Hey! Sorry it has been so long but I've been really working hard for school to keep up. I got blocked out for a few weeks because I was just too exhausted to write when I finished my homework. Again, I apologize. Thank you all for reading my new chapters and as always anything you have to say would be appreciated in the comments/reviews. And to top it off, I have a NEW STORY titled: Awaken My Heart! It's follows Naruto in a real world setting where my OC just happens to meet Uchiha Itachi. I would really love it if some of you guys from my other stories took a moment to check it out and tell me what you think! Thanks! ~

Sasuke was the first to charge. His moves were swift and precise. Ran dodged backwards taking the full force of his kantana locking her blade with his. It was rare that there were many sword specialists in the village and although Sasuke was skilled with his, he did not fit in the same category as Ran. She'd grown up with this blade as a crucial part of her training where he hadn't touched one until he was a teenager. She took a step back letting him grind the length of his blade against hers before cutting it short. She circled the weapon up and around not only unlocking the stalemate but arcing it at his left shoulder at the juncture where it met his neck. She smirked hearing the satisfying grunt leave his lips. He'd been forced to activate the Sharingan to avoid the swing and it was much too early in the fight to have to use it. Ran stayed her ground watching carefully as the boy jumped back nimbly to avoid her. The tip of her kantana tapped the dirt below her feet as she waited to see what he'd do. At this point he had to be angry; she'd forced his hand at the start of the battle.

"You're not good enough with that thing. Why don't you drop it and fight with your hands." His eyes narrowed.

"You don't really want that." He glared.

"Oh, I do. I really do." She wanted nothing more than to sink her fist into his face.

"Don't say I didn't warn you." He threw the blade to the ground before weaving the signs that would unleash his smaller unit weapons from his arms.

There wasn't enough time for Naruto to really panic. He wanted to but it he couldn't. He could see easily how fast this situation was escalating. Sasuke was getting angry and Ran was talking to him. Whatever she was saying was driven with purpose and anger. Sasuke's eyes flared red in reaction to the arching swing of Ran's kantana. What really had his mind racing was when they both discarded their weapons. This was turning into a hand to hand battle. He felt Kakashi put a hand on his shoulder gently.

"Let them fight this one out. Who knows, maybe after, they'll get along." His teacher smiled at him behind the cloth mask and shrugged.

"I seriously doubt that." Naruto frowned rubbing the back of his neck.

It wasn't that Ran didn't want peace. Ran wanted very much the same basic ideal as Naruto but at times she was slightly more realistic about achieving it. Sasuke still had his inner demons and they needed to be extracted. She intended to throw them out on the table during this fight and make him trudge through them because like it or not Naruto was not just his. Naruto was not a thing to bide his time with. She would be a part of his life and the Uchiha would have to deal with that. Ran was pulled from her mental agenda by a kunai zipping past her head. She ducked and pulled her body back again towards the walls blocking off the arena. It appeared as if she were allowing the boy to corner her. She seemed to be overwhelmed by his strength and speed. Sasuke began to form a Chidori and Ran focused in on the chakra emanating from him. She was careful to create a facial expression of minor agitation as if she couldn't keep up with him. He was amused by her distress and pulled his arm back.

"Guess you lose." He yelled before ramming his body forward running at her. Ran had to wait until the last moment…if she moved to fast this would blow everything. He really had to believe that she couldn't keep up with him. She wanted his ego to inflate. He was so sure of himself in this moment. He aimed the Chidori at her chest and threw it forward. Kakashi felt Naruto tense. There was a small collective gasp in the crowd as the blast caused by the Chidori caused a fractal of dust and plaster from the wall to explode outward where Ran had been standing.

"Arrogance…it's like I said; unbecoming." Ran said from behind Sasuke. His eyes grew wide before she grabbed him by the back of his shirt. Ripping him backwards dislodging his arm from the wall she intentionally went full force. Her right arm came down over the flat of his arm where it had been stuck in the wall. There was a sickening crack. And his arm was hanging in two pieces that didn't match but she wasn't done. He sucked in a quick breath still falling backwards as she threw her shoulder into his chest and her elbow into his stomach. Sasuke attempted to retract and twist his body back around to implant a kunai into her ribs but she was ready. Ran let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding as his kunai swiped just against the hem of her shirt. Her fist connected solidly with his face and she stumbled falling over him as he tumbled backwards.

They both fell over the other and she was lucky to end up tangled on top of him. If they had landed opposite he would have the advantage to pummel the lights out of her skull. The look behind those onyx orbs signaled that there was a seriously dark rage behind them. Instinct from years of fighting kicked in and Ran took the seconds after falling to securely straddle him before pulling her arm back again. Their eyes met shortly before her knuckles blindsided him again but he heard the words whispered out of her mouth before his mind went black.

"All I want is respect…"

The Rally was drawn to a close as Ran was greeted by Yamatao in the center of the arena. He took her hand holding it up to signify her as the winner just as Naruto made his way down the stairs. She grinned seeing him coming towards her and she couldn't stay still. She laughed softly wrapping her arms around his neck as he hugged her back. He chuckled and whispered against her ear as she nestled her face into the crook of his neck.

"That was amazing." She breathed in softly letting his scent fill her nose. It was odd now how close he would let her get to him.

"You're not mad?" she asked glancing up at him.

"A little…but Sasuke gets himself into it. He deserved what he got…but I would really appreciate it if you two could make a better effort to get along." She felt a distinct blush cover the tops of her cheeks.

"Well I guess since I finally got to get a few good punches in, I could try." The whole village watched as their future Hokage leaned down to kiss the woman he'd fallen in love with. It was an image of newly infested hope for attainment of peace for a village that was still getting up off its knees. For others, elder members of the village, it was a distant reminder of a former Hokage they had all adored finally getting his happy ending albeit through his son.