Author's Note: I did it! I finished a story!

Chapter Twenty-Nine: You Just Might Get It…

"Done?" Boruto asked, staring at the child as he gasped for air. Mitsuki nodded.

"His chakra was toxic not only to the people he touched, but to his own body…" Akuryo grabbed his chest and vomited blood. "He's being destroyed from the inside out."

Boruto bowed his head. He knew he shouldn't feel anything for the child that had caused them so much pain. He heard the sound of a kunai being drawn. Boruto turned back to Mitsuki. "What are you doing?"

"Who knows how long it will take him to die," Mitsuki whispered. "It would be better if we ended this now." He started towards the child. Already Akuryo had collapsed on the floor, trying desperately to breathe. Boruto bit his lip and shook his head. It would be a mercy.

"W-wait!" Akuryo gasped, holding a hand up. Mitsuki stopped and cocked his head. "I… want to see the sunset," he whimpered.

Boruto blinked. The sunset? Would he survive that long? "Give me one good reason why I should offer you a dying wish," Mitsuki hissed. Akuryo narrowed his eyes at Mitsuki in defiance. He struggled to his feet and took a step towards Orochimaru's son. That seemed to satisfy Mitsuki, because he put away his kunai.

Boruto stepped forward, but Akuryo denied his help. The walk out of the cave was painfully slow, but every time he stumbled or fell, Akuryo refused Boruto's outstretched hand. When they reached the hole they had come down, Akuryo covered his eyes, unable to comprehend the light. Boruto lifted the child in his arms and jumped out of the hole. His father and Zetsu were nowhere to be found, but he supposed that was a good thing.

Neither Boruto nor Akuryo spoke as Boruto carried him through the trees. He took the child to a cliff side and laid him down. "Why are you helping me?" Akuryo snapped. Boruto shrugged even though Akuryo was still covering his eyes.

"You're harmless now," he muttered. He sat down and listened to Akuryo's labored breathing for a while as the day grew old. After a while, he turned to the boy. His breathing had nearly stopped. Boruto shook him and helped him up. "You should look now…"

Akuryo opened his eyes and gasped. He shielding them from the orange glow of the late day sun. They were overlooking the forest, with its scars and its beauty all in view. Akuryo bit his lip. "The sunset is pretty…" Akuryo whispered. Boruto didn't speak. For a moment he thought he saw a smile on the child's face and he was viewing the person the kid could have been had he not gotten mixed up in all this.

Boruto frowned and turned back to the sunset. What could have been done to prevent it? And prevent Ansei's hellish life? "Is that orange?"

Boruto jumped and turned back to Akuryo. He was pointing at the sun. Boruto's shoulders dropped. "Yeah," he whispered. He pointed to the trees. "That's green," he said, and then to his hair. "This is yellow."

Akuryo laughed softly and shook his head. "The world is beautiful, isn't it?" he asked innocently. Boruto nodded slowly. The two remained silent as the sun disappeared beyond the horizon. Boruto turned to Akuryo to ask him if he wanted to go anywhere else, but the boy was already dead.

Boruto took the body and laid it peacefully on the ledge before removing Ansei's eyes. He bowed his head and sent up a small prayer for the child's spirit before heading back down the mountain.

Akuryo opened his eyes and found himself on the edge of the world. Tears were soaking his face as he traveled through the vastness of death. Of course no one would be there. He had no family or friends. He had only killed. He laughed silently at himself. What was he expecting? He didn't even know who his father was and his mother had wanted nothing to do with him after she realized she had given birth to a blind child.

"Akuryo?"

The boy gasped and lifted his head to see a girl standing there. He blinked. She was young, but older than he was. Her skin was darker like his own and her hair was white. Her voice was familiar.

"I was hoping I wouldn't see you for a while…" she whispered. Akuryo walked to her and bowed his head. She hugged him tightly. "Come on… Let's go home, kid."

"And Zetsu?" Hanabi asked.

Naruto shrugged. "I wouldn't count him out just yet," he muttered. They were back at the village. Boruto was sitting in the corner while Sarada and Mitsuki were standing with Naruto, trying to explain the events. Ansei had been arrested the moment he stepped foot back in the village. "But he can't do anything until the Bijuu reappear," Naruto finished. "You'll have time to prepare for it."

"Thank you," Hanabi said. She stood. "I assume you all will be going back."

Naruto nodded.

"What about Ansei?" Boruto asked.

"He will face trial here, and then face the consequences of his actions."

Boruto stood. "He already has," he argued.

"Boruto," Naruto cautioned.

"Dad," Boruto answered. He turned back to Hanabi. "With all due respect, ma'am, he's suffered enough."

"And he's caused enough suffering," Hanabi retorted. "He can't just avoid the consequences of what he had done in our world."

"He's changed!"

"Then he knows that he must pay for what he has done," Hanabi snapped. "Ansei will remain here!"

Boruto clenched his fists. He hadn't come this far and lost an arm just to trip at the finish line. "Ansei will rot in prison!"

"Yes he will," Hanabi said. "But at least he will be where we can keep an eye on him!"

"Mom…"

Hanabi looked passed the people in her office to the door. Her son stood awkwardly in the doorway, leaning on the frame. "Why are you here?"

"Aunt Hinata and Uncle Kabuto are here," the boy whispered.

Hanabi bowed her head. "Send them in…"

Ningyo nodded and called down the hall. After a moment Hinata and Kabuto stepped into the room, both wearing black and white robes. Hinata and Naruto stared at each other for a moment and Boruto shrank back from them.

Hinata shook her head and turned to her sister. "Hanabi… I want what's best for my son."

"I have to do what's best for the village."

"Tell them he died," Kabuto suggested. "He killed himself during capture."

Hanabi looked at everyone gathered. "Ningyo?" she asked.

"I want him to be happy," the crippled child said quietly.

Hanabi closed her eyes. "Very well. Ansei's punishment will be to never step foot in this village again."

Ansei looked up as he was brought to the office. He stopped when he saw his parents. Tears welled in the boy's eyes as he ran to his mother and embraced her tightly. "I'm so sorry, mom," he whispered, holding her for dear life.

"No…" Hinata whispered back. "I'm sorry, Ansei. You deserved so much more than what we gave you."

Ansei shook his head. "I love you."

Hinata hugged her son tighter. Ansei felt her body shake with sobs. He would never see them again. Their family had been broken since he was just a baby, but he had always at least been able to know how they were doing. After today, he would never see them again. Ansei pulled away from his mother and turned to his father.

Kabuto stared at his son and smiled. "You'll be fine, son," he assured the boy.

"Yeah," Ansei whispered. "Maybe… I'll find you over there."

Kabuto smiled wide and pulled his son into a hug. "Don't give them hell, kid," he said.

"I won't." He hugged Kabuto back. "Thank you, dad."

Kabuto patted the boy on the shoulder and nodded. Ansei looked at his parents one last time before walking into the office where the others were waiting to take him to his new home. Ningyo stood in the room as well. Ansei walked to him and smiled sadly.

"Take care of yourself, my little doll," he whispered.

"You too," Ningyo said.

Ansei sighed and turned to Boruto. No one spoke as the portal opened and the team departed.

Boruto sat on the roof of his home, staring out at the night sky. Ansei was getting settled downstairs and soon they would have to decide what to do with him. Boruto looked up at the moon. Akuryo weighed heavily on his heart.

"I thought I'd find you up here…"

Boruto turned to his father and frowned. "Evening, dad. How's Ansei?"

"Your mom's cooking him some ramen."

"No meat?" Naruto shook his head. "That's good." Boruto turned back to the sky. "Is that what it was like when you were young?"

Naruto sat beside Boruto. "Yeah, something like that…" he muttered. "Boruto, I know we've had a rocky relationship-"

"I understand," Boruto cut him off. "I didn't when I was young, but I do now. You didn't want me to experience a world like that." Naruto nodded. "You wanted Himawari and I to be happy and to never see stuff like that, but there are people out there like that still," Boruto said quietly. He turned to his father. "I want to help them."

Naruto blinked. "What?"

"This world has enough warriors, dad… I don't want to be an instrument for war. I want to travel the world and help people like Akuryo and Ansei. No one deserves that."

"And where will you go?"

"I thought about studying with Kabuto at the orphanage," Boruto suggested. Naruto was silent for a moment and at first Boruto thought that his father must be angry with his choice. Surely Naruto would want his son to continue being a ninja. Boruto was proposing to move out of the village.

"We'll have to fix your arm," Naruto said finally.

Boruto shook his head. "No," he said.

Naruto cocked his head. "Why not?"

"Because with only one arm, I can't do ninjutsu," Boruto explained. "If I'm to be a man of peace, then I want them to be able to see me for what I am."

"You won't be able to do medical ninjutsu either," Naruto argued.

Boruto smiled. "Then I guess I'm going to have to work with someone, won't I?"

Naruto smiled widely and put his arm over his son's shoulder. "Alright," he said. "I'll contact Kabuto tomorrow."

"What about Ansei?" Boruto asked. "What will happen to him?"

It was Naruto's turn to look at the sky. "Ansei will travel with Sasuke," he answered. "Sasuke can teach him how to use the Rinnegan, and how to control the fox… and to let go of his past. He's already agreed. He'll leave in the morning."

Boruto bowed his head. It made sense. He smiled sadly. "I'm glad," he whispered.

Two Years Later

Ansei kept his head down as he and Sasuke walked side-by-side. They were on their way to Konoha, but they had a single stop to make first. Ansei and Sasuke had formed a strong bond with one another since they started traveling together. Sasuke had been surprised at how powerful Ansei was and while his Rinnegan, which was Byakugan based, worked differently than Sasuke's, he had progressed at a fest rate.

The two had no need to speak to each other. Ansei wore a long traveler's cloak that was a cream color. His long, duel-colored hair was braided and moved slightly with his own movements. Ansei kept his head down, as he usually did when they walked. He still saw himself as someone not worthy of any respect or peace. Sasuke would tell him that that was going to be the biggest obstacle he would overcome in his life. Ansei believed it. Nothing could ever truly erase the pain he had been dealt and the pain he had caused. Even hearing his master's story didn't make Ansei feel any better about himself.

"Master?"

Sasuke stopped. "What is it, Ansei?" he asked sternly. Their bond might have been strong, but that didn't mean they broke the conventions of their positions.

"Why do you travel?" he asked. "We haven't stepped foot in the village in two years."

Sasuke sighed. "I do think about my family, but you and I have a lot to make up for in our short lives."

Ansei nodded. "Do you ever miss home?"

Sasuke nodded carefully. "It's fine to miss your world, Ansei, but you must remember that you live here now."

"I know," Ansei muttered. It was a tired conversation. Sasuke wasn't going to hold his hand through his journey to redeem himself. The two started walking again. "Where are we going?"

"I got a message from Naruto the other day. We're running an errand for him. It won't take long."

"I'm not in any hurry," Ansei muttered.

Sasuke laughed slightly and they continued in silence until they came across a small village. Sasuke led Ansei into the dirt streets. They were in unclaimed territory, belonging to no Ninja Nation. "What is this place?"

"It's an unnamed village," Sasuke explained. "Naruto wanted us to check something out here before we came back."

"But we're not in the Land of Fire. Why would he care about a poor village outside his territory?" It wasn't that Ansei didn't care, he just didn't fully understand.

"Look around."

Ansei did as he was told. It was small village, but he began to notice that all the buildings in the village were new. He blinked. Most of the people walking through the village were children, and the only adults didn't seem to be from this village. "What is this place?" Ansei repeated. Sasuke shook his head.

A young girl ran passed them, holding a small dog in her arms. The animal squirmed as she ran.

"Master Boruto!" she called happily. "Master Boruto, I did it!"

Ansei's heart skipped a beat. He stopped in the street at the girl stopped at a small house. The door opened and out stepped a blonde man with one arm. He was wearing normal farmer's clothes and he had grown his hair out, but he was the same boy that had dared to care about the hated Jinchuuriki. Ansei swallowed.

"Boruto couldn't do medical ninjutsu," Sasuke explained. "He gathered medical ninja from all over the world and created this village."

"Why?" Ansei asked.

"Displaced children of war, runaways, orphans, of kids just looking for a different life," Sasuke answered. "He'll take just about anyone here."

"He did this all in two years?" Ansei asked.

"He had help. Yamato helped him build most of the buildings here. Here, these kids will have a place to live where they won't feel like they're in an orphanage."

Boruto finally noticed his visitors. He patted the girl on the head and hurried to Sasuke and Ansei. He stopped in front of the Jinchuuriki and smiled. "Look at you… all grown up," he breathed. "How are you?"

"Good," Ansei answered sheepishly. "It looks like you've really done something here, Boruto. I'm shocked.

Boruto blushed. "Y-yeah." He turned to Sasuke. "Did dad send you?"

"Of course he did," Sasuke said. "But he didn't want Ansei to see if until it was ready."

Boruto brightened. He turned to Ansei. "I'm trying to create a place for people like you! A place where they can go without fear of being hurt! There's so much land here! Maybe one day it will be bigger and we can house so many more people. One day we will have room for everyone."

Ansei smiled. "What will you call it?"

Boruto shrugged. "I thought about naming it Akuryo Village, but that seemed a little off putting. It's a work in progress."

Ansei's smile faded as he was flooded with memories. "It's beautiful," he said.

"Yeah. The world really can be a beautiful place."

The two stood in silence for a long moment. "Thank you, Boruto… I was the first kid you saved, but I see now that I won't be the last."

"Not by a long shot."

Ansei laughed softly. He turned to his teacher. "Where will we go after Konoha?" he asked.

"Well, that's the thing," Sasuke said. "I was thinking it's about time I actually settled back home." He placed a hand on Ansei's head. "I think we've traveled enough, don't you?"

Ansei blinked. "But… What will I do?" he asked.

Sasuke turned to Boruto and they both smiled. "Boruto here needs a medic to help him teach these kids a skill, not to mention how to fight."

Ansei blinked. "What do you say? Do you wanna make this your home?" Boruto asked.

Ansei looked around at the small village that would one day grow to house so many. He felt the potential in it. People would travel all over the world to come there… to feel safe. Tears began to well up in the Hyuuga's eyes. He had never felt more at home in his entire life.

He turned back to Boruto and nodded. Boruto's smile grew wider. "Welcome home…"

End

Author's note: I finished a story! Aren't you proud of me?! Anyway, sorry it's kind of short and there were a lot of scene changes, and sorry I didn't make it to 30 chapters. That's a shame!

I wanted to thank everyone who enjoyed this story! I had a blast writing it and I really hope I gave you a satisfying ending! I can't believe it's over! It feels like yesterday that I started it! I don't know what I'll do now. I've been toying with another Naruto story or going back to my roots and doing Sonic. Either way, I hope you all enjoyed this story! Thank you for reading!