[FFML] [Naruto] One Hundred Days - Epilogue: The Night After

[Aaron Nowack]

And the epilogue.

One Hundred Days
A Naruto Fanfic
By: Aaron Nowack

Epilogue: The Night After

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Disclaimer:  Naruto does not belong to me, strange though that may seem.
Instead it is Kishimoto Masashi's creation.  However, the text of this
fanfic is mine, and may not be used without permission.  Also, humans!
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        It was late into the night.  Clouds hid the moon and stars, but
the campfires of the Rock army were a more than adequate replacement.
The hours after the end of the battle had passed quickly.  Ino, Anko,
and the Mist had been found, and the Rock medical ninja had tended their
wounds and helped the two loyal Mist secure Midori more thoroughly.
        The question of what would happen to them was still open, but
Sakura suspected that Shizune intended to let them loose.  There was
little damage the three could do to the Leaf, and Ren and Saburo's help
had been invaluable.  Better to have a few Mist who bore the Leaf some
goodwill than worthless prisoners who felt betrayed.
        Kabuto and the other surviving Sound had gotten away clean,
despite the Rock's efforts to pursue them.  It wasn't surprising.  This
was their country, and they knew it well.  No doubt there were hidden
routes and sanctuaries scattered throughout.
        Fuuma Clan ninja had arrived shortly after the battle to
investigate, and Sakura had been drafted by Shizune to help deal with
them.  How precisely she had become the Leaf's preferred liaison with a
group of ninja she barely knew, she wasn't certain, but the meeting had
gone well enough once the Fuuma learned the Rock had no intention of
staying.
        That and other matters had kept her and Naruto busy, and it was
only now that they finally had some time to themselves.  Sakura realized
she was staring at Naruto, trying to see if he'd changed.  His eyes were
on the sky, and he sighed as he leaned back against a tree.  "I... we'll
do better next time," he said.  "We will get him back."
        "I know," Sakura said after a moment.  Somehow, she'd barely had
a moment to think of Sasuke since the end of the battle.  "I... I'm just
glad we managed to get you back," she said.  "I couldn't stand losing
both of you."
        Silence hung between them, then Naruto said, "Thank you.  For
coming."
        "Those who don't take care of their friends," Sakura began, and
then she trailed off.
        "Kakashi-sensei is okay?" Naruto asked.
        Sakura nodded.  "Shizune-sama took him back to the Leaf Village
for treatment."
        Awkward silence descended once more, and Sakura broke it with
the first question that came to mind.  "So, who was that girl with the
Rock who was so happy to see you?"
        "Oh, Rui!" Naruto replied.  "She's from the Snow Country.  I
helped her kill her grandmother."  Sakura blinked, and before she could
respond Naruto asked a question of his own.  "How... who... why'd you
learn to summon snakes?"
        "It's a long story," Sakura said, "and don't change the subject!
Killing her grandmother?!"
        "She was a bad guy!" Naruto said.  "She kidnapped Ero-sennin!"
        Sakura blinked.  "Who the hell could kidnap Jiraiya if he didn't
want... a grandmother..." She shuddered.  "You're going to pay for
making me think that."
        Naruto swallowed, looking sick.  "She didn't look her age," he
offered.  He hesitated, then added, "I see you passed the Chuunin Exam."
        "Yeah," Sakura said, suddenly feeling the weight of her uniform
jacket again as she realized that Naruto didn't know anything about what
had happened to her.  Didn't know about her mother.  Didn't know about
anything.
        "Are you okay?" Naruto asked carefully.
        "It's... a long story," Sakura repeated.
        "It can be a long night," Naruto said, "and it seems like we'll
have time for more than enough stories before I'll be leaving again."
        "You..." Sakura wasn't certain what she intended to say to
finish the sentence, and the lone word hung in the air for what seemed
an eternity.  "You first," she finally said.  "Tell me all about what
happened with this Rui girl."
        "All right," Naruto answered a moment later, "we'll take turns."

                                 The End

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Author's Random Ramblings

1) And this is the shortest "chapter" in the story.  I always said it
would be brief, but it's necessary to wrap up some loose ends and
provide a little bit better closure.

2) All in all, I'm fairly proud of this work.  It's much, much longer
and probably better than anything I've written before, written faster on
average than anything I've written before, even with the delays on the
final chapter.  Not everything turned out as well on the page as I
imagined it in my head, but I think I managed to meet my self-imposed
goal of being more amusing than the anime fillers.

3) I've mentioned several times to several people a vaguely planned
oneshot sequel.  What I don't think I've ever spoiled is what it would
be about: the next time Naruto and Sakura's paths cross, about a year
later as the Sand Village holds a Chuunin Exam.  Unfortunately, I don't
know if it will ever get written, due to declining interest in Naruto
and numerous other projects I'd like to work on.

4) I think it would surprise many of you how poorly planned this story
really was at the start.  I honestly started writing the prologue and
first chapter with no idea of where the story would go, other than that
Naruto and Sakura would meet again on the hundredth day.  Most of the
broad plot arcs firmed up fairly quickly, but more times than I'd care
to admit I had no idea what either Naruto or Sakura would be doing in a
chapter when I sat down to outline it.

5) I'd like to give a big thank you to everyone who provided C&C over
the course of this story.  This includes: Jed Hagen, the Eternal Lost
Lurker, MWhaleK, Andrew Petalik, FVoeltner, Eimii, Skywise Skychan,
William Little, Druid, Glazius Falconar, Jourdan M. Bickman, Joel N.
Fischoff, David Johnston, Thiemo Guenther, David McMillan, Matthew
Campbell, Luke Mason, Nuclear Death Frog, Jared Wadell, Troy Thomas,
countless reviewers from Fanfiction.net, and - last but never least - my
sister, Rebecca Nowack.

6) And, finally thank you for reading!  Yes, you.  Yes, even if I just
thanked you.  Without readers, there'd be little point in spending the
effort to get these stories out of my head and into words.

Draft Started: July 15, 2007
Draft Finished: July 15, 2007
Draft Released: July 15, 2007
Final Released:


-- 
           Aaron Nowack
"Never let reality get in the way of a good hypothesis."
http://www.mimiru.net/