Chapter 3: Disposal and Relocation

Three days after the Nine-Tails' invasion, Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, finally found a moment to address the matter of Kirito. The ongoing chaos—tallying casualties, organizing the village's reconstruction, and preparing for the funeral of the Fourth Hokage and Kushina Uzumaki—had left him with little time until now.

Kirito was undeniably peculiar. His appearance bore a striking resemblance to the Kaguya clan, with pale skin and a pair of white Byakugan eyes, similar to the Hyuga clan. However, his origins remained a mystery. No one could explain how he had ended up in a remote, abandoned house at the outskirts of Konoha Village.

Anbu's investigation confirmed that the house had been unoccupied since the Third Ninja War. The previous owner had no surviving family, eliminating the possibility of Kirito being a descendant. All evidence pointed to him having been placed there recently—possibly on the day he was discovered.

Hiruzen held his pipe, staring through the medical room's glass at the crib where Kirito lay. The Third Hokage considered all possibilities, especially whether this mysterious baby could be linked to the Nine-Tails attack.

The medical department's examination found nothing unusual aside from Kirito's distinctive appearance. They speculated that someone had deliberately left him in that house during the chaos of the attack.

"Why was he placed there during the Nine-Tails' rampage?" Hiruzen murmured, frowning. The timing was far too coincidental. Normally, he would have arranged for the Hyuga clan to take the child in, as they would never allow their bloodline to remain outside their control. But with these circumstances, the Third Hokage hesitated.

"Could this really be a coincidence?" After much deliberation, Hiruzen shook his head. If someone had indeed orchestrated this, they had failed the moment the baby was discovered. Perhaps the child had already been abandoned.

His gaze softened as it shifted to Naruto, who lay in another crib nearby. Despite Konoha's heavy losses, Minato's ultimate sacrifice had preserved the hope of recovery. Yet Naruto's future as a jinchuriki would undoubtedly be fraught with hardship.

Hiruzen sighed, turning his attention back to Kirito. He removed his pipe and made a firm decision.

"Send the white-eyed baby to the Hyuga clan for fostering," he instructed. "Keep him under surveillance to ensure no unusual activity surrounds him. As for Naruto, he will be cared for directly by the medical department. His growth must be closely monitored."

"Yes, Hokage-sama," a nearby Anbu replied before disappearing to carry out the orders.

Hiruzen didn't linger outside the medical room. The village's recovery demanded his immediate attention. Beyond reconstruction, there was the looming threat of rival villages exploiting Konoha's weakened state. Reports of unrest in the Cloud Village suggested preparations for possible conflict.

The future of Naruto and this white-eyed child can wait, Hiruzen thought. First, we must survive the present.

Inside the medical room, Kirito exhaled deeply as he sensed Hiruzen's departure.

He had anticipated thorough inspections, given the circumstances of his discovery. To avoid suspicion, Kirito had transformed all visible chakra within his body into physical energy, masking his unique nature. Even his internal organs mirrored those of a typical baby. His Rinnegan remained deactivated, rendering it indistinguishable during scans.

Little Leopard, too, had been prepared for emergencies, though its fidgety behavior meant Kirito had to constantly reassure it to avoid drawing attention. Fortunately, Konoha's investigations had found nothing unusual, and Kirito could finally relax.

If they'd pushed harder, I might've had to abandon Little Leopard and make a run for it, he thought grimly. For now, it seems they've let us both off the hook.

Kirito couldn't help but wonder what fate awaited him.

What if I end up living with Naruto? That could be fun.

His musings were interrupted when a nurse entered the room, followed by three Hyuga clan members—a man and two women. Their white eyes immediately locked onto Kirito as they began discussing him in hushed tones. One of the women eventually picked him up.

Wait… am I being taken in by the Hyuga clan? That makes sense, considering the Byakugan. But I didn't see this coming.

The Hyuga woman carried Kirito through Konoha's streets, still scarred by the Nine-Tails' attack. Buildings lay in ruins, survivors mourned their losses, and white flowers symbolizing the dead were scattered everywhere.

Kirito observed the scene in silence, the devastation reminding him of natural disasters from his previous life.

No wonder the villagers avoided Naruto in the original story. Surviving this kind of destruction leaves scars.

Anger bubbled within him as he thought of Obito. If I ever get the chance, I'll make him pay for this.

After walking for some time, the woman brought Kirito to a large compound. The sight of the kanji for "orphanage" on the door immediately set off alarm bells in his mind.

An orphanage? Great… I really am an orphan now.

Though Kirito technically had no parents, the prospect of living in an orphanage still stung. Regardless, what he needed most was a safe, stable place to grow and adapt to his body. Constantly worrying about exposure had left him mentally exhausted.

Kirito was placed in a small room alongside other children, all slightly older than him. Curious eyes peered at him from all directions. As the youngest, he was given a crib with guardrails, a VIP treatment of sorts.

You can look, but don't touch, Kirito thought warily, sensing Little Leopard's rising anxiety. He gently patted the creature to calm it down, reassuring it that no one would harm them.

Despite its usual hyperactive behavior, Little Leopard had remained perfectly still since their arrival, playing its role as a pillow flawlessly. It only reacted when a child tried to poke at Kirito, swiping the hand away with surprising speed.

The child burst into tears, and the room erupted into chaos.

Ugh… so noisy.

As the room descended into pandemonium, Kirito couldn't help but wonder if leaving his dilapidated house had been the right choice.

(End of Chapter 3)