"I'm glad we met again." The Yondaime laid a hand on Naruto's shoulder.

The younger blond wiped a tear from the corner of his eye. "Me too," he said quietly. He laid a hand on his father's though he couldn't feel it.

"I…" Yondaime gazed into the teary blond's eyes. He fell to his knees and pulled him into an embrace. "I love you."

Naruto sobbed. "It's so unfair. I feel like I'm losing you for the second time."

Yondaime wiped a tear from Naruto's cheek. "No, no, no. You will never lose me. You are my son. I will be with you always, no matter what."

Naruto made a determined face and nodded.

Yondaime chuckled quietly… and a bit sadly. "That's my strong little man." He tousled Naruto's hair.

Naruto laughed a little.

"And you," Yondaime turned to Sasuke. "Uchiha Sasuke, I am forever in your debt. You saved his life. And now I leave him in your care."

Sasuke bowed slightly. "Forgive me but it is Naruto who saved me."

The Yondaime shook his head. "No, I do not mean just this night. You have helped Naruto live through his entire life. Even when I couldn't be there… you were."

"And he has done the same for me. Without him my life would be… nothing."

Yondaime nodded as he thought. "Yes, I can see that now. You two should be together."

Naruto gasped. "Your legs."

"Hai," He said sadly, "I must go now." Yondaime looked down at himself. He was disappearing. "Goodbye, Naruto." He smiled. Then, he disappeared.

Naruto and Sasuke sat at the head of the Hokage mountain shrine. "So," Naruto said. "Do you think Kyubi is gone now? Forever?"

Sasuke stared out into the sunset. "I don't know, Naruto," he said. "He looked into Naruto's eyes. "But I think if you look inside yourself, you'll see."

Naruto smiled. "I think for the moment that can wait. Right now, I'm happy to believe that I'm just me. Just Naruto."

Sasuke smiled. "Well, Just Naruto, if I am not mistaken we are here, by ourselves. Alone."

Naruto gave Sasuke a sly smile. "Alone?" He laughed quietly. "But together." He kissed Sasuke gently.

Sasuke grinned as he put his arms around Naruto and pulled Naruto's body against his. "Forever."

"Hm." The elder raven smiled a bit sadly as he watched from a distance, his brother pull the fox boy to him. He spoke to himself. "You were right, Naruto." He ran a hand through his raven hair, and blinked his now permanently black eyes. "He found his own destiny."