Oh dear oh dear... I sure have left this sitting for quite some time without announcing a proper hiatus. I'm the very author I dislike D8 so I apologize to anyone whose been waiting. A lot of you probably don't even remember this story. Even I barely do.

Here's the thing with truth. I started writing it when I was 14 and OBSESSED WITH Naruto. I knew EVERYTHING about it. It's now been more than a year since my last update and three years since I began writing. Its been about a year since I stopped reading Naruto as well actually...I look through now and there are many MANY things that are confusing and don't add up, especially in the beginning. I was just learning how to write properly and build a story on my own and this was one of my more unsuccessful attempts. I would go back and revise, but as bratty as it sounds, I don't want to. I don't watch Naruto anymore, I rarely write fanfiction anymore even. I have school and friends and hobbies that I love that I need to devote my attention too. That's life I suppose.

So, despite that there were to be many chapters in between, I'm going to end Truth with this chapter. I've been waiting to write the conclusion since the beginning and I believe that it's only right that I give you, the glorious readers, a proper ending at least.

I'm sorry for the wait, and thank you for reading. You are all apart of my growing as an author and I thank every review, favourite, follow and glance. So without further adieu, the final chapter of Truth.

It was the general consensus in Konohagakure that Sauna was a peculiar girl. It wasn't how she looked; fore she was a lovely young girl with a very unassuming look to her. It wasn't her personality, for she was friendly and intelligent though she tended to have a quick temper. Even more so, she apparently had no last name or parents. She had appeared as Tsunade's god daughter when she was 10, and had blended in quickly and easily. She disappeared for a long 3 month vacation every summer, and she was always writing what looked like letters to someone. When Tsunade had passed away, she had moved in with Hokage Naruto and his family, since she was good friends with Mizuki and her younger brother was a year or so younger than her.

She got along well more so with the adults of the village then the children her age. They all seemed to be in on some big secret that made her special, like they wanted to protect her from it. It was easy to see that they all shared some memory involved her and none of them wanted to let go of it.

What none of the younger villagers knew was that they all harboured a memory that kept Sauna safe. Sakura Haruno, her mother, had been erased from the village history as much as they could. Where it had once said she lived, it said she died at 21 of an incurable and progressive illness. The real records of Sakura Haruno were given to Sauna's father, so that she would never have to believe the lies they were forced to tell.

Despite her red hair and sandy hazel eyes, Sauna was the spitting image of Sakura. It had gained her the love she desperately needed when she had been forced to live in Konoha and be separated from her father and family. Without such a waiting support system, it would be a terrible fate for such a sweet girl.

But today, on her 18th birthday, Sauna didn't feel strange, out of place or alone. She was leaving Konoha for a vacation once again, though this time she felt a strong purpose in the journey. She had a small box of letters in her bag, and she had given her father a later time to meet her so she could make a pit stop.

She had given Naruto and Hinata large hugs and was departing, thanking them both as she did every year for being such kind guardians, and set off with very little word. As she ran, she tied her short hair into a sloppy ponytail, thoughts and words racing through her head as she navigated the trees. She'd been taking the strange route on her own since she was 16 and knew it almost as well as her own home. The journey was long and took her far off the path she usually traveled, but eventually she ended up at a small beach, where an unnatural cave stood in the cliff face. If you looked carefully, you could still see the burn marks on the rocks from the explosives used to make such a place. No part of this scene made her sad. As she walked into the cave and sat in front of the stone cross she smiled lightly and took out a small knife. As she began carving out a name in the rock, she thought how futile it must be, since her uncle would just come by an erase it anyway. The body below wasn't supposed to be here after all; it was supposed to be snuggled into a false grave in a Konoha cemetery that was fresher than the years upon its stone.

Sauna gave a nod of satisfaction as 'Sakura Haruno' was now readable on the horizontal part of the cross. "Hey Mom…" she said softly, putting her knife away and pulling out the box of letters, "I finally got to read the last letter you wrote to me. Such a devastating time in your life and you still managed to make jokes in it. Since you wrote me one for each birthday…I started writing replies…"

She opened the box. When she had been forced to move to Konoha by her Aunt Konan and Father, she had felt lonely and written her mother. One a year became a habit.

Sauna, age 10

Dear Mommy. I miss you. Daddy made me move to Grandma Tsunade's house, because he said that it was safer for me here. I don't understand. Nothing of you or Daddy or Auntie Konan or Uncle Dei is here….nothing of anybody I love is here. I'm so lonely Mommy. You promised you'd be there every time I thought of you, but I think about you a lot so if it wears you out having to fly between heaven and me all the time, its okay to miss a few thoughts. Just please be here tonight. I don't want to be alone

Sauna, age 11

Dear Mommy. I still miss you. Daddy kept his promise and took me back home for a long vacation. Auntie Konan gave me lots of hugs and Uncle Pein even smiled at me! I got to play with everyone lots and I didn't feel lonely anymore. Before I left, everyone sat in the rec room and told me lots of stories about you and Daddy and when I was little. Uncle Hidan said I was just like you and liked to hide his head. Deidara gave me a clay figure to take home so I wouldn't be so lonely. I hope you were there Mommy. You would have been really happy

Sauna, age 14

Dear Mom. Tsunade and Hinata are making me learn medical jutsus. They won't tell me why, but they said that you wanted me to learn so I said okay. Apparently I'm as good as you were, and that makes me happy. I'm falling behind in regular studies though, but Grandma said this was more important than that. She said I would find out when I was older. I can't wait to go back home for vacation again. I miss having a family like the other kids

Sauna, age 16

Mom. Grandma died, just a few days ago. I can't say it wasn't hard, but it was scarier than anything. I don't get to send as many letters to Dad and the rest of the family, because he said they have to move. Does this mean I won't fit in with everyone anymore? I've already lost Grandma; I don't want to lose the rest of my family! Naruto and Hinata said they would take care of me from now on but…but I want my family and Grandma. Oh Mom, why does everyone have to leave me?

Sauna, age 17

Hi Mom. Hinata told me about your illness yesterday. She said the reason I had to learn all sort of medicine was because I will probably get it too…but I'm not scared. I remember you mom, and what you were like before you died. I remember you singing to me, and how you would tease Dad. I remember you were feisty and alive all the way to the end. They said you shouldn't have lived to see my first birthday, yet you celebrated my 5th birthday with me. I know you spent the last three years bedridden, but you were alive and you played with me! How can I be scared when I know that you beat the odds? Hinata gave me the medical notes on how you did it so that I can start strengthening my system and really give my body an edge. Even after death, you really have been taking care of me, Mom. I love you so much.

Sauna dug out a small hole, gently placing the letters in them and putting the sand over them. "I'm really well taken care of Mom. I have lots of friends in Konoha, and I still go back to the hideout every year for vacation. Now that I'm 18, I can enlist and stay there all the time, but Dad wants me to wait until I'm a little older. Really, I kinda want to wait too. I want to be useful before I throw myself into something like that. And besides, Mizuki and I have lots of plans for our advanced training, so I'm not really ready to leave Konoha yet"

Sauna lay down and looked up at the roof of the cave, "I hear more and more stories about you as years go on. I have to admit it feels more like you're on a long mission than passed away. Sometimes, when I'm on vacation or with Dad, I expect to hear you make some kind of remark or just wanting to give us both a big hug. It's not really painful anymore. But I really miss you Mom. It feels like your always here with me, but I miss you so much."

She gently reached into her shirt, pulling out a necklace with the beach glass her father had passed onto her at her mother's funeral, "You never lied to me mom. I know that everything you ever told me, every word in everyone of the letters you left me, it was all the Truth. Your real feelings, your real personality and your real existence. If I remember nothing else in the years to come, I will always remember your truth, and the way you taught it to me"

"She'd be happy to hear that" she jumped at the voice only to see her father standing at the opening of the cave, "She always said that if she wanted to teach you one lesson, it was that just being you was fine. Being true to who you are is the extraordinary way to live"

"Did she teach you that too?"

He looked out to the water, remembering fond memories that made him feel like she was her with him, "Your mother taught me a much bigger lesson, Sauna. Where she taught you Truth, she taught me Love and Happiness"

"She was pretty amazing" the young girl looked to the stone again, "Its no wonder you loved her"

Sasori laughed, "Yeah. The real wonder is how we were all so blessed as to have her as long as we did" her put his hand on his daughters head, "Come on. That's about as much time as an 18 year old should spend at a grave. There are a lot of people with a lot of presents back home who've been waiting all year to see you"

"Did Mom have a present for this year too?" Sauna asked excitedly as she got up and came to her father's side. He smiled gently to her, "Yes, you do get something small from her this year. I'll assume you got her letter from Naruto?"

Sauna nodded and then looked like she remembered something, "And there was one addressed to you inside. She said in mine to make sure it got to you when it was just to two of us"

Sasori raised an eyebrow, a little confused. Sakura had left him things, but not many letters… as he unfolded the paper he smiled and read the lines one by one. It was short, but he felt himself fall in love all over again

I love you

You look hot in that apron

Even better when Sauna does your hair

I'll never stop noticing you

I'll never stop missing you

I'll never stop loving you

Forever yours

Sakura