Chapter 118: Uchiha Obito!

The door to Orochimaru's laboratory creaked open, and Uzumaki Raiden stepped out, dressed in a hospital gown. Orochimaru followed closely behind, scrutinizing Raiden's every move with an expression of curious intensity.

Outside the lab, Tsunade and Kushina rushed to meet Raiden as soon as he appeared. Tsunade immediately took Raiden's hand, injecting chakra to assess his condition. After a long pause, she turned to Orochimaru with a look of disbelief.

"He's completely recovered? And this quickly? How is that even possible?"

Tsunade's astonishment was palpable. While she knew Orochimaru was capable, the speed of Raiden's recovery left her momentarily shaken. The implication that Orochimaru's medical expertise might rival her own was difficult for her to accept.

"Ho ho ho, Tsunade, how do you like my methods?" Orochimaru said with a sly smile as he approached. He patted Raiden's shoulder lightly. "Not bad, right?"

"Sister Tsunade, Sis, I'm fine now," Raiden said with a reassuring grin as he gently pulled his hand away.

Kushina, who had been holding back tears for days, could no longer contain her emotions. She flung herself at Raiden, burying her face in his chest. Despite her diminutive stature, her embrace was fierce, and Raiden patted her back gently.

"It's okay, Sis. I'm fine now."

Kushina, still overwhelmed, suddenly pulled back and punched Raiden square in the face, sending him sprawling to the ground.

"Idiot! Do you know how worried I was about you?" she shouted, her voice trembling with anger and relief.

Raiden sat up, rubbing his face, bewildered. "What did I do?"

"Minato told me you could have asked Jiraiya or Minato for a reverse summoning as soon as you reached Mount Myoboku! But no, you went back to the Land of Rivers! Do you have any idea how dangerous that was?"

Kushina's tear-streaked face burned with fury.

Raiden scrambled to his feet, realizing the gravity of her frustration. "O-okay, I get it! My bad! But don't hit me again!"

Turning to Orochimaru and Tsunade, Raiden bowed slightly. "Brother Orochimaru, Sister Tsunade, I owe you both. I'll repay you someday. But for now, I've got to go."

"See you tonight, Sis," he added hurriedly before vanishing in a blur, leaving Kushina shouting angrily after him.

"That brat!" Kushina huffed. But as her anger subsided, a smile crept onto her face. Seeing Raiden so lively after his ordeal filled her with relief.

Orochimaru, meanwhile, had turned back toward the laboratory, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Tsunade, I'll leave the report to Lord Hokage to you," he said before disappearing into his lab without waiting for her reply.

On the Streets of Konoha

Konoha was far from its usual bustling self. Sand Shinobi's declaration of war had cast a pall over the village, affecting both its ninjas and ordinary citizens. The once-lively streets were now eerily quiet, with most shops shuttered and vendors idling by their stalls.

Raiden strolled through the streets in his hospital gown, earning curious glances. Though his exploits had become widely known in the ninja world, most villagers still didn't recognize him by sight.

"That Orochimaru must have done something to me," Raiden muttered as he inspected his palm. "But why can't I sense anything?"

As he walked, lost in thought, a young boy came hurtling toward him from the side. Before Raiden could react, the boy collided with his waist.

Instantly, golden chakra chains erupted from Raiden's back, wrapping around the child. The uncontrolled chakra whipped up a gust of wind, sending dust and debris flying. Passersby shielded their faces, bewildered by the sudden commotion.

Raiden's eyes widened in shock as he realized what was happening. He quickly suppressed his chakra, but the chains refused to retreat. The boy, now unconscious, was still tightly bound.

"This isn't good," Raiden muttered, activating his Body Flicker Technique to disappear from the scene with the boy in tow.

When the dust settled, the bystanders exchanged confused glances.

Training Ground No. 3

The sun was setting, casting a warm glow over Konoha's Training Ground No. 3. Uchiha Obito groaned as he regained consciousness, rubbing his head.

"What happened? Where am I?" Obito muttered, looking around in confusion.

"You're at Training Ground No. 3," Raiden said from under the shade of a tree, where he sat with his arms crossed. "I brought you here."

Obito turned toward the voice, his face a mixture of suspicion and curiosity. "Who are you? And why did you bring me here?"

"You ran into a carriage on the street," Raiden said, lying smoothly. "I pulled you out of the way and brought you here to recover. No need to thank me—it's what anyone would do."

Obito's eyes widened in admiration. "Really? Thank you, brother! You saved my life!"

Obito ran up to Raiden and bowed deeply. "I'll never forget this. Please tell me your name so I can repay you someday!"

Raiden suppressed a smirk. "The name's Minato Namikaze. Just be sure to repay me when you can."

Obito's eyes lit up. "I promise, Brother Minato! I'll make it up to you!"

After exchanging a few more words, Obito prepared to leave, worried that his grandmother would be upset if he stayed out too late.

As he waved goodbye, Raiden's gaze shifted to a faint curse mark on Obito's neck that was now fading. A slow smile spread across his face.

"What a coincidence," Raiden murmured as Obito disappeared into the distance. His expression turned serious as he turned toward the Hokage Building.

(End of this chapter)