From Now On, We Are Each Other's Only Family

Chiya lay on the bed with his eyes closed, but he was nowhere near sleepy.

Too much had happened tonight. So much that his mind was still a mess.

The moment he transmigrated, it was Uchiha Clan Massacre Night. Then Itachi stabbed him through the heart, Kaguya Otsutsuki appeared inside him, and now Danzo was most likely watching him.

Most importantly, there was no system!

Where was the system? System, sir?

Chiya called out in his heart several times, but there was no response at all.

Fine. He accepted it. It looked like there really was no system.

According to the original plot, Danzo would survive all the way until the Five Kage Summit, when Sasuke finally killed him. That meant that as long as Danzo was alive, Chiya could be in danger. Who knew what underhanded tricks that old dog might pull?

What was even more troublesome was that the Third Hokage would not last much longer.

Once the Konoha Crush Plan began, Hiruzen Sarutobi would die at Orochimaru's hands. Chiya knew perfectly well how chaotic Konoha would become afterward.

With the Third Hokage still around, Danzo probably would not dare act openly.

But what about after the Third Hokage died?

What was more, the peace in this world was currently fake. Pain's Assault, the Shinobi World War, maybe even being wrapped up like dumplings and hung from a tree, and beyond that, an alien invasion... Thinking of all that, Chiya's heart suddenly felt heavy.

No.

He had to grow stronger.

And fast.

Chiya quickly went over the early plot of Naruto in his mind.

What opportunities were there in the early stages of Naruto?

He should have the Sharingan now. After all, with the stimulation of the clan massacre, it would be ridiculous if his eyes had not awakened. But how many tomoe he had, and whether he could use it steadily, would have to wait until his body recovered.

Then there was the greatest early opportunity from the original plot.

The Scroll of Seals.

Mizuki tricked Naruto into stealing the Scroll of Seals, and Naruto ultimately learned the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique.

That scroll contained far more than just the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique.

Everything recorded on it was a Konoha forbidden technique.

As long as he could memorize one or two forbidden techniques from the Scroll of Seals that suited him, it would be enough for him to take off in the early stages.

Chiya's thoughts became clearer and clearer.

For now, he would find a way to lie low, learn, practice, and master every inherited ninjutsu of the Uchiha Clan. Then he needed to stay close to Naruto and wait quietly for Naruto to steal the Scroll of Seals.

As for Kaguya...

The beautiful face of the woman in white from the mental space appeared in Chiya's mind.

Logically speaking, Kaguya should have been sealed on the moon right now. Just what was this Kaguya inside his body?

He would have to find a chance to test her later.

With that thought, Chiya barely managed to suppress the impatience in his heart and closed his eyes to rest.

No matter what, he would deal with it tomorrow.

Just as dawn broke, the ward door was suddenly pushed open from outside.

Chiya had not been sleeping deeply to begin with. The moment he heard the sound, he woke up. He did not rise immediately, merely turning his head toward the door on instinct.

An old man stood there.

He had a head of white hair, several wrinkles on his face, a Hokage robe on his body, and a smoking pipe clenched in his mouth.

Chiya recognized him with a single glance.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Sasuke, in the bed beside him, must have already been awake. He was sitting by the bed with his head lowered, completely motionless.

The Third Hokage looked at Chiya, then at Sasuke. The words he had prepared suddenly became difficult to say.

The two children were too young.

One sat silently by the bed, while the other lay in the hospital bed with empty eyes.

Yet after last night, these two children had become the only surviving members of the Uchiha Clan.

The Third Hokage was silent for a while before lightly coughing, trying to make his tone sound gentler.

"I am the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi."

Sasuke did not look up.

Chiya merely watched him without speaking.

The Third Hokage sighed and continued, "The village already knows what happened to your Household. Itachi Uchiha murdered his clansmen and has defected from Konoha."

At the name Itachi Uchiha, Sasuke's body visibly jolted.

The scenes from last night seemed to return before his eyes: his father, his mother, his clansmen, and that man standing among the corpses, looking at him coldly.

Seeing Sasuke's reaction, Chiya felt a knot form in his chest as well.

Although he had long known the plot and felt no emotional ripples over it, he could not appear too calm right now.

So he simply continued looking at the Third Hokage with those vacant eyes, as though he understood, yet also as though he understood nothing at all.

Watching the two children's reactions, the Third Hokage let out a heavy sigh in his heart.

"The Uchiha Clan has been destroyed. Only the two of you remain."

The Third Hokage spoke very softly.

"But the village will not let Itachi Uchiha go, nor will it abandon you. Someone will arrange matters concerning your lives from now on. If you encounter any problems you cannot solve, you may also come directly to me."

At last, Sasuke showed some reaction.

He slowly raised his head and looked at the Third Hokage. His eyes were red, but he did not cry.

"That man..."

His voice was hoarse.

"Did he really defect?"

The Third Hokage looked at Sasuke and nodded.

"Yes."

Sasuke lowered his head and said nothing more.

But Chiya sighed inwardly.

The Third Hokage offered a few more words of comfort. Before leaving, he paused at the door and looked back at the two of them.

"You are still young. Do not force yourselves to endure everything alone."

The words seemed directed at Sasuke, but they also seemed directed at Chiya.

With that, the Third Hokage turned and left.

The room fell silent again.

Sasuke remained sitting by the bed with his head lowered, as though he had not heard the Third Hokage's final words.

Chiya took a deep breath, threw back the blanket, got out of bed, and sat down beside Sasuke.

Sasuke did not look at him.

Chiya reached out and patted his shoulder.

Sasuke's body stiffened slightly. Only after a long while did he slowly turn his head to look at Chiya.

The two had known each other before.

They were the same age, from the same clan, both Uchiha children. They might not have been particularly close in the past, but since last night, the entire Uchiha Clan had been reduced to just the two of them.

Looking into Sasuke's reddened eyes, Chiya's sorrow deepened. He truly felt for this child who had lost everything.

Chiya did not offer any empty words of comfort. He simply reached out and wrapped an arm around Sasuke's shoulders.

Sasuke was stiff at first, but he did not push him away.

After a while, Chiya felt a slight tremor against his shoulder.

Sasuke turned his head away and clenched his teeth, but he still could not hold back his tears. They came quietly, as though he was afraid someone might hear him.

Chiya patted his shoulder. Only after Sasuke's emotions calmed a little did he speak softly. "Sasuke, from now on, we are each other's only family in this world."

Sasuke slowly raised his head to look at him.

Looking into his eyes, Chiya said earnestly, "No matter what you want to do in the future, I will help you."

Sasuke stared at him blankly.

He could tell that Chiya was not saying it casually.

There was no pity in those eyes. Chiya truly regarded him as his last family in this world.

After a long time, Sasuke nodded lightly.

Then he lowered his head. His voice was quiet, yet filled with hatred he could not suppress.

"I will definitely kill that man."

"Itachi Uchiha."