Naruto SI: Kaito Red Lightnin Chapter 219
Author's Note:
Sorry for the long wait on this chapter. I had to rewrite and change a few things I mentioned in the previous chapter. You might notice that I changed Dan Katō's new identity from Daichi to Kenji—I felt the new name suited him better. I also reworked his backstory to make it more consistent, as I wasn't happy with the earlier version.
I took some extra time to think things through for this chapter, and starting today, I'll be aiming to upload one chapter a day, so stay tuned.
This chapter is around 4.2k words, and I hope you enjoy it. I'll also be uploading a Hogwarts: Neville's Insert chapter tomorrow, so keep an eye out for that!
He eventually came to Konoha to report to Tsunade. Since Root operatives had no civilian identity, she gave him the name Daichi and accepted him into her ranks. He is currently recovering in Konoha Hospital.
Tsunade shook her head. "And he can't. Kakashi's on a mission."
Then she shot Kaito a look. "And Daichi training Naoki would raise more questions. Since he's an Uzumaki, you training him won't raise any suspicion. Just train him alongside the others."
Kaito grumbled under his breath. "You just like dumping work on me, ya know."
Tsunade smirked faintly. "I'm the Hokage. Delegating is what I do."
Naoki snickered quietly—until Kaito shot him a sharp warning glare.
Kaito turned back to Tsunade. "By the way—you owe me 35,000 ryō, ya know."
Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "What for?"
"Ask him. He keeps spending money every few seconds," Kaito said, pointing at Naoki.
Naoki looked sheepish, scratching the back of his head.
A knock sounded at the door.
"Lady Tsunade? I have the forms," Shizune called as she opened the door and stepped inside.
Tsunade nodded.
…
The sun hung high over the Hidden Leaf, its light muted by thick clouds as snow drifted lazily from the sky.
The village was blanketed in white, rooftops and trees dusted evenly, though the main streets had already been cleared. Even the Hokage Faces were capped with snow, softening their carved expressions.
Despite the cold, life went on as usual.
Children ran through the streets, laughter echoing as they kicked up powdery snow. Vendors called out from their stalls, steam rising from pots of hot food as villagers stopped to warm their hands and talk.
Inside the Hokage's office, the scratching of a pen was the only sound.
Tsunade sat behind her desk, shoulders relaxed but focused, steadily working her way through a thick stack of paperwork.
Across from her, Jiraiya was already seated, arms crossed tightly over his chest, his expression dark as he watched her sign document after document.
"So?" he demanded at last. "You're really telling me you won't even consider it?"
Tsunade didn't look up. "I'm telling you I can't approve it."
Jiraiya leaned forward, hands planting on the edge of the desk. "Come on, Tsunade. Naruto needs real field experience. Keeping him cooped up in the village isn't doing him any favors."
She continued writing, unfazed. "Naruto is still an Academy student. He isn't a shinobi. I can't just assign him to a training trip outside the village." She flipped a page. "And more importantly, he's Kushina's son."
Her pen paused briefly before moving again. "Why do you even want to take him out of the village anyway? Why can't you train him here?"
Jiraiya leaned back in his chair with a sigh. "Because I can't stay in the village for long," he said. "I need to keep tabs on my contacts. That means I'd end up leaving Naruto in the middle of training for months at a time." He looked back at her. "If I bring him with me, I can actually focus on training him without disappearing."
His jaw tightened. "And you know damn well keeping him here isn't perfectly safe either. Not just for him—but for the village."
"That isn't your call," Tsunade replied evenly.
Then, without missing a beat, she added, "And it's even more dangerous letting him leave the village with you. You'd probably lose the kid halfway through the trip and wander off to spy on women's bathhouses."
She gestured vaguely with her pen.
Jiraiya opened his mouth, then snapped it shut.
"Look," Tsunade continued calmly, "if you want to take Naruto on a training trip, go convince Kushina And the brat." She signed another page.
Jiraiya clicked his tongue. "Then help me convince Kushina."
Tsunade finally looked up at him, unimpressed. "And why would I do that?"
Jiraiya groaned and dropped back into the chair across from her, crossing his arms tightly. "I already tried talking to that brat. Last time I brought it up, he teleported me to the Land of Tea."
He muttered something under his breath and slouched lower in the chair. "He's way too comfortable doing that."
Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "Sounds like you annoyed him."
"And what do you want me to do about it?" she continued flatly. "You know how that brat is."
Jiraiya scowled. "At least help me convince Kushina. You know he won't go against her."
Tsunade snorted. "You really think she'll agree?" She shook her head. "If anything, you've got a better chance of convincing the brat than convincing her."
Jiraiya shot her a look. "Yeah, but she'll listen to you."
"Why do you think I'm asking for your help?" he shot back.
"You can do that yourself," Tsunade replied, gesturing toward the towering stack of paperwork on her desk. "I have work."
Before Jiraiya could argue again, there was a knock at the door.
"Enter," Tsunade said.
The door opened, and Shizune peeked inside. "Lady Tsunade—oh. Jiraiya-sama."
Jiraiya glanced over and gave a lazy wave. "Oh. Hey, Shizune."
"What is it?" Tsunade asked.
Shizune nodded once. "Kenji-san is here to see you."
Tsunade nodded. "Send him in."
Shizune stepped aside, and the man entered.
Kenji was tall, with short black hair and blue eyes, a faint scar running along his cheek. He wore a jōnin flak jacket neatly, his posture straight without being stiff. He looked to be in his late thirties, maybe early forties—the kind of shinobi who could blend into a crowd without trying.
Kenji blinked as he stepped fully inside, then bowed his head respectfully. "Hokage-sama," he greeted. "Jiraiya-sama."
Tsunade nodded, already reaching for a folder on her desk.
Jiraiya stood up slowly, eyes narrowing as he stepped closer, circling Kenji half a step, studying him with open curiosity.
Tsunade froze when she noticed Jiraiya moving closer.
Jiraiya leaned in, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Huh. That's weird."
Kenji felt a bead of sweat form at his temple. "Is… something wrong, Jiraiya-sama?"
"Huh? No, no," Jiraiya said absently. "It's just—" He squinted at him. "I feel like I've seen you before. Have we met?"
Kenji blinked, then shook his head. "No. I don't believe we have, Jiraiya-sama."
There was the faintest sheen of sweat on his forehead, gone almost as soon as it appeared.
Tsunade stood up from her chair. "Quit messing with him, Jiraiya." Her voice came out slightly sharper than intended. She cleared her throat as she walked over to them. "This is Kenji. He just returned a month ago from a long-term assignment. His from ROOT."
Jiraiya's eyebrow lifted. "Another one of Danzō's ghosts, huh?"
After Danzō's defection, a number of ROOT's undercover operatives had returned to Konoha, choosing the village over him. They'd all been vetted and quietly reintegrated into ANBU.
"Yeah," Tsunade said without missing a beat. "He was a deep-cover infiltration in Iwagakure." Her eyes flicked to Kenji for a fraction of a second before returning to Jiraiya. "One of Danzō's better-hidden assets."
Jiraiya studied Kenji more carefully now, the humor draining from his face. "But you just decided to come back," he said slowly. "After three years?"
Kenji met his gaze without flinching. "I didn't have the option to come back sooner, i was under cover for more than 15 years" he replied evenly. "My cover required a confirmed death. I staged it during a mission gone wrong." His hands stayed still at his sides. "I was positioned high enough that disappearing outright would've raised alarms."
Jiraiya frowned. "High up, huh?"
"I reported directly to the Tsuchikage," Kenji said. No pride in his voice—just fact. "Anything less would've compromised the position."
Tsunade lifted the folder she'd been holding. "I personally oversaw his interrogation," she said. "You know the standard procedure." She tapped the cover once. "He's clean."
"I see." Jiraiya nodded, then glanced at Tsunade. "So, uh… you want him back in ANBU?"
Kenji shook his head. "No. I requested to be a regular jōnin."
Jiraiya blinked. "Huh. A regular jōnin?"
"I never really had a choice before," Kenji said. "Either joining ROOT or becoming a spy." He made a small, vague gesture with one hand. "This is the first decision that's actually mine."
He paused, he said quietly. "I just want to serve the village. Openly. As a normal shinobi."
Tsunade turned back to Kenji and extended the folder. "This contains all the documents for your new identity," she said. "I'm assigning you to a four-man cell. You'll be acting as their captain." Her gaze hardened slightly. "I expect you to do your best."
"Understood." Kenji accepted the folder with both hands and bowed his head. "Thank you, Hokage-sama."
Tsunade nodded once, then looked over her shoulder. "Shizune, take him to Mission Room Two. His team should already be waiting. They've been briefed."
Shizune blinked, then straightened. "Right this way."
Kenji bowed again—once to Tsunade, once to Jiraiya—then followed Shizune out without another word.
Tsunade turned back to Jiraiya. "Why are you still here?"
Jiraiya scoffed. "Tch." He turned toward the window. "I'll talk to Kushina myself," he muttered, already halfway out.
…
Outside the office, Shizune stepped out and gently closed the door behind her. She turned—and nearly walked straight into someone.
"Oh—Kaito-kun."
"Hey, Shizune-nee," Kaito said easily. "Is Aunt Tsunade in? Mom sent her lunch, ya know." he said, showing her the bento box.
Shizune nodded. "Yeah, she is." She stepped aside to let him through.
Kaito gave a subtle nod as he passed Kenji.
Kaito entered the office just in time to see Jiraiya disappearing out the window.
Tsunade walked back to her desk and sat down, glancing up when she noticed him. "What do you want, brat?"
"Mom asked me to bring you lunch," Kaito replied, walking over and setting the bento box on her desk.
He glanced toward the open window. "So what did he want, ya know?"
Tsunade let out a tired sigh. "He wants Naruto to go on a training trip with him."
"And what did you say?" Kaito asked, pulling out two scrolls.
Tsunade huffed. "I told him to go convince your mother himself."
Kaito nodded. "I saw Kenji-san leaving the office," he said casually. "Did he suspect anything?"
She shook her head. "No. He just thinks he's seen him before."
"Well, they do still have the same face shape," Kaito said, nodding. "Has he met Naoki yet?"
Tsunade shook her head. "No. Jiraiya just came back today."
Kaito nodded. "Then you'd better make sure they don't interact for too long," he said calmly. "Your brother would no doubt blow his cover."
Tsunade shot him an annoyed look. "Why are you here?" she asked. "You don't usually come by unless you have something to say—or you want something."
Kaito nodded, reaching into his pouch and pulling out a scroll. He handed it to her. "I finished the DNA editing seal I mentioned."
Tsunade took the scroll, unrolled it, and began studying the contents. "How does it work?" she asked.
Kaito pointed to a section of the seal. "I included instructions and my notes," he said. "The seal is connected to the tablet. You edit the relevant parts of the DNA, then sync it to the seal and imprint it onto the person." He shrugged slightly. "The seal will rewrite their DNA based on your input."
Tsunade looked up at him. "Have you tested it yet?"
Kaito shook his head. "No. I haven't." He frowned slightly. "It should work, but I don't know for sure. I don't really know much about DNA sequencing—that's more your department, ya know. You'll have to figure out which parts correlate to what."
Tsunade nodded once. "I'll start immediately."
Kaito nodded and turned toward the window. "I've already loaded the DNA from those clones into the tablet," he added. "Do whatever you need with it."
"Well, I'll be off." Kaito gave a lazy wave over his shoulder. "See you later."
His body flickered, fading in and out before vanishing completely.
Tsunade grumbled as she rolled the scroll back up. "Why can't anyone use the door like a normal person?"
…
Later that day, the sun dipped toward the horizon, casting a warm orange glow over the village.
The white snow reflected the fading light, softening the streets and rooftops in gold and amber.
At the Uzumaki household, the air was warm and rich with the smell of food drifting out from the kitchen window.
Kushina stood at the stove, a ladle in hand as she stirred a pot of broth. She wore an orange short-sleeved shirt and black pants beneath her apron, her red hair tied back in a loose ponytail. She scooped some broth into a tasting spoon, brought it to her lips, and nodded in satisfaction.
"Just perfect, ya know," she said.
She turned off the stove and set a lid over the pot.
Nearby, Minato finished setting the table, carefully placing plates and utensils in neat order. He was dressed in a green yukata-style shirt with matching pants, moving with his usual calm efficiency.
Just as he placed the last set of chopsticks down, Kaito walked into the kitchen with a yawn, running a hand through his slightly damp red hair. He wore a white short-sleeved T-shirt and black pants, looking like he'd only just woken up.
"Need help with anything?" he asked lazily.
Kushina lifted the pot of stew and carried it toward the table. "No, dear. We're just finishing up."
Kaito paused, his head tilting slightly as his senses flared. His eyes shifted toward the hallway.
"They're here," he said calmly.
As Kaito stepped out of the kitchen, the oven let out a soft ding.
"Perfect timing," Minato said as he walked over to the oven.
Kaito headed down the hall. Just as his hand reached the door handle, another knock sounded. He pulled the door open without hesitation.
"Yo, guys."
Hotaru stood directly in front of him, one hand raised mid-knock, her face barely inches from his. She froze.
She was wearing a light blue sweater, black pants, and a dark blue scarf wrapped neatly around her neck. A small bag was strapped across her shoulder. Her dark hair framed her face, and she blinked, clearly not expecting the door to open after a single knock.
Besides her, Hana wore a cream-colored coat over a red sweater, dark leggings, and boots still dusted with snow. She stood with her arms crossed.
On Hotaru's other side, Izumi Uchiha adjusted her gray scarf. She wore a soft lavender sweater and a dark skirt layered over leggings, her gaze calm and observant as she glanced around.
Finally, behind them stood Itachi Uchiha, dressed simply in a dark long-sleeved shirt and black pants. A red scarf bearing the Uchiha clan symbol was wrapped around his neck.
Kaito stared at Hotaru for a moment too long.
Hana sighed loudly. "Hey. Are you going to let us in, or are you two planning to keep staring at each other? It's freezing out here." She rubbed her arms for emphasis.
Hotaru snapped out of it and stepped back quickly, her cheeks heating up.
Kaito cleared his throat. "Yeah, yeah. Come in—come on in."
He stepped aside, letting them enter.
As Itachi passed him, he held out a neatly wrapped box. "Here."
Kaito blinked as he accepted it. "Huh… you didn't have to, ya know."
Before anyone could respond, Kushina stepped out of the kitchen, her apron gone as she wiped her hands on a towel.
"Ah! You're here!"
They all greeted her at once.
"Thank you for having us over!" Izumi said politely.
"It smells amazing, Kushina-sama," Hana added.
"Good evening, Kushina-sama. Thank you for inviting us," Itachi said with a small bow of his head.
Hotaru bowed slightly as well. "Thank you for having us, Lady Kushina."
Kushina smiled warmly and pulled them all into a quick hug. "It's good to see you all. It's been a while since I last saw you guys—look at you, all grown up, ya know."
"Oh, drop the 'Lady' already," Kushina said, waving it off. "Just call me Aunt Kushina."
Then she turned to Hotaru, smiling knowingly. "And haven't I told you to call me Mom, ya know?"
Hotaru blushed deeply and nodded. "R-right. Sorry… Mom," she stammered.
Kaito groaned, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Mom… do you have to?"
Kushina laughed, clearly enjoying herself.
Hana leaned in and poked Hotaru in the side with her elbow, whispering loudly, "So when's the wedding?"
which only made Hotaru blush harder.
Kushina clapped her hands. "Alright, alright. Come on, you must all be hungry, ya know."
"It smells really good, Lady—" Hana caught herself. "I mean, Aunt Kushina."
Kushina led them into the kitchen.
They stepped fully inside the kitchen and froze.
Minato stood by the table, setting down a tray of roast chicken. As they entered, he looked up and smiled warmly.
"Welcome. I'm glad you could all come."
Izumi's eyes widened, her mouth parting slightly.
Hotaru blinked rapidly, lips barely open. "W-waa… ano…"
Hana's reaction was the most dramatic—her mouth fell open, eyes bugging out. "Th-that's the Fourth—" she stammered.
Itachi's eyes widened as well, though they quickly narrowed as his gaze flicked to Kaito standing beside him.
Kushina walked past them, laughing. "Come on, sit down, ya know." She leaned in and kissed Minato on the cheek as she passed.
Kaito let out a sigh. "Okay, before anyone faints—yes. That's my dad. Minato Namikaze."
He gestured toward them in turn. "And these are my friends—Hotaru, Itachi, Izumi, and Hana."
Minato waved with a gentle smile. "Hello. It's nice to finally meet you all. I've heard a lot about you from Kaito."
Hana was the first to find her voice. "B-but… how are you—? I mean—you were—"
Minato chuckled lightly. "Dead?"
Kaito rubbed the back of his neck. "You know how it was announced that he died during the Nine-Tails attack?" he said. "Well… that wasn't exactly the truth. Dad was actually in a coma."
Itachi's eyes narrowed slightly.
"C-coma?" Hotaru asked softly, looking at Kaito.
Kaito nodded. "Yeah. The Third announced he was dead for his safety. Back then, Konoha was really weak after the Nine-Tails attack, and they didn't know who the masked man was, ya know."
Itachi nodded, understanding settling in.
Hotaru nodded too, her eyes dimming slightly.
"Only a few people knew the truth," Kaito continued. "Me, Mom, the Third Hokage, Lady Tsunade, Shikaku-sensei—and only recently, Fugaku-sama and Hiashi-sama."
Hotaru was the first to bow. "It's nice to meet you, Hokage-sama."
Itachi followed. "Hokage-sama."
Izumi bowed as well. "It's an honor to meet you, Hokage-sama."
Hana bowed hastily. "It's great to finally meet you, Hokage-sama! the Fourth Hokage! Sir!" she stammered, then blurted, "I—I'm your biggest fan! I mean—"
Minato laughed softly, rubbing the back of his head. "Ah… it's nice to meet you all." He smiled warmly. "But really, you don't have to be so formal. I'm just your friend's dad."
Kushina clapped her hands together. "Why are you all still standing there? Come sit—the food's getting cold, ya know."
They finally took their seats.
As they ate, Kushina and Minato made sure everyone was served before sitting down themselves.
Hotaru glanced around, then asked softly, "Ano… where are Naruto-kun and Karin-chan?"
"Naruto's staying over at Shikamaru's house," Kushina answered easily. "And Karin was invited to stay over at Ino's house."
Minato glanced toward Hotaru, who was seated beside Kaito. "So, Hotaru-san… are you Kaito's girlfriend?"
Hotaru froze, then nodded, her face burning. "H-hai."
Minato smiled gently. "I see… thank you for being by Kaito-kun's side."
Kushina beamed. "You know something funny? Hotaru-chan fell in love with Kai-kun the same way I fell in love with you."
Hotaru turned even redder. "K-Kushina-sama…"
Kaito groaned, rubbing his face. "Mom. Do you have to?"
Minato looked amused. "Oh? How so?"
Hana tilted her head, curiosity lighting her face. "Huh? Similar how? I mean, I knew Hotaru liked Kaito since the Academy, but were you two Academy sweethearts too?" She looked between Kushina and Minato, clearly eager to hear the Fourth Hokage's love story.
Kushina laughed. "In the Academy? Oh no. I actually thought Minato was pretty wimpy back then, ya know."
Minato chuckled, looking a little embarrassed.
Hana gaped. "What? Lord Fourth—wimpy?"
"Well, not wimpy exactly," Kushina said with a wave of her hand. "More childish. You know how kids are at that age, ya know."
Izumi nodded spoke up, curious. "then when did you fall in love with the Fourth? Was it during the war?"
Kushina shook her head. "Not exactly. It was during the Second Shinobi War, but we were still kids back then."
She went on to tell them how Minato had rescued her when she was kidnapped by Kumo shinobi.
"Wah… so romantic," Hana said in awe.
Izumi looked thoughtful. "But how is that similar to how Hotaru fell in love with Kaito?"
Hana blinked. "Yeah, I was just about to ask—"
"Well," Kushina continued proudly, "Kai-kun rescued her. Just like his father rescued me all those years ago."
Izumi turned to Hotaru, surprised. "I didn't know you were kidnapped by Kumogakure, no less."
Hana stared between Kaito and Hotaru. "Wait—when did this happen?"
Izumi frowned. "I didn't know Hotaru was kidnapped—by Kumogakure, no less." She glanced at Hotaru, who was turning red by the second.
"It was after we graduated from the academy," Itachi spoke calmly. "When we were eight. The Kumo delegation was sent to Konoha for a peace treaty, kidnapped Hotaru… Kaito saved her."
Kushina grinned proudly. "Yep. Kai-kun fought and captured the jōnin and then held off three ANBU all to save Hotaru-chan, ya know."
Hotaru's face went completely red.
Kaito let out a tired sigh and rubbed his face. "Mom…"
Izumi stared between the two of them, eyes wide. "That's… incredible."
Hana blinked. "Wait—then why weren't we told any of this?"
Minato answered calmly, "Most likely to keep the situation from escalating."
Hana turned to Hotaru. "So… was that when you fell in love with Kaito?"
Hotaru nodded, face burning. "…Yes."
Minato let out a quiet laugh. "Perhaps we should change the topic. Hotaru-san seems a little overwhelmed."
That finally shifted the mood, and the conversation drifted to lighter topics for a while.
After some time, Izumi turned back to Minato. "H-How long have you been awake, Hokage-sama— I mean—"
Minato smiled. "It's fine. I only woke up recently."
"A few months ago," Kaito added. "Around Shizune-san's wedding."
He looked around the table, expression turning serious. "Mind keeping him being alive a secret until we announce it publicly?"
Itachi immediately nodded. "Of course."
Izumi hesitated. "Ano… does that mean you won't be taking over as Hokage?"
Minato shook his head. "No. At least, not yet. Right now, I think Lady Tsunade is doing a fantastic job."
"But wouldn't announcing your return be better?" Hana asked. "I mean—you're the Fourth Hokage. The fastest shinobi alive. People say you're one of the strongest Hokage ever. Other villages feared you. There's a flee-on-sight order on you. No other shinobi in history has ever had that. You won Konoha the Third Shinobi War."
Minato chuckled, rubbing the back of his head. "Eh… I'm not sure about all that. Right now, the village is stable and doing well. There's relative peace between the villages. It's better to keep me hidden for the time being."
"Because of the masked man?" Itachi asked.
Minato nodded. "Yes. This gives us the advantage. Besides…" His expression softened. "I'm not really at one hundred percent yet. Being in a coma for ten years takes its toll on the body."
Hana blinked. "Wait… so does that mean Kaito's still going to be the Sixth Hokage?"
Kaito choked on his food.
Minato chuckled.
…
Later, after dinner ended, Kaito left the house with his friends to hang out around the village.
The Uzumaki home grew quiet.
In the living room, Kushina walked in carrying a small tray. Minato sat on the floor by the low table, legs tucked beneath him as he went over a scroll, his posture relaxed.
Kushina set the tray down and poured them a cup each. "It was nice having Kai-kun's friends over, ya know."
Minato looked up and smiled. "Yeah. It was nice meeting them." He paused for a moment before adding more softly, "I missed a lot of Kaito's and Naruto's lives growing up. It was nice getting to know more about his world… about who he's become."
Kushina's expression softened. She was just about to reply when—
Knock. Knock.
She blinked and glanced toward the door. "Huh? Who could that be at this hour?"
She stood and walked over to answer it.
Minato smiled faintly as he rose to his feet. He already knew who it was.
Kushina opened the door and froze. "Huh… Jiraiya-sama?"
Jiraiya stood there, scratching the back of his head, wearing a sheepish grin. "Oh—hey, Kushina. Mind if I talk to you about something?"
She stepped aside immediately. "Yeah, sure. I don't mind. Are you hungry? I still have some dinner left."
"Eh… well, if you insist," Jiraiya said, stepping inside.
He walked into the living room—
—and stopped dead.
Minato stood there, smiling. lifted a hand and waved lightly. "It's been a while, Sensei."
Kushina closed the door behind him and smiled warmly. "I'll go heat up the food. You two should catch up."
She headed toward the kitchen, leaving the teacher and the student standing across from each other.