Kushina had fallen into a deep sleep, her body curled protectively around Raiden, her hands holding him tightly even in slumber.
Raiden, wide awake and brimming with energy, found himself helplessly lying in her embrace. Unable to open his eyes, he turned his attention inward, examining his body and the strange phenomena he had been experiencing since arriving in this world.
It was the second day since his transmigration, and Raiden was still adjusting to the realization that he had become a baby—and not just any baby, but Uzumaki Kushina's younger brother. That much had been clear from the start. What amazed him was his newfound ability to sense chakra flowing within his tiny body.
Looking inward, Raiden could clearly see the outline of his infant form. Blue chakra coursed rapidly through his meridians, a sight that left him both astonished and intrigued. Unlike the previous day, his inner world now included a hazy outline of Kushina, whose presence seemed to envelop him. The surrounding environment also came into view, appearing gray yet vividly detailed, with trees and shrubs reflecting clearly in his mind.
"About five meters," Raiden estimated, gauging the range of his perception. He wasn't sure if it was impressive for someone in his condition, but given that he was a newborn, it felt like a good start.
"If this is the Naruto world, then this must be an innate Uzumaki ability," Raiden thought. "I think it's called Kagura's Mind's Eye. I'll just call it Mind's Eye for now. Hopefully, the range expands—it's a bit narrow at the moment."
Reflecting on his circumstances, Raiden felt a glimmer of hope. "I'm just a baby, and I already have this ability. That's gotta mean I'm talented, right? Maybe even a genius?"
He pondered the harsh realities of this world. Without exceptional talent, survival was uncertain. Even with a strong background, life could be precarious. Nawaki, the grandson of the First Hokage, had perished despite his lineage and the protection of Orochimaru. Similarly, Uchiha Obito endured catastrophic losses, despite his Uchiha heritage and mentorship under the Fourth Hokage.
"If you lack talent, background, or luck in this world, you're doomed unless you're a tech genius," Raiden mused. "And let's face it—I'm no scientist. But at least I seem to have decent potential."
As he delved deeper into his thoughts, a sudden sensation jolted him. Arcs of electricity sparked through his meridians, sending a tingling numbness throughout his body.
"Wait, do I have a golden finger after all?" The realization brought him immense relief. With a contented sigh, Raiden drifted into a deep, comfortable sleep.
"Hahahaha! What a find!"
A middle-aged man's voice jolted Kushina from her sleep. Startled, she jumped to her feet, clutching Raiden tightly. Moments later, the bush they had been hiding in was shredded by a sharp Wind Release technique, scattering leaves and debris through the air.
Kushina stared at the masked man standing nearby, spinning a kunai casually in his hand. His eyes glinted with amusement as he regarded her.
Without hesitation, Kushina turned and started running, but she had barely taken two steps before a kunai grazed her calf, leaving a deep cut. Pain shot through her leg, and she stumbled, falling to the ground. Even as she fell, she twisted her body to shield Raiden, ensuring he wouldn't be harmed.
"It's no use. Be obedient and come with me—you'll suffer less," the masked man taunted, drawing another kunai. He twirled it lazily before advancing toward her.
"We only need one Uzumaki," he sneered, his voice turning cold as he hurled the kunai straight at Raiden.
"Seriously? So that's why Kushina's little brother was never mentioned in the anime?" Raiden thought, dread washing over him.
As the kunai closed in, fear consumed him. Suddenly, a faint arc of electricity flickered in front of him, altering the kunai's trajectory. The blade veered off course, embedding itself harmlessly in the ground near Kushina's leg.
The masked man froze, his gaze snapping to the kunai. "Who's there?" he demanded, his tone wary. He hadn't missed the external force that had interfered. Standing his ground, he scanned his surroundings, but there was no visible threat.
Raiden, meanwhile, felt a wave of exhaustion crash over him. The sudden burst of chakra that had diverted the kunai left his body drained. Darkness enveloped his consciousness, and he fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
The masked man barely had time to react before serpentine figures erupted from the shadows, coiling around his body and tightening with lethal force. He let out a strangled cry as blood seeped from between the constricting snakes.
"You're too late!" he managed to choke out before succumbing to the attack.
A figure stepped into view—Tsunade. She knelt beside Kushina, her gentle hand brushing the girl's cheek. The warmth of her touch and the familiar Konoha forehead protector calmed Kushina, who slumped to the ground in relief, clutching Raiden tightly.
"Hey!" Jiraiya appeared moments later, glancing at Kushina with curiosity. "So this is one of the Uzumaki clan, huh? She's just a kid."
"Tsunade, are there any enemies nearby?" Orochimaru's voice was low and raspy as he emerged from the shadows. He bent to retrieve the kunai Kushina had dropped, wiping away the faint seal that adorned it.
"No," Jiraiya replied, his expression unusually serious. "The previous battle site is the only trace left. For now, we need to get these two back to Konoha. Tracking the enemy can wait."
Orochimaru nodded silently, though his gaze lingered on the kunai Raiden had redirected. Despite the faint crackle of residual lightning chakra, he dismissed the phenomenon as Kushina's doing. "Such power at her age," he murmured to himself. "As expected of the Uzumaki clan."
(End of Chapter)
>>>>>>>
Please leave PowerStones and Reviews if you're enjoying the story
Read up to Chapter 50 ahead on [Patreon.com/ggfanfiction]
For every 100 PowerStones I'll post an extra Chapter