Chapter 7: A New Path

The days after the massacre were a blur.

The village elders called it a tragedy, a betrayal by one of our own. The Hokage gave speeches about loss, about mourning, about the future. The people of Konoha whispered behind closed doors, their voices hushed but not silent enough. *The Uchihas are gone. The traitor left his little brother alive. There are only two left now.*

They were wrong. There were three.

I kept my head down, knowing I wasn't meant to be part of the official narrative. Danzo's eyes were everywhere, and if he realized another Uchiha had slipped through the cracks, I doubted he would let me remain free for long.

Hiruzen had found me in the early hours after the massacre, standing at the edge of the ruined compound. The smell of blood still lingered in the air, the buildings heavy with silence.

"You knew it was going to happen." His voice was tired, old in a way that went beyond years.

I didn't answer. He already knew the truth.

The Third Hokage sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose before crouching down in front of me. "You're a survivor, Raiden. That is both a blessing and a curse. You'll have a place in the village, but you need to be careful."

Meaning, *Danzo is watching*.

I simply nodded. I had no interest in being a pawn in whatever game Konoha's shadow wanted to play.

And so, life moved forward. I was placed in temporary housing, a modest apartment far from the compound, my presence acknowledged but never emphasized. The village let Sasuke be the symbol of the Uchiha's end, the tragic avenger, while I remained in the background, unspoken.

It was better this way.

But not everyone ignored me.

I started the Academy a week after the massacre.

I expected whispers, expected looks of curiosity, even fear. But what I hadn't expected was the sheer normalcy of it all. The other students, all children around my age, were more concerned with their own lives than the tragedy of mine.

Sasuke, of course, was the exception. He had changed overnight, his bright eyes dulled by grief, his presence colder than before. He barely acknowledged me, and I let him have his space. He would come to me when he was ready.

The first day was… uneventful. Iruka-sensei introduced himself, spoke about the path of a shinobi, about what we would be learning. Basic history, chakra theory, taijutsu fundamentals. Things I already knew.

I spent most of the morning observing. Analyzing.

The class was filled with a mix of talent and arrogance. Kiba Inuzuka, loud and brash. Shikamaru Nara, lazy but sharp. Choji Akimichi, kind-hearted but easily distracted. Naruto Uzumaki, an energy that was impossible to ignore, his presence met with glares and whispers from the other students.

And then, there was *her*.

Hinata Hyuga.

She sat near the middle of the classroom, her pale lavender eyes focused on Iruka-sensei, but her shoulders tense, her fingers fidgeting slightly against the fabric of her sleeves. Shy, but observant. Quiet, but listening.

She felt… different.

Our eyes met briefly, and she quickly looked away, a faint flush rising to her cheeks.

Interesting.

The day continued with simple lessons, basic chakra exercises. Nothing challenging. Nothing I didn't already know.

By lunch, I was ready to leave, to find somewhere quiet to think. But as I stepped toward the exit, a voice stopped me.

"Raiden, right?"

I turned to find Kiba standing there, Akamaru perched on his head. He grinned, all confidence and sharp teeth. "Haven't seen you around before. Where've you been hiding?"

The question was innocent, but I knew the curiosity behind it.

I met his gaze evenly. "Nowhere important."

Kiba snorted. "Mysterious, huh? Alright, well, you should sit with us." He jerked his thumb toward a nearby table where Shikamaru, Choji, and surprisingly, Hinata, were gathered.

I glanced at the girl, who quickly looked down at her food, her face turning red again.

Something about her reaction made me smirk.

"Sure."

I wasn't sure why I agreed. Maybe it was the simple normalcy of the moment. Maybe it was the fact that, despite everything, I was still just a kid trying to figure out where I fit in.

Or maybe… I was just curious.

Either way, it was the first step in a path I hadn't expected to take.