Chapter 252: The Red-Haired Savage!

In the depths of winter, the ground was covered with a thick layer of soft snow. The bright sunlight reflected off the pristine white surface, creating a dazzling scene. The peaceful morning was soon interrupted by a cheerful voice.

"Hahahaha! Hurry up, you guys!"

"Let's go to our secret base!"

In the woods outside Konoha, a group of children darted between the trees, led by a blond-haired boy who shouted excitedly at his friends trailing behind.

They had snuck out of the village through a dog hole in the outer wall—a trick they had pulled off more than once.

"Naruto, keep your voice down! What if someone catches us?"

A chubby little boy, bundled up in a thick jacket, cautiously looked around while reminding Naruto to be quieter. The fear of getting caught weighed heavily on him.

Following them was another boy with spiky, pineapple-shaped hair, who muttered under his breath, "Such a drag..."

Despite their young age, none older than four, they raced through the snowy forest with surprising agility.

"No one's going to find us!" Naruto called back confidently, just as he failed to notice a figure standing ahead.

"Oof!"

Naruto collided into what felt like a solid wall and landed flat on his back, clutching his head in pain.

"Ow, ow, ow!"

Choji and Shikamaru quickly rushed to Naruto's side, helping him up while their eyes locked onto the stranger standing before them.

"A savage? A beggar? A homeless guy?"

Shikamaru stared in bewilderment. The man before them had long red hair that nearly touched the ground, covering most of his face. Judging by his build, he was definitely male. Despite the freezing weather, his clothing was tattered and thin, barely covering him, and stained with dried blood.

However, his skin was unnaturally fair, and the exposed muscles on his body were well-defined—completely out of place for someone dressed in rags.

The man slowly lifted his head and looked at Naruto. Shikamaru could immediately sense something strange in the way the man's eyes widened, filled with surprise and disbelief.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to bump into you! Are you okay?" Naruto, despite being the one who fell, was the first to express concern. The scene was oddly humorous.

"Who are you?"

Before the man could respond, Shikamaru quickly pulled Naruto behind him, staring at the stranger with a wary expression. His young mind was already piecing things together—this strange man clearly recognized Naruto.

The stranger opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. After some effort, a hoarse voice finally emerged:

"I... am..."

Before he could finish, a rustling noise came from the trees. Two masked figures suddenly appeared in front of the children, shielding them protectively.

"Who are you?!"

The newcomers were ANBU—Konoha's elite operatives tasked with protecting Naruto from the shadows. When the children left the village, the ANBU had merely observed, assuming they would return soon. But the sudden appearance of the red-haired stranger had alarmed them.

"I can't sense his presence..."

One of the ANBU muttered under his breath. Both operatives, seasoned warriors, felt a shiver run down their spines. The man in front of them stood there, yet emitted no trace of chakra, scent, or even the subtle signs of human presence.

It was as if he was one with nature itself.

Such a phenomenon could only mean one thing—this person's power was far beyond their understanding.

The man standing before them was Uzumaki Raiden, who had recently broken free from his years of confinement. Upon escaping, he had made his way toward Konoha, only to sense a familiar chakra signature—one remarkably similar to his own clan's.

Driven by curiosity, he had followed it, which led him to Naruto and his friends.

Standing before the cautious ANBU and the familiar yet unfamiliar Naruto, Raiden's mind raced.

"So... it's been this long."

"The sealing techniques used on me must have been suppressing my healing abilities and chakra flow. Tsunade must have been at her wit's end to try that... or was there another reason?"

Raiden remained silent, his stillness only adding to the tension. Beads of sweat formed on the ANBU's foreheads. They had already called for reinforcements, and their focus was razor-sharp.

Finally, after a long pause, Raiden spoke. His voice was hoarse and slow.

"What year is it?"

The two ANBU exchanged wary glances before one replied cautiously,

"It's the 52nd year of Konoha... the 1024th year of the Ninja Calendar."

Raiden's eyes narrowed. Four years... he had been sealed away for four entire years. To him, it felt like mere moments.

After a deep breath, Raiden crouched down and extended his hand toward Naruto.

"Your name is Naruto, right? How is your mother, Uzumaki Kushina?"

The barrier around Konoha had changed—his perception couldn't penetrate it anymore. Right now, the one thing that mattered most to Raiden was the well-being of his loved ones, and Kushina was at the top of that list.

Naruto, tilting his head curiously, grinned.

"You know my mom? Of course, she's fine!"

Hearing Naruto's cheerful response, the ANBU's expressions hardened. This stranger knowing Naruto's mother was concerning.

The two operatives quickly stepped in, blocking Raiden's view of Naruto. Their hands tensed on their weapons, ready to strike.

"Who are you? Answer us!"

"Otherwise, we will treat you as an enemy of Konoha!"

Their voices carried an edge of finality, their kunai drawn and ready.

Raiden let out a soft chuckle.

"Has Konoha's security become so weak? With reactions like that, how did you even make it into ANBU?"

"As for who I am..."

A gust of wind swept through the forest, pushing aside Raiden's long red bangs. The face revealed beneath was young and sharp, with a purple diamond-shaped mark glowing faintly at the center of his forehead.

The ANBU studied his face carefully, feeling a nagging familiarity but unable to place it.

At that moment, Naruto peeked around them, his eyes lighting up in realization.

"Big brother, I think I've seen you somewhere before!"

He paused, his face suddenly beaming with recognition.

"Ah! I remember now! You're on the Hokage Monument!"

(End of Chapter)