I tried writing this chapter several times, and I am still struggling to see if it passes my own test of conveying the important themes and beauty of the moments depicted here. I hope you'll indulge my headcanons and find it sufficient. I have so much love for this pairing/OT4 and I hope that this story has conveyed that to you.

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"No way," She laughed, "Stop it."

"I'm serious!" Genma laughed, "Gai is only that brown because he's out training in the sun all day. When we pants'ed him, his ass was as white as milk."

Shikamaru twitched. Wasn't Sakura supposed to be like, awkward and hating this all? It seems like she really likes him... Troublesome.

Ino was fuming so bad, she didn't even notice Sai approach from behind. "Why are we watching Sakura-chan?" She jumped, nearly hit him, then huffed at his intrusion. "It's over your head, Sai. Don't you have a class to teach?"

There was a long silence. "It's almost eight pm." She shrugged, whatever if he was right. "I haven't seen you in the last few days."

She frowned. That was true, running around for the festival, setting Sakura up - she had spent very little time with the boy she decided to not incorporate here. When she turned to apologize, he was holding a box of chocolates. Hand over her heart, she beamed. Right, this was the boy she cared for. Who tried, immensely hard, despite his absolute awkwardness. She looked back at Sakura who was laughing and leaning in at Genma - If Kakashi wasn't gonna come, then he didn't deserve her. "Let's get out of here," Sakura would be fine.

"I'm gonna go to the bathroom, but what do you say we get out of here after? We could grab a drink somewhere if you'd like." Genma slid from the table with a grin. Sakura smiled. Yes, this was a familiar game. "Of course!" She giggled. Her heart began to hurt from trying so hard.

Naruto was panicking. This was a mistake! A huge mistake! This wasn't how it was supposed to go, and it was all Ino's fault, and why hadn't Kakashi come-

He had to do... something! "Sasuke, I'm going in."

"What? Naruto, no-" Sasuke tried to grab the blonde, but he was already crossing the restaurant. Fuck. Kakashi, hurry up.

"Sakura, we gotta go," He pulled her up, but she resisted at the table, confused as to where on earth Naruto had even come from. "No I'm not kidding, we have to go."

"No? I'm on a date. Where did you even come from? You can't afford to eat here.."

"Sakura! This is all wrong and not how this was supposed to go and-"

While they swabbled, Genma pulled up his ziper and adjusted himself comfortably. When he looked up in the mirror above the urinal, his eyes met charcoal black orbs. "Ah."

"As your friend, I'm gonna have to respectfully ask you to go."

Leaning back against the wall, Genma grinned, "Took you long enough. Go get 'em, tiger." With a poof, he was gone. And I really thought I was gonna get some. But hey, good for them.

"Naruto, leave her alone," Sasuke gave up his position, going up to Naruto to take him away. "Sorry, Sakura. We were having dinner and Naruto saw you-"

"Sasuke I'm not gonna let her end up with the wrong guy!"

"There are things you don't understand," Sasuke growled, tugging the blond, leaving Sakura completely bewildered, "Stop being an idiot and just leave her alone!"

"An idiot huh?" Naruto let go of Sakura to glare at Sasuke, "Sorry I have an emotional range deeper than a kiddie pool!"

Sasuke had went to answer, but the words were stolen from his mouth. Silence. "Well, that lasted long." Then the hawk that he was, he took off, and Naruto couldn't get his apology out fast enough. "Fuck!" Naruto growled, and now everyone was looking at the two of them. An old woman (Shikamaru) stood from her table. "Oh my! This food was terrible! I have to go home - right. now!"

Sakura was red in the face. Totally embarassed and furious, She was doing everything in her power not to hit Naruto, but her knuckles were turning white.

"Sakura."

All eyes went to Kakashi, and his confidence waivered. Maskless, in suit and tie, looking absolutely stunning. She was confused. "Oh." Naruto whispered. "I... have to go..."

As he turned, a low whine, creak, and subsequent booming crash all went off, as rose petals and a disheveled looking Hinata and Kiba fell from the air vent, looking rather cozy one hand up her shirt. All eyes left Kakashi, and went to the Hyuuga princess and her vent partner. Kiba gave a weak smile, but his face was rosey."Surprise?" Hinata was crying. Sakura rushed to help her. Kakashi wanted to throw up. Maybe this wasn't meant to happen.

Sakura effectively put the unassuming town people in a genjutsu to give Naruto time to help them up and away, although there was no completely erasing this memory from their minds. What the hell is going on right now, Sakura was freaking out herself. When Kakashi put a hand on her shoulder, she shuttered. Why was he here. Why did he look like that. She was so embarassed after last night. And she had to apologize to him. And-

"Sakura! You have to help me get Sasuke back!" Naruto literally pulled her from Kakashi's touch. This was not how he should confess. "Come on, let's-"

"Naruto-"

"Kakashi-sensei," Naruto grabbed him, "Can you help too? I love him." Tsunade was...right.

Sakura wanted the escape, and Naruto was willing to grant it. Kakashi's blood boiled. He was going to lose his nerve. He wanted to kiss her. He wanted to tell her-

"We'll help, of course," Sakura couldn't breathe. What was happening.

"Can you go find him. I'm gonna set something up in the Valley of the End, okay? Just make sure that you find him." Naruto knew that Sasuke would take awhile to fetch. Still, did he really want them together? "Sakura, can you go get Ino to help me set up and then go after Sasuke?"

Sakura was thankful for anything that put distance between her and Kakashi. Her shame was strangling her. "On it!" She was gone before Kakashi could stop her.

"Ino!" Shikamaru hadn't gone as far as he suggested, and had tracked her chakra before Sakura could start. "Get to the valley of the end. Surpress your chakra. " Ino, who had been lip locked with her porcelain lover, looked over at Shikamaru with irritation. "Let's try this for the ninth time."

"Yeah, without your brilliant plans."

Kiba and Hinata... had ducked far away, from what Shikamaru could tell. He'd be lucky to see Hinata in the next month with the way that girl handled embarassment. Who else could he possibly recruit? "I'm... gonna knock down the whole village if this doesn't go right." Tsunade-sama's slurred speech behind him were meant to perrsaued Ino, but they gave him an idea. It takes a village to raise a child, right? And if this relationship wasn't a love child of a whole generation worth of fucked up ninja, he didn't know what would be.

Sakura thought she had sensed Ino, but when she got to the field, there was nothing and no tracks. What on earth? Alone, surrounded by silence, she sunk to her knees, if only for a moment. What was going on? Why did Kakashi look like that? Poor Hinata- Naruto was so stupid, and... Why did Kakashi look like that?

She began to tear up as everything became overwhelming. Nothing made sense, and had Genma left? Or had she left him? Her plan had fallen through, at every turn, and she was so sick of fighting it. What would make it better? What would rid her of this? She wanted a drink. She needed release. No, she wanted to go to sleep, and very possibly never wake up again.

She got flash backs to her adolescence, to her childish behavior, the way she never told Sasuke until it was far too late. Sure, she had fucked a few guys to get over him eventually - but the only way she gained any leverage initially, was confronting him directly.

Could she do that?

Was she willing to lose that?

Or really, was she willing to spend the next however long crying every night like this?

She pulled herself up, dusted herself offf - punched a tree in half. She was Sakura fucking Haruno, and she was way too much of an adult to need any man, any substance, or anything else. She had fought world ending entities for christ's sake!

She set out for Sasuke, but was planning on making a pit stop once she found Kakashi.

He may have surpressed his chakra, but Naruto could sense him miles away. He would no doubt find Sasuke before Kakashi could. When he did, he dodged the kunai chucked half-heartedly his way. Ignored the elbow to his gut, or the fist that he narrowly dodged and pulled the brunette into his arms. "I'm an idiot," he murmured, "I'm an idiot and this is the worst apology ever, but I have to make this right for them. I should have trusted you."

Sasuke huffed. "Emotional depth of a kiddie pool."

"A really deep one! Like dangerously deep, like our kids won't be going in that kiddie pool, no way, no how."

Sasuke tried to bite back a laugh, but Naruto persisted. "Man, I might even drown in it. And you know me, I never fail, believe it!" Sasuke let out a chuckle. "Oh thank god, you're so handsome when you smile." He could sense Kakashi's chakra getting nearer. "I think you know where this all ends."

"Ah, for us? Where else. Idiot."

Sakura felt his chakra and Sasuke's both off in the distance. Heels hot, she was making good time - she wasn't surprised she was heading toward the Valley of the End. Where else would Sasuke go to hide? When she approached the edge of the forest, his chakra vanished. Entering the clearing, a little winded, she found only Kakashi.

"I think we've been set up," Kakashi looked out over the lake spilling past the statues. Sakura walked to his side, puzzled. He sighed. "Our friends are... a special kind."

"I don't follow," Sakura looked up at his face, completely entranced with his grin.

Just then, a loud rumble shook through the lake, splitting the water down the middle - somehow held in place. "Shikamaru that's awesome!" Ino beamed, but he couldn't even focus on answering her. Shadow jutsu was not meant to be used on very fluid objects. This was painful.

Kakashi looked at Sakura, then stepped into the now path, offering her his hand to help her down the step. Their fingers touching sent electricity through her whole body, shorting out her brain, sparks flying as she rushed to live in the moment. They walked forward, eventually greated by a large paper hawk flying their way. It dipped its head and sat, suggesting the two climb on. Sakura went first, tensing as she felt Kakashi climb on, settling in against her back. The bird took flight just as the water collapsed with Shikamaru. Ino set to work on healing him and his over extended limbs.

"Kakashi... I'm sorry for last night. To be honest, I- This is so embarassing but..."

"Sakura." He put a hand under her chin, forcing her to look at him. "You need to stop apologizing."

Just then, a gust of cool air met them as the hawk passed over the edge where the lake ended and the waterfall began, giving them a clear view of the valley below and the moon and stars glistening off the lake. "Wow," she said. "Wow is right," Kakashi laughed. "It's like something out of Icha Icha."

She frowned, giving him a look. "That's the least sexy thing you could say."

"Do you want me to be sexy?" He pressed against her, and she blushed. "It's not all porn you know."

She waved him off. His hands settled on her waist, and if she hadn't felt so absolutely happy, she would've melted right off the hawk. Things... made sense now. They didn't, but they did. One by one, the answers came, maybe, that was easier. His hands were on her hips. They were alone in the moonlight. She was in love.

They were aware of the genjutsu when they were put under it, the sun suddenly rising slowly over the horizon despite it being only nine at night. Still, seeing the sunrise from here... She wasn't surprised Sasuke had been able to paint it so convincingly, how many time had he and Naruto seen the sunset and rise here? He probably had it etched in his mind as fondly as Naruto's face.

"Sakura. I have a confession to make." He tried to be serious, but a laugh escaped at the end. She laughed too, "I think I know what you're gonna say."

"Oh come on," Kakashi twisted his arms to signal she should turn around to face him, "Now I've got to be unpredictable. I have to confess that..." He thought really hard, "I confess.. Even though I act like I don't care, I train very hard to beat Gai."

"Oh, what a confession," Sakura laughed, "That's like confessing you're a dog guy and not a cat guy."

"I confess.." He pulled her a little closer, even leaned his face in a little, "My favorite food is actually cake, but I had a weight issue as a toddler and refuse to let myself eat it or I'll eat the whole thing."

He settled back, and she huffed. "Anything else?"

"I confess I've had feelings for this girl," He stared out over the daybreak horizon, a whistful smile on his lips, nervous hand in his hair; "But she's far too out of my league for me to tell her that."

"That's so funny," Sakura grinned, "I've had this crush on a guy but he's like, in charge of a bunch of people and super suave and makes me unable to talk when he's around, so usually I just cry and run away."

"Ah, but you're talking to me, so who's the lucky guy?" Kakashi winked, and she rolled her eyes. "Atleast you don't throw up around him, I do that near the girl I like."

"A girl who makes your throw up? She must be a real winner."

"Could they just kiss already?!" Naruto was waving his arms on the ground, Sasuke focusing on his genjutsu, Sai focused on not accidentally dematerializing his hawk and sending them into a lake.

"Sakura-chan. I would never want to be forward," He added playfully, "Though you did invite me to stay the night already..." She hit him, "May I.. kiss you?"

She didn't answer. The butterflies in her stomach had her soaring on cloud 9, and she went for it. She kissed him so hard, they nearly tumbled from the hawk, but Kakashi steadied them, both hands gripping at her waist, bringing her as physically close as he possibly could. When they broke apart, he was breathless. Absolutely beside himself, teary eyed and child-like. His chest was about to explode. Her lips were softer than he could imagine. The curve of her hips so round, so firm.. He pressed his mouth upon hers again, willing to suffocate in her if it meant he never had to break away.

"Well you got what you asked for," Ino rolled her eyes at Naruto's grossed out face as he watched them get -very- friendly. From the ground, his eyes eventually drifted from the two to the man he had fought and fought for. His face was stern and concentrated, orchestrating the genjutsu show for the couple. Naruto was so taken aback; He was still getting used to being able to look at Sasuke for long periods of time, and he took this moment to take in everything from his firm stance, strong shoulders, sharp jaw, brilliant mystical eyes. He was so afraid of losing it, maybe some of his childish defense mechanisms were still there. They had so much learning to do. So much growing. He would water their relationship every day. Their roots would be the foundation for a whole new era of peace. He swore it.

"This is..." Sakura, laying back against the hawk, Kakashi pressed against her, found herself misty eyed. This felt too good to be real. "..Unexpected. I don't know what else to say. I felt so.. silly," She was crying before she could tell herself it was stupid to cry, "You're way out of my league."

"You are the greatest medical ninja the world has ever seen, the best cook I've ever had the pleasure of baking along side," She laughed through her tears at that one, "And the most beautiful woman I have ever had the euphoric experience of kissing. Speaking of," He pressed his lips to her once more, "I'm not quite ready to stop doing that."

She smiled, leaning up to kiss him. Suddenly, the genjutsu changed, and they were no longer over the lake. They were soaring (in reality, probably in circles) through a changing landscape of beautiful places, from hanging gardens in Kusa to snow covered trees and glowing hubs in the mountains of the Land of Frost; ancient temples in Iwa, and red desserts in the south most part of the Land of Wind.

Naruto too found himself suddenly captured in the genjutsu, and he knew that Sasuke was showing them all something incredibly personal; the most beautiful parts of his journey. Sourcing ove the Land of Whirpools, through the thunderstorms of the Land of Lightning, Naruto felt like they had never left each other. Sakura, who had been trapped in the village for years, felt like she was seeing the world. Kakashi understood Sasuke's need for his silence and freedom. Sasuke felt like this was a part of him he wasn't sure he could ever describe in words, and was glad he could show them all.

Finally, the genjutsu took them to the outskirts of Konoha, looking over the village dusted with cherry blossoms in the early light; sun reflecting off of the Hokage Mountain, making Kakashi blush ever so slightly. Sakura looked at him with pride, but all four of them appreciated the beauty of their village. This was the important last stop. Sasuke was home, and so were they; Released from the genjutsu and surrounded by night, the two nin on the hawk looked down at where they could see their comrades below. Tsunade, who had been lurking in the shadows, turned and left silently, small smile on her lips. Yes, she hadn't gotten her happy ending, but Sakura had gotten hers. The joy overwhelmed her. Shikamaru, who had collapsed from his strain, rubbed his temples and looked at Ino who was healing him, happy that she was happy with Sai, his teammate often restless and unsure of herself behind a facade of utter confidence and decadence. Happy that he had repaid his debts, that soon, he would get a beautiful wedding and be able to look at the love of his life the way those two did tonight. Sai set the hawk down not far from everyone.

Kakashi wouldn't let her go, not now, nor ever. When he bowed deeply to his former students and fellow ninja, he did it with her hand firmly entwined in his, showing his deepest respects for the ninja who had planned something absolutely beautiful for them, even if their meddling may have caused some trouble of their own. Ino pulled Shikamaru up and the three departed, knowing their work was done. Naruto walked up to the two and hugged them tightly. All three were surprised when they felt Sasuke wrap his arms around them too. Team 7 was closer than they ever were before, and finally - after years of warlessness, the four knew the true meaning of peace.

Souls by nature wander, but no soul is truly ever lost.

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There will be an epilogue to the story! I hope you enjoyed the fluff. the angst, the crack and silliness. This was supposed to eventually have some smut (hence the M rating) but I thought this chapter was much more beautiful without it. I'll probably write a one-off about it, if people are so inclined to ask ;) I always think about the positive and practical uses of ninjutsu/genjutsu post war and this was something I thought Sasuke would do, as a man of few words as it is. To show it to all of them signifies his true love for all three of them and the fact that their bond, although individually stronger amongst each other, will always be stronger than any other bond in their lives. Thank you for all your reviews, and expect several more fics coming, I'll post those details when the epilogue goes up xxx