Last Chapter! The Epilogue!

So the plan is to finish the Shadows of Blood series (BOTI, Free Me from Desolation, Deceptions Hidden in Blood) before starting another Naruto story. At the very least my last Star Trek Story.

My life still kind of sucks, but I'm working on getting BOTI publishable, so I hope some of you are looking forward to that. I'm probably be under the author name. A. P. Shadow. If it's not up on Amazon by the end of September, someone come kick my lazy ass.

Sasuke leaned back in his chair, staring at the three files on his desk. He never really thought he'd be doing this. He had hated it, yet here he was doing it willing. He sighed heavily. He supposed it was the price he was willing to make in order to stay near the village and take less dangerous missions.

It would be different though. These were going to be his kids. He wasn't just the substitute anymore. He was going to have these three depend on him until they could defend themselves and take on difficult missions by themselves.

His eyes glanced at the two silver bells sitting on his desk. Assuming they passed the test of course. Kakashi had failed three sets of graduates until he found them. He wondered how many times it would take him.

He checked the clock and cursed under his breath as he put the files away. He was going to be late. Naruto was going to have a field day. Maybe he wouldn't notice…

Leaving the manor, he made a quick detour at the academy to take a look at the new graduates for himself, taking a few mental notes. One girl and two boys as the usual. One boy seemed loud and obnoxious while the other boy was quiet and ignoring the both of them. Sasuke couldn't help but smirk. A lot of the more successful teams were like that. Team seven, eight, and ten from his generation were proof of that.

He watched the girl play the role of mediator between them. They seemed promising. It didn't seem that there would be a younger version of Sakura at least. If there had been, he wasn't sure if he could keep himself from sympathizing with the stoic boy. Fangirls still annoyed him, much to Naruto's amusement.

Knowing for certain he was going to be late now, he took his time to head to his destination. His hope was that if he appeared casual enough when he appeared, the mistake would come off as intentional.

He should have known Naruto wouldn't have fallen for it.

When Sasuke strolled into the Hokage's office, Naruto looked up from the large pile of paperwork with a glint of amusement sparkling in his eyes. A smile followed after, one he showed only to Sasuke whenever he walked into the room. "You're late, bastard."

Sasuke quirked an eyebrow, "I figured you'd be busy." He eyed the paperwork. "I was right."

Naruto only grinned wider. "Liar. You're turning into Kakashi already, and you haven't even gotten your team yet."

"Like you aren't always late, dobe," Sasuke countered.

"By a few minutes. Not half an hour."

Sasuke decided to make no comment and instead decided to stand in front of the desk looking at what Naruto was working on. "Are you excited?"

The man in front of him smiled nervously. "A bit. I mean, I'm not excited about doing this all day," he gestured to the paperwork, "but . . . I finally got here."

Sasuke looked up, his features softening. "Itachi apologizes that he can't make the ceremony."

"It's alright," Naruto said reassuringly, easing at the news of the elder Uchiha. "How is he doing anyway?"

"He says he's doing well, that Gaara has been very kind, and the missions haven't been higher than an A rank." Sasuke had rolled his eyes at the mention of the Kazekage, still obviously disliking him despite the fact he was giving Itachi sanctuary in Suna.

Naruto only looked vaguely amused. "As long as he's here for New Years, I don't mind him missing the ceremony. I just can't wait to fire those old bats already." His smile turned feral. "They know it's coming too."

Sasuke chuckled. "Careful dobe, you'll scare your new bodyguards if you let your true intentions show."

"Oh yeah," his nose scrunched, "them. I can protect myself you know."

"It's just something you'll have to get used to."

Naruto still didn't look to happy about it but couldn't argue. It was an argument he had with Shikamaru almost every day since the announcement of his promotion. Only Temari's wrath made him stop. Now that she was with child, she was scarier than ever. Sasuke had a vague feeling Shikamaru couldn't wait to take his position as advisor, if just to save him from his wife's mood swings.

"Don't think too hard, usuratonkachi. You're still an idiot."

"Back at you bastard, but I got a lot I got to finish before tomorrow," his looked at his desk wearily.

The Uchiha sat on the edge of his desk. "Like you could actually focus on anything that doesn't involve ramen," he smirked.

Naruto stood up from his desk and placed his hands on the hard surface, leaning forward. "There is one other thing I can focus on." He pulled Sasuke forward into a heated kiss, mashing their lips together. Sasuke welcomed the kiss leaning over the desk further and pulling his lover closer, forcing Naruto to climb onto the surface while Sasuke stood, so he could turn around fully.

The papers that had previously occupied the space were pushed to the floor in the blonde's desperate attempts to decrease the space between their bodies. He was on his knees tilting the raven's head back to deepen the kiss as one arm tightened around his waist and the other buried its way into the dark, silky locks.

Sasuke allowed him, biting Naruto's bottom lip, asking for entrance, craving the taste that was Naruto. The blonde granted him entrance and he slipped his tongue inside, expecting the fight for dominance that would ensue over the kiss.

Just like everything when it came to them, even the love making was aggressive and forceful. Something Sasuke never had with his previous lovers. They always fought. Fought who would dominate the kiss, who would top, who would make the other come first. It was always aggressive, but always filled with love.

Naruto unzipped Sasuke green vest while he continued the onslaught on Sasuke's mouth. Sasuke helped shrug out of the vest, and surprised Naruto by pushing him back and pulling his legs forward while the Uchiha climbed on top of him. "I'm topping this time, dobe." He muttered, barely breaking the kiss.

Naruto laughed, to busy trying to take off his own shirt to care. Sasuke ran his fingers over Naruto's defined muscles, already knowing them, but unable to stop touching them. Naruto made a soft needy noise, shivering under his touch. "I love you," he said, looking up under half lidded, lust filled eyes.

Sasuke smiled and replied with an, "Hn."

Naruto chuckled, flipping them over without falling onto the floor. He lowered his face so his lips brushed over his lover's. "Bastard," he whispered, before sealing the kiss once again.

After their bout of love making, they hadn't gotten to bask in the afterglow long. There was a knock on the door that had Naruto jumping out of his skin and hurrying to make himself presentable while Sasuke, was forced to dress and pick up the papers.

Thankfully, Sakura didn't bother mentioning that Naruto had a clearly visible hickey on his neck, that Sasuke's zipper was caught, or that Sasuke also had a slight limp, though Naruto looked really smug when Sakura tried to hold back her amusement at that.

She had come to deliver his new Hokage outfit. Naruto, like his father before him, didn't want to wear the traditional clothes. Instead over his orange jacket, he opted for a white cape with red flames licking the bottom. It was reminiscent of the design of the Yondaime's coat. Sasuke had tried to talk him into wearing something similar. He had liked the red coat with the black flames that Naruto wore on occasion. Thankfully, he did talk Naruto out of cutting his hair ridiculously short. That had been a close call.

Naruto put on the official Hokage hat and looked at Sasuke. "How do I look?" he asked.

Sasuke watched his dobe look uncertainly between him and the mirror. How had the loud mouth, clumsy, useless idiot that he had once despised grow up into a loving, kind, powerful, loyal man about to be Hokage, who was going to have Sasuke's pledge to follow him after the ceremony tomorrow along with every other shinobi of the hidden leaf. "Like a Hokage," he said softly.

Naruto blushed with a shy smile, tilting the hat forward to hide his eyes.

Sakura rolled her eyes at the lovey dovey atmosphere and quickly left before any more activities ensued. She had walked in on them one too many times. It was amusing at first, but now it was starting to become annoying. They couldn't keep their hands off each other.

Naruto put his uniform away, and they both left for the cemetery (Naruto decided paperwork could wait until tomorrow), paying their respects to Sasuke's parents, the real Itachi, Naruto's parents, and the single unmarked grave. While Sasuke had place flowers at Itachi's grave, Naruto had placed the ones he brought at the unmarked grave.

Sasuke watched as Naruto got to his knees and gave the grave a prayer. Sasuke never prayed at the grave, but he agreed to create it a week after the incident. It was a reminder. They would never forget. Someone had to remember the unnamed village that had been destroyed, about the woman who had lost everything and everyone and lost herself to the darkness in her heart. It reminded them that everyone had darkness lurking inside them, and how important it was to have someone to keep you from being consumed by the hate, anger, and loneliness that fueled it.

Naruto came by once a week to show his respect. Though the guilt had lessened over the past two years and he had forgiven himself, he vowed to never make the same mistake. Forgetting ones sins was worse than the act itself. Konoha had forgotten, and they had almost paid for it.

"Sasuke . . . I think I'm going to tell everyone the truth. About Yuri's village and about the Uchiha massacre." Naruto peered up at him from the ground, uncertainty in his eyes. "The Uchiha were out casted because of fear and hate which caused them to hate in return. Yuri wanted revenge because we wouldn't acknowledge our sins. Everyone's forgotten, but I don't think they should. I wouldn't make your family look bad. I won't tell everything, but if we are all to live in peace and understand one another, we have to know what others have gone through and faced."

The wind picked up around them, and the raven allowed his eyes to close, savoring its gentle caress.

Knowing Naruto was still awaiting an answer, he slowly said, "Then do it. I trust you."

Naruto gave a quick nod and stood, giving one last prayer.

They walked hand in hand back to the village center in a comfortable silence. While Sasuke didn't really like holding hands, it was his silent comfort he could give during these trips.

It was unexpected to see a small golden blur rush by them and push itself between Naruto and Sasuke and take to hiding behind Naruto's legs. Naruto blinked in surprise, and looked down at a small blonde child, no older than three, too thin and too dirty, glaring with bright blue eyes at the approaching woman.

"Hey, Emiko," Naruto said, slowly, turning his attention to the woman slightly out of breath. She smiled apologetically at Naruto.

"Hokage-sama, I apologize. This is the third time he's run away in under a week."

"Really?" Naruto glanced at the child with curiosity. Sasuke was eyeing him as well. "He's from the village that got wiped out by the flood last week right?"

She nodded. "He's one of the fifty survivors."

She moved to pick up the child who looked ready to dash again when Naruto interrupted her. "How's your twin doing?"

Emiko looked surprise at the sudden question but stopped her advances. "Ayumi is doing well. She wants to see you of course. She's considering maybe going back to shinobi work."

Naruto nodded approvingly. "I'll stop on my way back from work tomorrow. What about you? Going to see Itachi again?"

The woman flushed. While she and Itachi didn't have a romantic relationship, they both found comfort in each other, being made to look and be someone else but having no idea who they really were had been difficult for both to accept. Ayumi, now known as Emiko to take on her own identity, visited him often. In between visits, she worked with children, helping them cope from loss or disasters.

"Not for another few weeks," she finally answered.

Naruto picked up the child, still studying him. He kind of looked like him, but with Sasuke's hairstyle with it spiked a bit in the back. The child studied him back.

Naruto looked at Sasuke with big blue eyes.

"No," the raven said flatly just as Naruto asked, "Can we keep him?"

"He's not a dog, idiot. You're going to be busy and so will I."

Naruto pouted. "But we're both staying in the village, and we'll both be coming home at night and within minutes of reaching him."

"I said no," Sasuke said firmly.

"But he's an orphan," he whined, without any dignity. The comment however did make Sasuke pause. Naruto pounced on it. "We had no one when our families died," he said gently. "We can be his family."

Sasuke hesitated a bit more. He already knew he lost. He sighed in defeat. "Fine, but he takes the Uchiha surname."

Naruto scowled. "Uzumaki."

"I'm the last Uchiha," Sasuke frowned.

"I'm the last Uzumaki," Naruto replied smugly.

Sasuke just smirked. "Not true. Karin is technically an Uzumaki.

Naruto cursed under his breath. "Fine, you win." He shifted the child in his arms. "Does he have a name?" he asked Emiko.

She shook her head. "Not that he's told us. None of the survivors know either."

"Well then," he grinned at the kid. "I guess we get to name you. Welcome to the family, Bolt."

Sasuke glared. "We are not naming our child that."

The blonde took a moment to revel in the fact Sasuke had already called Bolt their child. His chest warmed before the irritation kicked in. "Why not?"

"I thought I told you he's not a dog. It's a stupid name."

"It's a cool name. Plus you know my dad was the yellow flash and your specialty is the chidori," Naruto flushed a bit, "so you know. . ."

Damn it was hard to argue with that even if it was stupid. "We are talking about this later, usuratonkachi."

He must have already known that he won because Naruto smiled like an idiot. "Hear that, Bolt? Your tou-chan and tou-san are bringing you home."

The small child looked between them and said one word. "Hn."

"Oh look, teme! He's already picked up your vocabulary," Naruto laughed, holding the child closer.

Sasuke watched Naruto coddle the boy with content. Itachi was going to laugh his ass off (figuratively) whenever he finds out how this all happened.

He wrapped his arms around Naruto's waist and whispered into his ear while the man was distracted, "I love you too, dobe."

Naruto turned his head, wide eyed at the proclamation. Then a warm smile crossed his lips as he closed the distance between them for a short kiss. "About damn time," he whispered back. The both walked off with their new son towards the Uchiha manor. Neither noticed that Emiko was trying to get their attention about signing adoption papers first, too wrapped up in each other to care.

My third story this year completed! And my third story in general completed. I am on a roll. I should have been an English major instead of an engineer. Fuck. Wish me luck guys. Please read the Shadows of Blood series if you haven't already.

Also, review!