Naruto: Maelstrom Of The Uzumaki

After Namikaze Minato and the others left, Uzumaki Raiden's life became regular yet monotonous.

The task of training Nagato and the others fell entirely on Raiden. His teaching approach, however, was straightforward—he focused on shaping their ideologies and strengthening their combat training. For taijutsu and ninjutsu, Raiden taught only the basics, emphasizing application techniques for taijutsu while avoiding advanced ninjutsu entirely.

For Nagato, Raiden introduced perception barriers and storage seals but refrained from teaching him any advanced jutsu. He kept the Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques a closely guarded secret, never mentioning them to Nagato.

During his free time, Raiden hired carpenters from a nearby town to construct a small wooden house next to Jiraiya's. The modest ten-square-meter structure served as his residence and practice area. He also reinforced the house with protective barriers, not only to ward off intruders but also to prevent spying. His excuse to Jiraiya? It was to prevent the Nine-Tails from running amok.

Time Marches On

A year and a half passed.

Winter descended on the Land of Rain, transforming its usual torrential downpours into icy storms. The biting winds cut like knives, and arrows of snow blanketed the landscape.

Outside his wooden house, Raiden stood in the snow, practicing with his blade, Sakegari no Tachi. Snowflakes dissipated before touching him, repelled by the intense chakra radiating from his body. The ground surrounding him remained dry, a stark contrast to the silver-white world around him.

The sword emitted a strange purple lightning as Raiden swung it methodically. Each swing was a display of immense precision and speed, though the blade returned to its original position so quickly it seemed as if it hadn't moved at all.

"It's finally complete," Raiden muttered, wiping the sweat from his forehead. He held the blade before him, admiring its craftsmanship and the way it resonated with his chakra.

At ten years old, Raiden had reached a level of physical prowess and chakra control that surpassed many seasoned jonin. Standing at 154 cm, his mature demeanor and skill made him seem far older than his age.

A Relentless Pursuit

Raiden's dedication to training extended to his research into the Flying Thunder God Technique. The technique, which he painstakingly copied from memory, remained an elusive goal.

Sitting at his desk, Raiden sighed as he stared at the intricate runes of the scroll. "Years of effort, and I've barely made any progress. Do I lack the talent for this?"

Even Minato, a prodigy, had admitted during his last visit that mastering the technique was an arduous process. On that visit, however, Minato demonstrated the completed Rasengan, a technique inspired by Raiden's suggestion.

Raiden learned the Rasengan out of courtesy but didn't consider it essential to his fighting style. While the attack was powerful, his reliance on the Sakegari no Tachi and lightning-based ninjutsu made the Rasengan less relevant for him.

A Knock at the Door

Lost in his thoughts, Raiden was interrupted by a knock at the door.

"Uncle Raiden, Jiraiya-sensei asked me to call you for dinner," Nagato's voice called from outside.

Raiden put away his scrolls and followed Nagato to Jiraiya's wooden house.

On the way, Raiden asked casually, "Did Jiraiya teach you anything new recently?"

Nagato shook his head. "No, I'm still struggling with the Fire Dragon Bullet technique he taught me. I'm not ready for new techniques yet."

Raiden nodded as they reached the house. Without ceremony, they opened the door and stepped inside.

"Oh, you're here. Sit down and eat," Jiraiya greeted them with a smile.

Dreams of the Future

As the group ate, Jiraiya turned to Raiden. "You've been cooped up in that little house of yours for too long. Don't you ever want to go out and explore?"

"What's there to see?" Raiden replied nonchalantly. "No matter how developed the Land of Rain is, it'll never compare to Konoha. A war-torn country like this doesn't have much to offer."

His words stung Yahiko and Konan, who exchanged disappointed glances. Nagato, noticing their reaction, also fell silent.

Raiden sighed. "The Land of Rain isn't worth visiting now. Its future, though… that's uncertain. It's up to your generation to shape it."

Yahiko's face lit up with determination. "Uncle Raiden, the Land of Rain will become a country worth visiting. I promise!"

Raiden chuckled dryly. "Big words. Changing a country isn't done with speeches. With your current abilities, surviving the battlefield is a challenge, let alone transforming a nation."

Unfazed, Yahiko placed a hand on Nagato's shoulder. "I may not be able to do it, but I believe in Nagato. Together, we'll make it happen."

Raiden said nothing, silently admiring Yahiko's unwavering resolve.

A Stroll in the Snow

After dinner, Jiraiya invited Raiden for a walk. The snow had lessened, leaving a thin blanket on the ground.

As they strolled, Jiraiya hesitated before finally saying, "I remember you asking about Sage Mode some time ago."

Raiden's ears perked up. "Are you finally going to teach me?"

"Not quite," Jiraiya admitted. "You're still not ready for Sage Mode, but there's someone who wants to meet you."

"Who?"

"The Great Toad Sage of Mount Myoboku."

Raiden raised an eyebrow. "The Great Toad Sage? Why would it want to meet me?"

Jiraiya scratched his head. "I mentioned you during a conversation, and it got curious. That's all I know."

Raiden fell silent, his mind racing. The Great Toad Sage's visions were known to transcend time, and its interest in him could only mean it had seen something significant.

"Fine," Raiden said after a moment. "When do we leave?"

"Now!" Jiraiya grinned, performing the Reverse Summoning Technique.

In an instant, both of them vanished, leaving the snow-covered landscape behind.

(End of Chapter)

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