Epilogue

Sakura brushed off her kimono as she stood up and faced the elders.

"You've been a thorn in our side for nearly two years now. Are you finally satisfied?"

Sakura grinned. Over the past two years, she had made it her goal to finish project Mosaic. The elders fought her every step of the way, but they clearly didn't realize who they were picking a bone against. It was a constant tug of war, but Sakura called in favor after favor, with promises of a better village. There are some things even the elders can't say no to.

It had been a month since the new government system had been enacted, and it was going…alright. There was some quarreling and frustration. Changes had to pass through both a clan and civilian council before going to the Hokage. And sometimes, it even got brought to elders to see if it aligned with the Leaf's laws. Things weren't nearly done as quickly as they once were, but maybe it was better that way.

Maybe it was better that people had to look over their laws and actions, and have them approved before going through with them. Transparency was hard, but hopefully it was for the best.

"Being satisfied is a feeling I'm not sure I'll ever have," Sakura shrugged. "But, I am quite pleased with myself, yes."

With a bow, Sakura took her leave and headed toward Kakashi's office.

Sakura slipped into the office, not bothering to knock anymore. At some points, this office had felt more like hers than his with the amount of time she spent in it.

"To what do I owe the pleasure of such formal attire?"

Sakura plopped down in one of the arm chairs and rolled her eyes.

"I had a meeting with the elders, don't feel too special."

"You wound me. You think as the Hokage –"

"You despise being called Lord Hokage."

Kakashi waved her office and sighed, leaning back in his seat. Sakura eyed his desk. It was littered with take-out containers and ramen cups. The paperwork was piled high, and Kakashi's dark circles matched. He was exhausted.

She could sympathize.

"So, what did you need?"

"Project Mosaic is complete."

"It is, or well, it is set to complete Saturday and I still have to write –"

"What do you plan on doing with your time now?"

"I… hadn't… I hadn't thought much beyond the project."

Sakura chewed the inside of her lip. Poor planning wasn't her style. She liked to know what she was doing and where she was going. But the project had taken up her life, there wasn't time to think about anything else.

"Would you consider joining our ranks again?"

Shock flood through her veins. Sure, she knew he was going to ask, but that didn't stop her from being surprised. A strange mix of dread and excitement bubbled up inside her as well. She wrung her fingers, and swallowed.

"I'll consider it. Can I let you know by the end of the week?"

Kakashi leaned onto his knuckles and nodded.

"Take the time you need."

It felt so much better to be back in casual attire. Her apartment was on the way to the academy thankfully. She sat on the edge of the academy grounds, and appreciated the fact the older students were helping the younger.

The genin age had been moved up to fourteen. Sakura had asked for sixteen, but she supposed she would take the two-year increase. The older students now were asked to take more specialized courses, or to learn a trade. There was a mentorship program as well.

They had time to develop as people before they were to start their shinobi careers. Maybe then there wouldn't be so many people like her. Other people who couldn't live normal lives. People who couldn't fall asleep without the faces of the slaughtered peaking in. Sakura shook her head.

Enough of that. At least the future would be better, brighter.

She brushed herself off and made her way over to Iruka, who was walking away from an obstacle course.

"Sakura, good to see you!"

Sakura grinned, appreciating the twinkle in his eye and warmth radiating off of him.

"Good to see you too, Iruka-sensei."

"What brings you? Just checking in?"

Sakura nodded, crossing her arms.

"How are Choji and Shino's kids doing?"

Sakura gestured to a group of ten or so kids, all together playing what looked like marbles.

"They're good. A lot of them still have ways to go, but it's better than it was."

Sakura nodded. Shino and Choji had readily taken on the task of running the orphanage. Sakura had originally asked Iruka for recommendations, but the boys had beat him too it and insisted on it. All of the children there were required to have weekly mental health check-ups with Ino, and her staff.

Ino, right. They were supposed to get tea this afternoon.

"I have to head off, Iruka-sensei. Thank you again, let me know if you need anything."

Iruka smiled at her. "Thank you, Sakura.

Sakura waved his off as she glided toward her favorite teashop.

Sakura appreciated the warmth of the cup. She hadn't expected it to be so windy today in addition to the crisp air.

"-and so, he's been a weird addition with all his ink stuff. But I mean, T&I is good, I guess. It's nice that we're not allowed to do those things anymore. Ibiki gets it. Like, he grumbles like the old way is better, but you can tell he actually prefers not to torture people so much."

Ino sighed, flipping her ponytail behind her, and popping a biscuit in her mouth.

"Are you ever going to pop into the clinic? It's your baby too, forehead."

Sakura shrugged, and leaned back in her chair.

"I mean the whole thing is my baby. But you did most of the research, I just gave you a structure and go-ahead –"

"And the staff. You did the training, and wrote the handbooks. And developed the procedures. Stop selling yourself short."

Sakura sipped her tea and smiled. She did love the mental health clinic. The main focus was children, but there was an area for adults. It was mostly Ino's idea. Sakura had wanted to do something for people with trauma, but didn't know what. Ino had saved the day. Between her medical knowledge and clan jutsu, she was able to develop many methods.

Sakura just put the knowledge into motion.

"Thank you. But it's really yours. I'll stop by sometime soon, though."

"Yeah, yeah, you've been saying that for weeks." Ino waved and winked at her.

"I'm a busy woman, pig!" Sakura gave a dramatic eye roll, finishing the last of her tea.

"Mind if I stop and get some flowers on our way back?"

"Sure, insult me and then ask for flowers. It's fine, I'll just continue to be the better one in this friendship." Ino grinned, as she began to head out of the shop.

"Oh my god, you're insane." Sakura sighed, elbowing Ino lightly as they headed down the stressed.

Sakura finished a small prayer after placing the flowers down on the grave below her. She slipped her knees out from under her and moved into hugging them.

"I think I did okay, Lee."

The wind blew. Which was normal for autumn, but a part of her hoped it was Lee's way of agreeing.

"The kids don't have to fight anymore. They're going to have childhoods. They're going to play games, and smile and laugh. I think you'd be happy."

"Happy? Sakura, he'd be thrilled."

Sakura spun to see Tenten walking up with a small bouquet. She slid down beside her.

"You think so?"

Tenten wrinkled her nose.

"When did you start being so meek again? Of course he would."

Sakura rolled her eyes, but smiled.

"I suppose he would. I just want to make him proud, you know?"

Tenten nodded, and clasped her hands together in prayer. Sakura stayed for a few moments longer, appreciating the breeze and company.

Tenten was right, he would be proud. This is the kind of thing he would have wanted.

She opted for a run this evening in lieu of normal training. Sakura hadn't run in a few days, and she couldn't let herself get shown up by the boys. She laced her shoes up and headed out onto the trail. She'd been running the same path for years now, but it was as quiet as ever. It would wind through the forest, up along the creek, and then out into a field before finishing on the outskirts of the village downtown.

It was a nice path, and she slowed as she approached the creek. She spotted Itachi and Shisui walking the edge together. Shisui's face was bright as he seemingly said something silly. Itachi seemed to pout for a moment, but had a smile that reached his eyes in seconds.

Keeping Shisui alive, let alone getting him out of prison, has been a process. Sakura had to pull more favors than she thought she ever could. Luckily, the consistent mistreatment of the Uchiha had been a valid, and upstanding argument. He faced some prison time, was on permanent surveillance, and had to have permission to leave the village, but he was free.

He and Itachi were able to enjoy their retirement together.

"Sakura!"

Sakura's head snapped up as Shisui appeared in front of her. Itachi jogged after, just behind him.

"Shisui, you have to stop doing that."

Shisui sighed. "There's no other time to do it now. And she doesn't mind."

"I mean, you only startled me a bit."

"That's the spirit, Sakura. See, Itachi, I can –"

"However," Sakura began, shoving two fingers into Shisui's chest, and Itachi crossed his arms and smirk creeping onto his face. "You should absolutely not be using so much chakra for needless exercises. I just healed you last week when you nearly had chakra exhaustion from tag."

Shisui gestured wildly toward Itachi. "Are you going to just let this happen?"

Itachi shrugged. "I've had enough ear flicks for my life time."

Shisui's face contorted into a pout and Itachi linked their arms together with a small wave to Sakura.

"Have a good evening, Sakura. I'll make sure to keep this one under control."

Sakura laughed as a definitely-not-in-control Shisui was dragged back toward their cabin.

Sakura eyed her apartment from the ground as she came home from her run. It was dark now, and her living room light was on. Odd, she wasn't one to leave lights on in the middle of the day. She slunk up the stairs and down the hallway. Her door was slightly ajar, and her traps had definitely been deactivated.

Who on Earth could have –

"If you don't stop moving it's going to stay like that."

"I'm not letting you re-break my arm!"

She rolled her eyes and pushed the door open and seriously contemplated how she ended up being the most stable of team seven.

Her first aid supplies were scattered all over her living room. Sasuke was holding Naruto's arm, which had begun to heal in a broken position. Sasuke wasn't in great shape himself, with a still bleeding shoulder wound.

"If you get blood on my new couch, so help my god. Move, Sasuke."

They both looked up as Sakura shoved him out of the way and began examining Naruto's arm. She shook her head at the damage. The fox always made his wounds heal quickly, but usually they were healed wrong. She'd have to re-break it.

"Here, bite down on this." She shoved a cloth into his mouth despite his clear protests, as she shifted the bone. He screamed, and then groaned as she began healing it properly.

"This is why you go to the hospital. Why are you two on my couch?"

Sasuke sighed, having taken some gauze to hold pressure on his shoulder.

"Well this idiot –"

"It was your idea. You didn't want to deal with the crowded – "

"I don't care whose idea it was!" Sakura groaned, suddenly feeling like the parent. "But it was a stupid one that you should not do again. I told you about my supplies for small injuries, not broken bones and gashes."

Sakura wrapped Naruto's arm into a sling and turned to face Sasuke. She removed the gauze and groaned.

"You're going to need stitches. This is so deep. You're lucky it isn't infected already."

"I wouldn't let –"

Sakura flicked him in the ear. "Don't talk back to me while asking for my help. Naruto, get my suture kit."

Naruto blinked at her wide eyed. "But my arm –"

"You still have one good one, and lord knows I don't know where you tossed it." Sakura groaned as she allowed hands to glow and heal the wound as best she could before she had stitches.

Fifteen minutes later, Sakura finished the last stitch and sighed, flopping back into the couch.

"You two exhaust me."

Naruto sighed and leaned back against the couch, grinning. Sasuke found his way to the arm chair, propping his elbow onto his knee.

"You look exhausted."

Sakura opened her eyes and glared up at Sasuke.

"You look fantastic yourself."

"Have you eaten today?"

Sakura blinked and thought for a moment. She'd skipped breakfast this morning, but –

"I ate a few biscuits at tea with Ino."

Naruto jumped up and Sakura blinked, continually fascinated with his ability to just recover like it was nothing. He really was a freak of nature.

"Let's go get dinner. We haven't had a squad dinner in… it's been a long time."

Sakura ran her fingers through her hair and stood up, stretching. Sasuke stood as well.

"I'll come."

"Well, if you're gracing us with your presence I guess I'll have to."

Sasuke rolled his eyes at her.

"Let's go to the new downtown. Ichiraku moved there for a bigger location and I haven't been able to –"

"Yeah, that fine." Sasuke put on his coat and they headed out to the streets.

It was strange, but nice to be heading toward the old Uchiha district together. They spent some time together over the past few years, but not nearly enough. And most of it was spent working on the project. They didn't have much time to just hang out like normal people anymore.

Sakura noticed the way Sasuke's eyes flickered to the Uchiha symbol as they entered the new downtown. The Uchiha reparations had been a topic of contention, but with building up the district and giving ten percent of all profits over the next twenty-five years to the Uchiha clan, they had reached an agreement.

Sakura linked arms with the both of them, grinning, as they walked toward the ramen shop together. In the end, they'd done okay considering they were a cursed team.

Sakura approached the Hyuga compound and made her way to Neji's home. She walked around to find him sitting in the garden. He hadn't changed out of his white yukata and his forehead was still bandaged.

Sakura slid down next to him on the porch step. The silence was comfortable. She leaned a head on his shoulder, and he placed a hand on her knee.

"Did it hurt?" She said, finally breaking the silence.

Neji paused, his eyes looking up to the sky and then back to the ground.

"Not nearly as much as having it."

Sakura turned to face Neji, running her thumb over the bandages. Neji looked off to the side as she did so. He licked his lips, and Sakura could feel the unease radiating off of him.

"Have you looked at it?"

Neji's eyes shifted to face the other direction. An answer enough for her. She nodded, taking his hand and leading him over to one of the ponds.

She lifted her fingers to the knot that held the bandages together.

"May I?"

Neji solicited a small nod and Sakura untied the knot, allowing the bandages to fall down and reveal the underneath. She ran her finger over the skin, and Neji flinched as she reached the center. She gestured to the pond.

"Look."

Neji closed his eyes, taking a small breath before turning to see his reflection. His hand flew to his forehead as he ran his fingers along the flesh.

"It's gone."

Sakura squeezed his hand.

"As it should be."

Neji turned away, his hair covering his face. Sakura looked up, noting the lack of clouds in the sky. She ran her thumb along his hand occasionally, knowing it was the best comfort she could give.

"Thank you."

Sakura didn't look to face him, not trusting herself to see him tear stained face and not cry herself.

"I just wanted to make things right."

A long moment of silence hung between them. There was a small amount of water trickling from a fountain and the occasional splash from a coy. The trees rustled in the autumn wind and Sakura closed her eyes, relishing in the warmth of the sun.

"Things are going to be alright."

And they would be.

A/N: And that's all folks. I have a few possible side fics planned, so look out for those. But, I hope you all enjoyed the wrap up. Thank for the consistent supports. Thank you for every favorite, follow, and review. This fic was my baby and knowing people enjoyed it makes me so happy. So, thank you.

If you enjoyed this, I hope you continue to read my works. They vary in genre, pairing, and tone quite a bit, but I hope you find them enjoyable.

Until next time,

Emma Raye