Naruto: Maelstrom Of The Uzumaki

Mount Myoboku

The training grounds of Mount Myoboku stretched endlessly, with towering rock peaks surrounding the area. On the pinnacle of one such peak sat a young man, cross-legged on a smooth stone slab. His long red hair flowed freely in the wind, and the eerie purple diamond-shaped mark on his forehead glistened in the sunlight.

Uzumaki Raiden sat in the Vajra lotus position, his upper body bare and his black shorts swaying lightly in the breeze. His hands rested loosely on his lap in a meditative mudra.

"Natural energy is indeed difficult to master," he muttered, opening his eyes slowly. "But its power… it's unparalleled."

Negotiating with the Nine-Tails

Raiden closed his eyes again and delved into his inner consciousness. Within the cage that restrained the Nine-Tails, the great beast lay, exuding its usual air of defiance and disdain.

"Nine-Lamas," Raiden began, addressing the Nine-Tails by its chosen name, "have you given my proposal any thought? It's a win-win. You help me channel Sage Chakra during battle, and I promise you freedom after a century. What do you say?"

"Hmph, foolish human. I refuse," growled the Nine-Tails, its fiery eyes glinting with irritation.

"Come on," Raiden pressed, leaning against the cage. "You're stuck here anyway. Why not put that power to use? You'll at least have something to do."

"I said no." The Nine-Tails huffed, releasing a burst of hot air from its nostrils. It turned its head away, shutting its eyes to end the conversation.

Raiden sighed and exited his mindscape. "Stubborn fox. Well, let me know when you change your mind."

Progress in Sage Mode

Raiden leapt down from the rock peak, effortlessly landing at its base where Sage Fukasaku stood waiting. The stone slab he had been meditating on crashed to the ground behind him.

"How long were you able to hold it this time?" Fukasaku asked, curiosity gleaming in his eyes.

"Four or five minutes," Raiden replied, stretching his arms. "The time to condense the chakra is still too long. Maybe I'm just not cut out for this."

Fukasaku chuckled. "Don't sell yourself short, boy. For someone with your chakra reserves, managing natural energy so quickly is already remarkable. And to top it off, you've avoided turning into a toad—something even Jiraiya struggles with."

Raiden gave a half-smile. "It's meaningless if I can't use it in actual combat."

As he spoke, Raiden extended his palm, allowing lightning to spark between his fingers. The clear sky above them darkened instantly, and thunder boomed. A massive dragon of lightning tore through the heavens, twisting and roaring before dissipating back into the clouds.

"Your technique is complete, isn't it?" Fukasaku asked, his expression solemn as he observed the spectacle.

"Yes," Raiden confirmed. "With Sage Chakra, summoning lightning from a clear sky is simple. But I still need to refine my use of natural forces."

Fukasaku nodded in approval. "So, are we continuing training today?"

Raiden shook his head. "No. I think I've hit a bottleneck. I've decided to return to Konoha. There's something I want to test, but I'll need to grow stronger first."

Preparing to Leave

Raiden donned his black robe, picked up his sword Tian Yu Yu Zhan, and began walking toward Frog Spring. Now thirteen years old, he had grown to an impressive height of 177 cm, his features sharp and mature.

Fukasaku followed behind him, deep in thought. "This child… If he isn't the Son of Prophecy, then who could possibly lead the changes we foresee?"

By the spring, Raiden created two shadow clones, instructing them to sit cross-legged and begin condensing Sage Chakra. He then filled a small red gourd with the oil from Frog Spring.

Fukasaku watched curiously. "What are you planning?"

Raiden smirked. "A workaround for Sage Mode's limitations. The shadow clones will channel Sage Chakra and send it back to me during battle. The oil? It absorbs natural energy on contact. If an enemy touches it without understanding Sage Mode, they'll turn into a frog statue."

Fukasaku sighed, shaking his head. "You're a clever one, but also a bit ruthless."

Raiden chuckled. "Only when I need to be."

After sealing the gourd and dispelling the clones, Raiden turned to Fukasaku. "Grandpa Fukasaku, thank you for everything. I'll visit when I can."

Fukasaku's expression softened. "Leaving so soon? You've grown a lot over these years. Be careful out there, boy."

Raiden nodded, gave Fukasaku a brief hug, and disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

Returning to Konoha

In April, the cherry blossoms were in full bloom.

Near a waterfall outside Konoha, a symbol glowed on the trunk of a cherry tree. With a light pop, a cloud of white smoke enveloped the area.

"Who's there?"

Four masked Anbu appeared on the walls surrounding Raiden's small garden, weapons drawn. They leapt into the courtyard, surrounding the smoke.

As the mist cleared, a tall figure emerged. Raiden's black robe billowed in the breeze, revealing his well-toned physique and fiery red hair. The Anbu tensed as his voice rang out, calm but commanding:

"I seem to remember… I told the old man that Anbu weren't allowed in my house without permission. Who sent you?"

The Anbu froze, recognizing him.

"You're… Uzumaki Raiden?"

(End of Chapter)

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