Last Time:

"Don't touch me!" Menma ordered. "There's no point in making a widow out of both our wives, now is there?"

"Menma." Naruto gritted his teeth.

"Go! Hurry!" Menma shouted and watched as Naruto headed. "Go!"

Naruto had no other choice. He ran.

A sad smile came onto Menma's face as he looked down at Kaguya. "I'm sorry, Hina."

Naruto had just made it out of the circle itself when it happened. A beacon of light erupted out of the ground and tore through the sky. The blast caught the backend of Naruto's leg and he crumbled onto the ground. The Demon Realm Sasuke was at his side immediately and as the light collapsed in on itself, he covered him.

Then it exploded.

Exorcist: Chapter 47 – The Final Chapter

"What're you doing out here?"

Uzumaki Boruto looked over his shoulder and the resemblance between him and Naruto was uncanny. He was older now and over the years, he had practically grown up to be Naruto's twin. He was tall like him and his face had squared out as he matured.

"Sorry," his voice was deeper, "were you searching for me long?"

Uchiha Sarada let out a heavy sigh as she folded her arms across her chest. The last few years, Sarada had grown into a beauty of a woman. She had her father's pale skin with an unblemished fairness and her black hair hung down her back. She still wore the same red framed glasses and her bangs were longer and turned behind her ear. "Honestly, Boruto," she whined. "You can't run off like that, especially not today."

She eyed him for a moment before her eyes shifted to what was behind Boruto. She relaxed a bit and joined him at his side. Together, they stood at the edge of the Kaguya Crater. It'd been fifteen years since Outsutsuki's Kaguya's final assault on the Three Realms and it, among many others, were a permanent reminder of it.

"Where's Mitsuki?" Boruto questioned.

"He's at the palace going over the last of the preparations for tonight," Sarada answered as turned to face him. "Honestly, what were you thinking making me come after you like this? It's a hassle, especially today."

Boruto chuckled before facing her. "I already apologized. Can you not be mad at me?"

"No," Sarada argued. "You promised you'd be good today. Do you have any idea how hard it is to keep Mama at bay? Papa is having a hard time too."

Boruto eyed her for a moment before taking a step closer to her. She pursed her lips together but didn't fight him when he wrapped his arms around her waist. He placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. "We can head back now."

"In a minute," Sarada muttered as Boruto's arms moved from her waist to her shoulders. She wrapped her arms around his waist. They squeezed one another in a tight and loving hug and Boruto could feel Sarada's stress melt away in that moment.

He rested his chin on Sarada's head and kept his breathing steady. He felt Sarada press her cheek against his chest and tighten her hold on him ever so slightly. "I love you," he breathed.

"I love you too," Sarada answered as she rested her chin on his chest and looked up at him. She planted butterfly kisses on his chin before he tilted his face down and allowed her to kiss him on the lips. It was sweet and gentle for a few moments before Boruto's hands returned to her waist and he pulled her into him. Her hands slid up his chest and without saying a word, their kiss intensified. It was passionate and hungry, carnal even.

Boruto was the one to break the kiss, the both breathless with their cheeks fully flushed red. "Do we have time?"

Sarada pursed her lips together. "Not really."

"Do you wanna make time?" Boruto asked.

Sarada's face turned completely red at his suggestions but before she could answer, she heard someone clear their throat. Together, they both turned and saw Naruto standing at the edge of the clearing with his cane in hand. Sarada quickly removed herself from Boruto since she knew Sasuke couldn't be too far away, and she was right. He stood in a tree that lined the clearing and leaned against the trunk with his arms folded across his chest.

"Come," Sasuke ordered as he stood upright, "there's not much time left before the ceremony and there's still a lot to be done."

"Coming, Papa," Sarada called. She looked at Boruto and gave him a sweet smile before walking over to Naruto. She gave him a quick peck on the cheek before Sasuke landed beside her. With her arm linked with his, the two of them left.

"I'm sorry to have interrupted, Boruto," Naruto apologized, his voice gravely with age. He took a shaky step forward and Boruto quickly went to his side and helped his father along.

"Does Okaa-chan know you came all the way out here?" Boruto questioned as he helped Naruto towards the edge of the crater.

"I told her I was going to Kurama's temple to pray," Naruto confessed and snickered as Boruto rolled his eyes. "How are you feeling?"

"I should be the one asking you that, Old Man," Boruto teased and chuckled when Naruto elbowed him. "It's rare to see you without Uncle Menma."

"Menma actually went to the temple to pray," Naruto answered. "I figured I would give him some privacy. It's still hard for him, dattebayo."

Boruto nodded. On that night, Menma had every intention of sacrificing himself but just as the light collapsed, the Shadow Realm Kurama covered Menma and took much of the brute force of the explosion. Unfortunately, it was too much for Kurama and he died protecting Menma. When Menma woke up a few months after the incident, it was discovered that he could no longer use his Mana as he expelled most of it trying to protect himself, only for Kurama to protect him in the end.

"So, really, how are you feeling?" Naruto asked again.

Boruto thought for a moment before a smile came onto his lips. "I'm happy."

Naruto smiled. "Good."

"Hey!"

Both Naruto and Boruto flinched at the sound of that all too familiar angry voice.

"Honey," Naruto turned and watched as Hinata marched towards them. "Calm down."

Hinata ignored Naruto's plea and snatched both of them by their ears. "Come!"

"Ow, ow, ow! Okaa-chan, you're going to rip my ear off!" Boruto complained as he stumbled behind Hinata. "Okaa-chan, go easy on me, please? It's my wedding and coronation day after all!"

Hinata released Boruto's ear and watched as he stumbled forward before gaining his footing. She poked out her bottom lip at him and he hated it when she did that because it was the easiest way for him to break her. "You still have to go through Purification."

"I'm going," Boruto assured her. He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before running off.

Hinata sighed before looking at Naruto who wore an innocent look on his face while Hinata still had a death grip on his ear. "So?"

"He'll be just fine," Naruto assured her and let out a sigh of relief when she released his ear. He rubbed it before offering his arm to Hinata who happily took it. Together, they strolled slowly back through the woods and towards the palace. "Do you remember how you felt the day we got married?"

"Of course," Hinata said. A nostalgic smile came onto her face, "I didn't realize it was possible for me to be that happy, but you proved me wrong time and time again."

"Well, that's what people do for the ones they love," Naruto reminded her. "And with the years I have left, I promise to continue to do just that."

She wore a bit of a sadder smile now. She looked at Naruto and took in his fragile state. Kaguya's suicide didn't leave Naruto with a few lasting scars of his own. Just like Menma, he expelled a great deal of his Mana to protect himself, Sasuke, and others who were close to Kaguya's explosion. Luckily with Kurama's help, they were both able to protect those around them, but Naruto suffered greatly as a result.

Because he was already a Hybrid, he didn't have all the strengths of being a full-fledged Demon and had some of the disadvantages that came with being a Human. According to Sakura, Naruto's life-expectancy was cut in half but there was no telling how long half was.

"Don't give me that look," Naruto urged as he put on a bright grin for Hinata. "I'm not going anywhere anytime soon."

Hinata squeezed his arm a bit. "I know."

When they made it back to the palace, Hinata led Naruto to Kurama's Temple before returning to the main estate. As Naruto made his way through the temple, he felt a patch of soft fur appear just below his hand. He grabbed a handful of it and walked alongside Kurama until they were in the back part of the temple that served as a cemetery for the Uzumaki Family.

"Your mana seems to be recovering better nowadays," Kurama mentioned as he walked slowly down the stone steps towards the cemetery.

"That may be true, but it doesn't matter much anymore," Naruto muttered. "I'm getting too old to be out there fighting alongside people like Boruto-kun and Sarada-chan. Plus, there's not much fighting to be had anymore."

"All thanks to you," Kurama reminded him.

"I did what I could," Naruto responded.

As they made it down the rest of the steps, Kurama led Naruto along through the rows upon rows of headstones, tombs, and statues of pass Uzumaki Clansmen. They walked in silence for a bit before reaching a pair of statues that stood tall and proud amongst the rest.

"They really did a good job," Kurama spoke softly as he took a seat and stared up at the statues of Uzumaki Kushina and Namikaze Minato.

"You say that every time," Naruto chuckled as he took a few steps forward and brushed off some dirt from both his parent's feet. "Okaa-chan, Otou-san," Naruto took a few steps back and looked up, so he could get a better look, "Boruto's getting married today. It was a longtime coming but both Hinata and I are glad it's happening. I know Sasuke wasn't all that thrilled that Sarada-chan had chosen Boruto as a suitor – and I can't necessarily disagree – but she's good for him and he's good for her. I'm glad."

Naruto sighed, his breath shaky. "Himawari is doing well too, but I'm sure you knew that already as well. She really is a bright girl and she looks more and more like Hinata every day. It seems Inojin-kun has taken an interest in her but Himawari is so focused on her studies that she doesn't seem to notice. I'm sure she will someday though.

"I wish you could be here to see Boruto now," Naruto sighed. "He looks like how I did in my better days. And he's smart, and strong, and kind. He's everything I could've hoped and more. I really am proud of him and I'm looking forward to what he'll do as king. Ah, I guess I should hope I'm around to see it. Some days are harder than others, but I'm determined to stay by Hinata's side, and Boruto's side, Himawari's and even Sasuke's. You know he's hopeless without me." He chuckled to himself before reaching over and scratching the top of Kurama's head.

"I think I'll pass Kurama on to Boruto soon," Naruto muttered and saw Kurama glance at him. "Though I know Kurama is going to decline and stay with me as long as he possibly can."

"Boruto can wait a little while longer," Kurama muttered. "Until I'm sure you'll be fine on your own, I'm not transferring."

"See, Okaa-chan? Kurama does like staying with us after all," Naruto teased and chuckled when Kurama growled.

"All you Uzumaki are still a nuisance but I'd much rather be stuck with you than out wandering on my own in the Beasts Realm. Plus…I have more fun here with you Uzumaki than I do elsewhere."

Naruto smiled. "You're getting softer with age."

"Experience," Kurama corrected him.

Naruto chuckled. He looked back at Minato and Kushina, "Please, continue to watch over the family." He held out his hand and a bushel of sunflowers appeared at the base of their statues. "Let's hope Hinata can keep from crying during the ceremony."

"She's smiling," Kurama informed Naruto.

"Is she?" Naruto asked.

Kurama nodded. "I know she is. Minato too."

"I'm glad," Naruto said. He sighed again and patted the top of Kurama's head. "We should head back."

Kurama nodded. As they turned to leave, Kurama looked back over his shoulder towards Kushina's and Minato's statues. He stared for a while before helping Naruto up the long flight of stairs and through the temple.

That evening, diplomats, politicians, religious figures, nobles, and royalty attended the wedding of Uzumaki Boruto and Uchiha Sarada. It was a lavish event that put Naruto and Hinata's wedding to shame and it was packed full of ten times the amount of people.

Shion and Ryuunosuke's eldest daughter Satomi officiated the event. In traditional Boruto fashion, Boruto cracked jokes during his vows which gained a chuckle or too from the crowd and loosened Sarada up. Sarada kept hers as formal as possible and once their rings were exchanged, Satomi pronounced them as man and wife. Boruto kissed Sarada full on on the lips which gained hoops and hollers from the Uzumaki and their friends.

With their first ceremony completed, Naruto and Hinata stood hand in hand with their crowns sitting atop their heads. Together, they led Boruto and Sarada down the aisle while Satomi, Shion, and Ryuunosuke followed immediately behind them.

"Nervous?" Sarada questioned as she squeezed Boruto's hand.

"A little," Boruto admitted before looking at his father's back. "We have big shoes to fill."

"Shh," Satomi shushed and both Boruto and Sarada gave apologetic smiles before continuing to follow Hinata and Naruto. As they walked, they passed by dozens of Priest and Priestesses as they stood along the walls wearing their ceremonial robes with lanterns in hand.

They wore smiles on their lips and respectfully bowed as they passed. As they walked, Boruto looked at all the portraits of the Kings and Queens before him. It wasn't until they neared their destination that he saw his grandparent's portrait. It was time long before Boruto or Himawari had even been thought of and even before Naruto was thought of. Then there was the family portrait where Kushina sat proudly with a toddler Naruto in her lap and Minato standing just behind the chair with a hand on her shoulder.

Next was Hinata and Naruto's portrait that was done shortly after they were coronated. It as a less traditional pose with it appearing as if they had been out and decided to snap a picture but still seemed regal. He stood by with a bit of a slouch with his hand on Hinata's waist. She leaned against him with her hand on his chest.

And just to the right of that portrait for another of all of them together as a family. Boruto was five and had squirmed for most of the painting while Himawari was only a few months old and the most obedient baby anyone had ever seen. Boruto thought about what his and Sarada's portrait would look like and about what their family portrait would look like.

"Are you ready?" Naruto asked.

Boruto teared his eyes away from the portraits and looked at his parents. He nodded. "Yeah, I'm ready."

Naruto nodded in approval before moving forward with Hinata. They entered the familiar room where many speeches were polished at the last minutes and where previous scripts had been tossed into the trash because Naruto firmly believed in speaking from the heart. Boruto had seen every moment and would often copy Naruto when playing with Himawari.

And just beyond those doors was the balcony that Naruto, Hinata, Kushina, and Minato addressed the people. And it was where Boruto would address the people in the future. Naruto straightened his robes as did Hinata before they stepped onto the balcony to the enormous applause of their public.

"Good evening," Naruto spoke, his voice booming and strong, "I first want to thank all of you for being here to share this moment with my family and me. It truly is a joyous day within the Three Realms because today is the day that our son has married and today is the day that our son takes the throne. A King knows when his reign comes to an end and when it is time for those who are next to take hold of the future and begin to mold it into what they believe it should be. I have absolutely zero doubt in my mind and in my heart that our son, Boruto, will do all that he possibly can to continue the legacy of the Uzumaki Family and continue to rule as I did, as my mother did, and as every other Uzumaki before him has."

Hinata took Naruto's arm and rubbed it affectionately. He placed a hand over hers and continued with his address. "Hinata and I did all that we could do for you as our people and we can only hope that it was enough."

From below, the crowd clapped, cheered, and shouted words of affirmation. It was a bittersweet moment because Naruto had been the spearhead to mold the Three Realms into what they were today. Many in the crow below cried and shouted as loud as they could in hopes that Naruto heard them.

"And before I bring Boruto out, I want to thank all of you for having faith in me and my dreams for what the Three Realms could've been," Naruto said, his voice warmer. "All of this wouldn't have been possible with the support provided not only by those who were close to me such as my wife and some of my closes friends and advisors but those of you who believed in me and supported me and defended me when I couldn't do so myself. I know it seemed like nonsense in the beginning but today wouldn't be possibly without all of you."

"Long live the Uzumaki!" someone shouted down from the crowd. "Long live the Hybrid King!"

"Long live the Uzumaki! Long live the Hybrid King!" the crowd chimed in together.

Naruto smiled and squeezed Hinata's hand again. With that, Naruto and Hinata parted and stood on either side of the balcony as Satomi led Boruto and Sarada out onto the balcony. Satomi bowed respectfully towards Hinata and Naruto before bowing towards the crowd.

Together, Sarada and Boruto knelt onto a set of pillows and bowed their heads.

"Today, on the 30th of December, we coronate a new King and Queen in the Demon Realm," Satomi began. "Uzumaki Boruto, eldest son of Uzumaki Namikaze Naruto and Hyuuga Hinata, and Uchiha Sarada, eldest daughter of Uchiha Sasuke and Haruno Sakura. I've heard the pleasure of growing up alongside the two of them and I honestly can say that there isn't anyone more suited to carry on after King Naruto and Queen Hinata like Lord Boruto and Lady Sarada."

Together, Naruto and Hinata removed their crowns and stood behind Boruto and Sarada.

"With the Nine Blessings of the Tailed Beasts, I pass on the responsibilities of rulership onto the two of thee. With the Nine Blessings of the Tailed Beasts, this Era of Peace and Prosperity rest on your shoulders. May your rule be long, and may you continue to provide for this Kingdom as those before you have," Satomi recited.

Together and carefully, Hinata and Naruto placed their crowns on Boruto and Sarada's heads. Once the crowns were placed, Boruto and Sarada stood to their feet and Satomi smiled at the two of them.

"Good luck," Satomi whispered before stepping behind Boruto and Sarada as they approached the edge of the balcony.

"I present to you, King Uzumaki Boruto and Queen Uchiha Sarada," Satomi announced, and the crowd cheered and celebrated down below.

Boruto and Sarada basked in the crowd's celebration for a few moments before Boruto raised his hand. The crowd died down and Boruto took a few moments to gather his thoughts. He looked over his shoulder at Naruto and when his father nodded towards the front, Boruto smiled.

He faced the crowd and sighed before beginning, "As my father said, Sarada and I would like to thank all of you for joining us this evening. It truly is one of the happiest days of my life and one of the scariest. My father…my father is truly one of the greatest men that I'll ever had the pleasure of knowing and I can only begin to hope and pray that I lead you as he led you. I'm fortunate to have grown up underneath such a magnificent human being who was completely selfless and always made sure to put others before himself. I hope I can live with half the humility he had and be just as selfless and caring towards the citizens of the Three Realms."

Did you ever think that Boruto would say such things about you? Kurama questioned from within Naruto.

I only could've hoped for this. Naruto admitted quietly as he struggled to hold back his tears.

"Sarada and I hope to carry on the legacy that my father and mother and her father and mother, helped plant in the Three Realms for generations to come. Realistically speaking, we know that there will be times where we will face adversity but neither of us are worried. Simply because we know that with your support, and the support of those around us, there isn't anything that we can't handle," Boruto continued.

"All I ask of you is that you have faith in Sarada and I," Boruto requested. "I know I will never be my father, but I promise to continue the work he started and make sure there isn't a day where you wonder if the Uzumaki, alongside the Hyuuga, Uchiha, and Nara aren't doing everything we possibly can to ensure the continued the prosperity of the Three Realms."

With that, the crowd erupted into thunderous applause.

And just as Boruto promised, there wasn't a day where people questioned the work ethic of those tasked with the responsibility of ensuring the continued prosperity of the Three Realms. Boruto and Sarada led with just as much grace and humility as Hinata and Naruto did before them.

Whenever Boruto felt unsure of anything, he made sure to ask Naruto and though Naruto never gave him a direct answer to his problem, it always helped Boruto think of his own solution. And for Naruto, Boruto was everything he had hoped he would be and more. He couldn't have been prouder of his son and as the years went by, Boruto continued to go above and beyond all promises he made.

And when Boruto became a father, Naruto watched as Boruto carried his son around everywhere he went. And he did the same with his second, third, and fourth child as well. It was rare to see Boruto without one of his children at his side if not all of them.

Through the years, the Three Realms developed a deeper connection that became unbreakable thanks to the bond between Boruto and the leaders in both the Human Realm and Shadow Realm. Together, the threat of Demons terrorizing Humans decreased exponentially, almost to the point where there were no longer needs for massive Exorcists Communities as there had been for their parents and their grandparents.

"We found you!" a young child exclaimed as he leapt onto the back of his grandfather, his siblings and cousins running in behind him and assaulting the older man as well.

Boruto, now older and grayer, chuckled as he rubbed the heads of his grandchildren. "You found me."

"Ah, you guys!" Boruto and Sarada's eldest son, along with his siblings, came rushing out with a baby strapped to his chest. "Didn't I tell you to leave Father to pray?"

"But Oji-chan looked lonely," one of Boruto's grandchildren exclaimed.

"It's fine," Boruto assured his son before kneeling on the ground and letting his grandson off his back. He took a careful seat on the ground before he was swarmed again by his grandchildren. Together, they looked up at the statue of Naruto that sat in the very center of Uzumaki Cemetery.

"What was your Papa like, Oji-chan?" one of his grandchildren questioned.

"My papa?" Boruto questioned and all his grandchildren nodded. He thought for a moment before smiling and looking at Naruto's statue, "Well, that's a bit of a tricky question so, how about I tell you a story?"

The End