Naruto: Maelstrom Of The Uzumaki

"Are you Konoha's ninja too?"

Yahiko's attack was effortlessly blocked by Raiden. Seeing the Konoha forehead protector on Raiden's head, Yahiko's tense posture relaxed. He stared at Raiden's face, clearly puzzled.

Behind Yahiko, Nagato and Konan, who had been preparing to intervene, paused, now observing Raiden and his companions with curiosity.

"Yes, we're Konoha ninjas," Raiden said, releasing Yahiko's wrist and offering a sincere smile. "Can you take us to Jiraiya?"

"Yahiko, don't trust them so easily!" Konan called out, her voice sharp with suspicion. "What if they're just pretending to be Konoha ninjas?"

Raiden sighed and shook his head. "Being cautious is good, but this is a bit excessive," he muttered. Turning to Fugaku, he added, "Fugaku, get the information for me. He knows where Jiraiya is."

Fugaku frowned. "Raiden, how are you so sure these three know Jiraiya's whereabouts? Do you know them?"

Raiden gave a vague answer. "Not exactly. I sensed traces of Jiraiya's chakra on them."

"Really? I didn't notice anything." Fugaku activated his Sharingan, scanning Yahiko and the others carefully. Satisfied, he cast a quick genjutsu on Yahiko. Within seconds, Yahiko revealed Jiraiya's location.

"Let's move." Raiden turned, his eyes lingering briefly on Nagato. His gaze fixed on Nagato's distinctive eyes—pupil patterns he'd only heard described in legends. With a sigh, Raiden leaped into the trees. "Goodbye," he called over his shoulder as he vanished.

"Are they gone?" Nagato asked, approaching Yahiko nervously.

"They've left," Yahiko confirmed.

Konan frowned, unease evident on her face. "What if they're planning to harm Jiraiya-sensei? We should hurry back."

Yahiko shook his head. "If they meant harm, they wouldn't have let us go so easily. But you're right—we need to return quickly."

The trio moved, leaping through the rain-soaked forest, following the same path Raiden and his group had taken.

"Raiden, do you really not know those people?" Minato asked as the group advanced. His curiosity had been piqued when Raiden lingered on Nagato, observing him with uncharacteristic intensity.

Raiden hesitated before answering. "I don't know them personally, but it's obvious the red-haired boy is an Uzumaki. He's probably a descendant of someone who married outside the clan years ago."

Fugaku chimed in, his Sharingan still active. "That boy's chakra is immense for his age. While it's not on your level, Raiden, it's exceptional. And his eyes… I've seen those patterns described in old texts. They're the Rinnegan, aren't they?"

Raiden nodded slightly. "Yes, the eyes of the Sage of Six Paths. Mito once described them to me."

Fugaku's expression darkened. "Then we can't just leave them here. We should bring them back to Konoha!"

Raiden rolled his eyes. "What are you, from the Cloud Village? Not every bloodline has to be taken back to Konoha. They're connected to Jiraiya. If you're so curious, ask him about it later."

Without waiting for a response, Raiden picked up his pace, leaving Fugaku and Minato to exchange glances before following.

After hours of travel, the forest opened up, revealing a flat plain surrounded by distant, rain-shrouded mountains. In the center of the field stood a small wooden house, its exterior extended with a makeshift canopy.

Under the canopy, a white-haired man lounged on a recliner, engrossed in a book. Despite the rain, his relaxed demeanor was unmistakable.

"There he is," Minato said, smiling as he pointed to the figure in the distance.

The group approached, their raincoats dripping as they neared the house. As they closed in, Jiraiya glanced up, a grin spreading across his face.

"Finally! Hahaha!" he called out, standing to greet them.

Under the canopy, Jiraiya hugged Minato warmly before turning to the others. "Raiden, it's been half a year! How've you been?"

"Fine, except for the part where I'm constantly monitored," Raiden replied dryly as he removed his raincoat.

Jiraiya laughed, but his gaze lingered on the blade Raiden carried. "You're out of the village now, thanks to the Hokage. Don't hold it against him."

Raiden waved off the comment, changing the subject. "We met three kids on the way here. They directed us to you."

Jiraiya's eyes lit up. "Ah, my students! They're wonderful kids. You'll meet them soon enough."

As if on cue, Yahiko burst into the room, followed closely by Nagato and Konan. Their urgency was palpable, but they froze upon seeing the Konoha ninjas seated around the table.

"You again?!" Yahiko exclaimed, pointing at Raiden.

Raiden smirked, raising a hand in greeting. "Yo, little hedgehog. We meet again."

Jiraiya quickly intervened, introducing his two sets of students to one another. "These are my Konoha ninjas: Namikaze Minato, my star pupil; Hyuga Hiashi and Uchiha Fugaku, two of the village's finest Jonin; and Raiden Uzumaki."

Raiden cut in before Jiraiya could continue. "And I'm your uncle," he said, smirking at Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan.

The three stared at him, bewildered.

Jiraiya chuckled awkwardly. "Well, technically, he's not wrong. Consider him your uncle for now."

Minato greeted Jiraiya's students warmly, while Fugaku and Hiashi offered polite nods, their curiosity focused on Nagato's eyes.

Later, outside the house, Raiden gathered everyone under the canopy. "I'll teach you a simple barrier technique," he announced.

"Boundary Sky Cover Formation!" he intoned. Though no seals were visible, those with sensory abilities noticed a faint layer of chakra enveloping the house.

Nagato approached the edge of the barrier, reaching out to touch it. His Rinnegan glowed faintly.

"Interesting," Raiden muttered, watching Nagato closely. So the Rinnegan can perceive barriers like this. As expected of the Sage of Six Paths' eyes.

Fugaku and Hiashi were equally intrigued, while Minato and Jiraiya exchanged impressed glances.

Yahiko, however, remained skeptical, muttering, "I could've figured it out myself."

Raiden smirked, crossing his arms. "Let's see if you can back that up, little hedgehog. Show me what you've got."

(End of Chapter)

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