Naruto: Chill of Eternity

"How have you been, Nyx? I missed you," she said, her voice trembling with emotion.

Nyx looked at her, her gaze traveling from Rina's face to the white scarf draped around her neck. The scarf she had given Rina all those years ago was still wrapped snugly around her throat. It was dirtier now, frayed at the edges in places, but it was well-worn, a testament to how much Rina had cared for it. Instead of anger or annoyance at its state, Nyx felt something she rarely let herself experience: gratitude.

"I see you've kept my scarf," Nyx murmured, gently reaching out to adjust the fabric so it sat more comfortably around Rina's neck.

Rina's smile widened, and she nodded eagerly. "I've never taken it off! It's been with me everywhere, Nyx. It reminds me of you every day."

Nyx allowed her fingers to linger on the scarf for a moment before letting go. She straightened up, her gaze shifting to meet Rina's again. "Good. I'm glad you've kept it close." Her voice was cool, but there was a softness to her words, a tenderness that only Rina would recognize.

Rina, noticing the small shift in Nyx's tone, pressed on with excitement. "And guess what? I've gotten so much stronger since you've been gone! I've been training harder than ever, with Itachi and everyone else. I'm not the same girl you left behind." She stood up tall, as if to prove her point, her height now surpassing Nyx's by almost two inches.

Nyx tilted her head slightly, taking in the sight. Rina had indeed grown—both physically and in her aura. There was a confidence radiating from her that hadn't been there before, a quiet strength that matched the power Nyx could feel humming just beneath the surface. The once-small girl had blossomed into a formidable kunoichi in her own right.

"You've certainly changed," Nyx said, her voice calm but with a hint of approval. "Taller, stronger… But don't let it get to your head." She smirked, the barest hint of amusement flickering in her icy blue eyes.

Rina laughed lightly, a sound that was a mixture of joy and relief. "I won't. But, honestly… I've missed you so much, Nyx." Her voice softened, and she closed the distance again, resting her head against Nyx's chest. "Everything's been different without you here."

For a moment, Nyx stood still, her usual calm exterior wavering slightly at the raw emotion in Rina's voice. She wasn't used to this—wasn't used to someone missing her, caring for her this deeply. But Rina's warmth, the closeness, was something Nyx couldn't deny. Slowly, she raised a hand, gently running her fingers through Rina's dark hair, her touch softer than her usual demeanor.

"I missed you too, Rina," Nyx whispered, her voice almost lost in the wind. It was a rare admission, one that few, if any, would ever hear from her.

Rina looked up, her brown eyes wide with surprise. "You did?"

Nyx met her gaze, her icy blue eyes softening, just for a moment. "Yes. Things were quieter without you." She allowed a small smirk to form, her typical calmness returning. "But I see you've been keeping busy."

Rina chuckled, her face glowing with happiness. "Yeah, I have. I've been training nonstop to get stronger—strong enough to keep up with you."

Nyx raised an eyebrow. "Keep up with me? Is that what you've been aiming for?"

"Of course!" Rina exclaimed, standing tall again, her face lighting up with determination. "I want to be strong enough to stand by your side, Nyx. To fight with you, not just follow in your shadow."

Nyx's smile deepened, though it remained subtle. "We'll see about that." She turned her gaze to the snow falling outside, the faint snowfall eerily timed with her arrival. "But you have changed, Rina. That much is clear."

As they stood together, the room felt warmer, despite the cold snowflakes drifting just beyond the door. Rina hadn't closed it in her rush to embrace Nyx, but neither of them seemed to care. For the first time in a long while, the distance between them had vanished, replaced by something far more significant—connection.

Nyx's gaze softened as she glanced at Rina, the brief warmth of their reunion still lingering. "Rina, how has Itachi been? The village? Have you made any new friends?" Her voice was calm, but there was an underlying curiosity, almost as if she was trying to reconnect with a world she had been away from for far too long.

Rina's face lit up at the question, a bright smile forming as she thought about the last few years. "A lot, actually," she said, her voice brimming with excitement. "Itachi's been well. He's still as sharp as ever—constantly training, always looking out for the village. You'd think someone in his position would slow down a little, but no, Itachi's the same. Always working hard, always focused."

Nyx nodded slightly, unsurprised by this. "He always had a sense of duty. I'm glad to hear he's still... Itachi." There was a flicker of something in Nyx's eyes—respect, perhaps even admiration, for the man she had fought alongside in the past.

"And the village?" Nyx continued, leaning back slightly as her icy blue eyes narrowed with interest. "How has Konoha been?"

Rina's smile softened. "Konoha's changed a lot. After Danzo was... dealt with, things have been more peaceful. The tension that used to be in the air—it's gone. People seem more relaxed, more hopeful, you know? The villagers are thriving, and Tsunade-sama is doing an amazing job as Hokage."

Nyx's lips curled into a faint smirk. "Danzo... dealt with." She nodded as if reliving the memory of his death. "Good riddance. He was a poison to Konoha."

Rina chuckled lightly. "Yeah, no one's really missed him. And with you and Itachi taking care of him, it's like a weight was lifted from the village."

Nyx remained silent, though her eyes glimmered with cold satisfaction at the mention of their past mission.

"And as for friends," Rina continued, her eyes brightening once more, "I've made a lot! Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura... We've become really close over the past few years. They've been my teammates during missions, and we've grown stronger together. Naruto's always getting into trouble, but his energy is contagious. Sasuke—well, you know how he is, always brooding but underneath all that, he cares deeply about the people around him. Sakura's been working really hard too—she's become Tsunade's apprentice, and you wouldn't believe how strong she's gotten."

Nyx raised an eyebrow. "Naruto and Sasuke... I remember them. It sounds like they've grown."

Rina nodded enthusiastically. "You wouldn't recognize them now. Naruto's always training, always pushing himself. He's got this unbreakable spirit, and it's like nothing can keep him down. And Sasuke... well, he's more focused than ever. After what happened with Itachi, he's calmed down a lot. The two of them are constantly competing, but I think it makes them both stronger."

Nyx tilted her head slightly, her fingers absentmindedly trailing along her arm. "Sounds like you've found yourself a strong circle. But tell me, Rina... Have you been keeping up with your own training? You mentioned growing stronger, but have you really been pushing yourself?"

Rina's face flushed with pride. "Of course! I've been training non-stop. With Itachi's guidance and all the missions I've been on with Naruto and the others, I've had no choice but to grow stronger. I won't be left behind." She paused, glancing down at her hands. "I want to be someone who can protect the people I care about—someone who can stand by your side, Nyx."

Nyx looked at her for a moment, her expression unreadable. But then she gave a small, approving nod. "Good. Strength is important, but you also need resolve. Never forget why you fight."

"I won't," Rina said, determination flashing in her eyes.

Nyx's gaze lingered on Rina for a moment longer before she turned her attention to the window. Snow continued to fall outside, lightly dusting the streets of Konoha in an unexpected early flurry. She let out a soft breath, the coolness of the air around her intensifying slightly. "It's good to know you've found your place, Rina. But don't think I'm going to go easy on you just because of that."

Rina grinned. "I wouldn't expect you to. In fact, I'm ready for whatever you throw at me." She stood a little taller, brimming with anticipation.

Nyx chuckled, a rare sound that filled the room with a strange warmth. "We'll see about that."

There was a brief silence between them, filled with a shared understanding of how much had changed—and how much still lay ahead. For the first time in a long while, Nyx felt something stir in her.

Nyx glanced at Rina's eyes, seeing the unspoken emotions swirling within them—hope, concern, and something else that tugged at her resolve. She chuckled softly, her voice low and knowing. "I already know what you're thinking, Rina."

Rina's lips parted as if to protest, but Nyx cut her off, her tone firm yet tinged with a rare tenderness. "You know I can't stay long. I've been banished from the village, remember?" Nyx's gaze drifted to the snowy horizon outside, her words cold but resigned. "And you've heard the news about me by now, no doubt. About me joining the Akatsuki... becoming a rogue shinobi."

"But—" Rina began, her voice cracking with emotion as she stepped forward, gripping Nyx's hand tightly as if afraid she might vanish at any moment. "Nyx, I don't care about any of that. You don't have to be a part of that group, you don't have to stay away. You're not... lost. Not to me."

Nyx's expression softened for a fleeting moment, but her voice remained steady. "It's not that simple, Rina. You don't understand the path I've chosen. I'm not just a missing-nin, I've crossed lines that can never be uncrossed. People would kill me on sight if I stayed, and I... I have my own reasons for aligning with the Akatsuki." She spoke with the weight of someone who had already made peace with the consequences of her choices, her cold composure unwavering.

Rina's grip tightened, desperation flashing in her brown eyes. "Nyx, please! I don't care what you've done. You're still the person I care about—you're still my Nyx! We can figure this out. I've trained for this, I've grown stronger. If you'd just come back, we could—"

Nyx placed a hand gently on Rina's shoulder, silencing her with a simple touch. "Rina... it's not about you being strong enough. I know you've grown; I can see that. But I've made my decision. There's no turning back for me."

Rina's voice trembled, tears welling in her eyes as she stared up at Nyx. "But I missed you! Every day I thought about you, and all this time I've waited, hoping that one day you'd come back. Now you're here, and you're telling me it's only to leave again?"

Nyx sighed softly, her hand moving to brush a stray lock of hair from Rina's face. "I missed you too," she admitted quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. "More than you know. But I'm not the same person you remember. I can't give you the life you're hoping for."

Rina shook her head, defiant. "I don't care what you've done or who you are now. I just want you back. I'm stronger now, Nyx. I can stand by your side—no matter what."

Nyx's blue eyes softened for a fleeting moment, but then they hardened once more. "Even if you could, it's too dangerous. The Akatsuki is after things that would destroy everything you care about. You're safer here. Konoha is safer with me away from it."

Nyx shook her head, her expression softening for only a moment before hardening once more. "It's not about protection, Rina. This world isn't as good as you think it is. It's broken, corrupted. That's why I joined the Akatsuki—to cleanse this world of the filth that rots it from within."

Rina looked down, her fists clenched, tears threatening to spill as she processed Nyx's words. "Here I thought you could stay... with me."

Nyx sighed quietly and reached out, tilting Rina's chin up with gentle fingers, forcing her to meet her icy blue gaze. "Rina, look at me," she said softly, her voice calm but firm. "I promise you, we'll see each other again. Soon. So don't cry."

Rina blinked, a single tear escaping before she could stop it. Nyx's hand moved swiftly, wiping the tear away with the back of her fingers. Without a second thought, Nyx leaned forward and pressed a soft, lingering kiss where the tear had been, her lips warm against Rina's cool skin.

A faint blush crept across Rina's cheeks, her breath catching in her throat. Nyx pulled back just enough to meet Rina's wide eyes, a flicker of something unreadable in her gaze before her cold composure returned.

"Stay strong for me, Rina," Nyx whispered, her voice barely audible above the soft swirl of snow outside. "I'll be back. I always keep my promises."

And with that, Nyx turned, her figure already beginning to blend into the shadows as the cold air filled the room, leaving Rina standing frozen in place, her heart racing and her cheeks still warm from the unexpected kiss.