Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Epilogue

Manami Uchiha

"It is too early for this". I whine as Naruto nii-san tells me to hurry to get up. I am starting to regret the big gaping hole in our shared wall. It made me feel safe when I was ten; knowing that he was close and nothing was in the way if I needed him. When I was eleven it was fun. I had an easy way to get into his apartment when he was not home to rearrange his furniture, replace all of his instant ramen with vegetables, or my personal favorite, fill his shampoo bottle with green hair dye. Of course, he also used it he could draw on my face while I slept, and to exchange all my training kunai with rubber chickens. Yeah, that was really embarrassing come target practice the next day. But now that I am twelve, it is a complete invasion of my privacy. Once I had Kouta, Shouhei, and Ryo over so we could plan a surprise party for Akio's birthday. Naruto came home, and heard us talking, so he came through the hole in the wall saying that boys are bad, and that they always want something more, and that the only boy I should trust is him, because he is my brother and he will protect me. I was mocked endlessly for that occurrence. Now whenever I hang out with my friends they ask me if Naruto knows that I am with boys. He started acting weird around the same time that I needed to start wearing a training bra. I blame Rock Lee, because he was at the training field one day when Akio and I were training, and apparently made some comment to Naruto about young love, and ever since then I have not been able to bring friends home.

In two years, my wardrobe did not change too much. I still wear a green top, but instead of a t-shirt it is a long-sleeved tunic, that also features the Uchiha crest on the back. I accepted the last name as a part of who I am the last time I saw Sasuke. Though I will never admit that too him if I ever see him again. My bottoms are still black, but instead of shorts I now wear leggings. They give me a lot more flexibility than my old shorts. And now instead of down, I wear my hair up in a bun. It took me a while, and the help of Sakura to figure out how to style my hair. But it is worth it so I do not have to worry about my hair being pulled during battle, and the Uchiha crest can easily be seen. The first time I wore my hair up to school Akio had laughed and made some comment like, "what do ya know, Manami can be a real girl when she wants to be". I slugged him in the middle of the classroom, and we started a brawl before Iruka-sensei had even taken attendance. Shouhei cheered for Akio, and Ryo cheered for me. While Kouta supported the both of us based on who had the best moves at certain times. Izumi stayed in the background with a complete look of disgust on her face. She may no longer dislike us as human beings, but sometimes our antics still get on her nerves. Akio and I spent the rest of the week in detention.

Needless to say, time goes on. And here we are at the present where I wake up bright and early to the grinning smile, and twinkling blue eyes of my adoptive brother. "To early" I repeat myself as I close my eyes and roll over in my bed, ignoring the nineteen-year-old looming over me. "and have you ever heard of knocking?"

Naruto nii-san responds by shaking my shoulder with his bandaged hand. That is the one that Tsunade grew back, but it has never looked quite right, not that Naruto nii-san has never complained. "Don't go back to sleep. It's the day you are going to find out who is on your three-man squad! You're going to be a genin now!"

I think he is more excited than I am. Cracking one eye open, I look at the clock on my night stand. "But it is six o'clock in the morning. I do not need to be at the academy until 7:30". I said, yawning.

"Yeah, but you need to eat a good breakfast before you go!" Naruto reasoned.

"I do not want to eat ramen for breakfast. Besides, we had ramen a couple days ago to celebrate me passing the graduation exam".

Naruto nii-san shakes me again. "I know that! That's why Hinata's here. She made omelets".

I perk up a little at that. "Really?" I asked, and Naruto nii-san nodded. I met Hinata soon after Naruto became a jonin. After going on a mission together to save the world, they came back and declared that they were going to date. At first I was unsure about sharing Naruto nii-san. I was afraid that if Naruto nii-san got a love life that he would not have any more time for me. But it is not like I had any say in the matter. Though it turned out our small rag tag family was better off when Hinata joined. She is kind, and goes out of her way to help the both of us. She makes sure Naruto eats enough vegetables, and when I learned a couple months back that once every month it is awful to be a woman, Hinata told me everything that was going on with my body and how to deal with it. The best part was that she even kicked Naruto nii-san out when he was getting just a little too nosy. "alright". I caved. "I will get dressed and met you guys in your kitchen".

At seven o'clock I leave the apartment, waving to Naruto and Hinata as I do so. A little nervous, I readjust the shiny new headband on my forehead. I wonder what my father would think if he could see me as a genin of his own homeland. Nostalgic, I reach down to my kunai pouch. The same day I got my headband is the same day Pineapple head finally gave me back my father's kunai. In truth, I had forgotten about them until he came to the ramen stand where Naruto nii-san and I were celebrating. But now I know why no one would let me have them when I had first moved to the village. I mean, sure, it is still not a good idea to let a nine-year-old run around with weapons. But the reason I could not keep them was because on every hilt the Uchiha symbol is engraved. Funny how when you are little a lot of details go straight over your head. Though I think a lot less about my father than I used too. No longer, when I make a mistake, or something goes wrong do I ask myself, "what would father say?" Now I think about how I can best represent the diminished and slowly recovering Uchiha name. I think about how I can best serve Konoha, and I think about how I can make Naruto nii-san proud. But right now, I am just hoping that I will not mess up. I pass Ryo's old apartment building on my way to the academy. After the war, Ryo and I walked to school together every day; talking about the homework Iruka-sensei assigned or something we had planned to do with our friends. But last year Ryo's sister married her boyfriend and they moved to a bigger home to make room for their new baby. Nine months later, Ryo came to school late everyday with bags under his eyes until the kid was old enough to sleep through the night. So, I walk alone until I can meet up with Akio at the half way point.

Like always, he waits for me. Akio has also not changed a whole lot in the last two years. He is taller, but his hair is just as spikey as ever. He still wears camouflage, but as a t-shirt instead of a tank top. Other than that, the only new addition is his headband tied securely around his fore head. When he sees me approaching, Akio grins and waves; using his whole arm. For the first year after his mother died Akio was quiet, even more so when his father would get sent away on missions. But by the time he was eleven he was back to the energetic boy that had befriended me. Though twice a year; on his birthday, and on the day of her death, Akio, and I visit his mother's grave and just sit in silence. I do not mind. Sometimes I wish that I could do the same thing. "Thanks for waiting" I said, once we are standing shoulder to shoulder.

Falling into step, we start our first trip to the academy as genin. "I always wait for ya" he said grinning before he quickly changed topic. "So do ya have any idea who your sensei is going to be?" He asked.

I shake my head, as we travel down the familiar path. It is almost strange that we will not be walking to school together anymore. "No, not a clue".

Akio shrugs as we turn a turn a corner heading for the center of the market place. There is a lot more people in this part of the village and I get a few suspicious looks. That started to happen after I started wearing the Uchiha crest. Most people have forgiven Sasuke for what he did since he played a big part in saving everyone. But some have not. They only associate the Uchiha symbol with him, so when I came along as an official member of the Uchiha clan, I gained some of their scrutiny. My relationship with Naruto nii-san helps to keep most of them at bay, though I do have to deal with the occasional untrusting stare. But they are easy to ignore when I have friends around. "I thought Naruto would have known something, since he spends so much time studying under the sixth hokage."

After Naruto became a jonin, it became clear that Kakashi was planning on making Naruto his successor, even though Naruto still has a lot to learn. That meant he spent a lot of time learning how his old sensei was running the village, which included genin team placement. "He knows something" I amended. "But he will not tell me anything. For the past few days, whenever I enter a room he starts to laugh and rub his hands together, rubbing it in my face that he knows more about my future than I do".

We turn another corner, and have to pause as a couple of kids run across our path. One more turn and we will be at the academy. "who do ya want your Sensei to be then?" Akio asked, as we start to walk once more.

I look down, and rub the back of my head. "I used to hope that when we became genin we would be on the same team, and Neji would be our Sensei." A moment of silence passes as we think about the man that used to be our favorite jonin. "Any idea about who you want to be on a team with?" I asked my best friend.

"You of course", Akio answers without pause. "And Izumi", he said turning a little red in the face.

"Izumi?" I asked, questioning his sanity. Sure, Izumi is a lot nicer than she used to be, and she did earn the title of rookie of the year. But she is still very frigid. "I think there is only one girl per team." I said.

"I know!" said Akio as he shakes of his embarrassment. "But that's a weird trend. Why can't there be more girls than guys on a team, and Izumi's so pretty". He drools a little as he says that last part. Boys are so weird. I am happy to be a girl, even if that does mean I get stomach cramps at least once every month.

We make the last turn, and stare at the academy standing before us. It is a little bit bigger now. After the war, enrollment went way up as more boys and girls wanted to be like Naruto nii-san. So the academy had to expand. But to me it will always be the place where I met my first friend. "Well I guess it is time we find out who our teams are". I said, before looking away from the building to Akio. "I hope we are on the same team." I said, punching him lightly on the shoulder.

Akio smiles. "me too" he said, returning the favor, before we both head for our old classroom.

"Settle down, settle down", orders Iruka-sensei as he takes his place at the front of the classroom. Kouta throws one last paper shuriken at the back of Shouhei's head before leaning back in his seat with Zuzu curled up in his lap. But at the last moment Shouhei ducks and the paper shuriken bounces off of Izumi's head. Akio and I laugh, Shouhei smiles, and Ryo sniggers, as Izumi spins around from her spot in the front of the classroom and glares at the Inuzuka who is looking anywhere but at the rookie of the year. Somethings never change. "That's enough!" Iruka-sensei said more firmly, as he finally gains everyone's attention. Iruka-sensei does not look as young as he used to. He is starting to sprout a couple of gray hairs; something he blames on Naruto nii-san, Konohamaru and his friends, and me, Akio, and the rest of the gang. For example, one day I got bored so I stuck a sticking seal on Akio's chopsticks, and for the rest of the day they were stuck to his hands. It made taking notes quite the challenge, but he did manage to use them as a pretty effective weapon during sparring practice. Iruka-sensei was not impressed.

"Congratulations on becoming Genin. All of you have worked very hard to get here, and I am proud to recognize all of you as fellow Shinobi". Iruka-sensei pauses in order to try to make eye contact with as many of us as he can. When his eyes meet mine, I sit up just a little straighter. "The road ahead will be difficult. But if you remember your training and if you persevere I am sure each of you will be able to wear the Konoha head band with pride". Iruka sensei clears his throat. "Now for the teams." Akio and I share a look, as Iruka-sensei start to read off of a list. The first five teams pass as we anxiously wait for him to call us. As each team been called, and neither of our names have been said, our hopes grow that we will be on the same team. "Team six will be Shouhei Matsuo, Kouta Inuzuka". Shouhei turns around in his seat and clasps hands with Kouta. "-and Izumi Nanahara"

Izumi sighs as her fate is sealed, and Akio looks a little deflated, but not broken hearted. One cannot have everything they want. Team seven passes with none of our names being called. And then Iruka-sensei comes to the team eight. "Team eight will be Akio Suzuki". Akio's head snaps up. "Ryo Endo". The two boys grin at each other and I keep my fingers crossed. "-and Manami Uchiha".

After that we do not hear the rest of the teams, as we are just too excited to care. This is better than I could have ever had hoped for. I get both Akio and Ryo on my team. With them, I am sure we can go far. Once he is done reading off of the list, Iruka-sensei dismisses us for lunch. Our jonin teachers would be here to introduce themselves afterwards.

But I am almost too excited to eat. It takes Ryo's level head to remind me that we do not know what to expect after lunch, so I better eat when we have the chance. Of course, I did not pack a lunch, so I have to share the boy's food, but details. Ryo's sister's husband always packs him a big lunch anyway. We spend the lunch period bragging about who has the more superior team with team six, minus Izumi who says out antics are too childish, but that does not stop her from throwing in a few comments about how she is rookie of the year. Soon we find ourselves back in the classroom. Everyone is buzzing with nervous energy as we wait to see who will come through those classroom doors.

The first person is someone that Akio and I have had a little experience with. In all of his green spandex glory, Rock lee comes exploding into the classroom with fire burning in his eyes. "I am the mighty jonin, and taijutsu extraordinaire, Rock Lee." The classroom is dead silent as everyone takes him in. All I can do is pray that he is not my team's jonin sensei. "Will team six please step forward?" Lee asked.

"Thank god" Ryo breathed as Akio starts to laugh.

"Look at Izumi's face" he whispers to the two of us.

And sure enough Izumi has her mouth hanging open, and she numbly stands up. Kouta does not seem to be doing much better as he follows suit with Zuzu protectively encased in his arms. But Shouhei could not have been more thrilled. "Yes Sensei" he said with a calm and peaceful smile on his face.

"That's the spirit my youthful and promising young student!" Praises Lee. "Now come, there is much to be done in this youthful day!"

It is a lot quieter after Lee and team six leaves. I wonder how they are doing. More Jonin come and leave with their assigned teams, but I do not recognize any more jonin until Kiba Inuzuka walks in with his dog Akamaru. He is all swagger. "Team eight front and center" he says, in a very serious voice. Akio and I exchange a look. All three of us know Kiba a little, considering all the time we spend at the Inuzuka compound with Kouta. We know that Kiba is a good guy, and a good shinobi, but we also know that he is easy to mess with.

I stand up, and say as excitable as I can. "No way! You are our sensei". I try to make it sound like I had just won the lottery.

Kiba grins, and preens under my comment. Akio falls suit. "I know. We're sure lucky. He's the coolest ninja ever".

From his seat, Ryo is giving us weird looks. He knows Kiba too of course, though while Ryo may enjoy planning pranks and setting up pranks, he does not enjoy the ones that we make up on the spot. He says they lack subtlety. Kiba rubs the skin under his nose with one finger. "well, you know, some people-" but he does not get to finish as Akio and I have already made our way to the front of the classroom where we squat down in front of Akamaru.

"We're so lucky" Akio repeats.

"To have Akamaru as our sensei" I finish for him.

In the background we hear Ryo snort, and Kiba choke on air in disbelief.

"Akamaru-sensei!" Akio and I say in cheerful chorus. Before Akamaru wags his tail and licks both our faces, completely ignoring Kiba's betrayed face. Too easy.

Team eight finds its way to an open training field. Where Kiba, or I guess I should start to call him Kiba- sensei, has us all sit in a straight line, with him sitting in front of us, and Akamaru laying down behind him. "Alright" he said. "I want each of you to introduce yourself."

The three of us look at each other. Really? Ryo raises his hand. "But Sensei we all know each other. We've slept over at the Inuzuka compound. Don't you remember the time when we accidentally woke you up and you chased us out?" Akio and I nod our heads. True story.

Kiba-sensei flushes a little and scratches the side of his head. "That's not the point." He retorts indigently. "I want you to tell me why you want to be a shinobi and what type of shinobi you want to be. Stating you name just makes it official. You can go first". He said pointing at Ryo.

Ryo shrugs, but decides to play along. "I am Ryo Endo. I want to be a shinobi so I can be strong enough to watch out for my nephew. I want to be a medic". Kiba-sensei nods.

Akio goes next. "I'm Akio Suzuki. I want to be a shinobi to honor my mother. I want to be complete power house that no one will dare to mess with". Kiba-sensei smirks.

I breathe one deep breath. My turn. "My name is Manami Uchiha. I want to be a shinobi to prove my worth to Konoha. I want to be the type of shinobi that will stand up for her friends". Kiba-sensei grins.

"Then lets gets started". He said, and Akamaru barks in agreement.