"I'll have someone call you when we're ready to leave."
"Until then, prepare yourselves."
Kakashi and the others watched as Uzumaki Raiden left. They had countless questions swirling in their minds, but it was clear that Raiden wasn't in the mood for conversation. After waving them off, he disappeared into the forest, leaving behind an eerie silence.
Obito clenched his fists tightly, stealing a glance at Rin before turning away without a word. The battle had left a deep impact on him. He had never imagined that Rin—the girl he had always protected—could be so strong.
Kakashi's performance was also remarkable. In their previous missions, Obito always believed that his Sharingan gave him an edge, but today, it had been of no use at all.
Before he realized it, Obito had become the weakest member of the team.
"Damn it! I have to get stronger!"
"I won't lose to Kakashi... and I will protect Rin with my own hands!"
Obito made a silent vow to himself.
Meanwhile, Uzumaki Raiden leisurely walked back to Konoha. On the way, he stopped by an old, deserted barbershop to trim his hair and then visited a clothing store to buy some fresh outfits that fit his frame. With a brand-new look, he headed toward Minato's home.
After Namikaze Minato became Hokage a few years ago, he and Kushina had bought a new house in the heart of the village—a standard four-room home.
Although not very spacious, its central location made it desirable. It was a stark contrast to Raiden's own solitary house in the quieter outskirts of the village.
Using his advanced sensory abilities, Raiden easily pinpointed the locations of Kushina and Naruto the moment he entered the village.
"So this is Kushina and Minato's new home? Looks cozy... like a small family," Raiden muttered as he stood outside the house, feeling an odd sense of nervousness.
Knocking lightly on the door, he waited patiently.
"Creak."
The door opened slightly, and a small head peeked out from behind it, looking up at him with wide, curious eyes.
"You're that weird guy!" Naruto exclaimed, staring at Raiden. Despite the changes in Raiden's hair and clothes, Naruto recognized him instantly.
After all, the man bore an uncanny resemblance to the face carved on the Hokage Monument, making him hard to forget.
Raiden chuckled, feeling a strange warmth from Naruto's gaze.
"Naruto! Who is it?"
Kushina's voice echoed from inside the house, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps. A moment later, she appeared at the door and froze in place.
"Raiden!"
"You're back!"
Without hesitation, Kushina leaped forward and wrapped her arms around him, tears welling up in her eyes.
Naruto, watching his mother embrace this "savage-looking" man, couldn't contain his curiosity.
"Mom, who is this wild-looking guy? How do you know him?"
"And why does he look so much like the guy on the Hokage Monument?"
Kushina turned back to her son with an annoyed expression and promptly bonked him on the head.
"Brat! Don't be rude!"
"This is my younger brother—your uncle!"
"And he's not some savage! Raiden is the Fourth Hokage! The youngest Hokage in Konoha's history!"
Naruto, rubbing his head in pain, looked at Raiden in surprise.
"Haha... looks like the typical protagonist of an adventure manga—family dynamics and all," Raiden thought with amusement as he ruffled Naruto's hair.
"Hey kid, my name is Uzumaki Raiden. I'm your uncle," he introduced himself with a grin.
"Come on, let's hear you say it."
Naruto blinked, feeling the warmth of Raiden's hand on his head. Hesitantly, he asked, "Are you really my uncle?"
"Are you really the Fourth Hokage?"
Despite his doubt, deep inside, Naruto was already convinced. There was something different about this man—an aura of strength and confidence his father didn't seem to have.
In Naruto's eyes, his father was... well, kind of weak. Minato was constantly getting scolded by Kushina, and Naruto couldn't figure out how such a "pushover" became Hokage.
"Yes, it's true," Raiden affirmed, watching as Naruto's eyes sparkled with excitement.
Without warning, Naruto jumped up and clung to Raiden, shouting, "Uncle! Teach me ninjutsu! I want to beat up all those bullies!"
Hearing this, Kushina's expression darkened slightly. She gently pulled Naruto away by the collar and sternly reprimanded him.
"I've told you so many times! Friends should be kind to each other!"
"No fighting! How many times do I have to say it?"
Raiden's smile faded as he observed their interaction. Naruto's being bullied? That didn't sit right with him. As the Hokage's son, how could he be bullied?
"Sis, what's going on?" Raiden asked, his voice laced with concern.
"It's nothing. Just some kids arguing," Kushina replied dismissively, quickly ushering him inside.
Inside the House
Sitting on the living room sofa, Raiden held a cup of hot tea, quietly observing the home.
Unlike his cold and empty house, Kushina and Minato's home was filled with life. The walls were adorned with photos—family pictures of the three of them, group shots with Tsunade, Jiraiya, and other friends. The warm, inviting atmosphere was a stark contrast to Raiden's solitude.
"It seems like Kushina's been living well all these years... I'm relieved," Raiden thought to himself, feeling a sense of contentment.
Naruto sat on his lap, his legs dangling as he stared up at Raiden, curiosity brimming in his eyes.
Kushina chattered away, sharing stories about her life, amusing anecdotes about Minato, and tales of Naruto's antics. The siblings sat together, catching up after so many years apart.
Sunlight streamed through the windows, melting the snow outside. The warm light filled the room, and before they knew it, it was already noon.
(End of this chapter)