Under the guidance of the Uchiha clan guards, Uzumaki Raiden made his way through the clan's district, eventually reaching the innermost part of their territory.
The streets within the Uchiha compound weren't much different from those in the rest of Konoha, but they felt noticeably quieter. Through casual conversation with the guard, Raiden learned that only members of the Uchiha clan resided here—even the shop owners lining the streets were Uchiha.
This concentration of the clan within a single area, surrounded by towering walls, reminded Raiden of Shimura Danzo's isolationist policies.
Uchiha Fugaku's residence was a traditional courtyard-style home, occupying a vast area. Surprisingly, there were no guards stationed at the entrance. The guard escorting Raiden stepped forward and knocked on the door, which was soon opened by a middle-aged woman—most likely a housekeeper.
"Miss Ayako, these gentlemen are friends of the clan head. They've come to see Lord Fugaku," the guard explained.
"The patriarch is currently presiding over a clan meeting. Please entertain them for now," Ayako replied.
Leaning in closer, the guard whispered something into Ayako's ear, his voice low enough that only the two of them could hear. At the mention of Raiden's title, Ayako's expression shifted slightly. She glanced at Raiden with a flicker of recognition and nodded respectfully.
Smoothing her hair, Ayako then gestured towards the house and said, "Lord Hokage, please come in and have a seat. I will inform Lady Mikoto of your arrival."
Uzumaki Raiden took Naruto's hand and followed Ayako inside. As they entered, his sharp eyes caught sight of a black tattoo on her wrist—identical to the one he had seen earlier on the gate guard.
"The same black tattoo... Could it be a coincidence? Though the chakra signatures are different, the technique used seems identical. Is it some new tool the Uchiha are experimenting with?"
Raiden made a mental note of it and continued inside without further scrutiny.
Upon stepping into the spacious courtyard, Naruto's eyes widened in amazement.
"Wow! This place is huge!"
"It's even bigger than Shikamaru's house! I've never seen such a big house before!"
Despite having been inside traditional Konoha houses before, the scale of Fugaku's residence left Naruto in awe.
"Lord Hokage, please wait here," Ayako said, leading them into the living room before politely excusing herself.
A short while later, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from the corridor, followed by the creak of the sliding door.
"Dad, are you back?"
A small black-haired boy peeked into the room excitedly, only to have his face fall in disappointment when he realized the person inside wasn't his father.
"You're not Dad..."
The child's voice carried a note of dejection, but his attention soon shifted to Naruto, who was seated beside Raiden and curiously eyeing the decor.
"Who are you? Are you a friend of my mom?"
Uzumaki Raiden smiled knowingly. The young boy before him was none other than Uchiha Fugaku's second son, Uchiha Sasuke. Although this was their first meeting, Raiden was familiar with Sasuke's face—having seen it countless times in memories and flashbacks in the anime.
"Your mom's friend? No, I'm your father's good friend. My name is Uzumaki Raiden, and this little guy here is my nephew, Naruto," Raiden said, ruffling Naruto's hair as he introduced them.
He had assumed that Naruto and Sasuke would have met before, given how close their families were. However, it seemed this was their first real encounter, which puzzled Raiden.
"With Kushina and Mikoto being close friends, and Fugaku and Minato being former comrades, it's strange that these two kids haven't interacted before now."
Sasuke blinked in confusion before realization dawned on him.
"Uzumaki Raiden...? That name sounds familiar... I think my father and brother mentioned it before..."
The boy chewed his lip, deep in thought, before suddenly pointing at Raiden with wide eyes.
"I remember now!"
"You're my brother's master—the Fourth Hokage!"
Sasuke's face lit up with excitement at his discovery, but moments later, he looked troubled. He had always heard that the Fourth Hokage was dead.
"Y-you... but... you're supposed to be—" Sasuke stammered.
Raiden chuckled. "Relax, kid. I'm not a ghost, and I'm definitely not dead."
At that moment, Uchiha Mikoto entered the room, placing a gentle hand on Sasuke's head.
"Sasuke, what's with all the shouting?" she asked softly before turning her gaze to Raiden, a warm smile spreading across her face.
"Raiden, you're finally back!"
"Fugaku always believed you would return one day."
Her words carried a sense of relief, making it clear that she had been one of the few who knew the truth about Raiden's disappearance.
"Long time no see, Mikoto," Raiden greeted with a smile.
Pointing at Sasuke, he added, "So, this little one is your son, huh?"
"Yes, my second son. Itachi's younger brother," Mikoto replied, nodding.
Her eyes then drifted to Naruto. "And the boy next to you... Kushina's son? I've seen him from afar before."
Mikoto's expression softened as she observed Naruto. However, Raiden sensed something deeper in her gaze.
Realizing the atmosphere had shifted, he gently patted Naruto's back and said, "Naruto, why don't you go outside with Sasuke? I need to talk to your Aunt Mikoto."
Mikoto smiled and added, "Sasuke, show our guest around and be sure to play nicely."
Naruto, eager to explore and make a new friend, jumped up enthusiastically. Sasuke, though initially hesitant, soon led Naruto outside.
Once the children were gone, Mikoto stepped further into the living room, checking the corridor to ensure privacy before closing the door. Sitting across from Raiden, she wore a serious expression.
Seeing this, Raiden silently activated a barrier around them.
"Raiden, it's good you're back. Right now, only you can help Fugaku!"
A trace of anxiety surfaced in Mikoto's eyes. She trusted Raiden unconditionally and didn't bother hiding her emotions.
"What's going on? Is Fugaku in trouble?" Raiden asked, his face darkening slightly.
Mikoto sighed.
"Four years ago, when Konoha was attacked by the Tailed Beast, you were gravely injured and hidden away for your safety..."
"But the attack left deep scars on the village."
"It was Uchiha Madara who attacked, something only a handful of Konoha's top officials were aware of at the time. But after the incident, rumors began circulating—blaming the Uchiha for controlling the beast and attacking the village."
"Despite Minato and Fugaku's efforts, the rumors wouldn't die down. Even within the village, people insult the clan, and the tension has only worsened over the years."
Raiden nodded grimly, understanding the weight of the situation.
"As the conflict grew, some clan members clashed with other villagers... eventually leading to a violent confrontation that resulted in the deaths of several Konoha shinobi," Mikoto continued.
"Fugaku, sensing danger, requested that the Uchiha relocate to their current compound. But ever since then, internal divisions have formed within the clan."
"What was once casual clan meetings have now turned into heated battlegrounds of opposing factions," Mikoto concluded with a worried sigh.
Raiden leaned back, his expression thoughtful.
"So, even with Minato in charge, history is still repeating itself..."
(End of this chapter)