Afterward

Eighteen chapters and three months of very intense writing later and here we are.

Tsume, Baki, Tsunade, Gaara; all dead. Suna and Konoha both without a kage; not good.

Saichi didn't look so good last time we saw him and just what was Orochimaru going to do to the poor baby this time?

Gabe, Sasuke and Naruto are all responsible for the death of someone they loved. I think the little guy shocked his sensei. Gabe's much more talented and more resolute then they thought. I imagine he'll do well in the ninja academy next semester.

Temari and Shikamaru, Kankuro and Sakura expecting baby shinobi. A shotgun wedding is in Kankuro's imediant future.

Raine was upset when her darling boy murdered Sound ninja half asleep; what must she think now that Gabriel has committed patricide? Raising three shinobi without her beloved Gaara, she'll have to endure it somehow.

The hardest time for them all is now. We'll give them some privacy and check in on them again in a little while.

But that will be another story.