That smile. That smile. It looked as if it could light up an entire world. Brighter than the sun -- more perfect than any star. And he was looking at it again. Finally -- after a literal lifetime, he was finally seeing it again.

He let himself be helped up. His hand stayed joined with Shadowmaru's, fingers stroking over the metal fingers. Things felt so much better, now. Kay and Rewind were right. Everyone was right. And the smile on his own face wasn't something he could hold back, realizing that.

"You will," he murmured, and, without thinking on it, stepped forward, his free hand touching the side of the other ninja's face. "I will -- teach you, I mean. I won't ever leave you again. We can figure this all out... together."