Thank you for reading this story. This is loosely based on a Naruto D20 campaign I am running with my friends. I would really love it if you could review this story. I hope you like these first three prologues to introduce the main characters of this story.

Hope you guys enjoy :)

Prologue One: Meet Kenji Hayabusa

14 years have passed since the end of the fourth great ninja war. The world is in some way peaceful. Many things have happened over the course of those many years, including the crowning of a seventh hokage… Naruto Uzumaki. But this story will not be a story focusing on lord Hokage. In fact, this will be a story about 3 ninjas who will be the saviors of a different world beyond this one. These are members of a ninja group known as Team Zero.

The morning sun shines over Konoha, it's roughly around 6 a.m. when an alarm clock goes off. A bed starts to stir, a hand hits the alarm. A figure starts to get up to greet the day. His droopy eyes show he had a long night. He drops back down gently not to awaken the other person in his bed. Suddenly a slender hand shakes him awake.

"Hey Ken-kun, it's time to wake up hun." A voice said, awakening the man from the tiny sliver of sleep he was hoping to get.

His tired eyes opened to see a pair of emerald eyes looking back at him. He smiles and the both of them exchange a kiss.

"Morning Sakura, you look so beautiful this morning." He says, with her blushing.

"Don't say that, I have yet to get ready." She says, blushing at his statement. "Do you think you could get breakfast started while I get ready?" Sakura asks him.

"No problem, take your time." He says, getting up and getting dressed.

His name is Kenji Hayabusa, he is 34 years old. He is a proud Konoha ninja. He has short silver spiky hair and blue steel eyes. He may have a serious look at him, but he is a kind-hearted ninja who will risk everything to protect those he loves. His wife is the former Sakura Haruno who is now Sakura Hayabusa. Kenji and Sakura grew up together and share a strong bond that continues to this day as husband and wife.

Kenji heads down to the kitchen and starts cooking breakfast. Kenji starts making a breakfast of eggs and bacon and breakfast soup. A set of footprints soon comes down the stairs and a little boy enters the kitchen. Kenji looks over to the young boy and smiles. The young boy had silver hair like his father and green eyes like his mother. His name was Kaito Hayabusa, and he was 7 years old.

"Good morning my little man, did you sleep well?" Kenji asks the young lad.

"Morning Dad, I had the most amazing dream. I dreamed that I was on an ice cream island and had all of the banana ice cream I could ever dream of eating. It was paradise, I tell ya." Kaito said, taking his seat at the table.

Sakura soon comes down to the kitchen and kisses her husband. She also takes a seat as well. Before they could eat, Sakura noticed that there was one more person missing from their happy ensemble.

"Hey Ken-Kun… where's Mafuyu?" She asks her husband.

"I don't know, hey Kaito where's your sister?"

"She said since it was her day off from ninja academy she was gonna sleep in," Kaito said, stuffing some eggs in his mouth. A tick mark forms on Sakura's forehead.

"MAFUYU, GET YOUR BUTT DOWN HERE FOR BREAKFAST!" She roars, making the house shake. Kaito and Kenji laugh as the sound of frantic footsteps soon fills the house, as a young girl around the age of 12 enters the kitchen. She has long pink hair and blue eyes. This girl is Mafuyu Hayabusa, and by the end of the week, she is gonna be a ninja.

"I'm so sorry, I was having a wonderful sleep," Mafuyu says, with a blush on her face.

She takes her seat by her brother and the Hayabusa clan eats a delicious breakfast. Afterward, Mafuyu looks at her father with sparkles in her eyes.

"Hey, Dad? Are you still gonna help me?" She asks her father.

"Help you with what?"

"With sword training, you told me that we could train today since you said you took the week off for my graduation." She asks him with a grin.

"Sure, I promised you." He said, finishing the rest of his juice. "Grab your practice sword and we'll head out."

She runs upstairs as quickly as she does coming down for breakfast. Sakura started to get ready for work. She worked with the Hokage as his personal physician, as well as working in the medical wing. It would be a half day for her since she wanted to spend as much time with her family before Mafuyu graduated.

"Hey Ken-kun, don't forget that tonight we are having dinner with Naruto and Ino," Sakura said, putting on her medical gear. Ino and Naruto got together shortly after the fourth great ninja war. Naruto has helped Ino with the flower shop since the death of Inoichi during the war. And those days of helping her would blossom into love and in two years they would wed.

"Sure, sounds like a plan. Have a great day beautiful."

"I will Ken-kun, I love you."

"Have a good day Mama." Kaito said, kissing Sakura on the cheek and she returned it.

Sakura then would make her exit.

Kaito grabbed his bookbag and made his way to the door as well.

"Alright Kaito, have a great day. Like your mother said, Uncle Naruto and Aunt Ino will be over for a big dinner tonight." Kenji said, giving his son a huge hug.

"I will Dad, I love you."

"I love you too Kaito, now off you go."

Kaito was out the door so he could head to the ninja academy, while Mafuyu got a few days off to rest before the Genin test, Kaito wasn't so lucky. But he was excited, Mama Sakura had been teaching him chakra control. He wanted to be a powerful medic ninja like his mom, while she wanted to be a sword user like her father. Mafuyu came down with her wooden sword and Kenji grabbed his.

"All right Dad, I'm ready."

"Alright hun, let's get to work." He said, with a cocky smirk.

In the backyard, Both Kenji and Mafuyu stood at opposite ends of the field. He stood there cool and calm, while she stood there with her sword trembling with excitement. He saw this and took notice that she held her sword like an archer with an itchy finger.

"Mafuyu, calm yourself before you swing. If you're trembling like that you will lose focus." Kenji scolded her, causing her to readjust herself.

"Sorry Daddy, I'm just excited that's all." She said, calming down a bit.

"Alright then, we'll do a bit of sparring and then we'll do some more focus training." He said to her. "Now come at me with everything you got, and I'm warning you that I'm not holding back."

She soon planted her foot onto the ground and ran at her father. She swung her wooden sword and he simply batted her strike away, she then dropped down and swung at Kenji's ankle, and he leaped in the air. She soon jumped as well and struck him with her wooden sword.

"Yes, a direct hit." She said, with a satisfied grin. But a log soon appeared in front of her. "Damn it, a substitution jutsu.

Kenji leaped from a tree branch and swung at his own daughter. But then something happened that caught him off guard, a log soon poofed replacing her.

"Well, I'll be damned, a substitution jutsu as well." He said, dropping to the ground, he misstepped and would fall to the ground. A wooden sword soon pointed to his neck with Mafuyu looking at him with the most satisfied grin on her face. He looked at his daughter with the most proud look on his face. "You did good today Mafuyu. Let's sit for a bit and we can continue."

Both father and daughter sat down and drank some water. He gave her a towel so she could wipe some of the sweat off her forehead.

"So… Daddy, am I getting better? I mean you once told me that you became a better swordsman to protect mom when you were younger. Am I at that level yet?"

Kenji took another sip of water, he thought for a bit about what his daughter said. He would chuckle a bit, he would place his hand on her head, and ruffled her hair a bit.

"Well, your taking big steps for it. You need to focus on the one thing you want to protect. The reason I chose to protect your mother because she was the first friend I ever met."

"I don't think you ever told me how you guys first met. How did you and mom meet exactly?" Mafuyu asked her father.

Kenji would then explain how he and Sakura first met. He began his story about his life in the village when he was young. Kenji tells her about how he never had parents. He, like Naruto, Sasuke, and another one of his teammates were orphans since they could remember. After they were allowed to get their own places due to a decree signed by the 3rd Hokage allowing certain orphans to gain their own apartments. May not have been the most luxurious place to live. But it was home.

One day was hard in particular. He didn't want to seem like he was a very selfish person but when you are young and you have no parents and you see kids walk around the village with their parents, sometimes it's hard. On certain days, he would cry hard in his home. All Kenji wanted was for someone to love him.

However one day, he was sitting at the river bank, by a beautiful tree. It would hit him hard that day. He didn't know why, but he just cried and screamed into the sky. The rain would start to fall as he roared in agony. It wasn't until he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned his head around and saw a young girl. Her hair was bright pink and her sad emerald eyes were locked on to him. In her hand was an umbrella.

"Are you alright? I'm sorry but I heard you crying." She said, with a somber tone. She wiped away some of his tears. "Where are your mom and dad?"

Kenji tried to hold back his emotions, with some tears falling again.

"I don't have a mom and dad, I'm by myself." He sobbed, with her looking concerned.

"Hey it's alright, come on, let's go somewhere where it's a bit drier." She said as she helped him to the picnic area. "Now tell me everything, if you want."

He would tell her about his lonely past, living in the orphanage and then moving into an apartment. He sniffled as she felt so bad for him. She tried to think of everything she could but there was one thing that she could do. For the first time, he felt the warm embrace of another person. As the young girl wrapped him in a hug. She knew whenever she was sad, her mom would hug her to calm her down. So she thought that this would make him feel better.

At the orphanage, if you wanted to cry you had to go find a quiet place to shed your tears.

"It's ok, I'm here for you. If you want I can stay with you until you stop crying and you feel better." She said, stroking his silver hair. He would dig his head into her shoulder and would cry for a good 15 minutes. They stayed like that for a bit, and soon they would sit and talk for a bit. She would introduce herself as Sakura Haruno, he would introduce himself as Kenji Hayabusa.

Sakura told him about her dreams and about the possibility of her going to the ninja academy. Kenji would tell her his dream of becoming a swordsman and becoming one of the best in the ninja world, hoping to save a beautiful princess and fight some strong enemies.

She would chuckle at his dreams, but she admired his passion for becoming a great swordsman. They talked about their likes and dislikes and she brought up her friendship with Ino and how she was her first friend. How Ino protected her against bullies.

Kenji liked the idea of having a friend, not just a friend but a best friend. He never knew anyone who came close at the time for him to consider something like that. So Kenji would ask the pink-haired girl a question and hoped he wouldn't get rejected like most people did in the past.

"Hey Sakura, can I ask you something?" He asked, with a stutter.

"What is it, Ken-kun?"

"I was wondering if you could be my best friend?" He said, with a blush.

"Of course Ken-kun, I would love that." She said, with a warm smile.

Kenji was on cloud nine, he was ecstatic beyond belief. He hugged her and she smiled at the young boy. Every day seemed like a great day for Kenji, he would hang out with her most days. Even during the ninja academy while she had feelings for Sasuke and would pine for his attention, she always hung out with Kenji.

Kenji would fast forward after Sasuke betrayed Konoha and Naruto left for his multi-year training mission with Jiraiya. Kenji for the most part stayed in the village, mostly doing missions with his team. But like most of his time with Sakura. Every morning though, as requested by his sensei, Sakura would actually go to Kenji's apartment to wake him up.

One day though, something would occur that would be the catalyst that would bring them together. Sakura went to Kenji's apartment as usual to wake him up. She used the key Kenji gave her and opened the door. As usual, as soon as she entered his room, he was sound asleep.

"Ken-Kun, it's time to wake up." She whispered gently in his ear. There was no response from him. "Come on Ken-Kun, time to wake, you know how your sensei hates to wait." Still, the sound of snoring emulates from under the sheets. An angry tick appeared on her forehead, she then grabbed the end of his bed. "ALRIGHT KEN-KUN, YOU ASKED FOR IT!" Sakura screamed as she used the strength Tsunade had taught her to lift the bed and fling him right into the wall.

"Eh, what's up doc?" He asked, pulling himself from the Kenji-shaped hole in his wall.

"Well serves you right for not waking as usual." She scolded him, she crossed her arms in a huff.

"Sorry Sakura, but I had a wonderful dream."

"What was it about? And my question is who was it about?" Sakura asked, looking Kenji in the eyes with an eyebrow raised.

"Eh, nothing in particular." He stuttered, with a look of embarrassment

"Ken-kun, better get dressed and head out. My aunt did say if you were late again you would end up with a whopper of a headache." She demanded, as he ran into his room and she stepped out of his room as he got dressed.

There would be a knocking at Kenji's door. Sakura walked up and saw that it was Ryuzan Zakaba. Ryuzan was one of Kenji's teammates. He was also one of Kenji's neighbors.

"Hey Sakura, let me guess by the loud boom that Sensei asked for you to wake Kenji once again?"

"Yeah, Auntie wanted to make sure that he got ready in an orderly manner. Don't worry he's awake and will be downstairs soon." She said, giving him a mischievous grin.

"Alright Sakura, you have a great day," Ryuzan says as he leaves to start his day.

Kenji emerges from his bedroom, dressed for the day. Kenji would wear a black jacket with white designer markings, he wore a custom belt to hold his sword that he bought after a big mission he went on with his team. He wore black pants and blue combat boots.

As the two friends walked down to meet his team, they talked about the day they would have for the rest of their day.

"So Sakura, what is Tsunade having you do today?"

"Not really sure to be honest. There will be more training and beyond that I hope that will be it so I can at least take a break." She said, with a huff.

Kenji looks over at his best friend and pats her shoulder.

"You are doing good Sakura, I know that Tsunade is just giving you this drive to make you the strongest kunoichi. And one day I know you will."

"Thanks, Ken-Kun, I really appreciate that." She says, giving her friend a warm smile. This causes Kenji to blush a bit.

"Sure Sakura, anytime you need a pep talk. You know where to find me."

Sakura and Kenji soon met up with his team. Ryuzen, a young man named Hideki Harima, and their sensei is Sakura's Aunt. She looks like an older version of Sakura, her name is Rinka Haruno. She had a cold expression about her. At one time she would be known as the Ice Queen of Konoha. But she was just as adept at Genjutsu as Kurenai Yuhi was.

"Another job well done Sakura," Rinka said, ruffling her niece's hair.

"No problem Auntie, I'll see you later," Sakura said. "And I'll see you later Ken-Kun." She heads to Hokage Tower.

Kenji blushed a bit, this had Rinka smiling at the white haired ninja. She would nudge him to have them roll out.

As the day progressed, Lady Tsunade would give Sakura a solo mission, which would be to gather up some herbs and some roots in the forest outside. Sakura took her up on this mission.

Kenji was walking back after completing a mission with his team and saw Sakura walking to the front gate. He approached her and wanted to check up on her.

"Hey Sakura, what's up, where are you heading to?"

"Well for your information Ken-Kun, I'm heading out of the village to gather up some herbs and roots for some healing balms."

"I'm free right now if you would like me to come with you?"

"I'm fine going by myself Ken-Kun, you know that I can easily defend myself. But Lady Tsunade said that this was to be a solo mission."

"Are you sure Sakura, I mean I heard there were bandits in the forest."

"Ken-Kun, I'm pretty sure that I can handle a few bandits by myself. You don't think I can handle myself?"

"Of course I do, just promise me you'll be safe."

"Don't worry I should be fine. And when I get home, we'll get some dinner." She said, departing out of sight of her friend. He watched her leave the village with a bit of concern, but he knew she could handle herself... he hoped.

Night quickly fell over Konoha as Ino ran up to Kenji as he was walking home from meeting up with his team. He saw her stop in front of him, panting up a storm.

"Hey Ino, you are panting like crazy right now. Is there anything wrong?" He said, unaware of what's going on.

"Kenji, have you seen Sakura?"

"I was just with Hideki and Ryuzan, I think the last time I saw her was earlier this morning."

"Because I can't find her, we were gonna have dinner." She said, on the verge of tears. Kenji places his hands on Ino's shoulders.

"Alright Ino, calm down. I'll go and see if I can find her." He said, trying to calm her down.

"Please Kenji, find her as quick as you can." She said, with Kenji heading out the front gate.

Kenji ran as quickly as he could because he knew that he would get in trouble for this. But damned the consequences but only one thing was on his mind. The safety of his best friend. Kenji followed the walkway that Sakura usually took to gather herbs and roots when they were there together.

He found her ninja boots. He knew she usually liked to soak her feet in the cold river. He saw the remnants of a scuffle here. But she was nowhere to be found. He continued to dart around the forest but soon came to some tire tracks. It looked like someone was using a carriage, and they were rather fresh.

He followed the tracks to a campsite. He hid in the shadows and looked over the campsite. He saw about 3 bandits, they were cooking food and bragging about the bounty they just acquired.

There sitting on a log was Sakura she was tied up by these bandits. Kenji knew that this would be like a 3 legged cat going against a pack of dogs. So he would have to think of a plan to distract them enough to get Sakura out of there. He could try a clone jutsu and transform it into a Jounin, but no dice on that front.

However, there were 2 other ninjas who arrived right by his side. It was Kenji's other two team members, Hideki and Ryuzan. They looked quite pissed at Kenji for leaving without them.

"Hey guys, thank the heavens you arrived," Kenji said, before being hit in the head by Ryuzan.

"What the hell dude, why didn't you tell us that Sakura was in trouble?" Ryuzan whispered.

"How did you guys know?" Kenji quietly asked his teammates while rubbing his head.

"Ino told us, you should have told us what happened. Kenny, next time tell us before you run off." Hideki said, with a bit of concern.

"I'm sorry, maybe I should have."

"Never mind that right now, getting Sakura back safely is the most important thing. So how many are there?" Ryuzan asked, readying his sword.

"There are about three of them, and they seem pretty strong too. But I know we can take them out."

"Well, then what's the plan?" Ryuzan asks, and Hideki goes right into action. He transforms into a woman to fool the bandits.

"Well, how do I look?" Hideki asks his teammates.

"Well... you look like a lady," Kenji replies.

"Hoho, you flatter me," Hideki said, in a woman's voice.

Ryuzan goes into the shadows to take out one of the bandits sitting right next to Sakura. All the while, Kenji with his fast speed will safely move Sakura.

Sakura tried to break free from the bonds, but the chakra ropes they used on her were strong. She looked at the bandits, they had evil intentions on their faces.

"So what are you planning to do with me?" She asked the bandits.

"We are gonna use you as a hostage to get some of our buddies out of jail. Since you are the fifth Hokage's apprentice, we know we can get what we want."

"I'm such an idiot, I should've let you come with me Ken-Kun." She said, in her mind as tears started to form. "Please... save me Ken-Kun!"

Suddenly a woman appeared in front of the bandits.

"Oh my, I seem to have gotten lost. I could use some help trying to get home." The weird woman said, with two of the bandits soon getting up from their seats and starting to fawn over the big-breasted woman.

As the one bandit sat next to Sakura, Ryuzan would drop down from a tree branch and stab him with his sword. Before the man would let out a grunt, Ryuzan clamped his hand over his mouth and dragged him into the forest to finish him off.

Before Sakura could say something, Kenji dropped down and placed a finger over Sakura's lips and whispered to her to keep quiet, they were here to save her.

"Ken-Kun, thank god you came here." She said to Kenji, as he worked to untie her.

As Kenji was working to untie the ropes, The two bandits were still ogling Hideki in disguise, until Hideki would use a Genjutsu to render them useless. All three of the teammates gave each other a thumbs up. After Kenji untied Sakura from her bonds, she hugged him for dear life.

"Thank you Ken-kun, thank you, thank you, thank you!" Is what she would say repeatedly. Kenji hugged her back and relished this moment. Kenji noticed Sakura was a bit wobbly.

"Can you walk?"

"Unfortunately no, I'm a tad bit weakened from those bandits." She said before Kenji scooped her up into his arms.

"Ken-Kun, what are you doing?" She asked, her face redder than a cherry.

"What, you don't want to be carried like a princess?"

"It's not that Ken-Kun, it's just kind of embarrassing." She whispered, but she smiled. "But since you came out of your way to rescue me. I guess I can allow it this time."

Hideki and Ryuzan will finish tying up the remaining bandits.

"Hey dude, we'll go ahead and inform Anbu what occurred. We'll see you later." Hideki said, as he and Ryuzan soon headed out. Hideki would give Kenji a thumbs up and a wink.

"What the hell was that about? We'll head out as well," Kenji said, looking at Sakura and she nodded her head in agreement.

As they were walking, Sakura would ask Kenji a question.

"Hey Ken-Kun, am I a burden to you?" She asked, with a tinge of sadness to her voice.

"Of course not, why would you say that?"

"Because you had to save me, even though I thought I could handle a simple mission." She said, disappointed in herself.

"Sakura, I would never think that. They probably just got the drop on you. It happens sometimes, I know that your training with Lady Fifth will make you one of the most powerful kunoichi in this world."

This made Sakura smile, She started to fall asleep. She could make herself comfy in his arms. And she would be out like a light. Kenji continued on his trek to Konoha, trying not to awaken the girl in his arms.

Ino was waiting with Sakura's Parents, Kizashi and Mibuki as well as Rinka. Rinka knew that they had nothing to worry about. She knew her 3 soldiers would bring her home safely.

"Here Sis, a nice cup of tea," Kizashi said, Rinka sensing the Dredd he was feeling.

"I know you're worried right now, but I know Kenji and the others will bring her home safe."

"I really hope so Rinka," Mibuki said, with Ino rubbing her back.

Suddenly there was a tapping at the door. Ino ran and opened to reveal Kenji with Sakura in his arms. Before there was a cheer, they saw Sakura was sound asleep. Mibuki directed Kenji to Sakura's room. Kenji slowly walked into her room and placed Sakura gently on her bed. He would tuck her in. He looked around the room and saw that it had changed, it was a bit different since he was last there. However, as soon as Kenji started to leave the room, he felt a hand grab his… it was Sakura's hand.

He kneeled down and heard her murmur his name as she slept. Kenji would pick up her hand and kiss it gently. He would grasp it and bring it to his forehead.

"Sakura, thank the gods you were safe. I just can't imagine my life without you in it." He whispered to her. His emotions would start to open, as he would silently sob and he held her hand and kissed it once again. He would stay in her room until her grasp loosened and he would walk out. Ino would notice him wiping away some of the tears away from his face.

"Kenji my boy, you done good son," Kizashi said, slapping Kenji's back with the biggest grin on his face. This caused Kenji to stumble a bit.

"No problem sir, it is always my pleasure to help." He said, rubbing the back of his neck.

Mibuki hugged Kenji and thanked him so much.

Rinka congratulated Kenji and will take him and his teammates to dinner tomorrow for their hard work saving her niece.

Ino and Kenji would leave at the same time. Ino hugged Kenji as well.

"Thank you, Kenji, thank you so much."

"It was no problem Ino." Kenji responded as he walked Ino to her house. But something came to Ino's mind though.

"Hey Kenji, I have a question for you?"

"What's up Ino?"

"Do you love Sakura?" She asked, noticing him stop dead in his tracks. "I've noticed how you and her have been getting closer over the past few years. You love her, don't you?"

"Yamanaka's are great mind readers if I'm not wrong right? Because you read mine like a book."

"Why don't you tell her? I mean I bet you Sakura would love to know how you feel about her?"

Kenji looked up at the stars, tears starting to form once again. He would want nothing more than to tell her how he felt about her.

"I want to, I would love nothing more than to walk up to her and tell her all of my feelings. But her heart belongs to another. It's better at this point not to tell her." Kenji said, his heart breaking saying what he just said. "See you later Ino."

"Kenji... KENJI!"

He walked away as Ino looked at him. Her heart wept for him.

"Kenji you dolt, just tell her your feelings." She said in her mind.

Sakura would awaken from her nap after hearing the door close. She saw that a bit of her blanket was soaked. She would get up and walk towards the window and would overhear Kenji and Ino talking. She would hear Kenji say to Ino about not telling Sakura his feelings. She held her chest and she too began to tear up.

"Ken-Kun loves me?"

He would then fast forward his tale to the fourth great ninja war. While Kenji and his teammates didn't make much of an impact as most of his friends and allies did during the war. There would be one point where Sakura would actually come to Kenji and the other's aid.

About 10 or 15 white Zetsu would intercept Kenji, Hideki, and Ryuzan as they were on their way to the Frontline. They would fight as hard as their bodies would allow. But the number of White Zetsu was just too much.

"Gentleman, I just wanted to let you know that it was a pleasure to fight with you," Kenji said, that his chakra was on the verge of exhausting all of his chakra.

"You doubt yourself way too much Kenji, if we're going down we might as well take as many as we can," Ryuzan answered his teammate.

"Come on guys, let's kick some butt. Maybe some reinforcements will join us soon. I think I can sense some people on the horizon." Hideki added, hoping that it would light a fire under Kenji's ass.

They would manage to take down some of the White Zetsu, but they would be out of chakra. As the Zetsu soon emerges onto Kenji. He had one person on his mind. One regret is that at that point… never got to tell Sakura how he felt about her.

"Sakura! I love you." He would say, mentally.

A loud "CHA" erupted from the sky, as Sakura dropped a heel. Sending a fissure around Kenji and his friends. There she was, standing in front of him. He grinned like a Cheshire cat and staggered back to his feet.

"Sakura, thank god you arrived."

She looked back at him with a smile. As more ninjas started to arrive to help with the battle. Hinata would team up with Ryuzan and Ten Ten would team up with Hideki.

"Are you ok, Ken-Kun?" Sakura asked the silver-haired swordsman. Healing some of his injuries and giving him a chakra pill. That would restore some of his chakra but heal him quite a bit.

"I am, thank you so much Sakura."

Sakura would then heal Ryuzan and Hideki and they thank her. She soon walked beside Kenji and the both of them would do some battle against some of the White Zetsu.

After that, they would soon arrive at the battlefield and as the fights continued, Madura would finally achieve his goal with the infinite Tsukuyomi. Everyone but team seven would be enveloped with the Genjutsu.

Kenji would be free from the infinite Tsukuyomi because of Sakura. She would wake him like she would in his apartment. With a flick to the forehead. With him rubbing his head, she looked at him with a mischievous grin.

"What was that for Sakura?"

"Rise and shine Ken-Kun." She greeted him, and she held her hand out to help him up. As she lifted him up, both of the best friends looked at each other. So happy that the war was finally over.

Months later, Kenji was walking around the village. Peace returned for the most part in the village, Kenji got word about the potential of going to Mist for a year to train up and be a stronger swordsman. As he continued to walk around the village, he saw Naruto working at the Yamanaka flower shop. He would volunteer there to help Ino around the shop due to her father's passing. It would later lead to both of them falling in love.

He would notice that Hideki was working at Ten Ten's weapon shop. Helping her cope with Neji's tragic passing. He would pop in and converse with his teammate. They reflected on the past. But noticed that the one-time ladies' man wanted to take it easy these days. His interactions with Tenten lately made it look like these two might settle down in the future.

He would then spar with the other member of his team, Ryuzan. Both were swordsmen and while he would head out for this journey, he knew that Ryuzan would continue to carve his own pathway.

He would head home to pack and then he would depart the next morning. However, there would be a knock on his door. He would open the door and it would reveal Sakura.

"Hey Sakura, how's it going?"

"Going good Ken-Kun, I was wondering if you wanted to hang out tonight. I know you are heading to Mist Country in the morning and thought it would be nice to see you before you leave for a year."

"Sure Sakura, everything will be my treat tonight. We'll make it a date."

He held his arm out, as she accepted it with a smile. The night was perfect, not a cloud in the sky. Kenji tried to make it all about her.

He treated her to her favorite restaurant and bought her a beautiful yellow rose. She thanked him and placed it in her hair. Sakura brought him to a familiar location.

"Hey Ken-Kun, do you remember this place?" She asked, looking at him with a blush on her face.

"Yeah, I believe this is where we first met. When we became friends."

She was looking down at her feet, blushing like crazy with the idea of what she was gonna say.

"Kenji, there's a reason I wanted to bring you here. I wanted to talk to you about something."

"Go ahead Sakura, let me know what's on your mind?"

"Over the past few years, I was in love with Sasuke. I pined for him for so many years. I fought and I tried to get his attention, hoping for the chance to finally get him to be my boyfriend. But he would always reject my feelings. He would either ignore me or just insult me. Naruto tried to cheer me up and you did as well. But I would try and try but to no effect. After Sasuke left, I didn't know what to do. But you were there for me. You would always be there to be the shoulder I needed when things got rough. During those years, you and Ino were my emotional anchor. You even helped us out during the chunin exams. You were always a constant in my life and I thank you for that.

Kenji stood there, his expression was frozen. He continued to hear her out.

"Kenji Hayabusa, since you came into my life. I feel whole, I feel complete. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me. And I will never forget all that you have done for me. What I'm trying to say Ken-Kun is I love you."

He ran over and hugged her with all of his strength. Both friends held that embrace for the longest time.

"I have always been in love with you Sakura. I love you more than life itself."

"I love you too, Ken-Kun." She answered back, with tears running down her eyes. "I want to stay with you forever."

Sakura would meet Kenji at the front gate the following morning to give him a care package full of goodies. He was excited to see her.

"Alright the healing balm should last you a few months if you use it sparingly, and I made you some tasty snacks."

"Alright, thank you."

"And please write to me every chance you get, alright Ken-Kun?"

"I will, and I promise to send you a present every month. Alright?"

Sakura blushes a bit.

"Alright, well you have to get going. I'll see you in a year." She said before Kenji surprised her with a kiss on the lips. This somewhat caught her off guard but she let him pull her in to deepen the kiss.

"I'll see you in a year, I love you Sakura."

"I love you too Ken-Kun, see you later." She said, as he soon left. As she stood there watching him leave. Naruto would appear right beside his teammate and former crush.

"So Kenji's leaving Konoha like Sasuke?"

"He said that he would be back in a year." She said, with a dreamy look.

"Knowing Kenji, I'm pretty sure he'll be back soon Sakura-Chan."

"I know he will Naruto, I think Lady Tsunade said it was time to get your hand fixed." She said as the two friends headed to meet up with Tsunade.

"So I heard you and Ino kiss the other night?" Sakura asked, laughing as Naruto blushed.

"I'm guessing Ino-chan told you that."

"Of course Naruto Uzumaki, Ino always tells me everything." She laughed as both of them walked off.

Kenji finished the story to his daughter by telling her, that Naruto was right about one thing, it would be half a year before he would come home and the two of them would soon date and then one year later they would marry, and a year after that Sakura would give birth to Mafuyu.

"Wow Daddy, that was an amazing story. You truly love her don't you."

"It sure is, I relish every day I get to spend with her. And the fact she gave birth to you and your brother, made my life so much more better."

She smiled at the prospect of the swordsman's creed. She hopes to have her own one day. Kenji kisses his daughter's forehead.

"One day you will find that one person to create your own creed with. Your mom was my drive when I got my katana when I was a genin many moons ago. And I hope you will find the person you wish to protect."

"Thanks, Daddy... and once I do I will protect them with my life."

After training, Mafuyu and Kenji waited for Sakura and Kaito to come home. Sure enough, Sakura would come home, holding Kaito's hand. Kaito and Mafuyu hugged and Kenji and Sakura hugged and kissed.

"Welcome home you two." Mafuyu said, with her brother excited to see her.

"Did you two have a proactive day?" Sakura asked her husband and daughter.

"Yeah, I beat Dad in a sparring match." She gloated, flashing a smile. Causing Sakura to laugh, as Kenji emitted a proud grin.

Night soon came and Ino and Naruto soon came over with their son Menma. Mafuyu began to blush when Menma entered. The kids would go upstairs as Kenji, Sakura, Ino, and Naruto sat downstairs and talked about the old days.

Naruto and Kenji over the years would grow close. Enough for Naruto to make Kenji the captain of the newly created Konoha Elite Guard. Sakura and Ino would chat it up and the families would have one hell of a time. The two families would venture outside and watch the stars. Naruto and Ino would huddle together and kiss. Menma and Mafuyu would sit together with Kaito asleep in his sister's arms. And finally, Kenji and Sakura would hold each other. Sakura would nuzzle her head on Kenji's chest as he kissed her. He looked down at the person that made his life so special and without her, his life would be empty. The girl who made him who he was, his best friend, and his wife... Sakura Hayabusa.