The next day after the fall of the long retuned Mad Gear. Everyone had returned to their normal lives. Hagger resumed his duties as Mayor of Metro city. Cody and Lucia went out on dates. Guy and Maki trained to improve their fighting style. Dean traveled the world to do some soul searching. And Carlos went on vacation. It was a quiet afternoon as the young ninja girl, now in her street clothes and her caring boyfriend sat on the front pouch quietly.

"It's been a wild adventure hasn't it?" Ibuki inquired.

"Yeah, it has been, from battles, to events, to taking down a major crime organization." He replied.

"I hope it's not too dangerous for you." Ibuki had warned.

"Don't worry, I like being with you, so it makes it all worth wild. I don't mind the life threatening dangers you face. That's part of being together right?"

He looked up at the sky and thought. "Right…how wonder how is everybody else doing?"

"Are you worried about Sarai?" he asked with concern.

"Well yeah, it's been a while since she enrolled as a ninja. I don't want her to get her too badly." She replied with worry.

Koji smiled as he placed his arm around her shoulder. "Sarai is strong Ibuki. She would not be a ninja if it wasn't for your influence."

"You really think so." Ibuki asked.

"Most definitely, if you're that concerned about her, then why don't we go see her? I'm sure she is dying to see you."

Ibuki eyes widened as she sensed an enemy presence nearby. She quickly leaped up threw a fury of kunai knives at the person approaching the house. On second glance, she saw a very familiar face.

She bit her upper lip and exclaimed. "What the Hell?" "I came all this way just to see you, and you try to kill me? Hmph, I guess I should never have let my guard down."

"Sarai is that really you?" she asked taking a second look.

"I'm here alright, in the flesh moron." She grunted.

Ibuki smiled and embraced Sarai in big hug. She felt like crying, because to her, it felt like forever since they last departed. It had been months since the two of them were reunited. Sarai's anger had diminished over Ibuki as she too was glad to see her once again as she held her in arms.

Sarai shook her head and said, "You never change do you?"

"I missed you." Ibuki had replied.

"So how's your ninja training been doing?" he asked.

The three of them were reunited at they relaxed at Koji's home. It was like a welcome home party. Both Koji and Ibuki were very happy to see Sarai again.

"Where do I start? It's as Ibuki said, hard work and dedication. I've been busy, so I haven't had much contact. By the way, I hear you two been having some adventures." She smiled.

Koji rubbed the back of his head and replied. "Yeah, it's been quite the adventures indeed."

Sarai nudged Koji. "I hope she hasn't been giving you too much trouble."

"What do you mean by that?" Ibuki shot back anger.

"Easy, I'm only joking. Where are Makoto and Elena?" she eased.

Koji recalled, "Elena is still in France for vacation and Makoto is continuing her training while traveling around to seek out other challenges to increase her dojo's reputation."

Sarai giggled while scratching her cheek, "Typical Makoto, always seeking new challenges, but still I gotta hand it to her determination not to give up."

"Well for the most part, we helped stop the Mad Gear from getting their hands on some mystical items. We also teamed up with the heroes to help bring them down." Ibuki explained. "So how far are you on your ninja training?"

"We're on the balancing issue of maintaining one's physical strength from the inside and out. It's difficult, but if you can do it so can I."

A thought came to Sarai's head being with Ibuki thinking about her ninja training. "Hey Ibuki, would you spar with me? I want your expert opinion on my strength improving."

Ibuki grinned. Sure Sarai, what are friends for?"

Later on that day, the two of them stood face to face in Koji's backyard. Both girls dressed up in their traditional ninja outfits. As they took their fighting stances, Ibuki could not believe that she was about to fight Sarai. She sensed no openings in her defense.

WHAM. Sarai had made the first move as she launched a jump kick. Ibuki quickly blocked her attack. But in the end, her attack had managed to bruise her. Ibuki followed up a couple of thrust punches as Sarai did the same. They exchanged blow for blow of close combat.

The two of them took their distance and extracted an amount multiple kunai knives. "Now you'll know how it feels to get bombarded by kunai knives." Sarai exclaimed.

"You always wreaked my schoolbooks with those things." Sarai shouted continuing to fight Ibuki.

Sarai unleashed a series of palm strikes. Not entirely caught by surprise, Ibuki saw through her movements as she knew how to counter. Unfortunately, Sarai fast pace movements had caused her to seize the opportunity.

Impressed with her strength Ibuki smiled and complimented, "You grown quite strong for someone who been in ninja training for months."

"Thanks, that means a lot coming from you." Sarai had said.

The next knee was not so much of a surprise attack as Ibuki easily parried her blow with her own powerful knee. Both of them preformed back flips and hailed intense jump kick. The two girls breathed heavily after the reciving so much damage, but one had to come out first. Ibuki and Sarai finished off with a standard punch to the skull. In the end, both of them collapsed on the soft green grass injured from the fight, but happy. Ibuki and Sarai laughed together in enjoyment.

"You not the same Sarai I remember, it feels like you're a totally different person. I could be your master someday."

Sarai smirked and said, "Ha, Ha! No way Ibuki not if I get there first."

"We'll see now won't we?" Ibuki challenged as they knocked fist.

That night Ibuki and Koji sat quietly on the roof watching the stars move from the moon with passion. She still wondered how her was other friends doing as well as her clan. Ibuki was felling a little homesick, but not too much. Koji placed his hand on Ibuki's to insure her that he's always on her side regardless of the outcome.

With that Ibuki felt at peace as she fell on Koji's shoulders resting her head. She whispered softly, "I'm glad I met you."