Anywhere Else

Arthur sat comfortably in his throne room.

In front of him was none other than Ryugetsu. With one tap of his armchair, Ryugetsu vanished. His destination: outside the doors of the Fire Temple.

Normally, Arthur would employ stealth and infiltrate the temple, but there was no need for this. Ryugetsu was known and respected here.

As Ryugetsu appeared before the doors of the Fire Temple, he raised his hand and lightly knocked. The door opened and revealed a pair of monks dressed in traditional robes.

"Who comes to our temple?" one asked.

"Tis I, brother Ryugetsu," he replied with a warm smile. "I've returned."

"I've never heard of—"

"Brother Ryugetsu!" the other monk said, interrupting the first. Clearly the first monk had been a new recruit. "I thought it was you! Welcome back! Brother Chiriku has been awaiting your return."

Amused, Ryugetsu chuckled and said, "That's reassuring to know, but I'm actually here for another brother."

"Another brother? Who could it be?"

Ryugetsu was going to keep that matter to himself. He raised a dismissive hand and said, "Now, now, I can always see him later. Let's look for brother Chiriku first since he's been awaiting my arrival."

The monks, still somewhat bemused, allowed him in and directed him to a peaceful garden with cherry blossoms in full bloom. Chiriku himself sat on a bench beneath a canopy of pink petals.

The moment he saw Ryugetsu, his face brightened.

"Brother Ryugetsu! It's wonderful to see you!"

They embraced to show their admiration for one another.

"It is good to be here, my friend. I trust all has been well?" Ryugetsu asked after settling onto the bench beside him.

Chiriku poured a cup of tea from the pot on the table between them.

"It's been too quiet around here without you," he said after handing Ryugetsu the cup.

"Thank you, brother Chiriku."

As they sipped the tea, more monks began to gather. They were drawn by the familiarity between the two. The garden was soon filled with laughter as they exchanged stories about how they defeated the occult and sang their victory.

"How did it go again?" Chiriku asked after ushering the monks to sing.

"In shadows deep stood brave Chiriku, a monk who believed. With insight of ages and spirit so bright, he faced the dark cultists, prepared for the fight."

"Beside him a warrior, swift as the night, Ryugetsu, the brother, his heart full of light."

"Chiriku struck with skills refined, a monk that's so balanced, the cosmos aligned. He chanted old verses that always would flow; the fight was outlived with power to bestow."

"Ryugetsu was silent and his authority's unbound; a mysterious monk who made his foes hit the ground. Side by side, they fought—two forces intertwined! No one can stop them when their powers combine."

"The cultists fell and their dark magic defeated, by Ryugetsu's wisdom and Chiriku's heart; it could be repeated! Though songs are sung and the tales may persist, the two just chuckled, 'This tune we can't resist!'"

After their shared celebration, the two finally got some privacy. They were now spotted walking side by side along the garden.

"You know," Chiriku regarded, "if you ever considered becoming a permanent monk here, we would be thrilled to have you."

"Now where did this offer come from?" Ryugetsu smiled.

"For starters, your wisdom and presence are a blessing to us all."

Ryugetsu appreciated the sentiment, but his gaze remained focused on the surrounding beauty. It was a moment before he chose to respond.

"While I cherish the idea, I must continue to travel. There is much to learn and share across the lands. There are those who still need to have the light shine upon them."

Chiriku couldn't help but respect this. "Of course, my friend. We will always welcome you back should you change your mind."

It's then a young monk greeted them.

"Forgive my bluntness, Brother Ryugetsu, but where do you originate from? I've often wondered about your travels, given that you come and go so often."

Ryugetsu paused. The monk's inquiry was innocent enough, but it pricked more than he thought.

"A place you might not have heard of," he eventually said with a thoughtful expression. "It's far from here, even outside of the Fire Country. I'd rather not discuss it if you don't mind."

When the young monk heard that, he quickly apologized, believing he had offended Ryugetsu.

Chiriku's smile persisted as he reassured, "We honour your choice to keep your past private. What matters is your presence here now. You're a brother that all who've heard of you hold in high regard."

To act accordingly, Ryugetsu waved off any offenses and accepted the young monk's apology.

The interruption settled, and soon after, the two had walked throughout the entire temple at least once.

"Should you ever change your mind about becoming a permanent member of our temple," Chiriku said with an earnest tone, "know that the offer remains. You would always be cherished here."

"Thank you, brother Chiriku. I will keep that in mind as I continue my journey."

With a respectful bow, Chiriku departed. This allowed Ryugetsu freedom to walk around as an esteemed guest.

He had a destination now, and his next goal lay in the chamber of one particular brother—Sora.

Ryugetsu made his way through the corridors. When he reached Sora's quarters, he heard the sound of muffled coughs echoing from within.

"Brother Sora, it's Ryugetsu," he gently called out.

After a moment, the boy appeared, pale and weary. His eyes shone with joy at the sight of Ryugetsu, despite whatever was plaguing him.

"Brother Ryugetsu!" Sora weakly said with a faint smile. "I'm glad you're here."

"How're you feeling?" Ryugetsu asked, stepping closer.

"I caught a fever, it seems," Sora admitted. "The other monks offered me medicine, but I didn't feel like I needed it."

Ryugetsu slightly frowned as he scanned him. The sickness wasn't merely physical; he sensed an undercurrent of mental strain—one that could weigh heavily on anyone.

"You should have accepted the medicine, brother Sora. Let me help you."

The two went deep inside the empty bedchambers, and Sora sat on the edge of his bed. He was visibly exhausted as Ryugetsu placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Hold still," he instructed.

'Healing jutsu…'

A warm glow emanated from his palm. Sora closed his eyes and reveled in the sensation, but after a few moments, he coughed violently.

Ryugetsu might have healed him, but the illness had not completely left his body.

"What's wrong with me?" Sora asked while trying to withhold his cough.

"It seems as though the chakra within you is rejecting your body. Can you think of anything that might have caused this?"

"No… I can't."

"Tell me how you've been faring lately in the Temple then."

The boy explained how he endured a cycle of mistreatment from his fellow monks. It all stemmed from his past inability to control his chakra.

And because Arthur encouraged the boy to embrace the darkness, it made things worse.

This trauma instilled in him trust issues, and the derision he faced regarding the appearance of his right arm compounded his insecurities. While he maintained a facade of indifference and toughness, the constant bullying and ostracization led him to feel isolated, embittered, and angry, especially when peers stared at him or reminded him of his perceived inferiority.

The emotional toll of this mistreatment worsened Sora's anger and contributed to his developing mental illness, manifesting as social anxiety disorder.

His mind was now characterized by a fear of social situations and judgment from others.

Chiriku, who was often out on missions, didn't notice these changes. So the only monk that seemed to treat him as a brother was Ryugetsu.

Sora's own coping mechanisms became increasingly maladaptive as he masked his true emotions and turned to rudeness. And because he was in darkness, he often insulted others to deflect attention away from his vulnerability.

His reasoning: he thought it was right to do.

Not a single monk here could see the pain fueled by feelings of rejection and betrayal from those he should have been able to find comfort with.

For Arthur to have brought him this far was because he knew Sora's background well. So much so that he only needed to plant a seed that deepened the boy's already-past traumas.

Even now, Ryugetsu could see in Sora's eyes the conflicts he's endured up to now. They were filled with despair and what looked like a need for vengeance.

Only Naruto's talk-no-jutsu would be able to change Sora now.

But where was the main character? He neither knew of Sora's existence nor was scheduled to meet the boy for another couple of years.

That's why Arthur invested in Sora first.

"I came here with a purpose, brother Sora," Ryugetsu began. "Being here is only making you sicker. So I would like for you to become my apprentice and travel with me to my home."

Surprise showed in Sora's eyes. "Really?"

"Why would I joke about it?" Ryugetsu smiled.

"I… I'd love nothing more!" he exclaimed. "But… can we keep this from the other monks… They don't treat me kindly, and I would rather not say bye to them; I just want to leave without looking back."

Those were the right words Ryugetsu needed to hear. Yet he needed to lock things in.

So he asked, "How do you feel about them?"

"It's not just them; I hardly feel comfortable here anymore."

"It's a beautiful opportunity to leave behind the pain," Ryugetsu assured, "if you're ready. But I must warn you, Sora. The land I come from holds secrets. There will be dangerous missions, and not all encounters will lead to safe outcomes. You must consider this seriously."

Sora's fingers trembled slightly. But when he remembered how the monks gossiped about him, gave him dismissive looks, and made him feel utter loneliness, he knew what choice to make.

"Anywhere else would be better than here…"

Tentatively, Ryugetsu extended his hand and said, "Then let us go."

Without hesitation, Sora reached out. As their fingers intertwined, they were teleported in a blink.

The room faded away and was replaced by the sights of Sun Stream Plaza. Sora took in the dazzling sight and was wide-eyed with astonishment. Already, he was beginning to feel a lot better.

Even his face began to regain its colour.

"Where are we?" he marveled, looking up at the exquisite architecture.

He had never seen such a grand structure before. And truth be told, it wasn't built like the buildings in today's era; or rather, it was a far cry from the simplicity of where he came from.

"This is Sun Stream Plaza," Ryugetsu explained. "You'll be residing here from now on. Currently, we're in the early stages of creating a place for those who seek to reach the pinnacle of their skills."

Looking out at the plaza, Sora was immediately entranced by its beauty. "This place is incredible!" Then he rephrased Ryugetsu's statement before turning to face him. "Are there other monks here, too?"

"No, you and I are the only ones."

"Then… who owns this place?"

"Arthur Bennett," Ryugetsu replied with a smile. "From now on, you must address both him and me as 'lord Arthur,' and 'lord Ryugetsu.' He, however, is above me and has taken on a significant role in shaping this land."

Sora didn't need a moment to consider this. Just having left the Fire Temple was more than enough to bring back the joy he thought he had lost.

"Alright," he said, "I won't forget… lord Ryugetsu."

The title sounded a tad off. While Sora said it correctly, there was a telltale sign of something missing.

As such, Ryugetsu placed a hand on the boy's shoulder and instructed, "Rest assured, while it's just you and I, I would prefer you address me as 'brother Ryugetsu' instead."

As Ryugetsu removed his hand, it was as if Sora felt all the weight lift off his shoulders, and he was fully healed.