023: More training and awakening

A few weeks later

Mikoto's gaze was soft yet determined as she watched her sons. The morning light filtered through the trees, casting long shadows across the Uchiha training grounds. Sora stood there, looking begrudgingly at the targets Mikoto had set up. Shuriken glistened in the sunlight, waiting to be thrown. He didn't like it, but everyone knew that. But today, things were different. Mikoto was different.

"Again," she ordered, her voice gentle but firm. 

Sora's eyes flicked up to meet hers, slightly pleading, but she was unmoved. He sighed, retrieving another shuriken from his pouch. His fingers gripped the cold steel, and he flung it half heartedly. The shuriken missed the target, thudding into a tree several feet away.

"Focus," Mikoto insisted, her tone leaving no room for excuses. Beside her, Itachi practiced with calm precision. He didn't look at Sora, but his presence felt like a constant comparison, an unspoken challenge.

Sora sighed again. "I don't see why we need to keep doing this.."

Mikoto's eyes softened for a moment. "You need to understand the fundamentals, Sora. There are times when you won't have energy to cast ilussions, and even then, you need to rely more on your body and your senses"

Sora rolled his eyes but didn't argue further. He knew better. Mikoto had been more insistent than usual lately. Before, she had been lenient, he didn't like to train, and she let it slide. But now… it was as if something had shifted in her. She wouldn't let him slack anymore.

"I'll be in the office. Keep practicing or the consequences…" Mikoto said while looking at sora. "Will be severe" .She left and the twins continued to practice.

As Sora threw another shuriken, it veered off course once more. Suddenly, a hand reached out and grabbed his arms to correct his form.

"You're gripping it too tightly," a calm, deep voice said.

Sora turned to see Sakumo-sama standing beside him, adjusting his stance. For a moment, Sora blinked. Sakumo's presence was so natural that it didn't occur to him that others shouldn't be able to see the man.

"You need to relax your hand," Sakumo said, demonstrating the correct grip and the motion with ease. "Let the shuriken fly, don't force it."

Sora mimicked the motion, his brow furrowed in concentration. He still felt stiff, though, the frustration gnawing at him. After another throw, which was better but still not perfect, he glanced at Sakumo. "You're not curious?"

"Curious?" Sakumo raised an eyebrow.

"That you can see me. That I can see you." Sora gestured vaguely at Sakumo, as if his ghostly presence was self explanatory. "You're supposed to be dead."

Sakumo smiled faintly, not at all perturbed. "I've seen a lot of strange things in my time, Sora. The variety of jutsu in this world would surprise even the most seasoned ninja. And beyond the jutsu, there are legends of temples in distant lands, demons and gods, places even shinobi don't understand."

"Temples?Gods?" Sora's interest piqued. He hadn't heard much about temples outside the usual stories.

Sakumo's smile faded slightly. "It's better you don't know. Those places… they're already taken care of."

Sora wanted to ask more, to press for details, but he noticed Itachi watching him out of the corner of his eye. He was standing still, shuriken in hand, but his gaze was on Sora, concern etched in his usually composed expression.

Sora swallowed. 'He's seen me talking to thin air again, hasn't he?'

_ _ _ _ _ _- __ __ _ _ - _ _- 

Later, after the grueling training session, Sora found himself walking through the village alongside Itachi. His body ached, his muscles protesting every step. They made their way to Ichiraku Ramen, where the comforting scent of broth and noodles greeted them. 

"I need to buy something for ka-san, order me a Miso-ramen nii-san, I'll be back" said Itachi. Sora entered the establishment and he could see the familiar sight of Teuchi behind the counter.

"Welcome!" said Teuchi with a smile.

"Teuchi-san, two miso ramen please" asked Sora

"Coming!" said the man while cooking the two orders.

A woman sat at the end of the counter, her ghostly form barely noticeable to those who couldn't see. Momo, Teuchi's wife. She had been gone for years now, yet there she was, offering a soft smile to Sora as they approached.

"Another long day of training, hmm?" she asked kindly.

Sora nodded, sliding onto a stool. "Yeah. Tougher than usual."

Momo's smile held a knowing look. "That's good. It means you're growing.Better to sweat on training than bleed on the battlefield."

Sora frowned. "You were in the war?"

"No," she said gently. "But the ghosts, they tell me things. That's how I help Teuchi. I learn from them, listen to their stories and their experiences become my knowledge."

Momo continued with a smile: "They say that dead men tell no tale, but I beg to differ"

The thought of ghosts sharing information, gathering memories long after their bodies had died, sent a chill down Sora's spine. "What kind of things do they tell you?"

"Mostly about what they left behind. Their family,some regrets, and mostly their unfinished business. Some just want to watch over their loved ones. Others, though…" Her eyes flicked toward the distant sky, as though looking at something beyond. "They talk about things best left forgotten."

Sora nodded slowly, thinking of Sakumo's warning earlier. 'Things better left unknown.'

Teuchi served the food with a smile. As the bowls of ramen arrived, Itachi came in the nick of time, ready to eat his meal.

'He is weird' thought Sora. He was quiet, but something about him seemed different today. Sora could feel the tension rolling off of him in waves.

They ate in silence for a while before Sora glanced over at his brother. "You okay?"

Itachi was quiet for a moment, his chopsticks hovering above his bowl. Then, without warning, he blinked and his eyes shifted. Red tomoe swirled around his irises, the unmistakable sign of the Sharingan.

"I… can see them, I think" Itachi said softly, his voice almost a whisper.

Sora's heart skipped a beat.

"See what?" asked sora for confirmation

"See her… i think" said Itachi looking at the place that Momo was sitted

 'That… is unexpected' thought Sora

Itachi's Sharingan gleamed with the faintest glimpse of the spirits that had always surrounded them, hidden from most of the living, but not for him. At least, not now.

His breath was shallow, eyes wide with the weight of this new perception. 

And Sora knew that things were about to get even more complicated.

'I don't get paid enough to deal with this shit' thought sora while sighing.

"Eat first and I'll explain later" said Sora to his brother.

_ - _ -_ _ _ - __ _- - -- - __ _

A/N: the next chapters are... a little gruesome but necessary (i think). Oh well, have a nice day