"Uncle, please teach me ninjutsu!"
A loud howl shattered the otherwise peaceful afternoon. The Chunin Exam, jointly organized by the five great villages, was approaching, and Naruto Uzumaki's parents were busy with official duties, leaving them no time to guide him in his training.
With that in mind, Naruto turned his attention to Uzumaki Raiden. How did that saying go? Generation after generation, the bones break, and the tendons reconnect. Determined, Naruto rushed to Raiden's home, pleading for him to train him.
In the study, Raiden looked down at Naruto, who clung to his waist, begging earnestly. He couldn't help but feel a little helpless.
"Naruto, it's not that I don't want to teach you. I really have things to take care of this time."
Raiden was still holding a scroll in his hands. Before Naruto barged in, he had been flipping through sealing technique scrolls in his study.
"Uncle, you have to help me!"
"I know you're the principal of the ninja academy, and I won't take up too much of your time. Just train me during the academy's vacation!"
Naruto looked up at Raiden with big, pleading eyes, his expression practically spelling out desperate.
"Naruto, I swear I'm not just brushing you off—I really am busy this time."
"The Chunin Exam, jointly hosted by the five villages, is a massive event."
"Not long ago, due to the village's expansion plans, the outer wall near the entrance was demolished, which also damaged the village's protective barrier."
"Originally, the expansion came to a halt due to a lack of funds. But recently, we received some funding, and the project resumed."
"Moreover, since Konoha is hosting the Chunin Exam, there will be ninjas from various villages coming to observe. At a time like this, we can't afford to be without a protective barrier."
"I'm the village's foremost expert on barrier techniques. Right now, I have to work overtime to complete the large-scale barrier. I really don't have time to train you."
"Honestly, I'm still reading this scroll today because of that."
Raiden patted Naruto's head as he explained.
"Ahhhhhh!!"
"Why does it have to be like this?! If no one helps me train, I'll lose to Sasuke in the Chunin Exam for sure!"
"Sasuke is probably training rigorously right now—I cannot fall behind!"
Naruto's face fell upon hearing Raiden's refusal, but the moment he mentioned Sasuke, his determination reignited. Raiden secretly admired his nephew's ability to change moods so quickly. Still, Naruto was his nephew, and it wouldn't do for him to be overshadowed by Sasuke. So Raiden stroked his chin, thinking about whether there was someone suitable among his subordinates who could train Naruto.
But after a long consideration, he couldn't find anyone fitting. Kisame Hoshigaki and Zabuza were out of the question—they weren't suited to teaching at all. Besides, the students under their guidance were also participating in the Chunin Exam, making them unavailable.
As for Kakashi, Naruto's teacher, Raiden hadn't even considered him. If Naruto could rely on Kakashi, he wouldn't have come to him in the first place.
Suddenly, an idea struck Raiden, and he smiled, patting Naruto's shoulder.
"Naruto, while I don't have time to train you myself, I thought of someone who can."
"He's in the village right now, and if you train under him, your strength will improve tremendously before the Chunin Exam!"
Raiden put on a mysterious smile. Hearing this, Naruto's previously dim eyes suddenly sparkled with excitement as he looked at his uncle expectantly.
"Let's go. I need to head to the village anyway, so I'll take you to him."
Raiden waved at Naruto, put down the scroll, and walked toward the door. Naruto immediately followed, asking curiously, "Uncle, who is this teacher you're introducing to me?"
"Is he strong?"
Naruto was filled with curiosity and anticipation.
"Strong? Of course!" Raiden chuckled. "He's a best-selling author, after all. How could he not be?"
"Have you ever heard about the novel your father named you after? You should've read it. It was written by Jiraiya, your father's teacher."
Raiden revealed the answer without delay. The news about the five villages coming together for the Chunin Exam had spread across the ninja world, and the Fire Country was abuzz with movement. With so many foreign ninjas entering and leaving the village, Jiraiya—who had been tracking Orochimaru's whereabouts—had naturally returned to Konoha.
"Jiraiya?!"
"I've heard my mom mention him, but I've never met him."
"Mom doesn't seem to like him and won't let me associate with him."
Naruto tilted his head in confusion. From the way Raiden spoke, it sounded like he admired Jiraiya, but based on what Naruto knew, Jiraiya didn't seem like a good person!
"Uh…"
"Well, my senior brother can be… a bit willful."
Raiden sighed, knowing full well how Kushina viewed Jiraiya. After pondering for a moment, he tried to defend him, albeit awkwardly.
Raiden led Naruto back to the village, heading straight for the hot spring district. Seeing the numerous bathhouses along the road, Naruto grew increasingly suspicious.
"Uncle… are we here to take a bath?" he asked bluntly.
Raiden didn't answer. Silently leading Naruto around, he eventually spotted Jiraiya lurking in an alleyway. At that moment, Jiraiya was lying outside a courtyard wall, intently peeking inside, occasionally chuckling to himself.
"Senior Brother, long time no see!"
"You're back in the village, so why haven't you stopped by to visit me?"
Raiden greeted him warmly. However, Jiraiya was too engrossed in his peeping to notice their arrival.
"…"
"Uncle… can this perverted old man really teach me?"
"Is he actually strong? No matter how I look at him, he just seems like a lecherous old man."
Naruto wrinkled his nose in disgust at Jiraiya's behavior.
"Hmm?"
"Raiden, who's this disrespectful brat?"
Jiraiya turned briefly to glance at Naruto before returning to his "research."
"What do you think?" Raiden smirked. "His name is Naruto."
Jiraiya clicked his tongue, his tone unimpressed.
"Naruto? You mean Minato's unworthy eldest son?"
Raiden rolled his eyes but continued, "He's about to take the Chunin Exam. Both Minato and I are too busy to train him."
"Senior Brother, I'll leave him to you."
With that, Raiden patted Naruto lightly on the back and said, "Follow Jiraiya. He'll train you well."
Then, without another word, Raiden disappeared.
Naruto stood frozen, dumbfounded by his uncle's abrupt departure. He hadn't expected Raiden to just leave him with the perverted old man!
Only now did Jiraiya finally turn around and look at Naruto properly. Letting out an exaggerated sigh, he groaned,
"You bastard! I never agreed to this!"
"I have my own things to do!"
Despite his complaints, Jiraiya knew there was no way out of this. With a reluctant glare, he muttered, "Fine. But listen up, kid—my training is tough. If you can't handle it, go home early!"
Naruto straightened his forehead protector and replied confidently, "I don't know if you're as great as my uncle says you are, but…"
"As long as it makes me stronger, I'll complete any training!"
A Few Days Later
"Lord Hokage, the Sand Ninja Village delegation has entered the Land of Fire."
"Kazekage's entourage consists of only five people, and the three Sand Village genin participating in the Chunin Exam have arrived in Konoha."
Inside the Hokage's office, an Anbu knelt on one knee in front of Minato's desk, reporting the latest developments. With the Chunin Exam fast approaching, foreign ninjas were arriving in Konoha one after another, putting a significant strain on the village's security.
As Hokage, Minato had been extremely busy during this period.
Konoha's defensive forces were already spread thin, with most Anbu assigned to covertly monitor the movements of ninjas from other villages.
Even though Sand Village was considered an ally at this time, Minato did not take the Kazekage's visit lightly. Since the moment the Sand delegation stepped into the Land of Fire, Konoha's ninjas had been following them in secret.
"I see. Ensure Kazekage's safety while also keeping Konoha secure."
"This Chunin Exam is a crucial diplomatic event for Konoha—nothing must go wrong."
Minato's normally kind demeanor turned serious as he spoke. Seeing this, the Anbu reporting to him immediately understood the importance of the task and responded swiftly.
"Understood!"
"Lord Hokage, accommodations for the foreign ninjas have already been arranged. However, we've identified a few suspicious individuals."
"A group of Sound ninjas arrived in Konoha recently, and their behavior has been unusual."
"During their journey to Konoha, the tracking teams we sent out often lost their trail. Their level of skill does not seem to match that of ordinary genin."
"Lord Hokage, this is the intelligence we gathered on those Oto nin."
As the Anbu spoke, he retrieved a scroll from his pocket and placed it on Minato's desk.
Minato's expression turned pensive as he picked up the scroll and examined the information carefully. After a long silence, he finally spoke.
"Increase surveillance on these three individuals. Keep them under close watch."
Meanwhile, in Konoha
"Konoha… It's been so many years, and it has changed so much."
A young man dressed in white and wearing a bamboo hat walked down one of Konoha's busy streets, gazing around and sighing in nostalgia. Behind him, a boy and a girl followed closely. The girl was stunning, her vibrant, multi-colored hair shimmering under the sunlight, drawing the attention of passersby.
The boy beside her, however, stood out for a different reason—his long, white hair was far beyond his years, giving him an unusual yet striking appearance. He was clad in a white robe, exuding an air of elegance and confidence.
Orochimaru had successfully infiltrated Konoha in disguise. However, his two subordinates, Kimimaro and Mariko, had made no effort to conceal themselves and walked through the village openly.
Had anyone from Team 7 spotted them, they would have instantly recognized Kimimaro and Mariko.
The three of them wandered through the streets, moving aimlessly like any other visitors from foreign villages. However, Orochimaru quickly noticed something—since entering Konoha, the number of eyes watching them had steadily increased.
He wasn't particularly concerned. After all, he had managed to shake off Konoha's Anbu multiple times on his way to the village. Attracting some attention was inevitable.
Then, suddenly, something changed.
The hidden surveillance around him began to withdraw. The Anbu watching them from the shadows… had left.
"My lord," Kimimaro whispered, his voice low and cautious as he leaned toward Orochimaru's ear. "Something's off."
But Orochimaru ignored him, his gaze fixed on a figure that had just appeared at the end of the street.
The newcomer was tall, his bright red hair even more striking in the sunlight. He stood there, smiling at Orochimaru, his expression akin to an old friend greeting a long-lost acquaintance.
"Hmph… I've been discovered, haven't I?"
Orochimaru muttered to himself before glancing at a nearby tea house. Without hesitation, he walked inside. The red-haired young man followed.
Once inside, Orochimaru selected a table and sat down. Kimimaro and Mariko instinctively moved to take the seats across from him, but before they could, Orochimaru raised his hand to stop them.
"Sit beside me."
Though confused, both obeyed his orders without question.
Not long after, the red-haired young man entered the tea house, lowering the curtain behind him. Without looking around, he walked directly to their table and sat down across from Orochimaru.
"Hey, who gave you permission to sit here? Find another seat," Kimimaro said coldly, visibly displeased by the man's familiarity.
Orochimaru lifted a hand, signaling Kimimaro to stay quiet. His golden eyes burned with curiosity as he studied the man before him.
"So, you really did come to Konoha."
"Brother Orochimaru," Uzumaki Raiden said slowly. His gaze locked onto Orochimaru, his expression unreadable.
While setting up the village's new barrier, Raiden had sensed Orochimaru's chakra. Without hesitation, he had abandoned his work and tracked him down.
After all, this was Orochimaru.
Whatever his true intentions, allowing someone like him to roam freely in Konoha was not an option.
Most people in Konoha wouldn't have been able to see through Orochimaru's disguise. But Raiden was not most people.
"This guy… Is this the Uzumaki Raiden, Orochimaru-sama's junior brother?"
Hearing Raiden's words, Kimimaro's eyes widened slightly. He gave Raiden a more scrutinizing look, his curiosity piqued.
"I must admit, I didn't expect you to notice me." Orochimaru's lips curled into a smirk. "I took certain… precautions to suppress my chakra before entering the village."
"You dismissed the Anbu watching me. What do you intend to do?"
"Or…" Orochimaru's smirk widened. "Are you planning to fight me here?"
(End of Chapter)