Entering Konoha

A week has been passed after Raiga Uzumaki reached an uninhabited island, somewhere in the land of water.

"Ha..." a large rock, that's twice bigger than him, broke down into several pieces as 12-year-old Raiga punched it while he was coated in lightning chakra. Meanwhile, his shadow clones were practicing Archery. With a traditional wooden bow on their hands, each one is concentrating on shape transformation, trying to create pure arrows made of lightning chakra and aiming at the rocks.

As one of them finally pierced a 1m thick tree and then continue to fly without stopping while making a hole in the opposite side, Raiga released the shadow clones and pointed the wooden bow at the rock. "Now, I'm ready."

Three weeks later,

"Finally, I made it. Now comes the harder part," thought Raiga while looking at the Konoha's Gate and the two guards in the right, who are checking the permits of visitors before allowing them to enter the village. The ones who didn't have them were stopped and were sent away coldly except for those who have acquaintances in Konoha, who can vouch for their identity.

As Raiga walked straight towards them, he was asked by one of the younger who looks like he's in the early twenties, "Stop. Show me your permit." meanwhile, the other guard, a middle-aged shinobi was surprised to see red-haired boy, a unique trait of Uzumaki clan members, whose existence has been forgotten by the world as 12 years passed away since their destruction.

"Uh, I don't have them. I'm a survivor of the war," replied Raiga but the Guard coldly said, "those who don't have permits can't enter the village. You can go to nearby towns and settle there, kid."

Raiga then said, "I know about it but can you send a word to a shinobi named Kushina Uzumaki? Um, she has red hair like me and around your age. She's my eldest cousin. I'm sure she can vouch for my identity."

Hearing the name of Kushina, the Guard became alerted and said, "stand aside and wait for a while." The Guard looked at the other one and said, "Oshiro-san, please keep an eye on him. I need to report Sandaime-sama." As he ran in his top speed, Raiga just stayed aside while thinking, "he just mentioned third hokage, not fourth. Is this the time before Minato became Hokage or after the Kyuubi's incident."

After a few minutes, he returned and spoke, "come with me. Saindaime-sama wishes to see you." Raiga nodded and walked along with him while a few Anbu were monitoring his moments in the shadows, so that, this kid doesn't try any funny thing like escaping. Only after entering the village and walking in the streets, Raiga saw a clear view of the Hokage mountain, which has three face and a fourth one is being drawn.

After thinking that this is still before the time of Nine Tail's attack, Raiga followed him but then, a frown appeared on his face as Raiga realized they weren't going towards the Hokage tower but somewhere else. Still, he stayed calm and followed him without complaining anything. After a while, they entered an abandoned apartment, went toward the first floor, knocked on the door and entered the room.

Raiga followed him inside and saw it was an empty room filled with one table and two chairs, which reminded him of those old movies that Villains or the Police uses to interrogate someone, except that it was a brightly lit room.

As soon as he saw the Third Hokage, who looks just a little bit younger than he saw in the Anime, Raiga asked the Guard slowly, "is that Sandaime-sama?" The Guard nodded and then bowed towards him, "Sandaime-sama, this is the boy, I informed about." The third Hokage nodded and looked at him with a smile, "please, come and sit here. No need to be cautious."

After raiga calmly went and sat on the empty chair, the Third Hokage asked, "now, tell me, kid, what is your name, where you came from and how you are related to Kushina Uzumaki?"

"I'm Raiga Uzumaki, son of Rei Uzumaki. Well, I was born in Kusagakure. Recently, my mother died during the war. before her death, she said that I have a cousin named Kushina Uzumaki, who was my maternal Uncle's daughter. She came to the village just before I was born. So, I came here hoping to live here, after hearing that before our home nation was destroyed, Konoha and Uzushiogakure were used to be allies."

As Raiga saw the Third Hokage was just staring at him in silence without saying anything, he further said, "uh, I don't have any proof that I'm closely related to Kushina-san but I can prove myself that I'm a genuine Uzumaki though." Raiga then raised his hands and released a few golden chains for a few seconds before making them disappear again and then said, "I don't anything else other than this. I'm only hoping to take shelter in the village and nothing else."

After a long silence, the Third Hokage said, "Kushina is out of Konoha, right now. It might take a few months before she returns. Until then, you can stay in this village but you will be monitored 24/7. We'll see what to do with you, later." Raiga then stood up and politely bowed, "thank you Hokage-sama."

The Third Hokage smiled, "as long you understand your situation. There are empty apartments in the south of the market district, you can stay in one of them and will be provided basic food daily in the section-8. Ogata, here, will show you the way and tell the details about it."

"Um, Hokage-sama, I know its presumptuous of me but can I ask for a favor?" as Raiga asked, The Third Hokage gestured him to proceed.

"I'm extremely thankful for Hokage-sama to provide a home and food but I'm neither a beggar nor an incapacitated person. If Sandaime-sama wants to help me, instead of those freebies, I mean those things you are providing for free, can you recommend me to work somewhere in the village? I assure you that I'm a hard worker.

My mother used to run a flower shop. So, I have quite a bit of knowledge about it. If there are any flower shops here then... or any other shop would be also okay as long as I can get the job," as Raiga asked him, Ogata, the guard who was standing behind him frowned seeing this stranger even daring to demand something specific from the Third Hokage while Hiruzen became amused hearing his reply, "fine, then. I'll write a recommendation to one flower shop, although you have to depend on yourself to get it."

Hiruzen Sarutobi began to write a letter and stamped his seal and then, gave it to him. After receiving the recommendation, Raiga bowed to him, "thank you Hokage-sama." After both of them went away, the Third Hokage spoke, "Hyena, Tiger" Suddenly, the false ceiling opened and two Anbu wearing a Hyena and Tiger mask, half kneeled before him. "From now onwards, your job is to monitor him in the shadows and report me his every movement."