By special request for an extremely special friend: For SS and our friends who have patiently waited for this final chapter. I hope you like this small addition to the end of our story.

My thanks again to the wonderful people who have helped inspire my characters and wonderful and happy times to everyone who has shared this story with me.

With love and best wishes to you, anoldfan xxx

A few years later …

The toddler had grabbed his grandmother's purple lipstick and had smeared two big splodges on each cheek. He saw his mum, his dad, grandma, aunt and uncle had the Clan tattoos … only he and his cousins didn't have them. Well, not yet.

"Kizuna darling…?" Joleen asked her nearly 3 year old son with gentle intonation at the end of the sentence.

"Mummy!" said a very excited little boy who ran to his mummy and hugged her right thigh. She stroked the back of his wild brown hair lovingly and then bending down, pulled him into a cuddle.

"Kizuna … did you tell your daddy to go and sit on the roof again?" she spoke gently and the little boy gave a very cheeky and apologetic smile.

"Yes mummy … sorry mummy." He said almost-apologetically.

"Kizuna darling…" She smiled as she loosened the embrace so she could gently hold his arms and look into his beautiful eyes. She started to take out a wet wipe from a pack of them in her pocket and began to clean his face. "… You mustn't use your jitsu on daddy, okay?"

"Okay mummy. I am sorry." Kizuna said again.

"It's okay but say sorry to daddy too when Uncle Akamaru helps daddy down."

"Yes mummy." He was adorable; his had his mother's way with words but his daddy's cheekiness. He was wearing a purple t-shirt and a pair of black shorts with sandals.

Kizuna had inherited his father's way with canines and also a unique ability from his mother … the ability to sweet talk anyone into anything. He was a smooth talking siren incarnate and when he started to talk early on … things got interesting.

Joleen was thankfully unable to be affected by her toddler's sing-song like voice but it did mean her son could get away with a lot of things if she wasn't there.

"Woof!" Barked Akamaru with a slightly dazed Kiba on his back.

"Daddy!" Yelled Kizuna happily and Joleen let him run up to Kiba who picked him up and helped him onto Akamaru's back with him. Two little arms bear hugged the man's body and laughing; he cuddled and kissed his son loudly on the head.

"Thank you Unky Aka!" The little boy said, patting the dog's fluffy white fur.

"Kizuna, did you have something to say to your daddy?" Joleen said, arching her eyebrows slightly.

"Sorry daddy." He said and Kiba lifted his son closer to him and licked his face all over making the boy giggle.

"I love you, Kizuna." The little man laughed as his dad began to lick his neck and Kizuna laughed loudly. Joleen smiled at the scene and shook her head.

"Men." Tsume said quietly as she let herself and her black and white furred friend Kuromaru into her offspring's home through the side kitchen door. Joleen turned and went to hug her mother-in-law.

"Hi mum." She said and hugged her giggling.

"What's the little man been up to now today?" Tsume said to the glowing, gorgeous woman in front of her.

"He asked to go onto the roof."

"Again?" Tsume said laughing and hearing the woman's cackling, both Kiba and Kizuna turned to her.

"Gan-gan! Ganpa Ku!" Kizuna leapt down with his father from Akamaru's back and Kiba let him go so he could hug his grandmother and the dog he affectionately called his grandfather.

"Hello, little Inuzuka." Kuromaru addressed him and licked the boys face, making him burst out in to giggles. His grandmother picked him up and hugged him.

"Ooo! I love gan-gan's cuddles." Tsume spoke softly and then swung him gently around with her on the spot and he screamed happily.

"Hi mum," Kiba added from the side of his Joleen. "What brings you here?"

"Joleen asked me to." Tsume said and Joleen invited everyone to sit down, taking Kizuna from her mother so she could sit down easily and she helped put Kizuna into the chair beside his gan-gan and dad. She sat opposite them and smiling, gave them the news.

"We are going to have another baby." Kiba immediately leapt out of his chair and landed on the table, totally ecstatic!

"Oh yes!" He said, punching the air, one fist at a time and the young child then tried to climb onto the table with his dad, trying to copy him.

Kuromaru whined slightly and Tsume helped pick the child up and placed him on her lap.

"No darling," She said soothingly. "You know that you can behave much better than that."

"But Gan-Gan… " He said sweetly, battering his eyelids and making Tsume loosen her arms around him as she gazed dreamily at the pretty boy in her arms.

"Kizuna…" His mum warned but with a smile and the little boy sighed.

"Sorry mummy…" He apologised and turning to his Gan-Gan, gave her another cuddle.

"Kiba sweetheart," Joleen said and then pointing to the floor gave a command. "Down, please."

Kiba immediately landed on the floor on all fours, then stood on his two feet and walked over to her and kissed her. "I'm sorry too, Joleen."

He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her gently. Akamaru barked loudly and wagged his tail and Kuromaru groaned.

"What was that Akamaru said, Kuromaru-Sama?" Joleen queried.

"He said 'When shall he start puppy making'?"

They all laughed and Akamaru barked happily.

"Akamaru, your poor wife has nearly been continuously pregnant since you to were wed." Tsume said and Akamaru put his tails between his legs and lay on the floor.

"Puppies!" Kizuna yelled and air punched as his father had done whilst on his Gan-Gan's lap.

"Oh boy!" Tsume said and everyone laughed at the similarities between the Inuzuka males.

"Well, I guess we'll be getting ready soon to meet the Hatake's and then off to Kirigakure for the festival … mum, why don't you both come with us? Joleen asked, nudging her and winking at Kuromaru.

"It would be good to go for a walk, Tsume." Kuromaru mentioned and Tsume pointed a forefinger at him and giggled.

"You want to meet a Pekinese too, don't you?" Tsume said and looking at her friend who began to scratch behind his left ear to avoid eye contact with her merely confirmed her suspicion, making her smirk.

Akamaru barked and growled at the older canine and Kuromaru's eye widened, the other eye behind the eye patch sadly closed permanently from an accident in the past.

"Chill Akamaru. Kuromaru knows not to just do things without you or your wife's permissions." Kiba advised Akamaru who whined an apology to Kuromaru.

"That's okay." The black furred dog said. "But I expect you to set me up in Kiri, okay? It's been a long time since I've been on a date … you could hook up Tsume too whilst you're at it.

Tsume growled at her companion and he lowered his head to the ground.

"Woof?" A little bark came from a very pretty white dog… no more that 3-4 years of age. She ran to the said side of her little Kizuna and rolled over before his feet. The toddler bent down and gently rubbed her tummy, making the dog's tongue hang out the side of her mouth in comfort.

"Shiromaru looks like she has it made." Kuromaru teased the young puppy who then rolled onto her front and grinned wolfishly at the one-eyed black furred dog.

"Then we better start to get ready." Tsume said and she and Kuromaru then went back out of the side door to their home to pack. Shiromaru licked the young Kizuna's face, making him bellow in laughter and Kiba kissed his pretty wife.

Chōjūrō held Mei's hand as her head dropped slightly at the news, her tears fiercely held back. She was Mizukage and could not let her people down by showing just how vulnerable she was.

"I am very sorry." Sakura said. She had been asked to come to help the Kage and her spouse when they had been trying to conceive and after 4 years, they had sadly been unsuccessful.

"Sakura-Sama, we are both very appreciative for you coming to help us." Mei said, lifting her and smiling. Sakura gave a small smile back and nodded.

"Your country is amazing, Mei-Sama." Sakura said. "You and Chōjūrō-Sama have made everyone new to her so comfortable… it will be very hard to go back home so soon."

It was true. When Sakura, Sasuke and their son Itachi arrived via a personal request by Mei, Naruto and Hinata, they felt they had to come and were nervous of how people would view the Uchiha coming. But they were kind, understanding and moved on from the past.

Of course some people said things about the terrible family … that was normal. However, they were strongly protected by the Mizukage's guardian and husband. No-one dared to mention anything to them or their child.

"The others will be coming here for the festival next week," Chōjūrō commented and pushing his glasses firmer up onto the bridge of his nose asked the medical-nin. "Will you stay with us until after then? You can travel back with them and we'd love to spend more time with you and your family."

Sakura smiled and nodded, making Mei and Chōjūrō smile wider.

"Thank you both so much …it must be hard to accept a family like ours but you have done so with such understanding."

"You have a wonderful family," Mei said. "Kirigakure had a very … interesting past and has moved from it into something new and bright. Just like you all have."

Sakura looked at the Mizukage thankfully and then bowing spoke. "Origato, Mei-Sama."

"Thank us by staying." Mei said warmly and Chōjūrō kissed her forehead.

"I am going to buy us all dinner." Chōjūrō stated and Mei looked at her handsome husband in a daze.

"We should be taking you both out for dinner…" Sakura said a little embarrassed. They had been living in the Mizukage's home with them and the Aburame Clan for over 6 months.

"Treat us another time." Mei said and Chōjūrō helped her out of her seat in the small doctor's office.

"Okay." Sakura said giggling. "I promise though, no ramen." They all laughed at that. Ever since Naruto gave up being Hokage and bought the Rāmen Ichiraku restaurant with his friend and former teacher Iruka-Sensei, it seemed that's all people of Konoha would eat. The former Hokage loved his job and realised just how much happier he was doing this than anything else. Konohamaru was now the 7th Hokage and was doing amazingly well.

"Let's go home and get the others." The blue haired man said and they all left the hospital and walked to the large estate.

"Ooo! Yeah! Ah! Uh!" A little spiky red headed boy in dark glasses said into the microphone his father had made him out of a block of wood.

"Are you sure he is my son?" Shino said as the little boy posed and tried to sing the words he knew into a microphone.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Said a very pretty red haired, green eyed woman holding out to her husband a cup of tea. The voice though sweet sounding head a deathly note to it which made Shino take a gulp.

"Sorry, Nina." Shino said, taking the cup and holding her close to him.

"Shibito is a very free spirited child." Nina commented, kissing her husband gently on the cheek and as they both turned to stare at their son. The three year old paused on the spot when he realise his parents were watching realised they were looking at him. He hid the microphone quickly behind his back and looked straight into his parents' faces.

"Daddy, mummy …I didn't do anything." He said coolly and straight faced and then looking over the tops of his shaded glasses, arched his eyebrows and winked at them. Shino smiled at Nina laughed.

"Shibito…" Nina said laughing still as she went to pick up her little boy and showering him in kisses. The three year old shared a smirk with his father who promptly joined his family in a three-way hug. As his daddy hugged him, Shibito dropped the microphone and hugged them both hard.

"I love you." Shino said to both his wife and son in turn, alternating kisses on the foreheads between them. Shino realised that although his son had a bit of a hidden cheekiness to him ... that he was totally happy with his son. The young child was clever, obsessed with music and possessed 3 Genkai Kenkai - 1 from his father and 2 from his mother. Shibito had a great fondness for fireflies and often as he slept at night they would buzz around him so he was not completely in the dark.

"Shibito, your granddad and our friends are going to be coming to see us soon." Nina said to her son and the male red head nodded, straight faced.

"Cool." He said and kissing his dad and then mum on the forehead before Nina put the little boy on the floor. Shibito then walked a little way from then and then turned smoothly on the spot and did a crutch grab. Shino and Nina's eyes bulged and sweat appeared on their foreheads.

"Where did you learn that?" Nina asked her son a little perturbed but couldn't help to give into a big smile as she spoke, her hand rising to her lips.

"Granddad." Shibito said and Shino looked worried. Nina laughed and hugged her husband tightly.

"We better go and freshen up for dinner. Can you two gentleman help me and ask Itachi to come inside to wash his hands?"

Shino and Shibito shared a dead-pan look and nodded at the beautiful red haired konoichi.

A young child was sitting on the steps of the Hokage's Estate, looking at the ground in front of him and enjoying the cool mist around him. Itachi was 6 years old and having his father's brains, had already been to and graduated from the academy. He had his father's raven black/dark blue hair and his mother's green eyes, often wearing a dark blue top with the Uchiha clan symbol on the back and a pair of black combo trousers with white shoes.

Itachi had a quiet disposition and often felt uncomfortable around his classmates. He was bullied often since pre-school as he was an Uchiha … a relative to three of the most dangerous men ever in Shinobi history – Madara, Itachi and Sasuke. It was because of this though that he always stuck to the rules and refused to follow their past examples. What helped him most of all was the fact he had a teacher who believed in him like no other … Kakashi Sensei.

Itachi confided in the man who told him of his own father being outcast by Konoha as a traitor for saving his comrades above a mission and then killed himself. It made the young Uchiha feel less alone and saw in his teacher a role model to copy.

In a few days time, he would see his beloved Sensei again and his angel. She seemed to always understand him and even though she seemed nervous, she was kind and he liked her. He started to smile dreamily, looking at his shoes and seeing two shadows appear on the ground, gently looked up to see the Aburame-Sama and his son. Shibito sat next to Itachi and gave him a small nod, which Itachi responded back with.

"Itachi... would you like to come in with us and get prepared for dinner?" Shino asked. Itachi looked into the elder shinobi's face and spoke.

"Yes, Aburame-Sama." Itachi said and as he was about to stand up, Shibito grasped Itachi's left hand and the three walked into the house. The touch made Itachi initially feel uncomfortable but that was only because of his past experiences with children in Konoha. His parents were loving and reassured him whenever he felt upset by the other children's cruelty. He had been beaten by them, sworn at by them and ridiculed - he wasn't used to a friendly touch yet by another child. Even when his pretty angel hugged him, he tried to suppress the way it made him feel so good.

As they entered the house, Shibito gently released the elder child's hand and he bowed to him.

"Boss, can you teach me again?" Shibito spoke pleadingly, his eyes large and eye lashes fluttering. The image made the little ninja laugh and he rubbed the red headed boy's head.

"Sure." He said smiling. Kirigakure had given him a chance to break away from old stereotypes and bullies; it allowed him to meet some people who could just accept him. Who cared if this child was a bit younger than him? This was his friend and he was proud to have one.

8 days later...

The party from Konoha arrived at the gates of Kirigakure at dusk. The rain was heavy and unrelenting and as they were about to walk through to the guard box to announce their presence, they saw Mei and Chōjūrō standing a little way in front of them.

Thanks to Joleen, they had been able to fly most of the way there and it was only when the rain started to fall around a fifth of their journey through the Land of Water did they have to continue on foot and canine, thanks to Akamaru and Kuromaru. Kizuna sat proudly upon Kuromaru's back with his grandmother sat behind him, Shibi Aburame behind her and Shiromaru tucked safely inside the small light grey tracksuit jacket he wore, with the hood up over his head to protect him from the rain. His cheeks bore the painted on tattoos of his clan, thanks to him sweet talking his grandma into helping him do his face with her purple lipstick.

Upon Akamaru sat Joleen, a heavily pregnant Hinata and a little girl with baby blue hair and white eyes. The little girl was held around the waist by her mother, who was smiling and telling her about the people who they were meeting. She wore a white waterproof jacket and a pair of white trousers with white sandals. On her back, she wore the symbols of both her father and mother – the Hatake and Hyuuga symbols within a small heart.

Everyone quickly dismounted when they saw the Mizukage and her husband were there to greet them. Mei and Chōjūrō smiled at the arrival of their guests and friends and quickly went to them, bearing umbrellas, introductions, hugs and news. After talking quickly, they went to the Mizukage's residence as Mei couldn't help but look at the pretty children who had ran on ahead of them and were laughing. She smiled despite the sadness within her and pushing it away, advised the children on which turnings to take.

With everyone inside, unpacked and now sitting in a large living room drinking warm tea and eating cakes beside a large warm fire, they all talked happily again.

Shiromaru, Pakkun, Kuromaru and Akamaru lay sleeping by the fire on a large fluffy white rug. Kizuna was lying on his back laughing hard at the dance and song routine Shibito had done for them all and rather than being hurt by it, shrugged and smirked at his friend before sitting on his chest.

The young girl sat near the two other children, smiling at them with the same doe eyes her mother had. She was 6 months older than them and seemed more paternal and sisterly to them than just a play friend. She watched them with care and ran to the young Inuzuka when Shibito sat on him.

"He's okay, Cyan." The red haired boy said, gently getting up from the still laughing Kizuna. He smiled at the pretty friend who had come to his rescue and winked at her.

"Ta babe." He said, catching his mother and father's attention but for different reasons: Joleen looked shocked whilst Kiba looked proud.

Cyan blushed slightly and looked away from her friends; her face was slightly sad and serious. She began to fiddle and twirl with her fingers. A light grey haired man then rose from his wife's side before whispering to her and then went to sit by his daughter.

"He'll be here, Cyan." Kakashi said smiling at the pretty corn flowered haired girl. She was the image of her mother. He loved that. She was kind, brave and would do all she could for her friends and she was only four. She had already begun her studies at the academy and due to complete her final when they returned. She had a natural ability to learn and worked hard when she trained. Naruto had taken it upon himself to train the child genius and was doing very well.

Kakashi put an arm around his tiny daughter's shoulders and held her gently. She closed her eyes and breathed in her daddy's reassurance.

"I love you, daddy." She said and Kakashi's heart swelled and grew with affection for the little girl. "Am I silly?"

"No darling." He said and kissed the top of her head.

"What's up?" Said Shibito, Shino's vein throbbing lightly at the rapper pose his son made as he spoke and muttered to himself to never take his son to a Killer Bee concert again.

"She is worried about Itachi." Kakashi said.

"Oh." Kizuna said and gave the little girl a hug, as did Shibito.

""He's okay." The boys said at the same time and Kakashi slowly let his daughter's shoulders go so she could hug the boys back… but he watched them closely.

"Who's okay?" Asked Sasuke as the Uchiha entered the room; Sasuke went and sat next to his old sensei Kakashi as Sakura sat next Mei and Joleen. Itachi followed behind them, his eyes bulging and hands sweaty as he saw the familiar figure of his angel on the floor… being hugged by two familiar boys.

"Cyan?" Itachi's voice sounded slightly broken and as she turned and looked up at him, his draw dropped and he looked a bit sick. Cyan's face had lit up at the sound of his voice and she sprung up to her feet and to see him. His angel was at last looking at him. He felt dragons fighting in his stomach and was totally lost in what he was feeling.

"Itachi!" She said excitedly, her eyes so large and filled with white light that he hadn't realised within seconds she was hugging him. The two boys smiled at them, Itachi's eyes filled with shock, frozen to the spot before he slowly melted there, gently hugging back.

Sasuke saw the young girl embrace his son and smirked. The expression on his son's face was classic.

Sakura looked angrily at the smirk on her husband's face and a soft clicking of knuckles came from her as she prepared to teach him a lesson. Sasuke heard the sounds of danger and quickly smiled at her, melting her on the spot. 'Like mother, like son', he thought.

Kakashi looked at them both, wanting to really be okay with this but also wanting all three boys to be well away from his daughter. They were all kids and Itachi was his protégé … but this was his baby after all.

Kakashi then got up and Cyan gently let the raven haired boy go. Itachi looked sad at her stopping the hug but as he saw his master, he smiled.

"Kakashi Sensei." He said, standing straight and bowing to him.

"Itachi." The grey haired teacher said at his most promising student to date and rubbed the top of his head affectionately, his one uncovered eye closed and creased as he smiled beneath his black mask.

"Ooo." Hinata gasped lightly and Kakashi and Cyan rushed almost effortlessly to her side.

"Hinata…"

"Mummy…"

Hinata smiled and blushed as everyone looked at her with great concern. She looked like she was about to burst… even though she was only 6 months pregnant.

"Sorry everyone… we are fine. The babies are just very active."

"Byakugan." Cyan chirped and the veins around her eyes grew dark and large. She looked her mother's tummy…

"Hehehe!" Cyan pointed towards her mum's womb and gigged sweetly. Itachi looked completely besotted with the clever baby blue haired girl and only came too when Sakura asked a question.

"What's so funny, little Cyan?"

"The babies are looking around." She responded, making everyone very curious. Hinata decided to take a look herself.

"Byakugan." She looked down at her unborn babies and smiled at what she saw – four babies with their Byakugan activated. The two little girls were staring at the Kizuna and Shibito whist their brothers seemed to be looking at the mum's. One was looking at Joleen whilst the other looked at Mei.

Hinata joined her daughter's continuous fit of giggles and after a few moments they stopped laughing.

"What happened?" Kakashi asked as he placed his hand on her tummy and feeling a small hand stroke his from inside Hinata's tummy. He had experienced this with Cyan so didn't feel scared by it … he felt moved.

"All four of them have activated their Byakugan. I think they want to play with Kizuna, Shibito and …" Hinata trailed off into a smile. "May I look at Joleen-Sama and Mei-Sama with my Byakugan?

The two women shared a curious before looking back smiling at Hinata and nodding. Hinata first looked at Joleen and beamed and after a quick glance at Mei burst into loud laughter.

"Mummy?" Cyan said with a happy inquisitiveness before looking at the two elder women and bursting into tears of laughter.

"What's happening?" Itachi asked, compete clueless about what was happening before Cyan jumped off the floor and controlling herself, asked if she could tell him.

"Auntie Mei," Cyan asked. "Can I tell him, please?"

"Tell him what?" Mei asked, bending towards the pretty girl who shared her husband's hair colour.

"Mummy?" She said. Her mother always told her to ask permission first before telling people private things in public.

Hinata nodded to her daughter, still trying to stop laughing but failing miserably, managing to merely break it down into small, intermittent, whimpering giggles.

"Auntie Mei's baby activated her Byakugan and she keeps waving at my brother who seems to have just passed out with a small on his face."

"WHAT?" Exclaimed Mei and Chōjūrō.

"Mei-Sama," Sakura was shocked beyond belief. "The results were negative despite your usual symptoms of pregnancy."

"That's normal for Hyuuga pregnancies." Kakashi said smiling and giggling a little too.

"Wow!" Said Mei as Chōjūrō proudly kissed his pretty wife.

"Auntie Joleen…" Cyan said cheekily and the beautiful woman who was playing with her necklace grinned in response.

"Yes Cyan."

"Your little girl is very pretty." She said and Kiba leapt into the air, yelling happily.

"Really?" Joleen asked.

"Yes… but it seems my baby brother is a bit obsessed with her. He keeps sucking his thumb when he looks at her."

"Oh!" Joleen said with a startled chuckle. Kiba then promptly landed and sat protectively near his wife and her little bump.

"Welcome to my world." Kakashi said with a grin and Kiba nodded worriedly.

"How far along do you think I am?" Mei said, looking at her little tummy and gently stroking it. She felt a faint ripple against the palm of her hand which made her smile.

"I think you and Auntie Joleen are around the same time."

"We are 5 months along, Mei-Sama." Joleen advised and Nina rushed to her aunt and hugged her.

"I am so happy for you." She said, kissing her aunt who for so long had wanted a baby but felt she could not.

"Congratulations." Shino said, raising from his chair and going to Chōjūrō to shake his hand.

"Absolutely." Kiba said, getting up to offer his sentiments too.

"Hmm." Hinata added, joining Kiba and rushing towards Shino and the Mizukage and Chōjūrō.

The Team 8 members walked to the Mizukage as they had done all those years ago, proving that great changes can happen when you have true friendship, the strength to take risks, faith in each other and hope for the future.