Five years had passed since the day Raiden Uzumaki was born, and in that time, he had come to terms with the reality of his reincarnation. At first, it had been a dizzying experience—a constant battle between the infant mind that struggled to comprehend the world and the adult consciousness that was desperate to make sense of his new life. But over time, as he grew and learned to walk and speak, the clarity of his situation settled in.
He was in the Naruto world. More specifically, in the Uzumaki Clan village, surrounded by people who could wield immense power, masters of the fūinjutsu arts. Though this world was filled with wonder, Raiden knew the truth—he was in a dangerous place. This was not some fantasy where he could just coast along. He was part of a world where war was the norm, and even the strongest could be struck down by a single, well-timed attack. If he wanted to survive, he needed to become strong.
Early on, Raiden had tried to remember all the information he knew about the Naruto world. Unfortunately, most of what he knew centered around events far in the future, after Naruto's birth, with famous characters like Naruto, Sasuke, and Kakashi. Their stories and the world-shaping events they were part of wouldn't happen for decades. But more troubling than that, Raiden realized that his presence here—his very existence—could change things. Events might play out differently than what he remembered, and he couldn't rely on his knowledge of future battles or alliances with certainty.
With that unsettling thought, Raiden made a firm decision: he would train and gather information. Before he could think about influencing the world or ensuring his clan's survival, he needed to find out exactly where he was in the timeline. How far in the past was he compared to the formation of the great shinobi villages like Konoha? And, more importantly, how much time did he have before the great conflicts would emerge?
Training Begins
Raiden began with the simplest of training exercises: chakra control. He knew from the show that chakra control was essential for mastering advanced techniques, and he recalled the famous leaf concentration exercise, where shinobi had to stick a leaf to their forehead using their chakra. It seemed like the perfect place to start. As soon as he could walk, Raiden tried more advanced methods, like attempting to walk up trees by focusing his chakra into his feet.
But to his dismay, tree-walking was far beyond his current abilities. Despite his mental advantage as a reincarnated adult, his body was still that of a child. Only the leaf sticking exercise showed promising results, so he practiced that relentlessly. He found small moments of satisfaction whenever he succeeded, though it left him exhausted.
After each session, Raiden would sit and contemplate his progress. His chakra, he reasoned, must be immense—after all, he was an Uzumaki. The Uzumaki Clan was famous for its large chakra reserves, and Raiden could feel that well of energy bubbling beneath the surface, though he hadn't tapped into it fully yet.
While resting one day, his mind drifted, thinking of all the cool jutsu he might one day perform. He imagined himself summoning Rasengan like Minato or manipulating space with Kamui like Kakashi. The idea of being able to fly around on chakra like Madara or use Sage Mode filled him with giddy excitement. He imagined himself pulling off incredible techniques, with other shinobi in awe of his prowess. His lips stretched into a silly grin, and before he knew it, a small trail of drool escaped the corner of his mouth.
Suddenly, Raiden felt the gentle touch of a hand brushing his face. He blinked, snapping out of his daydream as his mother, Naomi, leaned over him, wiping the drool away with a cloth. She chuckled softly at the sight of her son's silly expression. "What are you thinking about, little one?" she asked, her tone warm and amused.
Caught off guard, Raiden quickly shifted, trying to hide his embarrassment. "Nothing, Mama," he muttered. "Just thinking about… something silly."
Naomi's smile widened, and without another word, she pulled him into a gentle hug, resting her chin atop his head. "Silly thoughts are good," she whispered. "They keep the heart light." She kissed his forehead softly, letting the warmth of the moment sink in.
Raiden leaned into her, his small hands gripping her sleeve as he basked in the affection. For all the danger in this world, moments like this reminded him why he was grateful to be here. He had a loving family—a family he would protect, no matter the cost.
After a moment, Naomi pulled away and stood up. "I'm going to speak with your father," she said gently, ruffling his hair before leaving the room.
Chakra and Training
Left alone again, Raiden's thoughts returned to his chakra and the importance of mastering it. He recalled that chakra was made up of two components: spiritual energy and physical energy. He could strengthen his chakra by increasing his physical capabilities—through exercise—and by refining his spiritual energy through activities like reading, creating seals, and even meditation. As a child, his physical training options were limited, but he knew he could begin developing his spiritual energy right away.
"Reading and sealing," Raiden whispered to himself, thinking of the massive Uzumaki library that likely held countless scrolls and books about fūinjutsu and chakra theory. That would be his next step—learning the theories behind chakra and sealing techniques, laying the groundwork for the power he sought.
His mind raced with possibilities, and a determined smile spread across his face. He wasn't in a rush; he had time to train, to grow stronger. The path to power had begun.