EPILOGUE: 8 Months Later

Kakashi's POV

It's a bright and sunny day on October 10th, Naruto's birthday and also his and Sasuke's one year death anniversary. Everyone from all parts of the world is coming to the Final Valley to pay their respect for the two war heroes. As planned, my two students have statues built at the Final Valley in their honor, replacing Hashirama and Madara. The recently built monuments look gorgeous, they're about the same size as the previous ones and were built with the same rock. However, unlike the statutes of the old generation, we all came to a decision for Naruto and Sasuke to make the seal of reconciliation. There is no doubt in anyone's mind that the two seventeen-year-olds have found peace with one another. It was difficult of course, to have two of their hands connect without interfering with the waterfall, but somehow the Stone Village managed to solve our dilemma. Another difficulty: their faces. Would they smile or be serious? Approximately how far away were Naruto's whiskers from each other? What about including Sasuke's rinnegan, should his eyes be left alone or not? In the end, we decided to add the rinnegan on Sasuke's face and include one of his infamous and rare smirks. On Naruto's face, he has a closed lip smile instead of his usual million watt one. The clothes they're wearing are the same ones they worn when they died; Naruto wearing his regular jumpsuit with his forehead protector and Sasuke, a short sleeve zippered shirt with the Uchiha crest on his back and a obi wrap around his waist.

Yes, they were beautifully built, albeit I can't help wishing they weren't built. I wish to have Naruto's face on the Hokage monument instead. Speaking of the Hokage monument, my head was just finished a few days ago, signifying that I am the next Hokage in line. Despite being given a deadly threat from my only female student, I was still very reluctant to take on the role as the village's leader. I had no more sharingan, I couldn't save two of my students and my last one left the village for some time; I couldn't help but think I couldn't protect the village. Not to mention my laid back personality will collide horribly with the Hokage routine. That's until I visited the Land of Waves a few months ago to ensure their secret aircraft goes into the skies without any difficulties when I realized that despite whoever I am now, I must embrace my duty as Hokage for the future. I willingly accepted my position as the village's leader and was shadowing under Tsunade as soon as I got back to the village.

I scanned the Final Valley. Numerous of people from many places are here to pay their respect. The guests range from belonging to big villages like the Sand, to the small ones like the Grass. There's no set dress code for the memorial, but a number of them are wearing dark formal. However, the people who were close to Naruto and Sasuke (like me) chose to wear casual or mission clothes; seeing that the two deceased shinobi (mainly Naruto) wouldn't like people dressing so grimly for them. Everyone is doing a bit better from last year, getting use to the new "normal". Besides a couple of letters, I haven't had much contact with a certain pink haired kunoichi ever since she left eight months ago. At first, her friends, family, and Tsunade freaked out when I informed them that she actually left the village. All of them wanted her to be brought back immediately.

Flashback

"Are you crazy Kakashi?!" Tsunade nearly yelled at me in her office. "You just let Sakura go? Did you even try to convince her to stay!"

"I'm sorry Lady Tsunade," I responded, "But I think she needs some time away from the village. I don't think she could've handled being here one more day, hence why she left so abruptly. I asked if she really wanted to leave, and she told me yes. This is good for her."

The fifth Hokage shook her head. "What if she doesn't come back Kakashi? Will you say that to her distraught parents, who she left in the dark about her whereabouts?!"

"Lady Tsunade, I'm pretty sure she doesn't know herself where she is going, but it's a self-discovery mission. She'll come back when she knows herself again. It just takes time, you know this."

"NO! She c-can't just leave here, only briefly warning her parents, you and no one else! It's too soon to leave the village!" I could see behind the anger in the blonde haired woman, there was great sadness that yet another person close to her has left her life without her permission. I don't blame her for yelling at me, I would do the same thing in her shoes.

The female Hokage looked down, a tear escaping her left eye. "Bring her back Kakashi, do whatever it takes." Her voice sounded tired.

I spoke to her softly. "You know I can't do that Lady Hokage. Please, give her time."

The brown eyed woman turned around in her chair, looking at the view the Hokage's office provides. "They won't be happy." She said calmly, referring to her student's parents and friends. "They'll look for her themselves."

"She won't forgive any of us if we don't respect her wishes."

She poured some sake in her empty cup. "You think she's doing this to torture us?"

"I highly doubt it."

I watched Tsunade down her cup of sake. "Well, when she comes back, she'll get it for sure."

"Lost in thought Kakashi Sensei? Or should I say Lord Hokage?" A voice called from being me. I turned around and happiness surged throughout my body.

"Sakura," I breathed out, not quite believing my eyes.

In the eight months since she's been away, Sakura's hair grown maybe around three inches past her shoulders. It seems like her bangs have grown as well and are tuck behind both her ears. The green diamond on her forehead filled with reserve chakra shows off proudly. Her headband still lays on top of her head, although her clothes have changed. She isn't wearing a pink top with a pair of black shorts under a pink skirt anymore. Now, her outfit consists of a sleeveless red qipao dress that reaches her upper thighs, with white trimmings and tied with a black obi. She still wears black shorts underneath her dress and black gloves.

"You're hair grew," I told Sakura, it's the only thing I can I think of at the moment. I wasn't really expecting her to be back here so soon, she hasn't told me she was coming back.

She looked down at her hair and held a piece of it between her hand. "Yeah, it seems so. I haven't really noticed, to be honest. I guess with not much conflict in the world like before, I just didn't feel the need to cut it. Well, I'm going to be cutting it anyways since I'm back." She looked at me and pointed towards my vest. "Is that the new standard issue vest?"

I followed her finger towards my new uniform. "Yeah, we got them a few months back."

"Last time I was here, they couldn't decide on what design. I'm glad they decided to keep the color. Anyways, congratulations, I heard you're finally going to get inaugurated as Hokage soon." Sakura laughed, "You know, I bet if Naruto was here, he'll be so confused with your new position. He'll wonder if he should call you Sensei or Lord Hokage or both."

I laughed with her because that's something Naruto would have done. "Actually, I was supposed to be sworn in today, but I wanted to be here instead. I wasn't expecting you to come back on this day Sakura. I figured you'll probably want to be alone."

"Like you?" She guessed, her face grew serious.

I gazed at the two statues, my smile fading away, the pain of losing both of them still aches, although it's a bit better now. I wanted to be alone today remembering the jinchuuriki and Uchiha, but I couldn't bring myself not to come out here. I didn't want to confirm what she said was right. How is she able to read my mind? Our eyes met and I realized she couldn't bring herself to be away either. My, my, student and teacher do think alike.

"I know what I want to do to honor Sasuke and Naruto," Sakura said, peaking my interest. "I was thinking about creating a clinic within the hospital in Konoha for treating kids' mental health. Not many people care about what the effects of war have had on children, and I want to be able to change that. I think….if Sasuke and Naruto have had something like that in their childhood, someone to talk to about their problems, someone who actually cares about their well-being; I think they would've been better off."

I couldn't help but agree with the intelligent kunoichi. That is perhaps the best idea I ever heard. A program that aids children's mental health.

I smiled at her. "Well Haruno, that sounds like an excellent idea. Good thing I'm basically the Hokage, so I'll help you out every step of the way."

She returned my smile. "Thank you Kakashi Sensei, that really means a lot to me."

"Have you told anyone else yet?"

"Not really, you're the first one I told, but I can't wait to tell the others."

"So you're coming back to the village?"

"Yes, I miss home."

"You do know that once you come back, no one will want you to leave for a long time including me, right?" I joked.

She laughed, "Yeah, I'm ready for it. Besides, I'm pretty sure someone is going to spot me very soon anyways."

Just as the sentence flew out of Sakura's mouth, a voice confirmed her assumption.

"BILLBOARD BROW! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN!?" Ino angrily yelled racing towards us. Before any of us could say anything, the blonde hugged her best friend tightly, tears running down her face. "Don't you ever leave out of nowhere like that again!" She pulled away, anger returning to her eyes. "Do you know how worried we all were! You just left and didn't even contact us!"

Sakura nodded her head in acknowledgment. "I know, I apologize Ino. I shouldn't have put you guys in that position."

Ino studied her friend's face. "You're going to have to do better than just an apology Billboard Brow. You'll have to make up for it, especially with Lady Tsunade. And you!" She pointed at me, scowling. "How dare you let her leave! You may be the sixth Hokage tomorrow, but that doesn't mean I can't kick you sorry, little-"

"I get it." I interrupted her, not feeling like hearing the rest of her threat. "I thought we made amends earlier."

"Hmph" She turned back to Sakura. "Where have you been all this time?"

"I've been around the world, seeing the effects of the war. I'll tell you later about it." Sakura replied.

"You better not leave again without warning. You hear me Sakura?"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, Ino pig," She glanced at me before looking at the monuments. "I'm not going anywhere."

End of Epilogue