A/N:

Here's a little bonus epiloque. The same warnings given before Chapter 1 apply to this chapter as well.

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The sky looked dark and foreboding.

Enormous pillow-like clouds blanketed the area; but, there were a few holes where morning's first rays could shine down on the cliff face.

Here and there across the great walled village, the sounds of a populace starting their day could be heard. Shops were opening. Trumpet calls signaled the changing of shifts. Happy children shouted as they ran off to their classes. Dogs barked when they were allowed back outside. Cart-bound barkers began calling out their wares.

"You'd think they didn't have a care in the world," the Hokage said, walking side by side with Shizune. She stopped for a moment when she saw Sakura hurrying to join them. "I wish I was so lucky." It had been somewhat trying, spending days locked up with numerous Kages, hammering out a series of treaties and alliances. She looked up at the sky, hoping the ominous appearance wasn't some kind of omen. Much of Akatsuki lay in ruins, but the architect of that dreadful group had managed to escape.

"You deserve a rest," Shizune asserted. "Everyone knows how much you've done for this village. No one wants to see you work yourself into an early grave." She tapped her fingers against her chin. "Maybe a visit to the onsen!" She bit her lip and shivered for a moment. She shouldn't have suggested that. Jiraiya had been very fond of hot springs. Hot springs, telescopes, and young scantily-clad beauties. The only Sannin remaining, Tsunade had been hit terribly hard by the Frog Hermit's death. His picture now graced her desk, next to that of Nawaki and Dan. "Sorry."

"It's alright," Tsunade said. "I can't hide from everything that reminds me of him, the hairy old fool!" She sighed. "I made that mistake before. You know that." She was making reference to the way that the sight of blood once left her unable to act. "Naruto helped cure me."

"Morning, Ma'am." Sakura carried the supplies they would need that morning at the clinic. "Speaking of Naruto… I mean… don't you think…." The pink-haired girl didn't want to speak out of place, but felt she should stand up for her teammate, even though he had aggravated her most of all.

"You did go a little hard on him," Shizune offered, being the one person who could dare risk Tsunade's wrath. "And he's hurting, too." She felt a sense of relief when Tsunade stopped, chewed on one worn and cracked nail, and then nodded her head. "Besides… despite the things we heard about him…." Not looking at Sakura, she didn't see the younger woman blush brightly, stung by guilt. "…Kakashi was the one at fault for… you know…."

"I know," Tsunade said, sounding weary and exasperated. She really did not want to talk about this, either. "I know. But, he would gladly have gone marching down that street reciting out loud, had he been given that chance." Sakura had been very thorough in her debriefing. "Wrong intention and poor judgment are just as important as bad actions. That's something he needs to learn, if he really wants to be Hokage." Her brow furrowed. Naruto probably wouldn't be ready to be a Kage by the time she stepped down. The most logical choice to take the helm before him was Kakashi. Naturally, the Copy Ninja had been the one who prompted that embarrassing incident! Did fate have it in for her? Sometimes she wondered!

"But… he…." Sakura took a deep breath and then spoke in a rush. "He did everything you told him to do without complaining, even though he thought he was innocent. He apologized to all of the Kages, and their groups. He helped carry all of their baggage when the loaded up the wagons for the trip home. He even cleaned up after the horses."

"And there were a lot of horses," Shizune put in. "Big horses." Countless brown mounds had littered the main street, all of the way to the Great Gate. "Really big horses. And you made him use that dinky little shovel." It had been little more than a trowel.

"Is that supposed to make me feel sorry for him," the Hokage retorted, sounding as if she were wanting to be contrary for contrariness's sake. "I figured that the punishment fit the crime. If he wants to talk dirty, then maybe he should get a chance to clean everything up." She rubbed at her eyes. Truth be told, she had felt a bit edgy after making her decree. As Hokage, she had to make certain she didn't overstep her bounds and or act petty.

"But that wasn't the worst part!" Sakura clapped her hand over her mouth after blurting that out. Tsunade had sent runners to every Ramen bar in town, and even posted a covert guard at the Ichiraku. The word had spread fast. Uzumaki Naruto was not to be allowed Ramen for an entire week. No noodles of any kind, fresh… freeze dried… whatever. She opened her mouth again, but quickly closed it. She had meant to say 'And you didn't even say anything to Ino, after the things she did to Kiba.' No. She didn't want to stoop that low.

"He'll survive," Tsunade said with a wry look. "It might even do him some good, having a chance to eat something different for a change." She waved her hand in perfunctory fashion. "Besides… what do they say… absence makes the heart grow stronger." She frowned again, her brief moment of mirth extenuated. "After that incident with Sai and the book… my stomach was so queasy… I couldn't eat anything for three full days!"

The verbal exchange continued as the three medical specialists made their way across the city. Bit by bits, the clouds parted, letting greater amounts of light through. While the village was still pretty dark, the cliff with the stone Hokage faces seemed to glow in comparison. No one walking in the streets could help but look up at it. As the town grew lighter, so did Tsunade's spirit. Her two companion tried to help her get through her mourning over Jiraiya's loss by speaking about the great man's good side and the way his sacrifice had helped save Naruto. They also spoke highly of that orange-clad ninja, saying how much he had matured since his training with the late Sannin.

"So, you really think he has changed for the better?" Tsunade looked at Sakura in rather pointed fashion. "He's still rather impulsive, and that temper of his really needs serious work. He can't allow his need for attention to put him in awkward situations." She sighed, tapping one cheek with her fingernail. There was no doubt that Naruto's heart was in the right place. She had learned that much back when Orochimaru courted her services, and he had miraculously won her prized necklace. He had also proven himself many times over since that time, and had the makings of a very fine man. There would never be another Yellow Flash, but the boy had a world of potential. That's precisely why she didn't want to see good talent go to waste.

"Yes, Ma'am." Sakura nodded. "I think he has changed a lot. A whole lot."

"Even though he still makes you crazy? Eh? Mmm-mm-m hmm." The Hokage smirked. She knew exactly how Sakura must feel at times. She had been given her own cross to bear, seeing what teammates she had been gifted with. She closed her eyes, feeling rather melancholy. "I really need to trust your judgment too, right? When I hand in the Tri-corner hat, I'll also be finished as a healer. I've seen enough death and pain in my life. I will put the Medical Center in your hands. Yours and Shizune's." When Ton Ton waddled over, she bent down to scratch the pig under her chin.

Sakura and Shizune promised to do their best. They also swore to help Tsunade mold Naruto into a model citizen and a well-respected ninja. Finally wearing her down, they got the Hokage to promise that she'd pardon the excitable boy's actions, taking away any of the remaining punishment.

"As long as he behaves," Tsunade said with a forceful tone of voice.

"Thank you, Ma'am." Sakura clasped her hands together, happy for Naruto. She felt the guilt resting heavy on her shoulders float away, as if it had turned from lead into butterflies. "I'm sure he will, Ma'am!" No sooner had she said that, then the three kunoichi rounded a corner, gaining full view of the cliff side. Sakura froze solid, like a statue. The Inner Sakura did the same, only to shatter into a million pieces.

"Oh no…." Shizune brought a hand to her mouth. Her sense of shock and disbelief was no less strong than the pink-haired girl's. She didn't want to imagine what might happen next.

"I'll… I'll… I'll…." It was a rare moment when Tsunade couldn't get her words out. Seeing her face, a number of old washer women hurried quickly across the street, and a small group of children out for a walk with their nannies burst into tears. The only thing that might have been more frightening would have been the sight of a leering Nine-Tailed Demon Fox peering over the Great Wall, licking his chops. "I'll k-i-l-l him!"

Yes. The more things change, the more they stay the same. It seems that Naruto didn't take his punishment so well, after all. And, as everyone could plainly see, he didn't keep his feelings of unhappiness to himself.

"That idiot…." Sakura couldn't hear her own whisper. The blood was pounding too loudly in her ears. Seeing what she saw, her thoughts immediately went back to the day before she, Sasuske, and Naruto had been made part of Team Seven, to a time when the villager's hatred and bitterness had tortured a young jinchiruki worse than Morino Ibiki ever could. The lonely boy had found dramatic ways to strike back in those days. He obviously had brushed the dust off of one of those just for this occasion.

A large amount of paint lay drying on the cliff face. Black paint, in the form of a gigantic mustache, graced the upper lip of the stone face carved to resemble the Fifth Hokage. An enormous red arrow pointed to that very face, leading from tall jagged words boasting a bright yellow hue. Those words were written in the form of a Limerick:

THERE ONCE WAS A KAGE WHO HURT

WHEN SHE SQUEEZED HER GREAT BOOBS IN A SHIRT

---'CAUSE SHE USED A STRONG SPELL

---SO NO ONE COULD TELL

SHE'S REALLY MUCH OLDER THAN DIRT

Tsunade took off running with no warning. When a wagon loaded with quarried stone stopped in her way, she reduced both wagon and stone to dust with a powerful punch. Hair streaming behind her, she disappeared from view in the resultant mushroom cloud of dust.

"I'll go notify the ANBU squad!" Shizune turned, intending to flash away as swiftly as possible. She didn't, since Sakura reached out and grabbed her sleeve.

"You're going to have them catch Naruto?" There was a catch in Sakura's voice. She didn't approve of Naruto's actions, especially since she had just stuck her neck out for him. But, she was his teammate and friend, and didn't want to see him injured severely. She doubted that Tsunade's rage would lead her to treat him the way she had Jiraiya; but, she couldn't be one hundred percent certain.

"No," Shizune said. "I'll send them to protect him. He's going to need all of the help he can get!"

END