Epilogue

Three months later

"Bye Sachi!" Ryuna shouted as she waved her hands towards the little Aburame girl. The school had just resumed two weeks ago after repairs had been made on some destroyed buildings on the vicinity of the school. Konoha was back to normal.

"Take care Ryu-chan," Sachi shouted back then ran towards a group of girls. Sachi wasn't bullied anymore. After the Dai-chapter, due to her braveness, she had gained a lot of praises and friends.

Ryuna walked out towards the Academy's gate and saw him standing on the gates, all students passing him by cannot help but stare at him, "Daddy!"

Uchiha Sasuke.

Ryuna ran towards him. "Daddy! When did you return?"

Sasuke had just returned from a mission.

"Hi there," Sasuke greeted her with a push of his two fingers on her forehead.

"Aw, Dad, don't do that!" Ryuna pouted. Sasuke smiled.

"How's school?" he said as he picked her up.

"Fine. Ren said he will participate in the Genin examinations tomorrow,"

"Really?"

"I'll bet he'll pass it easily," Ryuna said. "Then he'll become a Genin and wear the hitate,"

"Hitaite," Sasuke corrected, "You like him?" Sasuke said as they started to walk.

"Yeah, but not as much as I like you Daddy!" Ryuna grinned.

"I'm honored, because of that I'll teach you the basics of Katon one of these days, so get ready for it!" Sasuke said then pecked a kiss on her cheeks, "Let's go and pick up Mom, she's probably burying herself again in the hospital with her research,"

"Okay," Ryuna said excitedly.

After the incident, Sasuke talked to Ryuna personally. He explained everything to her in a way that at that age, she would be able to understand the complicated things that happened in the past. He told her that he didn't abandon her, but he wasn't there for her because of a lot of circumstances.

He made sure to tell her that he loved her.

Ryuna was silent for the whole time, and Sakura, who was just outside the room, giving Sasuke the privacy to talk to her, was worried that her daughter may have taken the whole thing a traumatizing experience. But she cried when she heard those words from her little one:

Ryuna, who was still wrapped with bandage on her head and arms, cried as she smiled towards the man in front of her.

"I'm glad, that my Daddy is you,"

Sasuke's jaw dropped then immediately hugged her little girl. His heart was about to burst. So much feelings and emotions.

"Ryuna, I'm sorry, for everything…I promise, from now on, I won't leave you. Daddy's here. Just remember, I'm here for you and for your Mommy, I love you, Daddy loves you," Sasuke said, his tears falling on his cheeks as he hugged her tenderly.

Ryuna smiled, "I love you, too…Daddy," then she giggled, "I'm happy and excited,"

Sasuke dried his tears before he looked at his daughter, "Why is that?" he smiled, as he wiped the tears on her cheeks as well.

"Because I still can't believe my Daddy is one the best shinobi in the world!"

"Who says I'm one of the best? I am the only best," he grinned.

"But Uncle Naruto said, you two are the best and the strongest?"

"Well, if he says so. Still I'm the best,"

"Okay, Daddy!"

Both of them laugh. Sakura laughed as she wiped her own tears. She then enters the room to join them.

Both of them went to the hospital. Since the staff knew them already and probably knew why they were here, the receptionist led them towards the basement where the mednin's own lab room was located. Ryuna said, she will wait in the lounging area and watch TV over there with the other children. Her favorite show was showing. Sasuke went alone in the lab room.

When he opened the door, the room was dark and he had to adjust his eyes to the dim of the room. He found what he came here for.

The pinkette was busy on the corner of the room, eyes on the screen as both hands busy on doing something, like slicing something under the plates with lights directed on it. She wasn't even aware that someone was with the room with her.

Sasuke shook his head then smiled. Sakura was very concentrated on what she's doing diligently.

"Why are you working with the lights out?" Sasuke said, sneaking behind her and wrapping his arms around her. Sakura jumped with the surprise.

"Sasuke! When did you return? What are you—"she looked at the clock, its five-thirty in the afternoon, "Oh shit, it's this late? I have to pick up Ryuna in the school!"

"I'm with her, she's at the lounge," he said as he twisted her chair so that she'll face him. He gave her a long sweet kiss on the mouth.

"Oh, you picked her up? Thank you,"

"Let's go,"

"I'm sorry. I need to finish this. Deadline's tomorrow! Not to mention, there are a lot of things to do first, there's Naruto's wedding and all. Everyone's so busy in the tower that Shishou has been acting like an Oni on the staff! You don't want to see her when she's like that!"

"Nope, you're finish for today," he said as he drag her up and hold on the waist so that she was standing up, "I don't care about the Dobe's wedding,"

"Sasuke! Don't say that. You're just in time for the preparation! Your presence will calm him down," Sakura said as she grinned, she put her arms around his neck, "he's your bestfriend,…and your brother,"

Sasuke snuggled on her neck as he trailed wet kisses on her skin. "Hn, you smell good," he murmured.

"Sasuke, be serious. You are the best man after all,"

"I'm always," he said then kissed her on the mouth. Deep, enticing, breathless, "You know, you really have to move in with Ryuna in the manor," he said after a while.

"You know, I can't. You know the reason..or reasons," she smiled at him.

She was giving him more time, to confirm his own feelings about everything. She told him she won't be in his way whatever decision he may have. Sasuke sighed.

"I don't know if I'm too late…" he said as he held her left hand and kissed it. He softly pinched the base of her ring finger, "but this…" he looked at her, "this is reserved for me,"

Sakura went silent for a while then looked at her fingers that he was touching. Her mouth opened, "S-Sasuke…"

"Marry me. Now."

Her eyes widen. Her tears suddenly ran down from her cheeks, she looked at him, "Oh,"

"What kind of reaction is that?"

"Eh? Ah, sorry…I-Im…what? Marry, I mean…now?"

"Yes, now. I cannot wait anymore Sakura. I want you and Ryuna to move in the manor. I want us in the same roof," he touched her face, "I want us to be a real family, a real Uchiha family. I want you to bear my name,"

"W-Wait…Sasuke," she entangled from him and turned around, Kamisama she can't breathe! "This is too fast, I mean…considering things, this is not fast, but-" she turned around, "a-are you sure? Are you—"

"You really are annoying, don't you know that?" he snorted.

"Oh, Kamisama…" she said as she cover her mouth to suppressed a cry, but her tears keep on falling, "This…is-"

"I know it took so long, but...I cannot let anyone have you, nor idle on this important decision. My heart says I found you and I won't let you go. I want us to be together, now and forever. Haruno Sakura, will you marry me?" he said again, this time, he puts a ring on her right ring finger. There was a little red clear stone on it. Sakura recognized it as the most precious stone which can only be found from Iwagakure.

Sakura smoothened the stone then looked at Sasuke, "Yes,"

Sasuke hugged her tenderly.

"I love you, with all of me...with all that I am...forever...and ever," she whispered.

"Thank you with all of my heart, for loving someone like me despite the past mistakes I did. I love you, with all of me and all that I am...forever..."

SxS

After the incident, Karin volunteered to be assigned in the Western borders, after talking to Sakura. She was still bitchy about what happened, but nonetheless, she apologized for everything. Suigetsu and Juugo remained in Konoha, in Sasuke's side.

Sakura had received a letter from Shou, a month later after the Dai-incident, much to Sasuke's irritation. Sakura said it was an invitation to his wedding. He had found her bride, who was his childhood friend.

Everything went back to normal.

Yes, the days full of peace and tranquility was back….

…and for those budding generation of Konoha, the Will of Fire continues to burn as the legend continues.

_OWARI_