused her. "No." she said without hesitation. "Will you support them?" he pressed angrily. Lori thought about it. Her team was a neutral party so she could or couldn't fight with the leaf if she wanted to. "We'll see." She said after a minute.

Sasuke deflated a little. He was still tense, but not as angry. "If you fight with them you're my enemy." He said. Lori blinked. If she didn't know her brother better she would've said he sounded like he was almost begging her. "I know." She said hating that she was leaving him alone again. She closed her eyes. She knew he wouldn't stop his vendetta until he was satisfied though. That's just how her brother was. "Forgive me." he said startling her out of her reverie. "For what?" she asked in surprise. He usually only asked forgiveness when their mother forced him to. "For never looking for you." He said. Lori didn't really know how to respond to that. She could tell him the obvious: That it wasn't his fault. That there was no way he could've known she was alive. Instead she remembered one time when they were little and he had accidentally left her at the academy. She had been angry, but forgave him as soon he ran out of the house and apologized to her promising her he would never forget her again. She had been angry in the mines when she realized no one was coming for her. Yet here her brother was asking her forgiveness. "I always did." She said softly.

Sasuke seemed to relax and they fell into silence again. After awhile he angled his head toward the sky. "It's going to rain." He said. Lori nodded. After a moment she tensed as she felt Madara's chakra snaking toward them through his creepy dimension. She could only handle so many things in one evening. Madara was not one of them. She stood slowly brushing off her pants. Sasuke shifted at the movement. "He meant what he said to you by the way." She said after a moment of contemplation. He hadn't indicated a desire to stab her yet so she didn't see the harm. "Who?" he said. His eyes seemed to narrow behind the badges. "Naruto." She said without skipping a beat. He tensed up and tried, successfully, to glare at her through the bandages. "I didn't ask." He angrily declared. She smiled unaffected by his tone. "You didn't have to."

She angled her head to the side feeling Madara's chakra getting close. Sasuke sat up and rested his arm on his knees knowing she was leaving. "I hope I don't see you again." he said after a moment. Lori looked at her brother wishing they had more time, but knowing she had to move on. "Likewise." She responded not really meaning it. "I thought you hated sad endings." He smirked lightening the departure a little for her. She smiled appreciating the effort. "I'm trying this new thing called not running away from my problems." She was surprised as a slow smile climbed its way across his face in place of the trademark smirk. "Run as fast as you can." He said. Lori blinked in surprise, but shook it off smiling instead. She didn't say goodbye. She just left, smiling all the way back to the leaf village. She had found her closure.

Naruto smiled as he entered the hotel Lori was staying at. It had been four weeks. He had a lot of fun things they could do today before the group left. Besides, the Hokage had officially declared her as a citizen of the leaf once more. That was reason enough to celebrate. It was going to be awesome. They might even let her be an Anbu when she got back from repairing and reimbursing the damages she and the thieves had caused taking the gem pieces. Naruto frowned. The event seemed like a lifetime ago. Shaking off the depression, he smiled as he neared Lori's door. He banged on it joyfully calling out. "Hey Lori, get up already! I've got an awesome day planned…" His voice faltered as the door slowly cracked open on its own.

Cautiously he entered the room preparing himself for some sort of attack. He quickly dropped his guard after looking around though. The bed was made neatly and the closet was completely bare. The refrigerator had been cleared out and all the drawers were empty. Lori was gone. Sitting down on the bed, Naruto realized he wasn't even angry. A part of him still felt sad though. He had known she would be gone for awhile repairing the damages her team had made, but he had hoped maybe she would decide to stay afterward. He guessed that was too much to hope for. It was too much for anyone to ask her to stay. As he was about to leave he noticed something folded on the bedside table. Unfolding it he realized it had his name written in big letters. He began to read.

Dear Naruto,

My friend, after much requesting Lady Tsunade agreed to let me roam the world with my team after we finish repairing the damage we caused. In exchange she has declared us an independent group able to be called upon by the Leaf and its allies if we are ever needed. I know the prince wanted the princess to stay. That's the ending I give all the kids, but I think we both knew I was never going to. I guess I'm more like my brothers than I thought. After everything that happened I still couldn't go to the compound like I wanted to, but you know what? That's ok. Turns out I didn't need the closure from there like I thought I did. I'm happy that everyone was willing to let me rejoin the leaf village, but I can't stay. You understand. My team is my family now. My knights that saved me from loneliness. They have been for a long time. It's about time I returned the favor. I belong with them. I would've stuck around to say goodbye, but you know how much I hate sad endings. So for now I'll just say see you later. I'll be running just like always, and you'll be chasing the Hokage title just like always. Have fun with your training. I'll see you around. – Lori

P.S. Tallah says not to let the Kyuubi run you over. He's really a big softy. She also wrote something else on the back, but she wouldn't let me read it.

Naruto smiled turning the letter over in his hand. He folded the paper neatly then and tucked it into his pocket. "That **** dragon!" The Kyuubi raged. "How dare she call me a softy! I'll skin her! I'll maim her! I'll…" Naruto conked his head to try and shut the fox up and said, "Dude what is your problem? It's not like she was your girlfriend or anything." The fox was surprisingly shocked into silence. Wow it had never been that easy to get him to stop…wait a second. "Did you two…?" "SHUT UP! YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING YOU ****ING BRAT!" Naruto guffawed teasing the fox mercilessly about his old girlfriend incapacitating him for well over a the very real threat of being eaten from his very peeved Bijuu, Naruto ran out of the hotel laughing all the way to Ichiraku Ramen.

Lori smiled at the birds chirping around her. They had left to head for the Sand Village early that morning. Lady Tsunade was fine with them not having an escort as long as Gaara vouched for them arriving at the appointed time. "Aw man!" Ryu piped up from behind her. "I can't make heads or tails of this map." Tia sighed. "Our glorious leader useless as usual." Ryu glared at her getting into a heated argument. Riyu laughed taking the map from his brother's hand. "Hey Airi," he said handing it to their medic. "Point us in the right direction." Airi glanced it over looking up and turning her body to the left. "That way." She smiled pointing. Riyu laughed again as this started Tia on a whole new tangent about how they had been going in the wrong direction, and it would take them twice as long to get there. "Hey Lori," Al said. He discreetly grabbed Airi's hand as he walked up next to her. Lori quirked an eyebrow. She'd be asking her friend about that later. "We've got a long way to go." He continued smiling. "Tell us a story." Tia and Ryu quieted down at the request. Airi giggled at their attentive silence. Riyu just smiled making her blush a little. She thought about everything that happened over the last month and Victoria's last words. "Why can't I stay?" Lori smiled. She could stay. Not as the depraved person she had become, but the person she had once been. They could tell her and Yore's story to the next Guardian of the Gate of Light. Because as long as there's a story nothing is truly ever gone is it? "Once upon a time…" she began.

Dear Naruto,

You once asked Lori why she loved telling stories so much. She never answered you, so I will because I want you to understand. All of our lives are stories. We live and breathe them. They're what shape our hopes and dreams and give us something outside of ourselves to believe in. Sometimes they're full of love and joy, and sometimes they're full of anger and hate. Not all stories have a happy ending, but they don't all have to have a sad ending either. Sometimes the stories are hard to sort through, but when you step back and look at all the pieces you can put them together one by one and make a story that is truly worth telling. The rest of your life is chapters just waiting to be told. How you live those chapters is really up to you. – Tallah

(1) I saw her closure with the Uchiha clan as resolving her guilt towards Sasuke for leaving him alone. I never really got a chance to explore their relationship in Secret Friend of the Past so I wanted to do it here. I know the confrontation must seem a little out of character, but I couldn't see him attacking or threatening the sister he just found out was actually alive. The incident doesn't overall affect him because he's been without her for years so in a way it's closure for both of them. He gets to say goodbye and she gets to say goodbye for now.

(2) Since she has a Bijuu it stood to reason in my mind that she would've come across Itachi and been able to tell him directly that she forgave him.

Last words because this story has been my baby for a long time:

When I first thought of this story I had just finished watching Full Metal Alchemist as well its counterpart Brotherhood. I had also just finished reading Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle. The latter is a manga centered on the idea of its main characters hoping through several different parallel dimensions in order to ultimately save the universe. Saying this, though Brotherhood is my favorite out of the two, I enjoyed the different aspects both Full Metal Alchemist animes brought out in regards to human nature and the idea that the price for using alchemy in their world was impending disaster in ours.

I had been toying with the idea of writing a fanfiction for awhile. I already knew my character Lori, and I knew I wanted her to be Sasuke's twin as well as a Bijuu. I wanted a story with a good female that I could relate too better than Sakura and some of the other females in Masashi Kishimoto's series. I often felt at the end of the day that his female characters from the academy were too romance driven and I wanted a female character with an agenda that centered on friendship and goals rather than doing everything it takes to get the guy so I made a new one.

I admire the people who take the time to re-write the whole series in order to insert their OCs, but I'm not one who has the patience for that sort of thing. I wanted to write something new that would blend in with the craziness of the manga while not actually affecting the story too much as a whole. Obviously I changed the Bijuu and Sage of Six Paths origin, but other than that I wanted to stay true to most of the lore. I wanted her to be someone important, but not so important that the characters were heavily affected by her impending absence at the end of the story.

By the end of my process I knew these things. I was going to have a grand total of 9 OCs, I wanted the story to semi cross over with FMA/FMAB, Lorienn Uchiha was going to be my main characters name, Tallah was going to be her dragon Bijuu, Victoria was going to die no matter what happened, and at the end Lori was going to leave the leaf village for good. The guardians were centered on the ultimate idea from FMA/FMAB that everything has a price. It stood to reason that if there was such a realm as Truth's there had to be a system set up in each to dimension to keep everything in its rightful place or to eradicate it if it didn't belong. It also stood to reason that this principle of price applied to everything, even human life. This effectively set up my villain and gave a valid reason for Naruto having a childhood friend he had no memory of. The back story in Orochimaru's mines also gave me the freedom to explain the difference between her 16 year old personality and her 8 year old one from my "Secret Friend of the Past" prequel fic.

I had a harder time with Lori than I thought I would originally. As I wrote the original rough draft that most of you first read on here, I began to hate how my character was written. She was irritating, rough, abrasive, and there was honestly not one good reason for her to keep any information from her team. That's when I realized I was writing her too much like Sasuke. Sasuke is a vengeful and somewhat sassy character. While I wanted to make her his twin, I did not want a female clone of him. That's where the inspiration for my new version of Lori came from. She had grown up outside the leaf village and it stood to reason she wouldn't have the same abilities as Sasuke seeing as there was no Kakashi around to teach her how to use the Sharingan. She had grown up in a slave camp for most of her life, and she had to travel from place to place to keep from being ultimately caught by Danzo. Reika Mura, who was briefly mentioned, would ultimately train her on how to use basic jutsu and jutsu unique to the guardians. I've always found traveling bards interesting so I made her a storyteller. It also stood to reason that if she was the holder of a Bijuu she would've encountered the Akasuki and ultimately Itachi. I also dropped the original love relationship between her and Riyu in favor of a close friendship that could eventually turn into a romance in the future, just not in this story.

I ultimately decided that her driving factor would be shame. A person would hold a lot of shame after pretty much being a slave for most of her childhood, especially after accidently killing her friend. A person like this would also try to find meaning in stories stemming from the lack of purpose she feels in her own life. I wanted the Sharingan to be a source of the shame for her as it was acquired through her friend's blood unintentionally making it rare for her to even touch the technique.

I wanted the relationship between her and Naruto to be like a princess and a knight in the sense that she was waiting for him, as her oldest friend, to confirm her decisions and ultimately save her from her problems. Naruto along with Tallah ultimately shatters this notion and instead helps her take responsibility for those actions. Her victory is when she finally realizes she can't change the fact that Yore died by her hand, and she can take the help that is being given by Naruto and Tallah to fix her mistake and ultimately kill Victioria. She conquers her guilt and is able to see the things she has (the thieves), let go of the things that she left behind without even realizing it (the leaf village, naruto, sasuke, etc.), and move forward with a new self-confidence and a new story.

I'm overall happy with my results in writing this story and I hope you all enjoyed the tale as much as I enjoyed writing it.