Lightning Sage

"But I already told you before the exams that he'll be taking leave from all missions for a period of time because he'll be going to meet his summon."

"It's okay, it's a bit early for him anyway. from what you told me about sage mode even if he went now, he won't be able to achieve it before he meets the physical requirements and sufficient age, not to mention, this deal was brought by you so your student finishing it is only appropriate."

"Sigh, fine I'll inform him of his new mission."

"Good. who knows? maybe delaying him, for now, will help us with the Uchiha and Danzo."

~~~

Elsewhere, near the Uchiha district, Raiden and Itachi were walking towards Itachi's house since Raiden's mom was most likely at work right now.

Raiden looked to be in deep thought for a while before he looked at Itachi.

"Hey, Itachi, you...what happened in the finals? You still had enough chakra to go at least a couple more minutes before it all suddenly dispersed."

Itachi flinched at the question and was now forced to think about something he didn't want to. He had already realised that his loss wasn't just from chakra exhaustion as he would normally just stop and surrender instead of passing out.

He had a difficult expression on his face before sighing.

"I don't know what happened. After I used the Jutsu, I started feeling pain in my c.h.e.s.t before my chakra dispersed to protect my lungs."

"Then shouldn't you have said that before, let's go to the hospital and have my mother take a look at you."

"No! There is no need, the pain has already subsided." Raiden tried multiple times to get him to go to the hospital, but Itachi vehemently refused and continued towards his house.

Raiden who stopped sighed before giving up for now, but he'll find a way to make him go to the hospital.

~~~

Upon their arrival to the clan head's house, they heard loud yelling and entered the house to find two children, four or five, yelling at each other.

"You're stupid, idiot Naruto!"

"What did you call me, bastard Sasuke?"

"You heard me."

Raiden facepalmed at their stupid conversation and Itachi just sighed at his little brother acting this way to his only friend.

"Sasuke, what are you doing? Where are father and mother?" Sasuke turned around and saw both Itachi and Raiden standing at the room's door.

"Brother, you're finally back! I've missed you." Sasuke ran towards Itachi and hugged him.

"Do I not exist?" Said Raiden to no one in particular. Naruto who also turned his head around did something comforting by going up to Raiden.

"Raiden-Nii-san, you're back, is the old man also back?"

"Sigh, it seems nobody actually cares about my comings and goings. Maybe mom missed me in the past month.

Yes, Jiraiya-sensei has also returned and is meeting with the Hokage. He should be here in a while. Now, down to business, what were you fighting about just now?"

Sasuke and Naruto both glared at each other again before trying to remember what they were fighting about. Naruto started scratching the back of his head and Sasuke gave a contemplative look.

Naruto was the first one to say "I don't remember!" before Sasuke said the same to Itachi.

Raiden and Itachi sighed before Itachi asked again.

"Where are father and mother, Sasuke?"

"Ah right, Father has a meeting and mother went out shopping and should be back soon, not tell me, brother, did you get the promotion to Chuunin?"

"Yes, we were both promoted to Chuunin." Answered Itachi with a smile towards Sasuke.

"As expected of you, the biggest genius of our clan." Said Sasuke with stars in his eyes.

"Oi, Sasuke, I exist you know. At least congratulate me, am I not your cousin?"Raiden said still annoyed at being ignored entirely for Itachi.

Naruto came in for the save again. "Congratulations, Raiden-Nii-san. I am sure you destroyed everyone else."

"What did you say, idiot Naruto? My brother destroyed everyone, not Raiden-Nii-san!"

With this, another round of children's quarrel started.

~~~

Mikoto came back a while and they gave her the news of their promotion and she insisted that Raiden come over with his mother for dinner tonight to celebrate. After Raiden agreed he took Naruto out for some ramen and left the clan head's house.

At Ichiraku's, during Naruto's Third bowl, Jiraiya showed up.

"One miso ramen, please." "Coming right up."

Jiraiya sat down next to them and waited for his order.

"Sensei, how did the meeting go?"

"You'll have to delay your plans, you've been given a A-rank mission by the Hokage personally."

"Huh, but we've already agreed on me taking a break after the Chuunin exams to go to the summoning realm, what's the mission that I have to delay my plans for?"

"You will be Konoha's delegate in the negotiations for extending the treaty with Suna."

"Aren't I too young? They wouldn't take me seriously."

"The Kazekage has seen your strength first hand and knows what you're capable of, your age won't be an issue."

"But I'm sure there are others that are more suitable for this job like the Jonin commander, the Nara clan head."

"He's preoccupied with something else. Stop trying to find someone else to drop this on, the old man has assigned this mission to you personally, not to mention, I was the one that got us this extension so you, as my student would be perfect to negotiate the deal."

"Sigh, Damn this situation. Now I have to keep going back and forth between Konoha and Suna. How long will this mission take?"

"Shouldn't be long considering they already agreed to the extension. For now, we have the upper hand so they'll try and find something to even the playing field, so at most a year." Jiraiya said this very calmly, but to Raiden, this was a disaster.

Wasting an entire year on this mission even if it was an A-rank was too much for him. Not to mention the constant travelling and having to stay in Suna for prolonged periods of time.

"Sensei, I can't take a year of my time for one mission, It'll waste too much time, the time I use for training."

"Relax, I said at most a year that doesn't mean it has to be a year, if you have enough skill you'll be done in a couple of months."

Raiden still didn't relax and was extremely gloomy now. Naruto, who was so engrossed in the food that he was already on the fifth bowl, now looked up.

"Old man, when will you start training me in all kinds of cool Jutsu?" Jiraiya looked at Naruto and saw the bowls lying on the counter next to him before thinking 'Where does put all that food.' He snapped out of it and looked at him again.

"Very soon since Raiden became Chuunin and he'll be busy these days."

"Really! Yes, now I can finally kick that bastard Sasuke's a.s.s."