The FINAL CHAPTER IS UPON US!
Nine Years Later…
A young Genin walked down the dusty roads of Konoha. He was thinking about the upcoming Chuunin Exams and all his friends back home in Suna. His Konoha friend should be here by now wandering around. His friend was usually always early but today he was late.
Maybe it was because his parents had brought his sister with them this time. He knew his friend liked his sister. He'd kick his friend's ass if he admitted that he liked her but truthfully he couldn't have picked anyone better for her.
Jiro was a goof and a loud mouth but he was strong and honorable as well. He was one of the good guys. A loud yell made Ryuzaki look up from the dirt floors of Konoha and stare at the alleyway ahead of him. That scream sounded familiar. His pace hastened slightly and he turned into the alleyway.
A young girl with black hair and bright blue eyes stared at a couple of idiots who were obviously drunk…and it was so early in the morning! His green eyes saw the girl's blue ones and they widened. He knew her. That was Jiro's little sister Risa!
Ryuzaki glared at the boys and made his way down the alley keeping his face blank, a trait his father had taught him when he was younger. Risa backed into a corner. She was experienced but she really didn't like fighting that much unless she had to. She caught something moving out of the corner of her eye and turned her head.
That boy…he looked so familiar to her. She focused her eyes and saw his headband that he wore tied around his forehead. Long strips of dark red hair streaked over the headband but she made out the symbol. He was from the Sand Village! She squinted through the sun's searing blaze and realized who it was. A faint blush came to her cheeks. It was him. Ryuzaki stopped in front of her without a word and turned to the boys.
"Is there a problem?" he asked, his voice monotone.
The boys snickered.
"We were just helping the pretty little girl…she looked lost…" one said smirking.
Risa grabbed Ryuzaki's sleeve tightly. Ryuzaki frowned slightly.
"Leave now…or you'll leave me no choice…" he said this time his voice taking on a bit of malice.
Some of the boys backed away but others stood. Ryuzaki turned slightly to Risa knowing her all to well.
"Risa-chan, close your eyes…" he said as softly as he could.
She nodded quickly and shut her eyes and covered her ears. The boys all charged at the same time and Ryuzaki stared at them as sand rose from beneath his feet and flew over to the boys wrapping them up. Ryuzaki raised his hands, his voice still monotone.
"You're lucky I made a promise that I wouldn't kill anyone if I didn't have to…" he said before he did the jutsu.
"Sabaku Sousou" he said and clenched his fist.
There were ear piercing cracks and then the sand let them go leaving the group of boys with broken bones in various places. He wrapped his sand around them again and had it transport the boys to the stairs of the hospital. Sakura would not be happy and his parents would be pissed later but he really wasn't concerned. He'd kept his promise. He didn't kill them. This was progress!
Risa still had her eyes closed and ears covered when Ryuzaki turned around to face her. He couldn't help but become slightly amused by her actions. He removed her hands from her ears and leaned in close.
"It's alright Risa-chan, you're safe now…" he said smiling kindly and Risa opened her eyes coming face to face with him.
Her face turned completely red and she fainted. Ryuzaki sighed. This was not the first time she had done this to him. He picked her up and let her rest on his back while he walked to find his best friend, her brother Jiro.
Meanwhile, Jiro was trying to entertain Ryuzaki's little sister Sera. Sera giggled as she watched Jiro eat his fifth bowl of ramen.
"You eat too much…" she said and he grinned.
"I have to get ready for the Chuunin Exams! I have to be in shape if I'm going to win!" he cheered and Sera sighed.
"But you're not going to win, my brother is…he is the best fighter of all the Genin…" she said knowing it would piss Jiro off.
It did just that.
"Ryuzaki is a good fighter but if we get pitted against each other I'm going to kick his ass!" he yelled.
"That is if you can lay a hand on me…which you have yet to do…" said a voice from behind them.
Jiro almost jumped and Sera turned around grinning.
"I knew you were there Ryuzaki! What happened to Risa-chan? Did she faint again?" Sera asked softly.
Ryuzaki nodded and handed her off to Jiro who threw water on her to wake her up. Risa sat up and wiped the water off her face. She looked around and saw her best friend Sera staring at her.
"Sera-chan, it's good to see you again!" she said smiling.
Sera grinned.
"Same to you Risa-chan. Let's go get our parents. The Chuunin Exams start tomorrow and I want to miss nothing!" she yelled and the two girls headed off for the Hokage tower followed by the two boys.
As they neared the tower they saw the twins, Hisa and Haru, training against their parents. Temari spotted the small group and waved as well as Shikamaru. The twins grinned simultaneously and continued fighting. They kicked ass. They were getting good too. They also passed Kankuro who was training with his son Kin. Kin was quiet but once he knew you for a while he was just like his dad. He was one of the best puppeteers in Suna.
His mother was with the other Kages in the tower where they were headed. They passed the hospital where Sakura was working. She was outside talking to Tsunade-baa-sama and they waved to the kids, though Sakura gave Ryuzaki the 'I'm gonna kick your ass for leaving broken bones on my stairs again' look. Ryuzaki sweat dropped and kept it moving.
Lee and Gai were training as always. Neji and Tenten were off training for another mission but also catching some alone time. Kakashi had taken Jiro under his wing and was going to help him like he helped Naruto. They had to meet tomorrow for training with his squad for the Chuunin Exams. The kids walked up the stairs to the Hokage office where they knew their parents were.
Outside, guarding the door stood Akin, Matsuri, and Rini, all Sand ANBU now. They were the best and followed the Kazekage and his family everywhere. They saw the kids and grinned. Rini ruffled Ryuzaki's hair. She was like their big sister. Akin nodded calmly as the leader of the group. Matsuri grinned and high-fived Sera and Risa whispering 'girl power.' The kids entered the room quietly.
All of the Kages in the alliance and their significant others minus Kankuro who was training with his son were sitting their. Naruto, Hinata, Gaara, Saya, and Kat were all sitting and talking. When the kids walked in everything became silent. Ryuzaki looked to his mother who smiled sheepishly at him. He looked to his father who remained stoic as usual.
"What's going on here?" Jiro asked suspiciously.
"We are discussing the Chuunin Exams. You all cannot be in here…so leave," Gaara said in his monotone voice.
Jiro was about to protest when Ryuzaki turned around and headed out the door. He wasn't in the mood to argue. Sera frowned and ran after him.
"Ryuzaki, wait up!" she yelled and he slowed so she could catch up.
"What is it Sera?" he asked softly.
Sera looked at the floor.
"Do you think they were talking about me?" she asked and Ryuzaki's eyes widened a bit then returned to normal.
"Why would you think that?" he asked and her eyes saddened.
He hated when his sister was sad.
"Well…because I have the monster inside me…" she said quietly.
Ryuzaki stopped walking.
"Father had it sealed away a long time ago. They weren't talking about you. And stop listening to what insignificant people say to you back in Suna. They are stupid…" he said and Sera's eyes widened.
"How do you know about the people in Suna?" she asked thinking her brother never cared that much.
Ryuzaki sighed.
"Suna isn't a big village. I hear things too. If they bother you again don't run to mom or dad…they can't do anything because of their political position. Come tell me…I'll fix it for you okay?" he asked and she nodded happily.
They walked away and finally Jiro and Risa caught up with them.
"Let's go train with Kakashi-sensei!" Jiro said and everyone agreed as they all took off to where they knew the lazy sensei would be…the adult bookstore.
Meanwhile in the Hokage tower the Kages waited until they sensed the children's chakras were gone. They sighed and pulled out the many sake bottles they were in the midst of drinking. They were celebrating the Chuunin Exams Tsunade style. The old friends began speaking of old memories and new ones laughing over how young and stupid they used to be and still were. Saya rested her head on Gaara's shoulder as the others laughed and chatted. She wasn't drunk and knew he wasn't either.
"Do you miss home Sai-chan?" he asked her and she grinned.
He hadn't called her Sai-chan in many years. She looked up to see him smiling some.
"Hai…I do…but that's okay…because as long as I have my friends and my family…I can call anywhere home…" she said as they looked out into the village of Konoha and beyond.
They saw the statues of the Hokage heads on the mountain that now held Naruto's face there as well. Saya smiled to herself as she saw the big beautiful bird fly by in the sky; the bird that would always be watching her and her family.
"Man I love my life…" she whispered to herself, but everyone heard and a comfortable silence overcame the room.
All of the Kages were thinking the same thing:
Life…was good.
END
Well guys it's been a blast! Look for my other stories coming soon to a fanfiction near you!
The Categories Are:
Supernatural
L: Change the World
Inception
Yu Yu Hakusho
Possibly True Blood
Finishing that damned Star Trek 2009 Alternate Illusions! :D
Not in this order. Ha!