Time flew by like a fleeting shadow. Before she knew it, over a month had passed, and Kanon's injuries were nearly healed. Her recovery speed left the doctors and even the Third Hokage in awe. In reality, Kanon had been secretly accelerating the process by treating herself with the Mystical Palm Technique.
On the day of her discharge, Hiruzen Sarutobi personally came to visit.
"Congratulations on leaving the hospital, Kanon-chan."
"Thank you, Third-jiisan."
Kanon stood in the hospital corridor. Her jet-black hair now reached her waist, framing the exquisite features traditional to the Uchiha lineage.
"Kanon Uchiha, you're nearly seven. After the new year, I'll help you enroll in the Ninja Academy. You can study with everyone and make new friends."
"But..."
"Is something troubling you, Kanon?"
"No, it's nothing." Kanon shook her head. She knew she had to go eventually. When the time came, she could just send a Shadow Clone while her real self practiced new jutsu in her training grounds.
Ninjutsu was easy enough to learn, but Taijutsu and Genjutsu were proving difficult. Taijutsu, in particular, frustrated her because it required daily, grueling physical conditioning. Only a body tempered over time was suitable for high-end techniques. She had already conceptualized a combo for the Second Gate: The Gate of Healing from the Eight Inner Gates, which she dubbed "Swift Shadow Barrage."
Her vision for the move involved channeling chakra into her legs to drastically boost her speed and power, followed by a series of lightning-fast kicks. Each strike would carry the momentum of high-speed movement, enough to leave deep craters in an opponent. But since her injury, she couldn't train her body properly, which weighed on her mind.
Forget it, don't think about that now. Just go home, Kanon thought as she headed toward her house.
Her brother, Sasuke, had been discharged long ago. Had it not been for Kanon, he wouldn't have set foot in the hospital every day. But with every step she took toward home, the image of her parents lying in a pool of blood clawed at her mind. The pain was agonizing.
Kanon suddenly collapsed to the ground, clutching her chest as the grief became physical.
"Child, are you alright?" a kind passerby asked, seeing her huddled on the ground.
"I... I'm fine." Gritting her teeth against the sorrow, Kanon tried to leave quickly. She turned and began to walk, but after only a few paces…
"Look out!" someone shouted.
Kanon blinked, realizing a utility pole was right in front of her. At the exact moment she expected a collision, her body miraculously phased straight through the solid object.
"What?" Kanon froze. Even the bystander stood rooted to the spot.
The man rubbed his eyes and shook his head. "Am I dreaming?" By the time he looked again, Kanon was gone. "I must be... I'm seeing things," he muttered.
Kanon was no longer in the physical world. She opened her eyes to find herself in a vibrant space filled with sunlight. Floating islands, each a lush field of flowers, drifted through the air like various "Castles in the Sky." It was a breathtaking sight of endless floral beauty.
Inside her head, Konin's voice rang out.
[This is your exclusive dimension. It is the visual jutsu of your left Sharingan.]
"A visual jutsu?" Kanon asked, bewildered.
[We'll discuss that later. Your current strength isn't enough to master it yet. When the time is right, you'll understand. Kanon, whatever you do, do not try to research your Mangekyo on your own. I will tell you when it's safe to use it. Otherwise, you'll contract a 'Kekkei Genkai disease.' Furthermore, if people find out you have the Mangekyo Sharingan, it's very likely that...] Konin trailed off. [If you are ever in a life-or-death situation, I will help you through it. Just remember: do not use the Mangekyo on your own.]
Kanon wanted to ask what this disease was, but the gravity in Konin's voice made her listen. She decided to keep the Mangekyo sealed for now; her Three-Tomoe Sharingan was more than enough.
[However, you can give this space a name.
That, Kanon understood. "Let's call it... the Flower Realm."
[The Flower Realm? It fits.]
Kanon's mind, sharp as ever, made a sudden connection. "Does that guy's 'intangibility' work the same way as the Flower Realm?"
[Mhm, it's similar, but there are differences. He only has one eye, whereas one of your eyes is roughly as strong as both of his together.]
"What does that mean?" Kanon didn't understand the comparison.
[Just understand that based on my analysis, your space-time ninjutsu should eventually surpass his.]
"Why?"
[Because your one eye is worth two of his.]
Kanon was speechless. She couldn't argue with Konin's logic. "So, how do I get out?"
[Good question. Use your intent.]
A minute later, back at the utility pole, the air distorted in the shape of a rose. Kanon's body materialized, standing exactly where she had been. Her three-tomoe eyes flashed red before she instantly deactivated them.
"That was close... I almost got caught." Kanon patted her chest. If anyone had seen that, they would have been terrified. Luckily, the street was empty.
"Time to go home! Sasuke-nii is waiting for me to cook!"
Shortly after Kanon left, a man wearing a mask over half his face strolled by. He was reading a book he had just bought from the shop, but he stopped when he noticed someone staring vacantly at a pole.
"Is something wrong?" Kakashi asked, waving a hand in front of the man's face.
"I... I think I saw a ghost."
"A ghost?"
"A little girl walked through that pole, vanished, and then popped back out of nowhere."
Kakashi gave the man a look that suggested he was a complete idiot and walked away, leaving the man standing there in a daze.
…
"Nii-chan, I'm home!"
"You're back! Let me welcome you with a home-cooked meal!" Sasuke announced, bringing out a bowl of soup.
"What... is this?" Kanon asked, staring at the bowl of "dark cuisine" that seemed to be emitting a faint purple glow.
"It's miso soup I made. Give it a taste."
Kanon looked at Sasuke, who was smiling expectantly, and then at the purple soup, which looked like it had tiny skull-shaped bubbles floating on the surface.
"Nii-chan... have you tried it yet?"
"No, I wanted you to be the first."
Cold sweat broke out on Kanon's forehead. She had just recovered; she didn't want to go back to the hospital. "Nii-chan, this looks... a bit hot."
"Is it? Let me see." Sasuke took a sip.
Thump!
Sasuke hit the floor instantly, looking as though the color had been drained from his body, froth bubbling at the corner of his mouth. Looking at her brother's tragic state, Kanon narrowed her eyes and gave the unconscious Sasuke a "V" sign.
"Good thing I'm clever."
She walked into the kitchen, only to freeze at the sight of the absolute wreckage inside.
"Sigh... my dummy nii-chan." Kanon sighed, holding her head. Even so, the thought that he was her only family left sent a pang through her heart. She knew she had to keep this pain buried deep inside for now, until she was old enough and strong enough to handle it.
————
Want to read ahead of schedule? Head over to my p-atre-on: p-atre-on.c-om/Overgod [Just remove the hyphen to access normally]