A/N: Hello and welcome to the 13th installment of Home! Excited to be continuing this fic, despite the snail-speed pace. I don't own any of this, not Naruto, Shipuuden, or Boruto, or majority of the characters. Masashi Kishimoto owns it, so spend your money on his series and support it! Akuri, however, is mine. Any current-tense scenes will have a header looking like this: X Naruto X. Any flashbacks will have a header looking like this: Naruto (Ramen Annihilators). A character's thoughts and dreams, as well as words of emphasis, will be italicized. This was beta's by me and my cats, but we were either drinking or we were animals. Thank you for reading!

X Akuri X

"I'm so glad you're here with me," Naruto murmured, his voice dewy and his left hand coming up to cup my cheek. The kiss he pressed to my lips felt like a salve that sunk in and medicated every wound I'd ever had, my heart leapt into my throat as we parted and shared one more loving stare. His eyes held so many words that we just didn't have time for, so much ache and so much affinity.

"I'm sorry I put you through all of that," I expressed, not looking away from him yet, "I had some things I needed to figure out for myself, for my family. We can talk about it when this is all over, I promise. I love you."

"I love you, too," he crooned, pecking my lips one more time before releasing me and gesturing to the torso we were inside of. His lips spread into a grin and his eyes reflected the white chakra, awe twinkling in his features. "We'll talk more later, there's a lot to go over. But we've got a war to win first, this big ol' warrior should help."

The Gedo statue's wails caught our attention once more and within a blink, we were posted beside Gyuuki and the two Jonin accompanying him. The white-masked Madara's eyes locked in a burning glower. Rocks and boulders were buzzing through the air, all of the particles bouncing off the skin of my Susano'o like they were hail against a wall. I could see chakras of all colors burning about, but the red swirls around my partner's normally blue chakra told me there was much to discuss after the war. What a beautiful color, so powerful...

"Everyone, listen up!" The voice that came from Naruto startled me, the depth of it foreign to my ears. I looked over to see his whiskers had widened and darkened while his eyes glowed an eerie vermillion. This must be the fox!

"Naruto and Nine Tails switched places, they're good now," Gyuuki informed us, his own tone a few octaves higher than the fox's. My suspicions were confirmed and I was elated to tune in.

The Nine Tails spent a few moments going over what was occurring before us with the Gedo statue and I held onto every word. Dread plucked at me from the inside as he explained that the creature was working towards becoming the most dangerous tailed beast of them all - The Ten Tails.

"I don't need the Ten Tails for this," Madara interjected, tilting his head back as he conveyed his intents to us all. "I am going to bring about the Infinite Tsukuyomi! Every last one on this planet will be under the ultimate genjutsu. Nothing belongs to anyone, there will be no more wars or ill feelings for another. There will be no need for hope or heroes anymore. Nothing but the unending dream will remain!"

"There's no way I'm going to let you do any of this to anyone," Naruto's voice barked in the wind, his clear blue eyes focused on his target before flitting to me. His form erupted with orange chakra and his attire reminded me more of a sage, giving me a boastful wink. "Wanna give me a toss?"

"You got it," I obliged, the right hand of my Susano'o reaching in to grasp Naruto and hurl him toward the masked Madara. Naruto's form rolled in the air before his arm swept downward, a bright extension slapping forward near his masked enemy. Madara put distance between the two of them before launching projectiles at my partner, a large fox head made of chakra appearing to catch a large demon shuriken from the air. I watched both Kakashi and Guy speed off toward him once the weaponized assault paused.

Weapons began to rain down from Madara's place again, those that struck Gyuuki becoming lilac chakra chains with the intent to absorb. With one stroke, my Susano'o was able to blow away all the bonds from the tailed beast with ease. With the distraction in place, Naruto was able to summon a shadow clone and hide in the shadow of Gyuuki without fear of the weapons striking him. The clone ran forward to Madara with a rasengan poised, crying out as he became close enough to lunge. My brows furrowed as I watched Madara suck him into a vortex, the particle trail of the clone vanishing after a certain point. Kakashi's movements mirrored the disappearing line as he dove in for an attack himself, his form reappearing and dropping down by Guy. Why can't I follow them? Is there another plane of existence beyond this move? Why do they each have it...that's a user-specific ability. Kamui, right?

A deep violet ball of energy rushed forward, yanking me from my thoughts as it careened toward Madara. The destruction that ensued blocked my view, but the chakra signatures remained bright as day. As the dust began to settle, it became clear to us all that we were not facing Madara. Kakashi stood rigidly, eyes locked on the unmasked man. It became apparent that Kakashi and this person knew each other, very well by the intensity of the stare. My attention was then drawn to the rapidly approaching chakra signature, the true Madara stopping thirty feet to the left of his comrade.

They exchanged a few words that I couldn't hear from my distance, still safe-guarding Gyuuki while I was present. Naruto growled before powering up, his bright chakra rushing up like a geyser and causing me to marvel his strength, tendrils coiling around stray rods and hurling them at the duo. They showed their own power by easily dodging the objects, resuming what looked to be a casual conversation. The jinchuriki I held closest launched himself at Madara with a snarl, a large rasengan colliding with the weapon he carried before being swatted away like a mere fly. Instinct alone snapped my hands outward, Naruto's form caught gently with the large specter's claws.

"I've got you, always," I promised, smiling softly at him before turning my gaze back on the Uchiha pair.

Naruto (Unlikely Comfort)

Coming back to the home I'd once shared with Akuri was painful each and every time I returned without her, and I found myself avoiding the route. My team had just returned from another unsuccessful search-and-rescue expedition, our targets seemingly further and further from being found each time we made the journey outside of our village. Several other teammates had already dispersed, their homes and showers calling them away to their respective comforts. I remained in the village entrance zone for quite some time, Hinata, Kiba, and Akamaru being my only compatriots.

"Anyone else hungry?" The canine-user wondered aloud, dark eyes shifting from my face to the Hyuuga's in questioning. "Those rations never do fill you up, I could do with something hot, plentiful, and local."

"I'm glad I'm not the only one, I'm starved," I agreed heartily, excited at the prospect of enjoying a meal with another person, or two. "How about you, Hinata?"

"Oh, I," she stammered, cheeks flushing a shade of pink that I'd grown accustomed to, "I suppose I could eat as well. What are you two thinking? I think Kiba is onto something, a hot meal sounds delicious. Unless something else sounds better to you, Naruto?"

"I think you guys know where I'm dying to go," I said with a laugh, tilting my head in the direction of my favorite ramen establishment. "Ichiraku is as hot and local as it gets! Nothing tastes more like home!"

"It's been a while since I've been," Kiba relented after a moment of contemplation, his lips drawing into a grin, "let's chow down there! When we left for the mission, I saw that old Teuchi was going to be releasing a special, some fancy eel dish. I've been thinking about it since! Sound good, Hinata?"

"Let's go," she urged, a gentle smile on her face looking so warm I had to do a double-take. That smile reminded me of Akuri and my heart leapt into my throat, I felt stuck for that moment. The kindness that Hinata exuded brought me back to the very first rice ball the little Uchiha had given me in the schoolyard, when that sickly girl decided she wanted to be my friend.

"Uh, lead the way?" Kiba's insistence brought me to the here and now, "you're the ramen freak, right?"

"Y-yeah," I stumbled, shaking my head to clear it, "follow me, guys!"

The walk to Ichiraku was filled with chatter between the two Team Kurenai mates, my own input sparse as I faced the muddled emotions I'd been faced with recently. Never before had Hinata's blushing stare made me feel any sort of way, other than flattered. Akuri had tipped me off to her crush early on, when we were just little kids. I'd never paid the lilac-eyed girl's affections any attention - my mind focused solely on making the Uchiha mine. My love for her spanned a little over a decade, and I hadn't ever questioned it...until now. The butterflies flickering in my belly and the sweat on my palms wasn't something I'd felt for anyone other than Akuri, but that had now changed. Hinata's warmth sunk in deep, and I drew from it.

Is this what a crush feels like? It's been so long since I've felt this...it's been so long since she left. No, no. She's coming back...right?

"I'm really looking forward to trying their marinated beef ramen," she twittered to Kiba, pale eyes flicking to me briefly. I'd never truly noticed how much she looked to me for approval until I'd looked into her pretty irises. I shuddered briefly, conflicted at the admission that I felt her to be attractive. It felt like I was going against the devotion I had for Akuri, but I couldn't shake the sting of her willing absence. "They've brought it back a few times...have you tried it, Naruto?"

"Yeah, it's pretty good," I uttered lamely, too unsure of the tendrils of her admiration to delve further into my own opinion. When was the last time I'd felt the tickle of wings in my belly? Too long to stave off the mirth of it, as I soon discovered. I opened my mouth to tout the good word to my compatriots, namely the shy girl amongst us, "I..I really think you'd enjoy it, Hinata! Very flavorful, savory and filling! The beef just melts when you take a bite, so good!"

The remainder of our trip to the ramen establishment proved to be pleasant, yet uneventful. The bar yielded three seats in a row, Kiba claiming the right seat as I settled down in the middle. Hinata gracefully seated herself to my left, cheeks flushed that adorable pink as her orbs scanned the menu. I felt my skin tingle at her proximity, something Akuri had always set ablaze upon return from a mission. I tried to pick apart any differences, but found so few as I watched her place an order for the beef ramen; extra beef and bok choy, as well as chili and sesame oils added to her meal.

The three of us chatted for quite some time as we enjoyed the spread before us; theories for the mission, gossip about the nearest shop, the new way that Kurenai dressed for her impending pregnancy, how our leaders handled complicated matters, memories of the days we all shared in the academy. As we conversed, I couldn't help but think to every encouraging glance the little Hyuuga gave me as we learned the basics, each time I watched her mouth silently form a 'yes!' when I'd succeeded, every furrow of her delicate brows in frustration as we both stewed in my failures. Hinata had been there for just as many public moments as Akuri had, her support unwavering from the sidelines. She impressed me as she emptied bowl after bowl of ramen, occasionally swapping for a new protein.

Did I really look past you all these years? Why?

Kiba eventually made his departure, waving with a kind smile as he and his canine padded towards home. It left Hinata and I sitting side by side at Ichiraku, too many empty bowls scattering the bar before us to not feel the littlest bit of shame in eating poor Teuchi out of house and home. The shy girl beside me turned to face me, the blush never leaving her fair cheeks.

"I know you must be sad about Akuri being gone right now," she stated, the words bringing the thought of my absentee partner to mind. "I believe we will find them, Naruto. We've come so very close more than once...I've seen their chakras, it's been that close. We'll bring her home to you."

I felt every cell in my body tremble at that, and I faced her fully. I accepted the longing within her eyes, as well as the resolve that we would indefinitely recover one of our own. I studied her face for any indication of how she felt, and I realized she was in the same boat as I was - torn. We both respected the relationship I'd cultivated for many, many years...yet there was an undeniable pull between the two of us. My skin screamed to have someone close again, my heart squeezing at the betrayal.

Am I really so starved for affection that I'm looking elsewhere? Does it even matter? She left me here...I just don't know. I...I can't.

"You're right, I am really sad about her being gone," I agreed, careful of my word choice. "And you're doubly right - we will find them both, and bring them home."

"You look like you have more to say."

"I think I do," I decided, flagging down Ayame to cover our bill. I left more than enough to tip her for her friendly and fast service, as well as enough to make up for the sink-full of dishes she would have to complete. I turned back to Hinata and held her gaze. "Will you take a walk with me?"

"Of course I will," she promised, peachy pink lips pulling into the gentlest of smiles.

What I shared with her on that walk had only been heard by our Hokage, the medical staff that attended to Akuri, or no one else on earth. I longed for the companionship that Akuri brought me, but was unwilling to forsake the devotion I had for her for Hinata - all of this despite her confession of admiration. The look of understanding acceptance passed over her features, and I knew I'd chosen the right confidant.

"There is nothing on this earth that could make me stop chasing her," I admitted to the Hyuuga under the stars that night, accepting the lean-in hug she offered and letting my arm rest around her shoulders. "She showed me love for the first time, so long ago. She's loved me, accepted me, fought for me so much that I can't forsake that. She's the girl I'll love until the day I die...and I'm sorry. I couldn't stray from her...not ever."

"Why are you sorry, Naruto?"

"Because I never opened my eyes to anyone else who might have done the same," I expressed, shifting to look down and capture her eyes in a meaningful stare. "I didn't give you an opportunity, because I loved her so."

"I understood your love though," she murmured, her eyes glittering in sincerity, "she was there from the very beginning, when we were tiny little things. I watched her the day she gave you that rice ball, sad that I hadn't thought of it sooner. I would see you three on the way to the academy some mornings, you three were unshakeable. Inseparable."

"We really were," I reminisced, my eyes feeling misty out of nowhere.

"I know that you and her are still the same way, unshakeable and inseparable. I would never want to disrupt that, even in her absence... I respect the two of you too much for that...especially knowing what you've faced together, now."

"We faced the loss of a potential future, a son that could have had a little of me and a little of her. We named him Itasuke, after her two brothers. I wish he was here with us," I admitted thickly, brushing tears from my eyes. "But I won't ever get the chance to know him, and she has to face that loss so directly everyday. She carried him...I was none the wiser."

"He likely looks down on you two fondly," Hintata offered with a smile that could melt souls, "if I can feel the love you have for him, I know he feels it wherever he is in this universe."

"Thank you," I grunted throatily, not expecting the wave of emotion to hit me like it did. "I love him, and his mother, more than I could ever explain."

The grace, acceptance and comfort she provided me that evening made my walk home that much easier. The moment I settled into my bed that evening, my mind swirled with the hot points of our discussion and I shifted to the center of the bed. Most nights, I would lay down on my respective side and occasionally lay my hand on the vacant slot my partner was meant to occupy. The cold sheets always made me frown as they reminded me of Akuri's absence. Tonight, I'd sleep in the center and sprawl out - I deserved that much at least.

X Naruto X

"I have no interest in the affairs of a world that will cease to exist..." the newly-dubbed Obito admitted, my skin prickling with dread as he glanced heavenward.

A few sparse words were shared before the rogue ninja released a spiraling flame attack, the orange chakra of the fox surging forward to defend all that were near enough to the blast. Madara moved closer to him, the pair exchanging a few sentences with neutral expressions. The tingling on my skin turned into maggots wriggling below the epidermis, their hungry little mouths latching onto my tissue and releasing a toxin that produced fear when the reanimated shinobi fixed his Rinnegan stare on me. I heard Akuri's Susano'o yanking any remaining rods out of Gyuuki while I watched Obito hand off the weapon to Madara, facing my fear to carefully observe.

"Where is Nagato?" Madara quipped to his associate, voice displaying the annoyance his blank face didn't show. "He was supposed to bring me back to life with the Rinne Rebirth."

I couldn't focus on his question as my concerns grew regarding the five Kage that he'd been facing off against. The only reason he would have appeared on this section of the battlefield was if he'd been able to defeat the five leaders of the respective hidden villages, and dread rolled through my spine as I processed that. Just what was this ancient Uchiha capable of, and would I be able to hold my own against him? Were the Kage actually gone, our villages left without heads to run the day-to-day and crisis events?

My thoughts were disturbed as Akuri's alabaster avatar threw rods pinning Gyuuki at the pair their clang sounding hollow as they were deflected. I grimaced at the sound, trying to surmise as least one paragraph of hope in my mind regarding our own leader. Grandma Tsunade surviving would bring the key to recovery in the very end, I was certain. As developed as Sakura's medical skill was, she couldn't hold a candle to the figure-head who commanded our home. I felt a rush of rage bubble up under the surface and launched my own singular attach - a Rasengan augmented by the fox's chakra - my heavy frustration tinging the air as Madara casually tossed me aside with his deft movement, my own form flying back toward the scenery. An ethereal hand cradled me against the fall, my eyes meeting Akuri's briefly across the distance.

We can't underestimate him.

Akuri's thorough eyes assessed the foes before us once more, her visual message reading loud and clear as I watched her study. She was trying to find any sort of weakness the pair before us held, and I turned my gaze to do the same. There was nothing aside from the normal and human weak points, and a plume of frustration budded deep down. There was no look of dawning on her face that indicated a worthwhile discovery and I couldn't locate any fortuitous points myself, my frown turning into a scowl of dispiritedness.

How the hell are we supposed to beat them?!

The look that Kakashi and Obito shared was what caught my eye after moments of searching, the emotional tension that I could feel permeating from the pair that shared a set of Sharingan. My distraction left an opening for Madara to launch an attack, Akuri's Susano'o guarding me from the blast and giving me the chance to power up once the smoke cleared. A great orange fox of chakra sprouted from around me, surging forward with my form nestled inside to assault the undead Uchiha before me. Branch-like structures began to curl around the limbs and mouth of the canidae I'd created, impeding any forward movement or offensive capability. The sheer strength of it's grip felt crushing, even despite the energy swirling around me. I lost sight of both Kakashi and his childhood adversary, my partner and her imposing chakra warrior, Gyuuki, and anyone else near me on the field.

A sudden rush of air and flash of white cut through some of the wood that encompassed me, my partner's large armor hacking away to free me. I was able to peer to the left, Gyuuki's form being strangled by the same wooden tendrils and a blue column appearing not far from him. Akuri continued to destroy my bindings, and in that time Madara's own Susano'o began to flare up confidently. It was just as big, if not bigger, than the female Uchiha's spectre and I watched her pause, her jaw hanging open in awe and fear.

"You guys make me so mad, I can't even think straight," I groused, "but there's something about me that you ought to know.."

I surged forward at lightning speed to stop a wooden spearhead from piercing Gyuuki, an extended orange hand gripping so hard that it began to splinter.

"I'm not trash!" I snarled, summoning a clone to disperse a bit of chakra to my former sensei and obliterating the branch. The silver-haired Jonin flew forward with a poised Chidori, decimating any wood near us or the Eight-Tails. Any remaining binds splintered and fell away as all of the tentacles and his arms flexed, a grin spreading on his bovine-like face. I caught the briefest glimpse of my ebony-haired partner's eyes glinting with what had to be hope and pride, and my strength felt renewed. Knowing that she was impressed by my ability spurred me to want to push harder, and with a new invigoration I pushed onward in our current battle.

Akuri (Homesick)

There were several nights on the road with Hebi that sleep never came, my mind repeatedly wandering back to the blond man that I'd left with only a note and lingering notes of sweetness from the days we'd spent together prior. We'd just stocked up on food items and enjoyed the time we spent at the market, treating ourselves to hefty bowls of ramen beforehand so that our stomachs wouldn't empty our wallets. We took a moment and visited my favorite tea house on an evening date after we'd trained together in Naruto's preferred location, both of us having spent the time honing our favorite ninjutsus. Every three days or so, we could visit the Yamanaka floral shop to replace the flowers on our child's tiny grave and spend a few moments sharing the sunlight with his headstone.

Tonight was another night where insomnia won the battle, and I wandered a short while away from the team with a tiny camping stove, canteen, and kettle. I withdrew some tea bags from my breast pocket, two little paper packets containing an elderberry flower and ginseng herb mixture barely visible in the low light. I took a brief whiff of the tea bag, lighting the camping stove and adding some of the fresh stream water from my canteen to the tin basin. The stars glittered above me in the darkness and I spent a few moments studying them, eyes somehow trained to pick out my favored constellations from childhood.

O'Rion's belt...the Big Dipper...Gemini...Cygnus...

I turned my attention back to the kettle after stargazing for long minutes, the sound of bubbling water bringing me back to Earth. I carefully opened the lid to deposit both of the packets into the boiling water, mentally starting a timer for when I would have to remove them. Steeping tea was a skill I'd mastered early on with Itachi, and it followed me through every stage in my life thus far. The act of brewing tea itself was comforting, and I used it to draw me away from the thoughts I had centered on my favorite blond human.

"Shit," I grumbled softly, patting my sides and pack with disappointment, "left my cup."

"This?"

My twin's sudden appearance with the ceramic mug I usually toted was startling to say the very least, my own hand stifling the yelp of surprise that desperately wanted to escape. In that instant, I knew I'd have to start paying better attention to my surroundings and recognize that privacy was not a concept with this team. Moments to myself would have to wait.

"Yeah," I grunted, shaking off the surprise to accept the proffered dish. "Can't sleep, 'Ske?"

"I woke up when I heard you get up," he muttered tiredly, gesturing to the kettle. "This tin shit isn't very quiet. I should be asking you, honestly...can you not sleep?"

"...not tonight, no," I admitted, turning my gaze back to the kettle and attempting to remember the count I'd started. I scowled at my forgetfulness, blaming my other half's intrusion, "I can't stop thinking about home, about Naruto, about my life back in the village, about my Hokage. Sleep is kind of hard to find right now."

"Makes sense, I used to get like that," he shared, turning his gaze to the kettle. "I used to miss you like crazy a lot of nights, I'd make everyone stop for tea at some shitty house or make some on the road. Nothing ever tasted as good as yours."

"I mean, I am somewhat of a tea professional myself," I boasted with a half-smile, estimating the time that had passed to gauge that the little bags had to be removed in two minutes or less. "Do you want some..?"

"I'll take a few sips of yours when it's done," Sasuke said, never turning his eyes from the kettle. His next words were blunt, but more needed than I thought, "what's on your mind, sis? Like...what's the biggest thing?"

"You're going to think it's stupid, but," I sucked in a breath at his chuckle, opening the kettle's lib to inspect the color of my drink. "Naruto, nothing but him. All I can think about his him, how he felt when I left, wondering what he's doing, thinking about him visiting the memorial alone. Is he okay? Is he so angry with me that he doesn't understand why I left? Will he take me back with open arms?"

The silence that passed between us was fully disturbed by the scent of over-steeped tea, and I silently cursed as I fished out the bags. Sasuke seemed to notice and frowned at my frustration, turning to rifle through his own bag and produce a tiny jar of golden liquid. The sight of honey in that tiny jar could have made me cry, but I staved it off in favor of a joyful smile.

"After he left you, he'd be an idiot not to take you back if you go home," Sasuke surmised, opening the lid and upending the jar of honey into the kettle. "And while he's allowed to be angry, he should understand how angry you've been. We watched our parents die at the hands of our brother, we looked at the bodies of the rest of our family strewn about the streets. You lost a child at the hands of a psychopath - who wouldn't want to exact revenge? I'm sure he would, if he were us."

He's too good for revenge, 'Ske. I thought you knew that...he's stronger than we are. Maybe this is too much to try to accept?

"What's that look on your face for?" He asked as he leaned in to pour some sweetened leaf-water into my ceramic mug. "I don't like the it much, what's on your mind?"

"I just...still worry," I murmured, accepting the cup to take a few swallows of the hot water. It was disgustingly bittersweet, the over-steeped leaves tainting the water with a hard herby-ness that made me grateful for the honey mixed in. "We've been through so much...what if this is too much?"

"He loves you too much for this to be more than he can take," Sasuke stated firmly, taking the cup from me to swallow an earnest amount. "I know how he feels about you. You're it for him...stop worrying so much, okay, sis?"

When he passed the cup back, the tea felt like it soothed all of the anxiety I held deep within.