Epilogue-

"…and that was how I became a Jounin!" Yuuki finished her story with a flourish and a grin.

"…you broke your sensei's nose?" Sasumi asked, deadpanned.

"Noo! I demolished the office building in one punch! Were you listening at all?"

Sasumi let a small smile appear on her face and leaned back into the grass, closing her eyes and taking advantage of the sun's unusual appearance.

"Do you remember?" she murmured, "When I used to play the flute here for you? Seven years ago, huh?

"Yeah," Yuuki replied, "Of course. How could I forget? We were such brats back then."

There was a long silence and a breeze blew through the mountains far behind them, causing an eerie high-pitched noise.

"D-D'you still play?" Yuuki asked, looking down at her.

"No," Sasumi said calmly, "With one arm it's impossible."

"I'm sorry," Yuuki murmured, "I shouldn't have-"

"Don't apologize," Sasumi said sharply, "I don't need it anymore."

Yuuki looked confused for a few seconds and then her face broke into a grin.

"You're so weird," she said, laughing softly, and put her arm over her eyes so Sasumi couldn't see the tears.

"Yuuki-" Sasumi started, shocked and uncertain.

And then, as if on cue, a cloud passed over the sun and it began to rain.

They ran back to the village as if children again and Sasumi laughed, laughed hard, for the first time in seven years. She also cried, but between the laughing and the raining, neither of them could tell.

"Are you crazy?" Naruto demanded of Sasumi, when they returned sopping wet to the hotel room, "Running around in the rain when you're injured…why don't you just throw yourself off a cliff an be done with it!?"

"Oi," Yuuki said, clearly insulted, "Watch it, brat!"

A vein in Naruto's forehead throbbed, "You watch it, you crazy purple-haired bitc-"

And so the holder of the Kyuubi and Rokubi had their epic fight of the century, which mostly consisted of insults (on Naruto's part) and flicked water (on Yuuki's part.)

"Not nearly as interesting as the fight between him and Gaara," Sasuke said disdainfully. Though the look of amusement on his face ruined the effect.

Kakashi walked in just when Yuuki shook all the water off of her like a dog, spraying all of them.

"Alright!" Naruto roars, drawing several shuriken, "It's on, bitch!"

"Bring it, blondie!"

"Ano…" Kakashi said pleadingly, "Can't you two just get alo-"

"NO!" was the shouted reply.

By the end of it all, the entire room was covered in weapons, the low table in the center was a mere crisp, and Sasumi didn't give a damn.

People stared in the streets. They muttered disparaging things about both Sasumi and her jinchuuriki friend, and it was uncomfortable for her. The strange thing was that she and Sasuke were the only ones who appeared to care. The Uchiha heir also found it strange, but neither Yuuki nor Naruto seemed to notice. Sasumi wasn't sure whether they actually didn't realize that rumors were flying or if they were just ignoring them. She suspected it was the latter; both certainly had accumulated a lot of practice.

It could bother her, the things they were saying. All the nasty things about her being a murderer and a freak. The whispers about Yuuki too. But she didn't let it, because she could too be strong without using her bloodline as a crutch.

Two weeks passed, full of rebuilding the village with her teammates and sessions full of nostalgia with Yuuki under the stars. They talked and talked and talked, trying to make up for seven lost years. It would never happen, but Sasumi could try.

Things would never be perfect or exactly the same as they were. Sasumi could not stay in the Rain just as Yuuki could not leave. Yuuki didn't have to tell her this, she simply knew. And that was okay. That was all that mattered, right? Not perfect, not great, but okay. And Sasumi had not been lying when she had said that everything was alright.

At last, the orders came and all the Chuunin were being sent back to Konoha. Kakashi, Naruto, and Sasuke stood off to the side as she said goodbye to Yuuki, for what could very well be the last time.

"I'll miss you," Yuuki said with a smile, ruffling her hair just like she had done all those years ago, "Come and visit again, nee?"

"It'll be your turn to visit next time," Sasumi replied and let the corners of her mouth twitch upwards a bit. She didn't say that she would never enter the village again. She suspected Yuuki knew this already.

"Sure, whenever, I'm free," she grinned.

"Bye," Sasumi started to say, but for some reason she couldn't get the word out fully.

"See you later," Yuuki said admonishingly, "Never goodbye, okay?"

Sasumi closed her eyes and smiled, "Okay.

Even though she can never be as determined as Naruto, as much of a genius as Sasuke, as smart as Shikamaru, as wise as Kakashi, or as kind as Hanada-san, Yuuki has taught her that she might be worth something after all. And Sasumi will always be eternally grateful.

"I can't wait to get back," Naruto was saying in excitement, as they walked down the long through the gate, "Ero-sennin said something about teaching me this new awesome technique called 'rasenkan' or something, so watch out, bastard!"

"Hmph, right," Sasuke snorted.

Kakashi seemed to be smiling behind the mask and Sasumi turned to wave one last time to her old friend before she disappeared behind a corner.

For now, everything was fine. For now. The future appeared to be dark, with Akatsuki on the rise, and more and more traces of them being found in the Rain everyday. There was still the matter of the Kyuubi and the other jinchuuriki, and of Uchiha Itachi who's secret she must never tell. But for now, Sasumi was content with the life she lived. And honestly, what else could she ask for?

--

A long way away, in a far off country, a young mother nursed her newborn baby, cooing over it's soft curls and pressing kisses to it's nose and forehead. The child giggled and raised it's arms up to the heavens.

"Shhh," she whispered, "Time to go to sleep now, honey. Mommy will play with you tomorrow, okay?"

She placed the baby in it's cradle and rocked it back and forth in a soothing manner. After a certain period of time she became certain that it was asleep, and tiptoed out of the room, turning her thoughts to other mediocrities of life.

And then, in the darkness...just for a second...the baby's eyes glowed black.

-End-

A/N: Wow…I can't believe it's over. Two years (exactly, mind you) to the day that I published the first chapter. Yes, I postponed writing this just so I could post it today. I'm a perfectionist, I know.

First, I want to thank all my reviewers: anniert, Pocky Obsession, psalmofsummer, EvilMoogleGirl, Gao Yun Yun, Kiyoshi Kozue, Kitsunekilala, Ryuukari, Animealover, AkaiTrixxterShiruba, IAmAurora, White Alchemist Taya, Zoey24, SashaS, sandaime23, Baka Hanyou Raevyn, notBald, heather, Barranca, Bob, stuckinabottle, Azalie-Kauriu, Marz1, rifleman101, Cici Linne, frytrix, nautikitti, ScholarCOTA, the. wilted. flower., Yukiko Tsukishirou, vnienhuis, d, Laur3 Sincl4ir, buhahahahah ;), Dramil, JazzmizFTW, lovingsora, Rika-chan 14, hillre, ., khearu, RobotPirateNinja, Sage, roxxihearts, red clouds, Diabolical Marionettenspieler, firedroplet, Her Harlequin, EyeOfTheBlizzard, Mandya1313, Rasendori, sunshineemomix, Bloodypassion, The-Trapped-Phoenix, and Windschild8178.

(I think I have all of you here and if I don't or have misspelled your name I beg your forgiveness.)

You guys really inspired me to write more and to better my writing. Thank you so much for having patience with my long, complicated plots, and mediocre grammar. I always try to fix stuff like that before it gets posted, but some mistakes always manage to slip through. Thanks to everyone who offered constructive criticism especially. If not for you, Shi no Me would have been very different, and definitely worse off.

Also, in TONFA's Fan Ninja Bingo Book category, I have posted the bios of my three main OCs: Sasumi, Yuuki, and Michiko. Here's the link (it's also in my profile) so please check them out! Please remember to remove the spaces.

http: //narutofic. org/ viewstory. php? sid=8916

As the first chaptered fic I have actually finished, Shi no Me has taught me a lot about writing and hopefully will help my writing in the future.

Of course, much of the credit goes to my two betas Sleeping Soundly and Torquad333. Thanks so much for all your help!

And everyone, lurkers and those who've reviewed every chapter, please press the purple button and REVIEW!

-Zephyras