"Big brother, I think I've seen you somewhere before!"
"Oh! I remember now, you're on the Hokage Rock!"
Naruto's excited shout jolted the two ANBU operatives back to their senses. The man standing before them did indeed resemble the figure carved into the Hokage Rock.
"The Fourth... Hokage-sama? No, that's impossible! The Fourth Hokage died four years ago!"
"Who are you, and how dare you impersonate the Fourth Hokage?! You imposter!"
One of the ANBU couldn't believe what he was seeing. After all, someone declared dead for years couldn't simply appear out of nowhere. Their first instinct was to suspect an imposter.
Without hesitation, the ANBU lunged, aiming to capture the red-haired man for interrogation. His blade sliced through the air toward Raiden's neck, though he held back slightly, intending to capture rather than kill.
"Ugh!"
Before the blade could land, the ANBU's movement abruptly halted. His partner, who was about to follow suit, suddenly felt a tight grip around his neck.
In an instant, both ANBU found themselves immobilized—Raiden's hands clamped firmly around their throats. The sheer speed of his counterattack left them stunned, their bodies frozen in shock.
"Calm down, no need to panic."
"I am Uzumaki Raiden. There's no need to doubt it."
Raiden's voice was low but firm as he released them. The ANBU gasped for air, beads of sweat rolling down their faces. They realized that if Raiden had any ill intent, they would already be dead.
Despite their lingering doubts, his words and overwhelming strength convinced them—at least partially.
At that moment, a series of rustling sounds echoed through the woods. Several figures darted swiftly through the snow-covered trees.
Raiden, sensing their approach, smiled faintly.
"It's been a while... Shisui."
A group of Konoha ninjas arrived, led by a familiar figure. The captain of the Konoha Police Force stopped abruptly, eyes widening in disbelief as he saw Raiden.
"M-Master?!"
"It's really you! Master!"
Uchiha Shisui, one of Raiden's two disciples, stood frozen for a moment before his eyes turned scarlet with the activation of his Sharingan.
As if needing further proof, he activated his body flicker technique to confirm Raiden's identity with his own eyes.
Then, with uncharacteristic emotion, Shisui rushed forward and embraced Raiden tightly.
"I knew it, I knew you'd return, Master!"
"You're finally back!"
Tears welled up in Shisui's eyes. But while his words were filled with joy, Raiden noticed something off.
The ANBU had claimed he was declared dead four years ago, yet Shisui's reaction suggested otherwise.
"Shisui, these ANBU told me I died four years ago. What's going on?"
Raiden gently patted Shisui's back and looked at the ninjas around him.
Shisui took a deep breath and composed himself. "Master, your situation was kept secret from the public."
"Four years ago, after your battle with the enemy, you were critically injured and fell into a coma. To protect you, the Third Hokage declared your death to the village."
Raiden nodded in understanding. He knew Hiruzen's cautious nature. Announcing his death would deter enemy nations from hunting him down and buying time for his recovery.
"But Master, your injuries were severe beyond expectation. Normal medical ninjutsu was ineffective. Then, unexpectedly, during your treatment, Nine-Tails' chakra leaked uncontrollably. No one anticipated this."
"To ensure your safety, Lord Orochimaru, Jiraiya-sama, the Fifth Hokage, Uzumaki Mariko, and Lady Tsunade collaborated to create a new sealing technique. It not only suppressed your chakra but also accelerated your recovery."
"But... we never expected the seal to last this long."
Shisui's words revealed the seriousness of the situation. Raiden had been sealed away far longer than anyone intended.
"Wait... Fifth Hokage? You mean Konoha has a Fifth Hokage now? Who is it?"
Raiden's sharp ears caught an important detail.
"It's Namikaze Minato-sama. He became the Fifth Hokage in your absence."
Shisui continued, "After the battle, Konoha suffered immense losses. Despite the hardship, we acquired the Six-Tails and Seven-Tails, adding them to our existing Three-Tails and Nine-Tails. We now control four tailed beasts."
"Naturally, this caused unrest among other villages. Cloud, Stone, Mist, and even Takigakure demanded the return of the tailed beasts that originally belonged to them."
"When negotiations failed, they began pressuring us through diplomacy and military threats. The Third Hokage refused their demands and, to stabilize Konoha, appointed Minato-sama as the new Hokage."
"War soon followed. The alliance of the enemy villages launched an attack on the Land of Fire, and although the conflict lasted only two years, the toll was immense on both sides."
"But their ambitions remain unchecked. Skirmishes have continued, and tensions with Cloud Village are at a boiling point."
"In fact, today, an envoy from Cloud Village arrived in Konoha to discuss the tailed beast matter once again."
"It could very well be a prelude to another war."
Shisui's words painted a bleak picture. But despite the tension, his tone carried hope—because Uzumaki Raiden had returned.
In the ninja world, Raiden's name had become legendary. His heroics during the Third Shinobi War and his battle against two tailed beasts had become tales of awe and inspiration. His return could shake the entire balance of power.
Raiden absorbed all this information quietly.
"I see. That explains why the current ANBU's strength isn't what it used to be..."
"War... it's never truly over, is it?"
He turned to Shisui and smiled.
"Come, Shisui. Take me for a walk around Konoha. It's been too long."
Shisui's eyes brightened, nodding enthusiastically. "Of course, Master! I'll show you everything that's changed!"
As they walked toward the village, the ANBU exchanged glances. The legendary Fourth Hokage had returned, and Konoha would never be the same again.
(End of Chapter)