Kudo woke up with extreme heaviness on his chest although alone he had cried his heart out his agony refused to let up. His father was as perfect as he was imperfect for no father would ever subject his son to the torment of being a shinobi except one that loved his son.
Kudo was turning 8 years old this year and currently in his 4th grade, like always he was ranked fourth, an extreme achievement. Most of the elite class knew the 4th rank was taken yet they didn't give up, they were elite after all.
The skill gap widened over the other classes as tree walking was introduced for the students to further refine their chakra control. The hokage faction had made a bold choice, when facing the Uchiha they couldn't be caught with lacking shinobi. Of course, the situation had changed as Danzo was under house arrest with root having been shut down.
Dragging himself out of bed, he quickly cleaned up and left to towards the academy, with his father's death he would have to be absent for a few days.
At the academy;
"Knock-Knock!"
"Are you expecting anyone Iruka-san?" Manabi, an elite chunin along with Iruka who had also recently advanced to elite chunin following a mission with Kakashi Hatake.
"No. Come in!"
The door opened and Kudo came in, "Morning." He greeted and turned to Iruka. "Iruka sensei, I am requesting for a few days off from classes."
"Kudo, did something happen?" Iruka's voiced tinged with worry, Kudo was very diligent and talented, he would probably become an incredible shinobi but he was reserved, getting top grades yet never giving his best.
"My father has died."
"What?!" Iruka exclaimed, he knew Kudo's father. A rich merchant tycoon, an odd one as he always came to consult on his son's progress. Over at the side Manabi was equally shocked, 'How? He looked so healthy!' Manabi's thoughts were a mess.
Kudo's father had gotten to know most of the staff and was well liked.
"My condolences." Both quickly said, "Take as many days as you need." Iruka said.
The day quickly became a blur as men from the Blue dragon made regularly visits to the Tanehiko household to express their support, even Kinosuke Yamachi came in person to have an in-depth talk with his mother.
"You must be young Kudo," Kinosuke said his large frame approaching Kudo.
"Yes, a pleasure to meet you. You are?"
"Ahh, where are my manners. My name is Kinosuke Yamachi, I was a friend and colleague of your father. I am the head of the Blue dragon merchant group. I heard you are quite the shinobi talent, keep it up and maybe someday… Anyway, if you ever need resources or any kind of support, my door is always open."
Kudo couldn't hear what he mumbled in between but he had a gut feeling that it was related to his father's death, something he suspected was not natural.
At 7 years old he transitioned to using steel Kunai, Shuriken and short blades for his sword techniques, something he liked about the 2nd Hokage.
'A man without a blade is no man.' Kudo thought to himself.
A day later,
It was early morning and the cemetery of the village was filled with mostly the Uchiha clan and other clans in support of the dead Uchiha shinobi, in the north another burial was taking place. Kudo stood stoic supressing his emotions but he was visibly trembling, his right hand across his mother who was crying. Naruto as well as some of the classmates like Sarutobi Ai had come to show support.
"Anata…" Ina sniffled trying to keep her calm but the tears kept coming out.
'Dad. I will avenge you I swear, even if I must burn to this village to the ground to do it.' Kudo crouched, grabbing a fist full of soil pouring on his father's grave, his thoughts were still, his goodbye absent, over last few days he had thought about what all of this meant. His answer was that his father was the cornerstone of his world, now it was vacant. Several seconds later, "Dad, I will take care of mom. I promise-" His words were cut short by Kinosuke Yamachi.
"Lord Fugaku?! What are you doing here my lord?" Kudo turned to see Kinosuke bowing to a middle-aged man with bandages on his arms, "Kinosuke, I heard that Murata passed away. I came to pay my respects." Fugaku said eyeing Kudo and Ina. He moved over, "I take you are his family then, I'm sorry for your loss." Fugaku earnestly said.
"Thank you, I am also sorry for your loss." Ina replied, news of the attack had made rounds in the village. Kudo bowed and he caught sight of Sasuke and both of then turned their heads. Itachi behind everyone caught the tension between the two.
Members of the Blue dragon separated with some heading over to the Uchiha burial site. Among the nobles and merchants allied with the Uchiha clan was the Blue Dragon merchant caravan. Their partnership had blossomed in the past 5 years; the Blue Dragon merchants fell shy of the Akamichi clan but were still one of the biggest merchants in Konoha.
"What was that about?" Itachi asked nudging Sasuke.
"Nothing." Sasuke turned to the mass of graves bearing the Uchiha symbol, some part of him was seething. Though he couldn't comprehend it, he wanted vengeance against those that had made his family suffer. ' I swear to avenge each and everyone of you.' Pouring soil over the graves he left. Itachi watched his younger brother walk away, he could see Sasuke's hate blooming with every step, a realization that unsettled him but his hatred was even more intense though he sought to reason out his emotions. Itachi understood very well that hatred bred more hatred, he had graduated early and his father spared no expense in training him, giving him deadly missions, missions that questioned his views, resolve and ideology. Itachi had resolved himself to take on the burden of being Uchiha heir but he would not let himself get consumed by its path of hatred.
If he became the clan leader perhaps, he could change the Uchiha's trajectory.