His awareness returns slowly this time. Floating in an endless empty ocean. It is an eternity, incredibly peaceful and soothing, yet terrifying as he knows it has to end. A speck of light appears as if a spark has been struck and quickly grows into the Shinigami. A ghostly figure with horns, sharpened teeth, a knife in one hand and prayer beads in the other. It looks down upon him.

"You again it seems, I have not been able to get rid off you like the others. Well no matter, your time has come."

It turns away to look at something he cannot see,

"Here" it says "this is the one for you, old ones."

"This is the one? A peerless warrior, a leader of men? Stoic yet caring? Understanding of the world around him, yet not swayed by its call?"

A voice reverberates through him, far deeper than that of the god of death, like an avalanche of mountains and drums. Two glowing red spots of light appear where the Shinigami is looking, the colour of blood, gradually revealing a still white face. Which grows into a huge white tree, as a single root reaches out as if it were a hand and seemingly touches him between the eyes. He feels...thin as if something has just scraped over his entire being.

"Very well, it seems you are correct."

The root wraps around him, he feels a gentle tug, as if he is pulled from the grasp of something.

"You will help us save our world, you, who, came from fire, now goes to ice. You will help us."

The Shinigami seems amused while it fades away,

"He will do well for you there, with his knowledge of life and death. Besides, for what he has done, he deserves this fate."

The pale tree pulls on him once more and he senses a change, he is in a new ocean now. This one is more primeval than the last, its energy flows through him like a drumbeat, connecting him to...something.

"Learn of your new home, its history and ours will guide you. Master your new self and your new gift, though it is similar to your previous one it is different. And finally when it is time we will come to you, so you will know what is needed. For what it still means, you have a our blessing. So Tobirama, do not forget your old life but do not let it rule you either, embrace the new and it will benefit you."

Suddenly the ocean is rough, waves crashing over him, a whirlpool forms and he is dragged down, down, down, rotating faster and faster, until he slams headfirst into the ocean floor and the small hole through which the water is draining, he is pulled tight against it, the pressure builds and builds, squeezing down on him, its is too much he cannot take it, he will be crushed, something gives way, the hole! He starts to slide through, more pressure and more again, but on the other side relief, cold air brushes by him. Something rough against his skin, noise crashes in his ears, light blinding him, a strange energy flows through him, bodily instincts fire and he breaths in for the first time. The feeling is indescribably intense, its as if a switch has been flipped and a veil is torn off his mind, he can think again, move again, his limbs thrash against what is enclosing him...! He can see people, giant people, one, bearded, bends down picks him up and hands him to another, with a sweaty but glowing face and he finally comprehends what is happening to him. He has been reborn, in a new world! The glowing face looks at him and smiles, the love and triumph clearly shining through her eyes, he feels a surge of affection within in himself and, as his awareness fades away wonders what the Shinigami meant when it said he deserved this.