A Hero

The Epilogue

I don't own Naruto. I'm also not quite sure how at least one of these ships happened. This chapter is, admittedly rather short, but I felt that it was the best way to end this, given all of the things that are shown. After three years, we have finally reached the conclusion of this story. Thank you all for sticking with this story for as long as you have.

Years passed, as they always do, and, as they do, things changed with time. Jiraiya officially took Sai and Yakumo under his wing and eventually had the long-delayed conversation with Naruto, making peace with the loss of Minato, at long last. The man grew fairly close to the blond, checking in on him from time to time, and had even attended the boy's wedding to the Hyuuga heiress alongside his two proteges, who had come to befriend the blond in the time their teacher spent with the three of them.

Hiruzen, meanwhile, had seen fit to finally step down from his role as Hokage, having both of his students present in the village. No one was quite sure what had happened, but after a short meeting between the three of them, Tsunade had somehow wound up becoming the Godaime Hokage. Having successfully roped his student into the role, the old Sarutobi was content to spend time visiting with Danzo for a game of shogi, and spending time with his grandson, and eventually grandchildren when Asuma and Kurenai had their own daughter, Mirai.

Shino never stopped pranking Kiba, even after they each found their own significant others in a civilian girl and Ino, respectively. Ino, in point of fact, even aided Shino in his mischief, from time to time, occasionally roping in Chouji and his wife for added effect.

Sasuke eventually gave up on his plan to kill his brother, when said missing nin apparently vanished, never to be seen on the Elemental Continent again. He and Sakura eventually married and had a daughter of their own, who was given the name Sarada.

Gaara, through no fault of his own, had unwittingly agreed to accept the role of Kazekage, eventually finding love with his assistant, Matsuri. To the surprise of many, Temari and Shikamaru also began a relationship, shocking his teammates, who had thought that he was too lazy to actually ever engage in a romantic relationship.

Neji and Tenten, of course, continued their relationship, and eventually got married, but had yet to have any children. Lee, meanwhile, was still himself, and had found love with a young civilian, producing a son, who followed his father's example, being as much as symbol of Youth as his father and Gai before him.

Anko eventually made jounin and managed to coerce a proposal out of Kakashi, having logically reasoned that the perpetually late jounin would take too long for her tastes, otherwise.

The ROOT operatives were, with some difficulty, eventually rehabilitated. While they could not remember who they once were, they were able to function as human being, albeit with individually distinguishing quirks. Sai, in particular, had managed to find both camaraderie and love with Yakumo. The pair, after some time, eventually married, and had a son of their own.

As for Naruto and Hinata, they had their time. They lived, laughed, cried, and eventually they finally married, a blissful union that blessed them with a son, Boruto, and a daughter, Himawari. They lived a happy life, and had many adventures, and, above all, they loved one another.

And so we leave them together, the statue and the heiress, and there they shall stay, together and in love until the end of their days and beyond.