Disclaimer: Naruto and all of its character belong to Masashi Kishimoto. I own nothing but the original characters I make.
Chapter 130: Raiken Attack Again
16 JUNE - KONOHA YEAR 46
KONOHAGAKURE - HOKAGE OFFICE
After more than a week, Sakumo received a bad news.
"Hokage-sama, the Raikage has entered the border of the Land of Fire again," reported the jōnin commander, his voice firm but tense because he knows how powerful Raikage according to the report from the survivor.
Everyone in the room grew quiet.
Sakumo did not look surprised because he had expected it, there was no way that Kumogakure would surrender after attacking them.
Instead, he slowly set the report down on his desk, his expression calm.
"…I see," he said quietly.
In truth, he had already anticipated this attack and made quiet preparation.
With the help of Uzumaki Raiken and Nara Shikajin, who now served as his advisor, Sakumo had been able to prepare for scenarios like this well in advance. Both of them were exceptional in their own ways, but Raiken in particular are on a different level.
Sakumo still couldn't fully grasp how Raiken mind worked. It was as if the man could see ten steps ahead, planning the outcomes before others could even recognize the problem.
It was also thanks to Raiken that Sakumo had uncovered the Fire Daimyō corruption.
That alone had changed everything, he had quietly imprison the current Daimyo and put the puppet Daimyo, this news Daimyo are distance cousin and his name are Denjiro.
Sakumo leaned back slightly, his thoughts drifting to a conversation he had with Raiken a week ago.
There was something he had always wondered. He glanced at Raiken, who was standing nearby, looking completely at ease.
"…Raiken," Sakumo spoke.
"Yes, Hokage-sama?" Raiken replied casually.
"Why didn't you put your name forward as a candidate for Hokage?"
The question had been lingering in Sakumo mind for some time after he hold this position.
With Raiken intelligence, influence, and strength, he would have been a strong contender. Perhaps even the most suitable one.
Yet.... He hadn't even tried.
Raiken blinked once, then let out a small laugh.
"Because being Hokage would make me too busy," he said plainly. "I just got married. It's time for me to spend more time with my wife."
Sakumo stared at him.
"…That's your reason?"
"Of course," Raiken replied with a shrug. "Do you know how troublesome that position is? Meetings, decisions, politics, responsibilities… no thanks."
Sakumo frowned slightly.
"It's not just a position," he said. "It's a responsibility."
Raiken nodded.
"Yeah, I know," he said. "And that's exactly why I don't want it."
He crossed his arms, his tone becoming slightly more serious.
"Being a clan leader already taught me something important."
Sakumo remained silent, waiting for his answer.
"Time," Raiken continued. "Time is the most valuable thing we have."
He glanced briefly out the window, as if recalling something.
"When you're responsible for too many things, you start losing it. One meeting turns into ten. One decision leads to a hundred consequences and before you realize it… your entire life belongs to the position just to appease the others. ."
His words stir something inside Sakumo,
Raiken wasn't joking anymore.
"I don't want that," Raiken said simply. "I've seen what it does to people."
For a moment, Raiken and the others remained silent.
Sakumo thought about Hiruzen in the past, how troublesome his son Sarutobi Shinnosuke. The position are so heavy that he didn't have much time with his family except on night.
This is the the burden of leadership and every Hokage need to swallow the bitterness so the Village can be peaceful.
"…I understand," Sakumo said finally, it also true that after he become Hokage his time with his family are shorter than when he was an Anbu.
But that was not all, thanks to Raiken and Shikajian, his workload are not too much because of the help of these two ninja.
Raiken smiled faintly.
"Good. Because I'm not changing my mind."
A brief pause passed before he suddenly snapped up by the jōnin commander who spoke again.
"Hokage-sama… what are your orders?"
The atmosphere shifted back to seriousness.
Sakumo straightened slightly, his eyes become sharp.
"Mobilize the border forces," he said. "Send reinforcement units immediately. Inform all nearby squads to prepare for engagement."
"Yes, Hokage-sama!"
As the commander rushed out, Sakumo glanced once more at Raiken.
"…You already expected this, didn't you?"
Raiken smirked slightly.
"The Raikage... was never the type to give up so easily and this time I would be in the front line again," said Raiken.
Sakumo nodded because Raiken had told him a few days ago that if Raikage attacking again, he would confronted him head on.
.....
BORDER - CAMP
Raiken arrived on the border camp using his teleportation jutsu, this place is at least 10 km away from the place that they put a seal, they had known that Kumogakure had breached the perimeter thanks to seal detection that they put there.
This seal was designed by Uzumaki Clan to detect intruder, when they heard the distress signall, all of them are in a combat ready to face an enemy.
Suddenly they saw a newcomer who just appeared out of thin air, their body become tensed with some of them had gripped the Kunai but relaxed the moment they recognized the person who just come this place, his name are Uzumaki Raiken who saved them when Kumogakure atttacked Konoha shinobi.
"Raiken sama," said the new Elite Jonin Commander after the previous Jonin Commander died in the hands of Raikage.
His name are Toshiro and because Raiken saved him he had a feeling of gratitude towards him. It wasn't just him, all of the survivor who were just saved by Raiken also felt the same.
"Thank you for saving us few days ago," said Toshiro with the eyes that said he feel grateful.
"It is no problem, we all are the ninja from Konoha," replied Raiken with smile.
"No Raiken sama, it all thanks to you who saved us in a critical moment. I can't even imagine what I would become without your help," said Toshiro again.
Raiken just looked at him before nodded, his attention shifted to others ninja. "I believe you all had heard the signal and now I want everyone to focus on other Shinobi who might attacked you and you guys don't need to worry about Raikage, because I alone would deal with him.
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There is 30 advanced chapter on my patreon.
Chapter 156: Hyuga Future
Chapter 157: Clanless
Chapter 158: Fugaku Frustration
Chapter 159: Report
Chapter 160: Kakashi And Obito
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