Chapter 2: First steps

I opened my eyes and found myself in a cradle. Almost totally blind.

I panicked for a moment but then I remembered I am but a baby. My eyes are probably not developed yet. Sigh.

In the background, I could hear various voices speaking in Japanese. Needless to say, I didn't know Japanese at all. Sigh.

My body was frail. I couldn't move. And I… Yeah. It's official. I just shat myself. Sigh.

Geez, I am mentally sighing a lot lately. Anyway, I did what most babies do in my situation. I cried. Loudly. And then as I heard someone approach my cradle I fell asleep.

Time flew by and my eyes got better, I could finally see the appearance of my mother and father. Still couldn't understand a jack-shit of what they tried to tell me and quite honestly the baby noises they made were annoying as heck but hey. I had no other entertainment than these adults. My father was quite a lanky, obviously not-trained but well-groomed noble-looking man in his thirties. My mother though! While I am not a fan of whistling and I can't do it even if I tried in my current state. I had an enormous urge to whistle. She was gorgeous!

Geez, not like that. Perverts. I am a freaking baby!

She had long pale blond hair, tanned skin, and piercing green eyes. And I am not sure but I would say she was a kunoichi. Why? Well, firstly she was a woman. Kinda obvious, right? A noblewoman at that. A noblewoman with a well-toned slim body filled with firm muscles. Secondly, she was the only person that I saw with such a disposition so far. At least the only visible person to me. I have no doubt the equivalents of Twelve guardian ninja are hidden somewhere around me 24/7 though. The nobles looked like wealthy civilians. My mother? Hah, you wouldn't get a body like that without intense training.

The deciding moment though was when she took me into her arms. She didn't hold me like my father or other servants. Their hold was filled with uncertainty and carefulness to not drop or harm me. She held me lovingly but firmly and confidently. And if even that wasn't proof enough that my mother was a former kunoichi then the bulky tanned mountain of muscles whose features are incredibly similar to my mother and is currently looking at me over her shoulder was a dead give-away. Yup. Looks like my mother is a sister of Third Raikage.

Now, that was quite the revelation. Yay for unexpected bonuses!

Anyway, 5 months of boredom later and my adult mind finally perfectly understood Japanese. Now, I could converse fluently but I am a baby, you know? In a world filled with ninja, spies, and traitors. So, I never uttered a word till now. During this time I also get to know my name. I was named Yotsuba Rei. I was a fair-skinned baby with a pale blond mop of hair on my head and piercing emerald eyes. Whelp. Looks like the only thing I got from my father appearance-wise is my pale complexion.

I also met quite a few people during this time. I met my older brother, the future Daimyo! Hah, the only reason I wanted to be beloved second master was to avoid all the political bullcrap the position of Daimyo entails. This way I won't have any expectations on my shoulders but will get anything I want from my family. Don't get me wrong. I got attached to my family during this short time. Anyone would. They showed quite a lot of care for me, after all.

My father had a lot of work but still spent more time with me than his concubines! Honestly? Don't know how to feel about that. Am I really that attractive?

My mother was with me even more. She didn't let servants do much. And my older brother was also 'trying' to entertain me during his free time. Of course, I got attached to them.

Back to my older brother. He was the son of the wife of Daimyo. He looked nothing like my mother. His locks were jet black and his eyes brown. His skin was also tanned but a different shade than my mother's. That was also a telling feature that we are only half-siblings. My mother was apparently only a concubine. Whelp. One wouldn't believe it, seeing all the cuddles and kisses my parents shared in my presence. I got a few facts from the conversations I overheard over time and apparently nobles, at least those that mattered, are expected to have AT LEAST three women. One wife and two concubines. As for Daimyo? Well, my father has a wife and four concubines. Even then he is constantly complaining about how his ministers bug him to get more women and make more children.

My mother was hated by his other concubines and his wife. Figures... That much was obvious from the way they glared at her. Well, I kinda sympathize with them. His wife is a clear political marriage. Other concubines? I would say he accepted them because he was expected to. My father is kinda cold to them. Whelp, not my problem, I guess. Not like these women could compete with the freaking sister of Raikage. At least thanks to my 'wishes' these women like me even though they hate my mother. Nothing to complain there. In fact, they dote on me so much it transcended annoying!

My mother told me many stories. But. What may sound like a goodnight story for other civilians sounded quite different for me. I understood completely what kind of stories they were. They were just modified versions of her life as a kunoichi or other legends of the shinobi world. They sounded great! Same as stories of the Fourth Hokage in Konoha.

They glorify the guy. If you look deeper though? You would understand just how much blood the guy shed to be called a hero. Hah, for Iwa he is nothing but a butcher. The tales my mother told me were the same. Heroic stories of brave men and women, tales about defeating unbeatable odds and becoming heroes. Yet, in the background? These were stories of mass-murders and bloodshed. I bet she didn't even think about it that way. She just wanted to tell an entertaining story to her son. Well, I was certainly entertained. And motivated. Motivated as hell to become stronger.

As time went on I tried to meditate. I had no hopes of accessing my chakra but trying wouldn't hurt. Well, I knew that my chakra pathways are not developed yet and the minimum safe age to unlock my chakra was two so it was really only meditation practice.

It was time for my first birthday party. Which was formal and boring. Geez, I thought children are supposed to be excited about them. Not to dread them! I was actually so fed up with it I decided to troll them!

My father, mother, and uncle Raikage were gushing all over me when I decided to set my nefarious plan into action!

"Ma…" I excitedly let out. Hah. Everyone was stunned! Yeah. I just uttered my first word! My father of course tried to make me say 'Pa'. Hah, asshole, you made me attend this boring party! My eyes gleamed mischievously and I uttered my second word.

"Uncle A!" Mwahahaha! Father's expression was priceless! My second word was a guy who I saw only once per three months instead of him! In contrast to my father, the Third Raikage was visibly proud and happy. I mean the guy actually comes to see his sister and me every three months. Needless to say, as a Kage, he should be so overwhelmed by his workload he shouldn't have time for that. I guess my 'wish' actually entails even distant family!

After numerous days of gentle persuasion by my father, I finally decided to say 'Pa'. Sigh. The guy could be unrelenting sometime. Anyway, I actually decided to speed up my 'development'. I started to crawl and a month afterward I walked. I also asked my mother about learning to read. It was a nightmare! I spent months learning Kanji with her. She was not strict or anything. After all, this is something I should start learning years later. The problem was that Kanji is not like the normal alphabet I was used to. It was back-breaking for me to learn it. My sealing talent actually made my hand-writing very neat and I was constantly praised for it. But it did absolutely nothing to make the learning of Kanji easier!

Time passed and I was finally two years old and could read quite well. Uncle Raikage was currently visiting us and took me for a stroll in the park. I was alone with the guy and even though he is a Kage and is quite firm, he could be soft and lovable to me. Which makes his judgment impaired. Kukuku!

"Uncle? You use Chi, Chikaru?" I threw him my trademark confused expression.

"It's called Chakra and yes, I do!" He boisterously laughed while patting my head.

I cutely widened my emerald eyes as a genuinely excited expression marred my face. "Can I use Chika, Chakra too!?"

To give him credit, he hesitated a little. Well, I say the minimum age for unlocking chakra is two. Never said it is actually done. Kids usually join the academy and get it unlocked at eight with the jump-start by instructors. The funny part? While reading I found out I was in Alternate Universe. How do I know? The Academy Graduation age is 15.

Anyway, those that unlock their chakra by themselves and sooner are actually kids that went through traumatic experiences that pushed them to do it. The pathways are fully developed at two but only VERY few hardcore clans that are completely bonkers, like Kaguya, would unlock kids chakra at such age. Even Uchiha or Hyuuga prefer kids to have a childhood and let them unlock it in the academy.

"Rei, that…" He tried to dissuade me but I was relentless!

"Please! Please! Please!"

And the Puppy Eyes no Jutsu again defeated Kage level shinobi! Muhaha. In the end, we sat under a big tree in the park, and Uncle A put his hands on my small back. Jump-starting my pathways kinda hurt. I almost screamed but gritted my teeth and held it in. It was obvious that A was quite proud of me being able to hold the pain in. When he finished I could feel my Chakra coursing through me. Is it so easy though? Nah, don't think so. Guess that's the perk of innate ability to manipulate chakra. But boy was the amount abysmal. Yup. Looks like I gotta train hard. Sigh.

"Rei, you gotta be responsible with your chakra, it's…" And Uncle A proceeded to give me an hour-long lecture about the lethal dangers of using chakra. The least I could do for him was to at least appear attentive.

Needless to say, it was a shitstorm of untold proportions when we came home. My mother actually broke a wall with uncle A. Hah. As for me? I just pulled my inner Orochimaru and played the part of an oblivious child.

"So, did you at least test his affinity?" My mother asked uncle after she finished lecturing him.

"Ah, I forgot." He sheepishly rubbed the back of his head. And wasn't that a kicker? In Kumo, your affinity is apparently tested the second your chakra is unlocked. How the fuck does Konoha proudly proclaims to be strongest is beyond me…

My mother gave me a slip of paper and gently guided me through pushing a bit of my chakra into it. The second chakra seeped into it, the entire paper was engulfed in a ball of lightning, making me let go of it instantly. As the ball slowly fell down to the ground under the shocked gazes of my mother and uncle A it revealed the intact paper. It was not white though. It was hardened and brown. Hmm. Curious. Looks like my natural affinity is Earth but because of my 'wish', my lightning affinity was either added or strengthened.

"My God! His earth affinity must be quite strong to withstand lightning like that but." Mother looked at me exasperatedly. "What the hell is with that lightning affinity!"

"Raiga." Uncle A looked at my mother seriously. "You can't show anyone his lightning affinity." My mother's eyes hardened as she understood his reasons. "It's even stronger than mine. I have unlocked his chakra because he wanted it and it was not that dangerous anyway. But now that I have seen his lightning affinity… Sigh, there was no one in our clan with affinity as strong as his. Even if he won't be a shinobi of Kumo, he is still my beloved nephew and family member. I want to teach him my Jutsu." He said in complete seriousness.

I had to concentrate quite a lot to appear oblivious to them as I was mentally jumping from joy.

"Ok, send the journals. I will persuade my husband and oversee his training." My mother just resignedly agreed. Guess, once you have your chakra unlocked it would be foolish not to train it. Heh! Yatta! Puppy Eyes for Win!

"Uncle? Mother? I would like to learn fiu... fuim... fuin... Fuinjustu!" Well, since they are giving, why not ask for something I want?

They just resignedly looked over me and sighed.

"I knew I should not tell him these stories from my youth." Mother shook her head and gave me a reproachful look.

"Well. Who knows. Maybe we will have a new Fuinjutsu prodigy in a few years! Haha." Uncle just jokingly added. It was obvious he doesn't believe it though. "I will send copies of my Jutsu journals and copies of Fuinjutsu journals. It will be safe in your house anyway, Raiga. Anyway, I gotta go. Study hard Rei!" He said as he patted my head and disappeared in a flash of lightning. Geez, trying to motivate me?

Well, it clearly worked!