Tada! Okay the last chapter is here! FINALLY! I know, I took ages... lets just say life has been getting in the way. Honestly I just cannot find the time to write anything anymore it's pretty depressing, life is too hectic.

Anyway I am very sorry it took so long, please enjoy and It's been an absolute pleasure to write and receive all your feedback and comments, they have made me smile, better my writing and made me laugh lots. I am extremely appreciative to everyone who has reviewed this and been a fan of my work I honestly couldn't of done it without you and I hope this chapter lives up to your expectations. If you do not like it, please tell me so and say which bits I can change, if I get lots of comments telling me I may add bits in (or take things out) that you don't want. This is my fans/reviews story! I write them for you so please don't be shy! x

Thank you, God bless and read on! x

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Sakura Pov

Beep. Beep. Beep. …

The cold metal object that was delicately wrapped around Tenten's wrist indicated that she was still alive. People sat far across the room from us performing a life support seal that helped whilst her back was being sliced open and chakra was being pumped into her core and nerves systems. Intensely I listened to her stats being read out at short intervals as me and Tsunade and a handful of nurses worked tirelessly on her fixing, regenerating, re-starting and building the inside of her spin and brain from scratch.

12 hours that's how long the surgery took. 12 hours of none stop highly intense work. I was completely shattered my body was stiff and tense and my brain was falling into a welcomed lull of numbness. I really wanted to sleep. Duty however called and so it was the good old solider pill for me. Instantly my mind perked up and my body found a new rigor and vitality to it again. The solider pills were designed for situations just like mine; they injected a set amount of adrenaline and protein that produced a large amount of chakra rejuvenation. We wheeled Tenten out into her room and hooked her up to various drips and heart rate monitors. She was alive but she had a long road ahead of her, her rehabilitation program was long...at least 2 years, she would have to start from scratch again. I saw Neji in the waiting room. He stood up eagerly as I approached him, his face contorted with worry and he looked like he was about to throw up.

"She's alive," I told him and watch as his face turned to utter relief as he clutched my uniform and hung his head as he breathed a deep sigh of relief, his arms shook and it wasn't until he looked up that I realized he was shedding silent tears.

"God… I'm so happy," He muttered out softly, "Thank you,"

"Do you want to go in and see her? She woke up a couple of minutes ago she was asking for you," As I told him he nodded enthusiastically and walked quickly ahead of me. A little smile graced my lips as I felt the huge amount of relief wash over me. My friend had not died. Her and Neji were going to live (and I was pretty sure about this) happily ever after. When I reached them I saw Tenten in tears with Neji cupping her face in his hands and whispering softly to her. I could only make out a little of their conversation.

"I'm so sorry Neji, I was so stupid … the recovery, it's long, I understand if you don't want to marry me anymore…,"

"Please Tenten, don't say such things I never want to lose you again, I thought I had lost you, it was unbearable, please don't leave my side," his voice was so low and subtle I could only just make it out. Watching her face turn from utter distress and sadness to utter astonishment and adoration. It was lovely though and made my triumph all the more amazing.

I went to go and check out of my shift with Tsunade, filling her in on all the blanks, watching her eyes go wide and her face shift from various emotions, anger, rage, happiness, shock, …. I told her about Sasuke the full story and had to tell her to listen several times.

"Well, you've certainly had a busy few months haven't you," She mused giving me a silly grin.

"Honestly I leave the village for a year for a my retirement vacation next thing I know I'm being collard in to do life saving surgery and I learn that not only have you succeeded in bringing in Kohona's most high priority missing nin you've also killed Orchimaru oh yes and the cherry on the cake, you're now a mother! Fantastic!" Tsunade joked and nudged my side giving me a knowing grin. I however was a little speechless.

"Mother!" I shouted out giving her a pretty incredulous look.

"Well aren't you now the legal guardian of that little boy you rescued?" She asked with a highly amusing smirk on her face.

"Yes I am,"

"Well then hate to break it to you but that pretty much means you take all parental responsibility for him!" She clapped my shoulders and threw her head back to bark out a laugh.

"Ha, Sakura only 18 and already you have a 6 year old son!" And with that she descended into a fit of laughter whilst I just gave her my best I-am-not-amused look. Her words however had struck something deep inside of me… Marko. He was coming back today and I was going to get Sasuke to meet him. In all honesty I hadn't given Marko living in my care all that much thought, not with the war and really the thought of it all was slightly scary. This child was now in my care, I was the closest thing he had to a mother. I felt the fear bubbling up inside of me not because it was such an awful thing to do, me and Marko had bonded very well already and I adored him, oh no I was worried about Sasuke and how he would take all this.

"Oh God… I suppose your right…. What do I tell Sasuke?" I asked out my voice portraying my complete realization to the horror of my situation.

"Well he is just going to have to be okay with it, the deeds already done," Tsunade said and looked at me very seriously. The laughter from her face had gone completely.

"When is his trail?"

"Tomorrow," Ah yes that was another thing that had been plaguing my mind, the elders of the village would almost defiantly call for his banishment or at worse death. Those stupid old bats, so narrow minded. I was, however, not as worried as I should have been, Naruto would not let his best friend die or be banished, of this I was sure.

"Well Sakura, you've got a lot to do, I'll see you tomorrow," She waved to me and I watched her walk in the direction of the nearest bar…. I wondered how much Sake we would have left tomorrow, the supply was limited right now until trading routes were re opened and established.

Coming home I slumped through the door and walked straight into the kitchen to make coffee to find that the coffee had miraculously been made already. I turned my head to look at Sasuke who was frowning at me; he pushed me out of the way and started to pour my coffee for me.

"Hey…"

"You're too exhausted, I've read your chakra levels, go and rest," He interrupted me. His voice was so deep and smooth and calming it set me into an almost lull.

"Ah, I can't just yet, I've got to do something very important,"

"You seem to be doing a lot of important things right now," He mumbled as he handed me my coffee. I looked up at him and gave him a playful grin.

"Well I'm a very important person you know, I have to do many important things now," He gave me one of his famous smirks, the kind of smirks that set a little excited chill up my spine because suddenly his dark features lit up and he looked unbelievably handsome.

"I only wish I could help with some of this important stuff," His eyes looked away from mine down cast onto the floor. His voice became very soft and quiet.

"You won't be on house arrest forever, you're going out tomorrow," I said all cheerily but really my stomach was twisting around in worried knots over it all.

"Woop-de-do," He said very sarcastically and I gave him a small smile for support.

"You'll be fine, don't worry about it,"

"Sakura, I left the village how can you say that? That act alone will give me a severe punishment, let alone knowingly joining a rogue ninja which held severe threat to the village," He said sounding annoyed, he ran his hands through his hair as he started to pace up and down.

"Yes your punishment may be harsh but nothing else will happen, you're not going to be banished or killed, I won't let that happen! Naruto won't let it happen," At this point I was standing up my fingers on his forearms stroking them in reassuring circles. He looked down at me and gave me a small fleeting kiss.

"I don't deserve any of it…" He said but still held me close his arms holding onto my backs of mine.

"Sasuke Unciha, I will fight to the very ends of the earth for you," I said smiling up at him as I felt his chakra softly wrap around me caressing me along with his finger tips.

Sasuke Pov

"Sasuke Unciha I will fight the very ends of the earth for you,"

Just the way she looked up into my eyes, how her fingers were stroking my skin and the softness in her voice was enough. The meaning of the sentence hit me afterwards and then that was it. My fingers in her hair pulling her mouth hot onto mine. I could feel her arms wrap around me and come up around my shoulders clutching them as her mouth worked feverishly against mine. The hot, wanting, burning realization that I had her. I had all of her but then I felt her hands push against my chest and her mouth come away from mine. I growled in response pulling her back in only to feel soft fingers against my lips.

Slowly I drew them into my mouth biting down gently looking down at her.

"Sasuke…" Her voice sounded so needy. Fuck I wanted her now.

"Please… I really need to talk to you about something and if I don't do it now I won't ever do it," Her eyes pleaded with me. I could tell, one more kiss from me would send her over the edge and she would become all mine. With an extremely reluctant sigh I let her go a little, only then to have her beam up at me.

"Well, the thing is, you're not the only person who is going to be living here for a while," She said, she spoke as if she was in a rush, her words slightly slurred together as her eyes kept on darting back and forth.

"And well, you know that boy I saved from the experiments? The one you helped to? Well his name is Marko and well … really I didn't want Naruto to do this, it's really all his fault and um, anyway, I'm kind of his legal guardian now… Marko's that is," She rushed through the information at light speed, I could tell she was nervous because she was babbling a lot and had started shuffling a little.

"His legal guardian?" I asked just to make sure I had got all the facts right. I started to contemplate the words 'legal guardian' the boy didn't have any parents and no home so for Sakura to become his legal guardian was for her to take full parental responsibility of this little boy.

"Yes," She said, this time she was much more sure of herself as she stood her ground, as if she was getting ready for a fight.

"Okay," I shrugged. I hadn't expected any less from her, of course she was going to make sure that little boy had a good home and I honestly couldn't think of a better mentor and guardian for him than her. The only thing I was worried about was his exposure to me, poor kid. She however looked very taken back.

"What? That's it? You don't have an opinion on the matter," She asked rather incredulously, I just threw her a weary frown.

"The kid needs a home, I think you're perfectly qualified to look after him,"

"You do realize this essentially makes me his parent right?" She was still giving me a completely incredulous look, what was she expecting? That I was going to explode on her… actually given my past history concerning my rage she was right to be shocked by my calmness.

"I'm aware of that fact yes,"

"Then you know, it's not like he's just gonna be some kid I look after once in awhile, it's full-time, he will be here all the time, I have complete and utter responsibility over him," She said this very slowly looking me straight in the eye. Okay it was getting annoying now, I got it.

"So long as you're okay with taking it all on," I shrugged again. Obviously though what I had said had struck a nerve, her entire stance changed from defensive to venerable and unsure.

"Do you think I can do it?" She asked in a very small voice. Those beautiful bright green eyes looked up at me with worry and uncertainty.

"Yeah, I really do," I pulled her into me again stroking her face, watching her slowly give me a small happy smile.

"Good, because well I really want to do it, trust me you'll understand when you meet him in about oh… an hour…" she laughed quietly.

"Is he coming back today?" suddenly I was feeling slightly nervous. She gave a sly little look.

"Yes he is, why do you ask?"

"Well… I mean when I last saw him he was on your back recovering from having his body being torn into two by the person I was following at the time, don't you think that when he sees me it might just be a little bit traumatic for him?" I pointed out. In all honestly the thought of seeing this boy made me extremely uncomfortable, I was not looking forward to seeing a reminder of what I had done. She put a reassuring hand on my shoulder and looked up at me with calming eyes.

"Marko knows you, he isn't scared of you, you have nothing to worry about, he's actually been worried about me and you… he knew that I loved you right from the start…" her voice was soft as her voice trailed off as her lips tugged into a small shy smile.

"He's very smart you know, he can pick up on emotions very well even the most subtle but you will find all this out soon when you meet him properly!" She finished with a big smile.

"I'm going to go get him now don't be nervous it's going to be fine," She said giving me a quick kiss on the lips before heading out of the door and I watched her go feeling a little helpless. I just hoped she was right…

Sakura Pov

My stomach was knotted with worry. I was desperate to see that he was okay which of course was ridiculous he was with Iruka and other senior village people who I told to keep an extra eye on him. Yes, yes he was fine… this mantra in my head did nothing to calm down the rising anxiety from my stomach. I was hopping from one foot to another as I saw the various carts coming down from the mountain and into Kohona. I saw other parents run up and hug their children, I also saw other children, children of ninja looking around with wild worry in their eyes as they started looking for their parents.

"When I call your name you're to wait here and follow me to the academy," Iruka's voice boomed and got the attention of every child. I saw Naruto with a hard look on his face, his features set in hard stone.

Oh… I knew what that meant. Those poor children, parentless. It was one of Naruto's many nasty roles, to tell the children what had happened to their parents. Some of the lucky ones at least had one…

Shaking the thought out of my head I focused on the crowd of little heads trying to find the dark red haired one and green eyes. I was looking around even trying to find his chakra. Finally for what felt like ages I found him, his little head bobbing up and down and his feet running towards me. I bent down with my arms out taking him into my arms. The relief that he was here again with me was overwhelming, it was completely different feeling from when I experienced it with Sasuke. This time it felt like my whole fiber of my being relaxed and tension lifted from my body from places I never knew could get tense, weight from my shoulders … I hadn't realized how heavy it was.

"I missed you Marko," I whispered.

"I'm so glad you're safe Sakura sensei," He whispered back. I kissed his forehead and took his little hand in mine and lifted him up on my shoulders.

"It's going to take more than I mere war to kill me," I laughed taking him bags in my other hand.

"A lot has changed Marko, we have another person staying at our house now, you're about to meet him but first tell me all about your time up in the mountains."

I listened to him talk about how nervous he was at first and how everyone was very quiet, how any piece of news was like gold dust and could either lift the spirits of everyone or create a crushing atmosphere. He also talked about how much fun he had with a few children from the academy and talked very enthusiastically about starting there with some of the friends he had made. This made me feel a little better that he had made friends. I was also very pleased to hear how well he got on with Iruka; I would have to ask Iruka later how he was…

Before long we walked up to my house. As I opened the door I could smell something delicious from the kitchen I put down Marko and his bags and took his hand in mine walking towards the smell. There was Sasuke with a cloth thrown across his shoulder his hand on a pan staring intently at the contents he was stirring.

"Hey it's you!" Marko said pretty excitedly. At the sudden noise Sasuke turned to us with a smile. An actual smile! My heart did a sudden flip as I saw how impossibly handsome he looked with a smile. His eyes extremely kind and welcoming... I had never seen him like this… He looked down at Marko.

"Marko it's a pleasure to meet you properly this time," Sasuke said. Gosh even his voice sounded different, gentler and softly spoken. Marko took his hand and shook on it quiet enthusiastically with a knowing gleam in his eyes.

"I was wondering when you would come," He said with a little cheeky smile as he looked pointedly at me. I gave him a frown and stuck my tongue out making him laugh.

"Sakura said you were sharp," he said laughing, it was a little nervous and more like a chuckle but still… it sounded wonderful.

"What are you making anyway?" I asked eyeing him dubiously as I walked over to were the food was sizzling away on the pan.

"Dinner,"

"Seriously, home cooked meal!" Marko asked excitedly his bright green eyes brimming with excitement.

"Aw, I bet you didn't get much in the way of decent hot meals when you were up in the mountains," As I said this he just shook his head.

"No meals were okay, it's just I haven't had a proper meal in ages,"

"Hey I've fed you," I said rather defensively.

"It's all takeout food Sakura Sensei," He said dead panned with a very I'm-not-impressed looked upon his face. Sasuke on the other hand turned to me with his eyebrow rose giving me a very accusing look.

"You mean to say Marko that Sakura has this huge kitchen all kitted out and never uses it?" He asked in a mockingly shocked voice.

"Yep," Marko nodded and gave Sasuke a knowing look, each with a little smirk on their face. Honestly, who would have thought that I would be outnumbered in my own home!

"Right that's it, no food for you, out you go," Sasuke picked me up and carried me to the sofa. I was screaming, laughing, trying (not very hard) to push him off me. Honestly the scene that was playing out… it was like we were a family or something; it all fitted together so well and clicked completely into place like it was meant to be. Like I was meant to have this life, the life of having a family, the perfect family, no matter how odd it was… criminal lover, an adopted son… and in the back of my mind I suddenly became terrified. Tomorrow was Sasuke's hearing and tomorrow my perfect little makeshift family could be taken away from me. This overwhelming happiness could be torn from me completely. A surge of fierce protectiveness shot through me. I wouldn't let it happen they could not take it away from me; they would have to pry it from my cold dead fingers.

Sasuke Pov.

Not many things go through your mind when you're up on that stage in front of the entire council. You would think that your mind would be racing, thinking of every possible question they would ask and equally thinking of some big noble a answer you might give. But no. You don't think of anything, that all happens the night before, all the worrying all the thinking, when you're up on the stage being scrutinized oddly enough your body and mind become void of anything really.

"Sasuke Uchiha, your charges are as stated: Leaving this Village without notice or peaceful intent, thereby becoming a rouge ninja and by default a threat to Kohona, knowingly and willingly Joining a known enemy of Kohona thereby forfeits your rights as a citizen of Kohona and therefore sentences you to death upon your capture or return. This is of course if you can provide evidence against the said charges. Do you understand?"

A stern male voice read them out. Again I felt oddly nothing. Not yet.

"I understand," I heard my voice and was surprised about how strong it sounded.

"Then we shall proceed,"

And at this an elderly woman stood up, cleared her throat and narrowed her cold eyes upon me all judgmental and unforgiving.

"Sasuke Uchiha can you deny that you left this village?" Her voice was cracked and sounded like someone had rubbed sandpaper down her throat.

"No I cannot,"

"And you do you deny that you left with an intention to go and seek out Orchimaru a known threat to this village,"

"I do not deny it, but I deny that I left Kohona with evil or wicked intent. I simply wanted power; my goal was back then to avenge the death and massacre of my clan,"

"But you were willing to destroy Kohona to get that power weren't you?" A male voice spoke; it was extremely deep and booming.

"I was willing to do anything to get power yes,"

"And what, Mr. Uchiha, can you possibly say to us that will convince us of your reformed loyalty to Kohona?" The woman's voice again.

"I have learnt that avenging the death of my clan will not bring me peace of mind, I have learnt that the power of an individual is not measured by their strength alone, I know now that I was foolish to leave Kohona and leave people that loved and cared for me and I was stupid to think those bonds could be so easily broken,"

At this I looked at Sakura and she looked back her smile shining down at me. She was proud of me, I could tell.

"And how can this council be sure that you won't snap again at the very sight of your older brother how do they know that you won't leave again?" This was a different voice. It was Naruto's. It wasn't just a question for the council; oh no this was a personal question. I suddenly realized just how much I had hurt him, this man who was more like my brother than my own flesh and blood, who never lost faith in me ever.

"I will not leave, I have too much to lose here now, my life and happiness is in Konoha, if I do see my brother again, I do hope that I can kill him, but not because I want to settle my own personal feelings towards him or my own sense of justice, but because I would be protecting the people I love,"

At this I directly looked at Naruto straight in his eyes and saw him smile at me. So many smiles now. I was getting spoiled.

" You talk of protecting friends Mr. Uchiha, but back then you had them and still you left,"

"That is true, but back then I was somewhat blinded by rage and despair, I was young and I couldn't see what was right in front of me. I am telling you know that I will not leave Konoha. This is and always will be my home because this is where all the people I love are. There is a girl, Sakura Haruno that I am completely bound to. I love her. My best friend Naruto Uzumaki, this person is so close to me that I acknowledge him as if he was my own brother. I will not leave, I will fight to protect it. When the time came to it, don't forget I chose Konoha, I chose them over my need for power and revenge, and I always will no matter what." I finished my speech. I could see Sakura in the stands smiling, little tears running down her face, I assumed happy ones.

The council all left to talk it over. Minutes ticked by and I found that I became more restless. My heart started beating and suddenly my body had come back to life at the realization that I could lose it all right now… everything I had ever wanted I could lose. They came back in and Naruto stood up a little glint in his eye.

"Sasuke the council and I have come to decision. You are to regain full citizenship to Konoha; you will be demoted to genin once more and be put on a year probation. Do you agree to these terms?"

"I agree,"

"Alright then! We're done here! Party at Sakura's house!"

Sakura Pov

Sometimes I honestly feel like I will actually kill him. When Naruto quite loudly invited EVERYONE to my house I didn't actually think EVERYONE would come.

However everyone was now in my living room and kitchen, the drinks where flowing, the food was scattered on every inch of table, children were running around upstairs since Marko had some of his friends over, the adults (I use the term very lightly) were downstairs. Though I was annoyed at Naruto I felt so happy observing all my friends, everyone, and no one had died much to my disbelief and utter relief. Now the rooms seemed complete and more full, I'm pretty sure Naruto felt it to and Kakashi, we had our Sasuke back now, he was a little bit more improved and grown up he even cracked a joke his humor was very dry and sarcastic, him, Shikamaru and Neji got on very well and were all talking over by the kitchen table.

I was talking to all my girls, something I hadn't done in ages.

"Oh my gosh! How romantic was that!" Ino squealed at me. I just raised my eyebrow in confusion.

"Oh come on! You must know what she is going on about," Temari said giving me an are-you-serious look.

"Enlighten me please,"

"Sasuke professing his love for you in front of everyone like that, I mean come on he pretty much credited his whole personality change to you,"

"Yep he's pretty whipped isn't he?" Kiba jumped in swinging his arm around Ino which she immediately pushed off in disgust. Kiba then turned to her in a look of confusion. Oh boy here we go again.

"Aw come on baby! Why so cold?"

"I am NOT your baby Kiba; now get off me honestly,"

Me and the rest of the girls watched as their little romance played out in front of us.

"Seriously, it's like watching a soap opera," Temari said her eyes completely glued to the scene in front of us.

"It's even better than that," I replied back, completely tranced as well.

"We need popcorn," Tenten weighed in.

"Hey if you don't want to be my baby what would you like me to call you? Sweetie? Honey? Sugar?" As he said this his fingers crept along her waist line and grabbed on. We were paying attention so I noticed the slightly blush that painted her cheeks.

"I told you get off me," She said irritably and tried to wriggle out but Kiba just held her in more leaning in close.

"Hey now you didn't mind it so much when we were in bed together,"

We all winced at what happened next.

"SHUT UP KIBA!"

As Ino walked away in a huff Kiba was on the floor recovering from being beaten around the head, he looked up dazed but also had a little tiny grin on his face.

"Oh god, they're going to get married aren't they," Hinata said. We just looked at her and laughed.

"You know what, I think you're right about that,"I laughed.

"My poor brother," Termari said and shook her head.

Sasuke Pov

It had been two weeks since everything had happened and I was settling into life back in Kohona pretty well. I was on probation and community duty as well. Which was kind of a god send since it meant I got out of the house, it also meant talking to people within the community, reconnecting. Something I know Naruto and Sakura were keen for me to do. I must say it wasn't all that horrible, once the awkwardness was out the way and I got to know the people who I was helping I found some of their company actually quite pleasant. I knew it wasn't going to be easy at all but I felt like I was taking little small gradual steps to being accepted back fully into this village again. The fact that my best friend was the Hokage and my girlfriend was the second in command of this village did wonders for my reputation, they were trusted completely and so therefore I was given more leeway than I deserved by some of the civilian towns people.

But the thing I loved the most was my home life. Ever since my family got taken away from me I had felt lost and full of an all burning all consuming rage and fire. I thought that life of a family had been taken away from me completely, I felt like it was something that had been taken away and to never be returned to me again. However here I was living with my girlfriend and her adopted son, who felt to me like my own more and more each day. He was so much like Sakura, he even had her eyes .Just like her he had accepted me and I loved picking him up from the academy sometimes by myself sometimes with Sakura (if she wasn't busy, she was very busy most of the time). I love hearing about his day and I loved helping him out with all his work from school. When Sakura came home we made sure that we taught her how to cook.

Oh yes I now had a family, I may not have been the conventional type but it worked, it all fitted together so easily like a jigsaw puzzle and I felt… feel so at piece.

I have everything I ever truly wanted. It isn't revenge or justice or juiced up power, oh no it's something much more, this is life.

I have a life.

And that was a whole deeper justice within itself. Because even after all the despair, the agony and the sadness I was/ am completely and utterly happy. In the end I beat my brother and got my revenge, not by killing him but by getting back everything he took from me.

And this time I would protect it.

So there we have it. I wanted the ending to have some sort of moral based and message. I hope it got through. I hope you liked it.

It has been a pleasure.

Peace and much love

Fairlylights18x