A/N: Double update day! Should have the next chapter for "Don't Judge a Book" out in a few hours as well.

Still feel like death warmed over, but I'm recovering...I think?

This chapter proved to be a little shorter than what I would've liked, but that can't be helped at the moment. Not much to say up here this time around, save that I'm a foul mood with the big move coming up. Its something that I've been putting off for awhile, but this studio apartment really isn't cutting it for me anymore and I've bloody well had enough of my annoying roommate.

With luck, the new place will give me some much-needed peace and quiet. So! Lets answer a few questions and get on with it, eh?

Q: Alright, I'm sure you've been asked this before, but has Cinder unlocked her Sharingan? Not sure if you glossed that over or something.

A: She has not. That's...going to be a pivotal moment.

Q: I challenge you! A story where Cinder finds and raises Naruto! It can be in Remnant or in the Elemental Nations. Actually, make it Remnant. That'd be better. Do it! It must be done! I know Papa!Naruto is your thing these days, but it would be amusing to see you dip a toe into the realm of Mama!Cinder. And yes. That's an actual thing. Look it up.

I even have a title for you, old friend. How does "All Eyes On Me" sound to you? As ever, you know where to find me...

A: Whoa, there, mate! I'm holding off on new stories for the moment. Taking Flight may well be canceled due to the reception it received -its the weakest of all my stories and that burns to say, although its the truth- but I cannot simply crank out a new tale every week and hope to finish everything.

Also! Writing with one hand! That's difficult enough!

Q: Why is Cinder so keen on training Naruto?

A: To her, he's an investment. An asset. A partner. Furthermore, we all know he has the potential to be the strongest shinobi in the Elemental Nations once he'd made peace with Kurama. Cinder is, by her very nature, attracted to power; even if its a power she can never have. Furthermore as someone who was nothing and CAME from nothing she can't stand the idea of his potential being wasted.

And there we go! That's all I have to say this time around.

As ever, I own no references, themes or memes. Ha! If I did, I'd be a rich man.

Now then, I'll let you guys and gals be. Grab some popcorn, and I'll see you at the end of the chapter.

"What do you want, Cinder?"

"Everything."

"Ha! Isn't that a bit much? You can't hope to rule the world."

"Can't I?"

"I know what smile. What're you up to...?"

"Whatever do you mean? This world is already mine. It just doesn't know it yet."

~Naruto and Cinder.

Hold to Those You Trust (Interlude)

Reincarnation.

How very fascinating. Truly, it was. Cinder had never put much stock in the idea of rebirth or being reborn before, but now, quite suddenly, she found it thrust into her face like an onion gone bad. She'd thought herself a special case. Different. Unique. Blessed by the gods to be given life in a strange world. And for a time she had been. She'd seen no one she recognized from Remnant; no familiar faces or even acquaintances that might otherwise throw her schemes into disarray.

Then along came Emerald. Were they both cursed? Blessed by the gods? Both?

If they had reincarnated here with their memories intact, then there was a chance others may have done the same. The elemental nations were...distressingly large, to say nothing of the smaller villages and the hamlets scattered across the lands. Once was an accident, twice is coincidence, but thrice? Would there be a first time? What if the Gods were watching this world, rather than Remnant? No. She didn't like that thought. Not at all.

She liked Emerald's story even less.

"And that's the end of it." The poor girl continued her tale of woe as she nibbled on a warm biscuit and quaffed down a bit of warm cider. "It was awful." she swallowed once before finishing. "Everything fell apart after you died. That stupid Schnee managed to kill Mercury, but she was bleeding pretty badly the last I saw her. The White Fang were routed, too." her tan face pinched in an expression of awful pain. "And I," she swallowed once at some terrible memory. "I tried to avenge you..."

Cinder leaned back in her chair and didn't press her further, knowing she would speak given time. Sure enough, Emerald hastened on.

"Its all my fault." ruby red eyes burned white-hot with anger, her nose running as she sniffled. "I managed to stab Nikos in the leg, but that stupid boy-toy of hers ran me through before I could finish the job." she touched a hand to her chest, and for a moment Cinder was there, reliving the the grisly moment in vivid detail. "I'm sorry, ma'am." Emerald bowed her head at the last. "I failed you. Even when I was reborn I didn't think...well...I didn't know you would be here...

Cidner felt her heart twitch in sympathy. No, no, no! None of that!

"You did not fail me, Emerald." Instead, she reached across the table to touch a hand upon the taller girl's wrist. "You did your best."

Emerald dared a tentative smile and tucked into the rest of her meal with quiet aplomb.

Warm and secure in the Uchiha Compound, master and apprentice continued their conversation.

Cinder's room was of a size befitting her station, of course. As heiress to the vaunted Uchiha -second only to her dear brother Itachi!- she had quarters of her own, since she'd proven herself mature enough to sleep by her lonesome long. They were kitted out in her favorite colors, walls replete with shelves holding the few treasures she'd acquired over the course of her second life. There was even a neat little table in the corner which she and Emerald took their evening meal. Just thinking of it made her preen.

Her first childhood had been one lived in poverty and despair. She was determined that her second would not be so.

Even now she could hear Naruto banging about in the rafters above as he trained. The noise drew a rueful smile to her lips. Good. He needn't hear this. He would have questions; inquiries she wasn't yet prepared to answer. Cinder confessed a certain curiosity on that front. Had Nikos succumbed to her wounds? Did she yet live? Regardless, the power of Fall truly was split between the two of them. It didn't matter. She would possess more power than that Nikos chit could ever dream of. She touched two fingers to her chin.

"And what of Taurus?" she inquired, swirling her finger over the rim of her glass. "He didn't strike me as the type to flee."

"He didn't. Qrow Branwen found him first." Emerald grimaced. "Bastard killed his niece. Adam didn't die well."

Cinder scoffed. Branwen struck her as the vengeful sort and a vicious fighter at that. He was certainly more skilled than Taurus. Pride as a Faunus indeed! She contemplated the matter further. It galled her to know that Beacon had won the day; even if they'd suffered casualties of their own. But the true victory was hers. They thought her dead. Not so! She lived. Ha! She'd have the last laugh, assuming she ever found a way back to her world-

"I did it!"

Naruto's joyful exclamation cut through her maudlin thoughts like a knife through butter.

Cinder looked up to find him in the rafters, draped across a low-hanging beam. Dirty and covered in sweat, he nevertheless grinned down at them. Well, well, well. Seemed someone had finally gotten the hang of wall walking. Excellent. They'd start water walking soon. It was essential he knew the most basic of basics before she taught him anything more than what he already knew. The academy taught him nothing, actively limiting his training for fear of what he might become. It all fell to her. There was so much for him to learn. So much to do!

"Well done!" she called up to him. "Now come down from there, would you kindly? Its time for desert."

Blue eyes lit up. "What're we having?"

The door opened. Cinder smiled as a servant brought in a tray for them. "Red velvet cake."

Laughter from the rafters. "Ooh~!"

Some might turn up their noses at having the "demon-brat" running pell-mell about their household, but Cinder would have none of it. Neither would Mother, now that she'd apparently discovered his identity. Cinder couldn't rightly claim to know who Kushina was, but she'd taken one look at the boy's face and all but gasped that name. Her staff had been perfectly civil ever since. It certainly helped that the last manservant to badmouth Naruto had been tossed out on his ear and told not to come back. By the woman herself!

Heh. It was nice having a mom like Mikoto. She understood the pecking order.

"What is he to you?" Emerald whispered as they watched Naruto scurry back down.

Cinder thought on her response for a moment. Eventually, she settled for the truth. "The future."

And he was.

The power of a tailed beast was a terrible thing indeed; Father had spoken to her about it at great length when trying to warn her away from the boy. More fool he. Where others felt fear and dread, she saw potential in her dear friend. Once Naruto learned to control it -and she'd make sure he would!- no one would be able to stand in his way. Or her, for that matter. His power was her power and vice versa. She wasn't rightly sure how she felt about becoming a shinobi -much less fighting and dying for a village she didn't love- but there would be time for that later.

And until that day, they would train. The future would soon be within their grasp. She just knew it.

Wait. Her mind balked. Their?

"That's not fair." Emerald saw the starry look in her eyes made a tiny noise of discontent, sounding very much like a kicked child. "What about me, ma'am? What am I?"

Once, such a remark would've earned Emerald a stinging rebuke. Now? Cinder found she couldn't muster the anger to glare at her; much less condemn her for speaking out. Maybe it had something to do with her current age. It was one thing to shout at a teenager but they were, the both of them, children. And despite her newfound size and stature, Emerald looked terribly tiny beneath her gaze. Perhaps she was getting soft. This young girl had defied death to server her again, sought her out of her own volition when there had been no need to do. She could've stayed silent and walked away, leaving her none the wiser.

She hadn't. Did not such loyalty deserve a reward? A whim struck her then and in a fit of fancy she decided to act upon it.

With a put upon sigh Cinder pushed her chair back, stood, and marched over to the green-haired girl.

Red eyes widened as Emerald flinched, fearing her anger. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean-

"Hush."

Cinder stood upon the very tips of her toes and grabbed the girl by the face. From there, she dragged Emerald's head over her shoulder, nearly bending her back double to do so. Blast this small body. She absolutely loathed being short. Why was Emerald so tall in this incarnation?! Really, it wasn't fair. She couldn't wait for puberty. Maybe then she'd actually start growing!

Still, the tan girl sputtered like the anxious child she was in body and spirit. "Ma'am?!"

"Stop calling me that." Cinder tightened her grasp. "You're adopted."

Emerald choked on her own spit.

"What...?"

"Did I stutter?" Cinder lightly rapped the back of her head with a closed fist. "Adopted. I'm adopting you."

Silence reigned supreme. Naruto found his way down, saw the exchange between then, and wisely retreated with his slice of cake. Good boy.

Emerald still didn't responded. Her eyes had gone glazed. Oh, dear. Had she broken her? Hesitation reared its ugly head in Cinder's heart. Was this not what Emerald long for above all? She thought it must be. Gods knew she hadn't given the girl enough affection her first life. Even then, she'd still thrown her life away for her. What lengths might she go to if she were kept happy and sated? Best to keep her close. She told herself such lies, all the while burying the tiny pearl of truth deep within. Because quite frankly?

She didn't want to lose Emerald a second time.

"Sisters." she declared, pounding the concept into the girls head. "You're my little sister now, and that's that."

Red eyes bulged. "You can't just-

"Can I not?" Cinder cocked her head, allowing her dark tresses to all over a faintly glowing eye. "I am an Uchiha. My word carries weight now. If I say you're family, then you're family. Your objection has been noted and overruled."

The girl looked delighted beyond words, but still she dithered. "My clan won't like that."

"They will understand, or they will be made to understand." Cinder clicked her tongue. "I'm not taking you from them, mind." she shook her head. "I've just asserted my claim."

"But we're the same age...

Cinder scowled. "I'm older than you in spirit and we both know it."

Emerald hiccuped softly, the sound torn between a sob and a giggle.

"I'd like that." the word escaped her in a whisper. "I'd like that very much...sister."

Cinder stepped away, preening like a proud peacock. Emerald tugged at her sleeve.

"What's the plan?" she asked. "What do you want me to do?"

Emerald's words stuck with her. What plan, indeed. She still wasn't quite sure what her goals where. Power was a part of it, of course. But to what end? Power for power's sake was no goal at all. Cinder knew better now; she wouldn't get drunk on it ever again. That stupid Rose girl and that whining Nikos chit had won the day because, unlike her, they had something to fight for. Something -or someone!- that they wanted to protect at all costs.

"Nothing, for now." she said at last. "There's something I want to investigate, though. If you and I were reborn into this world...

Emerald perked up.

...others might be here to."

"There's a chance, yeah." she agreed.

Cinder stole a glance back to Naruto, happily munching on his cake and pointedly not looking at them.

Her heart gave a traitorous little flutter. She scowled. His company was...pleasant, all told. He validated her existence and gave her the praise which she was due. She was not a pawn but an equal; a potential peer with whim she may one day share power and in the future, so much more. To that end, she would see him made strong. She'd already laid the foundations of greatness for him; he had but to build upon them. Cinder considered the matter anew. Maybe she had something to protect after all...

"You're staying the night." she declared with resounding finality. "Naruto, too. We'll make an evening of it."

What had mother called such a thing? A sleepover? She'd never had one of those by her reckoning. The Glass Unicorn saw to that. But she had resolved herself to enjoy everything this fresh new life had to offer her. Why not indulge-

WHAP!

Cinder sputtered as a pillow smacked into her nose, the impact of which knocked her right down on her rear. She blinked with wide eyes, quite startled.

"Ha!" Naruto crowed from across the room. "Got you!"

"Oh?" A devious smirk split her face. "You do realize, this means war."

Naruto opened his mouth to reply that effect, only to find it filled by a second pillow. It had not come from Cinder's hand. He thrashed upright and frowned at the culprit.

"Traitor!"

Emerald whistled innocently, hiding another pillow behind her back. Naruto nailed with one one of his own and she ducked back with a girlish shriek. Everyone went mad. Cinder soon filched her own weapon of feathery doom and waded into the fray. Might as well enjoy this while it last. She would preserve this. She wouldn't let things change.

So she swore.

(.0.0.0.)

Itachi watched the children play and weighed his options from the window.

The time was fast approaching. He knew he would have to choose. The clan or his sister. His sister, or the clan?

In the end, there was really only one choice. No. He already knew this. There had only ever been one choice for one such as him...

(.0.0.0.)

Naruto was beginning to think Cinder was mad.

Just a hair, just a little, just a touch.

Quite alright, that. They were all mad here. Nothing wrong with a little bit of insanity every now and then. But if Cinder was mad, then Emerald was absolutely cracked. He didn't miss the longing glances she kept throwing Cinder's way. She was perfectly civil to him for the most part; though she had said something about not sharing Cinder. Too bad. He'd called dibs. Dibs were eternal.

Still, the girls baffled him.

More than once tonight he'd seen Cinder and Emerald put their heads together and whisper among themselves. Each time, they'd glance at him, nod and murmur something else. Neither of them had proven themselves particularly forthcoming when pressed and eventually he'd simply given up. Meh. Girl talk. Not his concern. He was too preoccupied with his thoughts to even wonder why they'd been talking about him, much less sleep.

He stared at the ceiling and practiced his breathing exercises, smiling softly to himself.

If this was what living the high life was like...well! A boy could get used to this.

Cinder fed him all kinds of techniques these days; some stolen from the Uchiha library and others not. Thanks to her generous patronage he was growing at a prodigious rate. He already knew how to walk on walls and water; a talent most didn't learn until they became genin. Thanks to her, he knew his elemental affinity as well and it was a rare thing indeed; strange as it might seem to have a dual one, that was what he held. Wind and fire. Cinder had seemed strangely pleased by that and he wasn't about to gainsay her. She wanted him to be strong? Fine by him. For her sake, he'd be the best in the world. He wouldn't let her or her family down.

So when Itachi Uchiha appeared in the dead of night? Naruto was understandably startled.

He didn't even see Cinder's brother appear; one moment he blinked and he wasn't there. The next, he was. Bright scarlet Sharingan eyes gazed down at him, narrow and intent. There was no anger to be seen in his lidded gaze; the lack of it frightened him. It was like staring into an empty void. Whatever Itachi might have felt in that moment, he shared with no one.

...let's have a chat, Naruto."

To be fair, Naruto had seen Itachi before, but only ever from afar. They'd barely spoken so much as two words to one another.

Those were more than two words!

The boy gulped. "Now's not really a good time...?"

Rimmed crimson orbs narrowed further still. "I wasn't asking."

Nope! All the nope! Naruto nearly yelped, and very well would have, had the older boy not clamped a hand over his jaw to silence him. With the other, hand Cinder's sibling nimbly plucked him up by the scruff of the neck and tugged him out of bed. With nary a sound, he set him back down on the floor. It was over before he could even think to struggle. Cinder and Emerald didn't even hear them. They didn't stir. Not a bit. The hand left his mouth, freeing him to speak once more.

"Hey!" Naruto rounded on Itachi for it. "What's the big idea-

Stern fingers gripped his shoulder and the world blurred in a swirl of leaves.

Cold air burned his lungs and he shivered, instinctively hugging his shoulders for warmth. Frantic, he cast a glance for their surroundings. What he found their alarmed him as much as the full moonlight. They were on the roof? When? How?! Itachi couldn't be that fast, surely...?

How little he knew.

"There." the older boy's rough voice grated in his ear. "We can speak freely here."

Naruto edged backwards. A bitter wind blew through the night, causing him to shudder anew. Winter was coming, and he'd not brought a coat.

"About what...?"

"Tell me." the heir spoke suddenly, startling him. "If you were forced to decided between my sister and the village, if you could only save one, which would you choose?"

"I'd save both?" he tried to laugh and phrase it as a question but Itachi glared bloody red daggers at him for it. "Alright, alright...jeez...don't look at me like that...

Naruto wrinkled his nose and thumbed his chin, brow furrowing in deep thought.

Itachi stood before like the reaper itself, awaiting his answer.

Which would he choose? Not so long ago, he might have been torn on such a decision. He wanted to be Hokage, after all. A small part of him still did. Wearing that hat, thumbing his nose at everyone who had ever looked down on him, on those who called him no one and nothing...there could be no greater retribution than that. Cinder had shown him another path. He could prove everyone wrong every day, by exceeding their expectations and smashing down their ignorance with his rapidly growing skills. But if he had to choose? If he could only have one?

Cinder's face flashed before his mind, her smile fixed in his mind's eye.

"Never forsake me, and I will never forsake you."

Naruto knew Cinder wasn't quite right in the head. She saw the world differently than most. She'd given him so much in such a short time, taught him to be more than he was. Every day he learned something new. Every day he came out of his shell that much more. Every day he became that much stronger, to the dismay of those who would put him down. Every. Single. Day. And what had the village give him? Precious little. Hmm. Well, that made things easy, didn't it? He dared to look up at Itachi. Something in his gaze made the older boy flinch.

"Well, I'd choose Cinder, obviously."

A fresh gale lashed through the air, tearing at their hair to send dead leaves whirling away into the night. Oddly enough, his response seemed to aggravate the Uchiha further. Naruto noted the sword at his back. He'd not drawn it yet. He hoped Itachi wouldn't. His words, as it turned out, were sharper than any blade.

"And why would you?"

"Why?!" Something in the boy bridled at Itachi's tone just hen. "What kind of question is that?!" his voice pitched in anger, jumping an octave. "She's my friend! She helps me! She teaches me! She sticks up for me!" a spark of scarlet scrawled through his azure eyes, unnoticed by him as his hands balled into fists at his sides. "That's more than anyone else does! Do you not want me near her?! Is that what this is about?!"

Itachi didn't rise to the bait; didn't even blink. "And if I told you Cinder wasn't what she appeared?"

Naruto scoffed. "I wouldn't believe you. So what if she's different? I'd still side with her."

"Will you?" he wasn't prepared for the challenge. "Even against the world?"

The boy lifted his chin defiance. "I never go back on my word."

Nor was he ready for the smile that followed said words.

"I'll hold you to that answer, then. You pass. Sleep."

"Now wait just a damn minute you baaaa...

Keen ruby eyes met sapphire.

The world fell away.

A/N: The plot thickens.

What're you up to, Itachi...?

Again, not much to say here. I'll let the story do the talking for me this time around. I think we all know what's coming next...or do we? The next few chapters just might surprise you. Now then, I've got some packing to do; not hiring a moving crew means I have to move all this crap myself. Saves me some money though, I suppose...

As ever, reviews keep me going in this crazy time. Without them, I just can't seem to write.

So in the Immortal Words of Atlas...

...Review...Would You Kindly?

And as ever:

SPOILER! SPOILER! SPOILER!

READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!

PLOT DETAILS AHOY!

(Previews)

"Life goes on, Cinder. Times change. People change. And actions...have consequences."

A streak of crimson petals cut across the night.

"Crap, crap, craaaap!"

...and hit a wall.

"Owie...

Gaara sighed. "Sister, you really need to control yourself...

The blade came down.

Her eyes burned.

R&R~!