Chapter 259: A New Position!

Uzumaki Raiden had no idea what had transpired in the Hokage's office, as he was rudely awakened early in the morning by a group of elderly visitors.

His home, located some distance from Konoha Village, had seen better days. Over the years, weeds had overtaken the outer yard, though the inside of the house remained fairly clean, and the courtyard was well-maintained—evidence that someone had been taking care of it regularly.

After leaving the Hyuga estate the night before, Raiden returned straight to his home. Early in the morning, he began clearing the overgrown weeds outside when Sarutobi Hiruzen arrived, accompanied by Mitokadu Homura and Koharu Utatane.

In the dojo, the four of them sat on the floor while Raiden poured tea for his guests. Though the tea was a few years old, it still retained a pleasant fragrance. Silence filled the room as they each sipped quietly.

"Raiden, how's your health now?" Hiruzen finally broke the stillness, his tone filled with concern.

"I'm fine. No major issues, I feel more or less the same as before," Raiden replied, taking a sip of tea. The bitterness made him frown slightly, but the lingering sweetness brought a sparkle to his eyes. The tea had aged well.

"What about the Nine-Tails?" Homura asked, his tone direct, revealing his primary concern. Politeness could wait—this was too important.

"The Nine-Tails? Oh, Kurama is doing just fine," Raiden responded nonchalantly, savoring his tea.

"Kurama? What's that?" Koharu asked in confusion.

"Kurama is the Nine-Tails' real name," Raiden explained casually, but after that, he said no more.

His response visibly shifted the expressions of the elders. It was the first time they had learned that the Nine-Tails had a name of its own. They were all experienced enough to grasp the deeper meaning behind Raiden's words—his relationship with the Nine-Tails had changed. The mere fact that he called the beast by name suggested a level of control and understanding beyond what they had expected.

Hiruzen, sensing the implications, couldn't help but ask, "Raiden... have you already mastered it?"

Raiden nodded before Hiruzen could even finish his question. A wave of relief washed over the elders' faces, though their joy was short-lived.

Hiruzen, regaining his composure, spoke cautiously. "Raiden, you may not be fully aware of the current state of the village. May I share some details with you?"

Seeing no resistance from Raiden, he continued.

"Konoha's Hokage now is Namikaze Minato. Technically, your brother-in-law."

"Over the past few years, Minato has done an excellent job. Despite the internal and external pressures following the Tailed Beast attack, he led Konoha through its weakest period and kept the village intact."

"Your return is a blessing, and with your help, Konoha can rise to new heights!"

Hiruzen had carefully chosen his words, understanding the delicate nature of the situation. He was here not only to welcome his former student back but also to determine Raiden's stance regarding Konoha's leadership.

Having served as Hokage for so many years, Hiruzen knew the implications of Raiden's return. Ensuring a smooth transition of power between the two generations of Hokage was his responsibility.

"Help instead of lead, huh?"

Raiden understood the underlying message. He remained silent for a moment before flashing a smile.

"Sensei, I've never been one to crave power. I'm genuinely happy that Minato is Hokage—he's one of my closest friends."

"Konoha is in good hands with him, and I trust him completely."

"To be honest, I have a lot of things I want to do. If it weren't for the Hokage position holding me back, I would have long set out to explore the world."

"I never really had the chance to see the true beauty of the ninja world."

There was a hint of longing in Raiden's eyes. After his conversation with Hiashi the night before, he had come to a realization—the world was not yet at peace, and the best way forward was to focus on strengthening himself. In the ninja world, personal power was paramount.

Raiden intended to train in Sage Mode and travel across the lands, finally experiencing the world beyond the battlefield.

Hiruzen and the others exchanged uneasy glances. None of them had expected Raiden to say something like this. His words clearly hinted at a desire to leave Konoha and journey the ninja world—something that left them momentarily speechless.

"Uh... Raiden, Konoha cannot afford to lose you right now," Hiruzen said after a pause. Meeting Raiden's gaze, he sighed before continuing.

"The village might appear peaceful, but tension brews beneath the surface. Iwagakure and Kumogakure, along with several smaller northern villages, are pressuring us."

"The trigger for this conflict was the tailed beasts we captured four years ago."

"We now hold four tailed beasts—Six-Tails, Seven-Tails, Three-Tails, and of course, the Nine-Tails you carry."

"This has made the other villages uneasy."

"The best solution for Konoha would be to return the tailed beasts to their respective villages, but..."

Hiruzen trailed off, but Raiden understood his implication. Returning the beasts wasn't an option—especially considering their current jinchūriki. Naruto and Karin, the sons of the Fifth Hokage and the great-granddaughter of the First Hokage, respectively, had become their vessels. Rin Nohara had also become the jinchūriki of the Three-Tails.

Handing them over was out of the question.

"Konoha is trapped," Raiden muttered. "The only way out is if someone like Hashirama or Madara emerges—someone powerful enough to deter all threats."

"Before, there was no such person in Konoha," Hiruzen said, looking Raiden straight in the eye. "But now, you're back."

Raiden let out a small chuckle. "So what? You want me to just sit in this house?"

Though his tone wasn't accusatory, the weight of his words made the elders feel pressured.

Guilt flashed across Hiruzen's face. He sighed. "You've been confined for too long, Raiden."

"Raiden, how about taking on a new role?" Mitokadu Homura suddenly suggested.

"You could become the headmaster of the Ninja Academy and guide Konoha's next generation."

Hiruzen's eyes lit up at the suggestion, and he quickly chimed in. "Yes! What do you think, Raiden? Will you consider it?"

Since Hiruzen had taken on both the Third Hokage and academy headmaster roles, the position had remained unchanged for years. Now, it seemed like the perfect opportunity for Raiden to take over.

Raiden thought for a moment, then smiled.

"Headmaster of the Ninja Academy? Eight-hour workdays, four seasons, summer and winter vacations... sounds like a pretty sweet gig."

(End of this chapter)