Chapter 3: o Hide

  Now that Kaida had his private room, a sense of aplishment filled his heart. This space would be the foundation for his growth, a safe pce where he could train, pn, and prepare for the dangerous world ahead.

  However, his thoughts were interrupted when the caretaker spoke in a serious tone, pulling Kaida back to reality.

  "Kaida, I want to ask you something."

  Kaida turo face him, his expression cautious. "Yes, uncle?"

  The caretaker's face was a little serious this time, different from his previous joyful expression. "Does your request to live alone have something to do with your chakra activation?"

  Kaida froze. A cold sweat ran down his back as panic set in. 'How does he know? Did I mess up already?' He thought, already imagining being recruited into Root by Danzo for this reason and being a sve. That's why he stammered, "I... I..."

  Whether it was his young age or the remnants of Kaida's emotions from the memories he now carried, the old man could read him easily, his kind eyes softening as he saw that Kaida was very worried about it for some reason.

  "Don't worry, Kaida," the old man said with a reassuring smile. "Chakra activation is not a bad thing. Many children of ye get this opportunity, don't worry. In fact, I'm proud of you. Your parents would have been proud too."

  Hearing this, Kaida felt the weight of ay lift from his chest. If it was on, then Root would not target him—at least he hoped that. Emboldened by the caretaker's uanding, he decided to e , at least partially.

  "Yes, uncle. When I woke up earlier, I felt... something. It's hard to expin, but it was warm and f, like a part of me I hadn't noticed before."

  The old man chuckled softly. "That's your chakra, Kaida. It means you're ready to take the first steps toward being a ninja. I have no doubt you'll be strong, just like your parents."

  At the mention of his parents, Kaida's heart ched. Even though they were not his parents, the pain he felt in his heart suggested otherwise, like they were really HIS parents—it was a weird feeling to say the least. But aside from the feeling, he realized this was the perfect opportunity to ask the questions that had been gnawing at him.

  "Uncle," he begaantly, " you tell me about my parents? I don't remember much about them. What were they like?"

  The old man sighed. Kaida was just a child anyway, and the situation of losing his parents in front of his eyes surely took a toll on his mind. That's why he decided to tell the boy a little about his parents, his eyes distant as he recalled the past.

  "Your father, Asami Senju, was a remarkable man—a proud member of the Senju , though he was an orphan himself. Despite his struggles, he had a ki and unwaveriermination. He himself had supported many orphans in his youth after he became a ninja, and he was my friend, my best friend." A look of nostalgia appeared on the caretaker's face. After a moment, he tinued.

  "He met your mother, Aiko Uchiha, when they were assigo the same genin team along with me as well. They grew close, first with rivalry then friendship, and over time, they fell in love."

  The caretaker's voice grew heavier as he tinued. "But their love wasn't without challehe Uchiha opposed their union harshly. They wanted Aiko to marry another Uchiha to ehe tinuation of their bloodline and that the secrets of the remained in the . But your mother defied them and their rules. She chose your father, even if it meant leaving her behind."

  Kaida listened ily, a mix of pride and sorrow welling up within him.

  "They were strong shinobi," the caretaker said, his voice tinged with admiration. "Your father had extraordinary chakra reserves, even for a Senju, and your mother had mastered her three-tomoe Sharingan at a young age. Together, they were a force to be reed with."

  "Then... why did they die?" Kaida asked softly, dreading the answer.

  The caretaker's expression darkened. "They gave their lives to protect others, protect those who were uo do so in front of a gia, those who froze at critical moments." A guilty look appeared on his face because he knew he was among the people they had rescued, even though he should have been helping them. But there was nothing he could do now other than taking care of the ohing they left behind. With a heavy tone, he tinued, "during the ails' atta the vilge. They had the ce to escape with you, but they chose to stay and protect others. They saved tless lives that day, being heroes of Konoha. But in the end..."

  Kaida ched his fists. The memories he ied made the pain of their loss feel all too real. But alongside the grief was a burning pride aermination. His mom and dad were stupidly heroic—if he was the real Kaida, he would get angry at them for leaving him, but he would still admire them for what they did. And unknown to him, he was already doing that.

  "I'll make you proud, Mom and Dad," Kaida whispered under his breath.

  The old man pced a hand on Kaida's shoulder, a gentle squeeze. "They would already be proud of you, Kaida. You are a good kid. And now that you have awakened your chakra, with the right training and hard work, you will bee a fine shinobi just like your parents. You'll achieve great things."

  Kaida nodded, resolve shining in his eyes. "Uncle, will you train me? I want to bee a ninja like my parents. No—I want to bee a ninja they would be proud of. I want to be the stro ninja in the world," Kaida said, his emotions taking over him.

  The old man chuckled at Kaida's bold decration. "That's quite a goal, young man. But if you're serious, there won't be anything able to stop you from achieving it, and I most definitely help you get started. The academy's admissio is in five months. Until then, I'll train you. But you o promise me ohing: no matter how tough it gets, you won't give up."

  Kaida's lips curled into a determined smile. "I promise, uncle."

  As the caretaker prepared to leave, Kaida hesitated. There was one more question gnawing at him—not the old Kaida, but the real one who knew how the world works.

  "Uncle," he asked cautiously, "do you think I'll awaken the Sharingan like my mother?"

  The caretaker's expression grew serious. "Kaida, awakening the Sharingan is... plicated. Even among full-blooded Uchiha, it requires strong luck to get it awakened, usually in life-or-death situations. For you, being half-Uchiha, it might be even harder." He gave the true details but at st added a little motivation. "But there's a ce. If you work hard, you might unlock it one day."

  Kaida nodded, determinatioched on his face. "Then I'll work hard. I'll make sure it happens." Though it was just on the surface because he also knew not everyone awakened Sharingan.

  The old man smiled warmly. "Good. But for now, get some rest. Training starts the day after tomorrow. And remember, meals are in the dining hall. Don't expe service. Since yoing to be a ninja, you 't hide away in fear now."

  Kaida grinned. "Uood, uncle."

  As the caretaker left, Kaida flopped onto the bed, exhaustion finally catg up to him.

  'This is the beginning,' he thought.

  ***

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