Epilogue: Happily Ever After
Days have faded and months have passed. As the seasons turn, years fad away; one can hardly imagine how much time has passed but I'm glad that I would have the honor of looking at you as you sleep, my darling son. You are too young to understand what the celebrations that echo outside mean but you were delighted none the same when your mother and I took you to them; you took in the sights and the sounds for one so young and smile when something that you liked passed your vision. I know that you will be like your mother in that aspect; your mother lies sleeping in our bed, where she has been this last hour but I could not sleep. You were born only four months ago and the newness of being a father has yet to wear off; your mother chides me for being indulgence but knows that I have never known a parent's caress or love.
I look upon your face and feel utter contentment with my life and with life in general. Life in Konohagakure has been peaceful ever since the Final Battle as has many of the Hidden Villages in which our peoples live; our allies have extended far then Sand in these recent years. Mist Village and Grass Village are just among the first few that extended their hand in friendship and I believe that Cloud and Lightening Village will be last. Your mother calls me an Idealist, well maybe, but I am happy that the Shinobi way of life has started to take on a more peaceful turn of life. I wonder if this how my parents would have felt if they had been alive to see me through my years as a Ninja to now? Hmm, thoughts to ponder another night for this night is dedicated to you, my son.
I reach into your cradle and hoist you into my arms, cherishing the way you snuggle against my chest as if you know it is your father that holds you close. I walk to the window and stare out, gazing at the Celebrations before turning my attention to the Mountains that guard over our hidden Village. I could not help but smile as I note my father's smiling face and my aunt's face not that far from his. The Artisans of the village are constructing a new face to join the Hokages of the Past, the Rokudaime. I shift in my robes, robes of the office that no one was surprise that I would assume upon my aunt's retirement. Tomorrow, I would be fully conducted into the title of Lord Hokage; something I have dreamed about since I was very small. Your mother gives a sigh and snuggles into her pillow, you have been very fussy these last few nights as I am getting ready to ascend my birthright; even though you are four months old, you can never be satisfied with just one of us, it has to be two.
As the days fad and the months pass, you will grow. As the years creep by, you will grown older and come to understand what it is like to be a Ninja of the Shinobi World. But now, I am content to merely hold you in my arms and wish that this moment was forever, but that is only wishful thinking. So I place you back into your crib and head over to my desk to finish the work that I have not yet started because I spent the last two hours with you, my son, My Kitai.
Uzumaki Naruto,
Rokudaime.
Naruto stretched his arms and cracked his neck; the anniversary celebrations had been on going since early that week and now would continue on as he would be named Rokudaime, publicly, tomorrow. Leaf had suffered such hardships in the past that it was entitled to some peace and prosperity these years. Weddings and births were ramped in the city; Naruto turned his thoughts to his family. Tsunade and Jiraiya had their hands full with a twelve-year-old Hisoka, Orochimaru's new life; the boy was always curious and enjoyed learning. Living with Tsunade and Jiraiya had given him a better life; his only goal now was to beat his teammate A-Su Sora, Iruka and Kakashi's son. The two were fast friends and competiting rivals; Naruto wondered who would win the attention of their third team mate, Hana. Naruto chuckled; he really pitied Kakashi who happened to those three's teacher. He stood and stretched his arms again, Sakura and Lee were due to have their second child in little over a month and Sasuke and Tenten to have their fourth; Kiba and Hinata were due to be married any day, if Hinata's sister didn't kill Kiba first. Neji was living comfortable with Naruto's cousin, Tsukiyo; the two had a secret marriage away from the prying eyes of the Hyuga and Mei Clans, not that Naruto blamed them.
His great-grandmother and Temari's father threw a huge wedding for the two; Tsunade and Jiraiya got in on the plot as well as Naruto's Uncles and Great-Uncles. Tsukiyo was due to have their first child in another three months. Chouji had finally met someone worth while, a "big-boned" girl from Sand; the two were engaged to the joy of both parents. Naruto moved to the window, smiling. Life in Konohagakure was good. No doubt about it.
The End