❝ i keep my promise, right? ❞

this was the first time Shizuka felt so useless in a fight. She just stood still like an insect while Naruto and Sasuke did all the work. She doesn't like this. At this rate, Shizuka thought that she better be in an eternal dream. Instead of being an additional burden to both of them.

That's enough, she couldn't take it anymore.

Activating her sage mode, Shizuka's left arm again showed scale-like markings up to her left face. And a pair of red dragon wings came out from her back.

Shizuka flew away, avoiding Kaguya's hands that were changing into something like a mass of tailed beasts. Looks like the tailed beasts within her resonating in response to Naruto's attack and starting to split apart.

"Shi-chan?! How can you―" asked Naruto, shocked at her appearance and the fact that she could fly and had wings.

"Later," she said, flying over to Kakashi who had made his Susanoo. "Boil Release: Skilled Fog Technique!"

Shizuka emits an acidic fog from her mouth and covered the creature's entire surface in her fog. Causing it to scream out in pain as they melt slowly, followed by Kakashi's attack which cut off two of its hands.

The creature let out a screech, changing form back into Kaguya. However, there was a giant black sphere behind her. "That thing's... Just like the spheres behind me!"

"Yeah, but a lot bigger!" Sasuke spoke. "And it's still growing!"

"I definitely can't teleport away such a giant object with the kamui. And even we escape into the other dimension..." Kakashi said. "...if that thing gets too large, we won't be able to return to this place."

"In order to stop that thing..."

"... We need to seal that Rabbit Granny away like right now, huh."

"Gather around, I've got a plan!" Kakashi ordered. "This will be our very last mission as the former team 7. We're going to save the world!"

"Hmph!"

"Yeah!"

"Roger!"

"Alright."

Kaguya stuck her staff into Kakashi, but the man used his Sharingan to intangibility it, like what Obito did. The Susanoo vanished automatically as he used his right palm which was coated with lightning. "Kamui Lightning Blade!" he managed to slit Kaguya's left shoulder, sending the goddess falling down.

Shizuka clapped her palms together. "Wood Release!" wood came out of the ground and wrapped around the goddess so she couldn't move, along with Sakura punching her head, and Naruto and Sasuke pointing their palms at the goddess.

Yup, what a nice picture. I really love you guys right now...

The dimension they were in began to crumble. The black giant sphere also started to disappear, followed by Kaguya who changed form into the Ten Tails. The tails began to form the tailed beasts which ended up separating and forming their original bodies.

Shizuka landed, her sage mode had also disappeared. Her eyes searched for someone among the tailed beasts that heading for them. "Where's Naruto?"

"He went off by himself, saying there was something he had to take care of," Sasuke explained. "more importantly, we need to get farther away from here!"

"Everyone!!" Naruto shouted, jumped to them with a big smile. After landing, he turned his head towards her. "Shi-chan!! Thank God you're fine!"

"Huh?" she looked offended, staring dead at him. "You think I'm that weak?"

"Not at all, ttebayou!" he replied quickly. "By the way, how do you have wings???"

"It's my sage mode," she replied simply.

"Eh? Shi-chan has it too??"

"I've had it before you, nanodayo," she explained, pushes up her glasses. "It's just that I didn't feel like using it before."

"As expected of Shi-chan!"

"Urusainodayo."

"Sorry, Shi-chan!"

Sakura stretched her muscles. "Aah!! It's finally over. I want to take a hot shower after this," then she stopped, her expression quickly changes to panic. "Wait a sec! What about us?! How are we supposed to get home from here?!"

"Aaa!!! You're right!!!" Naruto freaked out too.

Sasuke and Shizuka deadpanned.

Then they were suddenly at the place where they were fighting Madara before. The five of them were in the middle with the tailed beasts encircling them. Shizuka also realized that in front of the tailed beasts, there were ninjas she didn't know apart from the Hokage.

"Naruto, who is he?" whispered Sakura to someone levitating in front of them. With clothes and facial forms similar to Kaguya.

"Six Paths Super Gramps!!" Naruto trailed off. "Which means..."

"That's right. You're back in your world. Via a summoning jutsu performed by all prior Gokage together. I called the historical Gokage here from the afterworld to help," he explained. "Naruto, Sasuke, and the rest of you... Excellent work saving the world."

Sakura, Kakashi, and Shizuka looked at each other. Confused by what the man said and how Sasuke and Naruto seemed to know him. "Six Paths Super Gramps?" Sakura wondered.

"Are you..."

"I am Otsutsuki Hagoromo, also known as the Sage of Six Paths," Shizuka blinked as she let the information enter her mind. She didn't want to be surprised anymore. In this war, even the legends and the ones that were considered only a myth appeared one by one. Senju Hashirama, Senju Tobirama, Sarutobi Hiruzen, Namikaze Minato, Uchiha Madara, Otsutsuki Kaguya, Otsutsuki Hagoromo ... And there are other great ninjas and Kages from other villages.

"Tell her not to worry that I'm eating properly!" Shizuka's daydream broke when she heard something. She looked up, turned towards Naruto and Minato. "Lots of different stuff without being picky! Tonkotsu ramen, miso ramen, shoyu ramen... Oh! Not just ramen, I swear!"

"I bathe almost every day too! Even going to Konoha's bathhouse once in a while! Though everyone tells me my baths are only lightning-quick dips!" Naruto chuckled, crossing his arms behind his head. But Shizuka knew he was just covering up his sadness. "I made lots of friends! They're all good guys!"

"My studies, they didn't go anywhere close to well, but I made sure not to get down on myself at all. Confidence is something that I got more of than anyone else!" he continued. "and of course, I obeyed Sandaime and Kakashi-sensei! I respect them both! Since they're here, you can ask them yourself!"

"Oh! And those three prohibitions of shinobi! I learned a whole lot about them when I was with Pervy Sage! He was pretty bad regarding the prohibitions, but Pervy Sage was an awesome shinobi and I respect him the most! I really do!"

"I just turned 17 today, so I still don't know much about alcohol or girls!" then he blushed as he scratched the back of his head. "But um, I'm into someone right now. And maybe you've met her. And em... I know about Mother telling me to find someone like her, but..."

"Anyways!! Not everything Mother told me about went well, but! I did the best I could!" Naruto closed his eyes, fighting back the tears that want to escape. "And I've got dreams too! I'm gonna be an even greater Hokage than you! I swear I will!" finally his tears came out and his voice had started shaking. "Tell Mother when you see her, that she doesn't need to worry about me at all! That I'm doing fine!"

The previous Kage's all disappeared. And something happened. Sasuke ―how Shizuka was fed up with that man― used his Rinnegan to insert the tailed beasts into a genjutsu and traps them with Chibaku Tensei.

And he also used genjutsu on Sakura who wanted to stop Sasuke. Shizuka bit her lip, a habit she acquired now, and stared at Naruto. "Go, Naruto."

"Shi-chan―" Naruto looked taken back.

"I told you before, right? I trust you, so go and do something about Sasuke," her words clearly shocked Kakashi and Naruto. "And do you still remember the Great Toad Sage's vision? He's already seen about your fight with Sasuke ... So, just ... go."

"I promise that I'll stay alive," he said firmly, staring at Shizuka's eyes deeply. "I promise that."

The one being stared, looked away. "You don't have to promise something like that."

Then the two of them went to fight. Leaving Kakashi, Shizuka, and Sakura who is still unconscious.

"Shizuka.." Kakashi trailed off.

"I told you, right? The Great Toad Sage has already seen about the two's fight," she exhaled the breath that unknowingly she held. "It's bound to happen."

○○○

It's already morning. And the three of them went straight to the place that Naruto and Sasuke might use to fight. With Shizuka as their guide as she's the one who can feel their chakra.

They stopped at the Valley of the End, where Hashirama and Madara had fought before. This place is now destroyed, the statue as well and the ruins accidentally make the unison sign.

Shizuka and Sakura glanced at each other before both of them nodded and jumped down. Now she could clearly see both of them. Naruto and Sasuke lay on the rock with their faces bruised and their dominant arms cut off.

"Shi-chan..." called Naruto, making her turn her head at him. And then the teen gave her his trademark grin. "I kept my promise, right?"

Shizuka scoffed. "Idiot," before crouching down and the two girls started treating them.

"Sakura, I'm sorry."

Shizuka and Naruto remained silent, letting the two of them speak. The girl would never admit it, but she was grateful that she accepting the mission that the Lord Third gave her. Thankful that she is a member of team 7 and how they are back to normal.

"Come on guys, let's go home."

Shizuka ended up helping Naruto walk because the teen was still weak from the fight. They walked in the back row, with Sakura and Sasuke in front of them, and Kakashi in the front row, leading them.

"Shi-chan..." Naruto called.

"What?"

"Did you know.." he trailed off.

"Just get to the point, nanodayo," said Shizuka, starting to get annoyed. "It's better to be something important or I'll drop you.."

Naruto chuckled at her threat. "You know, you are just like Kurama, not upfront with your own feelings. What a tsundere~"

Bruk! Shizuka let go of her grip, dropped Naruto on the ground. "So mean, Shi-chan!!"

"Tch, I already warned you."

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After arriving at the Konohagakure gate, the five of them were immediately greeted by the villagers and ninjas who had returned. Even though it was more towards Naruto.

Who knows how long he was greeted, in the end, the crowd disappeared. As they wanted to let them rest immediately due to the great war that had just ended.

Naruto turned towards Shizuka who was still next to him. "Shi-chan, do you want―"

His words broke off when he felt something soft against his cheek. His eyes widened, feeling Shizuka kissing his cheek even for just a few seconds. His cheeks started to redden and his heart started beating erratically.

And the girl immediately disappeared, leaving Naruto who was still shocked, speechless, in the middle of the road.

And after a few seconds ―as if his mind had just finished processing what just happened― a big smile etched on his face.

Happy birthday, Naruto.

MY BEST BIRTHDAY EVER!!!

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