Naruto: Maelstrom Of The Uzumaki

Though it was only evening, the street outside Ichiraku Ramen was eerily silent. No pedestrians passed by the usually bustling area, leaving only Raiden Uzumaki and the Anbu operatives who had encircled him. The atmosphere was thick with tension, and Raiden couldn't shake the unsettling sense that something was amiss.

The entire situation reeked of deception.

Raiden stood at the center of the circle, gripping his blade. His sharp eyes scanned the operatives, prepared for any sudden attack.

"Thunder Blade: Singular Slash!"

Purple chakra surged along the blade of Sakegari no Tachi, crackling with concentrated lightning. Raiden moved fluidly, his weapon humming with energy as he prepared for the confrontation.

"Wind Style: Vacuum Wave!"

Three of the Anbu retreated, carrying the seriously injured operative. The remaining five regrouped and began weaving hand seals in unison. A violent hurricane erupted from their combined efforts, blasting toward Raiden with immense force.

"Compound Wind Style... so they know I specialize in Lightning Release," Raiden thought grimly.

The gale swept over him, its ferocity causing the ground beneath his feet to crack. Raiden leaned forward, planting his feet firmly and infusing chakra into his soles to keep himself rooted. Yet, even as he braced himself, something felt off.

Though the wind raged around him, the buildings behind him remained perfectly still.

"This doesn't make sense," he thought, narrowing his eyes.

The Trap Revealed

Raiden frowned, a sinking feeling settling in his chest. "Something's not right," he muttered.

Without hesitation, he drew the edge of his blade across his forearm. Blood welled from the cut, but he felt no pain.

"An illusion?" Raiden's voice dropped, cold and sharp. "When did this happen?"

His grip tightened on the hilt of his blade. As a skilled sensor, Raiden prided himself on his ability to detect chakra fluctuations. Illusions relied on the manipulation of chakra, and yet he had felt nothing.

"Release!"

He formed a one-handed seal and disrupted his chakra flow, attempting to dispel the illusion. But nothing changed. His arm remained numb, the storm continued to howl, and the strange, surreal stillness persisted.

"An illusion of this caliber... Danzo has someone this skilled under his command?"

Before he could ponder further, the ground beneath him split open, and two hands emerged, grasping at his ankles. Above him, the remaining Anbu operatives surged forward, weapons drawn and poised to strike.

Raiden's chakra faltered, his strength momentarily sapped. He felt his heart race as the reality of his predicament sank in.

Help from Within

"Heh, looks like you've gotten yourself into a mess," a deep, gravelly voice chuckled within Raiden's mind.

"Kurama!" Raiden snapped. "If Danzo gets his hands on me, it's bad news for both of us. Help me, now!"

The Nine-Tails snorted. "Tsk, such a demanding brat. Beg properly next time."

A moment later, fiery red chakra erupted from Raiden's lower abdomen, surging through his body. The oppressive illusion shattered instantly, and the surreal storm disappeared.

Raiden blinked, his surroundings returning to normal. He was seated at the counter of Ichiraku Ramen, his bowl of freshly made tonkotsu ramen steaming in front of him.

To his right, the young man who had confronted him earlier was now smiling calmly.

"Shimura Danzo has subordinates like you?" Raiden growled, his voice low and dangerous.

In an instant, Raiden's blade was at the man's neck. The young man froze, his smile faltering.

"That was fast," the man muttered, eyes wide with surprise.

The Real Identity

"I'm not with Danzo-sama," the man said carefully, keeping his voice steady despite the blade pressed to his throat. "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Makoto Yuhi, a personal guard of Lord Hokage."

Raiden's eyes narrowed. "You're responsible for that illusion barrier."

Makoto nodded slightly, his calm demeanor intact despite the situation. "Indeed. I created the barrier, but I meant no harm. Hokage-sama sent me."

Raiden's grip on his blade tightened, his eyes scanning Makoto for any sign of deception.

Behind the counter, the ramen chef continued cleaning bowls, seemingly unfazed by the tension.

Makoto let out a nervous chuckle. "Hey, there's no need for violence. I truly meant no harm."

Raiden ignored his words. "Your name again?"

"Makoto Yuhi," Makoto repeated.

Raiden's gaze sharpened, his eyes studying the man's features. Makoto's black hair and striking red eyes were notable, but they weren't Sharingan. There was a resemblance to someone Raiden recognized—one of Konoha's future Jonin, Kurenai Yuhi.

Raiden slowly lowered his blade, though his wariness remained.

A New Assignment

"By the way, you're impressive," Makoto began, rubbing his neck where the blade had been moments ago. "I didn't expect anyone to break out of my barrier so quickly."

Before he could continue, Raiden moved with blinding speed, striking Makoto in the gut with the flat of his blade.

"Oof!" Makoto doubled over, clutching his stomach. "Was that really necessary?"

Raiden sheathed his sword, returning to his ramen. "What did the Third Hokage send you for?" he asked flatly, stirring the noodles in his bowl.

Makoto straightened up, brushing off his clothes. "Guess it," he teased, earning a sharp glare from Raiden. He cleared his throat quickly. "Fine, fine. From today, Uzumaki Raiden, you're under my supervision."

Raiden paused mid-bite, his chopsticks hovering over the bowl. "Supervision?"

Makoto grinned. "That's right. Hokage-sama wants me to ensure you're kept in line."

Raiden's eyebrow twitched. "I don't need a babysitter," he muttered, stabbing his chopsticks into the ramen.

"Orders are orders," Makoto replied cheerfully, leaning back in his seat.

Raiden sighed, finishing his ramen in silence. "This village," he thought bitterly, "really isn't safe."

(End of Chapter)

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