Finally Home

Dark, bleak, dead. That's what described this world now. Once, it was full of people, simply living their lives. Now they were gone. What remained of them was being consumed one bite at a time, by the man in white.

He ate the fruit the tree produced, but it wasn't enough. It was barely worth anything though. He and the rest of the clan had to go to small worlds with low populations. Far away and hidden. It wasn't like before where all the worlds where available for harvesting.

As he swallowed the last bite, he thought of the reason why. The lowly creatures that wielded their weapons. Those damned Keyblade wielders.

"Lord Momoshiki," a doorway opened. He looked to see another member of his clan come through, "I have news, that might prove beneficial."

%%%%

Boruto snuck into Himawari's room and placed the present on her bed. Himawari's Birthday had arrived. Boruto got her two gifts. One to show in front of their parents and another to keep in secret.

Boruto left his little sister's bedroom to help make dinner. His dad was in his home office. Boruto felt relieved when he saw his father greet them when they came home.

Himawari looked so happy. Kairi couldn't be there, the least she deserved was to have both her parents there.

Maybe later, Boruto would tell him he was taking the Chunin exam. Boruto didn't want to take it at first. Half of reason he didn't want to; was because he didn't see the point. He didn't want to waste time proving himself taking old tests. The other half: Kairi wasn't a chunin, she wasn't even a ninja. She never had the option before. It felt wrong to have something she didn't have.

Kairi said she was strong, but how strong could she be? Boruto didn't know. Sarada convinced him to take part in the Chunin exams. She told him she could show off his strength and finally get his Dad's attention, and Chunin got higher ranked missions. Got access to higher intel. If Boruto became a Chunin, he'd be much closer to finding Kairi.

He sat down at the table with his family. Watching Himawari unwrap her presents. She looked so happy. The food was spread out. Each plate looked delicious, and so did the Birthday cake.

Their Dad got the cake from the kitchen, and started to bring it to the table. Boruto at the moment was happy. Himawari was having a good birthday. Their parents were with them. The only thing that would make it better, were if Kairi were there. Other than that, everything was perfect.

Until their father disappeared in a puff of smoke and the cake fell onto the floor, ruined. Boruto looked at the splattered mess in disbelief. He wasn't really there to begin with. He only sent a shadow clone to Himawari's birthday.

%%%%%%

Naruto opened his eyes as the experience of his clone returned to him. Naruto actually passed out from exhaustion. That hadn't happened since he searched for Kairi.

"I messed up again," Naruto's clone vanished too soon. Himawari's cake was ruined. His promise to Boruto was broken. He didn't want to send a shadow clone to his daughter's birthday, but he had too much work. They were behind on the chunin exam preparations and there was the issue with the White Zetsu.

Shikamaru entered, "Lord Seventh I'm coming in," when he saw Naruto collapsed on the floor, he immediately rushed over to help, "What happened?"

"It looks like," Naruto began, "I ruined Himawari's birthday."

Shikamaru could only groan, "That's why I told you to go home."

"I know, but that's just not possible," Naruto said as he and Shikamaru picked up the dropped papers before going back to his death, "There's Zetzu and those ruins, and we're still behind on preparations for the Chunin Exams."

As Naruto sat he took in a deep breath. He was really tired.

From the darkness in his eyes, he could have sworn, he saw Neji. Neji was standing in front of him. He was saying something, but Naruto couldn't hear him. Before Naruto could make it out, he opened his eyes and caught the scroll that was thrown at him from the door.

"A gift from Kaguya's Palace," Sasuke entered the room.

Naruto opened the scroll to try and read the writing, but couldn't. It wasn't a hidden message, just another language they couldn't read.

Sasuke then told them about how the two people he fought. And how they strongly resembled Kaguya. Naturally Shikamaru panicked, he was afraid of another war.

"We can't let another war like that ever happen again," Naruto said, with tired determination.

Sasuke could tell, Naruto was tired. Apparently, he had been working too hard again. Sasuke thought for a moment not to tell Naruto about the other thing, but decided to tell him anyway. Naruto deserved to know.

"Another thing, something happened on my way back," Sasuke explained.

Naruto looked up, "What?"

"I encountered Luxu."

The world seemed to screech to a halt. Naruto dropped the scroll on the desk, as he looked at his oldest friend like he saw a ghost. A whole minute passed before Naruto rose from the desk, "Where?"

Naruto looked like he was ready to go. To charge out to find Luxu and tear him to pieces.

"I don't know, he managed to flee before I could apprehend him."

"How could you let him get away?" Naruto nearly yelled.

"Naruto, calm down," Shikamaru snapped before looking at Sasuke, "What happened."

Sasuke managed to jump through the portal, escaping the Otsutsuki. He knew he couldn't handle two of them alone. He barely defeated Kaguya with Naruto, Sakura, and Kakashi.

He landed in the new area with a thud. As he examined the scroll, her heard a soft clinking.

He put the scroll down and looked around for the first time. The area was dry and barren, it almost resembled a desert. He noticed he was in a small canyon, when he looked towards the source of the sound, he saw a sword. Sasuke raised an eyebrow, what was that doing there?

Did it have something to do with the Otsutsuki? Sasuke crossed the canyon to examine the weapon. The clinking noise was a chain that was attached to the hilt. By the way it was rusted, the sword had been there for a very long time. As he got closer, he saw that the end of the blade had a design, like teeth on a skeleton key. Overall, it looked like a giant key.

When he got closer to the edge of the canyon, he saw more of the strange swords littering the exit, like a trail. Sasuke wasn't normally the curious type, but he found himself follow the trail of weapons. Each had the same basic build, a handle guard on both sides and a design at the edge of the blade, but each had different design.

Before long the canyon opened. Sasuke could barely believe his eyes.

There were so many sword lodged into the ground, the only way to go through was through the trail that led into a crossroads. Sasuke new exactly what this was.

A war happened here. A war that had so many warriors. He looked down at the weapons, no survivors. No one to come and collect their fallen comrades weapons. Whatever happened, happened a long time ago. Sasuke began walking down the trail.

Who fought here? Did the Otsutsuki have anything to do with this war?

Sasuke's eyes wandered to the swords again. Each was wedged into the ground, marking the death of their owners. It was almost like walking through a graveyard. Sasuke almost felt like he was trespassing.

"Well, what do ya know, I never thought you'd come here."

Sasuke turned and looked behind him. His eyes widened. He recognized the man before him, Naruto and Hinata told him every detail of the hooded man, when they told him Kairi was kidnapped.

Sasuke pulled out his sword, "Luxu."

"Nice to know you remember me," the hooded man said. Sasuke could hear his smirk.

Sasuke just glared as he activated his Sharingan,

"What, not going to ask me anything?"

"You can tell your story when we return to the Leaf. I guarantee Naruto will want to talk to you."

Sasuke had kept his eyes out for Luxu all these years. He wasn't an optimist, he didn't think Kairi could possibly be alive, but he did want Naruto to have some kind of peace.

Sasuke charged forward, to attack Luxu.

"Now that's not nice, but I'll let you in on a secret," Luxu summoned a sword and blocked his strike. Sasuke quickly noted that it was the same key shaped sword that littered the area. Sasuke was about use his Rinegan when Luxu dodged around him, as he passed Sasuke, he whispered something that stunned Sasuke for a second. Only a second, but it was enough.

Sasuke turned to see Luxu had vanished.

"After all these years," Naruto's hands curled into fists.

Sasuke chose that moment to pull out Naruto's old jacket. Naruto saw his old clothes and looked at him confused.

"Why do you have this?"

"I found it on the way here. Not far from your house," Sasuke explained.

Naruto looked down as he took his old jacket. There could only be one explanation for why his jacket was on the street: Boruto.

"I see," Naruto knew his son was going to give him an earful later.

"I also met your kid," Sasuke recalled how Boruto tried to attack him at the door, "He's a lot like you when you were young."

Naruto smiled, "No I say he's more like you… No that's not right either. All the clothes he wears are crisp and clean, like they're brand new," Naruto looked down, "He's convinced Kairi is still alive out there."

Sasuke didn't comment on that.

"I guess, you and I are just behind the times," Naruto lamenated.

"You're wrong," Sasuke spoke, "Even if the times change, the soul of a shinobi never changes."

Naruto shook his head tiredly, "No, I think the winner of this contest is me."

Sasuke grunted as he turned, "You're one to talk loser." With that he left the office. Sasuke decided he'd stay in the village for a while. He wanted to know what the scroll said, and Naruto was going to want to know more about the place where he last saw Luxu… While he was there, he might as well see his family. He heard Sarada was going to take the Chunin exams.

As he walked through the halls, he noticed someone approaching Hokage Tower from the window. He recognized the blond mass of hair.

Sasuke went to the entrance to confront Boruto. Boruto was clearly out of his league, making it clear he wanted to beat up his father, so Sasuke demonstrated his own strength. Of course, Sasuke didn't go all out, Boruto was just a kid. But soon he had the young Uzumaki in an arm lock.

"There," Sasuke finally released Boruto, "Now you know just how strong you are."

Boruto turned around to face, but he was looking down. Sasuke expected him to lash out and yell. Naruto did it all the time.

"Amazing!" Boruto looked up to him with starry eyes.

"Eh." Sasuke did not expect.

"You're really strong," Boruto praised, "It's true, you used to be Dad's rival didn't you? So," Boruto looked determined, "Could you, please make me your student."

%%%%%

Riku jumped when Kairi dropped her mug. When he turned to face his friend, he cringed. Kairi's expression was that of pure horror, "Kairi, are you okay?"

"I don't know why…" Kairi said hauntingly, "but something inside of me… just died."

"Uh," Riku didn't know what to say, he just helped her clean up the dropped mug of hot chocolate.

%%%%%

"Student?" Never did Sasuke think Naruto's child would ask him to teach him anything. For one thing, Kairi didn't like him.

Sasuke and Sakura where in the Hokage's office, reporting to Kakashi. In Sakura's arms were a tiny baby.

"Hey, you guys are really back," Naruto entered the office trailing behind him was Kairi. Behind him was Hinata, holding Boruto.

"Yep," Sakura smiled, "We're back."

"Wow," Naruto spotted baby Sarada, "You really did have a kid. And here I thought Sasuke didn't have a-…"

"Naruto," Hinata scolded. There was a little girl present.

"Didn't have what?" Kairi asked innocently. That made the adults tense up.

"Um… Kairi is that you?" Sakura walked forward, trying to make Kairi forget her father's comment. The Pinkette crouched down to look at the little girl, "Look at you, you're so big now, I didn't recognize."

Kairi looked at the woman confused. Then she looked up at her father hoping he would explain.

"I should have known you wouldn't remember me," Sakura explained sadly.

"Kairi," Naruto crouched down, "This is your Aunt Sakura and Uncle Sasuke. Say hello."

Kairi looked at Sakura. She blushed a little from shyness, but remembered her manners, "It's nice to meet you."

Sakura smiled, "It's nice to meet you to," Sakura stood up, "Sasuke come say hi."

Sasuke approached the little girl. However, due to Sasuke's tall dark appearance; Kairi wasn't as welcoming. He looked scary. When he got closer, she trembled, before bolting behind her father, squeaking a, "Daddy!" As she hid.

"Please," Boruto begged, "I need to get stronger. There's someone I have to take down no matter what it takes."

"But why go so far to rebel against your father?"

"Because," Boruto ground out, "He only sent a shadow clone to my little sister's birthday party. He broke a sacred promise between us, I won't forgive him. Also, there's someone I have to find no matter what!"

"You mean Kairi?"

"I know you all think she's dead," Boruto snapped, "But I know she's alive. She said she's far away and it's hard for her to come home, but she's still trying; but I'm going to be the one to find her and bring her home!"

"I get it now," Sasuke took note of Boruto's clothes, "Still brand new."

Boruto reminded him of Naruto when he was a kid. Sasuke also recalled what Luxu whispered at the battle site.

Kairi is still alive.

Sasuke didn't know if that was true, or Luxu was just trying to distract him. He didn't tell Naruto, because he didn't want to give him false hope. So for now, he'd hold onto what Luxu said, besides, Boruto seemed convinced Kairi was alive.

"Can you at least perform the Rasengan?"

"The Rasengan?" Boruto remembered the attack. Konahamaru used it to kill the White Zetzu. It was powerful, Boruto didn't think he'd mind knowing how to do it.

"You want to get back at Naruto right?" Sasuke asked. That caught Boruto's attention, "Look," Sasuke continued, "At this stage, if you can't at least pull that off, then you can't be a student of mine."

Sasuke began to walk away. Boruto panicked and quickly ran in front of him, stopping the man, "If I learn the Rasengan, that means you'll make me your student, right?"

Sasuke didn't answer. But Boruto took his lack of denial as confirmation.

Boruto grinned, "Heh, that'll be a piece of cake, ya know. I'll go and master it right away." Boruto turned and ran off to learn the Rasengan.

%%%%%

It took a while, but Kairi got over her shock. She still didn't know why she felt like that, but she didn't have time to think about it.

They had been looking at other worlds. Well, Kairi had been looking at other worlds. Kairi came from a world that was populated by people with chakra. When they found a new world, they would stay in orbit and Kairi would look at it with her Byakugan. If the people had chakra, she could see it. But so far every world they've been too, was barren.

Kairi sighed, maybe she was doing it wrong. Riku was in his quarters. Kairi was still up, trying to find the way home.

She focused on her family and how they made her feel. Kairi knew that helped. She could feel something strengthen when she did that; but it wasn't enough. Where her parents and siblings not enough.

Kairi sat down and thought. What else connected her to that world? She went back to her memories.

Mirai, she was my friend. She was older but she always played with me. She would practice Genjutsu with her mom.

There's Grandpa. He was so nice. He was always happy to see me. He always had presents.

There was also Aunt… um, Big Sister Hanabi. Why did she want me to call her Big sister? She's my aunt. She's my mom's little sister. That makes her my aunt! She always chased me around to tickle me when I called her that.

There were also, my 'aunts and uncles,' who I think were just my parent's friends. They were nice. Some of them liked to tease me. But I always felt safe with them. They really loved little me.

Kairi looked at her reflection in the glass dome. They loved and lost a five-year-old Kairi. Kairi was sixteen about to turn seventeen. She was almost an adult. What if they didn't want her to be part of their lives anymore. Boruto told them that they thought they were dead.

They must have moved on with their lives. She recalled most of them were having kids around the time her mom was pregnant as well. They had their own families to think of. Kairi wanted them to do that. To focus and love their families, not spend all their time grieving over her. But why did the thought still hurt? A few months ago, she didn't even remember these people. Now, she wanted them to love her? Kairi felt so selfish.

She curled up onto a ball. What if they didn't want her anymore? The question hurt to think about.

Boruto's face came to mind. She remembered, the tears in his eyes when he learned it was her. How happy he was to see her, how much he wanted her back.

She uncurled her feeble position.

Well, she thought, At least one person wants me back. Don't I owe it to him to come home?

Suddenly, the Keyblade flashed into Kairi's hands. The magical weapon pointed out towards the front of the ship, and a large tunnel opened. The next think Kairi knew, the gummi ship launched forward on it's own. She fell backwards onto her seat as it shot forward. What was going on now?

The shipped stopped as quickly as it started. Kairi was thrown out of her chair and landed on the floor, "Ow."

Kairi stood up, "Where are we now?" Kairi noticed a glow coming from above them. She looked up to see a new world. It was big, really big, "Wait a minute?"

"What just happened?" Riku entered the cock pit, "The ship just jerked out of control? I fell out of bed, what was…" Riku trailed off when he saw Kairi wasn't even looking at him, "Kairi?"

He noticed Kairi was trembling. Riku got closer and saw that her cheeks were wet, "Kairi?" Riku asked again a bit more panicked. He got infront of her to look at her face. Her Byakugan was activated.

"Riku," Kairi whispered, "This is it?"

Riku looked towards the world Kairi was fixated on, "This is it?"

"Yeah?" Kairi smiled as she went to edge of the glass and placed her hands on it. The world above them was filled with chakra. Not just any chakra the same kind she had, "I'm finally home."