2 Chapter 2: Being Reborn

Seated around a round table in the Hokage's office, the Third Hokage, Danzo Shimura, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado engaged in a somber discussion. The weight of recent events hung heavily in the air, their expressions etched with concern and determination.

The Third Hokage, his eyes filled with a mix of sorrow and resolve, addressed the group. "Orochimaru's escape from Konoha and the extent of his cruel experiments have left a deep scar on our village. The innocent lives he subjected to such torment... We must ensure justice is served and prevent such horrors from ever occurring again."

Danzo Shimura, his face masked with an air of calculated determination, spoke next. "We cannot afford to underestimate Orochimaru's capabilities. His experiments have given him access to dangerous knowledge and power. We must act swiftly and decisively to protect Konoha from any future threats he may pose."

Koharu Utatane, her features etched with a mix of grief and anger, chimed in. "The atrocities committed in Orochimaru's laboratory must not be forgotten. We owe it to those innocent victims to bring him to justice. We need to gather any information we can about his whereabouts and his plans."

Homura Mitokado, his voice firm but tinged with sadness, added, "We also need to assess the damage inflicted upon our village. Orochimaru's experiments may have left hidden dangers that could affect the security and well-being of our people. We must take measures to root out any remnants of his influence."

The Third Hokage nodded, his weathered face reflecting the weight of his responsibilities. "I have already assigned Jiraiya to investigate Orochimaru's whereabouts and gather any information that can lead us to him. We cannot allow him to continue his dark pursuits unchecked."

"What about the boy? The only survivor of that facility. Did he awaken the Mokuton?" asked Danzo with a cold, speculative gaze. His ROOT organization had already secretly secured one boy with the Mokuton, and gaining another one would be a great boon. Having two shinobi with the power of the First Hokage under his control would serve him well in bringing Konoha to the top of this world.

With a stern gaze, Hiruzen looked back at his old rival, clearly aware of his intentions of swiping another talent for his ROOT. "Unfortunately not. His body completely rejected the cells of the First Hokage. He survived alone on sheer willpower. According to all the doctors' examinations, he should have died by all accounts."

"How regretful. Someone with the Kekkei Genkai of the First Hokage would have been a great help for the village, especially in these dire times. With the damage from the Kyuubi attack, Tsunade leaving the village, the unrest with the Uchiha Clan, and now another of the Sannin betraying us this time, while the last one out of the village hunting him down, we are in dire need of new manpower," analyzed Homura as he sternly gazed at the recent reports on the number of shinobi.

"I will let most of the Jonin focus on international high-profile missions as a show of strength, while sending more Chunin to the borders to bolster our numbers. The older Genin with a Chunin leader can handle most of the missions in the Land of Fire. With the recent civil war in the Land of Water, we won't need to fear an attack from the sea, and the death of the Third Kazekage also weakened Suna. We need to be careful with Kumo and Tsuchigakure; they could use this opportunity for an attack," sighed the Third Hokage.

The advisors nodded as that was clearly the best course of action, before Koharu once again focused on the case of the surviving boy. "What are your plans for the boy?"

"I could train him under ROOT in case he is a spy left behind by Orochimaru," offered Danzo, trying to gain another agent. Although he was worthless in comparison to Kinoe with his Mokuton, it never hurt to have more pawns.

"No chance. He has already suffered enough. I will give him the choice between the orphanage and an apartment with a small allowance until his graduation. He can join the Academy if he wants or go to a civilian school. That will be his choice," decided Hiruzen, and nobody disagreed with him since they either agreed or the boy wasn't worth the trouble.

- Shinobi - Shinobi - Shinobi - Shinobi - Shinobi - Shinobi -

The Third Hokage entered the hospital room with a gentle smile on his face. His eyes held a mixture of compassion and determination as he approached the young boy, the only survivor of Orochimaru's twisted experiments. The child looked up, his expression a mix of curiosity and wariness.

"Hello, my young friend," the Third Hokage greeted him warmly with his grandfatherly face. "I'm glad to see you're recovering well. You've shown incredible strength in enduring the hardships you've faced."

Nodding, the boy's eyes flickering with a mixture of gratitude and uncertainty, he recognized the esteemed Hokage before him, a symbol of wisdom and guidance in the village but also the strong leader of a village full of child soldiers and assassins for almost 40 years. He still knew that much about the world. He knew he was from a village called Konoha, and that this man was its leader. After all, he recognized the world from his memories.

As the Third Hokage took a seat beside the boy's bed, his presence exuding a sense of comfort and reassurance, he took a sigh. "I have been thinking about your future," he began, his voice soft yet resolute. "Considering your circumstances, you are healing quite well, but it seems unlikely that your memories will return. That's why I believe it is best to give you a fresh start, a chance to shape your own path."

The boy's gaze sharpened, curiosity dancing in his eyes. That's exactly what he had been hoping for, with his memories related to himself so hazy and lost. Yes, he remembered a few details, like sharing with other children, a boy reading mangas, or a small red-haired man with an eyepatch, him with other children playing at a river, attending classes in a university, soldiers with a red ribbon-shaped logo on their chests with two white Rs. But it was all a mixed mess, with a few scenes scattered among a lot of scientific knowledge. He was sure he was an orphan either way, so he didn't lose anything.

"I will give you a new name," the Third Hokage continued, his voice carrying a sense of significance. "From this day forward, you shall be known as Tekku."

Tekku's eyes widened, his breath catching in his throat. A new name, a new identity—it symbolized a clean break from his painful past, a new life. A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips, a glimmer of newfound optimism shining through. "Thank you, Hokage-sama," bowed the boy respectfully.

The Third Hokage observed Tekku's reaction with a nod of approval. "It's no problem. No need to be so stiff, Tekku-kun. Now, Tekku, I offer you a choice. You can either live in an apartment, where you will have your own space and a small allowance to support yourself, or you can stay in the orphanage, where you will have a supportive community around you."

He didn't even have to think long about it. After all he went through, an orphanage wasn't an option. He would have to follow the decisions of the caretakers, and in such a large shinobi village like Konoha, there was a chance he could again fall into the clutches of someone sinister. After all, he was only an orphan without a background or power right now. There was no way that he would get special treatment for long, even after what he went through. During the Great Ninja Wars, there were thousands of children like him. No, an apartment for himself with his own private space felt like the best choice. He would have to fend for himself either way, and that way, he had nobody who would directly make decisions for him. After all, Naruto also managed to survive while the whole village hated him.

The Third Hokage continued, "Additionally, I believe you have shown great potential, Tekku. I offer you the opportunity to join the Ninja Academy in Konoha. With your determination and the right training, you can become a shinobi and protect our village. A shinobi is someone who endures, and after what you survived, you would make a great one."

Tekku's heart swelled with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. The prospect of becoming a shinobi, honing his skills, and using them to forge his own path was all he had been hoping for. His decision was firm. After all, if he truly wanted to survive in this world, then he needed to become strong. He didn't want to die without having really lived; he wanted to reach the peak.

"I choose to live in an apartment and join the Ninja Academy," Tekku replied, his voice filled with determination.

The Third Hokage smiled warmly, a proud glimmer in his eyes. "Excellent choice, Tekku. I believe you will do great things. We will provide you with the necessary support and guidance on your journey."

With that, the Third Hokage stood, a sense of fulfillment radiating from him. "Welcome to the Hidden Leaf Village, Tekku. You have a bright future ahead of you, and I have no doubt that you will make the most of it."

As he left the room, the weight of responsibility on his shoulders, the Third Hokage couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope for the young boy he had just named. Tekku's journey had just begun, and the village would be there to nurture and guide him along the way. Just like the First Hokage intended.

- Shinobi - Shinobi - Shinobi - Shinobi - Shinobi - Shinobi -

AN: And here is the Second Chapter! If you liked it, leave some Power Stones. It helps keeping me motivated.

- Shinobi - Shinobi - Shinobi - Shinobi - Shinobi - Shinobi -

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