Naruto: Maelstrom Of The Uzumaki

As the group observed the barrier created by Raiden, its effects became apparent only to those skilled enough to perceive chakra intricacies. Fugaku and Hiashi, with their Sharingan and Byakugan, could clearly see the barrier's structure. However, Yahiko and Konan, lacking both advanced training and a bloodline limit, were left puzzled.

"Hey, are you sure you even activated anything?" Yahiko asked skeptically, glaring at Raiden.

A second later, a sharp pain erupted on his head as Raiden struck him with the hilt of his sword.

"First of all, call me Uncle Raiden, not 'kid,'" Raiden said with a smirk. "And second, if you question me again, it won't be so gentle."

"When did he even move?" Yahiko muttered in shock, clutching his head. The tone of his voice shifted, becoming more respectful under Raiden's imposing aura. "Uncle Raiden, did you really release the barrier? I can't feel it!"

Raiden's expression softened slightly, though his smirk remained. "I'll let the 'uncle' slide this time." He shifted his attention to Nagato. "What about you? You should be able to 'see' it, right?"

Nagato, his Rinnegan faintly glowing, nodded. "Yes, I see it. The entire yard is encased in a thin layer of chakra—like a film. That's the barrier, right, Uncle Raiden?"

"Exactly," Raiden replied with a small nod of approval.

He turned his attention back to the group. "This barrier is a simple ninjutsu, but its application is foundational for mastering chakra control. Nagato, I'm giving you this scroll."

Raiden tossed a pristine scroll to Nagato. Konan and Yahiko crowded around as Nagato opened it, curiosity etched on their faces.

"So, you prepared for this all along," Jiraiya remarked, a knowing grin on his face.

"Of course. Unlike you, I'm not stingy with knowledge," Raiden quipped, his eyes narrowing in amusement.

Raiden's method of teaching turned out to be unorthodox and anticlimactic. He handed Nagato the scroll and walked off, leaving the three students to decipher it themselves.

Jiraiya's face froze. "That's it?!" he exclaimed, following Raiden back into the wooden house. "You can't just hand over a scroll and call it teaching!"

Raiden shrugged, clearly unimpressed. "Why not? I learned from scrolls myself. The technique is simple—observe the barrier, study the scroll, and practice. If they can't figure it out, that's their problem."

Jiraiya's jaw dropped. "You can't expect them to figure it out on their own! What about chakra guidance?"

Raiden gave him a deadpan look. "They'll figure it out if they try hard enough. That's the guidance."

The bickering between the two eventually subsided, and Raiden commandeered Jiraiya's room to rest for the night.

The night passed quietly. The soft patter of rain gave way to moonlight as the storm cleared, casting a serene glow over the wooden house. Inside, most of the group was fast asleep.

Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan, exhausted from their training, slept in the living room. The scroll Raiden had given them rested loosely in Nagato's arms.

Suddenly, the scroll unrolled slightly, its ink beginning to shimmer in the faint moonlight. Black marks rearranged themselves on the parchment, forming intricate patterns that glowed faintly before flowing off the scroll and towards Nagato's neck.

Unbeknownst to most, Raiden had already risen. Silently, he stepped into the living room, his eyes fixed on Nagato.

"These eyes…" Raiden murmured, his gaze locking onto Nagato's Rinnegan. "If they fall into the wrong hands, they could doom us all."

Raiden crouched beside Nagato, extending his palm toward the boy's eyes. The curse marks began moving faster, drawn toward Nagato's Rinnegan.

"Snap!"

A hand gripped Raiden's wrist firmly. He turned to see Jiraiya standing over him, his expression a mixture of anger and disappointment.

Raiden smirked. "You're faster than I thought," he muttered, retracting his hand.

Jiraiya didn't respond. Instead, he motioned for Raiden to follow him outside.

Once outside, Raiden dismissed the barrier around the house, its chakra dispersing into the night. The two men stood in the rain-soaked clearing, the tension between them palpable.

"Explain yourself," Jiraiya demanded, his voice low but firm.

"It's insurance," Raiden said simply, crossing his arms.

"Insurance for what?" Jiraiya pressed, his tone rising.

"To prevent the Rinnegan from becoming a weapon for our enemies," Raiden replied calmly. "If that happens, I'll need a way to neutralize it."

Jiraiya's expression darkened. "Do you even understand what those eyes mean? The Rinnegan isn't something you can toy with. Nagato is crucial to the future of the ninja world."

Raiden raised an eyebrow. "You're basing this on that prophecy, aren't you?"

Jiraiya froze, his eyes narrowing. "How do you know about the prophecy?"

Raiden chuckled. "Does it matter? You're willing to risk everything on a vague prediction from an ancient toad. That's not just naive—it's reckless."

"The Great Toad Sage has never been wrong," Jiraiya said firmly. "Nagato is the one who will bring peace to the ninja world. I believe in him."

Raiden's smirk faded, replaced by a cold, calculating expression. "And if you're wrong? If those eyes fall into the hands of someone like Uchiha Madara, what then?"

Jiraiya clenched his fists but said nothing.

Raiden sighed, turning back toward the house. "Fine. No curse marks, no seals. But if the Rinnegan becomes a threat, I'll do what needs to be done—whether you like it or not."

Jiraiya watched Raiden's retreating figure, his mind racing. For all his arrogance, there was a truth to Raiden's words that unsettled him.

Back in the house, the curse marks that Raiden had dismissed reappeared, settling quietly on Nagato's neck, hidden beneath his skin.

Outside, as Jiraiya lingered in thought, a shadowy figure rose from the ground where Raiden and Jiraiya had stood.

"The Uzumaki clan's sealing arts… fascinating," the figure murmured before disappearing into the soil.

Rain began to fall again, draping the land in a soft, misty curtain.

(End of Chapter)

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