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It was an early morning on the road as an official transport vehicle pulled up to the gates of a hidden village before it was stopped by a pair of Shinobi guards that were guarding the gate.
"Hold there!" One of them called out. "State your business. What or who are you transporting?" The second guard asked.
The driver of the transport pulled out a scroll and handed it to one of the guards before answering. "The Lady Ryujin is on official business here in Konoha. She's been summoned by the Hokage himself."
One of the guards didn't look too sure, but he nodded and handed the scroll back to the driver before signaling the other Shinobi guards behind the gate to open up and let them pass. The driver tipped his hat to the guards before clicking his tongue at the horses and continued on into the village, now known as Konoha, as the gates opened up.
A Shinobi wearing dark clothing and wolf mask then jumped down near one of the guards and leaned in close. "Keep an eye on the driver. If what he says is true, then we shouldn't have any problems, but I don't exactly trust people of the Ryujin Clan. Keep an eye on the vehicle just in case something does happen." Said one of the guards as the Shinobi in dark clothing nodded before jumping up into the air and disappeared.
Moments later...
The vehicle was riding through the currently empty village as the dark clad Shinobi and many others kept a close eye on the driver and the transport while it made its way to the Hokage Tower.
Inside the transport a woman with het black hair and jade green eyes peeked through the small openings inside which gave her an opportunity to examine the village, but couldn't see much as it was still dark and the sun hadn't yet risen. The woman just smiled as she looked at the village while also feeling the presence of multiple Shinobi that were observing and watching the transport.
"Cautious. Good. If those guards hadn't tasked the Anbu to keep an eye on this transport I would've been very disappointed." The woman thought before she heard a snort beside her which made her jump slightly before giggling. Beside her was a small child, a boy, with short silver hair with light blue tips at the end, no older than 8. There was drool coming from his mouth as he slept.
The woman giggled again and shook her head before wiping away the drool with a clothe and smiled as she held him close. "My little lightning bolt. Ever the heavy sleeper. I honestly hope he grows out of that." She thought as she felt the transport suddenly stop. "We're here." She thought before looking at her sleeping son and gently shook him. "Raiden? Raiden, wake up. We're here, son." She whispered as the young bot groaned and opened a jade green eye to peek at his mother.
"Okasan, just a few more minutes, please?" Raiden whined as his mother giggled and shook her head. "No, no, Raiden. We've come a long way. It would be rude if we kept the Hokage waiting. Besides, you want to see Kogeki and Yama while we're here, don't you?" She asked the young boy.
Raiden perked up slightly at the mention of the two names, but quickly deflated when he saw how dark it still was in the morning. "Well, yes, Okasan, but it's still too early. Why can't we just wait until sunrise?" He asked with a moan which made his mother giggle once again before shaking her head. "Raiden, I know you're tired and still sleepy, but this is important business. And I brought you here with me so you could see your friends here in Konoha and to show you how important this meeting with the Hokage is to me. Won't you be a strong little lightning bolt for your mother and wake up just a bit?" She asked with a cooing voice.
Raiden just groaned and began to think about it for a moment before his mother chimed in. "I'll take you for barbecue ribs for lunch if you do this for me." She said poking his nose which made sit up quickly with bright eyes. "Ok, I'll do it, Okasan." He said energetically which made her look surprised for a moment before giggling.
She shook her head before kissing his forehead and opened the door of the transport to see that it was right in front of the Hokage tower doors.
She stepped out with Raiden behind her as the doors of the Hokage tower opened and out stepped Hiruzen Sarutobi with two Anbu bodyguards.
The 3rd Hokage.
Sarutobi walked out with a smile on his face and greeted the young mother with a small hug before he stepped back to look at her. "Welcome back to Konoha, Hikari. I'm so glad that you've-" The elderly Hokage began before glancing down behind Hikari to see a young child standing behind her.
"Oh, hello there, little one. Who is this with you, Hikari?" Sarutobi asked her making her smile. "Sarutobi, this is my son. My little lightning bolt. Raiden Ryujin." She answered with a bright smile as she put a hand behind Raiden, who was still clinging to his mother and hiding behind her.
Sarutobi smiled and nodded before leaning down to reach his hand out to Raiden. "Hello, Raiden. I'm Hiruzen Sarutobi. I'm very pleased to meet you." He said politely to the boy, but Raiden wasn't sure as he looked at the elderly mans hand then up to his mother, who just smiled.
She nodded her head and then placed her hand on his head and rubbed it gently. "It's ok, sweetheart. We're among friends here, he won't hurt you." She encouraged him.
Raiden finally worked up his nerve before reaching out to shake the Hokage's hand. "Hello, Lord Hokage. I'm Ryujin Raiden." He said timidly while shaking the old mans hand which made Sarutobi smile. "Pleasure to meet you, Raiden. And yes, your mother is right. You're among friends here in Konoha. No one will hurt you. And please, call me Sarutobi or Hiruzen. Whichever you prefer, young man." He said calmly to the little boy before standing up straight to look back at Hikari.
"Now that the introductions have been taken care of, shall we take our conversation to my office, Lady Ryujin?" Sarutobi asked Hikari politely to which she nodded. "Yes, we shall, Lord Hokage." She answered as all three of them, including the Anbu bodyguards, walked into the tower and made their way up to the Hokage's office.
Hokage Tower Office...
Sarutobi, Hikari and Raiden walked into the Hokage's office with the Anbu following close behind them before Sarutobi put up his hand up signaling them to stop, and they did.
He turned around to look at them with a smile on his face. "Tiger, Panther, I appreciate your assistance, but you're not needed here." He said to them. "What? But Lord Hokage-" The Anbu with the Panther mask began but was interrupted by Sarutobi. "Panther, I appreciate your concern, but I have no enemies in this room. It's just me, a mother and her child. Now, I would like for you to return to your patrol around the village and report to me if you find anything suspicious or out of place." He said kindly to both the Anbu, but they wouldn't let up.
"Please, Lord Hokage-" Tiger began.
"That's a direct order. Do not disobey me." The Hokage said to both the Anbu, but with a more strict tone this time.
Both Tiger and Panther looked like they wanted to plead with the Hokage to let them stay and keep an eye on him and the visitors, but they backed down when they saw the look on Sarutobi's face growing darker. They both nodded and bowed to Sarutobi before long. "Yes, Lord Hokage. We'll resume our patrol." They both said before teleporting out of the room and the building.
Sarutobi turned around and sighed before smiling again at Hikari and Raiden. "I deeply apologize for that, Hikari. My Anbu are loyal and they are friendly, but only when they want to be. They sometimes take their job a little too seriously." He said apologizing to Hikari, who shook her head with a smile and waved her hand.
"No apology is necessary, Sarutobi. It's great that the Konoha Shinobi stay on their toes and are cautious. I am also aware of the Ryujin's reputation for deception. At least on my husband's side." She said to him, making the elderly man nod.
"Yes, yes. Jiko has an unhealthy tendency to turn his back on his comrades due to his nature." Sarutobi replied with a nod before looking at Raiden, who had been looking all around him and examining his new surroundings that had been the Hokage office. "But do we want to talk about your husband in a bad light with your son in the room?" He whispered to Hikari, making her look at her son before nodding.
"Yes, you're right. We shouldn't talk about my husband in such a way while we're on official business. Although..." She paused before leaning in closer to Sarutobi. "Just between us, it's only gotten worse over the years. I can only pray that it doesn't push him over the edge and does something regretful." She whispered to the Holage making him nod as they both sat back in their chairs and relaxed before continuing their conversation on a different subject.
"Now, Hikari, onto business. Do you understand why I've summoned you here to Konoha?" Sarutobi asked Hikari, to which she nodded. "Yes, I understand. And I also understand that my request is... unorthodox and unheard of, but I am only think of my sons best interests." She answered as Raiden began to just listen to the conversation.
"Yes, it is, Hikari. And I understand that your son, forgive me for saying, doesn't have that many friends in the Cloud Village. Is that correct?" Sarutobi asked making Hikari nod once and making Raiden hang his head down. "Yes, Sarutobi, that's right. And it's not because of who his father is, it's..." She paused and looked at Raiden who still had his head hanging down.
She then looked at Sarutobi and leaned in close again so her son doesn't hear. "It's just that the village thinks that he's weak, even though he's far along in his training and shows much promise. But the entire village thinks that he will never amount to anything." She whispered to Sarutobi, who nods as they both sit back in their chairs.
Sarutobi began to think with his eyes closed. "Hikari, I know and understand what it is that you're asking, but even if I do agree to your request, it will only be harder for him to make friends here in Konoha where he doesn't know anyone." He finally says to Hikari with uncertainty before he glance at Raiden, who had his hand raised. "Yes, what it is, Raiden?" He said to the boy kindly.
"Um, Lord, I mean, Mister Sarutobi, sir. That's not entirely true. I do know two people that live here in Konoha. Or at least two people that live here with their clans." He said politely to the man, whose eyes shot up with surprise. "Oh? And who might these two people be, if I may ask, Raiden?" Sarutobi asked.
Raiden held up one finger first then spoke again. "One is Kogeki of the Hyuga clan and the other is Yama of the Chikyu clan. They're both my friends. My best friends." He answered holding up two fingers.
To say the least, Sarutobi looked shocked that a member of the Ryujin clan was friends with two different people from different clans. One of which happened to be a member of the prominent Hyuga clan.
He glanced over at Hikari, who nodded with a smile, before looking back at Raiden and smiled. "Well then, I guess I was wrong. And to be honest, I'm glad I am. Maybe it won't be so hard for you after all, Raiden." He said to the boy with a smile, who smiled back, before looking back at Hikari with a look of uncertainty. "But there still lies the question of who will be looking after him. Because I know that you're husband won't like it if you're away for too long. Right, Hikari?" He said to the young mother, who nodded.
"Yes, you are right, Sarutobi. And believe me, I have it all worked out. If our business here goes the way I hope it does, then Kogeki's mother is more than happy to watch over Raiden until I can take care of my affairs in Kumo and move back here to Konoha, my original home. By then I can continue my sons training while Kogeki's mother trains both Raiden and her son." She answered with confidence.
Sarutobi leaned back again in his chair still with a look of uncertainty. "You know this for sure? Will Kogeki's mother, a member of the Hyuga Clan, continue your sons training, a member of the Ryujin Clan?" He asked her, making Hikari nod with a smile. "I'm positive. Kabe is a good friend of mine while I lived in Konoha. She'll take good care of my little lightning bolt. I know she will, Sarutobi. I promise you that." She answered confidently.
Sarutobi thought for a moment before looking over at Raiden. "Raiden? What about you? You're part of this conversation too. Is this something you want to do? Will you be comfortable with all this? A new home? New surroundings? A new life? It'll be a big change for such a young man like yourself. Is this the path that you want to take?" Sarutobi asked the little boy while listing off things that will change in his life.
Raiden looked at the elderly Hokage then to his mother then back to the Hokage before hanging his head down to think.
Both adults wait patiently for the boys answer before said boy looked up at Sarutobi with conviction in his eyes.
"Mister Sarutobi, I... I don't want to leave my home, Kumo. If I leave, it will feel like I am betraying my own village, but... I have... no friends in Kumo. Only family. My Okasan and my Otosan. They are the only ones I have in Kumo, but... Otosan is rarely ever around. The only ones that I have in my life are Okasan, Kogeki, Yama and Kaba-San. If... if leaving Kumo gives me another chance at a new life, then I will take it. I understand the risks of change." He said to Sarutobi with such conviction that Sarutobi himself was shocked at the sudden show of maturity from the little boy, but he remained silent as Raiden continued.
"But... I want something to be known, Mister Sarutobi-San." He continued before pausing to look at the Hokage.
Sarutobi nodded and encouraged him to continue. "I want it to be known that even though if I do come to live here in Konoha, my loyalty will be not just with Konoha, but Kumo as well. I do not want to be seen as a traitor. If both villages are to be my home, then I will love both and I will fight for both. That is my promise to you as a future Shinobi of the Hidden Leaf Village." Raiden finally finished before sitting in his chair trembling and hoping that he didn't make the Hokage mad.
But Sarutobi was far from mad. He just sat there smiling brightly before looking at Hikari and nodded. "Well, Hikari, I'm sold. Your son is a fine youn man and I believe that he will be an even finer Shinobi when he comes of age." He answered, making both Hikari and Raiden's eyes light up before he continued.
"I will bring you the necessary paperwork for you to fill out before you both return to Kumo. Then, after Raiden has all his belongings packed, he will return to Konoha and temporarily stay with Kabe Hyuga until your affairs in Kumo are settled before you return yourself. After that, you will both be permanent residents of Konoha." He said as he held his hand out to both Hikari and Raiden.
They both shook his hand individually with excitement before Sarutobi spoke again. "Welcome back to Konoha, Hikari Ryujin. We've missed you." He said before looking down at Raiden with a smile.
"And I welcome you to Konoha, Raiden Ryujin. Future Shinobi of the Hidden Leaf Village."
Moments later, Outside Hokage Tower...
The sun rose just over the trees of Konoha as both Hikari and Raiden stepped out of the Hokage's tower. "Oooh, Raiden, my little lightning bolt! You did so great in there! I'm so proud of you!" Hikari stated as she brought Raiden into her arms and hugged him tightly. Raiden smiled and hugged his mother back before they both let go of their hug. "As promised, I'm going to get you the best barbecue ribs in Konoha!" She declared, making her sons eyes light up with excitement.
"Awesome! But... wait... Okasan? It's not even noon yet. It's still breakfast time. Who's going to serve lunch this early?" He asked, making Hikari pause to think. "Ooh, you're right, sweetheart. It's still early." She then leaned down to look at her son with a bright smile on her face.
"But you know what? Who cares? Food is food whether it's breakfast OR lunch." She stated with a laugh, which made Raiden laugh with his mother. She reached her hand out and grabbed her sons hand before they both walked down the streets of Konoha. "So come on, sweetheart! We have a few days to rest here while we wait for the paperwork! And I'm sure we'll find a place that serves lunch whenever! I made a promise and I intend to keep it!" She declared.
"Yeah!" Raiden shouted as they continued walking down the street to find a place to eat.
Back with the Hokage...
Sarutobi sat in his chair in his office with a file of Raiden that Hikari had given him sitting in front of him. "Hmm. Hikari wasn't lying when she said that Raiden has much potential. He knows all the basics. His Ninjutsu is currently C to almost B rank. Taijutsu is B rank. He might give Might Guy a run for his money in the future. Genjutsu is nonexistent from what the file says, but his ability to counter it is a solid A rank. Almost S rank even." He thought to himself.
"She did say that she and a few others trained him to counter Genjutsu's and to be able to tell when he's been caught in an illusion. Very impressive." He finished the thought before continuing to read the young mans file before stopping. "Oh. Due to his heritage he does have the potential to unlock his Kekkei Genkai. Hmm... the Ryujin Clan. They have the Doragan Dojutsu. Very interesting. I wonder how that little boy will unlock his? Although, I do hope that he doesn't have to go through anything traumatic to do it like so many before him." He thought with a gentle shake of his head. He sighed before looking back at the file to continue reading.
"Hmm, let's see here. Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, Genjutsu and... Kenjutsu? Let's take a look at-" He continued to read but stopped when he saw the rank under Kenjutsu.
"He's already a double S rank in Kenjutsu?! At his age?! That's impossible!" He thought before looking out the window to watch the mother and son duo happily walking down the street.
Sarutobi just sighed and flopped down back into his chair and chuckled as glanced at Raiden's file. "THAT is very impressive. Especially for a non-Shinobi. Raiden Ryujin, for some reason I have a strong feeling that you are going to shake things up around here for your teachers and your fellow students. I also have confidence that you will be a force to be reckoned with in the world of the Shinobi." He thought with a laugh before closing the file.
Meanwhile, Raiden was just all smiles as he continued to walk with his mother while they both tried to find a place to eat.