Chapter 13-Epilogue Ch. 1

-Four Months Later-

My eyes crept open at the sound of Sinzo crying and I groaned as I rubbed my eyes and climbed out of bed. He's actually quite a calm baby who rarely cries and typically sleeps through the night, but every once in a while he'll get cranky, which is likely what's happening now.

I sleepily picked him up from his crib and held him firmly with one arm as I went downstairs into the kitchen to prepare a bottle. His crying nearly ceased the moment he realized I was there, but he still seemed like he'd start right back up if I put him down, so I'm crossing all my Ts and dotting my Is. Once the bottle was ready, I went back upstairs to his nursery to sit in the rocking chair, adjusting him in my arms so I could feed him properly.

His pretty little silver eyes blinked sleepily up at me as he drank, making my chest warm with fondness. I'm so happy he survived. The chances of him not doing so were high right from the start, but he seems to have inherited my family's fighting spirit and refused to give up.

To everyone's surprise but my own, Naruto's his favorite person. The first time Hanabi saw him change a diaper, she stood there with her mouth ajar in shock. Naruto's definitely not one of those cliche men who refuse to do any of the dirty work when it comes to raising a child and this baby isn't even related to him. He's such a wonderful person, through and through.

Two months ago, I was finally able to legally take my childhood home off the market and the four of us immediately left the compound to move in. So the past month has been spent finishing unpacking the last boxes and settling in.

When we first got back to Konoha, I was nervous that it'd be hard for us to work out a routine with no parents and two new additions to our family, but I shouldn't have been. Somehow things fell into place almost instantly. It was almost easy to both rely on and hold one another accountable for all the everyday little things. Even Hanabi does her part in helping with Sinzo, doing chores, and making sure her online schooling is done.

Restoring the world to how it formerly was isn't something that happens overnight and opening schools is definitely a priority, but also hard to do. So, students have been taking virtual classes until things go completely back to normal. It's estimated to be another two months or so for the schools to open, at least. Naruto teases Hanabi all the time about it, saying he knows she can't wait so she'll be able to see Konohamaru more often.

The two say they aren't dating, but she's up late almost every night either texting or on the phone with someone. Even if she won't admit who it is, we know. The Sarutobi boy comes over every once in a while under the guise of wanting to study, but Naruto and I know better. We don't call him out on it, though, because it's too cute to watch them awkwardly try to hide their crushes from one another.

About three weeks ago, Tenten stormed into our house unannounced, as usual, to flaunt a big diamond ring in our faces as she screamed over and over that Neji proposed. My older brother came in behind her in a much calmer manner, apologizing for her lack of restraint with an annoyed expression.

Since the two never really dated, it surprised me that he jumped right into asking her to marry him. That being said, they've known one another for over a decade and Tenten sure didn't seem to care so I'm overjoyed for them.

They visit often and we even have one of the two spare bedrooms set up as theirs for when they do, but they chose to remain in Inaka Village, at least for the time being. I don't feel hurt by that decision because it makes sense. They were both raised there. It's their home. Besides, I get to see them almost any time I want so there's no reason to complain.

When the banks reopened, I was informed that all of the funds my father left me were, indeed, still available to me. That news came as a massive relief. If we didn't have all that money to fall back on, we'd somehow make it work, but it sure makes things much easier and gives us the ability to help our friends as well.

The Uchihas refused any money since they are almost as well off as us and don't need it while also saying they'll take care of any and all things Sakura and Ino might need. Sakura told me Sai already bought a ring to propose to Ino with and she knows it because he asked her for advice on which one to get.

We've all been waiting almost impatiently for the blond woman to storm around in a similar fashion as Tenten had and annoy everyone with her overbearing excitement. Honestly, though, I think Sasuke's probably working on a similar timeline as his brother. I can only imagine how happy those women will be when they realize they'll legally be sisters.

During The Program, way back when, I remember thinking that he and Naruto would've been great friends if only they'd met out in the wild and not in such a stressful place. That hypothesis proved to be true. Despite arguing all the time, the two swiftly became best friends once everyone was settled in and things calmed down.

The Subaku's also refused to let us help them, stating it was bad enough they were offered a home to live in free of cost. That was the one time I actually argued with them because they used to intimidate me more than a little bit. Temari found it almost comical that I got the courage to stand up to her, while Kankuro just kept asking if we were going to physically wrestle so he could be prepared and get a camera.

In the end, we came to a compromise and they said I could take care of Matsuri's hospital costs. Speaking of the girl, she's still in a coma, so those hospital bills would definitely put them all in crippling debt.

It's hard not to lose hope when doctors often say if a patient doesn't wake up within eight weeks, it's unlikely they ever will, but none of us can bear the thought of letting her die when there's still a small chance. I could never ever consider it just by how it would affect Gaara. After a month, his siblings finally convinced him to come home at least a few nights a week rather than sleep in her room.

In that first week after everyone officially moved into the compound, we all ate dinner together every night. It was during one of these dinners that Temari told us that while she was inhabited, she saw what happened to Matsuri.

All of us were stunned to find out she willingly offered her body to The Meishu because he can more deeply recall a host's memories, so if he saw her memory of us finding out about their food source and how Gosei isn't the same thing, he'd be able to tell she isn't lying. If any other one of those things tried, they'd only be able to see it and not tell if it's false or not.

Temari said that right before she was inhabited, Matsuri told her to tell Gaara if he goes back to how he was before, she'll haunt him. Hearing that and then seeing how broken the man in question has become is a hard pill to swallow. I wasn't personally there when his sister relayed that information to him, but she said it was bad. He seemed to be following the poor girl's orders, though. He may be suffering, but he hasn't gone back to reacting to every little thing and person with rage and violence.

We all take turns bringing flowers and visiting with Matsuri so not a single day goes by that someone isn't there for her. If and when she wakes, none of us want her to think she's alone or has been abandoned.

At the compound, there are five houses in total and they're all being used. Sai and Ino live in the biggest one at the head of the place with Sasuke and Sakura to their right and Kankuro and Kiba on their left. The two men have become close friends, but still complain about living together. They prefer that to living under the same roof as Temari and Shikamaru, though, who live next door to them.

The house next door to Sasuke and Sakura is supposed to be Gaara and Matsuri's, but it's rarely used. When Gaara comes home from the hospital, he usually just sleeps on the couch at Kankuro and Kiba's place. I can't blame him. If I was suffering like he is, waiting day by day for someone you care so deeply about to wake up and not knowing if they ever will, I wouldn't want to be alone in a big empty house, either.

"Here, Hina, let me take him."

My focus snapped back into place when Naruto gently took a now-sleeping Sinzo from my arms to carefully place him back in his crib. I rose to my feet, stretching my arms behind my back as I yawned. Then I went downstairs to wash the empty bottle before heading back to bed.

Strong arms pulled me down and against a warm chest and I let them, greedily accepting his half-awake affection.

The studio he used to work for as a news anchor offered him his job back when they began the process of getting back on air and he accepted.

I personally work as an assistant at the college and not in the field I'd expect of myself. Rather than the science department, I found myself drawn to the literature department. After some debating and soul-searching, I realized that while I have a very deep respect for what my father studied, it's not something I have a passion for anymore. It must've died when he did.

Maybe I only thought I loved it because seeing how happy it made him to hear that I shared an interest with him encouraged me. Either way, I looked into a few different things before falling onto literature. I think I want to be an author or screenwriter, so I'm going to begin taking classes that will help me achieve that goal when the next school year starts.

"What's on your mind, Hina?" I blinked, suddenly realizing I'd been staring with zoned out eyes at nothing, in a trance.

Looking up, I realized Naruto was looking down at me with his sleepy face covered in shadows from the moonlight. My arm snaked over his waist and I cuddled against him, "Nothing special. Just thinking."

His hold around me tightened before he skillfully pulled me up to straddle his hips and kissed me softly. My long hair fell like a curtain around his head and his calloused hands ran under my shirt to caress my lower back and hips.

After a moment, I felt a familiar pressure beginning to harden between my legs and pulled my lips from his so I could whisper, "We have to work in the morning…"

The man tugged at the hem of my shirt and I lifted my arms slightly so he could pull it up over my head to toss it away, "We'd better be quick then."

Blue eyes sparkled playfully up at me and I couldn't stop the grin that formed as I gave in and came down to kiss him again. He chuckled against my lips and rolled over on top of me while pulling his shirt off.

As his hands danced lovingly up my hips, I couldn't help but feel so undeniably happy. After dad died and Madara tried to take his place, I thought the rest of my life would be full of hardships and suffering. I never imagined meeting such a wonderful man or having him feel the same way for me as I do for him.

It's not the future I pictured, no, but it's a million times better.

~

Technically, I consider this fic complete, but if I mark it as so in inkstone, I won't be able to add any other epilogue chapters so I'm going to leave it open.

Thanks to everyone who read this series! I haven't received a lot of feedback, but that's okay because it feels really nice to actually finish something!

Final book will be published in Sakura and Matsuri's POV as well, so if you're interested please check it out. Thanks again!