Hey readers! Okay, so this is the last chapter of Snow Falling on Konoha! I'm so grateful to all of you that have reviewed, favorited this story, and put it on story alerts. It really means a lot to me and my co-author. Thanks for sticking with us till the end and now here is the last chapter of Snow Falling on Konoha.

19. A New Beginning

As the morning sun rose on the small village, Yuki and the others woke up very solemnly. As Kakashi awoke in his room, he noticed that Kocha was missing. It had been two days since the battle with Keeta and Kocha has not spoken a word to anyone. Naruto knocked on Kakashi's door and Kakashi allowed him to come in. "Kakashi-sensei?" asked Naruto. "I know that we need to head back to the village today but do you think…"

"Yes," said Kakashi. "I'm sure Kocha is there as well. Tell Sakura and Yuki."

"Yes, sensei," Naruto nodded. "Oh, by the way, Gaara-kun left for his village late last night. He left a note." Naruto gave Kakashi the note and Kakashi dismissed him. Kakashi rolled up his blankets and set them neatly in their correct cupboards. As he walked out of his room Yuki, Naruto, and Sakura were already in the lobby with their gear. They silently walked out of the inn and made their way to Kocha's location. As they walked Naruto noticed Yuki's expression and asked, "Are you okay, Yuki?"

"Yeah," said Yuki half-mindedly. "It's just that I've never seen Kocha cry before."

"Well, yeah," said Naruto. "A ninja like Kocha can never fully get rid of her feelings."

"But, isn't hardening your heart one of the top shinobi rules?" asked Yuki.

"That is true," said Kakashi. "However, losing a family member or friend is always hard. If the victim was very close to you then it will always be hard to hold back your feelings. If that is the case, it is always alright to show your feelings."

"Kakashi-sensei…,"said Sakura.

"Kocha just needs time to grieve, although one day should have been enough," said Kakashi. "She's been fighting Keeta for many years. That was her meaning in life, and now that she has met her goal, she is trying to find out what she wants to do."

"I hope she finds it," said Sakura.

"Yeah," agreed Yuki.

The group finally made it to the location of Kocha's village and, for the first time, was able to observe the damage of the landscape that the battle left. Kocha stood at the edge of the village staring at a small grave silently. The group quietly walked up to and stood on either side of her. They all shut their eyes and bowed their heads in respect. After a while Kocha, with her long hair covering her face, said, "Thank you for paying your final respects to my sister."

"Of course," said Kakashi.

Kocha stood up tall but still continued to stare at the grave. Yuki noticed an unfamiliar air about her. She also noticed that in one hand Kocha held Keeta's twin swords. In her other hand she held Buru-yami. Yuki looked up at Kocha and noticed that she was smiling. Kocha began to walk away from the grave as she said, "Let's go." As the group walked back Kocha stopped and said, "Oh, and one more thing." She turned to Yuki and held out the Buru-yami. Yuki stared at the sword in confusion as did the others.

"Kocha-sensei?" asked Naruto. "What are you doing?"

"You could call it a hand-me-down." Kocha smiled. "Yuki, I have used Buru-yami for nothing but stopping my sister. I want you to redeem its name. Make it a sword worthy of your care."

"You can do that, can't you?" asked Yuki.

"I'm afraid not." Kocha continued to smile. "I filled that blade with my own hatred for my sister's ideals. I want you to make it a blade of justice and protection for those you care about. If you do that with Buru-yami," Kocha held Keeta's twin swords. "I will make these swords the same." Yuki noticed that the swords had different engravings on them. One sword read "Sun" while the other read "Moon." Yuki looked down at the Buru-yami and felt the hatred in the blade. She held it closer to her heart and said, "I promise to make this a guardian's sword."

Yuki tied the sword onto her back and the group continued toward Konoha. As they walked, Kakashi and Kocha tailed behind and watched as the children talked about what they were going to do once they returned to the village. Kakashi looked over at Kocha who held a depressed look. "Your sister was a very brave ninja." He comforted. "She will never leave your side. I know that for a fact."

Kocha stared at Kakashi. "Kakashi-kun?"

"And now your sister will always fight by your side, as long as you wield those swords." Kakashi smiled.

"Thank you, Kakashi-kun." Kocha was now suddenly shy and bashful. Kakashi found this very unlike her and gave a confused stare.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

"I'm fine," Kocha laughed. "I now see what Keeta was talking about."

"What do you mean?"

"You'll see soon enough." Kocha smiled back at him. Kocha turned her gaze to Yuki who was laughing at Naruto and Sakura quarreling. I have, at last, found my happiness. Kocha thought. Keeta, help me find Yuki's happiness and bring him home.

The group finally arrived at the village in the early evening and was greeted by Jiraiya and Lady Tsunade. "Where have you all been?" roared Tsunade. "It's been three days since you all left and missions have piled up considerably!"

"Forgive us, Lady Hokage." Kocha stepped forward and bowed on one knee. "Kakashi-kun came to my whereabouts seeking my council. Yuki, Naruto, and Sakura came as well. While we were all together, my sis-," Kocha paused for a moment. "A member of the Akatsuki ambushed us and we were forced to fight a perilous battle. It is thanks to them and the Sand Shinobi that we were able to defeat her."

"Her?" said Tsunade. "As I recall, most of the Akatsuki members are male."

"There was one added not too long ago," said Jiraiya. "She was said to be the first female with unimaginable powers. Rumor has it that she was another one of Orochimaru's lab rats."

"Who was she?" Tsunade asked.

"Keeta, the Tiger shinobi," said Jiraiya.

"I see," said Tsunade. "And as I recall, this Keeta was also your sister?"

"Yes ma'am," said Kocha.

"So you all defeated her?" Tsunade crossed her arms. "I'd imagine that after a battle like that you all must have been injured quite massively."

"That's not all, ma'am." Yuki stepped forward. "Because of Kocha's tie to Keeta, we decided to raise a grave in her honor."

"Very well," said Tsunade. "I will allow all of you to rest today, but, tomorrow, you will receive your missions. Be sure to rest well."

"Actually," said Jiraiya. "Lady Tsunade, I was hoping that I could train Naruto."

"For how long and for what?" said Tsunade.

"Well," Jiraiya began. "Since Naruto will never stop until Sasuke is back at home, he will need quite a bit of training. I'm hoping to be back in about three years."

"Three years?!" roared Tsunade. Before she continued, she considered what was at stake. She looked over to Naruto and asked, "Are you up for this?"

"If it means getting Sasuke back," said Naruto. "I'm willing to do whatever it takes!"

Tsunade looked at Kocha and Kakashi who both nodded. "Very well," said Tsunade. "I'll be expecting results whenever possible."

"You've got it!" Jiraiya smiled. "Now then, Naruto, you might want to use the rest of the day to gather your things."

"Okay," said Naruto. Yuki and Sakura decided to go with him so that they could spend as much time with him as possible. As they watched the kids walk away Tsunade turned to Kocha and said, "With this achievement of yours I'm nearly positive that the Elders will allow you back into the village."

"I am happy to hear that," Kocha smiled. "I will do what I can to protect this village, even if it means that I must use my alter form."

"Very good," said Tsunade. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have a lot of missions to assign."

When Tsunade was gone, Kocha turned to Jiraiya and said, "Please, take good care of Naruto-kun, Jiraiya-sama."

"You don't have to worry about a thing," Jiraiya smiled. "You two just focus on training that Yuki of yours. I'm sure that she has the same determination that Naruto has."

"I'm sure you're right." Kakashi smiled.

That night, Yuki was still out with Sakura and Naruto to spend as much time with him as possible. Kakashi stared out of the window in his room and gazed at the moon. As he stared, he heard the door open to his room. He turned his head to see Kocha standing in the doorway. As she walked in Kakashi asked, "You couldn't sleep?"

"You could say that." Kocha sat down next to him on his bed and stared down at the floor. After a long silence Kocha said, "I keep thinking about Keeta. I wonder if she suffered."

"Even if she did," said Kakashi. "You set her free. I'm sure that is what she wanted most."

"Thank you, Kakashi-kun." Kocha leaned her head on his shoulder. "When I am with you, I am always so calm and at peace."

"I have that effect on women." He joked. Kakashi wrapped his arm around Kocha and the both sat in silence. After a long while Kocha looked up at the copy ninja as he stared back at her. She felt herself rise up and before the two of them knew what was happening, they kissed for the first time. Kocha was, at last, happy that she had a new family to protect and a man in her life that would protect her as well. All that was left now was to train Yuki as Jiraiya trained Naruto and Tsunade trained Sakura. They were merely three short years away from bringing Sasuke back home.