Epilogue: The Successors

A/N: It's been a long run everyone. Thanks for your support up to this moment. Till the end I hope you read and review.

Her pink hair played with the breeze that entered her open window as she sat quietly on the hospital. Her body was still weak from what she sustained in her last battle, it had been three days since she was confined; Sakura took note.

The door slowly opened and a man with long silver hair stepped in. "You look bored," Kamui taunted as he sat on her bedside chair. "I want to get out of here. It's boring," she pouted. "You do know that's there's still one thing you have to do…" his expression turned serious. "Yeah…" so did hers.

That afternoon, she was glad to see the sand master together with her two teammates. "You three seem to get along," she teased as the three entered. Gaara grunted, Sasuke smirked and Naruto well he… "NANI!!! WHAT MADE YOU THINK WE GOT ALONG?!" he shouted. The nurse immediately marched to the whiskered shinobi then BAAM! His head grew a steaming bump.

"Sakura-chan, I wanted to ask you something," the blond asked as he ate one apple. "What, Naruto?" she looked at him questionably. "Well, it's about what happened at Ashenvale…" he began. "I wanted to ask the same thing…" Sasuke interrupted. "You wanted to know what went wrong…" she smiled at the two.

"When Sumire held me captive, she drank my blood to get the information she needed. She did… she got the ritual spell that would make the vanished shadow follow her commands. The thing is… she cast the spell on the wrong being," the white cub jumped to her lap begging to be touched.

"After seeing Kyo's body, I secluded myself in the halls of knowledge seeking for more information regarding the clan. I then found out about the last guardian…" "The last guardian?" Gaara looked at the sleeping tiger cub. Sakura nodded then continued. "The templars are no fools… they knew that when someone discovered that the seal was incomplete they would unleash the shadow… so what they did was… they put the strongest guardian before the gate then sealed it again with another gate."

"Come again?" Naruto was obviously not getting it. "To unleash the great shadow… they would have to open two gates. Kamui and I only opened the first… which in turn released that last guardian… Azrael," the cub looked at her hearing her say his name.

"So the one that, that woman put a spell on was… the guardian and not the shadow," Sasuke said as he crossed his arms. "Hai." "So that was it," the blond finally understood.

"I heard you were to receive your title this week," she smiled at the silent sand master. "I'm not receiving it if you're not there," he snapped while Sakura smiled brightly.

The entire village of the hidden sand together with some of the shinobi of the hidden leaf and the Xenolith were assembled for a very important occasion. This day the title of being a Kazekage shall be formally passed on.

The crowd cheered on as they caught sight of the soon-to-be Kazekage stepping forward. His looked at the people with the usual serious expression but when he caught sight of his pink haired princess he graced her with his genuine smile that made the girls faint. Sakura returned his smile then the ceremony began.

"From this day forward Gaara of the Desert will be known as the Kazekage of the hidden sand," the elder proclaimed. The cheers of the people were deafening but the Kazekage didn't care. All knew was that, now he was finally accepted by everyone… especially by the person he values more than life itself. He looked at her and she did too.

Sakura yelled and screamed her cheers together with the shinobi of the hidden leaf and the shinobi of the Xenolith village. She was so happy for him that she cried.

"By the way Ino, when do you plan on taking pictures?" the whiskered ninja pointed at the camera that hung on the kunoichi's neck. "Crap! I forgot!" she started clicking away.

"Sakura why don't you and your dear Kazekage have a photo together?" the blond kunoichi asked her best friend. "Eh? No… it's too embarrassing," her statement fell into deaf ears as Ino dragged her to where the sand master is. "Make my shot count," she pushed her best friend into Gaara's arms.

He caught her effortlessly. Blushing she straightened herself averting her eyes from his. "Say cheessseee," the kunoichi commanded. Sakura was too embarrassed to be too close to him so she was two feet away. "Come on is that the best you can do?! Gaara?" Naruto taunted. "One… two…" without warning Gaara bend over to carry Sakura then he kissed her lips then and there in time when the camera click. "Picture perfect!" Ino grinned widely as she saw Sakura red from head to toe.

As the festivity progressed, Sakura and Kamui sneaked out of the village and made their way to their destination. Unknown to them, the whole gang was following their every move.

Finally, the two and the gang behind them arrived to the place where it all started. "Let's begin shall we?" Kamui asked his female companion. Sakura merely nodded as her eyes remain fastened on the gigantic stone gate with the engraftments of the three mythical guardians.

The man with a long silver hair stepped forward together with a pink haired kunoichi. There was a blinding flash then as the light receded.

The sand master felt his heart skip as he saw the kunoichi. Her hair was artistically bounded by a golden hair ornament, her eyes had some sort of red coloring that extends to her temples that made her eyes look like a phoenix's, her kimono was the color of the night embroidered with the four guardians of the gate- the unicorn, dragon, phoenix and tiger together with some petals of cherry blossom.

"In this day, we the remaining heir of the summoners' bloodline shall assign a very important task to one special person from each village." As Kamui spoke Sakura faced the sealed gate and started chanting an incantation. From her hand an orb materialized with a glowing aura. With a strong command from the kunoichi the orb separated into three.

"This is the key to the city of Ashenvale… given to the people who we know would protect our clan's secret." Sakura faced the others then the three orbs flew away from her and to its keeper.

The orbs positioned themselves in reach of their new keeper. From the hidden leaf, it was Naruto. From the hidden sand, it was Gaara. From the Xenolith, it was Kouga. "Only those who bare the key can freely enter our city. With this privilege, we the last of the summoners fully hand over our secrets knowing that none of you will betray us. From this day forward, your villages will be known as the three keepers of the forgotten city of Ashenvale," Kamui proclaimed calmly as the gang stepped into the light knowing that their cover was blown.

"Oya, oya since this day has turned out to be quite important. Let me make an announcement as well," everyone turned around to see a big white haired man and a blond lady beside him. "Ero-senin… Tsunade-baa-chan!!!" the noisy ninja pointed rudely at them. "Announcement?" Sakura raised her eyebrow.

"Uzumaki, Naruto!" she called… Naruto froze then stepped forward. "Uchiha, Sasuke," the Uchiha protégé walked and positioned himself besides the standing Naruto. "Haruno, Sakura," Sakura stood in between her two teammates. "As of this day forward… the three of you shall be known as the new legendary sanin!!!" Jiraiya said out loud. "ALRIGHT!!!" the blond jumped in joy.

"Picture," Ino appeared in front of the three. "One, two…" Naruto and Sasuke seemed to have one thought when they suddenly carried Sakura as the camera flashed.

Everyone went back to the village after that to continue with the celebration.

A certain pink haired kunoichi stood in the tallest building as she viewed the silver moon. I can't believe everything's over. She instinctively touched her phoenix and heart shaped pendant. Everything that had happened ever since she was dispatched on a mission for allegiance with the Xenolith village… it had been painful… difficult yet it was also… unforgettable… fun in some ways and exciting in other ways.

Hearing sand falling, she did not have to turn around to see who it was. A pair of strong arms wound around her waist from behind. "I've been looking everywhere for you," she hear him whisper in her ear. "Sorry to make you worry," Sakura placed her arms on top of his.

"Kamui gave me this and told me that we must be together to see it," Gaara held out a silver orb. "That's a memory orb… you need to break it to see what's inside," she explained as she stared at it. He let the orb fall onto the cemented rooftop.

"Sakura, Gaara… Gomen… I need to leave but I don't want mushy goodbyes so I'll say what I want with this. Take care if each other…" the sand master held the kunoichi's hand. "Also there was a gift that the guardians would like to give to the both of you…" there was sort of portal that appeared in front of them so the two stepped in.

"This is…" Gaara begun. Sakura tugged his sleeve as she point at the two kids talking by the swing. It was them… only younger. They approached the kids as they listened to their conversation.

"What are you doing here? Don't you know that I'm a monster," the young Gaara threatened. "What if you are? You're still a kid though… just like me," the young Sakura smiled at him. "So you're being bullied too huh," the pink haired kid sat beside the red haired one. "You too?" he asked cutely. "Don't mind them. Hey let's make a promise…" the little girl stood up and presented her pinky. "A promise that we'll protect each other no matter what," the little boy nodded then intertwined his pinky with hers.

"I remember now that was when father had taken me to the hidden sand village because of some business matters. That was when I made a promise to a cute red haired little boy." Sakura's eyes can't leave the two kids as they smiled while their pinkies were still connected.

"The next day… Yashamaru tried to kill me so I had intentionally forgotten what happened," he saw the little girl wave goodbye and the little boy did too. The vision faded and the two resumed to their normal setting.

"I can't believe we've forgotten," Sakura laughed a bit. "It's a good thing we were reminded," Gaara smirked. "Hey Gaara, let's renew our promise…" she held out her pinky "That we'll protect each other no matter what…" she continued. Without hesitation, he intertwined his pinky with hers… just like before but this time he pulled her in for a kiss that sealed their promise.

Their relationship remained as it is since both of them agreed that it was way too early to think of settling down. The night before Sakura and the other shinobi would leave the village, he asked her to meet him at the same place.

"Sakura…" he called for her. She spun around to see him holding something. Grabbing her hand, he placed a unique flower in her hands. "What is it?" Sakura admired its stunning beauty and perfection. It was a rose… with the petals all in different colors plus the fact that it was glowing like silver. "I found it the day I met you at the gate…" he looked into her mesmerizing eyes.

How many times did I pray
You'd find me
How many wishes on a star
Gazing off into the dark
Dreaming I'd see your face
Safe at home unafraid
Captured in your embrace

So many times
When my heart was broken
Visions of you
Would keep me strong
You were with me all along
Guiding my every step
You are all that I am
And I'll never forget

It was you who first believed
In all that I was made to be
It was you looking in my eyes
You held my hand
And showed me life
And I've never been the same
Since you first believed

"They say that this was the flower that was impossible to find… the flower that would never wither no matter how many desert storms may pass… it's a Desert Rose. Just like you… you're my Desert Rose," he held her chin then leaned forward to let their lips meet once more.

A/N: Everyone thanks for your support! There will be a sequel so wait for it. Read and review onegai!!! Iro-iro arigatou…