A/N: Wow. Finally. This is the very last chapter/epilogue of Bystander. My very first piece of fan fiction is complete! I am also writing a Neji/Lee story titled Snow in the Spring if you are interested. Thank you for following me on this (ridiculously long because life kept getting in my way) journey. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

Disclaimer: Still don't own Naruto. Still not making money from Naruto.

Excuse any typos. Wrote this on my phone.

On the last day of summer, he strolled into Konoha, fresh from an ANBU mission, his silent partner trailing behind him. He stretched and yawned as he walked the familiar streets. His stomach rumbled as his nose picked up a tantalizingly familiar smell. Breaking into a jog, he rounded the corner and narrowly missed crashing into the youth standing in front of Iruka's diner, handing out flyers and encouraging people to dine.

"Hey, watch-! Oh, it's you," Konohamaru said. "You're back, huh?"

"Yup." The man lifted his chin toward the restored, second story apartment above the diner. "He in?"

"Ye-es," the youth drawled, "but I wouldn't go up there right now if I were you." He paused and cocked his head to the side, a sly grin crossing his face. "But what do I know? I'm sure he'd be happy to see you."

"Thanks, man!" he chirped brightly. He ran a hand through his shaggy hair and cracked his neck. Without checking to see if his partner would follow, he jogged up the metal stairs, twisted the doorknob, and flung open the door.

"I'm hoooo─" His saliva dried up in his mouth and he choked at the scene laid out before him.

Greeting him was a haphazard trail of discarded uniforms. Two bodies writhed on the floor, limbs snaked together. Grunts and hisses of pleasure filled the air as two heads, one red and one blond, moved in unison.

"MY EYES!" Kiba screeched as he stumbled backward in horror. He fled the apartment, bumping into Shino, who quietly closed the door behind them. Shaking, he made it halfway down the staircase before his knees gave out. A heavy land landed on his shoulder, making him jump.

"That was your own fault, you know. Why? Because you failed to knock and wait for permission to enter," Shino offered the panting male.

"FUCK! Naruto knew I was coming home today! I told him I was stoppin' by so we could get some drinks! Why do I have to see naked asses?!"

Shino leveled a glare at this partner, though the intensity went unnoticed thanks to the dark glasses sitting on his face. "Their intimacy should not bother you. Why? Because sex is a natural part of the order of living things in this world." He squeezed Kiba's shoulder and said, in a low voice, "I did not hear this level of complaint from you when we─"

"OKAY!" Kiba stood, dislodging Shino's hand from his shoulder. "I'm gonna get a fuckin' burger and send Naruto a fuckin' text. you comin' or what?" He stomped down the stairs without a backward glance.

Shino smirked at Kiba's hasty departure. He threw a wistful smile in the direction of the Uzumaki-Sabaku residence and sighed. He hoped that one day, he too would have such an open, loving relationship. Shrugging, he started down the stairs, mentally writing the report that he would have to deliver to Shikamaru.

There was still no sign of Sasuke Uchiha. He and his rumored band of followers, calling themselves "Taka", were flushing out the escaped Akatsuki members, but they themselves could not be found. Of the leaders of the group, Orochimaru was confirmed dead; Kabuto was in jail, in solitary, refusing to talk; Pein was dead; the mysterious Tobi had completely vanished. Itachi Uchiha was in a hospice, battling the end stages of lung disease. In all, their loose ends were being tied up neatly, almost too neatly, and Shikamaru was worried. Naruto and Gaara, though members of ANBU, spent more time underground and undercover than running down leads the way Kiba and Shino did. It wasn't a bad deal, however; Naruto was charismatic even if slightly gullible , and Gaara made an excellent bodyguard for the blond. man.

Shino pushed open the diner door and quickly scanned the room. Kiba, true to form, had a pile of Choji's famous "Everything" burgers in front of him, methodically working his way through them. Pushing his worries away, Shino pushed his glasses higher on his nose and went to join his partner. The report could wait just a little bit longer.