Okay, kind of sad that the story is coming to a close. this is the final chapter. kind of emotional right now. i have thoroughly enjoyed writing this fic. and thanks to all those who have encouraged me throughout the story as well.

thanks for all the reviews for last chapter and previous chapters. i really never expected to have this many reviews, so thank you.

Disclaimer: DNON

Enjoy the last chapter, and by the way i hate writing the last chapter of fics so hopefully it is good.

Chapter 31

Completing a Circle

Three Weeks Later

Fire Country

Konoha

It had been three weeks since the battle between Sasuke and Kenji, and things were looking better than ever on all the fronts. After the news of Kenji's death reached the Rain Shinobi they put forth an effort to take revenge on their fallen leader but only after a few days did their lack of motivation set in and with no morale to keep going they fell back and went back into Rain, being pursued by the Konoha nin .

The other fronts seemed to be the same way. Though the other leaders were still alive, the main leader was dead and though the other three put forth and effort to rally their men in time it didn't matter and soon all the fronts were gone and the enemy shinobi either surrendered or retreated back into other countries.

Though the war was over with Konoha, there was still much to be done, including getting the countries back in order. Suna and Iwagakure finally came to help Konoha by lending shinobi to help the other non rebel shinobi of each nation revolt to get their country and village back, and the fighting was still going on. All nations were still on alert and would be until the other three rebel leaders were disposed of.

The three kages that were still holding their position had made several trips to the other countries in the possibility of helping the other villages get a new kage or leader and then making sure there was also a daimyo of each country to help govern the non shinobi people.

A new daimyo had been appointed in the Fire Country, a man by the name of Hashiro was appointed the daimyo having some sort of blood relation to the Furusawas. The man was a gentle man and promised to help lead the Fire Country and to not make aggressive movements towards Konoha. The man also had a son, but he chose a civilian woman to be his bride, which Sakura was grateful for.

The other countries were coming along only after two weeks but it would just be some more time before everything was settled again, and even Konoha still had problems to settle behind the giant walls that guarded the city.

Sasuke was put under arrest, or rather home arrest, having to stay at the compound unless he was escorted by none other than Sakura, who was his guard, seeing as how Sasuke drove off any other person that even tried to get near him, until his trial date.

But before Sasuke could be tried, Tsunade had another matter to take care of. Danzo was still under incarceration and was put on trial with Sasuke as a witness. It was a closed trial from the public and the only news that was give to them was that Danzo was a traitor to Konoha and that was enough information to convict him, but the people didn't need to know all the details.

Sakura also attended the trial seeing as how she had also seen files that had told her that Danzo was in league with the rebels. The trial was relative quick and the end was just as everyone thought it would be, with his association with the Rebels and the orders to eliminate the Uchiha Clan he was sentenced to death in a private setting, it would not be displayed for the public eye

Fire Country

Konoha

Uchiha Compound

Morning

There was one thing she enjoyed the most in the mornings, and that was the warmth she felt when she was in her lover's arms. They had only recently returned to Konoha, two weeks after Kenji's death, so they had only been back a week. The only thing they had really done since being back was sleep and attend Danzo's trial.

She was glad to be back in Konoha and especially with Sasuke. She had been unsure if he would return or not and when he had told her that he would indeed be returning to Konoha she had been overwhelmed with excitement. Her dreams might actually be becoming a reality.

When they had returned and though Sasuke had defeated Kenji he was still put under house arrest just because of his earlier crimes. He didn't make to much out of it only that his guard be Sakura, who readily agreed to his request. Tsunade didn't argue as well seeing as how she probably couldn't get the Uchiha to change his mind.

Rolling over slightly she was now laying on her back her head using Sasuke's outstretched arm as her pillow, as he was laying on his side. His other arm came to move up to her stomach and his palm rested on her flat belly. Rolling over again she was now laying so she was facing him, head still laying on his arm, and his hand now on her waist.

She knew that this was a big day, seeing as it was the day that Sasuke's trial was on. It wasn't until the afternoon but she knew they should probably get up anyways. Reaching her head forward she slowly planted kissed on his chest, causing his chest to rumble slightly with appreciation. Next she brought her hands into the fray and slowly dragged her one hand up and down his bare arm that was covering her, as she continued to plant kisses.

"Sakura." he whispered huskily.

"hn?" she replied back using his favorite word.

"What are you doing?" he murmured.

"Waking you up." she replied giving his lips a slow kiss, which he returned without hesitation.

"Waking me up or seducing me?" he asked back.

"Maybe both." she laughed lightly before kissing him again, arms coming to encircle his neck.

"Aa." he answered returning the kiss.

He was just starting to go a little farther when she broke the kiss and crawled out of the bed, him too stunned to react to her getting out of the bed, when usually she would have just given in and then they would have their morning lovemaking, but apparently not that morning. He frowned as he watched her wink at him before entering the shower.

When she got out of the shower, Sasuke was still slightly brooding in the bed, watching her out of the corner of his eye. She laughed at his expense once she got a good look at his expression before telling him to get a shower while she made some breakfast well more now like lunch, before they headed towards the Hokage Tower.

He nodded as he watched her leave the room as she was finishing tying the white obi around the deep blue yukata top and wearing black slacks that accentuated her form slightly. Sasuke begrudgingly got out of the bed, after being rejected by his lover and made his way to the shower.

The two shared a small lunch of miso soup with small roasted fish before the two set off side by side towards the Hokage Tower so that Sasuke could go through with his trial. Again the trial would be a private one not wanting the village to be in on it seeing as how it wasn't their decision about the Uchiha but the councilors.

Sasuke was upset that the councilors that had helped conspire to kill his clan would be apart of judging his trial, but Tsunade had assured him that her decision would overpower theirs and that he wouldn't have to worry, the best punishment would be given as they saw fit for him. Sasuke had grumbled slightly but had given into Tsunade's words.

Sakura latched onto his hand and gave it squeeze as the started up the stairs to the council room. Naruto and Kakashi would be there as well to hear the proceedings but other than that there would be no one but the other two councilors, Tsunade and themselves. The two were about to enter the room when Sakura stopped them, making Sasuke face her.

"I love you." She spoke suddenly and kissed him, desperately, which he gladly returned, knowing how this was affecting her.

"I know." was all he said before he kissed her again. A slow tantalizing kiss that drove her insane. "Me too." he spoke softly. He wasn't exactly ready to say those three words yet, but she understood. Kissing again the two let go of each other's embrace and walked through the door, hand in hand.

The members of the room rose their eyebrows seeing the interlocked fingers of the two. Sakura let go of his hand when they had gone so far in to sit next to Kakahsi and Naruto, while Sasuke went to stand before Tsunade and the councilors.

"Uchiha Sasuke." Tsunade started. "We have reviewed your crimes and have talked about it thoroughly. Is there anything you would like to say?" Sasuke shook his head, not wanting to say anything.

"Very well. Seeing as how you have killed Orochimaru, Uchiha Itachi, and several other Akatsuki as well as helping us defeat the Rebels, the council has already decided your punishment." Sakura could see Sasuke stiffen slightly at the word punishment.

"It has been decided that you will spend two months under house arrest, only going out with certain individuals, as will be discussed later. After that two month period you will be assigned the rank of chunin, and will have to wait a year to take the Jounin exams. You will have to demonstrate your loyalty to the village in that time and if circumstances show that you have not proven your loyalty to the village of Konoha, you will be re-evaluated and we will take action depending on your actions, so I suggest you be very, very careful for the next year." Tsunade told him sternly and Sasuke only nodded while Sakura was sighing in relief.

Once outside the room Sakura practically jumped the Uchiha, glad that he wasn't going to be sent to prison. He returned her hug with a little less enthusiasm than she had but he was still happy to some degree that at least he wasn't imprisoned for his deeds. Turning his face towards her she kissed him harshly, but showing how much she loved him through it.

Finally, both of them released each other to head towards Tsunade's office to hear the rest of what was going to happen especially with the house arrest and the other finer details that had to be worked out for everything that had gone on and at the end it only resulted in them both walking away from the hokage's office both content with what had just gone on.

Around 2 Years Later

Tucking his black long sleeve shirt into his pants he turned to face his wife, who was still laying lazily in bed, not wanting to move from her comfortable position on her side, head propped up on her palm with her elbow buried in the mattress, just watching her husband get ready for the mission he had that day.

They quietly talked with one another before the man bent over to give the woman a kiss before grabbing his bag and weapon from the corner of the room and leaving the room and the woman who flopped back onto her back after her husband exited. She was nervous about him going out right now seeing as she was seven months pregnant with their first child.

Rolling over to her side she stuck her face into his pillow and deeply inhaled his scent, that always seemed to intoxicate her senses as of lately, and thought about the last two years, which had been a hard and agonizing two years.

Sakura had been issued as Sasuke's guard while under house arrest and fulfilled the duty to its extent along with other things. After the two months of house arrest he had been promoted to chunin and was set on a team with older chunins that were more experienced, but he never really became friends with them. It was only a few months after that that Sakura had found out she was pregnant, but because of prior complications she again lost the child.

When the year mark came for Sasuke he took the next jounin exam and passed with flying colors, and was immediately placed on a team with Kakashi and Naruto, as well as Sai. The four had done extremely well together and were continuing to grow as a team, thought Sasuke and Naruto still had their moments of conflict.

It was also near that time when Sasuke decided to truly show his loyalty to the village and also to his woman as well by asking Sakura to marry him. The wedding was a small ceremony due to Sasuke's wishes, and Sakura had no qualms about it and then about three months later Sakura announced she was pregnant. Sasuke was ecstatic in his own way but was dutiful to his expecting wife, which was why she was nervous right now.

Tsunade had told her that Sasuke would be given less missions so the two could prepare for the child but Tsunade had told her that this mission was one that Sasuke needed to be on. Apparently one of the late rebel leaders had been spotted and two squads were to be sent to find him and who better than Sasuke? But he would be back and that was all that mattered to Sakura.

Getting out of the bed she began her daily tasks now that she was pregnant. She had started to work at the hospital again a few months after she had come back to Konoha and was enjoying it, rather than sitting around all day. She was happy to actually be doing something, instead of worrying over Sasuke for the next little while.

2 Weeks Later.

She was finishing the dishes that were in the sink when she heard the door of the home open and close and then the movement of someone taking off their sandals before entering further into the abode. Drying her hand she walked steadily towards the front of the house to greet the new comer.

His back was turned to her as she snuck up on him and wrapping her arms around his waist she buried her head in between her shoulder blades, and breathing in his scent. He straightened up the rest of the way and turned around to give her her hug back.

"I've missed you." she told him spreading her hands out across his clothed back.

"I always come back, though." he smirked back and she knew the meaning of it. After everything that they had been through he had always found a way to come back to her. Bending his head down to her level, he gave her a kiss.

Hope that was satisfactory. i always hate writing the last chapter, i don't know why i just do. so that's the end. hope it was good.

thanks to everyone that stuck with me through this incredibly long fic for me. i seriously never thought it would become over 30 chapters.

again thanks to everyone, my reviewers, and a special thanks to those who reviewed for like every chapter, to the people who favorited and alerted this story, you all rock.

well this was the last chapter so no more next chapter announcements, as well as no more updates. -sniffles-

So next story. Forced. i will let you know i have a release date planned and it won't be until next week. i am going to sneak it up next week sometime, but it will at night because of training for work. so here is the summary for FORCED

Summary: She was forced to be there. He was forced to follow orders. When Sakura gets captured by Akatsuki her life is put in danger. But what is she to them? Leverage. Sasuke denies any feelings for his ex-teammate but when her life is always on the line he does whatever he is told. When he doesn't follow orders she gets hurt. Will Sasuke break free of their grasp and what will happen to Sakura for his retaliation?

Rating: M

If you have any questions concerning the story, feel free to PM me about it.

also after this if you have the time please go check out my profile page and i will have a thing under my updates. that is important.

so please review and let me know how you liked this chapter and the whole overall story. i do take anonymous reviews.

so please review

until next time

yoyo