AN: Chapter 23 is here at last. Welcome back. Late I know, but it was somewhat inevitable. I started a web development bootcamp and up until recently I had a shifting schedule and haven't been able to have consistency with my off days or when I had to go into work. It's been terrible. Thank you all for your patience though, and Happy New Years! First chapter of 2023 and despite the beginning of a ne year for us all, this story is drawing to a close. Hope you will all enjoy the last of the ride while it lasts.

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XXX

A Gaze Eternal II ~ Smile When You Shouldn't

Tsunade leaned into her chair, releasing a long sigh as she brought a cup up to her lips. Off to the side, Shizune watched her and chose not to comment on her drinking. Not this time. For once, Shizune felt Tsunade deserved it. Tensions had been high for weeks.

From the war ending, to the Otsutsuki's arrival, and now to Naruto and Sasuke's awakening and the implications that came with it. There was no way Tsunade could get through all this without taking some of the edge off.

"We need to keep Naruto and Sasuke monitored. Closely," said Tsunade after knocking back her drink. She grabbed the bottle on her desk to pour another one as the sun shined down on her back from the window. "If the two of them fight now there's no telling how much damage they will cause."

"I understand, Tsunade-sama. I doubt anyone wants them fighting now. Sakura and Kakashi are undoubtedly keeping tabs on them without us asking as is. I would assume Hinata is doing much the same… but I'm unsure it will matter," Shizune replied. Tsunade knocked back another drink and leaned forward, placing her elbows onto her desk as she used her free hand to cradle her face. Eyes in her palm, Tsunade heaved another sigh.

"I know. Now more than ever, trying to stop them is likely impossible. To think the Otsutsuki had a failsafe like this… and to think it could be turned on its head in such a way. I never would have imagined. Now if only it wouldn't have resulted in this massive problem," Tsunade said.

Weiss sat at Naruto's bedside, watching him meditate alongside Yang and Hinata. Winter stood near the door with Raven and was eyeing Weiss intensely. Her sister was clearly displeased with her, but Weiss didn't really care today. She had been spending more and more time with Yang and Hinata since Naruto ended up in the hospital and the two of them treated her like she was already part of their little harem.

Even in her mind, Weiss could clearly see Yang rolling her eyes with a huff and telling her that they weren't a harem… before smirking and adding that they weren't Naruto's harem anyway. It was silly, honestly. How easy it was to be integrated into their group. Yang would touch her more often than she used to. In ways that Weiss could say was decidedly a tad more intimate than being just friends.

The oddest thing though, was that she didn't hate it. She'd certainly expected to. Weiss had never thought of being with a woman before. Despite that, Yang often left her a blushing mess with her teasing and light touches about her waist and neck. Hinata was the voice of reason whenever Weiss lost her ability to speak and would often make sure Yang didn't do anything too out of bounds.

Weiss wasn't sure she was ready to be kissed by Yang yet. So much so that she hadn't realized she was even adding the word 'yet' in her mind. Subconsciously, Weiss understood that kiss was inevitable. Yang's flirtations bothered her less and less every day and Winter's piercing gaze was much the same. Weiss was growing to care very little about what her sister thought of her potential relationship. It wasn't because of her newfound closeness with Yang though. No, this was due to watching Naruto in bed for weeks, motionless save for the occasional twitch.

Seeing him like that had scared Weiss. She became exceedingly aware that losing Naruto without having told him how she felt was actually possible. Despite all the odds against her, some small part of Weiss thought that maybe she would be with him in the end. She thought she'd had time.

She didn't. Now even less than she thought. There was no telling when he and Sasuke would fight, and Weiss remembered Sasuke's words. He had no intention of letting Naruto live. She let a shaky breath past her lips. The thought of that alone made her feel colder.

"Dang it, Matatabi…" Naruto grumbled as he opened his eyes and unfolded his legs. His expression looked a little sour, but he seemed alright.

"Something happen, whiskers?" asked Yang.

"Ah… Matatabi was just teasing me about something. Have you all just been sitting here the whole time?" Naruto asked.

"Yep," Yang grinned, "now that you're awake we were hoping to continue where we left off before your fight and meet Gaara."

"Huh? But I need to go train, ttebayo! How am I supposed to use these eyes properly if I don't?"

"You can do that later though, right? I mean… you should be able to get us back home now, right? We don't have a lot of time left here. Tsunade said to give you two days to recover before we left at the least," Yang replied.

"When did she do that?"

"When you were meditating. A little after you started," said Weiss.

"I think you should do it, Naruto-kun. You've been training since you came back. Nearly non-stop. You should really take a break. Gaara and Killer B wanted to see you as well," Hinata said.

Naruto looked between his two girlfriends, wondering why they were being so adamant about this before sighing and giving them a nod.

"Right… Okay, I understand. I'll take it easy for a bit. At least until we get everyone from Remnant back home… but can I at least spar with you before we do that, Hinata? I've been in bed for a while. Would be great to get my blood pumpin' ttebayo!" Naruto replied.

"That's fine, Naruto-kun," smiled Hinata. Weiss smiled too. At least for now, it seemed like the fight with Sasuke would be postponed.

Comfortably settled into the windowsill of his hospital room, Sasuke examined the blade of his katana. He didn't really see any nicks. That was a testament to the quality of its build. He supposed all he had to do was the proper maintenance. It was time to polish it, especially after a battle like that. Just as he was about to move from the sill, the door to his room opened.

Sakura, Cinder, and Kakashi stepped in. He saw Emerald in the doorway, seemingly uninterested in stepping inside. It was likely she was just here because she was attached to Cinder at the hip. Sasuke found her pathetically weak for that. What would she do if Cinder died? Cry? Kill herself?

Sasuke let his eyes trail away from her. She reminded him of himself a bit, back when he was a child. He shifted his gaze to Sakura and spoke.

"What do you want?"

"To check on you, obviously. And to have you answer a question for me. You woke up a minute or two before Naruto. Why didn't you tell us about the Kama? And absorbing Momoshiki's power?" asked Sakura. Sasuke just turned away from her, directing his gaze out the window. The village was bustling. Civilians went about their business, scurrying like ants. Sasuke narrowed his eyes.

"I didn't feel like it."

"Were you hoping Naruto hadn't gotten the same treatment?" Kakashi asked. Sasuke's eyes flicked toward him dangerously.

"Please. I am not so foolish. And Naruto is not so unlucky," Sasuke replied, "I just didn't feel like it." Sakura caught his gaze and held it as Cinder watched them interact for what felt like the first time. She frowned. There was clearly something there. And she didn't like it.

"Fine," Sakura sighed, "you and Naruto seem fine now so we're releasing you. Tsunade-sama made it clear that you were to be shadowed at all times, however." Sasuke merely nodded at her words, unsurprised and unconcerned. He stood and slid his katana into his Obi before walking toward the door.

"I'd like you to walk with me Sakura. We need to talk."

Naruto stretched, grinning from ear to ear as they walked away from training ground seven. His sparring with Hinata had gone well and he felt much more limber than before. She'd improved so much over the years. Sometimes it still boggled his mind that this was the same super shy girl he'd known back in the academy. Now she was a grown and deadly kunoichi.

"Nothin' like a good sparring session to get the blood pumpin'! Thanks, Hinata. I feel great," Naruto said. Hinata flushed as he adorned her with an appreciative smile and she smiled back, feeling a sense of accomplishment from making her boyfriend happy and comfortable again.

"You're welcome, Naruto-kun."

"You looked pretty strong out there, Hinata. I wouldn't mind sparring like that sometime too," said Yang.

"I don't mind. Should we have time before you leave then I am willing," Hinata replied. Yang grinned as they walked along the road of the village, nearing their destination with every step. They were to be meeting Gaara and Killer B at a restaurant near the Hokage Tower. Naruto wasn't aware, but this was just another part of Tsunade's plan to ensure he and Sasuke were nowhere near each other.

"You trained a lot in Remnant too. I always assumed you trained because you were just attempting to learn as much as you possibly could to return home, but I see I was mistaken. You just enjoy it," said Weiss.

"Training was all I could do for a long time. I guess eventually, I just got used to it. And then I found myself enjoying it," Naruto replied.

"I think all shinobi are that way. At least to some degree. We trained far too frequently to hate it. Learning to enjoy training is more of a necessity than a luxury with our lifestyle," Hinata added. Winter spoke up then.

"I train quite often myself… and though I am loathe to admit it, the two of you are beyond me in sheer skill. How often did you train for this kind of development at such a young age."

Hinata hummed as the street grew more and more crowded. Civilians bustled by as they went about their business. The occasional shinobi would pass them by too, offering Naruto in particular nods of respect and acknowledgement while placing curious gazes upon their guests from Remnant.

"I tended to spend four or five hours a day training when I was a child. From around the age of four up until I was seven. After that my father became much stricter and I spent seven or more hours on my training every day. At present I train ten to twelve hours a day if I have no prior commitments. If I do, I cut back my training time to just eight hours," Hinata replied.

"I trained from sunup to sundown, ttebayo! Fallin' asleep at the training grounds and wakin' up there in the morning just to get back to work are some of my oldest memories. I keep the same routine now… I just make sure to get home at night. And with Kage Bunshin I can train twenty-four hours a day if the training I use them for are things like chakra control, seals, jutsu, and muscle memory stuff," said Naruto.

The Remnant natives—Winter and Raven in particular—were dumbstruck. They thought they'd trained a lot throughout their lives, but they couldn't imagine a routine like the shinobi. The sheer stamina and dedication they had was aweing.

"How are you even alive whiskers?" Yang asked.

"Well, having a Biju in your gut to replenish your stamina and chakra overnight really helps… but honestly, I think it's just the culture. Every shinobi who's ever become strong trains like this," said Naruto. Hinata could only agree.

"I've never heard of a Kage who didn't train with at least that much dedication," Shikamaru added. "Which is why I never want to be a Kage." Temari sighed, shaking her head at his laziness.

Qrow sat on the couch in Tai's house, head in his hands as he took long, deep breaths. Raven was gone. And the scorch mark on the floor ahead of him told the entire story. Qrow had never seen one of Raven's portals scorch anything. Which means this time she'd done something she'd never attempted before.

"Uncle Qrow?" Ruby called, stepping up from behind him and placing a hand on his shoulder. "What's wrong? And… Why's the floor burnt?"

"Raven's trying to bring Yang back," Qrow replied. He heard her gasp, but it was quiet for a long time after that.

"Do you think it'll work?" Ruby asked. Qrow sighed.

"I… don't know. So much could go wrong, kid. She might get stuck between dimensions. She might make it there and die from potential injuries. She might make it, but not be able to make it back with Yang. Or they could get both get stuck between dimensions on the way back. And then she could end up in a different dimension entirely and die there. I wish I could give you a different answer kid… but…" Qrow said as he trailed off, running a hand through his hair. He didn't know how he felt about it now that she'd gotten some success.

Qrow hadn't quite encouraged his sister to try and reach Yang through her semblance, but he hadn't discouraged her either. And then he'd borne witness to her attempts. She didn't eat. She didn't drink. He'd broken her focus just once and she'd yelled at him viciously for it. Qrow didn't bother her again after that. And now, as much as it pained him to even think, he wondered if he should have stopped her.

"I think… we should trust in Raven. She can do it," Ruby replied before turning away from her uncle and heading for the front door, a whisper passing her lips on her way. "She has to."

Qrow hoped Ruby was right.

Salem looked upon her creations, a smile gracing her lips. The creatures towered over her; more terrible than any other Grimm she'd ever created. More powerful than even herself. She'd had to use humans as a base. Powerful ones. In a way, Salem was lucky she had full control of the Grimm and was even more grateful that she simply could not die. Because if she could… and if she had no control… these creations of hers would end her. Their power was boggling and with this… Salem had her weapons against the otherworlders.

But at what cost? Procuring the humans for these Grimm certainly hadn't been a quiet operation. The whole world was in an uproar. They wondered where their greatest warriors were as their fear brought more and more Grimm upon them. Villages and towns burned down, and Hazel kept her abreast of increased hunter activity. But it wasn't enough. They couldn't stop the Grimm. Not while the public's fear continued to rise. And she aimed to keep it rising.

Her forces may not have fully replenished, but Salem still had plenty of Grimm roaming Remnant. Perfect for her continued search for the maidens. Ozpin's most recent death and the threat of the otherworlders was a potent motivator. She needed to end this ages old conflict. And soon. She couldn't afford to still be grasping for dominance if any of the otherworlders returned.

"Sleep now, children… when next you wake, there shall be a feast awaiting you," said Salem. And her nine Grimm listened.

"Well, I'm glad you're well," said Gaara as he set down his chopsticks. The food was delicious, and the conversation had been pleasant. Weiss could see the similarities between Gaara and Blake, despite there not being too many and it made enjoying his company much easier. She needed that too, because while she did not dislike B, his raps were… lacking, in her opinion.

For the most part, they'd talked about Remnant and their various hobbies as they ate and only as the meal was nearing its end did Gaara ask about Naruto's newfound abilities. He hadn't said too much about them, though Weiss suspected that was due to the shinobi already knowing the gist of what the Rinnegan was capable of. The only ones who were surprised were those from Remnant.

"You have a lot at your disposal now," Weiss began, "and I'm thankful it was you who got the eye. I can't imagine that kind of power in the hands of someone less dedicated to peace. The destruction it could wreak…" Weiss supposed she didn't need to say that in the end. They were well aware of what the Rinnegan was capable of. They'd fought wielders after all.

The way everyone except Naruto shifted in their seats or grimaced told another story though. A story Weiss could understand. They weren't worried about past wielders. They were worried about Sasuke. He had the same eyes as Naruto—a complete pair now at that—and he had far more time to practice with them. A fight between the two of them would probably reshape the world if it got out of control. And it likely would. Then what? Who could stop them?

The answer was painfully simple: no one could. Weiss took a sip of her drink; the taste of ginger and other flavors filled her mouth, and she took a deep calming breath after she swallowed. Thinking about the fight would do her no good. All she could do was hope it didn't come about.

"Yeah… Madara and Nagato were prime examples of that," said Naruto.

"Speaking of Pain," said Gaara, "You may have acquired the solution to one of our problems."

"Hm?" Naruto grunted as he let Yang play with his hair as she leaned into him. Weiss couldn't help but wonder why Yang was being so frisky. As she thought that though, she remembered that Naruto had been in a deadly fight a while ago and then in a coma. Weiss supposed the touching made sense.

"You have the Rinnegan now… and we need more jinchuriki that the biju actually trust. Maybe reviving the old ones would be best?"

"We'd need their bodies," Naruto countered.

"Which you can construct," said Shikamaru, sudden;y interested. Weiss was just staring at them, mouth agape.

"You can revive people?!" Weiss said, nearly standing to her feet if not for her sister keeping her seated.

"I… yeah. Did I not mention that about the Rinnegan…?" Naruto replied, sheepishly scratching his cheek. Yang snorted as Weiss made indignant noises.

"No. No you didn't," Yang replied.

"Sorry… so, yeah… I can revive the other jinchuriki, sure but I know the Yonbi and Gobi don't want to be back in their old jinchuriki. Besides, how would reviving Yagura affect the current Mizukage? The Sanbi says Yagura was misunderstood since Obito had control over him during his reign, but I can't imagine that going over well with the citizens," Naruto replied.

"Regardless, this is something to start with," Gaara said.

"We could do it tonight, then everything would be alright!" said B. Weiss suppressed a sigh as she watched Naruto's face. He smiled at his two friends, but Weiss… Weiss didn't like the way it looked on his face. Something was wrong.

"I'll think about it. But maybe some other day," Naruto replied.

Sakura glanced at Sasuke from the corner of her eyes. He hadn't said a word since they'd started their walk. She wondered if it was because Kakashi and the denizens of Remnant were still around, but they'd lagged back to let them talk and Sasuke must know they wouldn't leave him alone with her. She wondered what the point of this was. Why invite her out if he was going to stay silent just like he always had.

"Sakura," Sasuke said abruptly.

"Yes?" Sakura replied.

"I… I wanted to tell you that I'm sorry," Sasuke said. For her part, Sakura was almost startled into stillness. Sasuke… apologizing to her? He'd thanked her. Once, a long time ago now. It honestly felt like a lifetime had passed since then. But he'd only apologized to her once before this. It was on the day he'd brought her to Naruto and Yang to look at their injuries. He'd hardly seemed sincere then. But now?

Sasuke sounded genuine. But what was he apologizing for, exactly? For leaving the village when they were younger? For trying to kill her? For knocking her out to fight Naruto? For trying to kill Naruto? Sakura didn't know.

"For what?" Sakura asked. She heard him sigh.

"For everything. I won't lie to you, Sakura. I don't regret a great many things. Some things that I've done to you, even… I'm not sure I regret them. But I do apologize. You and Naruto are probably the only people who really care about me unconditionally and I…" Sasuke sighed again, cutting himself off.

"I… understand," Sakura replied. Then she heard Sasuke chuckle.

"Yeah… I know you do," he said. Sakura blinked. She did understand… and it was almost like an epiphany. For years she'd been trying to understand Sasuke. Trying to know him as well as Naruto did. Trying to reach out and get through the wall of anger and hatred he'd built around himself. Only now did she realize she'd already achieved her goal.

Sasuke was not a man of many words. When he spoke, he typically did so with a purpose. But even then, he expressed his tender emotions very little. He was all about action and anger. Passions of those sort were easily expressed by him. But Love? Fear? Thankfulness? Sasuke did not let those show.

Sakura knew this. And thus, she understood fully what he was trying to express even though he himself could not find the right words. She knew Sasuke; knew him well, in fact. It was all she'd ever wanted. How had she not known this until now?

"What are you really trying to say to me here, Sasuke? What is it you want?" Sakura asked. Sasuke's eyes cut to her quickly. He just looked at her for a long moment. And Sakura saw. Saw for what felt like the first time. Her cheeks flushed and she looked away, feeling like a girl in the academy again. And yet, despite the growing seeds of joy she felt in her chest, Sakura knew she saw something else in his eyes too.

"I just wanted to say I'm sorry, Sakura…" She took a great, deep breath at Sasuke's reply and calmed herself. She looked at him from beneath her bangs, her eyes moist as she held back tears. And then she smiled at him.

"Thank you, Sasuke." Sakura knew something else about Sasuke now. In this moment she'd seen him laid bare in a moment and he hadn't noticed that she had.

Sasuke wasn't apologizing for something he'd done in the past. Not entirely.

XXX

And that's the chapter!

I've all sorts of ideas about this upcoming fight and I'm itching to get to it. Also really excited to show what Naruto's rinnegan ability is. Hoping it's fresh compared to other things. If there are any questions you all have, feel free to leave a review. If you want some sort of more in-depth discussion, then go ahead join the discord. Peace out.

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