At Uchiha Fugaku's home, Uzumaki Raiden discussed his future plans with him.
Regarding Konoha's affairs, Raiden no longer intended to intervene. One reason was that Hokage Namikaze Minato had been handling things exceptionally well. Over the past few years, Konoha had remained stable and well-organized. Another crucial reason was that Konoha had established a balanced political structure. If Raiden were to suddenly step in, it would undoubtedly destabilize the village's political landscape.
That was something no one wanted, including Raiden himself.
The two of them sipped tea while watching Naruto and Sasuke play in the yard. At some point, their conversation turned to Uchiha Itachi. Itachi was Raiden's disciple and the pride of Fugaku. Speaking of his son, Fugaku had many things he wanted to share—or, rather, boast about.
"Fugaku, I didn't see Itachi when I returned this time. Where is that child?"
Raiden leaned against the pillar of the corridor, his posture casual.
"Oh, Itachi!"
"He's leading a mission right now. It's nothing dangerous, just a simple escort mission."
Upon hearing Raiden mention his son, Fugaku's face lit up with pride. He was immensely satisfied with his eldest child. Itachi had mastered Fire Release techniques effortlessly, and his reputation as a genius had already spread throughout Konoha. As his father, Fugaku could feel the envious gazes of his peers whenever he walked through the village.
As a parent, there was nothing more gratifying than having an outstanding child.
"An escort mission? The lowest rank for that is usually C-rank, right? Itachi is only five years older than Sasuke... isn't nine a little too young?"
Speaking of Itachi, Raiden recalled the quiet boy who had once followed him around. At first, he had thought Itachi was overly reserved. But after getting to know him, he realized the boy was simply thoughtful and introspective.
Introverted, kind-hearted, and sensitive—Raiden had always been fond of children like that. However, he also knew that such children required careful guidance. If they were exposed to the darkness of human nature too soon, it could distort their growth.
With that in mind, Raiden sighed and said, "I plan to leave Konoha for a while. I want Itachi to come with me."
"It's been years since we last spent time together. I should fulfill my duties as his teacher."
Fugaku was visibly surprised by the request, then hesitated. It wasn't due to distrust—he simply found it difficult to part with his son. Any father would feel uneasy about letting a nine-year-old travel far away.
"Fugaku, I have some secret ninjutsu I want to teach my disciple. The village isn't the right place for that."
Raiden narrowed his eyes slightly and smiled.
Hearing this, Fugaku's expression remained unchanged, but after a moment, he nodded.
"I'm just reluctant," he admitted. "You might be gone for years. The thought of not seeing Itachi for so long..."
"But do you think I wouldn't trust you?"
"When Itachi was younger, you already had him memorizing the Sealing Scroll. I know you care deeply for him."
"How long will you be gone?"
Fugaku sighed softly and asked. He understood that traveling with Raiden would only benefit Itachi. Raiden was one of the most formidable ninjas in the world. Under his guidance, Itachi's growth would be unparalleled. Moreover, experiencing the outside world would broaden his perspective. There was no downside.
"At the very least, one to two years. At most, four to five."
"Of course, if something urgent happens in the village, I'll return early."
Raiden smiled, knowing Fugaku had relented.
"Well... it's a long time, but this is a mission for Itachi as well."
Fugaku agreed. The duration wasn't short, but it was manageable.
The Land of Fire, Daimyo's Mansion
The Daimyo's mansion was located deep within the Land of Fire, only two to three days away from Konoha at a normal shinobi's pace.
At that moment, a ninja team from Konoha had arrived at the mansion. One of the Daimyo's closest aides had been sent to greet them.
"Is Konoha joking?!"
"A bunch of brats and an old man?! They expect this team to complete such an important mission?"
"This is a task assigned by the Daimyo! How dare they send such an unqualified group?"
In the reception hall, a middle-aged man dressed in luxurious robes was shouting in frustration. Before him stood Uchiha Itachi and his three subordinates.
At only nine years old, Itachi was barely 1.3 meters tall, his head reaching only to the man's waist. Behind him stood two young genin—a boy and a girl, both around twelve or thirteen, who had only recently graduated from the Academy. The last member of the team was an elderly man with pigtails.
The old man looked frail enough to be the middle-aged man's father. His hunched frame, wrinkled face, and iron pot strapped to his back made him resemble a kindly grandfather rather than an elite ninja.
Seeing this lineup—three children and one old man—the Daimyo's aide was furious.
"Ridiculous! When you return to Konoha, I'll personally speak with Namikaze Minato and demand a proper team!"
The aide slammed the table in frustration, his expression impatient.
Itachi remained silent, his head slightly tilted upward in thought. The two young genin behind him, clearly inexperienced in such situations, looked visibly uneasy. The old man, sensing the tension, was about to speak when Itachi's calm voice cut through the air.
"Lord Aida Maki, the Hokage sent us to complete this mission, which signifies how seriously he regards it."
"My name is Uchiha Itachi, and I am the captain of this operation. My master is the former Fourth Hokage. Hokage-sama entrusted me with this mission not as an insult to the Daimyo, but as a measure of its importance."
Despite his young age, Itachi's voice carried unwavering confidence. His words were brief, but the message they conveyed made Aida Maki raise an eyebrow in surprise.
"Uchiha Itachi? From Konoha's Uchiha clan?"
"You claim to be a disciple of the Fourth Hokage—that legendary ninja, Uzumaki Raiden?"
As the Daimyo's confidant, Aida Maki was well-informed about Konoha's affairs. He had long heard of the Uchiha clan's reputation. Although the boy before him was just a child, he was still a member of the prestigious Uchiha family.
In the Daimyo's mansion, lineage was highly valued. The Uchiha name was akin to nobility in the shinobi world—far removed from the common ninja clans.
More importantly, this child was a disciple of the famed Uzumaki Raiden? Aida Maki had never heard of Raiden taking on such a young student.
"Yes, Lord Aida," Itachi replied, bowing slightly. "The Fourth Hokage, Uzumaki Raiden, is my master."
The moment those words left his mouth, Aida Maki's demeanor shifted dramatically. His previous anger vanished, replaced by a beaming smile.
"Hahahaha!"
"Excellent!"
"A disciple of the Fourth Hokage and a member of the famed Uchiha clan!"
"I feel much more at ease entrusting this mission to you."
"Servants! Escort them to the warehouse!"
(End of chapter)