Naruto: Maelstrom Of The Uzumaki

Before Uzumaki Kushina even reached the door, her voice rang through the courtyard, echoing with excitement. Having successfully passed her school graduation exam, she was bursting with joy, eager to share the news with her family.

"I succeeded! Raiden, Grandma, Tsunade-san, I succeeded!" Her shout was deafening, but when no response came, she raised her voice even louder.

"Hello?!"

Just as Kushina thought the house was empty, a noise came from the dojo. Curious, she dashed toward the sound.

Rip!

The door to the dojo flew open as Kushina pulled it with force. Before she could process what was happening, a figure hurtled out of the dojo, landing with a heavy thud in the courtyard.

"Ah!"

"What was that?!" Kushina blinked, bewildered, but soon realized the figure was her younger brother, Raiden. He lay flat on his back in a small crater in the yard, the impact compressing the grass beneath him.

"Raiden? What happened to you? Are you okay?" Kushina's heart leapt with worry as she ran toward him.

"Ugh…"

Raiden groaned, brushing dirt off his clothes as he climbed out of the shallow pit. Small clumps of earth fell from his body as he stood, visibly shaken but otherwise unhurt.

"Grandma's training is a little… intense," he muttered, rolling his shoulder. Then, with a wry smile, he added, "I'm fine, Sis. I heard you yelling—did you pass the exam?"

Before Kushina could answer, Uzumaki Mito stepped out of the dojo. Despite clearly training Raiden moments ago, Mito looked as composed as ever. Her long dress was pristine, and not a single trace of sweat betrayed the intensity of their session.

"Ah, Kushina's back," Mito greeted, her stern expression softening into a warm smile. "Did you pass the exam?"

"Of course I passed!" Kushina beamed as Mito patted her head, squatting slightly to meet her gaze. She reached out to Raiden, gesturing for him to approach.

"Raiden," Mito began as he stepped forward, "your chakra control needs work. You wasted far too much during the sparring session earlier. That kind of habit won't serve you well in a real battle."

Placing her hand on Raiden's chest, Mito released a soft green glow, her chakra flowing gently to heal his scratches and bruises. Raiden nodded, absorbing her advice before turning his attention back to Kushina.

"Sis, can I see your forehead protector? Did you get it?" he asked excitedly, his weariness forgotten.

Kushina grinned and reached into her pocket. "Of course! Here, take a look!"

She handed him the forehead protector, and Raiden held it reverently, staring at the symbol of Konoha etched into the metal plate.

"So this is a forehead protector," he murmured, his mind racing with thoughts. He imagined wielding it alongside a cloak adorned with red clouds, the epitome of a shinobi's mystique.

As his imagination ran wild, Mito clapped her hands. "Now that you're home, it's time to celebrate. It's not only your birthday but also the day you officially became a ninja. I've prepared a feast for the occasion!"

At the mention of food, Raiden's fantasies vanished, and he eagerly followed Mito and Kushina to the dining area, his stomach rumbling in anticipation.

The dinner celebration was lively. The table was filled with delicious dishes prepared by their nanny, and even Tsunade had made time to join. Everyone enjoyed themselves thoroughly, but after the meal, Raiden quietly slipped away to the study.

In the dimly lit secret room, he pored over scrolls of Uzumaki sealing techniques, his concentration unbroken. Unlike other children his age, Raiden had the patience and discipline of someone much older, a trait born from his mature mindset. While others played, he dedicated himself to mastering the arts that would make him stronger.

Tsunade lay sprawled on a tatami mat, picking her teeth with a bamboo stick. "That kid really has a knack for sealing techniques," she remarked, glancing at Kushina, who was meditating nearby.

"Yeah, he's always been passionate about ninjutsu for some reason," Kushina replied without opening her eyes.

"Strange kid," Tsunade muttered, standing up and stretching. "Anyway, I'm off to bed. Don't stay up too late."

"Good night," Kushina said sweetly, watching Tsunade leave.

Meanwhile, Raiden remained in the study, deep in thought.

"I've hit a bottleneck with sealing techniques. If I want to improve quickly, I can't focus on just one path," he mused. "Taijutsu training with Grandma is helping, but I need to test myself against others to gauge my progress."

As the village fell into silence, Raiden dozed off at his desk, the scrolls still open in front of him.

Under the moonlight, a shadowy figure leaped silently across rooftops, moving with purpose. It landed softly in the Uzumaki family courtyard, its familiarity with the terrain evident. The intruder quickly reached Kushina's room, slipping inside without a sound.

"Here," the figure whispered, a deep male voice breaking the silence.

Before Kushina could react, the man subdued her with a swift blow, rendering her unconscious.

However, at the same moment, Raiden stirred in the study. His heightened sensory abilities alerted him to the intruder's presence. To Raiden's mind's eye, the enemy was as conspicuous as the moon in the night sky.

"An intruder?" Raiden's eyes snapped open, his senses locking onto the faint chakra signature leaving Kushina's room.

Without hesitation, he bolted toward her room, but halfway there, he stopped. A realization struck him, and instead of continuing to Kushina's room, he turned toward Mito's quarters.

"Grandma Mito! Kushina has been kidnapped!" Raiden cried as he flung open the door.

The room was empty. The futon was neatly arranged, and there was no sign of Mito.

"She's not here? That's impossible!" Raiden stared in disbelief before quickly leaping to the roof. Using his chakra to enhance his speed, he followed the enemy's trail.

Raiden's small frame darted across the rooftops, a faint trail of lightning sparking around him. His speed was remarkable for his age, and soon he caught up to the enemy's group.

His sensory field revealed four figures, one of whom was carrying Kushina. Raiden's sharp eyes recognized the leader—the envoy from Cloud Village who had visited the ninja school earlier that day.

"So it's you," Raiden muttered, stopping a safe distance away. He knew he couldn't confront them head-on. Instead, he followed stealthily, leaving subtle marks along the way to guide potential rescuers.

"This feels familiar," Raiden thought, his mind racing. "This is like what happened in the original timeline. How was it resolved back then?"

As the kidnappers regrouped to plan their escape, Raiden considered the situation. The ease with which they bypassed Mito's barriers and the suspicious timing of Mito's absence raised too many questions.

"Could the Third Hokage be involved?" A chilling thought crossed his mind.

Before he could dwell further, the kidnappers resumed their flight, heading toward the village gates. Raiden prepared to pursue, but just as he stepped forward, a firm grip stopped him.

"Who?!" Raiden spun around, lashing out instinctively with a kick.

Clack!

The strike was blocked effortlessly. Raiden rolled forward, putting distance between himself and his opponent. When he turned to see who had stopped him, his eyes widened in shock.

"Grandma Mito?! It's you!"

(End of Chapter)

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