I do not own Naruto Shippuden or any of the characters. Totally thought I uploaded this chapter before. My bad. All fixed now.
Reunion
Ryuu opened his eyes and squinted against the light. Everything was too bright, enough that everything seemed blurred slightly. He pushed himself up and looked around. He was in the bed of his house, alone. Fu's place in the bed was empty and made neatly, Yomo's cage stood empty in the corner, and everything was silent, almost eerily so, if he hadn't felt so calm.
"So, this is the afterlife?" Ryuu mused, walking to the door and opening it.
As with his room, everything just seemed too bright. He checked Yugao's room, but it was just as empty as his had been. He sighed, walking down the stairs. if this was the afterlife, it was awful lonely. Maybe it was just a waiting area? He stepped into the kitchen and suddenly it was like a switch had been flipped. He could hear food cooking, he could hear Fu's beautiful voice humming to herself the way she always did when she was cooking, he could smell bacon, and he could hear a baby babbling. He turned to the stove and stopped, staring at Fu as she turned to him, smiling. Unlike the world around them, Fu wasn't blurry. His eyes focused on her in crystal clear definition, right up until his tears blurred his vision.
"You're finally here," Fu smiled. "We've been waiting for you."
He crossed the room in two steps, hugging her tightly and breaking down into sobs. Fu smiled and held him, stroking up and down his back comfortingly. After a few minutes, he pulled back and kissed her, Fu kissing him back happily.
"I'm sorry," Ryuu said as he rested his forehead against hers. "I couldn't protect you."
"I'm not mad," Fu smiled. "I chose to save you, because I love you. I'm sorry for dying before you, but I couldn't bear to let you be killed. We've been watching you, though." She smiled radiantly at him, pride shining from her eyes. "You were amazing!"
"I was out of control," Ryuu said. "I just went berserk and stopped caring if I hurt anyone, or if I survived."
"Ryuu, you almost beat five Peins alone," Fu smiled. "If you hadn't used that last jutsu, you would have."
"I threw my life away," Ryuu said.
Fu smiled, shaking her head. "It doesn't matter. You did amazingly, and now we're together again. All three of us."
Ryuu's brow furrowed before his eyes widened and he turned, staring down at the infant, who was staring up at him in awe and curiosity. "Is..."
"Ours," Fu smiled, wrapping her arms around him from behind and kissing the back of his shoulder.
Ryuu smiled, tears again beginning to fall as he picked up the infant's pacifier, holding it just out of reach. The child, who had been chewing it's fingers, reached for it, its orange eyes moving from him to its pacifier.
"Our child has your eyes," Ryuu smiled, just as the infant shrieked in agitation, shoving almost its entire hands back into its mouth, its eyes flashing and turning to Sharingan, Ryuu laughing. "And your patience and attitude."
"And Sharingan," Fu pointed out.
"Is it a boy or girl?" Ryuu said, moving the pacifier closer, only for the child to shriek again, pushing it away.
"No spoilers," Fu smiled.
"What, you already know?" Ryuu asked.
"A mother always knows," Fu smiled.
"I wouldn't necessarily say they always know," a voice Ryuu thought he'd never hear again chuckled.
Ryuu turned to the door to the living room, staring at Shisui, who smiled, appearing just as clear and focused in Ryuu's vision as Fu and their child had. "Big Brother."
"Hello Ryuu," Shisui smiled.
"What...you're..."
"I told you," Fu smiled. "We've been waiting for you."
She released Ryuu, and he stepped forward, hugging his brother, Shisui chuckling and hugging him back.
"You're still here," Ryuu said, pulling back. "Why?"
"I've always been here, Ryuu," Shisui said. "You didn't think I'd just abandon my little brother did you?"
Ryuu smiled. "Are Mom and Dad..."
"They've moved on," Shisui said. "But they wanted me to tell you how proud of you they are. And so am I. You've grown so much."
Ryuu smiled, realizing they were the same height, and almost identical, aside from Ryuu's prosthetic half.
"I don't mean physically," Shisui chuckled. "You've grown strong. And you've grown up to be a better man than I could have ever hoped to be."
"I became a ninja," Ryuu said. "I've...I've killed so many people. I've killed friends."
"I know," Shisui said. "You've gone through so much pain. You still carry the ghosts of those you've lost around on you, and for it you've become so strong."
"It hurts," Ryuu said, tears leaking from his eyes again.
"I know," Shisui said. "It's a heavy burden to carry those you've killed with you. But Ryuu, you can let them go. You don't have to carry them with you anymore. They wouldn't want you to suffer for them. It's time for you to let them go. It's going to be okay."
"I don't know how," Ryuu said.
"Yes you do," Shisui smiled. "You have to forgive yourself."
Ryuu grit his teeth, tears continuing to fall, but nodded. Slowly, it felt like a weight began to slip from his shoulders. Shisui smiled proudly.
"See?" Shisui smiled. "That wasn't so hard, was it?"
"Yes," Ryuu smiled. "It was. Have you really been watching this whole time?"
"Yes, I have," Shisui smiled. "I'm so proud of all you've accomplished. You saved Itachi, you saved Sasuke, you saved Kabuto, you saved the Three-Tails. You started a beautiful family. I'm so proud of you."
"It's too late for my family," Ryuu said, looking back at Fu, who was feeding their child applesauce, teasing the child each time and making the child shriek in agitation every time it was denied, Fu's beautiful laugh filling the room each time. "We're all..."
"Death doesn't stop you from being a family," Shisui said. "And you don't start being a family at marriage, or childbirth. You and Fu have been family for a long time. Haven't you?"
Ryuu smiled, nodding. "Yeah."
Just then, something tapped on the sliding glass door leading to the back yard. Ryuu's eyes widened as he saw the green thing the same size as the door pull away from it. Fu smiled as he walked over, opening the door and squinting against the light, staring up at Isobu and Chomei, both also clearly visible, despite the light.
"You're...You're both here too?" Ryuu asked.
"Of course," Isobu said.
"We're all family," Chomei said. "We're not going anywhere without you."
"But...you two just regenerate, right?" Ryuu asked.
"Eventually," Isobu said. "If we want to."
"Or we can decide to move on," Chomei said.
Ryuu smiled, wiping his eyes as Fu and Shisui stepped outside with him, Fu holding their child in her arms, the child trying to reach Fu's hair. "You all...really waited for me?"
"Always," Fu smiled. "I'll always wait for you. Whenever you need me to."
Ryuu smiled and kissed her again, then bent down, kissing their child's forehead, the child shrieking happily, once again shoving its hands into its mouth. and babbling up at him. "I think I'm ready. As long as I have you all here, I'm ready to move on."
"Not just yet," Shisui said, staring up at the sky. "It looks like it's not quite time yet."
"What?" Ryuu asked, looking up just as a mass of glowing, green, Medical Ninjutsu chakra shot down from the sky, one for everyone, and enveloped them, including Ryuu and Fu's child. Ryuu stared at the green chakra around his body, then at the matching chakra surrounding both Tailed Beast, Fu, and their child. "What's happening?"
"You're being sent back," Shisui said.
Ryuu began to turn, to ask him what he meant, only for his vision to flare white, then darken. He winced as his body began to ache and realized his eyes were closed now. He opened them, staring up at the sky before sitting up and staring down at his restored body, which was just as young as it had been before his fight with Pein began. He turned, looking around and saw Fu pushing herself up beside him, all of her wounds healed. He was at her side in seconds, hugging and kissing her, Fu smiling and kissing him back.
"We're alive," Fu said. "How?"
"I don't know," Ryuu said. "But I don't think I'll complain."
Fu laughed and nodded, looking around before freezing, eyes widening. Ryuu followed her gaze and yelped, seeing Hinata lying on her back with her sweatshirt open, Sakura struggling to heal a stab wound. Ryuu appeared across from Sakura and Sakura instantly moved out of the way, knowing Ryuu was the better Medical Ninja, due to his time with Orochimaru. He began to focus Medical Chakra into Hinata's wound, which began to shrink quickly. It wasn't in a fatal point. At least, not necessarily. It had bled a lot, but the location itself wasn't fatal, and also was stabbed so perfectly that he could tell, even at a glance, that Pein had targeted it specifically. For whatever reason, he hadn't been trying to kill her. He had intentionally spared her. After a few minutes, he sat back, sighing, and Sakura inspected the completely healed wound.
"You're amazing, Ryuu," Sakura said. "I'll handle the broken bones and concussion. You look ready to drop."
"I am," Ryuu sighed.
"Naruto," Hinata said, opening her eyes. "Where's Naruto?"
"I'm not sure," Ryuu said.
"Please, find him," Hinata said. "He might be hurt. Please make sure he's okay."
"Alright," Ryuu said, pushing himself up as Fu stepped up beside him. "I'll be right back."
"I'll go find Sasuke and Itachi," Fu smiled, kissing him.
Ryuu turned and left with his Body Flicker Technique, stopping beside the ruined remains of his house and finding Yomo in his cage and letting him out, then finding Naruto and Kakashi in the woods outside the village, Kakashi carrying Naruto on his back. "Naruto, how am I alive?"
"Nagato," Naruto said. "The real Pein. He used some Rinnegan power to revive everyone who died today. And then his partner, Konan, left the Akatsuki."
Ryuu nodded just as they left the trees, the entirety of the village cheering as they spotted Naruto, who Kakashi set on his feet. Children sprinted forward to greet Naruto, but Naruto's eyes were sweeping the crowd carefully.
"Where's Hinata?" Naruto asked.
"She's safe," Ryuu said. "I healed her stab wound myself. She's probably still got a few broken bones, but she's going to be fine."
"Take me to her, please," Naruto said.
"You don't want the hero's welcome?" Ryuu asked.
"Ryuu, please take me to Hinata!" Naruto said more forcefully.
Ryuu smiled and nodded, turning away from Naruto and letting him climb onto his back. Then, Ryuu vanished, reappearing behind the crowd where Neji, Sakura, Hinata, Tenten, Lee, and a couple of their other friends were walking toward the crowd. Ryuu set Naruto on his feet and stepped out of the way and Naruto instantly stepped forward, hugging Hinata.
"N-Naruto!" Hinata gasped. "Are you okay?"
"Me?" Naruto smiled, pulling back. "You're the one who almost died. You're an idiot, Hinata. Why would you try to fight someone so much stronger than you!?"
"Naru-" Sakura stopped as Ryuu set a hand on her shoulder, grinning knowingly, Sakura's brow furrowed in confusion.
"I-I couldn't let him capture you," Hinata stammered, staring at the ground. "I-I couldn't bear to see you hurt."
"Hinata," Naruto said gently, Hinata looking up at him just in time for his lips to meet hers. "I love you too. Thank you for saving me."
Hinata's face turned scarlet but she kissed Naruto again anyway, Naruto returning the kiss as the crowd began to cheer, having finally found their hero. Ryuu used the Body Flicker Technique to go to Fu and his brothers, sitting heavily beside Fu and pulling her into his lap, holding her tightly. He glanced at Sasuke, who held out the scroll with his weapons, and Itachi, whose eyes were still a milky white.
"Welcome back," Sasuke said.
"Thank you," Ryuu smiled, accepting the scroll just as Yugao landed in front of them.
"Itachi!" Yugao gasped, seeing his eyes. "Your eyes!"
"It's alright, Yugao," Itachi smiled. "It doesn't matter."
"I beg to differ," Sasuke said.
"It'll be fine," Itachi said. "Once Ryuu swaps our eyes, we'll both have Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, and I'll be able to see again."
"You sure about that?" Ryuu asked.
"Either that, or we'll both be blind," Itachi said. "But it's worth the risk."
Ryuu sighed, shrugging. "If you're sure."
Fu gave Ryuu a light squeeze, and he smiled, kissing her. After a few moments, they separated as Yomo landed on Ryuu's shoulder, and Fu tucked her head under his chin, Ryuu tightening his hold on her and having no plans to let her go any time soon.
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