Naruto: Maelstrom Of The Uzumaki

The violent thunder chakra swept across the entire training ground like a hurricane, spreading in all directions. Even the Anbu secretly monitoring the Third Hokage were affected. Forced to leap from their positions in the trees, they used the trunks to shield themselves from the sudden storm.

"What's going on? Has Lord Hokage been attacked?" asked a ninja in a fox mask, his voice deep and steady.

"No, Hokage-sama is fine. This was caused by Uzumaki Raiden's technique. It was... an accident," replied another Anbu wearing a mask resembling a skull, his pale eyes gleaming under the cover.

"Understood. Continue observing. I'll secure other areas. This disturbance is bound to attract attention."

The fox-masked Anbu disappeared, leaving his companion to monitor the situation alone.

The chakra storm that had engulfed the training ground gradually subsided. Sarutobi Hiruzen rushed toward Raiden's last known position, anxiously watching the smoke begin to clear. Today was Raiden's first day training under his guidance—if something were to happen to him, how could he face Uzumaki Mito?

As the smoke thinned, Hiruzen caught sight of Raiden's red hair through the haze, his sharp eyes also noting the flickering thunder chakra surrounding the boy.

"Raiden, are you okay?" Hiruzen asked urgently. At the same time, Kushina, Minato, and Shinnosuke hurried over, their faces filled with worry.

This wasn't the first time something like this had happened. When Raiden trained at the dojo, it wasn't uncommon for equipment to be destroyed, though Raiden himself was always unharmed.

The smoke finally cleared, fully revealing Raiden's figure. His red hair danced in the dissipating chakra, a calm expression on his face.

"I'm fine," Raiden replied calmly, shaking his head. As his words fell, the residual chakra around his body began to fade.

"I didn't expect you to be so reckless," Hiruzen scolded gently. "Such a complex jutsu must be learned in stages—first mastering the seals, then learning to channel chakra. Mistakes in chakra control during the seals could have unpredictable consequences. Do you realize what you did wrong?"

Relieved that Raiden was unharmed, Hiruzen allowed himself a sigh of relief but continued his stern lecture. Raiden's reckless approach reminded him of when Jiraiya had attempted a summoning jutsu before fully understanding the technique. Luckily, Jiraiya's summons had led him to Mount Myoboku rather than something disastrous.

"Sorry, Sarutobi-sensei," Raiden said, his tone apologetic. "I haven't learned much ninjutsu before and got carried away trying something new."

Despite his apology, Raiden couldn't help but reflect on the unexpected outcome. The indiscriminate, large-scale burst of chakra he'd produced was surprisingly effective. It reminded him of certain abilities from his past life, albeit with greater range and power.

"It's good that you understand. Now, let's follow the proper steps and master this technique gradually," Hiruzen instructed, his gaze softening. Still, his impression of Raiden had changed significantly. He had heard from Mito about the boy's talent, but Raiden's rapid mastery of the Lightning Pillar and his near-success with the Thunder Dragon surpassed all expectations.

For the rest of the afternoon, Raiden's training returned to a steady pace. He asked thoughtful questions about the Thunder Dragon technique and chakra control, and Hiruzen, a veritable encyclopedia of ninjutsu, answered patiently and thoroughly, leaving nothing unexplained.

As Raiden's practice progressed, his improvement became evident. The three spectators—Kushina, Minato, and Shinnosuke—left halfway through, leaving the training ground to Raiden and the Third Hokage. Explosions and flashes of light punctuated their session as the sun began to dip toward the horizon, casting the sky in shades of red and gold.

"Lightning Style: Thunder Dragon!" Raiden roared as he completed the sequence of seals. A dazzling purple lightning dragon materialized, swirling through the air before diving toward the training ground. A violent shockwave followed, scattering sand and rocks and enveloping both Raiden and the Third Hokage.

"Success!" Hiruzen exclaimed, using his body to shield Raiden from the flying debris. Behind him, Raiden peeked out excitedly, watching the storm subside. The training ground was now marked with fresh scars, the air still thick with the scent of ozone and faintly glowing purple lightning flickering in the cracks.

"I can't believe it. You really succeeded!" Hiruzen muttered, staring at the aftermath in disbelief. From the start of the lesson to Raiden's successful execution of the technique, only four hours had passed. Even factoring in breaks and explanations, Raiden had mastered a complex B-rank jutsu in just under three hours.

"Finally, I've learned a cool ninjutsu!" Raiden beamed, his small face alight with excitement. Ever since arriving in this world, he had dreamed of learning flashy, powerful techniques. While sealing techniques were undeniably practical and strong, they lacked the dramatic flair Raiden had always imagined.

Hiruzen watched the boy's excitement with a warm smile. The sight reminded him of the days when he had taught Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade—the peaceful days of Konoha under the Second Hokage's watchful eye, when his only concern was nurturing the talents of his students. Compared to the current burdens of war and maintaining balance among Konoha's clans, those memories felt almost dreamlike.

Lost in nostalgia, Hiruzen gently hugged Raiden and said softly, "Raiden, you truly are a genius. I will teach you everything I know and help you become an exceptional ninja."

Raiden was caught off guard by the unexpected gesture, but he felt the sincerity in Hiruzen's words and the warmth of his chakra. It was a rare moment of connection that reminded him of the kindness he'd felt from Mito, Kushina, and Tsunade.

"Thank you, Sarutobi-sensei. I promise I'll work hard," Raiden replied earnestly.

That night, after a long day of training, Raiden returned home exhausted. After a quick dinner with Mito and Kushina, he showered and went straight to bed. As moonlight streamed through his window, faint murmurs of "Thunder Dragon, Thunder Dragon…" could be heard as he drifted into a deep sleep.

Meanwhile, at the Hokage Building, the night was far from over. The first-floor communication room buzzed with activity as ninjas returned to the village with urgent reports. On the second floor, Hiruzen sat in his office, frowning as he listened to an Anbu report.

"Hokage-sama, the situation in the Land of Rain is critical. Captain Mitokado Homura requests reinforcements."

Hiruzen took a deep drag from his pipe, his face clouded with concern. "Haven't we already sent reserves? How could it have deteriorated so quickly?"

The Anbu hesitated before explaining. "The leader of the Rain, Hanzo, has aligned with the Land of Earth. Ame forces have turned against us, sabotaging supply lines and attacking our occupied areas. Several key battlefields have been lost, and we're severely short on manpower."

Hiruzen's frown deepened. He dismissed the Anbu with a wave and slumped back into his chair. The dire news weighed heavily on him.

The following morning, Raiden awoke early and began his usual exercises in the yard. After finishing, he noticed Kushina returning home, her face pale and her eyes heavy with dark circles.

"Sis, where were you so early?" he asked, concerned.

"Emergency summons from Hokage-sama. Almost all the Genin and Chunin were called in last night," she explained, her exhaustion evident.

"What for?" Raiden asked curiously.

"To prepare for deployment to the battlefield," Kushina replied, her voice tinged with fatigue. "I've been assigned to the hospital."

Raiden's expression darkened as he processed her words. The reality of the war was hitting closer to home. With a heavy heart, he left for school, sensing an ominous storm brewing.

As he walked, the streets of Konoha buzzed with tension. Conversations of war filled the air, and Raiden passed by a familiar barbecue restaurant where a woman's angry voice rang out:

"They're sending 13-year-old children to the battlefield? What is the Hokage thinking?!"

Raiden sighed deeply and continued on his way, his mood heavy. The war has reached this point…

(End of Chapter)

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