Author's Note: We're back, ready for the next book! So excited and happy! Enjoy!


Bijū talk or think/Jutsu

"Talking"

'Thinking'

"Communication"

Flashbacks – Everything is slanted in flashbacks and Raiura's dreams

Summons Speaking (When they are not in the summoning world)

Disclaimer: I don't own anything other than my own creations and ideas.


Chapter 1

Home Is Where The Heart Is

or

From a Rather Colapsive Demise (Allegedly, Mind You) to a Blindingly Bright Re-Entrance Featuring a Giant Energy Dog and a Very Enthusiastic Small Child Who Really Missed His Mama and Also Wanted to Briskly Trot Over to See His Favorite Uchiha Relatives Plus the Newly Returned Older Brother of the Broody One, All While Our Protagonist Couldn't Help But Feel a Warm Fuzzy Because, Despite the Whole "Being Dead" Debacle, It Was Indeed Quite Nice to Be Back in Her Humble Abode and Not, You Know, Still Decomposing Under a Pile of Former Evil Headquarters.

It had been a week since the Root base collapsed and been destroyed, and everyone thought Uzumaki Raiura was forever gone, just like Danzo. Konoha was trying to get back to normal, but it was tough, the kids they'd saved from Root were starting to settle in, but you could still see the fear in their eyes. They'd even started clearing out the mess where the Root base used to be, a sad reminder of all the screwed up things that had been going on underground.

Then, without warning, the scarred earth of the former Root base erupted in a blinding spectacle. A pillar of pure, incandescent light, impossibly vast with an estimated radius of a hundred meters, tore through the debris-strewn landscape. It lit up the evening sky like a weird sun, throwing eerie shadows across the surrounding trees and buildings. The sheer intensity of the light forced nearby villagers to shield their eyes, a collective gasp rippling through the stunned onlookers.

From within this radiant column, a form began to meld, a massive silhouette of pure white energy taking shape. It was a wolf, its ethereal fur shimmering with an inner luminescence. A primal howl ripped through the air, a sound that was both powerful and strong, echoing across the village and sending shivers down the spines of those who heard it. The very air seemed to vibrate with the raw energy emanating from the spectral beast.

Just as suddenly as it had appeared, the blinding light began to recede, the colossal wolf of energy dissolving into shimmering particles that dissipated into the night. The silence that followed was heavy, broken only by the bewildered whispers of those who had witnessed the impossible phenomenon. The scarred earth remained, now bearing the additional mark of this inexplicable event, the air still charged with a residual energy.

Within moments, Konoha's ANBU were mobilized. The sudden burst of power, the sheer scale of the light and the spectral entity, triggered all alarms. The initial, instinctive reaction was one of suspicion. Danzo, even in death, had sown seeds of fear and distrust. The appearance of such immense, uncontrolled energy in the exact location of his destroyed base could only mean one thing in their minds: he had somehow survived, or worse, unleashed some final, catastrophic end to his plan.

Teams of masked ANBU operatives, their movements swift and purposeful, converged on the site of the vanished light. Their training dictated immediate investigation, containment of any potential threat, and the securing of the area. The possibility of Danzo's involvement, however improbable, hung heavy in the air. They moved with a grim determination, their senses on high alert, their weapons at the ready, prepared to confront whatever malevolent force had manifested in the ruins of Root. The fragile peace was already being tested by the echoes of the past and the unsettling mysteries of the present.


Yagura had extended his stay in Konoha, the initial shock of Raiura's supposed death slowly giving way to a dull, persistent Raiura gone, being around her son, Ryūsei, was the only thing that gave him a little bit of peace. The kid was a reminder of her, with his bright eyes and sometimes the same stubborn look she used to get. Yagura would just hang out with him, read him stories, walk around the village – anything to keep his mind off the hole Raiura had left.

Even mundane tasks, like helping with the laundry, offered a small measure of distraction from the gaping void in his heart. He was folding a small, frost white and sky blue yukata that had belonged to Ryūsei, the soft fabric a stark contrast to the heavy sadness that usually resided within him, when it happened. A jolt, a sudden, vibrant spark ignited deep within his senses, a sensation so familiar, so intrinsically tied to his very being, that it stole his breath.

It was her chakra. Raiura's chakra. The unique, intoxicating sweetness of it, the addictive warmth that had wrapped around his soul, a sensation he had believed extinguished forever. But this was no faint echo, no lingering residue. It was a powerful surge, a long, sustained blast of her unmistakable energy, so potent it felt as if she were standing right beside him. His magenta eyes widened in disbelief, his hands freezing mid-fold.

His heart, which had been beating with a dull, measured rhythm of grief, suddenly hammered against his ribs, a frantic drumbeat of hope and utter confusion. It was undeniably her, the signature so distinct, so deeply imprinted within him, that there could be no mistake. But how? Where? The sheer impossibility of it warred with the undeniable sensation flooding his senses, leaving him trembling with a mixture of elation and utter bewilderment.


The assembled ANBU, cloaked in the shadows of the twilight, watched the epicenter of the earlier energy surge with tense anticipation. Weapons were drawn, silent hand signals exchanged, every operative poised to strike at the first sign of hostile intent. The lingering energy in the air crackled with an unknown potential, their minds still wary of Danzo's potential trickery, despite the overwhelming nature of the previous light.

Then, from the very spot where the colossal white wolf had vanished, a new luminescence began to form. It was a more contained glow, a steadily intensifying aura that coalesced into a recognizable humanoid shape. As the light subsided, the figure became clearer, and a collective gasp rippled through the masked ANBU. It was Raiura.

Her golden blonde hair, a shade they had never witnessed before, cascaded around her shoulders, partially obscuring the left side of her face. Her cerulean eyes, however, shone with the same vibrant intensity they remembered, scanning the surrounding area with a mixture of disorientation and dawning awareness. The only immediately apparent difference was the thick curtain of golden hair that now perpetually veiled her left eye.

A collective intake of breath swept through the assembled ANBU as a figure emerged from the shadows, stepping into the dim, residual glow of Raiura's reappearance. It was Tsunade, her expression a complex tapestry of disbelief, relief, and cautious apprehension. Her honey eyes, usually so sharp and commanding, were wide with an almost hesitant wonder as she took slow, deliberate steps towards the figure standing amidst the scarred earth.

The Hokage's usual forceful stride was replaced by a tentative approach, as if she feared the apparition before her might vanish with a sudden gust of wind. The weight of the past week, the crushing grief she had carried, seemed to momentarily lift, replaced by a fragile tendril of hope that warred with the logical impossibility of the scene unfolding before her. Her voice, when she finally spoke, was barely a whisper, laced with a raw emotion that resonated with the stunned silence of the surrounding ANBU. "Raiura… is that really you?"

Raiura nodded, a little dazed, taking in Tsunade's worried face. Before she could say anything, someone slammed into her, hugging her so hard she almost lost her balance. It felt like they were afraid she'd vanish again. Looking up through the curtain of her blonde hair, she saw Yagura.

His face was pale and thin, and his magenta eyes were red and puffy from crying. He looked like he hadn't been sleeping or eating properly. His clothes seemed a little loose on him, and when he squeezed her, she could feel how much weight he'd lost – she could even feel the sharp outline of one of his ribs. He was holding onto her like she was the only thing keeping him anchored to the world.

"Raiura! Kami-sama, Raiura!" Yagura choked out, his voice thick with tears and disbelief. He didn't let go, but his hands started moving, checking her over frantically. He patted her arms, her sides, turned her head gently to look at her face, and even carefully moved her legs, as if making sure all her parts were still there and working.

Then, he buried his face in the crook of her neck, taking a deep, shuddering breath. He stayed like that for a long moment, just holding her tight. After a while, he must have felt her hand come up and gently run through his tortilla brown hair, her fingers massaging his scalp in that familiar way she always did. He let out a long, shaky sigh, a sound of pure relief washing over him.

Tsunade watched the emotional reunion with a soft smile playing on her lips. The relief radiating from Yagura was almost palpable, and seeing Raiura back was a weight lifted off her own shoulders. "Alright, you two lovebirds," she said, her voice warm but firm. "Let's head back to the Hokage Tower first. We've got a lot to discuss, and you," she directed a pointed look at Raiura, "have some explaining to do."

Raiura chuckled softly, a little breathless from Yagura's intense embrace. "Alright, alright," she said, gently squeezing him back. "I'm here. I'm not going anywhere." She glanced over at Tsunade, a wry smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "Yeah, I figured there would be a few questions." The warmth of Yagura's hug was a stark contrast to the cold void she had briefly inhabited, a comforting reminder of the life she had almost lost. The Hokage Tower, with all its usual bustle and demanding paperwork, suddenly seemed like a welcome destination.

Yagura kept a tight hold on Raiura the entire trip back to the Hokage Tower, his arm securely around her shoulders as if afraid she might vanish into thin air again. She didn't mind; his closeness was a comforting weight after the terrifying emptiness she had experienced.

Once they were inside Tsunade's office, the Hokage gestured for them to sit down, though Yagura remained stubbornly glued to Raiura's side. Tsunade leaned back in her chair, a serious expression replacing her earlier smile. "Alright, Raiura, while you were… indisposed," she began, pausing for a moment, "a few things have happened."

"First off," Tsunade continued, a hint of satisfaction in her voice, "Homura and Koharu have finally been convinced to step down. Let's just say the evidence from Danzo's files, thanks to your little detour, made their continued presence… untenable. The civilian council has also been restructured. They're back to being an advisory group, no more meddling in shinobi business. That power grab is over."

Tsunade then offered a small, genuine smile. "And," she added, her gaze softening slightly, "after a lot of talking, mostly by Shisui with some input Team 7, Itachi has returned to the village. He's under strict supervision, of course, but he's here."

Finally, Tsunade chuckled, a wry smile forming on her face, "Honestly," she said, shaking her head, "for a while there, I thought Kakashi was going to retreat back into his Icha Icha and his own little world without you stirring things up around here. Glad to see I was wrong." She looked back at Raiura, her expression now a mixture of relief and concern. "But first things first, we need to know what happened to you down there."

Raiura frowned, rubbing her temples as if trying to dislodge a stubborn memory. "Honestly, Baa-chan," she said, her voice a little hazy, "it's all… blurry. One minute I was falling, and the next… nothing. Just blackness. Then that weird light, and then… here." She avoided looking directly at Tsunade, her gaze flicking towards Yagura, who still held her close, his brow furrowed with concern.

Inside her head, the memories were crystal clear: the ethereal white figure, the gentle touch on her eye, the weight of Kami's words. But those were things she couldn't share, not yet, maybe not ever with anyone but Kurama. The implications of a direct blessing from a deity, the immense responsibility that came with it, were too much to explain, too unbelievable.

Even to Tsunade and to Yagura; This was a secret she had to hold close, a power she needed to understand before revealing its existence. The lie felt heavy on her tongue, a small betrayal of the trust they had in her, but she saw no other way. Tsunade studied Raiura's face for a long moment, her sharp eyes seeming to peer right through her. But she didn't press the issue, perhaps sensing the genuine disorientation in Raiura's voice, or maybe just deciding that a reunion with her family was more important at that moment.

"Alright then," Tsunade said, her tone softening. "Head home, Raiura. Go see Ryūsei and Naruto. They've both been… worried sick." She glanced pointedly at Yagura, who still hadn't loosened his grip. "And Yagura, you're welcome to stay as long as you need. Just… try not to hover too much. She needs some space to reconnect." A small, knowing smile played on Tsunade's lips as she watched the reunited pair.

In a swirl of leaves, Raiura and Yagura vanished from the Hokage's office, reappearing moments later in the familiar, comforting space of Raiura's home. The setting sun cast long shadows through the windows, painting the room in warm hues. Naruto, who had been sitting quietly on the couch, his expression as unreadable as ever, rose slowly as they appeared. He walked towards Raiura, stopping directly in front of her, his blue eyes fixed on hers, saying nothing. The silence stretched, thick with unspoken emotions.

Then, without a word, Naruto reached out and embraced her, his arms wrapping around her in a firm, heartfelt hug. Raiura hugged him back just as tightly, burying her face in his shoulder, the familiar scent of him a comforting anchor in the whirlwind of recent events. In the silence of their embrace, a multitude of emotions passed between them – relief, love, and the unspoken acknowledgment of the fear they had both endured.

Pulling back slightly from the hug, Naruto looked at Raiura, his blue eyes still fixed on hers, but now holding a subtle undercurrent of something that might have been relief, if one knew him well enough to read the almost imperceptible nuances. His voice, when he finally spoke, was his usual flat, toneless drawl, devoid of any inflection. "You're alive."

Before Raiura could respond to Naruto, a flash of red zipped across the living room. It was Ryūsei, moving with a speed that never stopped surprising Raiura. He launched himself into her arms, his small body colliding with hers in a burst of pure, unadulterated joy and relief, "Kā-chan! You're back!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with a mixture of excitement and a hint of accusation. "Where did you go? You were gone for so long! What mission was it this time? Was it super dangerous?" His little arms squeezed her neck tight, his face buried in her shoulder, his earlier worry now replaced by the simple, overwhelming joy of her return.

Raiura chuckled, a genuine, heartfelt sound that filled the room, chasing away some of the lingering tension. "Whoa there, little whirlwind," she said, gently disentangling Ryūsei's arms just enough to look into his bright blue eyes. "Slow down, slow down. Kā-chan's here now."

She pulled him closer, settling onto the couch with him nestled securely in her lap. Naruto sat down beside them, his silent presence a comforting anchor. Raiura then patiently answered Ryūsei's rapid-fire questions, explaining that she had been on a very important mission, one that had taken her far away for a little while. She kept the details vague, not wanting to frighten him with the dangers she had faced. As she spoke, her hand absentmindedly stroked his hair, the simple act of holding him close a powerful reminder of what she had almost lost and what she had returned to. The warmth of her family surrounding her was a balm to her soul, a gentle reassurance that she was truly home.


The day's emotional whirlwind had finally begun to settle. After a quiet evening spent with Naruto and a very sleepy Ryūsei, Raiura tucked her son into bed, the familiar ritual a comforting return to normalcy. As she closed his door softly, she turned to find Yagura waiting patiently for her. A nervous flutter stirred in her chest as she walked towards her own room. Yagura followed close behind, his gaze soft and unwavering. Tonight was different. Tonight, he would be staying. It was a step they both longed for, a deepening of the bond forged in shared hardship and undeniable love.

Inside her room, the moonlight cast long shadows, creating an intimate and slightly charged atmosphere. Raiura busied herself unnecessarily, straightening a picture frame on her nightstand, her cheeks flushed. She could feel Yagura's presence behind her, his quiet anticipation mirroring her own. Her heart hammered a nervous rhythm against her ribs. This was it. This was the moment they had both, consciously or unconsciously, been moving towards.

They settled into the quiet intimacy of the bed, the moonlight painting silver streaks across the room. Raiura lay on her back, the soft mattress a welcome comfort after the endless void. Yagura gently positioned himself on top of her, his weight surprisingly light, his head resting on the area just above her chest, close to her heart. As her fingers found their way into the soft strands of his light hair, beginning their familiar, soothing massage of his scalp, a question, laced with concern, escaped her lips.

"Yagura," she murmured softly, her voice a low rumble against his ear, "you're so thin. And you looked… like you hadn't slept in days. What happened?" Her fingers stilled momentarily in his hair, her brow furrowing with worry as she considered his gaunt appearance and the raw emotion she had witnessed in his eyes earlier.

"It was… it was the silence, Raiura," Yagura whispered, his voice thick with a lingering emotion that even now, with her back in his arms, hadn't fully dissipated. "The silence in the house… in the village. Everywhere. It was like the color had been drained out of everything. Ryūsei… he kept asking for you. His little voice… it just broke me every time."

He shifted slightly, pressing closer against her. "And the waiting… not knowing… Tsunade-sama tried to reassure me, Naruto too, but… without your chakra, without you… it felt like a part of me was just… gone. Food... it just tasted like ash. Sleep... it wouldn't come. Every time I closed my eyes, all I could see was... that ANBU, standing there, saying those words." His arms tightening around her, "I just… I couldn't imagine a world without you in it, Raiura."

Raiura's heart ached at his words, the raw vulnerability in his voice a stark contrast to his usual stoic demeanor. She tightened her own arms around him, her fingers continuing their gentle massage of his scalp. "Oh, Yagura," she murmured, her voice filled with a deep tenderness. "I'm so sorry. I had no idea… I mean, I knew you'd be worried, but…"

She trailed off, the memory of the empty blackness still vivid in her mind. She hadn't been aware of the passage of time, hadn't known the depth of their grief. "It was… strange," she finally continued, her voice softer, almost a whisper. "Where I was… there was nothing. No sound, no light… just… emptiness. It was like I wasn't even there. And then… that light, that figure…" She hesitated, the memory of Kami's words and the glowing eye a secret she couldn't yet share.

"But I'm back now," she said, her voice gaining a touch more strength. "I'm here. And I'm not going anywhere." She pressed a soft kiss to his tortilla hair. "We'll be okay, Yagura. We'll be okay." The warmth of his body against hers, the steady rhythm of his breathing, was a powerful reassurance, a promise of the future they would now face together.


The next morning dawned bright and clear, chasing away the lingering shadows of the previous week. Raiura walked hand-in-hand with Yagura, the simple act feeling like a precious normalcy restored. Little Ryūsei, however, was a bundle of boundless energy, his small hand gripping his mother's tightly as he practically pulled her along the path towards the Uchiha Compound.

"Mama, hurry! Jiji's going to show me a new trick!" he chattered excitedly, his blue eyes sparkling with anticipation. "And Sasuke-nii is there too! And guess what, Mama? Itachi-ōji is there now! Jiji said he's Sasuke-nii's brother! Can you believe it? Sasuke-nii has a brother! It's so cool!" He skipped ahead a few steps, then looked back at Raiura and Yagura, his face alight with the wonder of this newfound information. He seemed to be processing the concept of Sasuke having an older brother as if it were the most fascinating revelation in the world.

Yagura chuckled softly, watching Ryūsei's infectious enthusiasm. He kept a protective hand near Raiura, a silent reassurance of his presence. Raiura smiled, letting Ryūsei lead the way, her heart warmed by his innocent joy and the simple pleasure of being with her family again.

Raiura reached the familiar Uchiha residence and knocked on the door. It swung open almost immediately, revealing a smiling Shisui. His dark eyes, usually filled with a gentle warmth, held an extra spark of relief and happiness.

"Raiura! Welcome back!" he said, his voice genuinely joyful. He stepped aside, gesturing for them to come in. "A little birdy – well, more like a grumpy old crow – told me you were back on your feet... or, you know, not under a pile of rubble anymore." He winked, his usual playful demeanor returning, though Raiura could still see the underlying relief in his expression. He ruffled Ryūsei's hair as the boy eagerly rushed past him into the house. "Come in, come in! Sasuke and Itachi are here too. They'll be glad to see you."

As Raiura stepped across the threshold into the familiar warmth of the Uchiha home, a genuine smile spread across her face. The scent of sandalwood and the faint echoes of laughter were a comforting balm to her soul. Seeing Shisui's relieved smile, hearing Ryūsei's excited chatter, and knowing that Sasuke and even Itachi were inside created a sense of peace she hadn't realized she'd been missing until this moment. Despite the lingering questions about her return and the weight of her newfound secret, one simple truth resonated deep within her: she was glad to be home.


End of Chapter 1

Author's Note: Book Two directly off the back, I couldn't wait to post this chapter, so I went a head and did it! I'm so god damn happy! I could careless about my exams honesty, I was so happy to just be home. See you in the next one and hope you enjoyed this chapter!

Bye loves,

Slivia