Naruto

Future Paths

Epilogue

Disclaimer: Naruto and co ain't mine though if Kishimoto-sensei doesn't get his finger out I might be tempted to steal a few select ones, especially those he seems to have been neglecting recently. looks sideways at Hinata and Tenten

'You're still waiting for yaoi?' Warning: If you really still are I admire your optimism, but c'mon people!

Full series author's notes to follow.

Haruno Sakura rose with the sun, which was really not her preferred time of day to get up but when one was camping out in the open there generally wasn't much choice in the matter. Sakura had yet to meet the person who could truly sleep through the sun shining on their face for any length of time, especially unfiltered by windows, curtains or even any shade from the trees overhead. "Whose bright idea was it to bypass Maki town and keep going until we found somewhere to camp for the night?" she asked irritably as she noted her team-mates rising from their sleeping bags.

"Kakashi-sensei's" Naruto managed to get out from around a mighty yawn as he rubbed his eyes.

Sakura glared at the silver-haired jounin who still slumbered on, his right eye covered by his forehead protector as well as his left, turning it into an impromptu eyeshade. She contemplated pouring water down his sleeping bag as revenge for making them sleep out but decided against it. He'd probably only manage to turn the prank against her and she wasn't about to give him that sort of opportunity. It was then she noticed Sasuke, who was the only one of the three gennin actually up and out of his sleeping bag was moving a bit awkwardly.

"Sasuke-kun is there something wrong?" she asked, letting a trace of concern into her voice.

"It's nothing," he said gruffly. "I just slept awkwardly. I think there may have been a rock or something under my sleeping bag. All I need to do it walk it out for a bit."

"I slept like a log," Naruto taunted cheerfully, earning an annoyed glance from Sakura. "Though I did have this odd dream." He frowned in concentration. "I can't really remember it, but it seemed important at the time. There was something about stars I think." He paused for a moment or two, obviously thinking. "Nope. It's gone."

The annoyance disappeared from Sakura's face to be replaced by confusion. "I had a dream like that too I think," she said, cocking her head to one side as she frowned in thought. "But I can't remember anything about it. I probably would have forgotten completely if you hadn't mentioned it Naruto." Which was odd, because as a general rule Sakura remembered most of her dreams, generally if not in the details. "What about you Sasuke-kun?" she asked, more to change the topic a little than out of any real curiosity.

All that came from Sasuke was a grunt in the general affirmative, though he looked puzzled as well.

"Now, now, it's probably just a coincidence," Kakashi said, coming up on them silently while adjusting his forehead protector, startling all the gennin.

"Kakashi-sensei!" Sakura exclaimed in surprise.

"That's right," Kakashi replied in his infuriatingly calm tone of voice. "Now I think we'd better get moving. There should be a small town not too far down the main road and we can stop there for breakfast, but only if we hurry."

That was enough for Naruto to spring into action, though he did earn a tongue lashing from Sakura when he asked if they could have ramen for breakfast. In very short order they were ready to head out on the road once more. They kept the pace slow for a few minutes for Sasuke to work out the kinks in his back, despite Naruto's complaints and then they began to move at a more respectable speed.

Even as they moved though all three gennin mused on the same issue, though brought on by what they thought were just odd dreams. As the trees and roads moved past them, almost blurring the three gennin of Konoha's Team Seven mused on what the future might bring for them.

Author's Notes:

WOOHOO!!! Finished!

This actually represents my first complete non-one shot story on FF.N and I'd like to thank everyone who reviewed for the feedback and I hope even those who chose not to review enjoyed it as well.

I'm also taking this opportunity to officially open the floor when it comes to the use of Mai for other stories in a similar vein for non-Team Seven characters. Since a full description of her, especially in terms of personality would probably violate FF.N's rules about oversized author's notes, especially at the end of a chapter as short as this one is. So instead if anyone's interested, drop me a line and I'll type up a more complete description of the character and send it to you. All I ask is a chance to beta before you post it anywhere.

I would also like to take this opportunity to recommend 'Suiren' by Eimii on FF.N for anyone looking for really good Naruto fanfiction. She's the one who I 'borrowed' the concept of the 'Non Yaoi Warning' from (gomen nasai Eimii-sama!) and her writing is really good, especially if you're a fan of Sakura. Heck, 'Suiren' is probably enough to change all but the hardest Sakura-hater into a Sakura fan, at least how Eimii rights her. /shameless plug

Once again, thank you everyone, both for your support and patience and for those reading my other works, fear not for now I turn my attention back to 'Revealed.'