3 Chapter 3 - Traitor

''What is the big deal anyway?! Isn't he around the same age as us? I've never seen him before!'' Naruto said while holding his hands behind his head as he complained.

''I don't know him either'' Sasuke said in confusion while only Sakura seemed to be in deep thought.

''Sakura-chan, what are you thinking about?'' Naruto asked as he saw Sakura contemplating.

''I think he is a Senju'' Sakura said with a hesitant voice which shocked Naruto and Sasuke, they looked at eachother before Naruto asked, ''Are you sure?''

Sakura nodded while Sasuke questioned, ''None of the Senju dare to claim they are a Senju''

''Except one'' Sakura said hesitantly while Naruto and Sasuke continued, ''Sukuna Senju....''

•••••••••••••••••••••

Sukuna was currently getting dressed in front of the mirror, his body already stood at an impressive 5'2ft (157cm) tall.

His hair reached his shoulders while a strand of hair hung before his face. His golden eyes were fixated on his shoulder. There was not a single indication that it had been cut-off.

'It felt like a Genjutsu yet something entirely different at the same time' Sukuna sighed as his mind was still spinning.

Taking in dozens of years of experience was heavy, although it wasn't every experience like waking up in the morning and stuff.

Normally you would think, 'ah, it's just the skill! How long could it take?'

No, it wasn't like that. The process of learning might be even more important than the actual skill itself. Nobody was perfect and everything could be improved, including the things he was learning from the memories flooding into his brain.

Those memories were meant for a world without any Chakra, without any sensors and with many long-ranged arsenal.

The complete opposite of his world.

•••••••••••••••••••••

''Correct, Lord Third'' Kakashi said while standing in the Hokage Office.

''I see, it's a good thing the child is still alive'' The Third Hokage said with a helpless smile.

''Lord Third, if I may''

''Speak, Kakashi''

''Why are you not asking Sukuna Senju to forfeit his last name and go in disguise? it isn't a secret he is a Senju considering he refuses to abandon his last name'' Kakashi said in confusion.

The Third Hokage sighed and looked out of the Hokage Office, ''Kakashi, I have asked him this multiple times. He is the child of Hashirama's cousin, the closest kin to the direct bloodline in village currently because Tsunade.... Well.... you know''

''Yes, I am aware of Lady Tsunade's situation'' Kakashi nodded as the Third Hokage spoke once more,

''I let him graduate early from the academy because of his endless pestering through the last elder in the Senju's, that old coot is dying soon too. His last remaining hope to not see the Senju's disappear is Sukuna. That child is aware of the situation within the Senju's. Tsunade, even if she comes back, won't lead the Senju's. She has lost the trust of the Senju's''

''In that case, why not protect him from the shadows?'' Kakashi asked in confusion.

''Because he told me not too, he is afraid he will build on that protection'' The Third Hokage said with a grin as he remembered the 10 year old child that just graduated saying that if he was getting special treatment, it would kill him instead of helping him.

'Tsunade, did you really have to run due to your trauma and leave all the responsibility on one child....' Hiruzen sighed before sitting down in his chair. The current Senju's were a complete mess....

•••••••••••••••••••••

In the meantime, Sukuna had already reached his small house in the Senju Compound.

It was middle-sized with two stories, a small garden and even a small pond with some carps. This was his own little space, Elder Marani had given this to him after it was uninhabited for quite some time and his obsession for moving into the Senju Compound.

''Oh, someone still has the face to come home'' An old but warm voice came from behind. Sukuna turned around and looked happily surprised.

The woman had long gray hair with a wrinkled face that was covered in scars. She wasn't just a surviving Senju that stayed at home, no, she survived war upon war.

''Grandma, I'm sorry but I lost the sword you gave me'' Sukuna said with a guilty expression which made Marani smile warmly.

''As long as you are okay child, I will give you another one'' Marani smiled warmly and patted the child's head.

''You can leave us alone now'' Marani said to her maid who bowed to the two of them before leaving.

Sukuna looked at Marani with a confused expression and asked, ''Is something the matter Grandma?''

Marani was in deep thought for a moment before sighing helplessly and looked at Sukuna.

''Was there anything special about this mission dear, anything unusual to how you got into such a situation?'' Marani asked with a faint smile.

Sukuna thought for a moment before honestly saying, ''Yes grandma, they were in too big of a group to call it a coincidence. It seemed they planned the ambush aswell and were informed about Libe Sensei's abilities. If it wasn't for Kakashi finding me, I would have lost my life''

'Well, I would still be dead if that man didn't want me to live' Sukuna silently added.

''Explain dear'' Marani smiled lightly, knowing that Sukuna already figured it out.

''There is a traitor in the village that sold the information'' Sukuna said in a confident manner.

''Almost correct'' Marani said with a satisfied expression, Sukuna perked up his ears as he waited for Marani's explanation.

''To be exact, there is a traitor in the Senju Family''

Sukuna trembled slightly as he a regretful expression entered his face, only dozens of people lived in the Senju Family at the moment. He knew them all, most of them even personally....

''Sukuna, I don't have long anymore''

As those worlds fell, Sukuna bit his lower lip while his nails dug into his hands.

''Don't make such an expression child, I lived the longest out of everyone I knew. It's time for me to join my family'' Marani said with warm tone as she looked at the child.

Even though Sukuna might act cold, he was still a child inside. He was closer to Marani than he was to his parents. His mother wanted to live with him, but his father forbade her. As for his father? In his memories he was a great man, a Jonin that was respected but lost his way in life.

He never blamed his mother, but although she loved him it was also clear what choice she made regarding the Senju's and himself.

''You know the sentence, right? It's not about how a person lives....''

''It's how they die'' Sukuna continued as his expression was sullen. His heart beating rapidly as his head was filling his mind with helplessness.

''Exactly, I have lived my life like there is no tomorrow. I lived and will die for my purpose, I have achieved what I wanted and now I can die with a smile on my face'' Marani said as she looked at Sukuna and continued,

''Sukuna, I want you to find who the traitor is''

''Me?'' Sukuna pointed at his own face in shock.

''Yes my child, you. If you're going to be shocked by that, you're in for a real shock'' Marani had a mischievous smile on her old face while Sukuna just looked at her with a big '?' on his forehead.

''Depending on the outcome, after I pass away you will be the heir of the Senju Clan. You will be the Patriarch once I pass''

A bomb went off inside of Sukuna's brain, although he had always wanted to make the Clan go back to their prime, he had never thought that he would be the Patriarch of the clan!

''G..grandma, isn't Tsunade technically the heir of the clan?'' Sukuna stammered in shock.

''Correct, but a Matriarch and Patriarch have certain responsibilities to the clan. That little girl abandoned the clan due to her trauma and we Senju's can't sit around and wait for her now, can we?'' Marani smiled lightly.

Sukuna's face grew cold once Tsunade's actions were spoken of, the Senju Clan still had a few hundred or so active Shinobi before she left...

Now they were down to a mere 76 people, 37 being servants, 25 being retired Shinobi due to injury or trauma's, 0 Special Jonins, 6 Jonins, 2 Chuunins and 0 Genins besides himself and 2 Academy Students who rarely left the clan, only to go to the academy. At last, 6 children who were adopted into the Senju's and didn't practice Ninshu.

''Don't be angry at her child, nothing comes out of living in hatred'' Marani said with a bitter smile, she knew how Sukuna was bend on turning the Senju's around and wipping them into shape.

''I will try'' Sukuna said with a reluctant expression, Marani just continued to smile bitterly. It was going to take time for sure.

Sukuna calmed himself down before a determined glint entered his eyes and he looked at Marani,

''I will find who the traitor is and deal with it accordingly'' Sukuna promised which made a proud smile appear on Marani's old face. Maybe the Senju's still had a chance after all