Chapter 1 :A naw path begins

(I don't own Naruto)

Chapter 1: A New Path Begins

Pain.

A deep, throbbing ache pulsed through Raizen Kurogane’s body, dragging him out of unconsciousness. His senses stirred, first overwhelmed by the sterile scent of antiseptic, then by the faint beeping of medical monitors nearby. His body felt stiff, heavy, as though he had been crushed beneath a collapsing building.

His mind, however, was sharper than ever.

I survived.

He kept his breathing steady as his thoughts reorganized. The last thing he remembered was the rupture—a tear in space, swallowing him whole. Then, in that void between worlds, he had glimpsed a scene of chaos.

A crimson sky. Flames. Destruction.

A massive, demonic fox rampaging through a village.

The Nine-Tails’ attack…

The realization struck hard. His arrival had been during one of the most devastating nights in Konoha’s history. And judging by his condition, he hadn’t exactly been a passive observer.

Raizen slowly opened his eyes. White walls. Dim lighting. Medical equipment. He was in a hospital.

He tried to move, but his body protested sharply. His left arm was wrapped in thick bandages, and his ribs ached with every breath. A dull pain settled in his skull, the lingering effect of whatever had struck him amidst the chaos.

Debris, most likely. He had been an unfortunate casualty, caught in the crossfire of history.

His eyes turned to the window. The sky beyond was dark, hints of moonlight slipping through the thin curtains. He didn’t know how much time had passed, but it couldn’t have been long. The village would still be reeling.

And that meant…

Raizen exhaled quietly, calming his racing mind.

There was someone in this village who had just lost everything. A newborn child. A boy who, as of this very moment, was alone in the world.

But Raizen could not react.

He could not ask. He could not show any interest.

He was a stranger in this world, an outsider who should know nothing of Naruto Uzumaki.

Instead, he forced himself to focus on his immediate reality. His injuries, his surroundings, the unknowns. He would learn what he could and wait for the right moment.

Just as he was steadying his breath, the door to his room creaked open.

A man stepped inside.

Tall, lean, clad in dark shinobi gear. His silver hair stood at odd angles, his headband was slanted over one eye, and a mask covered the lower half of his face.

Raizen immediately recognized him.

Hatake Kakashi.

A legend. The Copy Ninja. A man weighed down by grief and loss.

Kakashi’s lone eye studied him with quiet calculation. "You’re awake."

Raizen pushed himself up slightly, careful not to wince. "Yeah…" His voice was hoarse, his throat dry. "How long?"

"Two days," Kakashi answered. His voice was even, unreadable. "You were found unconscious near the destruction zone. It’s a miracle you’re alive."

Two days.

Raizen kept his face impassive, but his mind was already moving. Two days meant the aftermath had settled. The decisions had already been made.

And that meant Naruto had already been taken to the orphanage.

He exhaled slowly, controlling his expression. He could not react. Could not give anything away.

Kakashi’s gaze lingered, unreadable. "You’re not a Konoha shinobi."

Not a question. A statement.

Raizen met his gaze. "No. Just someone who got unlucky."

Silence. A long one.

Kakashi was sharp. Observant. He was studying Raizen, analyzing his every word, every movement.

Finally, the shinobi seemed to accept the answer. "The Hokage will want to speak with you when you're stable."

Raizen gave a slow nod, keeping his expression neutral. He had no doubt Hiruzen Sarutobi would want to question him. A civilian with no records found in the middle of a battlefield? The Third Hokage wouldn’t overlook that.

"I understand."

Kakashi turned toward the door. "Rest for now."

With that, he was gone.

Raizen let out a quiet breath.

This world wasn’t a game. He had to move carefully. One wrong word, one wrong step, and he could lose everything before he even began.

But one thing was certain.

He would not stand by.

He would find a way.

And when the time was right—he would take Naruto away from this place.

No matter what it took.

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