Hiruzen watched Raftra's behavior with a wary eye. He missed nothing—every tilt of the head, the inflection in his voice, even the cold look Raftra cast at Tsunade and Shizune.
"Are you all right?" Hiruzen asked once more, this time with firmer insistence.
Raftra shook his head slightly, a faint, almost imperceptible smile tugging at his lips. "I'm fine…" he said, his voice like someone desperately trying to persuade himself.
He rose slowly from the wooden bed, his body still felt heavy from wounds not yet fully healed. But his steps were steady as he approached Hiruzen.
For a moment he glanced at Tsunade. The look was sharp, sarcastic, coldly evaluative—as if Raftra were weighing the worth of a stranger he had just met.
"Who are you?" he asked flatly, without courtesy, merely a formal question.
Tsunade raised an eyebrow, mildly affronted, but answered in a measured tone. "I'm Tsunade. Hiruzen's student, like Jiraiya and Orochimaru."
Raftra nodded slightly, showing no particular reaction. He turned to Shizune. "And you?"
Shizune hesitated, then replied, "I'm Shizune. Tsunade-sama's assistant and student."
A thin silence settled over the room. Raftra did not respond further. He stood with an inscrutable expression, then bowed his head slightly, letting his tangled hair shadow part of his face.
Inside, his thoughts moved quickly:
'Tsunade… no matter how strong she once was, now she's only a shadow—an alcoholic, a gambler, a fragile woman fleeing past wounds.'
'She holds no political value for me at the moment. Making her a pawn in this game would only waste time. Besides, even Naruto will take a long time to change.'
'So no… I don't need to force that yet. Not for now.'
Raftra closed his eyes briefly to steady himself. 'My focus remains the same: Hiruzen. He is the key. Naruto later. Tsunade? Let her be a spectator, not a player. For now, she's a minor distraction on the board.'
When he opened his eyes again, his face had regained its mask of neutrality. He offered Tsunade no further response and retreated to the wooden bed, sitting down with a lazy movement.
Hiruzen noticed something simmering within Raftra—a decision being forged, a strategy—but he could not read the young man's true intent.
Tsunade squinted, feeling slighted. "This young man… is really rude," she muttered, loud enough to be heard.
Raftra glanced at her briefly, a thin, emotionless smile flickered across his lips before he returned his gaze to the floor.
"You're only the Hokage's student… nothing special. So don't expect me to show you undue respect."
He paused, then his tone sharpened. "Besides, I don't like people who flaunt their connections because they know someone important. Don't think you'll earn my deference simply for being the Hokage's pupil."
Tsunade's look turned icy, a flash of annoyance crossing her face but not erupting into anger.
Hiruzen, standing beside her, exhaled slowly. Inwardly he thought, 'It's understandable Raftra acts this way… he doesn't know who Tsunade really is. To him, she's merely my student, nothing more.'
Shizune, who had been listening quietly, suddenly spoke up firmly. "You shouldn't speak to Tsunade-sama like that! She's not just the Hokage's student."
"Tsunade-sama is one of the Legendary Sannin—a great shinobi who became a war hero!"
At that, Raftra's head snapped up. His eyes widened as if surprised. He clutched at his chest, bowed slightly, and a stiff, apologetic smile formed on his face, pretending remorse.
"Is that so? Forgive me," he said softly but clearly. "I truly did not know. Had I known earlier, I would have shown proper respect to a war hero."
Tsunade and Shizune exchanged astonished looks. It was rare to meet someone unfamiliar with the Sannin's renown—their names were legends across the lands.
Tsunade's gaze sharpened. She studied Raftra for a long moment, peeling back layers in search of whatever lay beneath his pale face.
"Rarely does one not know who I am," she said coldly, folding her arms.
"Even children in remote villages know the name Sannin."
Raftra lowered his head, adopting an expression of contrition. "Sorry… I truly didn't know. I don't even know what 'Sannin' means."
"So… if I sounded harsh earlier, it was only ignorance. No intent to belittle a war hero."
Shizune stared, incredulous. "That's hard to believe. The names Tsunade-sama, Jiraiya-sama, and Orochimaru-sama are legendary. How could you not know?"
Raftra drew a breath and raised his head slowly. "I'm not from this village. There are many things I don't know. If you find that odd, fair enough… but it's the truth."
His internal thought ran: 'Tsunade may be useless now, but confusing her and piquing her curiosity isn't a bad idea. Letting people underestimate my ignorance will be a future advantage.'
Tsunade's annoyed expression softened to a long sigh. "You're truly strange…"
Hiruzen closed his eyes briefly, then reopened them with a solemn look. He thought, 'At least he knows when to hold his tongue.'
Raftra exhaled and looked straight at Hiruzen.
"So, what is your final decision, Lord Hokage?" he asked in a heavy voice, as if his fate depended on it.
Hiruzen steepled his fingers and pondered a moment before answering with firm resolve.
"You will be released. However, you will be under strict surveillance for twenty-four hours without respite. There will be no opportunity to move unobserved."
Raftra lifted his head slightly, sharpening his gaze. "And how do you expect the village elders to react?"
"They do not agree," Hiruzen replied curtly, his eyes hard. "But I will do it regardless. This is my duty as Hokage, and I will bear the consequences."
Raftra rose from the bed. His body still ached, but he bowed deeply in sincere respect.
"Thank you… for giving me a chance to live."
Hiruzen inclined his head. "I will watch and protect you. From now on, no one may touch you without my permission."
"But remember: my trust in you is only sixty percent. It may rise… or it may fall."
Raftra nodded, accepting the words without protest. His eyes flicked toward Tsunade and Shizune at his side, then returned to Hiruzen.
He stepped closer until they were only a few paces apart.
In a near-whisper he asked, "And… the secret about me being from another world. You're still keeping that, aren't you?"
"Yes. It remains safe," Hiruzen answered.
…
A few hours later, atop the Hokage's building that night.
Raftra stood upright, his clothes were clean and his wounds tended, but the scars of torture still showed beneath the fabric. His face was expressionless, almost blank, though anger and trauma still churned within his chest.
"From now on," Hiruzen said, "you are free. But full surveillance will be enforced. I will place a trusted ANBU at your side, without exception."
Raftra bowed lightly. "I understand."
Before tension could ease, Danzo's cold voice cut in.
"You may be free today, but don't misinterpret that. I never agreed with this decision. At the first sign of suspicion… I will drag you back to the interrogation room myself."
Those words struck like a dagger in Raftra's head. For a moment his body tensed and his hands trembled uncontrollably.
Flashbacks of torture—screams, pain, blood, brutal grips—assaulted his mind.
His breath grew heavy and his chest heaved, but his face remained impassive. He swallowed his emotions whole.
'Smile… don't show fear. Let them think you're numb,' he told himself.
Koharu stepped forward, Homura nodding alongside her.
"This village does not need foreigners like you," Koharu declared.
"So mind your behavior," Homura added, "and enjoy the freedom we grant you… while you can."
Hiruzen only sighed, restraining himself from admonishing his peers.
Koharu continued, "Your belongings have been returned, except for several suspicious items."
"The strange books full of unclear formulas, and the foreign things you called 'phone' and 'laptop'—they will remain seized by order of the Hokage."
Raftra inclined his head, accepting the statement with a blank expression. "I understand. That's your right."
But inside he thought, 'You think this was your decision? No. It's what I wanted from the start.'
'The laptop and phone are safer in the Hokage's hands than Danzo's or anyone else's. Even the books—let them deem them dangerous.'
'Better kept than falling into the wrong hands. Do you think you control the situation?'
At a corner, Tsunade, leaning against the wall, yawned softly—bored—but her eyes watched the interaction keenly.
Shizune appeared worried, her sympathy for Raftra barely concealed.
Raftra straightened and faced Hiruzen. "Very well. I will accept this surveillance. So long as the village does not disturb me, I will not disturb it."
With that, Danzo, Homura, and Koharu departed the rooftop, the atmosphere relaxed, though the strain now rested on Hiruzen and Raftra.
Raftra drew a slow breath. "So, who will watch me?"
Hiruzen did not answer at once. He raised a hand in a brief signal. Shortly after, a ninja appeared: silver hair tousled, face masked, his left eye hidden beneath a black protector.
Raftra's eyes widened for a beat. 'Kakashi?'
But his expectation was slightly off—Kakashi was not dressed in ANBU garb. He wore a standard jonin outfit with a Konoha flak jacket. Hiruzen had chosen that to make the surveillance less conspicuous.
Kakashi approached with a casual stride and knelt before Hiruzen.
Hiruzen looked at him with measured seriousness. "From now on, the full surveillance of Raftra is entrusted to you. He will live in your home until further notice."
"Do not let him out of your sight for a single moment. This duty is as important as safeguarding the village's future."
Kakashi simply nodded, his expression unreadable behind the mask. "Understood."
Raftra examined the man. He narrowed his eyes, weighing him. He knew of Kakashi—the genius shinobi, formidable and loyal. Beneath Kakashi's lazy demeanor lay a keen sharpness not to be underestimated.
Kakashi glanced briefly in his direction. The look held neither anger nor pity—only a neutral measure, as if assessing depth.
Raftra returned a similarly cold stare, as if the two were silently measuring one another.
Hiruzen broke the silence. "Kakashi will be your guardian. Do not attempt to flee or resist. If you wish to prove you are harmless, obey these rules."
Raftra inclined his head slightly, lips forming a faint smile. "I understand, Lord Hokage. I will comply."
But in his mind he whispered, 'So… Kakashi Hatake, then. The prodigy of Konoha.'
'Interesting. If I can manage this relationship, I might go further than I expect.'
Raftra inhaled and then met Hiruzen's eyes with a calm but resolute tone.
"I have already decided on my next steps, Lord Hiruzen. I don't want to live merely as a watched prisoner. I want a peaceful life… and to open a small eatery."
Hiruzen raised an eyebrow. "A restaurant? Can you cook?"
A faint smile crossed Raftra's face. "Of course. My mother taught me. Cooking is one of the things she taught me."
"Through a shop I can live simply without causing suspicion…and at the same time provide something useful to the village."
His words flowed confidently, clearly premeditated. Then, softer and steadier, he continued.
"But for that I need capital. If you would allow it… I'd like to borrow funds, and, if possible, lease an empty shop."
"I will repay you gradually. No matter how long it takes, I will do my best to pay back."
He emphasized 'borrow' with a particular tone, then added, "I'm not asking for charity. I don't want alms. I want the chance to prove I can stand on my own."
Hiruzen pondered, silent for a long moment. In his mind, Raftra's words carried an honesty—he was not begging but offering to trade his honor for work. That differed from those who asked only to take.
Tsunade cast him a sideways glance, a slight lift of the lips betraying mild admiration for his resolve though she said nothing. Shizune watched with keen curiosity, trying to discern whether his intentions were sincere or merely rhetoric.
Finally Hiruzen nodded slowly. "Very well. I will arrange it tomorrow. I must speak with the village administration about loans and leasing the shop. Everything will be formalized."
Raftra bowed again, this time with something less performative. "I understand, and I thank you… not for pity, but for the opportunity to prove myself."
…
Afterwards, Raftra and Kakashi left together. Their footsteps fell in a steady rhythm along Konoha's lamp-lit streets.
Kakashi walked with hands in his pockets, his face as unreadable as ever behind his mask.
Raftra, hands clasped behind his back, looked like a stranger just returned from a long journey.
Beneath that composed exterior, his mind raced.
'First step… I must build a name. With a food stall, I can become known as someone who brings something new to the village.'
'Foods they've never tasted before. Recipes from my world—I'll claim them as my own creations.'
He glanced at passing villagers, many indifferent, some casting suspicious glances.
'Slowly but surely, I will force them to remember my name. They may not know me now, but soon they will queue for a taste of what I make.'
His eyes settled on Kakashi walking beside him. The Copy Ninja's reputation was not to be underestimated.
'And look who I live with. Kakashi Hatake… a shinobi whose renown spreads widely. People may be suspicious, but for many, his presence beside me will validate me.'
'If Kakashi stands by me, then I'm not a threat. That alone will ease the hateful glances.'
His steps were calm, but his mind tracked far ahead.
'Once the shop stands and my name grows, I will expand. I won't remain in the kitchen forever. I will create a restaurant system—a network run by people working under me.'
'I'll organize, oversee, and draw profit. I will lay the foundations, and hunger will make it thrive.'
Images of a large signboard, the scent of irresistible food, and crowds filling a Konoha street rose in his thoughts.
'Then, when it's established, I'll move into other businesses. Things this world has never seen. I will be the one to bring them, and as others copy, I will be far ahead.'
'Then I will control the village's economy—quietly, without anyone noticing the moment I seize it.'
His gaze cooled though his face stayed neutral.
'With the economy in my hands… politics will be only a matter of time. I can manipulate market prices, affect daily life, even compel the clan leaders to take a seat at my table.'
'All through one simple lever: need. They will need me. And when they need me… I win.'
He drew a breath and looked up at the night sky.
'It will not be easy. There will be obstacles, betrayals, maybe even blood. But… it will be worth fighting for.'
His thoughts drifted to the blond child he had once met.
'Naruto… I cannot ignore that problem. I will keep drawing near him. Not hurriedly, but slowly and naturally.'
'I will let time plant in him the feeling that I am his brother, his protector, the one who understands him best.'
A faint smile touched Raftra's lips, nearly imperceptible.
'Most importantly… so far, Hiruzen and the elders have not uttered Naruto's name even once.'
'That means two possibilities: they intend to hide the child from me, or they simply do not suspect my contact with him.'
'Either way, it is an opening I can exploit.'
He curled his hand gently behind his back.
'Yes… the shop is only the beginning. Every next move is waiting. Step by step, I will force those who loathe me to stop seeing me with disdain.'
Raftra recalled again the sudden visions that had come to him.
'Raftra Industries… Raftra Kitchen… what do those names mean? Company names? Organizations? Or just nonsense that flashes in my mind?'
'And the woman—who is she? Why is she always at my side in that vision, as if she is crucial to my future?'
He replayed the memory of standing upon the Hokage monument, wind thrashing his cloak, seeing himself older and resolute.
'Is this… a hint? A message from the future somehow connected to me now?'
'Or… more frightening, have I been in this world before, my memories locked away and buried? And what I saw was only a crack in that seal.'
His stare pierced the village street. Kakashi glanced at him now and then, but did not ask.
'Or… mere hallucination? Perhaps the trauma, the torture, has driven my mind to conjure a meaningful future as survival. But… it felt too vivid to be mere coincidence. Names, faces, the whole atmosphere—everything felt real.'
Raftra clenched his hand behind his back.
'Whatever it is, I cannot ignore it. If it is indeed a clue to the future, it could be the key to surviving and achieving something greater.'
'If I have been here before, that means I belong to this world longer than I thought—perhaps having returned to the past with memory lost.'
'And if it's delusion, then I am simply a madman trapped in my own schemes.'
He let out a soft, bitter snort, a grin ghosting his lips.
'Three possibilities. Three paths. All worth considering. After being isekai'd to this world, nothing seems impossible, so it wouldn't hurt to think seriously about them.'
His steps grew firmer, though his face continued to show no emotion.
Elsewhere, Danzo quietly began arranging additional eyes to watch Raftra.