Chapter 5 - Caught Between Futures.

Setting - Konoha - Shopping District

After a lot of struggling—and more than a little complaining—Taijin finally let Soren down. He couldn't prove it, but he swore she'd actually forgotten he was still slung over her shoulder like a sack of rice at all. The moment his feet hit the ground, Soren peeled away from her as naturally as he could manage. Taijin didn't seem to think much of it. She created a third shadow clone to tail him. She didn't try to hide it—it happened right in front of him, Soren sighed inwardly.Of course. He kept a friendly, aloof air with the clone, smiling here and there, making the occasional "Ooooh!" or "Aaahhh!" like some knock-off tourist. But on the inside, he thought 'Damn it. It would've been ideal to explore the village alone. I know she probably wanted to actually shop with me… but I need to memorize the layout of Konoha. Sure, I could wait until I'm more experienced with my chakra and body... but it's like an itch. I need to scratch it now.' He kept walking beside the clone, feigning curiosity at random storefronts and stalls. Soren felt like a cartoon character. And in the village of Konoha with many weird characters... maybe that wasn't too far from the truth.

It had already been half an hour, and Soren hadn't even covered one-fiftieth of Konohagakure. He sighed, dragging his feet slightly as he glanced at another unfamiliar street. 'God damn… the anime did NOT do this place justice. In the episodes, it looks so small—people just jumping from rooftop to rooftop like it's nothing… But this? This is a damn labyrinth. At this rate, it'll take me all month just to explore the village properly.' He clenched his fist in frustration, keeping his face neutral for the clone's sake. 'I should wait until I'm better at chakra control. Or at least strong enough to use shadow clones without collapsing from chakra exhaustion. But do I even have time for that..? I could train for eight years and just be an entry level chunin.' A flicker of irritation crossed his thoughts. 'Why couldn't this kid get out more? I thought slipping into a native's body meant I'd have the whole insider package—all the streets, shortcuts, landmarks but nope. Nada. He barely left the damn house.' He exhaled through his nose, glancing around. 'Guess the food shopkeepers recognize him, though. That's something… I guess.' He gave a fake chuckle for the clone's benefit, pointing at a dango shop like it was the most fascinating thing he'd ever seen. But inside, he was calculating. The clock was ticking, and the real work hadn't even started yet.

Taijin's clone was, frankly, bored. Still, she kept quiet, sensing Soren didn't want to talk. His body language was closed off—shoulders slightly hunched, eyes avoiding hers, the smile on his lips not quite reaching the muscles around his eyes. Something was bothering him. She didn't press. Just figured he who wanted some alone time. Honestly, she would've dispelled herself and let him wander if she wasn't certain he'd get lost. Not that she couldn't track him down again—but she didn't want to be irresponsible and let a kid wander the streets alone. As Soren let out a quiet sigh of defeat, Taijin's clone looked down at him with a hint of concern. "Something in particular you wanted to see?" she asked gently. Soren looked up and shook his head. "No. I just… wanted to explore Konoha a bit. But we've barely made a dent in it. I'm realizing just how much I've missed out on." She blinked. The sudden interest in sightseeing was odd, but she didn't push. Kids processed things in their own way. Then, with a quiet nod to herself, she reached out and gently pulled Soren back by the hand, stopping him in his tracks. She stepped ahead, then crouched down, her back facing him. "Come on," she said softly. "I can't have you sulking before our training tomorrow."

Soren immediately beamed at the suggestion, a smile growing on his face before he jumped onto her back and clasped his limbs around her torso. She stood up—and flickered. It's fun when you're actually just getting a piggyback ride instead of being hoisted over one's shoulder. The speed is exhilarating; it's like being on a rollercoaster! Except, the rollercoaster is exceeding safety regulations by a very large factor. Throughout the trip, he wasn't even able to see—she was going so fast his face felt like it was being peeled off. The wind slapped his cheeks flat against his teeth, and his lips flapped like loose tarps in a storm. His belly jiggled violently with each jolt of momentum, as if his fat was trying to abandon ship and catch its own ride. His ears popped repeatedly, his vision blurred from the tears pulled sideways, and even his teeth felt like they were rattling in protest. She came to a halt once she arrived at her destination: Hokage Rock.

Soren still felt a little frazzled from the ride—his hair stuck up at odd angles and his brain felt like it was trying to realign itself in his skull. He was dizzy, and it didn't help when she casually placed him on the ground like a sack of potatoes. His knees buckled the moment his feet touched down, and he immediately almost fell off the hill. She caught his shoulder and held him steady until he caught his graces. Soren looked at the vast village below, blinking rapidly as the wind-whipped tears finally caught up with him and dripped from his chin. The sight that met him was more than worth the ride. The whole of Konohagakure unfolded beneath them like a massive, mesmerizing painting. Tree's were scattered between buildings like brushstrokes of green. The midday sun kissed the tiled roofs and glinted off windows, making the village shimmer faintly in the light. In the distance, he could spot the bustling market square, smoke rising lazily from vendor stalls, and the towering shadow of the Hokage's mansion watching over it all. At the outskirts of the village, locals are busy restoring what once stood tall and proud.

Taijin spoke first, her voice soft but steady. "Tensions are high right now between the Uchiha and the villages leadership. They think we were behind the attack on the Leaf four years ago. You can still see some of the damage being rebuilt…" She looked out over the village, her gaze unwavering. "But why would we ever want to destroy this place? This beautiful, beautiful place we live in?" Soren didn't respond at first. He just looked up at her, studying the conviction in her face. She meant every word. His gaze drifted back to the village—the rooftops bathed in golden light, the distant hum of life rising from the streets. He felt a knot twist in his chest. 'I could help, he thought. I could tell them where to look, stop this before it grows worse. Obito… Madara… even a vague warning might be enough. I could change everything. End the blame. Stop the discrimination. Give the Uchiha peace. But what if I end up making things worse? What if I ruin everything? I'm scared.' Tears welled in his eyes before he could stop them.

Taijin noticed instantly. She knelt in front of him, brushing the tears from his cheeks with gentle hands. "Oh, Soren…" she murmured with warmth. "It's okay. It's okay." She smiled sincerely "Things are getting better. Fugaku even talked to Mikoto about letting Itachi join the Chunin Exams. They weren't going to let him at first, you know—in protest of the Leaf. But now… they're reconsidering." She cupped his cheek. "See? That's progress, Soren. We'll be fine."

Taijin's words, meant to lift Soren's spirits, only deepened his sadness. Having the power to change the fate of those around him — yet being held back by the uncertainty it would bring — was a cruel burden. It was a dilemma more common to time travelers than to those who transmigrated.

Taijin's clone quickly created another clone before dissipating. The new clone had only seconds to comfort Soren before the real Taijin arrived after retrieving the memories of the shadow clone. She dispelled the remaining clone and scooped Soren up, gently caressing the back of his head.

The rest of the day passed in a blur. Nidai remained oblivious to the tears Soren had shed earlier, and Soren preferred not to speak of them. It was a strange feeling — Soren had only known these two for a little over a week, and their relationship wasn't yet fully established. Perhaps it was his memories from the boy's life that made it feel like he'd known them forever. Taijin never brought up the incident but was more careful around him, giving him space throughout the day. Nidai didn't make the Curry of Life after all — he couldn't find the right ingredients — and instead cooked chicken pot pie, one of Taijin's least favorite dishes unbeknownst to him because Taijin always insists every meal from Nidai is her favorite.

That night, Soren barely slept. He was eager for the training to begin. He vowed to give it 110 percent — whatever it took to grow strong.

(A:N 

I know I've probably put too many effort into Soren's psyche, but I think it'd be useful to highlight in case anyone is aware of the possibilities. Or they are aware but they haven't realized 'Oh right, I suppose that's an option.' Next chapter we'll get into the juicy stuff on the training in the case anyone's waiting for it. I also just needed a bit of time to research some more on how to format it because Soren's position is a little peculiar as most start training at 6. Have a good one!)