章 87: 87. Kaleidoscope
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As the group prepared to embark on their journey back to Konoha, Sasuke found himself unable to tear his gaze away from Sora. The young Uchiha's eyes followed the red-headed boy's every movement, his expression a mixture of relief and disbelief. To Sasuke, it was as if he were watching a ghost walk among the living.
The memory of Sora's last words echoed incessantly in Sasuke's mind
"It was fun till it lasted... If I had another 100 lives, I think I would choose to live like this again every single time, I regret nothing!"
The image of Sora's fallen, lifeless body seemed to overlap with the very real, very alive Sora walking just a few feet ahead of him. The cognitive dissonance was almost overwhelming.
Naruto, ever observant when it came to his friends, noticed Sasuke's intense staring. "Oi, Teme," he said, nudging Sasuke with his elbow. "What's with you? You keep looking at Sora like he's gonna disappear or something."
Sasuke blinked, momentarily startled out of his thoughts. He scrambled for an excuse, not ready to share the truth of what he had experienced. "It's nothing, Dobe," he muttered. "I'm just... impressed by how he handled the Kazekage. That's all."
Naruto eyed him suspiciously but seemed to accept the explanation. "Yeah, our little Sora-chan is growing up fast, isn't he?" he said with a proud grin.
As they continued their journey, the group decided to take a short break near a serene lake. While the others rested and refilled their water supplies, Sasuke found himself drawn to the lake's edge. He stared at his reflection in the calm water, his mind still reeling from the events of the last few days.
Almost unconsciously, Sasuke activated his Sharingan, the three tomoe spinning lazily in his reflection. Then, with a slight increase in chakra, the pattern in his eyes shifted. The tomoe merged and swirled, forming a complex, kaleidoscopic design that Sasuke had never seen before.
As he gazed at this new form of his Sharingan, Itachi's words from years ago echoed in his mind: "To become stronger you must hate me, If you hope to have the same eyes as I do, you have to kill your best friend"
Sasuke shook his head violently, dispelling the memory and deactivating his Sharingan. He took a deep breath, composing himself before returning to the group.
Meanwhile, Sora had cornered Jiraiya, his eyes shining with curiosity. "Hey, Pervy Sage," he began, ignoring Jiraiya's protest at the nickname, "can you tell me more about Sage Mode? I know a bit about Nature energy from some sealing techniques, but I've never seen anything like what you did."
Jiraiya raised an eyebrow, impressed by the young ninja's knowledge. "Well, well, looks like we've got a little scholar here," he chuckled. "Sage Mode is a technique that allows the user to tap into the natural energy of the world. It's not something just anyone can do, mind you. It takes years of training and a special connection to nature."
Sora nodded eagerly, absorbing every word. "But how does it work exactly? And why did your face change when you used it?"
Jiraiya stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Well, you see, when you enter Sage Mode, you're balancing your own physical and spiritual energies with the natural energy around you. As for the face... well, that's a bit of a side effect. Each Sage Mode is unique to the individual and their summons."
"Summons?" Sora's eyes widened. "You mean like Naruto-nichan's toads?"
"Exactly," Jiraiya nodded. "The toads of Mount Myoboku have their own Sage techniques, which is what I use. Other summons might have different methods."
As Jiraiya continued to explain the intricacies of Sage Mode to an enraptured Sora, the rest of the group prepared to resume their journey. However, their plans were interrupted by an unexpected visitor.
A large hawk swooped down from the sky, landing gracefully on Tsunade's outstretched arm. Tied to its leg was a small scroll bearing the seal of the Hokage.
"A message from Sensei," Tsunade murmured, quickly unrolling the scroll. Her eyes scanned the contents, her brow furrowing with each line.
"What is it, Tsunade-sama?" Shizune asked, concern evident in her voice.
Tsunade looked up, her expression grave. "There's been an incident in the village. Nothing too serious," she added quickly, seeing the alarm on the younger ninjas' faces, "but the Hokage wants us back as soon as possible. We're to use the emergency rapid transit seal."
Jiraiya nodded, immediately understanding. "Right, everyone gathers round. Naruto, Sasuke, Sora, you too. This might feel a bit strange, but it's perfectly safe."
The group huddled together as Jiraiya and Tsunade began weaving a complex series of hand signs. Sora watched in fascination as intricate patterns of chakra began to form around them, creating a glowing seal on the ground beneath their feet.
"Hold on tight," Jiraiya warned, "and whatever you do, don't let go of each other."
In a flash and a rush of wind, the group vanished from the lakeside. When Sora next opened his eyes, he found himself standing in the familiar confines of the Hokage's office.
The sudden fast transportation left Naruto and Sora stumbling, while Sasuke managed to keep his balance, though he looked a bit green. Tsunade and Jiraiya, used to such travel, were already approaching the gates of Konoha.
Soon, They reached the Hokage office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind his desk, his weathered face lined with concern. The empty left sleeve of his robe was a stark reminder of the price he had paid during the recent invasion. Around him stood several of Konoha's clan heads, their conversation clearly interrupted by the group's sudden arrival.
"Ah, you've returned," Hiruzen said, his voice carrying a mix of relief and tension. "And I see you were successful in your mission." His eyes lingered on Tsunade for a moment before moving to the coffin that Jiraiya had set down.
"Is that...?" Hiashi Hyuga began, his Byakugan active as he stared at the coffin.
"The Fourth Kazekage," Jiraiya confirmed, his voice grim. "Or what's left of him, at least. Orochimaru had reanimated him as part of his twisted jutsu."
A collective gasp went through the room. Shikaku Nara's eyes narrowed, his brilliant mind already analyzing the implications. "This confirms our suspicions about Orochimaru's involvement in the Sand's betrayal," he mused.
"Indeed," Hiruzen nodded. "But that's a matter for another time. Right now, we have more pressing concerns." He turned his attention to the younger ninja. "Naruto, Sasuke, Sora, you've done well. But I'm afraid I must ask you to keep the details of this mission confidential for now. Can I trust you with this?"
The three young ninjas nodded solemnly, though Naruto looked like he was bursting to tell someone about their adventure.
"Good," Hiruzen continued. "Now, if you'll excuse us, we have some matters to discuss. Tsunade, Jiraiya, if you could stay..."
Taking this as their cue to leave, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sora filed out of the office. As soon as the door closed behind them, Naruto let out a whoop of excitement.
"Man, that was intense!" he exclaimed. "I can't believe we actually brought back a dead Kage!"
"Quiet, Dobe," Sasuke hissed. "We're supposed to keep it secret, remember?"
Sora nodded in agreement. "Yeah, Naruto-nichan. We should probably head home and rest. It's been a long mission."
As they walked through the village, Sora couldn't help but notice the curious glances they were receiving. Word of their return had clearly spread quickly. He was about to suggest they split up when a familiar voice called out.
"Sora!"
Turning, Sora saw Hanabi Hyuga running towards them, her usually composed face showing a mix of relief and anger.
"Hanabi-chan," Sora greeted, suddenly realizing he had forgotten to tell her about the mission. "I'm back."
Hanabi skidded to a stop in front of him, her pale eyes narrowed. "You're back? That's all you have to say? You disappear for days without a word, and all you can say is 'I'm back'?"
Sora rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Ah, sorry about that. It was kind of a last-minute thing. I didn't have time to-"
"Last-minute thing?" Hanabi interrupted, her voice rising. "Do you have any idea how worried I was? I thought something might have happened to you during the invasion cleanup! I thought you also got cleaned up!"
Naruto and Sasuke exchanged glances, sensing the brewing storm. "Well, we'll leave you two to catch up," Naruto said quickly. "See you later, Sora!" With that, they beat a hasty retreat, leaving Sora to face Hanabi's wrath alone.
***
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