Heroes Do Exist (ILYBD Trequel)

Epilogue & Alternate Ending

Epilogue

They'd won the war. But not without casualties. They had returned home, but not everyone came back. Naruto and Sasuke had had their last fight, coming out with no true victor. What remained of the leaf nin that had participated in the chunin exams, all those years ago, were gathered at the local bar.

It was supposed to be their Welcome Home/Victory Party. But only a small portion of the group and their sensei showed any enthusiasm. They had all lost someone, whether they were close or not.

Naruto and Sasuke exchanged a glance, both having received immediate medical attention after their fight. Sakura had been scolding the both of them for not reporting to the hospital, but not even she could make them go.

"Good to be home, isn't it Teme?" Naruto asked, trying to brighten Team Seven's mood.

The raven shot him a slight glare, placing down his shot glass. It may have been nice to be back in Konoha, had he not learned their fiery kyuubi teammate had not made it back, nor had they been able to find her body.

How was he supposed to feel? He had let her down, He'd let Itachi down, he'd let himself down. She was gone and there was nothing he could do to get her back. What kind of shinobi did that make him, if he couldn't even keep his promise?

"Why did you let her do it..?" Sakura tensed as his voice dropped into a deathly emotionless tone. "How could you just let her die?"

"Sasuke-ku-.."

The Uchiha cut her off with a hard glare. "Why didn't you stop her?!"

"Sasuke, not even you could have stopped Yuna from doing what she thought was right." Kakashi said evenly. He didn't want to start a fight, but he also didn't want to watch his old student try to put the blame on someone when there was no one to blame.

"What about her kids? She wouldn't just abandon them!" He snapped, standing. He hadn't met the three half demons yet, but Sakura had invited them to come to her house after the supposed celebration, where they could all finally meet the children of their fallen teammate and the Uchiha's brother.

"She did not abandon them. She told me to take care of them.." Sakura said quietly, looking down at her own glass, afraid of meeting the avenger's half rinnegan gaze. What he didn't understand was how it felt to be the one to have watched the crimson beauty die and be unable to do anything about it. "I think she'd want you to raise them as well..."

He didn't respond to her as he stood before the bar, the stool to his left had been left empty, almost like they'd expected Yuna to sit in her normal spot beside him. Sakura was at his right, with Naruto beside her. Kakashi had been sitting one over from him, just like they used to.

Yuna had always been between the two of them. He was glad Sai had chosen to sit on Kakashi's other side. He wasn't sure he would have been able to restrain himself if his replacement tried to take Yuna's spot.

The Uchiha grimaced, looking away from the stool. "If we're not going to drink anymore shots... Shall we continue to your house, Sakura?" He asked politely, willing to put the previous conversation behind them for now.

It seemed to do the trick as the pinkette brightened at the suggestion. "Yes! I can't wait to see them for myself!" She squealed with delight.

Sasuke was reminded of the fan girl she had once been in that moment, almost allowing a shudder to pass through him.

"Yeah, let's go meet some little kyuubi!" Naruto cheered, with his only arm going up in the air. His fellow one armed friend frowned a little. How were they supposed to take care of three half demons f they only had two arms between the two of them. Then again they had four counting Sakura.