The leaf village would prosper after that. Naruto was initiated as the proper Nanadaime. Under his rule they were a village loved by all. They had one of the best graduation programs. The clans thrived.

Sasuke Uchiha took over the Police force. Five years after that he married Ino and they had two children. Hiashi, under great influence of Naruto, changed the usage of the curse mark. Now each member of the clan bore it. Its purpose was to destroy the eyes upon death and only in case of a defect could Hiashi- and hiashi alone- activate it. The brand and Main houses remained but it was no longer a relationship of fear.

Sai would become the Anbu commander and therefore on the same level as Shikamaru. Naruto relied heavily on those two and Hiashi for guidance. Tsunade remained in the village for a few years before she left, saying she wanted to travel before her old age caught up to her. More like gamble. She came back often enough though.

Things melded into a routine. There were a few deaths that shook them. Nobody expected a band of rogue ninjas to catch Kiba off guard. It hit hard for Naruto. He annihilated the group himself. Hinata was the most shaken up about this though, having been newly married to Kiba. But they were still living in a ninja world and it was understood that this could happen.

Relations with other villages stayed strong. Soon enough Suna and Konoha permitted marriages between the village. It shocked everyone when Shikamaru was the one who proposed this, for betterment of the villages.

It didn't shock everyone however, that a month after the new law was intact Temari moved in with Shikamaru without his permission. Shikamaru would complain for ages about what a pain it was to be entrusted with the Kazekage's sister. Nobody bought that.

Sakura and Naruto were married. They were happy and their kids were treated like royalty. Every fall they visited a little village in the land of iron and were reminded of their humble times there. times that Naruto still referred to as the best of his life.