Chapter 3: The Burden of a Name

Chapter 3: The Burden of a Name

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The air in Konoha was heavy with grief. Even though the fires from the battle had been extinguished, the smell of smoke, blood, and death still lingered in the streets. The once-proud village, known as the strongest of the Five Great Nations, was left scarred, its people silent and weary.

Hikaru walked among the wreckage, his mind still struggling to process everything.

The Kyūbi's attack. The Fourth Hokage's sacrifice. The sheer scale of destruction he had witnessed firsthand.

None of it felt real.

He had read about it. Seen it through a screen. But living through it? That was an entirely different experience.

And yet, despite the devastation, Konoha was still standing. The people of the village—shinobi, civilians, children—were already beginning to pick up the pieces.

That was what it meant to be the Will of Fire.

Hikaru didn't belong here. Not really. He had no past in this world. No deep-rooted emotions that tied him to Konoha.

But seeing them now…

He wanted to protect this place.

Even if he didn't truly understand why yet.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, sat behind his desk, looking older than ever. His robes were torn and stained with ash, and his eyes held a deep exhaustion that even the strongest shinobi could not hide.

The room was filled with a heavy silence.

Several ANBU stood at attention behind him, their masks stoic and unreadable. Across the office, a group of other orphaned children stood together, all of them looking lost and uncertain.

Hikaru had been brought here along with them.

He could already feel the difference in how the Hokage looked at him compared to the others. It wasn't pity. It wasn't sympathy.

It was curiosity.

Finally, Sarutobi spoke. "You are… Hikaru Senju."

The name weighed heavily in the air.

Hikaru had expected a reaction when his name was spoken, but hearing it from the Third Hokage himself made it feel even more foreign.

He wasn't really a Senju. Not in the way the old man was thinking. But he couldn't just say that.

"I… don't remember much about my family," Hikaru admitted, keeping his voice neutral. It was the safest answer—one that wouldn't contradict any past the village might expect him to have.

Sarutobi studied him carefully. His expression was neutral, but his eyes were sharp.

"The Senju Clan has long faded from prominence," he said. "Once, they were one of the greatest clans in the world—alongside the Uchiha. But after the death of Lord Tobirama, their numbers began to dwindle. Now, there are very few left."

A pause.

"Your father, Hiro Senju, was a brave shinobi," Sarutobi continued. "He fell during the Third Shinobi War. And your mother… she perished in the Kyūbi's attack."

Hikaru's hands curled into fists.

It wasn't real. These people—Hiro Senju, his supposed mother—were not his actual family. But this was the life he had been given. The identity that this world expected him to have.

And he had to play his role.

"I… understand," Hikaru said quietly.

The Hokage nodded slowly. "You are still young, Hikaru. But you carry the blood of Konoha's founders. Tell me… what do you wish to do?"

Hikaru didn't hesitate.

"I want to become a shinobi."

It wasn't even a question.

If he wanted to survive in this world, he had to become strong. There was no other path for him.

Sarutobi's lips curled into a tired smile. "I expected as much."

He gestured toward an ANBU standing by the door. "Register Hikaru Senju for the next Academy enrollment. He will begin his training immediately."

The masked ninja nodded and disappeared in a swirl of leaves.

Hikaru exhaled, letting the weight of the decision sink in. He had officially set his path.

A shinobi of Konoha.

Later that night, Hikaru sat alone in his assigned room at the orphanage. It was small, with only a simple bed, a window overlooking the village, and a few shelves for storage.

He opened his Status Screen.

[STATUS]

Name: Hikaru Senju

Level: 2 (Next Level: 400 EXP)

HP: 250/250

CP: 200/200

STR: 5

AGI: 7

CON: 6

WIS: 9

Skills:

→ [Substitution Jutsu - Rank E]

→ [Chakra Control - Beginner]

→ [Survival Instinct - Passive]

→ [Protector - Title Buff: +5% Defense when shielding civilians]

Hikaru's gaze lingered on the "Senju" name.

If this system had recognized him as one… then that meant…

Could he unlock the legendary Wood Release?

That thought alone sent a thrill through him. But he knew he wasn't even close to that level yet.

For now, he had to focus on the basics.

Hikaru wasted no time. As soon as the village allowed civilians back into the streets, he found an isolated training ground—one that was still partially damaged from the Kyūbi attack.

He stood in the center, rolling his shoulders, feeling the weight of his own body.

"Alright… first thing's first."

Hikaru closed his eyes and focused.

He could feel his chakra, swirling faintly inside him—untapped potential waiting to be harnessed.

He took a deep breath. Steady. Controlled.

Then—he reached for it.

The moment he did, something shifted.

A pulse of something ancient, something powerful, stirred within his veins.

And for the first time, Hikaru felt it.

The power of the Senju.

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To Be Continued…