Title: Wishes Are Free

Author: Cheza-chan

Rating: R

Pairing: KakaIru, SasuNaru, SakuOC

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto—oh, I wish I did—but I own Kan'you, all the characters of the Hidden Wave Village. I own the Hidden Wave Village because I created it! I own the Hidden Wave Village's special jutsus, etc.

A/N: Omigawd! Omigawd, omigawd, omigawd! It's done. The last chapter is here—the epilogue! (squeals, bouncing around) Sorry it took so long. There was a few loose ends I had to wrap it, but… here it is! (fireworks fly through the sky)

Epilogue – All's Well That Ends Well

"Kakashi-sensei," Naruto panted from where he was sprawled on the grass. Sasuke was not too far away and in a similar condition. "Kakashi-sensei!"

"What? It's your own fault," the Jounin mumbled, face buried in the newest Icha Icha. He slowly looked up with the usual bored expression he wore and glanced at the grinning Sakura, the cause of the boys' exhaustion. "No one told you to spend the entire break inside each other's pants. Sakura-chan knew to keep training. Good job," he praised, eye curving.

The pink-haired girl giggled happily, rocking back and forth.

"You're no better! I still can't believe Iruka-sensei fell for a pervert bum like you!" Naruto yelled, kicking his legs and flailing his arms. It hadn't been a pretty sight when he found out the two men were seeing each other; Sakura's fifteenth birthday party had almost been ruined because of the kyuubi and his uncontrollable emotions and temper.

Sasuke groaned and sat up, his eyes now a deep red.

"Sensei," Sakura whined.

"Didn't I warn you already about using that, Sasuke?" Kakashi sighed, not looking up from the book he'd returned his attention to.

The brunet scowled at his female comrade, Sharingan fading, then stood. Sakura just smiled sweetly. Naruto stood also, rubbing the back of his neck as he did. He grinned sheepishly at the girl then glanced at Sasuke. The Uchiha nodded with a smirk.

"Ah," the Jounin spoke before they could start again. "We'll practice for two more hours then I'll let you head home to get cleaned up. The Godaime has an important assembly we have to attend."

Kakashi had gone back on his word, but only because the reformation of his team had been quicker than he'd anticipated. Eight months was what he'd ventured a guess on, not six. Tsunade had graciously set aside a series of missions for them that could be completed within a day or a week. But what was probably most important to the children was that he would allow them to participate in the Chuunin Exams once again.

The trio faced off, each with a kunai drawn. Three pairs of arms rose in unison. "Kage bunshin no jutsu!"

Kakashi smiled at the three sets of shadow clones. Sasuke and Sakura admitted to having learned the technique while in Hidden Wave; Sasuke from Yoku, and Sakura from Ishikura.

§§§

Sakura stepped out of her house for the second time that day, but feeling even more refreshed than before. She stretched then tucked her arms behind her back. She spotted Ino standing at the end of the street.

The bright-eyed blonde was waving for her to hurry up. Surrounding her were several more, including the blonde's sole Genin teammate. There was Kiba and Hinata—Shino had gone ahead; Neji and Lee—the taijutsu-user had given up on striving for Sakura's love after being told there was someone else; then finally Naruto and Sasuke.

Tightening her hitai-ate with a grin, Sakura ran to meet them. As a loud group, they set out for and arrived at their destination.

Once Tsunade stepped up, the massive crowd fell silent. The last time she'd been here was for her inauguration as Hokage. The Godaime smirked and nodded at the waving kyuubi in the mass of bodies. Sasuke snatched his arm down and Sakura elbowed him. Iruka shook his head where he stood with other Chuunins and Jounins. They formed a line behind the Genins. He looked across at a certain Jounin beside him with a warm smile. Kakashi met his gaze and his eye curved with his hidden smile. He now happily wore his chain with the ring pendant outside his turtleneck for all to see. Tsunade raised her hand and began to speak.

"I'm sure you're all wondering why I gathered the entire ninja population in one area. No, it's not a mass assassination." She gave a sly smirk, amber eyes darkening. Naruto was the only one grinning at the statement.

The brunette beside the fifth Hokage was smiling nervously, a fist clenched at her side to maintain her rage.

"I'm sure some of you are aware of the Hidden Wave Village, some more personal than others," the blonde continued. Everyone present knew she meant Team 7. Because of past events, it became just the Wave Country once again, but then I realized most of the villagers there were still shinobi, so I sat down with the village founder. We talked over warm sake… Ah." Tsunade closed her eyes as she remembered the taste, a grin spreading across her face.

Jiraiya chuckled to himself where he watched her through his scope. She would never change. He turned slightly and returned his attention to the bathhouse, his cheeks coloring as his laughter grew high-pitched.

"I think Tsunade-sama was going to introduce me," a voice said. "But she had a relapse."

Tsunade smirked and she and Shizune stepped aside as Shuku May walked forward. As usual, her long chestnut hair was done back in a thick braid, but her vest was green, not blue, and tied around her forehead was a Konoha hitai-ate headband. The six figures that suddenly appeared beside her—Ayaki Tenko, Kenshiki Hizaku, Keisha Ruka, Keisha Miki, Shin Chou, and Mitsuki Tomoko—caused Team 7's hearts to skip a beat in unison.

May went on to introduce her Jounins and gave a short synopsis of how the village came to be. She even mentioned her father and bloodline, with pride, and the many shinobi stuck—fascinated—to her words. May thanked Tsunade profusely for fiving them a second chance and began wrapping up. "Oh. Five of these ninjas here have a purpose. One just followed me." She smiled at Ruka then stared back out at the crowd. "I doubt many of you noticed them, but fifteen of my students are scattered amongst you. Five teams."

Excited murmurs arose and everyone began looking around. The Chuunins, Jounins, and even a few Genins had already noticed the children. The Team 7 Genins were still a little shocked at the seven standing above them.

"If my Genins could please raise their hands?" May asked with a smile.

Naruto pulled himself from his stupor and turned to the brunet. "Sasuke," he said urgently as hands began going up. The Uchiha scoffed and squatted, locking his fingers together. He muttered something about stupid and short. Sakura didn't want to move or believe what was happening was actually happening. Naruto placed a foot in Sasuke's hands and swung his legs over the brunet's shoulders after being hoisted. He looked around frantically as he began calling names. "Haka!"

An arm to his far right began waving.

"Hotaru!"

Sasuke scowled at the name. "Why the hell do you need to know if he's here?"

"Urusai," Naruto mumbled as he craned his neck. He looked behind him to see the moving arm. As it was a request from the boy under him, he called out for Miyako.

"Hai!" The girl jumped up and down as she waved, her pigtails bouncing. "Is Sasuke-kun with you?"

"Who do you think I'm sitting on?" Naruto yelled back with a grin.

'She's going to get herself killed—asking for me like that in front of these Konoha girls.' Sasuke sighed.

Naruto had one more person to search for. 'Please… please' "Shikyo-chan?" His tightly clenched hands were pressed against his thighs as the seconds dragged on and nobody moved. Finally, an arm before him slowly rocked back and forth. Naruto cheered to himself.

"Finished, bozu?" Tsunade shouted down.

"Hai, Tsunade-no-baachan!"

"What'd I tell you about calling me that?" the female Hokage snarled.

"Wait." May held up her hand. "I'm short two children."

Everyone began looking around again, save for Sakura—again. She didn't have to. The body to her left shifted and the arm rose. The next one over did the same.

"That's everyone," May sighed to herself, smiling.

"Takai?" Sakura whimpered, eyes filling with tears.

"Hm?"

"Is Oyasa-kun beside you?"

"Hai, Sakura-chan, I am."

The young girl's bottom lip trembled as she smiled weakly, and turned to stare at the boys. The afternoon sun shone brightly. To her, the world consisted of just the three of them. Takai wore a smug grin and his new hitai-ate around his upper right arm. Oyasa's was once again around his neck. The only thing different about him was that he now wore glasses and Sakura thought he looked adorable.

"For a ninja, you're not very observant," Takai scoffed. His gray eyes sparkled with humor. "We've been here since this whole thing started. And what's with the tears? Where's the girl who would take crap from anyone? Especially that pervert Jounin in back."

"That girl?" Oyasa hummed softly to himself then snapped his fingers. "I think she grew up a little somewhere around the end of March. Her estrogen's running wild."

Sakura remained unaware that she and the former Shuuha Genins were now the center of attention as she laughed at Oyasa's style of bringing back up her birthday. Ino had pushed her way closer and was smiling slyly at her rival and friend.

Takai wrapped an arm around the trembling frame, pulling her against his side, and placed a kiss to her cheek. "Happy belated birthday."

"How about we lighten to mood now?" the oak-haired boy interjected, crossing his arms. "The upcoming Chuunins exams, we're in it." He nodded slowly, more for himself, and grinned. "Will you take it easy on us?"

Shouts from Konoha's ninja population shot down the question. Oyasa cringed but still laughed.

"What about me?" The hand on her arm gave the appendage a little squeeze.

Sakura raised her head, wiping at her tear-streaked face and smiled at Takai. "No way," she said softly. The gray-eyed Genin smirked.

Shikamaru yawned loudly then scratched his chest. He swung his legs out of the bed and stood, stretching. He glanced over his shoulder and gave a lazy smirk. "Oi. Get up. I highly doubt you still hurt."

The body under the sheets shifted with a groan, but didn't rise.

"Today's a big day for you… I heard."

The sheets were pushed back to reveal a tired Kiba. He claimed he still felt pain from the Chuunin Exams. "Do I get a vest?" he scoffed.

"Maybe." Shikamaru was pulling back on his mesh shirt when he was tackled.

"Are you serious?" the Inuzuka snarled. "I better be. Me and Akamaru worked our damned hardest. Shikamaru, answer me!"

"Mendokusee…" the Chuunin mumbled, closing his eyes.

"Everything's troublesome and tiring for you, you asshole! You better not have woken me up for nothing." A knock sounded on the screaming boy's door and he sprang over his bed to answer it. His glare had no effect on his frowning sister.

"You haven't told him yet?" Tsume sighed, talking to the boy behind her brother.

"I did," Shikamaru groaned from the floor he'd refused to rise from. "He just doesn't believe me."

"Get dressed," the young woman growled as she playfully tousled Kiba's hair. The Inuzuka boy stood in his doorway with his mouth hanging open in disbelief. "Meet you outside." Tsume added as she waved over her shoulder as she walked away.

Shikamaru curled up into a fetal position, covering his ears as his lover began cheering loudly.

§§§

Kakashi had his hands tucked into his pockets as he waited for the young girl to join him. He would be escorting Sakura to her destination, as he was still her Jounin. He smiled beneath his mask when the girl appeared before him like he had done countless times while they had waited for him. He felt she deserved this more than anyone else.

Sakura rushed to his side and smiled up at him as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder. They began walking. "Are Sasuke and Naruto joining us?" she inquired.

"Later," the Jounin replied. "Where's that boyfriend of yours?"

"Sleeping," the girl scoffed, rolling her eyes. "I never knew he was so lazy. He's almost as bad as you."

"I'm only an hour late now," Kakashi said in his defense.

"That's because Iruka-sensei has you under his thumb. I can't believe he became a Jounin. He has his own Genins. I'm so happy for him." Sakura couldn't seem to place her thoughts in the right order, but the message was clear. She blinked a few times after they had been walking for several minutes and glanced behind her. Kakashi looked also.

Perched on a roof two house down were two figures both knew well. The young girl giggled and waved, the loose braid in her hair swaying slightly. Naruto waved back with a bright grin. Sasuke just raised his hand.

Kakashi reminded the girl they had somewhere to be and they continued walking. Smiling to himself—not that anyone saw any of his smiles—the Copy-nin wondered if Sakura would complain that her new Chuunin vest clashed with her usual outfit.

A/N: Nnnnnnnn! It was so hard to pick just two Genins to become Chuunins. I figured Neji could wait a while longer, Sasuke… a few more years. And I just had to put some ShikaKiba in before I closed the curtains for good. (titters) And yes, I wanted to give Kiba a Chuunin vest, and I think Sakura deserved it! (stops screaming)

(moves close to everyone's monitors) I want to thank you all… so much, for staying with me. I swear… I've never finished anything in my life, so I'm… (sobs) I'm very proud of this fanfic!