Chapter 383: The Inheritance of the Clan!

The suction force of the Chibaku Tensei grew stronger and stronger. Ten minutes later, a massive meteorite, large enough to block out the sun, quietly floated in the air. Uzumaki Raiden stood still, patiently waiting for the Chibaku Tensei to fully take shape. He couldn't help but sigh in relief when he saw that the Ōtsutsuki did not break free.

"As expected of a powerful sealing technique capable of sealing Kaguya. Even though my strength is not on par with the Sage of the Six Paths, using this technique still achieves such an effect."

"The secret of eternal life lies within the Ōtsutsuki. If given the opportunity, I should explore it!"

Standing at the edge of a cliff, Uzumaki Raiden gazed at the enormous crater formed beneath him due to the gravitational pull of the Chibaku Tensei. At that moment, he sensed someone approaching and lightly placed his hand on the hilt of Sakegari no Tachi.

"Whoosh!"

With a soft sound, Namikaze Minato appeared beside Raiden, his expression solemn as he looked at the massive stone sphere in the sky. He asked softly, "Raiden, what is this?"

"the Chibaku Tensei, a sealing technique."

"The enemy has been sealed," Raiden explained before extending his hand, causing the stone sphere to descend slowly.

"Who was the opponent? A technique of this magnitude must mean they were exceptionally powerful," Minato pondered.

"And is it just a seal? What should we do with them next?"

Minato had many questions. He had never faced an Ōtsutsuki before and was unfamiliar with their capabilities. However, he knew that the tremors felt throughout the village had been caused by the enemy's attack.

This level of destruction couldn't be ignored. In most cases, eliminating such a threat would be the best course of action. He couldn't understand why Raiden had chosen to seal rather than kill.

"Due to certain unique circumstances, killing them would pose unknown risks to me."

"There's no need for you to speculate about their identity. You'll understand when you see them later."

"I will keep them sealed and monitor them near my home. They may prove useful in the future."

Raiden spoke vaguely, unwilling to elaborate further. It wasn't that he didn't trust Minato—rather, there were too many details he couldn't explain. His sources of information were beyond comprehension, making it impossible to provide a proper justification. For now, he could only brush off Minato's inquiries.

"In that case, I won't press further."

"I'm grateful you stepped in this time."

Minato nodded, choosing not to question him any further. He trusted Raiden unconditionally. They were family—there was no doubt that Raiden would never act against Konoha's interests.

The Ōtsutsuki's attack on Konoha did not cause much unrest. What had transpired at the village entrance was strictly concealed. The villagers merely believed there had been an earthquake. Once the tremors subsided, no one gave it much thought.

Uzumaki Naruto and Senju Karin had both recovered since the Ōtsutsuki was sealed, and the pain in their stomachs had vanished. Although the Seventh Team's test was abruptly interrupted, their performance had still earned Kakashi's approval. Their team was officially recognized and had begun taking D-rank missions within the village.

Almost no one noticed that, behind Raiden's small courtyard outside Konoha, a barren mountain had suddenly appeared. The land was desolate, devoid of much vegetation. The presence of the mountain was so natural that no one questioned its origins.

After setting the seal, Raiden no longer needed to maintain constant chakra control. Thus, Minato secretly assigned a team of Earth Release users to disguise the area. The mountain was integrated into the landscape, blending in as part of the terrain.

With this matter settled, Raiden's life returned to its usual calm. He spent most of his time in the Ninja Academy office, though, as the principal, his workload wasn't heavy. He dedicated much of his time to studying sealing techniques or training at home.

Naruto had officially become a ninja and embarked on his own path without Raiden's guidance. Meanwhile, Yoriichi had entered the Academy, spending most of his time there. When free, he trained under Guy in taijutsu, alleviating Raiden's worries.

Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Itachi had become prominent figures among the village's elite. They spent most of their time carrying out D-rank missions with their teams.

During peacetime, D-rank missions typically involved mundane tasks like capturing stray pets or helping with farmwork. Though seemingly tedious, Itachi and Shisui found enjoyment in them. Whenever they had free time, they would visit Raiden, seemingly content with their peaceful lives.

Others from Kakashi's generation had also found their places. Guy, Sarutobi Asuma, and Kurenai led their own squads. Uchiha Obito worked at the Konoha Police Force, becoming well-regarded by both villagers and his clan. His efforts strengthened the relationship between the Uchiha and the rest of the village, earning him considerable popularity.

Rin Nohara, as the Three-Tails Jinchūriki, no longer left the village for missions. She was mentored by Uzumaki Kushina, who aimed to train her into an exceptional medical-nin. Rin proved diligent, advancing rapidly in medical ninjutsu and applying her precise chakra control to harness the Tailed Beast's chakra.

Over time, Konoha's expansion project was officially implemented, initiating large-scale construction throughout the village. The streets buzzed with activity, and the villagers carried content smiles, reveling in the prosperity around them.

Everything was progressing in a positive direction.

"Tap, tap."

A startled deer knocked against a black stone surface, accompanied by the soft sound of trickling water. It was autumn, and crimson maple leaves drifted from the trees, curling as they fell with the breeze.

In the courtyard of the Sarutobi residence, Uzumaki Raiden and Hiruzen Sarutobi sat cross-legged, playing shogi while enjoying the crisp autumn air.

The game of shogi was similar to Chinese chess, but with key differences. For example, the "Jade" piece, equivalent to the general in Chinese chess, could move freely across the board, while its counterpart in Chinese chess was confined to a limited space.

"Shogi teaches us how to read the changes on the board—and people's hearts."

"Raiden, your 'Jade' always stays within the Nine Palaces. That limitation is too restrictive. How do you expect to defeat me if you play like that?"

Hiruzen analyzed the board with a knowing smile. In the blink of an eye, he had cornered Raiden's Jade piece.

Behind him, Sarutobi Asuma stood quietly, observing the match without saying a word.

"Because in my opinion, 'Jade' itself is bound."

Uzumaki Raiden stared at the chessboard for a long time, then smiled, placed his piece on the board, and conceded the game. However, his words carried a deeper meaning—it seemed like he was not only talking about chess but also about people.

Behind him, Kisame Hoshigaki and Akina stood on either side. Seeing Raiden give up the match, Akina stepped forward, cleared the board, and reset the chess pieces.

"'Jade'—is it truly bound?"

"Master Raiden, what do you think of 'Jade'?"

While Akina was setting up the board, Sarutobi Asuma, who was standing behind Hiruzen Sarutobi, spoke up. Today, Raiden had come to visit Hiruzen, and Asuma happened to be home, so he joined them.

Watching Raiden and Hiruzen play shogi earlier, Asuma found Raiden's moves rather unusual. His curiosity grew when he heard Raiden's words, reminding him of a question his father had once asked him during a game:

"What is 'Jade'?"

Back then, Asuma had answered, "Hokage." However, Hiruzen had simply shaken his head, leaving the question open-ended. Asuma had never fully understood the meaning behind it, but now, he had a feeling that Raiden might have a different perspective. Seizing the opportunity, he asked:

"What is 'Jade'? Do you have an answer to that question?"

Raiden looked up at Asuma, slightly puzzled.

At thirty-three years old, Raiden was a veteran in the ninja world. Asuma and Kakashi were of the same generation, though Kakashi was three years older at twenty-nine. By now, as a teacher to students like Nara Shikamaru, Asuma should have already formed his own understanding of such a concept.

"Uh… that's right," Asuma replied cautiously, feeling slightly embarrassed. Although he was only a few years younger than Raiden, he still regarded him as one of his most respected seniors. Raiden had gained fame at an exceptionally young age—becoming a known figure in the ninja world as a teenager and even rising to the position of Hokage early on.

In front of such a legendary figure, Asuma couldn't help but feel a bit reserved.

"My understanding is actually similar to that of my teacher."

"My father, Sarutobi-sensei, always says this:

"Where the leaves are flying, the fire will continue to grow. The fire will continue to illuminate the village and allow the new leaves to sprout."

"As his son, I'm sure you've heard this countless times."

Akina finished setting up the board and stood behind Raiden once again. Kisame, who had been listening in silence, glanced at Hiruzen, seemingly surprised by the meaning and conviction behind his words.

But thinking back to his past in Kirigakure, Kisame's expression darkened. Mist ninja were known for their brutality. From the moment they were conceived, sharks fought for dominance in the womb—bigger embryos devouring smaller ones. As a former elite of the Hidden Mist, Kisame knew all too well the bloodshed he had endured to survive.

Sensing his unease, Akina gently took his arm, leaned against him, and silently reassured him with her presence. At the same time, she curiously observed Hiruzen Sarutobi, a man she had only heard about until today.

"Yes, I know. This is the Will of Fire my father always speaks of," Asuma admitted. "But what does it have to do with 'Jade'?"

Originally, he wanted to refer to his father as "the old man," but seeing outsiders present, he quickly changed his wording.

"Jade is the young sprout of the tree."

"Because it is newly born, the sprout is fragile and restrained."

"But when it grows, it will no longer be just a small sprout—it will become a king. And at that point, it must learn to restrain itself, because every decision the king makes affects the fate of all those who protect him."

"Asuma, do you want to be a king? Or do you want to be a chess piece that protects 'Jade'?"

Raiden glanced at Hiruzen, noting that the old man had no intention of interrupting, so he continued explaining. Finally, he posed a question to Asuma, testing his ambition.

In truth, Raiden had always thought highly of Asuma—not necessarily for his strength, but for his character and awareness.

"So that's how it is..." Asuma took in Raiden's words, then nodded thoughtfully. After a brief pause, he smiled and said:

"Me? I'm just a soldier who can't even reach the enemy's front line. My biggest role should be to lure the enemy!"

Asuma laughed at himself. He was self-aware—although he was a Jonin of Konoha, he did not see himself as an exceptional ninja.

The two disciples of the man sitting before him, Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Shisui, were both super geniuses renowned throughout the village. Even Obito, another Uchiha, had proven to be extremely capable.

Among those without Kekkei Genkai, Hatake Kakashi and Might Guy were incredibly powerful. Compared to them, Asuma felt inadequate. At times, his lack of talent even made him feel insecure.

"Soldier?" Raiden smirked. "Whether or not you reach the enemy's front line depends entirely on yourself."

"Asuma, no one chooses the family they are born into, but the strength of your loved ones is still your own strength."

"The ninja world is cruel. Your duty is to take whatever resources you can and use them to grow stronger. Even as a soldier, how can you be so certain you won't break through the enemy's defenses until the very end?"

"You can still become stronger."

Raiden's words carried weight. He glanced at Hiruzen, who smiled knowingly. Without saying anything, Hiruzen reached into his robe, retrieved a scroll, and handed it to Asuma.

"This is..." Asuma looked at the scroll, puzzled.

"The Monkey King clan has long wished to find a compatible partner in this world."

"I'm old, and I can no longer help train the Monkey King's descendants. Besides, I like my current life."

Hiruzen smiled, his eyes fixed on the board as he focused on his game against Raiden.

Holding the summoning contract, Asuma hesitated.

He had once run away from Konoha, joining the Twelve Guardian Ninja in an attempt to carve his own path without relying on his father's influence. But in the end, he had returned.

If he truly wanted to grow stronger, he would have to rely on his father's guidance after all.

But then, Raiden's words echoed in his mind.

"The reason Kekkei Genkai clans are strong is because of their inherited power. You may not be born into one, but your father is Hokage, and the Monkey King summoning contract has been passed down through your family for generations. So why refuse it?"

"Asuma, is protecting your 'Jade' more important, or is it your meaningless pride?"

"You're almost thirty—you should understand this by now."

"You can rely on the strength of your family."

Noticing Asuma's hesitation, Raiden spoke softly before turning his focus back to the game.

Hearing this, Asuma tightened his grip on the scroll, then bowed deeply—first to Hiruzen, then to Raiden—before leaving with the contract in hand.

Watching him go, Hiruzen smiled warmly. Since the death of his eldest son, he hadn't felt this happy in a long time.

"Raiden… thank you."

Though his words were barely above a whisper, everyone present heard them clearly. Raiden didn't respond—he simply continued playing his game.

The autumn breeze blew gently as crimson maple leaves drifted to the ground.

(End of this chapter)