A/N: This is the final chapter of Love Among Shinobi. I will follow up with a brief overview of my sequel in the following chapter, as well as dedications and thank yous.

Final Chapter: A Father's Love

The death of Iruka Umino came as a heavy blow to the village of Konohagakure. Everyone felt the pain, but the one who suffered most was Naruto. Naruto had a very deep bond with him. Iruka was the very first person to see him not as a Jinchuuriki, but as a human with feelings. Naruto was inconsolable all throughout the mourning period of three days. Hinata could do nothing for him. He would not eat or sleep on his own. He spent the entire three days pacing about his office. Hinata was forced to move herself and Sayuri to the Hokage Residence to force feed him. Hinata was growing very concerned about him. He would not kiss her or sleep with her, and it showed in her mood. Hinata had grown very grumpy and upset as of late, and whenever her friends talked of their wild nights she would often storm out of the room. It was on the night before the funeral service that Sakura came to her.

"Hinata, you have changed very much since Iruka passed. Is anything wrong between you and Naruto? Is he not acknowledging you?"

Hinata was sitting in her favorite padded chair, and she gave a haughty laugh.

"All he acknowledges is that Iruka is dead. He won't kiss me or sleep with me. It's like I don't even exist to him anymore."

Sakura shook her head and sat down on the arm of the chair in which Hinata sat.

"I'm sure he is just in shock. You know how much he loves you. He just needs you to be there for him. Please don't give up on him. I'd hate to see Sayuri grow up without her mommy and daddy together. Please, just give him a few more days."

Hinata only nodded and she closed her eyes. It was completely silent in the room for more than five minutes. When a noise was heard, it was a loud sobbing. Tears flowed freely from Hinata's eyes, and she opened them, looking straight into Sakura's emerald green eyes. She spoke in a voice that was choked back by loud sobs and gasps for air.

"I don't know what to do about Sayuri. I'm worried about what she is Sakura. She killed Kabuto. I don't know how or why, but Gaara said she could be the Child of Legend, whatever that is. I don't want my baby to grow up in a time of war. I want her to be happy. I want her to live a normal life and to have friends like we do. I want her to grow up and get married and have a child of her own. I don't want her to suffer like Naruto has. Sakura, please… Tell me what I should do."

Sakura drew her friend into a hug and stroked her long raven hair. It was what Sasuke always did to ease her pain. Hinata closed her eyes and her sobbing subsided. Sakura still did this as she whispered into her ear.

"I don't know what you should do. But I do know one thing. If you raise that girl like she is a regular girl, I know she'll learn on her own one day. No one ever told Naruto that he was the vessel for the Demon Fox. No one ever told him he was the Fourth's son either. He learned on his own, and see how he is now. He is now the Hokage, with the most beautiful Hyuga as a wife. He has a daughter who looks like you. He may not show it all the time, but all he talks about to me and Sasuke is you and Sayuri. He wants you to be happy more than anything else in this world. Hinata, you need to teach Sayuri that she is human, but that she is just a bit different than most girls. Tsunade had a theory as to this, and I think it might help you a little to hear it."

Hinata looked up at her and nodded. Sakura smiled at her friend and stroked her cheek softly.

"As you know, each Shinobi's Chakra affinity is determined by his or her parents. But it goes deeper than that. Chakra capacity and Chakra manipulation skills all stem from the parents. As you know, Naruto has very poor Chakra control. As a Hyuga, you have very precise and fine control. Normally the Hyuga genetics would be very dominant. It seems they were in almost all areas. Sayuri has all of the characteristics of a Hyuga. However, you have to figure the Kyuubi into the equation. Naruto was infused with the Kyuubi at birth. As he grew, some of the Kyuubi's genetics infused with Naruto's own. Most people do not know this, but the Kyuubi could actually use Jutsu. Kyuubi had one in particular that she loved to use. She called it the Art of Vicissitude. With it, she could literally kill and disembowel people with just a touch. I think this is what Sayuri did. When you became pregnant by Naruto, I believe that the small piece of Kyuubi that could use this Jutsu was the one that made Sayuri. She is a Hyuga in every sense of the name, but she also carries a part of Kyuubi's fearsome power. Hinata, you carry a very powerful Kekkai Genkai in your family. You have passed your bloodline onto your daughter, and Naruto has contributed his own power, as well as the Kyuubi's. Sayuri is far from a monster, but you have to accept the fact that she will never be normal like you and me. I hope this helps you, if just a bit. And in case you were wondering, Sayuri is a water affinity. Naruto is a wind, and you are water. Sayuri has a very powerful potential arsenal of Ninjutsu at her disposal."

Hinata smiled at Sakura and nodded.

"Thank you. I feel better knowing just what she is. But all the same, Sayuri is my daughter and I will love her no less than that, no matter what. But I still fear for her safety. I know that the Kyuubi was sealed inside of Naruto, so would it be possible to seal away what fraction of Kyuubi power Sayuri has?"

Sakura nodded and smiled.

"I could do it now and very painlessly. Where is she?"

Hinata stood up and walked to Sayuri's temporary room, and found Naruto gently rocking her in his arms, singing a soft song to her. Sayuri's eyes were closed peacefully as she slept in her father's arms. Her tiny face was pressed against the warm folds of his robe. Hinata smiled at them and she let tears run down her cheek. Naruto looked up at Hinata and he gently laid Sayuri in her crib. Naruto wrapped his arms around Hinata's waist and held her to him. She laid her head on his chest and he softly stroked her long raven hair.

"I think that Sayuri will be alright. I don't want her to fight people like Akatsuki. I know they'll come after her at some point, but I won't let them touch her. I'm her father, Naruto Uzumaki, the Sixth Hokage. I will not allow a single person to harm her, or anyone else in this village. Each and every person in this village is a precious person to me, and I will fight to protect them all, even should it cost me my life one day. I promise that we'll defeat Akatsuki, and we'll bring peace back to Konoha once more, with or without the Child of Legend. Hinata, I'm so sorry I've been so distant, I just needed time to think. I love you, and you and Sayuri come first in my life. We have one night left before the funeral for Iruka-sensei. Please, it has been too long since we have been together in love."

Hinata had closed her eyes long before he had started to speak, listening to the soft sound of his voice. She nodded and smiled.

"I'd like that tonight. Please take me once more."

Naruto picked her up and carried her to the large bedroom that they had never used before. Naruto laid her on her back and kissed her softly on her lips, full of fiery passion and lust. Hinata found her arms around his waist and her hands traveled up his back to rest on his neck. Naruto rested his weight on her body and he tossed his robe aside. Hinata did the same and they both lay unclothed under the warm blankets. Naruto found his lips tracing her neck and chest, as Hinata's hands traced his chest. Hinata finally lay on her back, and slowly parted her legs, granting Naruto access to her. He smiled and deftly penetrated her, causing the young woman to moan as a wave of pleasure washed over her. It seemed more passionate on this night. Naruto thrust deep inside her body, and Hinata climaxed quickly. She let her head fall back heavily and she smiled as Naruto finally released himself on her stomach. Hinata smiled and kissed his lips lightly as he held her in his arms, and they quickly fell asleep.

The village was very busy the next morning as everyone gathered at the Hero's Memorial for Iruka's funeral. Everyone was dressed in black. Iruka's casket was elder oak, his favorite tree. Everyone in the village attended, from the newly born to the elders that served as advisers to the Hokage. One by one they each laid a white rose on the casket. Hinata, Sakura and Tenten each laid two, one for them and for their children. Ino laid three, one for her and her healthy twins Kai and Ashari. It was not until all of the flowers were placed that the clouds gathered and a light rain began to fall. The heavens and the people wept for the loss of a true Shinobi, Iruka Umino. Those closest to Iruka were speaking, with Naruto speaking first.

"I remember the first person to notice me as more than a Jinchuuriki was Iruka-sensei. Even though his parents had died fighting against the Kyuubi, he didn't hate me for it. He once told me that it was not my fault his parents had died, but rather the blame rested on that which is sealed inside me. He was a father to me, one of many. He was the one who gave me the strength to go on day by day, and the courage to become who I am today. I never had a chance to thank him properly for all he had done, so Iruka-sensei; you will be missed by all."

Naruto said with tears streaming from his eyes. As he stepped off the small platform, a small applause went up from all gathered. Everyone who had known the great Shinobi spoke, ending with Kakashi and Jiraiya. As Kakashi ended his speech, a squeal was heard from the babies. Hinata smiled at her daughter and let Sayuri stand on her feet, holding her hands up so she could stand. Sayuri began to step forward, towards Iruka's open casket. Hinata let Sayuri go, and the eight month old girl began to walk to see the man she would never know, the one Naruto had wanted every one of the babies to know. Sayuri sat down on the ground by the casket, and she held her hand out, as if asking for a flower. Neji was the closest, and he handed the child a white rose. Sayuri placed it directly over his still heart and she cried. Hinata walked to her daughter and picked her up, stroking her cheek. It was then that Hinata realized that Iruka had died not in vain. Iruka had died protecting Sayuri and everyone else in the village. Hinata closed her eyes and whispered.

"Thank you Iruka-sensei."

As they lowered the casket into the earth, Naruto smiled at his family.

"Iruka-sensei taught me many things, but the most important was the concept of a father's love. He lost his father when he was young, and I never knew my father. But to me, Iruka-sensei was my father. And I know that I am the son of Kushina Uzumaki and Minato Namikaze by birth, but Iruka Umino will always be the father I always wanted. Thank you for everything, Father."

Naruto said as he closed his eyes once more. Sayuri started to squirm in her mother's arms, and she passed the child to Naruto. Naruto held his daughter in his arms, and the young baby of eight months cuddled up against her father's chest, and fell asleep once more. Hinata hugged him, and kissed Sayuri.

"Hard to believe it's only been a year since you returned from your training with Jiraiya-sama. You'll be seventeen soon. So much has happened. We have lost so many, and gained so much more. Lady Tsunade, Iruka-sensei, Father, Genma, even Kotetsu… all died in the span of a year. Even though they may have passed from this life, they will live on in our hearts and in our memories. They may be gone, but they will not be forgotten. In their place is Sayuri. Our little bundle of happiness and joy, our little angel."

Naruto nodded and kissed them both.

"It has been a long year. Sasuke has returned, and Itachi has been defeated. We finally acknowledged our feelings for one another, and we have our Sayuri. I think our stories are just beginning Hinata. Mine and yours, Sayuri's, and everyone else in the world. The future is ours, and we all hold the power to shape it. Let's work for a bright future, so that Sayuri can be happy."

Hinata nodded and smiled as the rain stopped. There was a saying in Konohagakure.

"As each day comes and goes, it becomes the past and tomorrow becomes the future. If we look towards tomorrow and do our very best each and every day, our future will be bright and sunny. So let's follow our magic word, and do our very best, because our lives are just beginning. Remember: Nankurunaisa! Where there is hope, there is a way."

TO BE CONTINUED IN "The Child of Legend"