Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating the cozy home.
"Mom, I'm hungry!"
Naruto's voice interrupted the conversation between Uzumaki Kushina and Uzumaki Raiden, who had been so engrossed in catching up that they lost track of time. It wasn't until Naruto clutched his stomach and complained that Kushina realized it was already noon.
"I'm sorry, Raiden, I got carried away with our chat."
"I didn't even notice the time. You must be hungry too. Stay and eat with us!" Kushina said with a smile, glancing at her son before turning to Raiden.
"Sure," Raiden replied, ruffling Naruto's hair.
Since the meal was prepared on short notice, the food wasn't anything extravagant, but Raiden didn't mind. After all, it wasn't about what they ate, but who they ate with.
After lunch, Uzumaki Raiden took Naruto out for a walk while Kushina returned to the hospital to catch up on her workload. Normally, Naruto was looked after by a nanny, as both Minato and Kushina were often busy.
If Raiden had arrived a little later, Kushina would have already left the house.
On the streets of Konoha
Walking down the bustling streets, Raiden held Naruto's hand, strolling through the village's heart.
"Naruto, your mom said you usually have a nanny looking after you. So how did I find you outside the village when we first met?"
"Did your nanny sneak you out?" Raiden asked curiously, wanting to know more about his nephew's habits.
"Huh? No, um..."
"I was... looking for something! Yeah, I left something outside the village, so I went to get it," Naruto stammered, nervously scratching his head.
Raiden smiled knowingly.
"Naruto, if you're going to lie, you should at least come up with a better excuse."
"And don't bother trying to hide it. Your father has assigned plenty of people to keep an eye on you, so your whereabouts are always known."
"If Minato wanted to tell your mom, he would have done so already."
Naruto's face stiffened, but he pouted and mumbled under his breath, "Hmph, I already knew someone was watching me..."
Though Naruto spoke softly, Raiden could tell from his expression that life as the Hokage's son and a Jinchūriki wasn't exactly smooth sailing. Despite the love and protection he received from his parents, he probably didn't have the happiest childhood.
"Naruto, how about coming with me somewhere next?"
Raiden knelt down, looking Naruto in the eyes.
"Really? Where are we going?!" Naruto's face lit up with excitement. He didn't have many friends, and his parents were always busy, so having someone take him out was a rare treat.
"You'll see when we get there," Raiden said mysteriously as he led Naruto through the village streets.
As they walked, the crowd began to thin, and Naruto's excitement turned into curiosity.
Eventually, they arrived at a towering white wall. Emblazoned across its surface at regular intervals were red fan emblems—the Uchiha clan's crest.
"Uncle, where are we?" Naruto asked, looking around in awe.
Raiden gazed at the imposing walls, his expression contemplative.
"A good friend's house... but it seems things have changed a lot," he replied, his sharp senses taking in every detail.
The Uchiha clan's compound had been relocated to the southeastern corner of the village—a less favorable location. The high walls surrounding it gave the impression of isolation, making it feel like a village within a village.
"Strange... without Danzo's interference, why would the Uchiha isolate themselves like this?"
"Does Minato not trust Fugaku? That doesn't seem right..."
Lost in thought, Raiden continued walking with Naruto until they reached a large red gate guarded by two Konoha shinobi in vests. Their expressions tensed when they saw Raiden and Naruto approaching.
"Guards, huh?" Raiden mused, stroking his chin.
Before they got too close, one of the guards stepped forward, raising a hand and barking, "Halt!"
"State your business!"
The ninja's voice was sharp, and he scrutinized them with an air of arrogance. Though it was a standard inquiry, Raiden could sense an unusual pride in his tone.
Raiden kept his smile. "We're here to visit a friend. Uchiha Fugaku and I are old friends."
The guard scoffed. "How dare you call the clan head by his name so casually? I've never heard of any 'friendship' like that!"
"If you're trying to sneak your way in, you've come to the wrong place. The Uchiha clan never compromises!"
The ninja rambled on, clearly trying to establish dominance, but Raiden stood there, slightly amused and confused.
"Seriously? Do I have to deal with this cliché tough guy act?"
Just as Raiden was about to respond, the other guard's eyes widened in recognition.
"Lord Raiden!"
The second guard quickly rushed forward, dropping to one knee and bowing respectfully.
"I didn't expect you to visit! The clan head is in the compound—I will escort you personally!"
Raiden raised an eyebrow in mild surprise and glanced at the first guard, who still wore an arrogant expression, though confusion flickered in his eyes.
"You know me?" Raiden asked.
The kneeling guard smiled. "You're joking, Lord Raiden—who in Konoha doesn't know you?"
The stark contrast in attitudes between the two guards amused Raiden. The second guard's respectful demeanor even earned a small nod of approval from him.
"Lead the way," Raiden said with a smile, ignoring the still-dumbfounded first guard.
As they walked past, Raiden's keen eyes noticed a black tattoo peeking out from beneath the first guard's sleeve. The mark, though mostly hidden, emitted a distinct chakra signature that immediately caught Raiden's attention.
His gaze lingered on the mark, and the guard, sensing it, hastily rolled down his sleeve to conceal it further. The action, though subtle, only heightened Raiden's suspicions.
"That chakra... something's off about it."
Though he said nothing, Raiden made a mental note of the guard's chakra signature, deciding to investigate it later.
(End of this chapter)