The three Shinobi from earlier came barging in through the door. They gasped for air and detailed what they all felt.

What was three years to a century? Of course, he should remember that he aged now. These guys felt a little shorter. Whatever they said, he already knew why they were here.

"…there's no doubt it's the Nine tails,

why else would they be here without the seal on? He could already feel the outside world. The seal in the apartment had dispersed, and he could feel the chakra from Kurama that he had taken from Kakashi stir.

"I'd like–"

"It's fine," Naruto interrupted. "It looks like Kurama is going to reform nearby,"

"What? How do you know that?"

"I could feel it, and I managed to gather enough of Kurama's chakra as a center point through you three," he replied. Not that he did it separately, but mostly nudged Kurama's chakra to gather.

Because, he had died in another dimension, he had to try something to bring him back here, rather than somewhere Sasuke could reach.

"Instead, I'd like for you all to evacuate everyone in the village to safety," he asked. They hesitated, "Now,"

They finally acknowledged his command, and quickly left to follow it. Naruto left the apartment, and he felt the freezing wind hit his face. It prickled his skin, sending goosebumps down his spine.

His breath was visible, and the shine from the sun was a welcome heat. He felt like new life was breathed into him. A second wind, a second chance. He could feel it in his bones, it was all or nothing.

Naruto ran, and felt for the old connection of beast that been inside him, that helped him escape from the illusion. It was further away from the village, in the deep forest that was covered with the white snow.

In a clearing, he could already see the red chakra taking shape. Moments passed as it grew larger, higher than the trees, and rivaling a mountain. Until finally, the full manifestation of Kurama, the nine-tailed fox.

"Hey, buddy, did ya miss me?" He grinned.

"Naruto!" Kurama grinned. "I see you've been revived,"

He shrugged, "As much as I want you to be free, I'm afraid we don't have a choice. Sasuke will be here soon, and he'll try to seal, or control you,"

"That Uchiha, I see, I don't mind it in the slightest,"

It would be easy. All he had to do was simply connect their chakra again, and Kurama had already extended his fist. A simple raise of his fist, and it would be over. Yet, he couldn't bring himself to do it.

"Well, before that happens, I do have to tell you something," Naruto said. So he told Kurama, the quick and dirty version.

The fox looked at him, a hard stare, and the giant ear flickered. Naruto felt a little foolish, but he felt that weight in his stomach. The way his hair on his arm stood rigid. Fear was a terrible thing. He would beg if he had too.

"Seriously? You were in there for quite the long time, weren't you?"

He swallowed hard, trying to settle the pit in his stomach. "Yeah, don't worry, I'm not going to try to continue that plan. I did die to stop it, after all,"

"Are you still that kid that wanted to bring peace?"

He hadn't even thought about bringing peace to this world. When was the last time? He couldn't even recall it.

Naruto sighed, and looked to the ground. His hands felt clammy,"No, I'm just someone who tried to survive, desperately clinging to anything that could do that. Yet, I do still want the best for you, and for the rest of my friends,"

Kurama regarded him with a sad eye, "There's still something left in you. Once, maybe, it'll come back,"

He couldn't even speak, and it was impossible to see with how he was looking underwater.

"I'll trust ya kid,"

"Thank you,"

Naruto held his fist out, and Kurama connected. The nine tails turned into a stream of chakra and phased into him. He felt that power again, of both he and Kurama.

"I'll believe in you, like I did before,"

Naruto stirred in his thoughts, and he waited for that moment. The thoughts that had stirred within him, cooking and boiling for this confrontation.

He felt it, Sasuke's chakra nearby that appeared from thin air. Naruto glanced, and saw a portal open. Out stepped out his rival.

There had been many thoughts as to how this would end. Yet, as he saw his friend and the gaze of his eyes, he knew how it would end. His decision had nothing to do with Kaguya. It was of his past, that formed him to how he was today. His past had formed him, that made him strong enough to endure that illusion.

Surprise flickered across his eyes, and they stared at each other.

"It's been a long time," Sasuke said. "You're older than I last saw you, so I assume Kakashi might have something to do with that. So it's been three years,"

A long time? He nodded, and he looked toward the village, but he couldn't see it. He couldn't help that grin that appeared on his lips, "Well, it seems that even death can't stop me, but I see you've been busy,"

He could see his Rinnegan that formed in his eye, "Have you seen what I've done? There will be no more wars, that previous world had its faults, and its time has come to an end. This will last forever under my watch,"

Naruto took a deep breath, it felt like it burned his lungs, but it was the cold. So this was what he wanted, there had been no more Kage for the other villages.

"Really? You've killed a lot of people, and some were my friends," he replied. "A place ruled by fear doesn't seem like peace,"

"I don't require these connections, they'll only be in my way to continue this world. All of the shinobi's opponents had been put to rest, it was a matter of time before they bickered with one another. I will be their eternal foe,"

His thoughts flickered to Kaguya.

"Trust me when I say, I doubt that you'll' last. You may say that now, or somewhere down the road. But one day, what will stop you from changing? I remember when I wanted peace, brought by understanding; when I wanted was to stop you down this dark path,"

He failed.

Sasuke narrowed his eyes, "You were trapped in there for a long time, weren't you? The feel of your chakra changed, and even its color, yellow, to a reddish orange,"

He didn't even notice that his chakra had changed color, "Yeah, to be honest, I lost track of how long I spent inside her illusion. A millennium? More than that? Either way, I don't think you'll maintain this world you've created–as you said–forever,"

"And you're going to stop me?"

Naruto grinned, "That resolve might crumble or alter. One day, you'll stop and ask yourself, 'what's the point? Why should I even care?' and maybe you'll go on for a bit and continue, but you'll fail. As far as I know, you kept to the shadows, no one knows where you are,"

Who would he depend on when he doubted himself?

Sasuke narrowed his eyes, "You didn't answer the question,"

"You want to know why I stopped Kaguya? It wasn't because that the world was at stake, and I wanted to do the right thing. I wanted to prove her wrong, and that just so happened that it would save the world. To be honest, for a moment, I truly thought about helping her, but that wouldn't have helped her, or myself,"

"So you've been brought to insanity?"

Was love insane? No wonder 'madly in love' was a phase,

"well, not quite," but almost, he had to admit. Though, those might be the thoughts of a crazy person. "While I might do what I've always done before, the reasons have changed. Maybe you can continue, but not the way you're going about it now,"

Sasuke stared, and Kurama broke an illusion.

"Instant," he muttered.

"Yeah, I've come to stop you. I'm still your friend. I'll get what I want, no matter how it ends,"

Naruto dispersed a clone, and he felt nature energy that he gathered enter him.

There were no other words said. Sasuke was there, the next, his chidori aimed at his heart. Naruto managed to sidestep it, and he felt his heart quicken.

He almost failed in that instant. He didn't let up, and Sasuke teleported again. Naruto clashed with him, and he felt his heart skip a beat. He felt a grin grace his lips. They disconnected, paused and gave distance; they stared.

"You almost died, and you're making that face?"

"Dying wasn't so bad the first time," he replied. "And it felt nostalgic,"

All those years before when they were kids. It was a distant memory, and If he had to be honest, he forgotten about them until now.

"Those days are long gone,"

He could still treasure those memories, and they even felt fresh in his mind.

"They helped me survive, even if for a little while," he replied. He didn't want to replicate those memories while he had been there.

Naruto fought with him. As he exchanged blows, he could feel that connection between them, of the pain and the loneliness they experienced in their youth.

There was hardly any sort of happiness that Sasuke had. What would be Sasuke's light in the world? If he had one, how brilliant was it? And how long could it shine?

The day dragged on, and the land around them changed. What was once a white, snowed-covered forest was a flattened wasteland. He could see the village in the distance. Sasuke even managed to use the tailed beasts chakra he had sealed away.

He had to do everything he had to do to survive that onslaught. Sasuke's Susanoo was truly a spectacle. The snow had blown away, the mountains crumbled, and deep chasms formed from their fight.

Night turned to day, and day turned to night. The more he fought, old memories resurfaced at the forefront of his mind.

"Damn it, how the hell are you still going?"

He never felt so heavyweight, keeping his head up was an effort. The winter cold had frozen his lungs and every breath hurt. "I can do this forever,"

Obviously not, but for a long time didn't roll off the tongue.

Even at the end, he couldn't even stand over him. He fell to his knees. Everything fucking hurt. Any wince would only send more pain rippling across his body. His body had been set aflame, and his vision darkened at the edges.

Through half swollen eyes, Sasuke stared at him. "Well, what are you waiting for?"

He shook his head.

"I'm not going to kill you. Next time, can you not kick my ass so fucking badly?"

Sasuke's words was barely higher than a whisper, "Next time?"

Someone who had killed his friends, and numerous other people in order to bring about peace in his own way. A violent end to a violent world.

So, what was he to do with that? Go about his way that he wanted to do once upon a time? Even during all his time spent, there was no clear, definitive solution that he found.

"No matter what you did, I can't even bring myself to kill you," he said. Kaguya had done worst to him, and she didn't influence this decision. She meant a lot to him, but Sasuke did too. "We might not share any blood, but you're the brother I chose,"

Maybe love was truly crazy. He wasn't certain if that could be considered a good thing. It was nonsensical, or at least it felt that way to him.

"I forgive you, it's crazy I know," Naruto said. "I just can't help it, and if I have to beat you over the head again. I'll do it a thousand times over,"

"You still want to fight?" Sasuke muittered. "How long has it been? Two days? Three?"

"You're asking the wrong person," he replied. The days blurred together, but he still did need sleep. "What I do want, is for you to do, and be well,"

"Can you truly say that? I've killed your friends,"

"Yup, no matter what you've become," Naruto said. "That doesn't mean I wasn't angry,"

A pause, "I don't believe you. I'm too far gone, everything I've done I can't atone for. Even if you forgive me, all the others of this world won't,"

"I've had no hope of escaping Kaguya for the longest time, when I did, I had to wait centuries to escape. You were planning on doing this until the end of time, so you can atone for that time. too, even if that day might never come,"

"Following that logic, one day I'll decide that atoning is worthless,"

He leaned against a flattened tree. Sasuke was in no shape to move, he was hardly any better. He felt the bite of the air. He didn't realize how cold it was, but it felt strange that the tips of his toes and fingers felt warm.

"Then if you're really thinking about it, I'll do what I did, over and over again,"

Sasuke can turn a new leaf, then there was some sliver of hope for Kaguya too. Perhaps, but he hoped for it

"I've severed all my bonds, and even with you, but you never did,"

"Take it from me, no one can survive being alone. I did everything I could, and no matter what I think of, everything brings me back to Kaguya,"

"Look at you, a bastion of hope,"

Naruto laughed, but it died when it felt like he might break something. "Well, you've done something stupid. So, I'm going to do the something stupid too,"

"Like what?"

He could take his eye, he wouldn't be stopped; another temptation that sung pleasantly in his mind. Yet, the easy road was not something he could do.

"I don't feel at home in this world anymore, at least not without Kaguya," he replied. "help me unseal her,"

"You're crazy,"

"I think you already knew that,"

"Why?" he asked.

"Because I love her," Naruto replied. "I guess, you have a choice; you can say yes, survive another day, atone or try for your world again. Or no, and maybe we'll both die here. Either way, one day, those from the Ootsutsuki clan will come here one day,"

He was smart. The clear moral, smart choice would be to say no. Rather than risk bringing Kaguya's plan to fruition again. Fighting against him and Kaguya would be hard to do. It felt ages waiting for his answer.

"Naruto," Sasuke said. "if it means some semblance of happiness for you, fine, I'll do it. I've caused enough pain,"

He really couldn't believe it.

Not until he saw the moon crumbling right before him the next day.

The moon crumbled, massive pieces of earth rained down. He flew up, rushing forward while Sasuke trailed behind him. Whenever a piece came dropping atop of hin, he swept it away or destroyed it.

His heart began to race when he saw her, suspended in the air, hidden behind numerous debris that floated around them. They got closer, and Kaguya was alerted to their presence and unsealing.

Her eyes fluttered open, and she looked dazed. Then alertness took over, and she looked around. They were spotted, and she looked at him with confused features.

"You," she said, "freed me?"

Naruto grinned, "Well, of course I did. I'd rather not be gone from you for long,"

Her eyes went pass him, before settling on him again. She wasn't as powerful anymore, without the tailed beasts sealed inside her. There was no doubt she was quite strong without them. She also knew they could easily reseal her back inside.

"Why?"

"There would be a lot of things that you would do for Love. Do you remember how that feels? As I told you, that's what drives me,"

Her hand twisted, her palm opened. He felt a presence, a light red of chakra that didn't belong to hers; it was his.

"It's as you said, even without memories of these silly promises you made here,"

So he had sealed a portion of his chakra with her, what promises did he make?

"I didn't want to leave you behind,"

Her eyes flickered to him, a flash of something that he couldn't even hope to make out.

"This belongs to you," she said. Kaguya held out a hand, his chakra was still in the palm of her hand.

He inched closer, and his chakra merged with his own. It was a strange feeling, he felt more. The thoughts and memories filtered through him. It was almost like a shadow clone, but it felt tangible.

"I…" he didn't know what to say.

She said nothing, but kept a wary eye on him. Naruto had to wonder if Kaguya and the ten-tails were one and the same, both influenced by the other.

"I keep all my promises," he said. She could fire her all killing ash bone and he wouldn't be able to react in time.

"And so you managed to stay true for all that time, haven't you?"

"Almost, but surviving is what counted,"

"I suppose that would be true," she replied. She stayed where she was.

He felt his heart hammering in his chest. "Just what you might do for love, there's a lot of things you'd do in fear. I've proven you wrong, or that my way of doing things was better. I want to know; would you be willing to wait and find out that I can prove it again?"

"Defeating my clan?" she asked.

He nodded, afraid that if he said anything more it would be wrong. He held out a hand for her, outstretched for her to take.

"I'm still not entirely sure, but I think people show their love in different ways,"

"Is that what your love is?"

He nodded, and he wondered what hers might be. She said nothing, but Kaguya glanced at his hand. It was a pondering stare.

"Can you risk the chance of seeing me fail? If that happened, I'll admit you would've been right all along. Or, that maybe, hopefully, one day you'll remember how far you'd be willing to go for someone?"

"Either sounds silly,"

"Maybe if you think about it," he replied. "I had always went for what felt right, that's always what guided me,"

She was silent, staring and gauging. Naruto closed his eye and awaited for whatever that happened. Perhaps Sasuke could change his mind and do away with them both. So many possibilities.

But he felt her hands lightly on his, fingers grazing on his own and letting go. Her words were hardly more than a whisper.

"We'll see," she said. Nothing less, nothing more. It was enough for him to last a life time.

He couldn't describe what he felt right now. The weight in his stomach flipped, and he knew that forever was ahead of them. Even if he was still trapped in an illusion, then he was content with it.