Song: Long Kiss Goodbye

Young Sun

Sakura stepped outside after discussing with Shizune the cellular structure of the White Zetsu, which had cells of the First Lady Hokage, who had a strong affinity with plants and the very earth itself. Wiping the sweat from her, Sakura noticed the air was no longer thick with tension, thanks to the White Zetsu's interference that nearly ruined the alliance.

"I got fresh water and towels!"

Sakura's voice was dragged to Naruko's chibi clone, Ko-chan, who was running around on her short little legs, wearing a-.

"I-Is that a maid uniform?!" exclaimed the red-faced kunoichi, feeling her inner fangirl squeal at the cuteness of a chibi Naruko in a maid uniform. Feeling her anxiety disappear, she wasn't the only one. Looking around the campsite, so many others were affected by the miniature ball of sunshine.

Everywhere Sakura watched Ko-chan pass out water and field rations, the ninjas of the alliance greeted the chibi clone with smiles and praises, which earned them sunny smiles that had them blushing like silly love-struck fools.

Poor Neji had it worse when the chibi clone first made her appearance. She puffed into existence right before the White Zetsu could attack.

"Don't you dare lay a finger on Sakura-chan!" The chibi clone took out the White Zetsu with a seal. With the White Zetsu defeated, the little chibi introduced herself.

"Hiya, Sakura-chan! Neji! I'm Ko-chan! The boss didn't want anything to happen to you, so she sent me to watch over you." The chibi greeted the two, speaking this last part to Sakura who was shocked and touched at the same time.

Sakura was asking the clone a question when she noticed Neji's silence and turned to stiff Hyuuga. Only to gawk at the burning red blush that consumed the stoic Hyuuga.

"Oi, Neji! You okay?"

Sakura jumped at the spurt of blood that erupted from Neji's nose before his body hit the ground. Muttering under his breath,

"Too… Too cute."

—

Shikaku greeted the two kages before questioning their decision concerning the two jinchūriki, mainly Tsunade.

"That selfless knuckleheaded brat. You know what she said when I tried to stop her?" Tsunade quirked her lips as Shikaku raised an eyebrow, wondering what had gone down.

"I know you're only trying to protect me, granny, but I'm a big girl, and I can take care of myself. You're not going to win without me. Besides, aren't you forgetting something?" Naruko slammed her fist into her palm and smirked as Tsunade was reminded of when she first met the knuckleheaded spitfire.

"I'm Uzumaki Naruko! I protect those precious to me, and I kick ass and take names, dattebayo!"

The blonde had that large sunny grin plastered on her face just like she did when she first faced the sanin. In the present, Tsunade was hit with a realization that had been itching her brain for the longest time.

"I finally remembered the face of the last person that brat reminds me of." Tsunade had a look on her face as if she couldn't believe it had taken her so long to realize this fact.

"Who is it?" asked the Nara.

"My grandmother. Just like Naruko, she was a fiery woman and had a troubled relationship with an Uchiha. Believe it or not, those two share a lot in common." Tsunade remembered the words her grandmother once said to her when she was on her deathbed.

"Tsu-chan, there will come a time. A young sun will come into your life and heal you from your pain. You must guide that young sun as she will bring great change to this world."

'For years, I could never understand what obaa-chan was talking about, until now. Could she have been talking about Naruko?' Tsunade pondered on how her deceased grandmother's fate was tied to Naruko.

'What kind of relationship do those two share in this life?'

—

The poor sand ninja thought this was the end. That he was about to be sent off and meet his fallen friends, he had no control of his body. The giant magnet weapon blade was ready to plunge deep into his chest when an angel appeared from the sky.

The angel was clad in fiery gold chakra that molded to her skin like a second layer. Her smile, which was bright and addicting, instantly wiped away his fears as tears welled up in his eyes.

"Are you guys okay?" the angel asked him. The Sunagakure ninja's heart trembled, touched by the angel's kindness.

"A-Angel! A Golden Angel!" the man tearfully exclaimed as his companion could do nothing but nod his head in agreement.

"Huh?" Naruko lifted a gold eyebrow without knowing what was going on.

—

Sakura had just caught a break, fixing up her last patient for the night, when she heard voices singing and music playing. Stepping outside to take a look, she followed the sound and saw a group of ninjas whooping and yelling like fangirls, some even holding fans that said 'I love Ko-chan' or 'Ru-chan' that immediately caught her attention.

"What the…?" Saying Sakura was confused and shocked would be an understatement.

{Kondo wa itsu aeru ka nante

Sonna kaoshite yoku ierutte

Omotteta yo nande darou}

Sakura's green eyes roamed the campsite and saw the tired medical shinobis; even her patients were smiling and cheering. Despite the dire situation of war, the people could smile again.

"Naruko, you sure have a way with people, don't you?" Sakura could only smile as she accepted the power Naruko had over people. The only one who could turn something bad into good. The ever-burning sun that always encouraged hope in others.

—

Back at the Hidden Leaf village, while the shinobi's were away, it was up to the civilians, the mothers and young genins, to watch over their town. Since it was primarily mothers, children, and the elderly that were left at the village, everyone came together to help each other out.

The mothers set up a food camp outside as most of the village was still being rebuilt. The mothers were gossiping amongst each other as they tended to the food.

"Maa, Na-chan has been a great help!" smiled one lady who was in the middle of making miso soup.

"She has been helping with food preparations and even the children. Not a day goes by when I don't see her lending a hand for assistance. Just yesterday, she was helping granny Kiki with her laundry," smiled another, recalling seeing the miniature blonde running everywhere around the village. Those three genins ran right behind her as she issued out orders.

"Now that we are on the subject, where is our little orange helper?" asked a third.

Kurenai was sitting in her small apartment, a hand resting on her swelling stomach, when a small figure appeared on her window sill holding a large basket.

"I come bearing gifts, Kurenai-san!"

The retired jounin and genjutsu specialist smiled and opened the window. She watched the chibi land on her table, setting the basket down.

"I brought fresh fruits for you and the baby!" the blonde happily proclaimed, brightening Kurenai's day with a gentle air of positivity. Not a day had passed that the chibi clone had not graced her with her presence. Helping out around the house, cooking her dinner, and helping her to the doctor for her appointments.

Kurenai sincerely appreciated the efforts, but sometimes she wondered why Naruko's little clone paid her such great attention. Kurenai was not close with the blonde, who was best friends with Hinata. Kurenai barely had a conversation with the blonde, yet here she was, doing so much for her.

"Why?" Kurenai unconsciously blurted. She heard people say many things about the blonde. Most of them were negative, as it was only after she defeated Pain that everyone began to view her in a positive light.

She did remember questioning Hinata about her relationship with the female jinchuriki.

"Naruko was the first to acknowledge me. The first person to believe in me and tell me I was strong when others told me the opposite. She is the sun I hold precious, and I love her very much!"

Hinata had always been so shy and reserved, but when it came to Naruko, she would smile so bright with flushed cheeks. An air of confidence emanated from her—one which Kurenai had never seen.

"Because Hina-chan and Shiki-chan value you. Not to mention, you have a lot on your plate with that bun in the oven. It's like Shika-chan said. It's up to our generation to help protect the next. Besides, we women should stick together, especially during times like these." The chibi flashed Kurenai a blinding smile. The light from the window basked her tiny body.

"She is truly like the sun." Kurenai fondly thanked Naruko in her heart.