Naruto: Maelstrom Of The Uzumaki

Jiraiya watched the serious expression of Raiden Uzumaki standing before the three children. For a moment, he wasn't sure what Raiden was planning. If it hadn't been for what happened the night before, Jiraiya might have entrusted his three disciples to Raiden's training without hesitation.

After all, Raiden's reputation as a genius wasn't mere talk—his strength was undeniable. His training methods could greatly benefit the three students.

But last night, Jiraiya discovered that Raiden had secretly planned to place a curse seal on Nagato. Although he managed to intervene in time, such behavior left Jiraiya wary of him.

When Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan heard that Raiden intended to train them personally, they anxiously looked at Jiraiya. Although they hadn't spent much time with Raiden, the earlier sparring session gave them a glimpse of his harsh personality.

Raiden's actions during the trial hadn't caused any serious harm, but they left the children shaken. Yahiko, who had skirted the edge of danger, and Nagato, who nearly harmed his best friend, were particularly uneasy.

"Brother Jiraiya, leave the three of them to me. If you're worried about any accidents, you can supervise their training," Raiden suggested confidently.

"I believe my abilities qualify me to guide them."

Jiraiya hesitated. "Raiden, it's not that I doubt your strength, but—"

He trailed off, his distrust evident even to Nagato, a mere child.

"Don't worry, I have no grudge against them, and I won't do anything strange," Raiden said with a hearty smile, as if reading Jiraiya's thoughts.

Jiraiya lowered his head, mulling over the situation. "He's right. This is his first time meeting kids like Nagato. He has no reason to harm them."

"Last night's incident might have just been a precaution," Jiraiya reasoned to himself. "After all, the Rinnegan is the legendary Sage of Six Paths' eyes. It's understandable for Raiden to prepare for contingencies."

He considered the benefits: Raiden's training could be good for the children. His age, not much older than theirs, might inspire them to push themselves further. Plus, Jiraiya could supervise to ensure nothing went awry.

Having made up his mind, Jiraiya smiled. Before he could speak, Raiden, noticing the shift in his expression, knew he'd agreed.

"Since my junior wants to guide you, I'll take a break," Jiraiya said. "The three of you must train hard under his guidance. I'll be watching from the sidelines."

Ignoring their protests, Jiraiya disappeared into the forest, leaving the children with Raiden.

"Teacher, don't go! Teacher!"

"Jiraiya-sensei!"

Yahiko and Konan's shouts filled the air, but their cries couldn't undo Jiraiya's decision. Nagato, however, gazed curiously at Raiden.

Raiden's distinctive hair and impressive strength intrigued Nagato. From their earlier encounter, he clearly saw the vast gap between their abilities.

"Stop shouting, Yahiko, Konan," Raiden said. "Even if you yell until your voices are gone, no one will help you. Since I'm in charge now, prepare yourselves."

"But before we begin, I need to assess your current capabilities. Come at me with your strongest moves!"

Yahiko, resigned to the situation, adjusted his mindset. "Alright, I'm counting on you two for support!" he shouted, grabbing a kunai and charging at Raiden.

"Just physical attacks? Is their training too short to develop other skills?" Raiden wondered as he effortlessly dodged Yahiko's strikes.

Meanwhile, Nagato formed seals, and the water at Raiden's feet rose, twisting toward his ankles.

"Water Release: Binding Water Rope!"

"Hmm, dual attributes already? This kid's talent is impressive," Raiden thought. Using his blade, Sakegari no Tachi, he disrupted the water jutsu with a spark of lightning.

Before Nagato could react, Raiden appeared before him, gripping his wrist. Konan launched kunai to support Nagato, forcing Raiden to release him and retreat.

"The coordination is decent," Raiden remarked. "How long have you been training as ninja?"

"Five months," Yahiko replied.

Raiden nodded, his gaze lingering on Nagato. "Only five months, yet this kid's ninjutsu talent is remarkable. Dual attributes already… Jiraiya must have focused on him."

"Alright, I understand your level now. I'll separate your training," Raiden announced. "Nagato, your ninjutsu talent stands out. While I don't possess fire or water chakra, I'll help you refine your chakra control."

"Yahiko and Konan, your ninjutsu isn't as strong. We'll focus on taijutsu—every ninja's foundation. For techniques, Jiraiya will guide you later. For now, let's build the basics."

Raiden glanced toward the forest, knowing Jiraiya was watching. Seeing no objection, he continued.

Raiden created shadow clones to train Yahiko and Konan separately, tailoring the intensity to their needs. Yahiko's training focused on endurance and strength, while Konan's was gentler but methodical.

Once Yahiko and Konan left with the clones, Raiden led Nagato to a wooden house. There, he placed a scroll on the table.

"Let's start by practicing chakra storage," Raiden said, demonstrating how to channel chakra into the scroll to store a kunai.

Nagato's excitement turned to embarrassment as his first attempt failed, causing the scroll to catch fire.

Raiden chuckled. "You're overloading it with chakra. Your fire attribute is strong, so control the amount. Try again."

With Raiden's guidance, Nagato slowly improved. Each small success filled him with determination.

In the forest, Jiraiya relaxed, observing Raiden's progress. Trusting his junior, he started drafting notes in a small notebook.

However, deeper in the woods, Yahiko faced a dire situation.

"Decide, kid!" a middle-aged man growled, pressing Konan into the mud. Rain soaked her clothes as a kunai hovered near her neck.

"Your life or hers? Choose!"

Yahiko trembled, his resolve tested.

(End of Chapter)

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