The next day, Konoha exploded into an uproar.
The reason was simple: the supposedly exterminated Uchiha clan still had another survivor.
And not just anyone, but a silver-haired, shy boy who had once been escorted into the village gates by the Third Hokage himself.
Now the entire village buzzed with gossip. Until yesterday, there were only two known Uchiha left:
One was the very culprit behind the clan's downfall, and the other was his younger brother.
But with this mysterious "extra" survivor, what would happen?
Speculations flew like wildfire. Some swore this newcomer would seek revenge. Others argued he'd look after Sasuke.
And a few bold whispers even suggested he might strike against Konoha itself!
Of course, the higher-ups quickly stepped in. Sarutobi Hiruzen himself publicly vouched for Hidan, explaining that his survival was due to a top-secret mission he had been carrying out under the Third's orders. As for what mission well, that was none of the villagers business.
With that official clarification, the uproar slowly subsided. Hidan's presence shifted from the shadows of ANBU to the open streets of Konoha, where he began enjoying a strangely leisurely life.
His ANBU identity was no longer required. Most villagers kept their distance, though. After all, who could truly trust a survivor of a massacred clan? Who knew if madness still brewed inside him?
Meanwhile, Kakashi Hatake also gave up his ANBU position and became a regular jōnin instructor. Hidan noted this carefully because to him, this meant the plot was finally about to begin.
In a small grove, the sound of shuriken clashing against targets echoed through the trees.
A black-haired boy in Uchiha robes trained relentlessly. Every bullseye on the surrounding logs had already been pierced through, yet he kept throwing with shaking hands.
This was the true last heir of the clan—Sasuke Uchiha.
Normally, his practice would have ended by now. But the news of another survivor had lit a storm inside him.
Unable to calm the fury and grief boiling in his chest, he came here to release it the only way he knew.
"Why? Why?! Everyone's dead… so why are there still survivors?!"
The vision of that night replayed before him, the blood-soaked bodies of his parents beneath a crimson moon. His thin body trembled, eyes burning with hatred.
His pupils turned scarlet. Two black tomoe spun slowly into existence.
Sasuke turned and stormed out of the grove. The very existence of this so-called survivor disturbed his hate-filled heart.
Ichiraku Ramen
Elsewhere in the village, at the famous Ichiraku Ramen stand, Hidan was savoring a steaming bowl of noodles.
Compared to the instant cups he had known, the smooth texture and rich broth were another world entirely.
Before coming here, he had left Mikoto Uchiha well-fed in the Kamui dimension. Izumi, however, received nothing.
That stubborn girl had cursed him and bruised his ego. So now, she would learn what true hunger felt like.
She'd beg Mikoto for scraps, and only then would her pride begin to crack. It was all part of Hidan's little game, slowly breaking her down until nothing of the proud girl who once clung to Itachi remained.
Only then, he mused darkly, would the spirits of the fallen Uchiha find "peace."
But for now, ramen came first. And perhaps… watching his new "stepson" Sasuke as well.
Hidan slurped up the noodles leisurely while his gaze slid toward the boy sitting at the next table.
Blonde hair, three whisker-like marks on his cheeks, sky-blue eyes shining with a strange warmth.
Naruto Uzumaki.
But Hidan saw more than that. Deep within the boy's body, shackled and bound, slept a monstrous chakra...the Nine-Tailed Fox itself.
And in front of Naruto sat a mountain of empty bowls. Hidan's brows twitched.
"Seriously? This brat's stomach is a black hole… even for a protagonist, this level of eating is broken."
"Where is Hidan?! Come out!"
A cold, hate-filled voice cut through the cheerful clatter of ramen.
A young boy appeared at the entrance, his eyes burning scarlet. Sasuke Uchiha, unable to hold back any longer, had tracked him here.
Customers quickly scattered. After all, what could be worse than having in one place:
The ostracized fox demon brat,
Two surviving Uchiha,
And all that hatred bundled together?
Trouble was guaranteed.
"Oh? Looking for me?" Hidan raised a brow, slurping another mouthful of noodles without concern. "What's the problem?"
His first impression of Sasuke was exactly what he expected: a boy consumed by hatred, a path already twisted.
"You're another Uchiha survivor? Where were you when the clan was destroyed? Why didn't you come back? Did you just stand by and let everyone die?!" Sasuke roared, voice cracking with fury.
"Because I had a mission," Hidan replied flatly.
"Mission?! For the sake of a mission, you let the Uchiha perish?!" Sasuke's voice broke into a crazed shout.
"You don't deserve to carry the Uchiha name! You should die with the rest of them!"
His rage boiled over. The Sharingan spun wildly as his trembling hands snapped a shuriken forward, aimed straight at Hidan's forehead.
Clang!
The shuriken was deflected mid-flight. Not by Hidan but by a flying ramen bowl.
"Hey, bastard! Don't you know it's rude to interrupt someone's meal?!"
The thrower was none other than Naruto Uzumaki, standing up angrily beside his mountain of bowls.
"Stay out of this! Get lost!" Sasuke snapped back, eyes locked on Hidan.
Hidan smirked. How amusing. Naruto, still nosy as ever, already clashing with Sasuke… and all because of him.
"Interesting…" Hidan thought, eyes narrowing with amusement.
The bonds of these two brats were already beginning to take shape.
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