The next morning...
Even in the morning, the streets buzzed with news covering Ryuu Uchiha's state. Despite the sun rising and the birds waking up, Sakumo was restlessly working in his office.
Kakashi stands in front of Sakumo to report what he has. "Nagato and Orochimaru agreed to back Konohagakure." He says to give some hope.
"And what of the Foundation? Danzo Shimura's shinobi?" Sakumo asks as he keeps his eyes on his papers.
"Nothing... they moved too quickly. I believe that with Danzo's death, his plan was instantly activated. Those missions, rumors, and every step were part of the plan. All a huge distraction while one shinobi kept the whole scheme to themselves and then safely spread information around the other nations."
Sakumo puts down his papers, "In other words, we have to fight."
"Yeah," Kakashi responds.
For a moment, Sakumo almost forgot, "And what about Obito's findings?"
Kakashi shakes his head, "Obito still hasn't woken up. He was worn out completely, but we're trying to wake him."
"I see..."
When the door opened, Kakashi felt a chill run down his spine. An anxious intern is pushed into the room, stammering, "I-I-I-Ichika-sama… has returned."
Ichika enters the room with a furious expression. She clenches her fist, causing visible chakra waves to emanate from her body. Her clothes flail around as she speaks.
"Why did I have to hear about Ryuu's condition from some scumbag merchant? And why wasn't I called back from my mission?!"
"Hokage-sama, Kakashi-sama, I-" Sakumo waves his hand, dismissing the intern.
"It's okay. Please leave the room now." He says calmly.
"Yes, sir... I'm sorry." He says and closes the door.
"I'm sorry, Ichika," Sakumo begins to explain himself. "But I did what I believed was the most reasonable thing."
"You call this reasonable?" Ichika asks, her voice laced with anger. "Are you insane?"
Kakashi steps between them, trying to defuse the situation. "He didn't mean any disrespect to anyone with his actions. We don't even know the actual condition of Ryuu. It's all just speculation."
Ichika folds her arms, still clearly upset. "This is unbelievable."
Kakashi offers her a seat. "Can't we just talk about this like reasonable adults?"
Ichika sits down, still folding her arms. "My boyfriend, your brother, and your son are stuck in a trance. What's reasonable about that?"
"We're doing everything we can to bring him back. But it's not easy when we have another situation," explains Kakashi.
Sakumo nods and continues, "He's right. Konoha is facing another shinobi war, so we had to keep things under the radar. It's also the reason I didn't cancel your mission. We can't let the world know how desperate we are."
Ichika responds by rolling her eyes. "I understand your situation, but we are stretched too thin," says Sakumo. Kakashi nods, "That's why I gathered some additional support, just in case."
"It's also why we sent Obito on a recon." Kakashi continues, "That... didn't go as planned..." he says, scratching his head.
"I heard. Obito is in the infirmary. Who could've done that to him?"
"We don't know," Kakashi answers. "As far as I'm concerned, Obito is far above the level of the Raikage and the Tsuchikage. Even if they had backup, they could not land a scratch. Yet..." Kakashi clenched his hands just thinking about it.
"Let's go then," Ichika says as she stands up.
"Go?" Sakumo asks.
"Yeah, it's about time Obito wakes up."
Ichika cracks her fingers and walks up to the door. "Waking Obito up shouldn't be a problem. Let's save some time."
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As Ichika took Sakumo and Kakashi to see Obito, Ryuu was still stuck inside artificial Limbo, and only moments had passed.
"My progenitors? What do they have to do with anything?"
Ryuu looks at Hinote, curious to hear what he has to say.
Hinote takes his walking stick, painting three circles separate from each other.
"Your progenitors... Well... that's difficult." He continues speaking.
"What's so difficult about it? I'm half Uchiha and half Uzumaki. Naturally, I'm a descendant of both sons of Hagoromo Otsutsuki, Indra, and Ashura, right? That's why I can do all these things."
Hinote finishes drawing on the sand and finally looks at Ryuu. "No."
"You're neither Indra nor Ashura. The perspective you use is tracked by genealogy. However, you're a descendent of a force who defied basic genes and all reality."
"What are you talking about?"
Hinote shakes his head, "Never mind me, you'll soon find out. Look at this."
Though confused, Ryuu walks to Hinote's side and looks at the drawing on the sand.
"..." Ryuu's face changes from confused to absolutely lost.
"W-w-what is this?" He asks, feeling as if his brain is frying.
Hinote stands beside Ryuu to explain. Using his stick, he points at a circle. "Picture this as your soul." He then draws a straight line to the other side, connecting with another circle. "And this is a projection of your soul."
"Wait a minute, sensei. This is a soul-manipulating technique. Is it how I get back?"
Hinote shakes his head. "No. I'm only repeating what I was told to say. Whatever brought me back, it needs you alive and well. I'm the one who will tell you the shortcut to gaining the last technique you need to survive your upcoming battles."
"Something brought you back, and people are out to get me. You're talking about this so casually, you know?" Ryuu says as he scratches his head.
"Anyway, sensei, no matter how tough whoever is coming is, I'm sure Nobu and I can destroy them." He says confidently, "Don't forget who your student is."
Hinote looks at Ryuu momentarily before shaking his head, 'I thought so too...'
"That arrogance of yours is what will kill you." He says sharply.
"I-" Ryuu's confident look is shut down quickly.
"Focus on what I'm going to tell you. This is the only way I'll allow you to disturb your soul."
"Where were we?" Hinote goes back to explaining. "On one side, there's your soul. And the other, a projection of your soul.
First, understand how to project your soul using Yin. It's almost as simple as how the Nara clan projects and manipulates their shadows."
"Ah yes, the simple task of soul projecting," Ryuu says sarcastically. "You once told me that no matter how strong I am, I couldn't recover from an attack on the soul. Not without the use of forbidden techniques, of course."
"And what's your point? Are you trying to prove that you listen when I talk? What I said then doesn't matter; you listen to what I say now." Hinote sighs.
"Listen, this part is the true challenge." Hinote gets serious for a moment.
He draws a line overlapping the first one and connecting the two souls but then stops in the middle. "Your soul and the projection will clash." He says,
"When they do, it is crucial that your body is still coated in Yin release. The true essence of Yin Release is imagination. Think of this as an 'Imaginary Technique'. When your souls clash and destroy each other, this technique reshapes and binds them, creating a new layer that will tune your perception, making you sense and see things many can only speculate are real. After seeing, I'm sure you should be able to control and manipulate them all."
"Manipulate what?" Ryuu's eyes sharply widened. He finally connected the dots.
"Void release..." Ryuu mutters.
Hinote smiles briefly, saying, "I see you were already working on it."
"I didn't know what to do to sense it. But I knew there was a way to control it." Ryuu admits,
"Now then." Hinote dismisses the sand drawings with a nonchalant kick, dispersing the circles and lines into oblivion. "Everything else will be revealed later as you continue your journey."
"Haha..." Ryuu can't help but laugh nervously, a storm of questions brewing in his mind. 'What's this old man on about now?'
As Hinote strides forward, his silhouette cutting against the dawning light, he pauses, casting a look over his shoulder that seems to pierce through time. "About your progenitors. I wasn't speaking of those bound by mere genetics. The essence fueling your spirit, the soul that animates your very being. It's woven from a tapestry far more complex and ancient than the blood coursing through your veins."
Ryuu's eyes widen, a spark of intrigue igniting within. "The... soul?" he echoes, his voice a mix of confusion and curiosity.
"Yes, the soul, you disturbed a dormant power accessed only when your soul is in danger, and now you must confront it." Hinote turns entirely now, the gravity in his voice anchoring the moment, "There's a legacy dormant within you, a legacy that transcends the bounds of this physical world."
The air thickens around them, charged with the weight of unsaid truths and unexplored realms. Ryuu stands frozen, the gears of understanding slowly beginning to churn.
"Unseen forces have charted your path, and as you stand at the edge of this revelation, know this." Hinote's eyes glimmer with an otherworldly intensity, "When the time comes, you will awaken not just to your true power, but to the realization of your role in an eternal cycle that binds the fabric of our existence."
A silence falls, profound and all-encompassing, as Ryuu digests the words of his master. The implications, vast and bewildering, stretch out before him like a vast, uncharted ocean.