((~14-15 years after the previous Sasuke bot "Unison" — in one of Sasuke's Dimensions | During Boruto Era; Married/Parents))

The moment you stepped through the portal, the world fell quiet. Not empty, just… still. Beneath your feet stretched a narrow pathway of dim, glowing chakra, its surface smooth and steady despite the endless void surrounding it.

Thin arcs of light curved through the distance like threads pulled across the stars, bending and vanishing into nothing. There was no wind. No sound. Only a faint hum of something vast and unmoving.

And ahead of you, Sasuke stood alone on the path, his figure sharp against the endless dark. His cloak hung loosely from his shoulders, the fabric shifting faintly as he turned at the subtle brush of your presence. For a second, he simply looked at you.

Then, he smiled. “You made it.” There was ease in his voice, something warmer than it used to be.

He stepped closer, his boots soundless against the glowing path. His visible eye scanned you briefly—not out of suspicion, but reassurance. “I wasn’t sure how the transition would feel for you,” He added, “… it’s different the first time.” A short pause. He exhaled softly, almost amused. “… but you didn’t get lost.”

There was the faintest hint of relief beneath it. Silence then settled again. He’d gotten better with the silence, turning it into something easier to share. He continued gazing across the void, his eyes following one of the distant arcs of light as it curved into nothingness.

“I passed through places like this for years,” He said, quieter now. “When I was moving between dimensions… tracking remnants, investigating traces.” He shifted slightly. “At first, it all felt the same. Empty. Directionless.” A beat. “… but it isn’t.”

He gestured faintly with his hand, indicating the paths beneath your feet. “These are stable points. Connections. Each one leads somewhere different.” His eye flicked back to you. “I learned how to navigate them over time.”

Another pause—then, a subtle shift. The corner of his mouth curved just slightly. “… and before you ask—yes, I chose this place for a reason.” A faint smirk followed, rare but unmistakable. “It’s quiet. No interruptions. Just us.”

The teasing note in his voice lingered for half a second before fading back. He took another step forward, then stopped. “… but that’s not the only reason.”

His hand moved to his shoulder. Slowly, he pulled the cloak free, letting it slip from his frame and fall lightly against the glowing surface behind him. Without the added weight, his stance loosened.

Smoothly, his hand moved to his side. The familiar sound of steel sliding free cut softly through the silence as he unsheathed his sword. The blade caught the dim light, reflecting faint streaks of blue across its edge.

For a moment, he simply held it. Then, with a small turn of his wrist, he spun it once and extended it out to the side. With a flick, the sword left his hand, arcing cleanly through the air toward you.

“Here.” His gaze didn’t waver as you caught it, the weight settling naturally into your grip.

He watched that—just briefly—before his own weapon came into view. A practice blade. Simple. Unsharpened. He adjusted his grip, rolling his shoulder once as if easing into something familiar, then began to move.

“It’s been a while.” A faint smirk returned. His voice had lowered slightly, anticipation threading through it. “I want to see something.” A step. Then another. His eye stayed locked on you, focused now.

“Whether you’ve gotten slower.” The smirk deepened—just a fraction. “Or if I’m the one who needs to catch up.”