Disclaimer: Naruto and all of its character belong to Masashi Kishimoto. I own nothing but the original characters I make.
Chapter 199: Guest Of Konoha
Right after the meeting ended, the group started discussing where Kaguya and Madara would stay. It quickly became obvious that no one wanted to let them go back to the moon. Especially Madara, who was a bigger threat here because of his past.
"They stay in Konoha," said Sakumo. Even though Isshiki's threat is big, Madara is not somebody they could take lightly, he is an ex-traitor. "If Isshiki is out there, I want them somewhere we can actually respond if something happens, no one in Konoha has the Rinegan to open the other dimension."
The thought of Madara having the Rinegan scared them all, even Uchiha Hikaku, the current Clan Leader, felt scared just imagining if Madara decided to attack Konoha once again
Kazuma, who caught the end of the discussion, didn't argue, and he also thought leaving Kaguya here was safer because of Raiken's presence.
"We will remain in contact," said Kazuma simply. "And Kaguya-sama, the offer to return to the moon remains open whenever you wish it."
"I understand," said Kaguya.
The harder question was where they would stay in Konoha. Several clan leaders offered guest rooms in their compounds, trying to be helpful but secretly hoping someone else would take them in. No one really wanted the responsibility of hosting a woman who could destroy a village or a man whose reputation still made people nervous years after his supposed death.
Raiken ended the debate by pointing out the obvious solution.
"They will stay with me," he said.
Everyone in the room turned toward him.
"My compound has sealing barriers built into every wall and foundation stone," Raiken explained. "Even if the tail beast attacked my place, it would survive attacks that would have destroyed anything else here, and it's always monitored, even when no one is around. I know Madara here gets on your nerves due to his past, and I am confident to stop him."
Madara looked at him with anger but stayed silent because he knew what he did in the past can't easily be forgiven or forgotten. He also wanted to know what happened to the bloodlines of Uchiha and Uzumaki. Raiken had married Uchiha Mikoto, so he really wanted to see his offspring.
Shikajin, who knows second best about Raiken, agreed.
"He is not wrong," said Shikajin. "The Uzumaki resident has more layered fuinjutsu defense than the Hokage building itself. If containment ever became necessary, that is the most realistic place to attempt it."
"Do you treat me like a prisoner?" Madara glared at Shikajin.
"Well, relax, old man. Have you forgotten what you did in the past? At least we need somewhere that we would make sure you won't betray us," said Raiken.
"I don't need to disguise myself as your ally, no one can stop me after Hashirama died," replied Madara, his Rinegan turned on.
"So why are you afraid? If you are strong enough that no one can stop you. Sure you won't be afraid to stay inside a layered fuinjutsu seal," Raiken made sure his tone was as annoying as possible.
For others, it was the first time they saw Raiken act like this. Usually, his tone commanded respect, and people followed him, but against Madara, he turned into an annoying person.
But later they would learn why Raiken acted annoyingly, because it made Madara unconsciously follow whatever arrangement he had made. Even Sakumo and Shikajin didn't expect this outcome.
"Tsch," Madara clicked his tongue and went silent.
The others looked but said nothing. Hikaku, who had come to trust Raiken's judgment over the years, nodded in agreement. After a few quiet comments, the other clan leaders agreed too. No one wanted to argue against putting the two most dangerous guests in the safest building in the village.
Deciding where Kazuma and the remaining Moon Otsutsuki guards would stay took much less discussion.
One of the former Hyuga branch members, a man who had lived under the old Birdcage Seal and spent years rebuilding her life after it was gone, made the offer.
"You are our family," he said to Kazuma, standing before him with none of the deference the old Hyuga hierarchy would have demanded and all of the warmth that came naturally to someone speaking to a distant relative for the first time. "We do not have the clan structure anymore, but we have homes, and there is no reason you and your people should stay anywhere else while you are here."
Kazuma looked at her for a long moment, taking in how easily he spoke. That kind of comfort would have been impossible in the strict hierarchy of the Hyuga Clan, but now, without it, they became more easygoing. "We accept."
.......
UZUMAKI RAIKEN HOUSE
That evening, after the plans were set and the guests had settled in, they finally arrived at the Raiken house.
The real chaos came from the small children, who had no idea who these visitors really were.
Itsuki, now a few months older, already sharp and observant like his great-grandfather Hikaku, walked into the main sitting room where Madara and Kaguya sat. He looked at them with open curiosity, not the fear most kids would have shown.
"Are you my great-grandmother?" Itsuki asked, looking directly at Kaguya.
He had heard his 'parents' conversation about the woman's identity.
Kaguya, who had spent the whole day being treated with caution by almost everyone, looked at the small boy. Something in her expression changed when she looked at the little boy, it reminded her of the time when Hagoromo and Hamura were born.
"Yeah, I am," answered Kaguya. "What is your name, lil one?"
"Cool," said Itsuki, apparently satisfied with the answer, and turned his attention to Madara. "My name is Itsuki Uzumaki."
"Itsuki." Kaguya smiled for the first time.
While Madara looked at Itsuki with more intense eyes, Itsuki was the combination of Uzumaki and Uchiha, and he wanted to know whether Itsuki could awaken Rinegan
"Yes, Grandma, do you need any help?" Itsuki smiled.
"Come here to Grandma," said Kaguya.
Itsuki went to his grandma, and Kaguya caressed his hair.