Naruto: Maelstrom Of The Uzumaki

The Third Hokage, accompanied by a dozen Anbu, arrived swiftly at Raiden's residence. The battlefield outside the courtyard bore the scars of an intense conflict.

Scorched earth, broken roots, scattered trees, and blood-stained ground littered with hoofprints told the story. The mingled smells of blood and grass hung in the air, a stark testament to the violence that had occurred.

Surveying the scene, Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression hardened. However, his gaze softened slightly when he noticed the house still standing, unharmed. He knew the protective seals surrounding the house well, and their integrity reassured him. If the house was intact, Raiden was likely unscathed.

Leading his team to the house, Sarutobi paused at the open door. He raised a hand, signaling an Anbu to proceed cautiously. Before the Anbu could enter, Raiden's voice rang out from the yard:

"Master Sarutobi, you're here. Please, come in."

Hearing Raiden's voice, clear and strong, Hiruzen's tension eased. He motioned the Anbu back and entered the yard alone, waving off the others who tried to follow.

Inside, Raiden sat amidst fallen cherry blossoms, a stark contrast to the chaos outside. The boy, dressed in white, appeared calm, his demeanor betraying no sign of injury.

"Are you hurt?" Hiruzen asked gently, his eyes lingering on the blood staining Raiden's clothing.

"I'm fine," Raiden replied nonchalantly. "You've probably already guessed who was behind this."

Hiruzen's gaze shifted momentarily. The hoofprints left by Danzo's Nightmare summoning were unmistakable. Whether through oversight or disdain, Danzo hadn't erased the evidence before retreating. For someone as familiar with Danzo's techniques as Hiruzen, identifying the summoner was trivial.

"I know what happened," Hiruzen said after a pause. "I won't allow Iwagakure to cause trouble in Konoha."

Raiden chuckled at the blatant deflection but refrained from pressing further. "If that's the case, I'll take my rest. No need to see me out."

Hiruzen's attempt to absolve Danzo of blame was predictable, but hearing it still disappointed Raiden. He turned to leave but paused momentarily, adding, "Oh, by the way, they broke my gate. That rosewood cost 5 million ryo. I'll expect compensation."

Without waiting for a response, Raiden disappeared into his study.

"This brat!" Hiruzen muttered under his breath, any lingering guilt for his failure to protect Raiden quickly replaced by irritation. Yet, he understood the boy's anger and didn't press further.

Returning to his Anbu, Hiruzen issued his orders: "Fang, take charge here. Ensure Raiden's safety."

With that, he left with his bodyguards, heading back to the village. While he had no intention of killing Danzo, Hiruzen decided some punishment was necessary to remind his old comrade of his limits.

The following morning, Raiden was awakened by the clamor of hammers and saws. Stepping into the courtyard, he found Fang directing workers as they installed a new, dark-red gate.

"What's going on?" Raiden asked, still groggy.

"This was arranged by Hokage-sama," Fang replied cheerfully. "He also asked me to deliver this to you." He handed Raiden a check worth 3.5 million ryo.

Raiden examined the note, a smirk playing on his lips. "The old man's feeling generous, huh? If I'd known, I would've asked for triple."

Pocketing the check, Raiden returned to his room, washed up, and donned a fresh swordsman uniform. He then began his training in the dojo, postponing his summons to the Hokage's office.

By noon, Raiden's training was interrupted by visitors. Kushina Uzumaki arrived with Minato, Fugaku, and Hiashi in tow. Before Raiden could even approach the gate, Kushina's voice rang out:

"Raiden! Open the door!"

With a sigh, Raiden opened the gate, allowing them in. Kushina, dragging Minato by the hand, led the way, her excitement palpable. Fugaku and Hiashi trailed behind, their eyes scanning the aftermath of the battle outside.

In the dojo, Raiden greeted them with a smile. "What brings all of you here today? No missions?"

Kushina grinned, holding up food boxes. "There weren't any before, but there are now. Let's eat while we talk."

The group settled in the dojo's rest area, unpacking their lunches. As they ate, Minato explained the situation.

"There's a mission for the four of us," Minato began. "Hokage-sama ordered it this morning, but since you didn't show up, we came to relay it."

"A mission?" Raiden asked, raising an eyebrow. "It's been a while since I was on one. What's the task?"

"It's an investigative mission to the Land of Rain," Minato explained. "The goal is to evaluate their needs for financial aid. Since we've formed an alliance, Hokage-sama wants to ensure we understand their situation better."

"Why us?" Raiden asked, frowning. "We're an unusual team. You're a Jonin, Fugaku and Hiashi are also Jonin, and I'm just a Genin. And my sister's a Chunin."

"Kushina's not coming," Minato clarified. "She's working at the hospital. The team is just us four."

"That's even stranger," Raiden mused. "Why send such high-profile individuals on a simple investigation?"

Minato nodded. "It's not just us. Hokage-sama has arranged several teams for similar missions, but ours is top-secret. Only Hokage-sama knows the details."

Raiden's frown deepened. The composition of their team—comprising key figures from Konoha—hinted at ulterior motives. The mission itself seemed innocuous, but its execution was anything but ordinary.

"Is this to get me out of Konoha?" Raiden speculated. "If so, what's the endgame? Control over the Uzumaki sealing techniques?"

But Raiden quickly dismissed the thought. His mastery of sealing techniques allowed him to carry all his scrolls with him, ensuring they couldn't be accessed in his absence. The true motive eluded him for now.

Minato continued, "We'll set off the day after tomorrow and rendezvous with Jiraiya-sensei in the Land of Rain. He'll lead the mission."

Hearing this, Raiden's mind clicked. The arrangement made sense. By sending Raiden to the Land of Rain, Hiruzen could ensure Danzo's influence over him was minimized. With Hatake Sakumo in charge of Konoha's forces in the Land of Rain, Danzo's reach was limited there. Additionally, Jiraiya's presence would foster bonds between the team members, strengthening their loyalty to the village.

Raiden recognized Hiruzen's strategy. Unlike Danzo's heavy-handed approach, Hiruzen used subtler means—emotions and connections—to control the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

"This is clever," Raiden admitted silently. "Even Kushina and Naruto were shaped by Hiruzen's methods. Compared to him, Danzo's tactics are crude."

Though Raiden saw through Hiruzen's plan, he didn't reject it. Instead, he viewed it as an opportunity—an opening to grow stronger under Jiraiya's guidance.

(End of Chapter)

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