Under the light of the swirling mass, the two Shorais sat in meditation, their full attention fixed on the body and the secrets of cell activation. They were after the Yang side of the process, but the world was never purely Yang; balance with Yin was always required.
When it came to energy and the way it bent to one's will, even healing demanded a measure of Yin to stabilize Yang's dominance. Shorai had learned that long ago in his Academy days. Now, with the Reality Stone granting him access to the deeper structure of this world, he was studying a refined method that combined cell activation with the Body Revival Technique. It was a new state of being, one that let him channel vitality by will and take advantage of the cycle of destruction and rebirth within his muscles.
Dawn came, and with the first rays of sunlight, the two of them still had their eyes closed. The progress they had made was clear to both of them.
'We learned a lot,' Shorai said. 'For the next week, we'll have to test it on our bodies. If it works the way we think it will, we might be able to create a technique that other people would call forbidden because it's unstable and damages the body. Ours shouldn't have that problem. It'll just take chakra and a lot of focus.'
Shorai was thrilled by the perfected method that had come from the Reality Stone's help.
'Yeah,' the clone said. 'It can keep the body stable, and that's good. But it also burns through chakra. It's enough for Stage Two, but Stage Three is way beyond what this can handle. The chakra cost would be too high. Maybe Bijū-level high.'
For once, the clone was serious.
The cycle of damage and healing would only intensify as the internal processes were artificially accelerated beyond their already sped-up natural state.
'I think we're hitting the limit,' the clone said. 'Chakra alone probably won't be enough after a certain point. Stage Three will probably need Natural Energy if we want the body to recover properly.' He shook his head. 'Your idea of reaching the level of the Sage of Six Paths from average reserves is looking less and less realistic. If we rely only on our own potential, maybe we can reach the kind of power Might Guy got with the Eight Gates open. Maybe even more, for a short time. But we'd still pay for it. We wouldn't die from it, but we wouldn't last long either. At this point, the Reality Stone's healing layer or the Time Stone's control over our condition seem like the only real options. Unless you want to go the Orochimaru route.'
The white-haired boy stayed silent, effectively holding a brainstorming session by voicing his thoughts through his clone.
'Yeah... I know we'll hit a wall eventually,' Shorai said. 'The human body can only recover so much, even if we push cell division with different methods. There's still a limit, unless you've got the kind of vitality Senju or Uzumaki blood gives you. And even the scientific methods, like stem cells, aren't guaranteed. We don't know if they have a limit, or if they'll start breaking down or becoming incompatible over time.' He paused. 'And that's just the body. There might be a spiritual side to this too. Maybe that's part of the exhaustion we're feeling.'
The clone smirked. 'Everything eventually needs a source of energy to keep going, right? No matter how strong you are, sooner or later you have to find something to sustain yourself. Natural Energy, chakra fruit, draining stars, binding your soul to an artifact or body, changing bodies, consuming souls... it's all the same idea. Even the fundamentals of reality won't make someone truly immortal. They'll just outlast others for a while, because they're tied to the current existence. As long as that existence remains, so do they. And then they keep taking and giving just to stay alive... and maybe to stay entertained.'
Shorai gave a small, sad smile. 'So you want me to think like a god.'
'Something like that,' the clone said.
'Purpose. Meaning. Choice. Experience,' Shorai said quietly. 'A mind trying to understand itself while living on a rock flying through space.'
The clone's expression softened. 'That's why forgetting matters, isn't it? Starting over without the pain. A new life. A new path. A fresh run.'
'My single-player campaign in a multiplayer reality. Everyone's just running their own path, eh?' Shorai said with a faint smile.
The clone gave a low laugh. 'Yeah. Something like that. You picked the red pill back then. Any regrets?'
'I don't know if I picked it,' Shorai said. 'Maybe I was picked. We don't know what's happening behind the scenes. The Reality Stone, that Entity... none of it makes the picture any clearer. Maybe I'm a pawn. Maybe I'm a king. Either way, I'm on the board now. And maybe there are other players too, just on a bigger board than ours.'
The clone nodded slowly. 'Like a set of nesting dolls. One inside another, forever.'
'Exactly,' Shorai said. 'But if I did make a choice, then I stand by it. I want to see where this goes. If I'm a frog in a well, then I want to know what the sky looks like. Experience is meaning. Consciousness is just what lets us reach for it. And here, I have a real chance to go further than I ever could before.'
'Maybe,' the clone said. 'Just remember that power always comes from somewhere. And if someone else controls the source, then you're never completely free.'
He pointed toward the dark crimson glow at the center of their swirling soul-space.
'One step at a time,' Shorai said. 'Another trial for my Dao heart.'
He smiled faintly. 'It's morning already. I should rest and start practicing the simulated method.'
Shorai returned to his apartment, deactivated the Reality Stone, and slept until well past midday. Refreshed, he was ready to return to training when he remembered Sasuke's hospitalization—and the fact that he had not spent any time with Ino.
"Social interactions... entanglements. Experiences," Shorai sighed.
Though his thoughts were often occupied with uncovering what lay behind the scenes, far beyond what could be seen at a glance, fleeting moments and happy memories were also part of what preserved the self and kept it moving forward. Building connections, then, was not merely optional. It was necessary.
Shorai changed into a fresh set of clothes, checked his seals, and went outside.
He made his way through the streets, turning here and there until his feet—whether by chance, instinct, or fate—led him toward a flower shop. Still absorbed in the Yang techniques he had learned and simulated the day before, he came to a stop at the entrance.
"Shorai!" a familiar voice called, pulling him from his thoughts.
"Mrs. Yamanaka. Good day." Shorai smiled and stepped inside.
"Haven't seen you in a while. How have you been?" She returned his smile, though a hint of concern soon appeared on her face. "I heard you withdrew from the Chunin Exams."
"I'm doing well. I've just been busy with Hokage tasks between training sessions." Shorai smiled warmly, meeting her eyes.
"Then why did you quit?" Ino's mother pressed.
"It was part of the task, ma'am. I'm in no rush to claim the title, especially not when the exam reaches the show-off stage. It wouldn't be wise to expose my skills to the other villages." His smile thinned into a faint crescent.
She studied him carefully, her gaze moving over him from head to toe. After a short pause, she said, "How peculiar. Youngsters your age are usually desperate to show off and chase the spotlight... yet you choose to stand in the shadows."
For a moment, Shorai's smile froze, and a chill ran down his spine. "Being wise and prepared is better than discovering how unprepared one can be when the situation is bigger than a mere shinobi evaluation."
"You have a good head on your shoulders, young man." She nodded. "If you're looking for Ino, she left a few minutes ago."
"Oh..." Shorai's expression softened. "May I ask where she went? Unless it's a secret, or personal training I'd be getting in the way of?"
"Still as considerate as ever, I see." Mrs. Yamanaka clasped her hands. "I wish I saw you around here more often. You were the best helper I ever had. But fine..." She looked at him again. "She went to the hospital. Her friend is there."
"I see... Sakura must be there with Sasuke." Shorai glanced aside in thought. "Thank you, Mrs. Yamanaka. I'll be going now."
"How sweet of you. Are you like this with every lady you meet?" she teased, raising a brow.
"Only with a very few, and only those I care about." Shorai bowed. "Good day."
"Good day, Shorai." Ino's mother watched him leave with a faint smile.
Shorai quickened his pace and soon arrived at Konoha Hospital. After asking the receptionist for his friend's room number, he made his way upstairs.
As he walked along the second-floor corridor, a red-haired boy appeared at the far end, moving toward him from the opposite direction.
'What a coincidence...' Shorai thought, his eyes narrowing slightly. 'Was he here for Sasuke?'
Their gazes locked as they closed the distance between them.
"Gaara-san," Shorai said, lifting a hand in greeting. "Did you come to see the brooding Uchiha? That must have been difficult."
Gaara stopped about a meter away. His expression remained unreadable, but something in his eyes shifted. "Sho-rai... do you have someone... important...?"
Shorai's expression softened, though his posture stayed calm and steady. "Yes. Someone who makes me want to move forward."
A silence settled between them.
Gaara stared at him for a long moment, as if searching for something hidden beneath the words.
"I'm sorry to disappoint your expectation for a fight in the finals," Shorai said at last, his tone light but careful. "I suppose Sasuke will make a suitable substitute."
"Tch..." Gaara crossed his arms and looked away, irritation flickering across his face. Then, suddenly, he clutched his head in a brief spasm. "You people... annoy me to no end..."
Shorai's fingers twitched, ready for the slightest sign of attack. But Gaara recovered quickly. He gave Shorai one last long look before turning and walking away without another word.
Shorai stood for a moment, watching the disappearing figure, then approached Sasuke's room and opened the door. Inside, he found it crowded with familiar faces.
Sasuke was lying in bed with an irritated expression, while Sakura sat beside him. Naruto and Shikamaru stood nearby, staring at Guy-sensei, who was looking at Sasuke with unusual seriousness.
Ino, looking worried about something, stood close to Sakura's side and turned to look at Shorai as he entered.
"Yo. Are you having a secret party, Sasuke? So many visitors," Shorai said with a smile, lifting a hand in greeting.
"Shorai-kun!" Sakura and Ino murmured.
"Shorai! Where have you been?" Naruto said loudly, stepping forward to greet him.
"Hm. Well. Take care, you guys. I have to go now," Guy said briefly before excusing himself and leaving quickly.
"What was that all about?" Shorai asked, though he had a strong intuition about what had just happened. He chose to look puzzled as he approached Ino and pulled her into a hug. "Good to see you, Ino."
"Good to see you too, Shorai-kun," Ino said, tightening her hold on him.
"There, there. What's all this? Everything is fine," Shorai said calmly.
They began recounting the events from a minute earlier, their worry visible on their faces. Even Naruto and Shikamaru looked concerned, though Shikamaru tried to hide it behind his usual tired expression.
"I see. Still, put your fears aside. You're all looking good to me," Shorai said, rubbing Ino's back. He then added, "And congratulations to both of you. You did especially well, no matter the outcome." His gaze shifted between Ino and Sakura.
"Huh? Do you know about the preliminary fights?" Ino asked, lifting her face and looking adorable with her wide, blinking azure eyes.
"Yeah. I'm well aware." Shorai smiled broadly. "All of you did great, I should add. But you girls stood out. It seems you proved something to yourselves after all."