Sora had once been the object of Third Raikage's boundless hopes.
The greatest genius the Land of Lightning had seen in a century, he was like a gift from heaven to him, to the Hidden Cloud that had still been rebuilding from ruin.
Unrivaled talent, a cold and decisive temperament.
He had been born with the makings of someone who would stand at the pinnacle of the Shinobi World!
In Third Raikage's plans, Sora would become A's finest blade and shield, like a shadow.
One would become the great tree sheltering the Hidden Cloud, while the other would become roots hidden in darkness.
The two brothers would be like Konoha's Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō... No, they should be like the Asura of the Shinobi World and the God of Shinobi from the old days!
Suppressing an era.
Creating an era!
If not for that accident, the Shinobi World should have belonged to the Hidden Cloud by now.
No!
Now that Sora had returned, returned with unmatched power, the future Shinobi World was still destined to belong to the Hidden Cloud!
In Third A's clouded eyes, that faint glimmer of hope burned stubbornly like a guttering candle in the wind.
He looked at Sora, the son into whom he had poured the most effort and placed endless hopes, as if waiting for an answer that could reignite his last fighting spirit.
As long as Sora was willing to step forward, willing to shoulder the banner of the Hidden Cloud, willing to stand beside A... then even if his broken body was about to decay, the Hidden Cloud's future would still shine brilliantly!
Yet.
Faced with his father's gaze, filled with pain, accusation, and one final sliver of hope, Sora calmly looked away from Third Raikage's battered body and toward the