After Hiruzen's departure, Raijin sat cross-legged, his young mind calculating the path ahead. At the moment, Raijin had to learn Taijutsu and Ninjutsu first. Then he would stack up other jutsus related to Genjutsu, Kenjutsu, Fuinjutsu, Juinjutsu, Medical Ninjutsu, Kinjutsu, Senjutsu, and beyond.
'Since I am here, I might as well turn over every stone if that is what it takes to be powerful in this world.' His gaze drifted to his reflection in the window – a pale, underdeveloped body.
Raijin was a small and delicate-looking child. His body was smaller and frailer than others his age, and he lacked muscle mass.
'I have to get in shape first. Let's start with some push-ups.'
Raijin spread his fingers on the ground and engaged his upper body. He stretched his legs, pushing the feet on the floor apart from the hips, and engaged his core to form a straight line from his head to his ankles. With control, he bends his elbows to lower his entire body to the floor.
One…Tw..
After a single push-up, he was unable to do another.
Hah…
'Well, Shit.' he murmured, face pressed against the wooden floor. 'Even for a 4-year-old, I'm pathetically weak. But can intensive training at this age affect my growth? No, this is the shinobi world – children younger than me are already able to perform jutsus.'
Rising, he brushed off his clothes with as much dignity as he could muster. 'I won't just be cannon fodder when the storms come – the invasion, Pain's attack, the Fourth Shinobi War. I have foreknowledge, and that's an advantage I can't waste.'
"Taijutsu and Ninjustu are my priority at hand", Raijin breathed.
…
Next morning.
It was dark, still, and cold outside. His house had a small training ground. As he walked across it, he lit four lamps at each corner of the ground which were suspended in the air by a wire and a pole.
The training ground was about the size of a spacious backyard, roughly equivalent to half a basketball court. Seven meters wide and fourteen meters long, not too large, but still spacious enough to move around, perform physical movements, and set up training equipment like wooden dummies or practice obstacles. This space was suitable for simple ninja training, such as running drills, throwing kunai at targets, or performing chakra control exercises.
Raijin looked for fresh leaves, and sat cross-legged in the middle of the ground, placing a leaf against his forehead. This was Leaf concentration, a training method for chakra control. It involves concentrating a certain amount of chakra on the forehead to hold a leaf there without letting it fall.
To his surprise, the leaf stayed for thirteen minutes before fluttering away. 'Not terrible, but not nearly enough.'
He performed a series of basic stretches, warming up muscles that had never received proper training. Then came the running—three laps around the training ground before his lungs burned and his legs turned to water.
Breathing heavily, he collapsed onto his back, facing the star-filled sky while his heart thundered in his chest. Without allowing himself more than thirty seconds of rest, he returned to the leaf exercise.
After 13 minutes, he started doing front walking squats, straining his core and later tried incline pushups. Incline push-ups against a low wall proved slightly more manageable than regular ones.
He again sat on the ground for leaf concentration, holding a leaf for barely 14 minutes – a minimal improvement, but an improvement, nonetheless.
'Be it physical capability or chakra reserve, I am behind on all of these.' He pushed himself to his feet, voice ringing out in the quiet night.
"A MAN'S GOTTA DO WHAT A MAN'S GOTTA DO!!"
He cycled through the exercises again and again, allowing himself no more than two minutes of rest between sets. Only when his legs wouldn't support him, and his chakra felt like a stuttering engine did he finally drag himself to the shower.
After a good shower, he sat in his room and wondered what his dominant chakra affinity was. Chakra is an energy that flows in everyone, but when you add nature to chakra, it can change its nature to form jutsus. Chakra in its original state has no nature. It's just free-flowing energy and chakra affinities are a natural extension, universal to all. If you're skilled enough, you can access any chakra's nature.
'But that's getting ahead of myself,' he reasoned, running a hand through his damp hair. 'For now, increasing chakra and its control.' He recalled, "It was shown in manga that chakra reserve can be increased through constant control and straining. I must continue my leaf concentration till I am proficient enough."
'Well, practicing Rasengan is a goto for proficient chakra control, and an A-rank jutsu without worrying about chakra affinity. It is just a spherical compressed rotating chakra.'
'After I can hold a leaf for 2 hours, walk on a tree, and walk on water, then it comes to buying balloons to practice Rasengan.'
"That's enough for day one"
***
Sarutobi Clan Hall, 8 seats, 4 occupied.
In front of the four elders, the tea sat untouched, growing cold. The silence was disconcerting, fifteen minutes, and none of them had spoken a word.
Finally, Hiroshi Sarutobi spoke, "Shall we begin?"
"Hiruzen would be busy maintaining the village. So, I suggest that one of us work as Sarutobi Clan Leader in name..." Hiroshi voiced his concern.
Haruko Sarutobi interjected, "That is the least of our concerns. First, we must gather our current strength and begin to train the academy students who will handle the clan in future."
"The children need normalcy in the current situation. Many have lost their parents; we can't just force them to train in this weak mentality. It will backfire on their physical and mental state." Sohei Sarutobi replied.
Haruko Sarutobi scowled at him defiantly.
"Right now, Encouragement is essential for the children in the academy, Genin and Chūnin. It is our duty to protect, nurture, and encourage the future." Hiroshi Sarutobi added.
Tap…tap-tap…tap…tap-tap…tap…tap-tap…
Kastsuro Sarutobi rhythmically tapping his finger on the table straightened his back. The rhythmic tapping stopped after Hiroshi spoke, and then he asked, "We lost 3 elders in this attack. Should we appoint new elders or let the Clan Leader…Erm…Lord Hokage, to decide?"
"Hiruzen will appoint if deemed necessary." Hiroshi looked at Katsuro and replied. "First, we must comfort the surviving members of our clan. The loss of family members will affect the development of the clansman and the clan as a whole."
"But how do we do this? Individually or through a group" Elder Sohei asked.
"The children who lost their parents were comforted by Hiruzen. We must check the remaining clansmen and know if they are mentally sound." Elder Hiroshi replied.
"I thought we received the full funds from The Council to construct clan by the end of the morning." Katsuro with a frown added, "Have we not received the full funds yet?"
"Because of the Nine-Tail attack, half of the funds for the clans to recover have been cut. That is why we have less funds than discussed before." Hiroshi replied with a sour face.
Elder Sohei pondered the matter, remarking, "We might need to use the funds that have been saved away for years."
…
After some other discussions, they began to discuss compensation for the families who lost their members.
"Takeshi and Mikako had also contributed a lot to the Sarutobi Clan. How can we compensate their child?" Katsuro asked, skimming at the file of Sarutobi's clan members.
"Well, the child is… 3- no, 4 years old. I don't think money would fascinate the child." Hiroshi suggested.
"Then, how shall we proceed regarding the compensation for their child?" Sohei asked with concern.
"How about some training equipment for the kid? I mean, he's the only Sarutobi kid who will go to the academy after it re-opens." Haruko suggested with a spark in her eyes.
Hiroshi said wryly, "But, providing training equipment for a child who lost his parents is a bit…"
"His basic need would be fulfilled till he graduates academy and as he wasn't particularly interested in being assigned to a caretaker as per the Lord Hokage, we need to do something else," Katsuro said as he read Raijin's file.
"I will oversee this matter if you all agree. I will talk to the boy and see what he needs. If it's not something absurd, I think I can handle it." Haruko suggested with a glint in her eyes.
Sohei and Katsuro had already anticipated this. But Hiroshi asked, "How do you plan so?"
"This child will represent the Sarutobi Clan when he enrolls in the Academy after it reopens. Raijin is the next in line, and if he wishes I will train him to strengthen his foundation as he will be competing with other clan children." Haruko said with enthusiasm.
All of them reluctantly agreed to let her handle this matter with Raijin otherwise she would likely throw tantrums in their upcoming meetings.
"Don't go overboard with the kid Haruko. He just lost his parents and is mentally weak" Hiroshi looked at Haruko and said with a serious tone.
Haruko didn't reply and kept her silence.
***