Chapter 46: Epilogue [Final]

I look all around me, feeling a difference in the darkness. It's not the stillness of darkness I was just in when I died, this one is alive, moving, and has a strong presence. I remember this darkness. My eyes took a moment to adjust to the different appearance and texture of the darkness after being in an animated world for so long.

"Death?" I call out sadly, looking for the floating entity. They appear before me, just as they had the first time. "I died again, didn't I?" I ask plainly, not ready to accept the truth. My emotions start to bubble up, the realization that I can't see my friends again, can't be with my brother again, all is starting to hit me."Yes, you did." Death says, their voice once again emanating from everywhere around me, yet also inside of my head. "Your soul this time is stronger than last. I can see it, you learned the true importance of friends." I sob at that, the finality of it all hitting me. I try to reign it in after a few minutes of silent tears, answering Death's unasked question."Yes, I did. It's not the people who are near you by association or convenience, it's the ones who will go into a war with you, and fight with you. True friends are those who will match the distance you are willing to go for them. Friends are those who don't give up on you, no matter your traits, who accept you for who you are." I say, and feel myself tearing up again. "I'm not going back to them, am I?" I ask in sorrow, already knowing the answer."No, your journey in that realm is done." Death says with finality. "However, I would like to offer you a gift."I look at the entity curiously as the tears start to fall again. "A gift?" I repeat to them, and they move towards the wall, and it reshapes, almost appearing like a screen."Watch, and see the affects you made on those around you. See how your friendships blossomed, even after your death. See how a soul should impact others when it is fully formed." Death says, and I tilt my head curiously."But my soul isn't fully formed. I saw it in battle twice, it has holes in it." I observe to them."True, for now. But the friendships you formed, formed to your very soul. They are the solid, complete parts of your soul now." They say, and the wall comes to light, looking like a window into Konoha.In the window screen, I see many things. I watch my own funeral, where all of my friends from every village come to see me. I can see Kitsuchi and Kurotsuchi from the Stone, we bonded during battle, and I guess we bonded enough for them to solemnly stand there amongst my own friends. I can see Kamui and Killer Bee there from the Cloud. The Sand siblings are all in attendance as well, standing up towards the front with my Konoha friends. The entire Hyuga clan, both main and branch families are there, with Lord Hiashi standing at the front of them. In the front of the large crowd gathered, I see everyone from Konoha I knew, even Itachi, Raido, Aoba, Izumo, Kotetsu, Genma, and Hayate. In the very front, Team Guy stands alongside Sasuke, Shikamaru, and Kiba, my closest and oldest friends. Neji stands in the very front of everyone, a look of grief on his face that I wish I could make go away. I wish I could tell him that I'll be ok.The next scene I see in the window is of Neji, reading the letter I left for him with the Hokage before the war. I was afraid I would die in the war, so I prepared a few letters. Most of them was just saying a thank you to each of my friends, and what their friendship meant to me, but Neji and Sasuke got different letters. Neji's told him the truth, the whole truth about me. I told him how I was afraid he would see me differently, and that's why I never told him. I watched as he read the letter, and saw the tears fall down his face."I never would have seen you differently, Ami. You're my twin, my best friend, I will always love you." I hear Neji say, looking to the sky. I feel a fresh tear roll down my cheek, and wipe it away softly while I smile at my brother.The scene shifts to a similar one, only of Sasuke reading his letter. In it, I told him how he was my foundation, my first real friend I ever made. I talked about all our most meaningful moments together, and how he helped push me forward. I apologized to him for never letting him speak his feelings to me. I told him to move on if he's reading the letter, to find someone who can support and love him for who he really is, just like I did."There will never be anyone like you, Ami. But for you, I will move forward. It may take me time, but I promise, once I find myself again and my purpose, I will move on. For now though, you took my purpose with you when you died." I hear Sasuke's sorrowful voice says to the sky after reading the letter, and I feel myself grow with pride that he will find his purpose, but also guilt and sadness at how upset he is."So you're really leaving?" Neji says as the scene shifts again. He is standing with Sasuke at the gates of the village."Yes. I need to know who I am without her. I'll be back though. My brother is here, and Naruto. I will return and call this village my home once again someday." Sasuke says sincerely to him, and I smile. I guess my scroll worked on Itachi and brought him back, that makes me really happy.The scene shifts again, and I can tell time has passed. It shows the Hokage tower, and Naruto is being named the Seventh Hokage. By his side are Jiraiya and Kakashi, who are both beaming with pride. Jiraiya got to see his student become Hokage, that's great for my friend, I know it was one of Naruto's greatest wishes. The scene shifts again, and shows the academy."Shirotsu!" I say out loud in confusion, seeing my friend in an older body, alive and well. "But he died, I watched him die.""Your interference brought back over half the shinobi who died in the war. Your friend Kakashi pulled off your plan." Death says simply as the scene progresses."Shirotsu Sensei!" I hear a young voice call out to the older Shirotsu. I grin, he became a genin squad leader, just like he always wanted to."Ami Hyuga, Daichi Lee, and Yumi Uchiha. You are all Team Three now. Congratulations." Shirotsu says mysteriously to them all. I look at the little kids, trying to guess their parents. The little Ami Hyuga is clearly Neji's daughter, though I can't place the mother. The little boy name Daichi is also clearly Lee's son, but he has pinkish hair and smaller eyebrows. I have a feeling I know who his mom is, and I grin at that. I look to the little Yumi girl, guessing she could be Sasuke's daughter, or Itachi's. I think about all their names, Daichi means Earth, which fits in with Rock Lee, then there's Ami, who is clearly named after me. Lastly there's Yumi, and that name means beautiful friend.The scene changes, following each kid home. First is Daichi, who goes home to Lee and Sakura. They are married, and have not only Daichi, but Metal too. Their sons are strong taijutsu users, but I can see Daichi also practicing medical ninjutsu with Sakura while Metal is practicing sparring with Guy Sensei and Lee, who is uninjured from the war. I smile broadly at that accomplishment, I even somehow changed his fate as well.Next, I follow Yumi home. Her parents are Sasuke and Karin, which makes me smile softly. Karin seems calmer, no longer a fangirl, and appears to be a good mother to their children. They have two other boys, one younger than Yumi and one older. Sasuke looks calm, and happy with his family, and his children all look like happy children, no darkness in them."Sasuke became a village advisor alongside Shikamaru, and will become an elder later in life with Asuma." Death says to me, and I look at him in surprise."And Itachi?" I ask curiously. The screen changed to show Itachi in civilian clothes with a woman and a child."He retired as a Shinobi after the war, and settled down in the village, never being a ninja again. He claimed his purposed as a ninja was fulfilled." Death says. I smile, thinking he finally got the rest and happiness he deserved.The screen goes to show the little Ami girl, who is indeed Neji's daughter. She runs home to a girl who is clearly her twin, and I grin at that. Neji married Tenten and had twin daughters. He passed on the twin gene. I also glow happily at the fact that neither girl has a cursed seal on their heads."They're not cursed." I say happily to Death."Naruto banned cursing on all Konoha citizens. He worked with your brother and it was one of his first acts as Hokage." Death says to me.The screen changed to show Naruto's and Hinata's home, where they have two children."Tomomi, Himawari!" I hear Naruto's adult voice calling as he walked into his home. I get confused for a moment, I was sure his son's name was Boruto."Naruto named his son after the closest friend he had who died." Death explained, seeing my confusion. "In the show, that was Neji. In your reality, it was you. Boruto means Bolt, which ties into Neji, which means Screw. Tomomi means friend, the same as your name, and it honored your legacy. Kakashi ended up telling your closest friends the truth about your resurrection after you died and did not come back." Death says to me.The screen goes on in flashes, showing all of my friends with their kids and their positions as ninja or retired. Asuma continued on as a village elder, eventually being joined by Sasuke. Kakashi retired with Guy Sensei, who never lost the use of his legs because he never fought Madara, who got sealed by Sai. Shikamaru married Temari and had a son. Shino, Kiba and Shirotsu stayed single, but were happy in their lives. The villages all prospered, and international relations were great. The world never fell under the Infinite Tsukiyomi. Death showed me how on the anniversary of the war every year, all my friends would get together to honor me and remember me at the tea house I frequented often with them. Tenten became the new blacksmith, and proudly displayed my three signature weapons, waiting for the day when someone would earn the right to use them. Sasuke kept the wind scythe he had made for me, and it is on display in his home, right alongside the lightning sword I got him."I have to ask..." I turn to Death after the screen goes black again. "Was all that real? Were they real people? Or was that all in my head?" I ask the one question that has been burning dimly in my mind since I was resurrected there in the Naruto story world."As Death, I too create life." Death says with finality. "They were all brought to life and live on in that reality I crafted for them. Story characters are just souls without bodies yet, I simply gave them their legs." I smile and bow my head in respect to the powerful entity before me.2"What now?" I ask Death softly once silence fell between us."Your next lesson." Death says simply.I am not sure I am ready to move on from my friends just yet, but I know I don't get a choice. I have learned my lesson, and got to spend 18 years living out a dream. I forged bonds that will never be broken, not even in my death. I will keep them all alive in my memories, and use the lessons I learned to face whatever the next life has in store for me. My soul feels stronger, but it still has a ways to go before it is fully revitalized.