Disclaimer: Naruto and all of its character belong to Masashi Kishimoto. I own nothing but the original characters I make.
Chapter 209: Ending
After Fugaku died, Reijurou refused to let anyone take his grandson's body.
He sat on the ground, holding Fugaku in his arms, even after Raiken finished making sure that Isshiki was truly dead.
"Reijurou," called Madara.
The old man didn't answer.
His hand kept wiping the blood from Fugaku's mouth, but there was too much, and soon his sleeve was stained red.
"He said he was sorry," Reijurou said, grieving as his grandson died in his arms. "He was always stubborn. When he was small, he would never apologize, even when he knew he was wrong."
Reijurou looked down at his grandson. "Now he apologized. Did you hear him?"
"Yes," Raiken replied quietly. "I heard him."
"Then why isn't he waking up?"
No one said anything. They all knew that Fugaku had died.
….
Fugaku was buried a few days later. He wasn't called a traitor, since everyone believed Isshiki had forced him to kill.
But several people had lost those dear to them.
Hiruzen had lost his son, daughter-in-law, and grandson and Danzo had lost his wife and child.
Neither of them attended Fugaku's funeral because they hated the man who had killed their families.
As for Reijurou, his mind never recovered from what happened.
Sometimes he waited outside his house, saying Fugaku should have come back from training. Other times, he woke up shouting for someone to call a medical ninja.
Even Madara visited him. He had lost his only brother, and now Reijurou had lost his only grandson, so he understood how it felt.
During his last visit, Reijurou asked whether Fugaku had eaten.
"He always forgets when he is busy," said Reijurou
Madara stayed beside him until he fell asleep.
Not long afterwards, Reijurou passed away. He was buried beside his grandson.
….
Several months passed.
With Isshiki gone, Raiken finally had time to deal with something that had been bothering him.
Madara was sitting across from him, drinking tea, when Raiken suddenly spoke.
"Uchiha Madara, have you ever thought about getting married?"
Madara stopped drinking. "What?"
"Getting married," repeated Raiken. "You should find a wife."
Madara slowly lowered his cup.
"Are you so free that you have started arranging marriages?"
"I'm serious. You have a strong bloodline. If you had children, wouldn't they be strong too?"
For a moment, the room became quiet. Then Madara narrowed his eyes. "You want me to get married so Konoha can have stronger shinobi?"
"Well, when you say it like that, it sounds bad."
"That is exactly what you said."
Raiken coughed.
"Of course, you should find someone you like first."
Madara looked as if he wanted to throw the tea at him.
However, Raiken's next words made him stop.
"Besides, wouldn't it be nice to have your own family?"
Madara glanced toward the window. Outside, a man was carrying his daughter on his shoulders while his wife scolded him for walking too quickly.
"I will think about it," he replied.
Raiken blinked.
He had prepared several more arguments, but to his surprise, Madara agreed to think about it.
"Then…"
"Don't push your luck."
"Alright," replied Raiken immediately.
….
The woman Madara eventually grew close to was named Senju Nao.
She was a widow in her forties who managed a plant nursery. They met while Madara was inspecting one of Konoha's repaired streets.
"You're standing on the roots," she told him.
Madara looked down. A young tree lay beside his foot.
"Move, please. Unless you plan to pay for it."
One of the workers quickly turned away, pretending he hadn't heard anything.
Madara moved. Later, when he told her that the trees were being planted too close together, Nao handed him a shovel.
"If you know how to do it, help."
Surprisingly, he did. After that, Madara occasionally stopped at the nursery.
At first, he said he was checking whether the trees had survived.
Then he started staying for tea. Nao never asked about his eyes, his battles, or how many people he had defeated. She asked if he had eaten and complained when he tracked mud into her house.
After a few months, Madara realized he had started to look forward to her complaints.
….
Meanwhile, something else happened that shocked Raiken even more.
Tsunade and Orochimaru were getting married.
When Jiraiya first heard the news, he thought someone was making fun of him.
Then Tsunade confirmed it herself.
"You and Orochimaru?" asked Jiraiya.
"Yes," Tsunade nodded.
"Our Orochimaru?" muttered Jiraiya.
"How many Orochimarus do you know?" replied Tsunade.
Jiraiya opened his mouth, then closed it.
He knew they had been spending a lot of time together. Since the attack, Orochimaru had frequently worked with Tsunade on medical research.
Sometimes he brought her food. Jiraiya simply hadn't thought it would lead to this.
"Are you happy?" he finally asked.
Tsunade's expression softened.
"Yes," Tsunade nodded.
Jiraiya looked at her for a moment, then nodded.
"Then congratulations."
He smiled, although it was difficult. Later that evening, he sat alone looking at the sky.
When Orochimaru found him, Jiraiya pointed at him.
"If you make her cry, I'll beat you."
"How reassuring," replied Orochimaru, sitting opposite him.
"I'm serious," Jiraiya warned.
"I know," Tsunade said, smiling.
For once, neither of them argued.
….
"Grandma Mito, try moving your arm."
Mito raised her hand, then slowly closed her fingers.
A new seal covered part of her forearm before fading beneath her skin.
Raiken watched carefully. The seal circulated chakra through her muscles and joints, strengthening her body while reducing the strain caused by movement.
It wouldn't change her appearance, but it would make everyday life much easier.
"How do you feel?" he asked.
Mito stood.
Then she picked up the heavy chest beside the table with one hand.
Raiken quickly caught the stack of papers that slid off it.
"Lighter," Mito replied. "My body feels a lot lighter."
She put it down and smiled.
"This is good."
Raiken smiled back. He had spent a long time preparing it, and Mito had corrected several parts of the seal.
Kurama now lives in a more spacious prison, almost like being inside an artificial world.
… herself.
After Tsunade's wedding, Jiraiya spent more time outside the village.
But he always returned. During one of those visits, he found Kaguya standing in front of a food stall, watching the owner turn dumplings over a charcoal fire.
"Have you tried those?" he asked.
"No," replied Kaguya
"Then you should," said Jiraiya.
He bought two portions. Kaguya took one bite and immediately frowned.
"Hot," she commented.
"They just came off the fire." replied Jiraiya.
"You could have mentioned that earlier," Kaguya snapped at him.
Jiraiya laughed and received an annoyed look.
Afterwards, he began bringing her things from his travels.
Sometimes it was food. Sometimes it was a book or a small ornament from another country.
Kaguya listened to his stories, including the ones he usually covered with jokes.
Once, when he stopped halfway through talking about a dead comrade, she remained beside him without asking him to continue.
The next day, he finished the story himself. She also discovered that, despite his foolish behaviour, Jiraiya could be patient.
When she struggled with something she once did effortlessly with her old powers, he helped without reminding her of what she had lost.
Gradually, she began waiting for his visits.
….
"Grandma Kaguya, you should think about getting married."
Raiken said it casually while they were having tea.
Kaguya looked at him. "Why?"
"Companionship. Someone to spend time with." replied Raiken.
"I have already thought about it."
"Oh? Is there someone?" asked Raiken
"Jiraiya," answered Kaguya
Raiken stared at her. "Jiraiya?"
"Yes," nodded Kaguya.
The livestream chat gone haywire after knowing that Kaguya chose Jiraiya as her companion.
….
Their wedding took place the following year.
By then, nobody could claim the relationship had happened suddenly. Jiraiya and Kaguya were often seen eating together or walking through the village.
Still, Tsunade shook her head when she saw Jiraiya in his wedding clothes.
"You actually managed it."
Jiraiya grinned. "Are you regretting your choice?"
"No," replied Tsunade.
"You could at least hesitate."
Beside her, Orochimaru smiled.
Kaguya approached before Jiraiya could complain further.
His expression changed when he saw her.
For once, he forgot to say anything clever.
"You look beautiful," he said.
Kaguya took his hand.
"Thank you."
Watching them, Raiken smiled.
Neither looked as though they wanted to be anywhere else.
….
Madara married Senju Nao later that year. The ceremony was small because Madara threatened to leave when Raiken suggested inviting every village leader.
When Raiken approached to congratulate him, Madara immediately raised a finger.
"Don't mention my bloodline," warned Madara.
"I wasn't going to," replied Raiken
Nao looked between them.
"What bloodline?"
"Nothing," replied both men.
She clearly didn't believe them.
A year later, their daughter was born.
Raiken visited and found Madara sitting perfectly still with the sleeping baby against his chest.
….
Five years after the attack, Hiruzen passed away. He had never recovered from losing his family.
Even when he visited the village or spoke with old friends, he always returned to a house that had become too quiet.
Danzo died a few months later. His wife's belongings remained where she had left them. His child's sandals were still beside the door.
Both men had survived Isshiki's attack, but grief had slowly taken their strength. Raiken attended their funerals.
….
Years passed, and peace continued.
Under Sakumo's leadership, the villages settled disputes easily. Trade increased, roads became safer, and shinobi spent more time escorting merchants than getting ready for war.
Mito's students began teaching students of their own.
Madara was frequently seen buying sweets while claiming they were for his daughter. Nobody believed him when he bought only one stick.
Then, one spring morning, Naruto and Sasuke reached the age to enter the Academy.
"I'm going to be first in the class," declared Naruto.
Sasuke glanced at him.
"You don't even know where the classroom is."
"I'll find it."
"You walked past the entrance."
"I was checking the building!"
Nearby, Raiken laughed.
For a moment, Raiken just watched the two boys argue. Then the teacher called them inside.
Naruto hurried forward, Sasuke followed, and together they stepped through the Academy doors.