Scarlet Justice - ep. 44
"Ad Astra"
[Chuunin Exams: Conclusion]

I had a lot of dreams as a child. Back when I was very young. My mother gave me the power to dream. She gave me that power often.

I remember the night she left me. That night when she promised to make me breakfast for the first time in a month. There was so much regret coursing through her that I could feel it the moment I woke up, from that strange and formless sleep. I remember my hands wrapped in hers. I remember her breathing.

She must have thought it a betrayal. Even after trying so hard, giving everything she could...she still hurt at the thought of hurting me, even slightly.

Something else...forced down, with that memory. A pulsing sort of...rage. But I can't recall what for. Or perhaps...I do know. And I simply chose to forget. I want to be strong enough to remember, one day. For her, my mother. The heroine I admired more than anyone else in the world.

The woman who changed me from a demon into a sweet, heavenly blossom.

A woman named Caroline.

"Is it...over?"

I awaken from my memory and see the sky, clouds roaming freely through it. I lie on my back, underneath warm sheets in the middle of the Leaf Forest. The smell of burning wood and foliage from a tsunami of hot oil. Fresh earth, turned over in the midst of battle. Tobacco smoke from a giant pipe. Sweet perfumes from my sisters.

"Miss Lilith...you're awake. Thank heaven..." Luna gently pulls me into a hug, and I hug back. She's only slightly wounded from what I can tell, and that Kabuto seemed like a strong opponent. My body is still very weak and still recovering, both from the exhaustion of chakra and the earlier poison.

"Antidote...you used it?" I ask weakly. I want to stand, but it's so hard at the moment.

"I used some of what was in the vial to synthesize my own," another voice says. Midori gets to her knees and hugs me tightly, making sure not to squeeze too much. I feel her stroke my head like always, and her warmth is soothing especially in this time. She eventually lets me go and looks at me. Her eyes are back to their gold colour, and her green hair is a little messy.

There's also...a heavy smell of blood.

"Synthesis...that too, then. You really can do anything. A true genius," I say quietly.

"Perhaps so, but I couldn't do anything without you. Any of you. Lord Enma told me about everything you did, Lili. There aren't any words or gestures that would express how proud of you I am. I brought you along because I believed that you could make a difference, but...you went so far beyond that. Every time I look at you, you shoot past every expectation I have of you. Becoming this strong, becoming this brave...those things don't come from your bloodline or your family. They come from a heart filled with heaven's blessings."

"Midori-nee..."

"You helped us change the future, Lili. I'll be forever grateful for that..."

"So...the colossal snake is gone?" I ask.

"Yes. Manda is dead. And soon, I will take my rightful place as the daughter of heaven, leading her kingdom to honour and glory. A strength that will bring the kingdom of serpents into the future at lightning speed. Manda, who lorded over his subjects violently, and sent me to ruin for his amusement...and Orochimaru, his enabler, a man who conducted horrific experiments on humans and snakes alike so that he could collect jutsu. Both gone. But that's a story for another time."

"Might be..." I look around to see what's happened. Orochimaru is lying on the ground, well and truly dead like I saw before I passed out. Jiraiya stands over him sombrely. The Third Hokage sits at the base of a tree nearby, his head down and the bloodstained Kusanagi in one hand. I can faintly hear him sniffling.

His own student. The one with the sharp mind and great potential. Someone who could have become Hokage, a successor, in a better world. Hiruzen Sarutobi blames himself. For this saga, for the ones before, for Orochimaru becoming the monster he was, hurting so many people and ruining so many lives. That it had come to this hurt. That he had to strike the final blow hurt even more.

This old man who was willing to sacrifice his life for me. How could I look down on him? How could I do more than scold him for his foolishness, before smiling and praising him for every good thing he's done?

"Lili, you shouldn't move..."

"I know. But...you admired this stubborn spirit of mine," I reply to Midori. She shakes her head and smiles.

"Here, kid. I'll help you to him." I feel a pair of powerful arms lift me up, putting me onto broad shoulders. My hands grasp a head of unruly white hair, and we move. I touch the bandage around my bare shoulder and it still feels a bit tender. Probably the poison's work.

"Tell me your name, Red."

"Lilith Kobayashi, the Scarlet Viper of the Hidden Leaf. Lili is perfectly fine."

"That much I figured out, but it's always nice to have a bit of confirmation," Enma says. "Lili sounds good, then. You can call me by name from now on, got it?"

"It's fine if I call you Uncle? I want to sound a little formal sometimes."

"Hahaha! Whatever you want, kiddo. Listen, there's something you need to hear from me."

"What is it?" I ask.

"What you did today took a lot of guts. More than most men in history could ever pull together on their best days, with the blessings of heaven behind them. Only ones I can think of with more guts in 'em are the Leaf's founders."

"Hashirama and...Madara."

"Got it in one. You did a good thing here today. Put yourself on the line for that old man, as stubborn as he is. Dunno what we would have done without you."

"Hm. I'm sure you could have figured out something," I say as we come to a stop. The Hokage is still sitting quietly ahead of us.

"Really doubt that. It's no wonder that Princess took you on as her little sister. Keep working hard and you'll be on her level in no time. I'm sure she thinks that much every time she sees you. But most importantly, I want you to keep an eye out for this old fool. He could live a hundred more years if he just takes care of himself and stops being such an idiot. Good kids like you will help him move forward day by day."

"Was I really...that much of a help?"

"You were. I'm not saying all this stuff just to pump up your ego. You saved us, Lili. You did real good. Remember that, and keep it close to your chest."

"I will, Uncle."

"Good." We continue our walk towards the old man, and Enma sets me down gently.

"..."

There's nothing I can really say to make things better. I can't pretend to understand the sort of pain that came out of this conflict. I seat myself slowly beside him, and lean into his side. I put his left arm over my shoulders and rest quietly.

"Hiruzen. I'm gonna be on my way back now."

"Of course," he says weakly. "Enma...thank you for standing by me."

"Like I would ever leave you blowing in the wind. We've known each other too long, and you've done too much for the world. You might have screwed up, but it wasn't some sort of unfathomable thing. I just get on your back to keep you focused."

"I know. You've been a great friend to me."

"Like you've been to me, old partner. Take as long as you need to recover, got it? I'll be seeing you soon...we haven't had tea together in a while, you know."

"Right."

"Lili, if you need anything or run into any trouble, just call on me. Most times mentioning my name is enough, but some of these young goons have no respect these days. Just remember that, alright?"

"Yes. Thank you."

He nods before disappearing in a cloud of smoke. I sit quietly with the Hokage, listening to his breathing. It's calmed considerably from before, though I can tell he's still very heavy after killing Orochimaru. It's something he wished he could have changed, but...understood it had to be done anyways. That's why he gathered his resolve.

"Kabuto has been captured," he says to me.

"I figured as much."

"Midoriko came to help after I...stopped Orochimaru. I believe it was her doing. She's really done well to help out, even if this was never truly her problem."

"Maybe so, but she wanted to protect you from the start. The same as I did," I say to him. "Old man...how do you know her?"

"We met a very long time ago. She lived just outside of the village with a husband and wife who traveled in every day for work. Actually...if my memory isn't too hazy, we met her before that time."

"Who do you mean by we?" I ask.

"Lord Hashirama and Lord Tobirama. They were my mentors...then after Lord Hashirama passed on, Lord Tobirama took me under his wing completely. He sacrificed himself as well, but...not before passing the mantle down to me."

"I see. So you're well acquainted with her. She gets stubborn when it comes to her attachments sometimes."

"She disappeared suddenly one day, and never returned...around the same time her guardians stopped coming into town. It was later that we found out they were kidnapped...most likely someone from the serpent kingdom, seeking to eliminate any possible threat to Manda's reign. Those two were loyal to the end, as they sent her off beforehand and refused to give her position away...so they were killed for that."

"Midori-nee lived a harsh life." I think on it for a moment. "But she got her revenge. Justice for those souls who have her reason to live on, and become as strong as she possibly could be. Today was good for that reason alone."

"I see."

"Of course, saving you was great, too. It would be terrible to have to hold a funeral in your honour so soon. You're still young and spry, no matter what nonsense you might spew."

"Heh...you really do have a sharp tongue at times, Lili."

"Maybe so. It could be the poison messing with my head, or some foolishness like that I can use as a scapegoat. But between me and you, this is how I really think. I got angry when I saw you getting ready to die...for someone like me."

"When I said each life was irreplaceable, I meant it. And yours is especially precious, Lili."

"What, because you think I could be Hokage one day?"

"Without a doubt."

"Right. I don't want something like that."

"I know."

I tilt my head to look up at him. "Did you?"

"Yes. I know what plans I have for you...something beyond that. A sort of burden that only someone like you could carry faithfully and reliably."

"That's good to hear, then. I want to push Naruto forward."

He chuckles. "To think you would care so deeply for him...I'm happy to see it. More than that, I'm happy that it's you who encourages him and gives him affection. I don't think it's something I could do."

"Because I'm a woman."

"It sounds old-fashioned..."

"It does, yes. But it's also the truth. I have knowledge of things as a woman that you don't, and it's just like you to notice that. Little wonder the people of the village love you so much. So you see? There was no way I could let you trade your life for mine like that."

"I suppose you have a point."

"I usually do." I hear footsteps coming closer and see that the remaining members of our group have gathered around. Kabuto is bound and unconscious, draped over Jiraiya's shoulder. Midori and Luna look tired, but otherwise okay.

"Midoriko...I think you should have this." The old man...Hiruzen lifts the sword up and Midori takes it from him.

"You're sure, now. This is quite a powerful item."

"It is. But I figure that you would have a better use for it, for many reasons. Also, consider it a small payment for your help today."

"As if I would need something like that from you. But I'll accept it anyways, just because it's your wish. There's already a use for it on my mind." Midori takes the longsword, and Luna is already waiting with a sealing scroll. The weapon is sealed up, and the scroll vanishes with a snap of Midori's fingers. "The blood will be useful for research on its own...nothing wasted, as it should be. Speaking of that...I have to deal with Manda. I might just be taking the head and other relevant parts. Sarutobi, you can have a celebration with the left over meat." She gives us an evil-looking smile. "The ultimate irony. A colossal snake who loved to eat humans, becoming the centre of the greatest feast in history with his body as sustenance. The heavenly comedy continues."

"Lady Midoriko...that's a bit much, isn't it..."

"I really hated that bastard. Killing him personally might not be enough, given what he's put me through," she says to Luna. "But I won't be partaking in that sort of thing. The thought of any part of him inside of me..." She makes a face and sticks out her tongue. "The worst. You can pick up a nice wallet for me later, Luna. That sounds good."

"Yes, milady. Perhaps shoes and a belt as well?"

"Ooh. See, there's one more reason I love you so much. Besides the obvious, hmhm."

"You really are too much sometimes, Midori-nee."

"Oi. Scolding me in that state...you really shouldn't be going to and fro," she says to me. "I bet you can barely move."

"It's comfortable here, either way. I'd rather monopolize your bosom though, as always."

"Now who's too much?" she asks.

"It's still you."

"I figure we should get ourselves back to the village and see what's going on," Jiraiya interrupts. "The banter's not too bad, but..."

"You should be good for time," Gamabunta calls from above us. The earth shakes with his steps as he nears. "From what I can see, things are dying down in the village. Worst of the fighting might be over."

"We still have other things to take care of anyways," Midori says. "Sarutobi, do you need more time? We can always check on the Leaf and then come back."

"No...I think I've rested long enough. There will always be time to ruminate on the past..."

"Do you mean it? You don't have to act in front of us," Midori says gently, kneeling in the dirt. "If you need just a bit more time to grieve, we're all here for you."

"She's right," Jiraiya says. "And I can always store the body somewhere until your docs are ready for it. Sensei, take it easy if you need to."

"..." Hiruzen looks to me and I simply nod. He helps me up and onto his back, holding me securely. "It's fine. Let's make our preparations and head back to the Leaf. I'm sure that there are enough people worried about me already."

"Roger."

I wrap my arms around his neck and we go high into the air, landing on top of Gamabunta's head.

"Welcome back, kid."

"Thank you, Chief Bunta," I say to him.

"Hehe. One of the other's fine if you want. It's Lili, right?"

"Yes, sir. Lili is just fine."

"Good. You know, you remind me of this young punk Jiraiya is training...got a mouth on him, and a lot of guts to boot."

"Young punk...ah," I say with realization. "You mean Naruto."

"You'd know of him," Jiraiya says as he lands beside us. "Orochimaru's on his way to the village via toad. Midori and Luna are going to take care of Manda. Dunno what the hell she did, but he's diced up like sushi..."

"You're kidding," Hiruzen says.

"No joke. Can't imagine how much energy she had to put out to do something like that, but it's done. She's a hell of a gal. It's just too bad, you know?"

"Oh, here we go again," Bunta complains. "Jiraiya, just let it go."

"How the hell can I? Someone that beautiful, that stunning...and she's into girls! Exclusively! It's unfair! Hrm..." He taps his chin. "Well, hopefully she won't mind if-"

"If you've got designs on Luna, you can guess the next bit of bad news," I say to him. He stares at me before his jaw drops.

"Her too?! What? Oh, come on...next you're going to tell me that they're lovers!"

I give him a smug smirk and he scratches at his head with his free hand frantically.

"Gaaaah! No way, no way!"

"Gahahahaha! Tough luck, kid!" Bunta laughs.

"Shut up! Damn giant toad..." He sighs, defeated, before perking up a moment later and looking at me. "Right, so how do you know Naruto?"

"We were classmates, specifically the same rookie class of this year. We became good friends during our time in the Academy. I didn't think much of him at first, but...he has a way of drawing people to him once he gets close enough."

"Yeah, he's got that sort of mysterious strength about him. Well, I'm sure you'll grow up to be a fine young lady-"

"That sounds seriously gross-"

"Bunta, shut up. I'm not proposing to her. Look, I just think Naruto needs a stabilizing influence in his life, and why shouldn't it be a cute young girl?"

"We're already fairly close," I say.

"Oh? How close?"

"I really like him."

"Hmm..."

"..." I decide to leave it where it is. "But as far as relationships go...I don't think something serious between us would work out. For many reasons, including the fact that someone I care for has feelings for him."

"You mean Sakura?"

"No. I'm sure you'll figure it out."

He shakes his head. "You modern girls are really aggressive, you know that? Between you and her, it's no wonder so many of you are single..."

"She has many reasons why she hasn't married, Jiraiya. I'm sure you know that much," Hiruzen says.

"Yeah, yeah..."

"Kid's just pissed she rejected him so often."

"Told you to shut up, Bunta..." I can tell that it's not a lie. I wonder who this woman is.

"Okay, we should be done." Midori lands behind us, Luna following. "The necessary components are stored...I just have to lay low for a week or two while the kingdom makes its preparations. Sana and Sanae are standing by...and those two know how to get work done. Chief, please take us home to the Leaf."

"Got it. Let's get you kids over there." I feel us rising into the air, in the same manner as always. The sun is shining, and it's warm out today. I had almost forgotten.

The old man's back is warm.

We take a few more hops and make it back to the stadium, where everyone is let off.

"You guys need anything else?" Bunta asks.

"Nope, it's like you said...things are winding down in the Leaf. We'll be good from here," Jiraiya answers.

"Chief, your help was much appreciated. I'll make it up to you one day," Midori says.

"Take your time with that, Midori. It was worth it, having that loser Manda bite the dust finally. He's been a menace to a lot of us. You'd think the old fossil would get out of her cave once in a while..."

"Baa-sama is...she has her reasons for letting things happen," Midori replies. "Not that I necessarily agree with all of them, but at the least she endorsed my actions when it came to clearing out the trash."

"That so? Guess I can revise my opinions on her, then...maybe a little. Anyways, I'm outta here. A good bath and some sake will do the trick. Lili, just call me up if you need to squash any punks, yeah? And take care of that scamp Naruto for me."

"He's family now, is he?" I ask.

"Damn right."

"Then consider it done, Chief. We have our own bond that I've sworn to protect."

"Good on ya, missy. See ya."

Bunta disappears in a massive cloud of smoke. From what I can sense around me...the battle really is just about over.

"We're going on ahead. Sensei, showing your face would be a really big boost to morale," Jiraya says. "And we want to dump our friend Kabuto off at Interrogation...heh, Ibiki is gonna have some fun with this guy, let me tell you."

"Agreed," Hiruzen says. "Lili, Midoriko, Luna...when everything is dealt with, please meet me at the office. Young Shikamaru will be there with you. I have something important that I would like to convey."

"Understood, sir," I say to him. He lets me down and I have enough strength now to walk on my own. After patting my head, he leaves after Jiraiya as they take off through the village.

"I think it would be prudent to check on Mistress Emi," Luna says. "You shouldn't have too much use for me at the moment, and Lady Midoriko can relay everything to me later. Miss Lilith, are you sure you don't want to go to the hospital first?"

"I will after this, Luna. I simply want to see this all through..."

"I more than understand. Both of you, take care."

"Luna, a moment."

"Yes, ma'am. What is it-!"

Midori pulls Luna close and kisses her passionately. They're pressed against each other for a long moment before separating, breathing heavily.

"Just a sample of what you'll be getting later," Midori says with a smile. "And a small, small thank you for being the best lover in the universe. As I said...I couldn't do any of this without you."

"Y-yes. I'll be back soon, milady. Thank you...for that gift. For...every gift." Luna hurries her blushing self off to find my stepmother.

"Let's go ahead and free the lords," Midori says after a moment. "With our troublesome summoner gone, the problems from before should fix themselves."

"The slacker's done well," I say as I recognize the chakra signatures inside.

"Indeed." We walk inside and towards the battlefield, which bears the many scars of our earlier battle. It's an interesting scene as we approach the sealed lords.

"Aneki~! Lili~!" Anko waves from her spot on the ground. She has a few cans of juice in front of her, and what else but dango. Shikamaru is seated with Asuma, and they're both playing shogi to while away the time. Shino is here, with his father. The black haze covering the lords seems to be insects.

"Glad to see you safe," Midori says to her.

"Same to you! Lili, you don't look so hot," she says as she approaches.

"It's fine, Anko-nee. I'm going to the hospital after this...some poison and a little exhaustion. I can handle it."

"I understand. We all decided to stay put and watch over the bodies after we finished our assignments. Shikamaru there put out the call. Aneki...is everything over? I heard that you were taking him on."

"Yes. We defeated Orochimaru and Manda. It was your Sarutobi that delivered the final blow."

"Gramps...I see."

Midori places her hands gently on Anko's cheeks. "Those days are firmly in the past now, Anko. You are good enough...you always have been. Remember that from now on."

"Yes...thank you, Aneki." She smiles and lets her tears fall. "I always knew that I could trust you...thank you. Thank you for freeing me."

"Anything for you."

Anko wipes her tears and rubs at her neck. "Ah...the brand isn't gone, even with all of that. Seems there's more to it..."

"That means that Sasuke has the same experience," I say. It's unfortunate, but...hopefully without Orochimaru around, he won't be tempted any further. I hope he's okay, for Naruto's sake more than anything.

"The corpse is going to be researched," Midori says. "If there is a solution, it will be found."

"Hmm...well, there's one person who would figure something out for sure, but she's not in the village. You know who I'm talking about, Aneki?"

"Yes. The Slug Princess herself...it would be her, wouldn't it. It would be nice to see her again, but you should leave that to your Hokage. This sort of thing is no longer my concern. Gentlemen, if you would remove your insects, please."

The bugs are cleared away in short order. Midori kneels beside the Second Hokage's form and shoves her hand into his head. She seems to root around for a bit before pulling out the kunai with talisman and holding it in her hand. Tobirama starts to stir. She nods and goes over to the First Hokage, repeating the same process.

"H-ha...haha...tickles..."

"..." In the same manner, she removes the talisman from his head as well. Anko collects the kunai and puts them into one of her inside pockets for safekeeping.

"Will they be okay?" I ask.

"Perfectly fine," she replies. "See for yourself." Midori makes a seal and releases the bindings on both men, making the black snakes slither up towards her and disappear into her sleeves. The brothers rise to their feet and survey the damage around them.

"So it seems the summoner is no more...the control tags wouldn't be removed otherwise, based on his personality," Tobirama comments. "What was the outcome of the battle?"

"Victory, of course. Sarutobi delivered the decisive blow."

"I see. He must have shed tears over it."

"Yes. He did."

"I knew he would. Especially if what I heard is true, and that was one of his former students. Saru always wanted the best for everyone, to the point where he would willingly sacrifice himself without a second thought." Well, I know that much first hand now. "He was committed to peace, and to raising the next generation properly. He is strong, and he will recover from this soon."

"I feel the same," Midori says with a smile.

"Now that we've been freed from direct control, I can release Edo Tensei for good. The seals should be the same as last time, so...hm. Oi, Hashirama...where are you?"

"You're in a tight spot there," Hashirama says to Asuma. He's crouched down, watching the shogi match between master and student.

"Yeah, I was trying to avoid it completely, but this kid is good. I haven't won a match off him yet...if we were betting, I'd be flat broke by now," Asuma says while laughing.

"Hoh! A strategic genius! Keep up the good work, young man!"

"Well...it's gonna be a drag. But I'll do my best, sir," Shikamaru replies.

"That's the spirit!"

Even that damn slacker can't resist encouragement from the Founder. He really does have his good traits, then.

"The village has certainly blossomed since our time, then," Tobirama says. "Sarutobi has done a fine job...he's carried on the Will of Fire, even to this age."

"Did you doubt him?" Midori asks.

"Less him and more the circumstances. The world changes rapidly, and traditions fade. You should be intimate with that much, Midoriko."

"Mm. That much is true."

"Tobirama! I want to check out the village! It's probably grown a lot since our time, eh? I don't remember this place at all, you know?"

"Oi...we can't just go walking around like this! Think about it for a moment, brother. We're the first two Hokage...and we're dead."

"Oh. Yeah, you do have a point there."

Tobirama palms his face, while Midori and I stifle giggles.

"Got some fancy cloaks for ya, no charge!" Anko says with a grin. She produces two in black and hands them to the Hokage. "Least I could do for the men who created the Leaf, ya know!"

"Ooh! They're snug, too! Now we can be stealthy, right?" Hashirama says as he strikes a pose. "Can't wait to see how the Leaf looks. Oh...I should get over to Mito's place. And see Tsuna! I'm sure she'll get a kick out of this."

"There's a special place in the cemetery for Lady Mito," Asuma says as he stands. "As for Princess Tsunade...she's been away from the Leaf for a long while now, Lord Hashirama. Sorry about that."

"Heh, it's fine. She's definitely that type of person...I wonder how she looks nowadays. Ah, well. We should go, since we don't want to spend too much time as the living dead. Oh...Madara. Nothing's happened to him, has it?"

"Nothing that we know of," Midori says. "He must be in that place still, that only the three of you would know of..."

"Ah, that sounds about right. Well, let's begin our tour."

Midori pulls me into her arms again, and we travel across the village after bidding the others farewell. The Senju brothers remark on its increase in size and shape. They point out places that have stood for decades now, since the initial founding of the village. It actually wasn't terribly long ago...Hiruzen actually lived through all three of the world wars that engulfed the continent. It's little wonder he's such an advocate for peace. There are the stone faces that gained two new additions...that of the old man, and the Fourth Hokage.

"So that man made use of Hiraishin as well...? Interesting," Tobirama says.

"Very much so. A genius with few who could compare," Midori says, speaking of the man called Minato Namikaze. "And he had a son before he passed on..."

"..." The Fourth Hokage's legacy. So...there was more than one meaning behind that title.

That means I have to work harder to protect that boy, then. Especially if his father gave so much to protect him. His mother, though...Uzumaki? That must be her family name. I wonder who she was. Midori sounds happy when she speaks of Minato. He sounds like a good person with a kind heart, just as I've read in the stories and history archives. And that spirit has been passed on to Naruto. Becoming Hokage, like his father before him...it might sound like favouritism at this point, but I don't care. I'm going to help him get there.

We reach the memorial of the woman mentioned - Mito Uzumaki. So she's part of Naruto's family, and the original first lady of the village proper. A small world we live in, to be sure. Her remains are certainly kept elsewhere, as the wife of the most powerful shinobi at the time...and the first jinchuuriki of the Nine-Tailed Fox. This is a lot to take in, so I think I'll leave it for later.

Hashirama grows a branch from the palm of his hand and blooms a flower on it. He snaps a piece off and sets the flower down on the shrine, which is well-kept after decades to the point of looking brand new. Then he clasps his hands in prayer for a moment before smiling.

"This is a good place. And it's great that I get to do this. Mito makes a habit of scolding me when we talk nowadays, so this should help me get on my good side, haha!"

"Brother...you're hopeless sometimes," Tobirama says, sighing.

"I just might be. I wouldn't get too far without your help, Tobirama. That and the assistance of everyone else."

"Your strength is what inspires the masses, and me. Don't sell yourself short all of a sudden."

"You're right about that...hm." He looks around. "The village has grown a lot, Tobirama."

"It has. It's brilliant, beyond our wildest imaginations. Even with this incident...justice has been done, and peace will prevail."

"After looking that memorials...I thought for a moment that I failed." Hashirama walks to another memorial and dusts it free of leaves before setting down another flower. "That maybe my dreams were too ambitious. That maybe...we fought and died, just to have everything end up the same as ever."

"Lord Hashirama?"

"Midori."

She puts her hand on his shoulder. "Please, don't fear any of that. You were a wonderful father to the Leaf. Your children praise you for your courage and sacrifice. This village...it's your wonderful dream, made reality. The leaves of this village will continue to dance. Believe in them."

The Founder straightens up and smiles. "Yes. I will."

We make our way over to the Hokage's Office, standing on the roof were Hiruzen and Shikamaru are already waiting.

"You should see it too, Shikamaru," I say as Midori lets me down. "So that something like this can never be used again in our sight."

"Giving me more responsibility already?"

"You should have expected as much," I say to him.

"Yeah. I'll burn this moment into my mind, Kobayashi."

I nod and turn to look at the others. The Hokage and the old lords are exchanging handshakes as Midori looks on. He's back in his formal dress, having grabbed another set of white robes and the hat with the fire character on it.

"Continue the good work, Saru," Tobirama says.

"And make sure you pick a successor!" Hashirama adds in. "You're getting old, and you need to be able to enjoy your retirement!"

"I'll give it some thought, definitely," he says with a laugh.

"We'll see you, hopefully quite a while from now, Sarutobi. Brother, are you ready?" Tobirama asks.

"Yes." They both hand their cloaks to Hiruzen. "Live well, all of you. Especially you brave princesses."

"Yes."

"We will."

Tobirama makes a sequence of seals that I record in my mind.

"Those are the seals that will make any caster release Edo Tensei. You can have them do it, or use...persuasive methods to achieve the same ends. And...heaven forbid...if you are a part of Edo Tensei yourself, these are the seals to release yourself from the caster's control," he says as he makes another set of seals. "Now we have control of ourselves entirely. And with that...we bid you farewell."

Tobriama makes the same set of seals as the first time, only pushing chakra through his system. It really has come to an end.

"Thank you for your kindness...all that time ago," Midori says. "I will never forget you brothers, and what you gave me."

The two men give her a smile as their spirits ascend, glowing brightly. In pillars of light, they disappear, leaving behind piles of ashes. Two bodies lay in the midst of them, pale and lifeless.

"Edo Tensei...requires living sacrifices," Midori says to us. "Orochimaru...this was how far he went to satisfy his whims."

"Those two...from the tournament," I say quietly. "Zaku Abumi...and Dosu Kinuta. The people who followed him and his dream, who were loyal to him to the end...he sacrificed them without a second thought after they became useless to him. They were enemies...but...it's so cruel. So incredibly cruel."

"Lili..."

"I will never become that," I say as I find the strength to clench my fists. "I will...never become scum like that. I would rather die..."

"Yeah. I feel the same way, Kobayashi. That's lower than trash. Unforgivable," Shikamaru says from beside me.

"Sarutobi...look at the children you have raised. You have done well, God of Shinobi. Your mistakes of the past, your failures...they are nothing compared to what you have brought into being. The goodness, the wonderful things that make the Leaf what it is. You are responsible for them. Look here," Midori says as she stands behind us, putting her hands on our shoulders.

I see the old man look at us.

"Rejoice in these children, and place the future in their hands. Not because you are old, or useless. But because you have made these young ones strong enough to help change the world. They will become your arms, and they shall be your justice."

"I can see it now, Midoriko. More than ever before. Thank you." He straightens his back, and I can see his authority shining through again. He has something he means to say to us. Something heavy...but I can carry the weight. I've come too far to run away from that.

"I will place a weight on your backs, both of you. Accept this challenge with pride."

"Yes!" we say in unison.

"Shikamaru Nara. From this day forward...you will be a chuunin of the Hidden Leaf Village."

"Thank you, sir."

"Lilith Kobayashi. From this day forward..."

I can see the moment his mind switches gears. Something heavier. Something beyond what was intended...but I respond. I look into his eyes and assure him of who I am.

I'm Lili. The girl who can do anything.

"You will be the great blade of this nation," he says. "A woman who will lead us into the future...as our ace. I declare you a jounin of the Hidden Leaf Village."

"Without hesitation, I shall be your sword of justice," I say sincerely. "I will grab hold of my title as an elite, and make you proud. Lord Hokage, believe in me."

He nods and takes out his pipe, putting it into his mouth. Smoke immediately starts to stream from it as he looks to the sky.

"You've all done well. Spend the rest of your day in peace, and take as much time as you need to recover. Thank you...you are dismissed."

The three of us bow before leaving the roof, jumping down to the street below. As soon as we land, Shikamaru wails loudly in despair.

"Aaaaaaah...a chuunin! A promotion! What a fucking pain in the ass...!" He pounds his fist on the ground.

Midori kisses me on the forehead, and gives me the warmest, most wonderful hug.

"More than I could have hoped for...Lili, you're beyond magnificent. I'm so glad I met you..."

"Midori-nee..."

"I'm so proud of you. I love you so much...and I will love you forever."

I smile and close my eyes. I'll let myself get carried away, and enjoy this sublime warmth. For the second time today, I close my eyes and drift off.

But this time...I'm the happiest girl in the world.