Naruto: Maelstrom Of The Uzumaki

The shouts outside the dojo made Tsunade's once-smiling face darken, and even Mito's expression turned sour. This grandson of hers was truly a source of worry.

Moments later, the dojo door opened, revealing an eleven or twelve-year-old boy. His black hair, slightly brown under the sunlight, framed a bright face. A Konoha forehead protector rested on his head. At just 155 cm tall, he was short even among his peers.

"Nawaki! Instead of training properly, where have you been?" Tsunade asked sternly, her displeasure evident. Hearing her brother yelling about going to the battlefield had already soured her mood, and Raiden's maturity moments earlier only made her more dissatisfied with her younger sibling.

"Oh! I was practicing with Shinnosuke," Nawaki replied with a cheerful grin. "When I heard you were back in the village, I came straight home!"

Nawaki's carefree demeanor, so similar to Naruto Uzumaki's, showed no awareness of Tsunade's growing irritation. He continued, his voice filled with excitement, "Sister! The battlefield in the Land of Rain must be incredible. Next time you head there, take me with you!"

At the mention of the battlefield, a spark of exhilaration lit up Nawaki's eyes.

Raiden Steps In

Before Tsunade could explode, Raiden spoke up from the side, his tone inquisitive yet calm. "Brother Nawaki, why do you want to go to the battlefield?"

"Oh! Raiden, you're not in the study?" Nawaki greeted him warmly, clearly surprised. To him, Raiden was a bookworm who loved burying himself in the study after class.

Without waiting for Raiden to respond, Nawaki declared confidently, "Why do I want to go to the battlefield? To become Hokage, of course! How else can I achieve greatness without earning battle merits?"

His answer was instantaneous, showing how deeply the idea of becoming Hokage was ingrained in him. Like Naruto in the future, Nawaki's desire to become Hokage had become his mantra.

The Conversation

"Become Hokage?" Raiden continued, his tone curious. "Why do you want to become Hokage, Brother Nawaki?"

"To become a great Hokage like our grandfather and restore the glory of the Senju Clan!" Nawaki proclaimed passionately, a glimmer of nostalgia in his eyes as he envisioned himself standing tall like Hashirama Senju.

"Brother Nawaki, do you mean to say that military exploits are a prerequisite for becoming Hokage? Is that why you're eager to join the battlefield?" Raiden's expression turned playful, though his words carried a sharper edge.

"Of course! What's the problem?" Nawaki replied, now slightly confused by Raiden's pointed questioning.

Raiden's innocent facade didn't waver, but his words came down like a hammer. "No problem, really. But, Brother Nawaki, what kind of achievements do you expect to make on the battlefield with your current strength? Lord Hashirama and Lord Tobirama ended the Warring States Period, and the Third Hokage played a pivotal role in the First Great Ninja War. Can you claim to possess their strength or influence?"

"Right now, you're not even a Chunin. Shouldn't you focus on completing C-rank missions and improving your abilities? Isn't it more appropriate for experienced ninjas to handle the battlefield?"

Though Raiden's tone remained light, his words delivered a crushing reality check. He genuinely couldn't understand why someone like Nawaki, with little experience and ability, would be so eager to march into war.

Tsunade Steps In

"Raiden is right," Tsunade chimed in, her voice firm. "With your tiny arms and legs, what difference do you think you'll make on the battlefield? The whole reason Grandpa created Konoha was so kids like you wouldn't have to fight in wars."

Her tone softened slightly. "If you truly want to become Hokage, your first priority should be improving your strength. Once you become a Chunin, there'll be more opportunities to prove yourself. For now, stay in the village and train."

Tsunade's support for Nawaki's Hokage dream had waned since experiencing the horrors of war firsthand. She now understood the vast difference between idealism and reality, and her brother's naivety deeply concerned her.

Nawaki's Stubbornness

"But Shinnosuke and I already made a pact! We're going to compete to see who earns more merit on the battlefield!" Nawaki protested excitedly, oblivious to his sister's rising anger.

Hearing Shinnosuke's name, Raiden sighed inwardly. "Dragged someone else into his nonsense, huh? This kid's got a death wish."

Shinnosuke Sarutobi, the eldest son of the Third Hokage, was already a Chunin and had been assigned logistics duties on the battlefield. Compared to Nawaki, Shinnosuke had a semblance of maturity, but his influence had clearly emboldened Nawaki's recklessness.

"That's enough!" Tsunade barked, punching Nawaki lightly on the head. He yelped in pain but knew better than to argue further in her presence.

A Tense Meal

Mito stepped in, her calm presence diffusing the tension. "Come now, let's have lunch," she said gently, rubbing Nawaki's head. Relieved to escape Tsunade's wrath, Nawaki made a face and darted out of the dojo, leaving Tsunade fuming.

"This kid," she muttered. "One day, I'll teach him a proper lesson."

Mito, however, remained confident. "Don't worry, Tsunade. I've already spoken with the Hokage. Nawaki won't be sent to the battlefield anytime soon."

Despite her reassurances, Raiden felt uneasy. Nawaki's eventual fate was a cautionary tale written in tragedy. Though not sent to the frontline initially, Nawaki later joined the battlefield under Orochimaru's command, only to die in an ambush.

"It would be great if Nawaki could be as steady as Raiden," Tsunade sighed.

"Sister Tsunade," Raiden said softly, "everyone has their own personality. Honestly, I wish I were as lively as Brother Nawaki."

A New Training Plan

The lunch ended on a subdued note. Tsunade and Kushina left the house on errands, and Mito retired to her room, leaving Raiden to his thoughts.

Walking through Konoha's bustling streets, Raiden began to reflect on his training direction.

"Physical training can't be neglected—it's the foundation of everything. With my chakra still growing, maintaining a strong body will increase my potential."

He considered his progress in sealing techniques. Over the past two years, he had mastered numerous B- and C-rank techniques and even some A-rank ones. The Yin Seal, an S-rank technique, stood as his crowning achievement.

"It's time to focus on combat power. The war is escalating, and soon, even kids my age might be forced to fight. I need to master at least one or two powerful offensive jutsu."

A Spark of Inspiration

As he passed a dango shop, Raiden noticed a white-haired man exiting with a pregnant woman. Recognizing him instantly, Raiden's eyes lit up.

"Hatake Sakumo! The White Fang of Konoha."

The sight of Sakumo reminded Raiden of a technique suited to his abilities: Chidori.

"This is perfect," Raiden thought. "Chidori's explosive power could be a game-changer for me. But how do I recreate it?"

He decided to find a secluded training ground to experiment, setting up a barrier to ensure privacy.

First Attempts

"Chidori should be similar to Rasengan. Rasengan relies on shape transformation, while Chidori focuses on the nature transformation of lightning chakra," Raiden mused.

He channeled lightning chakra into his hand, creating a faint glow of crackling energy. Feeling encouraged, he mimicked the stance of the Third Raikage, aiming a focused strike at a nearby boulder.

Thud!

The boulder remained unscathed.

"Ahhh!" Raiden cried, clutching his hand as sharp pain radiated through his fingers. He dropped to the ground, rolling in agony.

"Damn it!" he cursed, grimacing. "This is going to take more work than I thought."

(End of Chapter)

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