“Are you sure about this?” Shikaku eyed his Hokage concerned, “perhaps you should wait a little longer..”
“I’ve waited long enough,” Kakashi said, “if I wait any longer, I’ll be old and grey.” He looked at his friend and advisor. “I only accepted this title because we needed stability. It’s been almost six years. It’s time.”
Shikaku sighed. “You think he’s ready?”
“He’s more than ready,” Kakashi confirmed, “he isn’t the rash troublemaker anymore. He is responsible now. And he has some good advisors. And a loyal ANBU friend at that.”
“I know you have a lot of faith in Naruto and I agree he has become a good shinobi, but Kage is a huge responsibility.”
“He’s ready,” Kakashi said calmly, “but he’ll need help.”
Shikaku bowed. “He’ll have it.”
“Good,” Kakashi smiled, “and the Memorial?”
“We will make sure it stays in place.”
Kakashi let out a sigh of relief. He hadn’t expected anything else, but it was nice to hear it confirmed. “Thank you.”
“Good luck, Kakashi.”
***
“Are you sure about this?” Gaara had his hands behind his back and stared out of the window.
“It is the only way,” Sasuke said calmly.
“I don’t think that’s true.”
A mocking grin crossed Sasuke’s lips. “Don’t tell me you’ll miss me.”
“My sister will. And Ichiru.”
“Ichiru will be fine. He doesn’t need me.”
Gaara was silent for a while, thinking about the best way to approach this. “Why are you here?” he asked.
Sasuke gritted his teeth. It was still hard for him to admit his true reasons, especially in front of Gaara. “You are one of the Kages,” Sasuke said, “the terms of my staying here in Suna still count. If I leave, she will face the consequences.”
“Heh,” Gaara said, turning around to face Sasuke, “you think for a moment she took that seriously? I thought you knew her better than that. Besides, it’s been six years.”
“It would be better for me too,” Sasuke continued, “I need to find my own way.”
Gaara sighed. He had no objections letting Sasuke go the Uchiha had changed. He wasn’t the vengeful murderer anymore. “Where will you go?”
Sasuke nodded. He had already thought about that. “I might go after Suigetsu. He is still at large.”
“You’d bring him to justice? He was your comrade once, wasn’t he?”
“We only used each other’s abilities. He’s unstable. There’s no telling what he’ll do.”
“And the Seven Swords? What to you plan on doing with them?”
Sasuke smirked. “I’ll find some use for them.”
***
“When can I go to the Academy?” Ichiru swung his legs back and forth.
“Next year,” Taryn told him, “then you’ll be old enough.”
“But that’s still so long.”
Taryn smiled. “It will be over before you know it.”
Ichiru sighed. It had been so cool to visit the Academy and watch the class his uncle had given. Even if he was still uncomfortable around his uncle, he desperately wanted to become as good. “I’m gonna practice shuriken in the garden,” he announced and he dashed out the door.
Taryn laughed softly. “Be careful!” she shook her head amused. Last time he had ‘practiced’ he had decapitated a few of her roses.
She opened the closet down the hall to gather a few objects. She had promised Daro she would help him with the training of his student tomorrow to prepare the for the Chuunin Exams, four months from now. He did a good job at training them himself, but he had asked for her advise. Perhaps she would see something he had failed to notice, in order to improve their flaws.
A shadow appeared in the doorway and Taryn looked up.
Sasuke was silently watching her, not moving.
Taryn stared at him confused. She wondered what was on his mind.
And then she knew.
“You’re leaving,” she said softly.
He walked up to her, still silent.
“You are, aren’t you?” she stated. Worry marred her face.
“I need to move on,” he said.
“Why?” she asked quietly, “is this because Ichiru…”
He cut her off by taking a step closer and kissing her cheek. “Thank you,” he said, taking her by surprise.
A slow smirk appeared on her face. “What do you know,” she said, “the only girl ever kissed by Sasuke Uchiha. I feel honored.”
Sasuke snorted and rolled his eyes. “Idiot.”
Her face became serious again. “Why are you leaving?”
Sasuke sighed. “I have some things to figure out. I can’t do that here.”
Taryn looked at him sadly.
“I can’t hide here forever,” he continued.
Taryn sighed. “Where will you go?”
“I don’t know yet,” Sasuke said, “perhaps South, along the coast. I’ll avoid ninja villages. I just need some time on my own.” He pushed away from her and disappeared into his room to pack his belongings.
He looked around the room that had been his for the past six years. It was strange. In all the time he had been living here, not one personal item donned the walls. He had never really made it his.
And now he was reluctant to leave it.
But it was time.
He closed his bag and walked out.
“I’ll keep your room for you,” Taryn said.
He nodded, but didn’t reply.
“Take care of yourself,” she said softly as he walked to the door.
Sasuke nodded. “You too.”
“Hey Uchiha!” Taryn called just before he was about to exit. “Stay out of trouble or I’ll come after you and drag your ass back to Suna.”
That made him smirk. “I’m counting on it,” he said and he vanished down the garden.
He was halfway down the road when he heard running footsteps. “Uncle Sasuke!”
Sasuke flinched. He hadn’t prepared to say goodbye to the boy. He stopped.
Ichiru caught up with him and panted. “Where are you going?”
Sasuke sighed and turned to face the boy. “I’m going on a trip.”
“Whereto?”
“I don’t know yet.”
“How can you go somewhere if you don’t know where you’re going?”
He should have known it wasn’t going to be that easy. He kneeled to the boy’s level. “I’ll be gone for a while.”
Ichiru’s lip trembled. “Are you leaving?”
Sasuke patted his head. “There are some things I need to do.”
“Is it because I was angry with you?” the boy asked in a small voice.
“Of curse not,” Sasuke said.
“Did you fight with mom?”
“No,” Sasuke shook his head.
“Then why?” Ichiru sobbed.
“You’ll understand when you’re older.”
“But I’m going to the Academy next year,” Ichiru said, “you have to be there.”
Sasuke smiled. “I’ll be there when you graduate.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.“ He stood up. “Take care of your mother. You’re the man of the house now.”
Ichiru bit his lip and gave a serious nod.
“Good boy,” Sasuke said and he walked away.
Maybe someday he’d return.
A/N We're almsot at the end of the stroy. Just the epilogue and that's it T.T It's been such a long journey for me with CF. I hope youall enjoyed it.
YES! There will be extra chapters after the epilogue with cut-outs and extras. I hope you will enjoye them too as they give more insight on Taryn's childhood and a peek into the l ives of her students before they became ninja.
And if you can't get enough of Taryn, there's always Clash of the Brats, a collab I wrote with Amaterasu, about Taryn and her students meeting Amaterasu's Hisayo and her students. The drama! XD
Thank you all again for sticking with CF until the end. Epilogue will be up soon.