016:Goodbyes come too soon

Sora's Inner World

'Fuck, not again,' Sora woke up inside his unconscious. 'Mom wanted me to meet a friend of hers, then she hugged me, and I came here. Weird,' thought Sora, trying to remember the last details of his memory.

'It seems I have more control of my surroundings,' he said while changing his surroundings without accessing the computer like the last time. Now, he was in a world full of candy, snow made of sugar, Christmas trees filled with sugar canes, and a big castle made of cookies.

'Sugarland from Cuphead, awesome!' thought Sora, marveling at his newfound capabilities.

*BOOM*

"What the hell is that?" Sora went to find the origin of the sound. He got to the limit of Sugarland and found a dark cave filled with dark thoughts. Swirls and patterns adorned the outside of the cave.

'That is weird. My trauma is represented inside a closet, not here.'

'This cave… This cave is not mine!' thought Sora. He went inside to check what was going on and found Senbonzakura and Kushina fighting.

Senbonzakura, his mentor and guide in this strange inner world, clashed with Kushina, her fiery spirit matched by his controlled elegance.

'This is bad, this is bad, this is bad,' thought Sora, realizing that he never explained Senbonzakura's existence inside him.

"Scatter," commanded Senbonzakura from afar, petals slicing through the air towards Kushina.

'I need to do something. What should I do? If I get nearby, any of the attacks could kill me,' and then he remembered how he had some degree of control over his subconscious. 'Maybe…' and a pink umbrella materialized in his hand, adorned with patterns of pastries and donuts. 'Faith, faith, faith, just like in a lucid dream, it's a matter of faith!. Crap, I hope this works.!!!'

"BOTH OF YOU, STOP. EINS, ZWEI, DREI!" Sora shouted with determination, channeling the power of his spiritual energy. Everything froze—petals suspended in mid-air, flames flickering without consuming, and the combatants motionless.

"That was easy," Sora muttered to himself, feeling the strain of using his newfound abilities. He attempted to move them to his subconscious, but their weight was more than he could handle alone. 'They are heavy,' he thought, materializing a represantation of Handy Manny with his red truck to help transport them out of the cave.

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Sora woke up and found himself in his mother's embrace.

"Sora, are you alright?" Mikoto asked, her brow furrowed with concern.

"Yes, Mom, I'm fine," Sora reassured her, trying to downplay the severity of his recent journey.

"Where is Kushina-san?" Sora inquired, concerned for their guest.

"She fainted just like you and woke up before you did. She went home, asking me to tell you to get well soon," Mikoto explained, her worry easing.

"Okay, Mom," Sora nodded, attempting to get up, but Mikoto gently halted him.

"Where do you think you're going?" she questioned with a firm tone.

"Outside?" Sora ventured, eager to check on Kushina.

"No, you fainted. You're staying home today, and Itachi will keep you company," Mikoto declared, with Itachi nodding in agreement.

"Okay…" Sora reluctantly agreed, resigning himself to a day of rest under his mother's watchful eye.

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Kushina POV

Kushina returned to her home on the outskirts of the village, her mind racing with questions.

'What just happened?' Kushina pondered, replaying the events in her mind. 'I fought that samurai, then Sora-kun tried to explain that guy's existence to me. When I woke up, I tried to tell Mikoto but I couldn't speak about it.'

Kushina attempted to breach the limitation within her, feeling the restriction tighten around her thoughts. Frustration surged through her. 'Why can't I talk about it? What did he do to me? Perhaps a seal, but where and when?'

"Of course, when we fought before, the petals obstructed my vision for a second. That is when it happened"

Venturing into her inner world, Kushina located the seal concealed within the cave's shadows. "I've never encountered a seal like this. It resembles an Uzumaki seal, yet it's different,"

Kushina observed, her mind racing with the potential implications. She surmised the effects—it prevented her from discussing the samurai within Sora—but what other abilities did the seal possess? She had no answer, heightening the danger it posed.

Getting back to the real world, she descended into her basement, she is going to search in the Uzumaki clan's wealth of knowledge, determined to uncover the seal's secrets. "I hope this won't take too long," Kushina resolved, unaware of the excruciating task that laid ahead of her.

---

The next day

Itachi awaited Sora outside of the house, his demeanor composed yet curious. "What happened yesterday?" Itachi inquired as they strolled through the village.

Sora shrugged nonchalantly, choosing his words carefully. "Just tried something new. Didn't quite work out."

Itachi nodded understandingly, sensing the underlying complexity. They traversed Konoha's streets, journeying towards their cherished dango shop. Along the way, Sora noted the cautious glances and hushed murmurs from the villagers.

Passing several closed shops, Sora felt a pang of disappointment. "Why is everyone looking at us like this?" he queried aloud.

Itachi's expression darkened subtly. "There's unrest. People are on edge."

Sora's frustration swelled. "It's unfair, we're not bad people"

Itachi offered a rare gesture of reassurance, placing a hand on Sora's shoulder. "We know that. Those who matter understand too. The rest…" Itachi trailed off, implying potential change.

Reaching the dango shop, the owner greeted them warmly, alleviating some of the previous tension.

Seated comfortably, they savored the sweetness of their dango, evoking a sense of normalcy amid recent turbulence. For a fleeting moment, Sora set aside the enigmatic journey through his inner world, the ominous cave, and the wary gazes. Here, amidst Itachi's company and the delectable dango, Sora found solace.

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Later that evening, Fugaku gathered the family in the living room. His expression was grave, a rare sight that immediately put everyone on edge.

"War has started," Fugaku announced. "I need to go."

Sora and Itachi exchanged worried glances. Mikoto's face was a mask of composure, but her eyes betrayed her concern.

Fugaku knelt down to his sons' level, placing a hand on each of their shoulders. "While I am gone, I need you both to train hard. Do your best, and when I return, I will test you."

"Yes, Father," Itachi said, his voice steady.

Sora nodded, feeling a mix of determination and fear. "We will, Father."

Fugaku stood, looking at Mikoto. "Take care..." he said softly.

Mikoto nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Please, come back." she whispered.

Fugaku gave a curt nod and left, the weight of his departure settling over the household like a dark cloud.

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Sora's inner world trembled with unease. He could feel the trauma resurfacing, the shadows of his past life mingling with the present. He called out for Senbonzakura, his voice echoing through the vast landscape.

Senbonzakura appeared, his expression stern. "What is it, Sora?"

"I need your help," Sora said, his voice trembling.

Senbonzakura sighed, his pink petals swirling around him. "I will help you this time, but do not rely on me too often. I will not always be here."

Sora nodded, understanding the weight of Senbonzakura's words. "I know. Thank you."

Senbonzakura handed Sora the katana. "Give this to your father as a token of goodwill. It will protect him."

Sora took the katana, feeling the weight of the responsibility. "I will."

Senbonzakura's form began to fade, but his words lingered. "Learn to use your soul, Sora. It is your greatest strength." and senbonzakura's spirit entered inside the blade.

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Far away, Danzo read the reports of the Uchiha clan going to war. He made some arrangements, leaving orders for his operatives to collect spare eyes from the battlefield. His eyes flashed with a dangerous glint, and the room seemed to darken as he continued working