disclaimer: sorry, bros.
dedication: just writing streaks.
notes1: ahh, the last one. i can finally say i completed something.
notes2: also, if anybody gets the hidden pun in here, i'll love you forever. xD
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chapter 3:
never grow up.

Over the past couple years, everything had calmed down — everyone had settled down. It was the time for ninjas to marry and to have children, and naturally, we did just that.

I married Naruto, with the approval of my father. I had beat him in an official duel, and was given free reign to marry whoever of my choice, and, consequentially, pass down the right of heir to whomever.

I gave it to Neji, to the shock and utter rage of the Elders, but deep down, everyone knew that he would make the best clan head. Hanabi was too much of a free-spirit to be able to handle something like that well, and I would never want to pin her down with such a hassle.

Neji married TenTen, a woman who I think he truly, truly loves. He would look at her like she is the world to him, a way I have never seen him look at anyone else. And she loves him, too – a very noticeable pair.

Naruto was, eventually, made the Hokage, passed down to him by Tsunade herself. And, I, his proud wife, even allowed to stand beside him at the Ceremony. My heart had swelled with happiness at his dream finally coming true — and mine, to be beside him.

Everyone else eventually paired off, some happier than others in their relationships. Shikamaru and Temari; Sakura and Sai; Ino and Chouji; Hanabi and Konohamaru.

Hanabi's wedding was beautiful, and I was thrilled to be her maid-of-honor, even though she was very close with her friends. Ironically enough, Konohamaru had chosen Naruto as his best man, and I have always thought that it was really a secret plot of theirs.

I cried at her wedding. She looked so mature, so beautiful, so happy at the altar, dressed in a pure white kimono, smiling at her new husband. I knew then that she was no longer the little sister I had to care of; longer the little girl I could read bedtime stories to; no longer the weak ninja that I needed to rescue.

The first children I had given birth to were two amazing little girls, both of whom had the byakugan — and, despite the Council's protests, I would not let them seal my younger child, as I was no longer a Hyuuga.

The eldest twin, Kushina, was named after Naruto's mother. She was the spitting image of him, with a fiery personality and her father's hair, long and blonde and beautiful, but with my pearly eyes. She was always loud and ready to play, and most of the time I let Naruto take her out — Kushina was completely a Daddy's girl.

The younger twin, Hinaya, followed the traditional naming of women in my line of family. She looked more like I did, I suppose, with soft, long, black hair that trailed gently at her. She was delicate and calm, and I knew she would grow up to be a very skilled, very graceful ninja. She meditated with me often, and would invite me to the tea parties her sister didn't have the patience to attend.

They were the center of my world, and everything I could hope for. My precious, precious little gems.

"I'm going to read you a story," I said, settling them down into bed, both of them now an age of four, about to start the Academy the very next day. "Now, it's a very special story, one that my mother told me, that I told Hanabi-oba, and now, I'm gonna tell you."

"It's not too girly, right?" Kushina asked, scrunching up her nose. Her father had taught her well.

I chuckled. "No, actually. I think you'll really like it. Ready?"

Kushina nodded excitedly, while Hinaya smiled at me, waiting.

So, I began, "Once upon a time, there was a magical forest. It was only in this forest where magical creatures, like dragons and fairies could live and grow. But one day, one of the dragons realized that they could leave the forest, for just a little bit, and still be able to live. However, once they did they couldn't leave again for another ten years, or else they would instantly die.

"With this knowledge, he flew over to a nearby kingdom, and stole their prized princess. She was pretty, with flowing black hair and flawless, porcelain skin, but she was still only a girl of eight. So he told the princess, 'You are very beautiful, did you know that?'

"'Yes,' she told him, 'there are many men who wish to have my hand in marriage.' The dragon decided that he would keep her here, hidden in the forest and be her guard, so that only someone who truly cared for her would come rescue her. She agreed, as she had always secretly hoped for a strong, brave love to whisk her away.

"But little did he know, that she had a sister, who loved her very dearly. However, this princess was older that her, and was already engaged to someone whom she did not love. In truth, she really loved the servant boy, who always gave her the kindest smiles and sweetest compliments. But she knew that even if she wasn't engaged, she would never be able to marry him because of his heritage.

"When the king found out about the younger princess' kidnapping, he declared that he would grant any wish to those who rescued his daughter, whatever the request may be.

"When the older princess heard of this, she thought of the perfect plan. Her and the servant could train, and learn to be strong knights, with her dressing as a boy by his side. She ran to Takeshi, the servant, and told him of her plan. He agreed, as he had always been in love with the princess, as well.

"Years passed, and only a few men had come to rescue her, but were always struck easily down by the dragon. If they weren't killed, they ran away at the sight of the dragon. By now, she had grown into a strong, beautiful young woman that had matured very nicely. She broke down to the dragon, who had become her friend. 'What ever will I do, dragon?' she sobbed, hugging his scaly muzzle. 'I fear I will die here, in this forest…'

"'Don't worry,' the dragon reassured her. 'Once you become eighteen, I will fly you back into your kingdom.' Little did she know, he had only waited so long because otherwise he would die the moment he exited the forest. Nonetheless, she agreed, because her birthday was in only one more year.

"The year went by quickly, until it was finally the day before her eighteenth birthday. She was sitting with her feet in the creek she had grown up by, when she heard the sound of approaching soldiers. Immediately, she fled to the cave that served as her home, and warned the dragon.

"When the two knights finally came to the cave, one asked, 'Are you the dragon who guards the princess?'

"'Yes,' the dragon responded, 'and if you wish to rescue her, you must kill me.' The knights nodded, pulled out their swords and began to fight the dragon. As they fought, the princess realized that they were both wearing the armor of the High Knight, the best soldier in the kingdom.

"Impossible! she thought. There can't be two High Knights!

"Just as the knights were about to kill the dragon, she ran out, and asked them to let her have her last words with the dragon. The two knights nodded, stepped aside, and let them have their privacy.

"'Oh, dragon, I don't know how I can thank you enough,' she told him.

"He said, 'Just live your life with the one you love, as I intended for you to do.' With that, he took his final breath, and closed his eyes.

"'Please tell me the name of the men who have saved me,' the princess requested to the knights, curtseying.

"And so the first knight pulled off his helmet to reveal a good-looking young man, but not quite in her tastes. He bowed to her, very politely, but made sure not to touch her.

"'My name is Takeshi,' he told her. 'My brother and I were servants for you and your sister.' The princess gasped, remembering him. 'However, please do not thank me, as my partner here did all the work.'

"'Then, please,' the princess said, curtseying to the other, masked knight, 'tell me who you are so I may thank you.'

"'No thanks are in order,' the other knight said, pulling of the helmet to let loose long, silky black hair very similar to the princess'. She smiled at the younger girl. 'I'm sorry I took so long, but it's harder than you think rising up to the High Knight.'

"She gasped — this was her own sister! Her older sister had saved her, even in a kingdom where women did not fight, especially not the royalty.

"'Thank you, dear sister,' she cried, hugging the other princess very tightly. However, the girl was very disappointed. She had hoped for very long for someone who she could love to come and save her, to give her the romance she had always craved.

"'And we had a helper along the way,' her sister said, bemusedly, gesturing to the man carrying many supplies for the two, and even in a squire's garb, he was very handsome. She saw that it was, indeed, Takeshi's younger brother, Daisuke.

"She was flattered by the idea that, even though he couldn't save her, he tried his best to help her, no matter what it was. She had fallen in love with Daisuke, not only for his determination, but that he would let himself look like a pack-mule, all for her sake.

"She was flattered by the idea that, even though he couldn't save her, he tried his best to help her, no matter what it was. She had fallen in love with Daisuke, not only for his determination, but that he would let himself look like a pack-mule, all for her sake.

"When they returned to the kingdom, the king asked if he could see who had saved his daughter before he granted their wishes — one wish for both of them. He was very surprised when he saw his daughter underneath knight armor, and, nonetheless, her old servant under the other set.

"'I wish to marry Takeshi,' the eldest princess demanded. 'He is the one I truly love — not some prince that you have arranged for me.'

"'Very well,' the king said, begrudgingly. He had no choice but to grant her wish, lest he be seen as a lying king. He turned to Takeshi. 'What is your wish, my boy?'

"'I wish to allow my brother and the princess to marry,' he said. 'They have already told us they wish to marry as well, and she is of proper age.'

"'Very well,' the king said, begrudgingly. He was bitter that he would have no pure bloodlines anymore, but supposed that if these men made his daughters happy, then they were fine men.

"The two princesses married the men of their dreams, and had many beautiful, wonderful, adoring children, and lived happily every after. The end."

"O-kay," Kushina grumbled, a smile attempting to peek itself out from her forced frown, "I guess that story was pretty good."

I smiled, and turned to my other daughter. "Did you like it, Hinaya?"

She smiled and nodded at me. "I loved it, okaa-chan. Would you tell it again tomorrow?"

"Sure," I told her, kissing her forehead. "I'll even include the fight scene for Kushina."

She whooped, excited for tomorrow night at the promise of a detailed fight. She really was her father's daughter. She grinned at me as I kissed her head, too.

"You're starting the Academy tomorrow," I told them, remembering why I had decided to finally tell this story, "and that means that you're gonna be adults really, really soon."

"We know, kaa-chan," Kushina said. "Tou-chan talked to us about this. Be safe, don't get in over our heads…"

"What I'm trying to say," I blurted, smoothing down both of their hair, "is that…well…whenever you think you can't do something, that you're not strong enough…. Think of that princess. Think of the years she spent training, so that she could save someone she cared about. Always know that you can get stronger, you can persevere, and you wanna know why?"

"Why?" Hinaya asked softly.

I motioned for them to come closer, and whispered in their ear, "Because kunoichi are always the strongest."

They giggled, and nodded at me.

"Now go to sleep," I told them, kissing the top of their heads once, before turning off the lights and closing the door behind them. "Goodnight; I love you."

I walked into my bedroom, Naruto already half-asleep in our bed, before snuggling in beside him and curling up at his side. I relished in his warm body against mine, the same that had helped me create our brilliant little girls.

"I love you," I murmured sleepily to him, kissing his neck before I tucked my head under his chin.

"Love you, too," he mumbled, wrapping a comforting hand around my waist.

I couldn't be any happier than I was in that moment.