chakra

(timeskip around 4 and 1/2 years )

In the private training ground of the Uzumaki-Namikaze estate, six individuals were engaged in training. A boy with shaggy blonde hair, brilliant red-tinted tips, and deep cerulean blue eyes stood with another boy around the same age, with blue eyes and blond hair. This was Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze, standing at around 4ft high, along with Menma Uzumaki-Namikaze, the third born of the Uzumaki-Namikaze family, who was playfully chasing around his father Minato. Laughter echoed through the training ground.

The other two children, two girls both standing at 4ft, were giggling and chatting happily with their mother, Kushina. Mito Uzumaki-Namikaze, the second-born, possessed her mother's brilliant red hair tied into a ponytail and her father's cerulean blue eyes. The other was the youngest of the Uzumaki-Namikaze family, Narumi Uzumaki-Namikaze, who had inherited her father's blonde hair tied in twin tails and her mother's violet-colored eyes.

Amidst this picturesque family moment, the oldest of the Uzumaki-Namikaze children, Arashi Uzumaki-Namikaze, observed with a tinge of sadness. Arashi, with a darker shade of blonde hair and eyes, was 8 years old and would turn 9 by May 10 of this year. He had just started attending the academy, and he stared at the scene with a sense of melancholy.

After reaching his room, Arashi sat back down on the bed and continued where he left off, drifting into the world that the book offered as he contemplated his interactions with his family over the years. "It's not going to change, is it? It's been this way for as long as I can remember, and I still don't know why they always leave me out when we do things. Kaa-chan and Tou-san didn't used to be like this... they used to include me in things when I was younger, I just know it..." Unknown to Arashi, and his family, was the contract that the Shinigami made all those years ago with Minato. Instead of his soul, the Shinigami took away the feelings of love that Minato, Kushina, and those close to the Uzumaki-Namikaze had for Arashi—a twisted exchange that severed the bonds between him and his family. Jiraiya telling them about the toad prophecy didn't help either. He harbored resentment towards the foolish sage.

Arashi got up and got ready to leave for the Sarutobi household, where he was treated as a grandson by the Third Hokage. As he prepared to leave, he retrieved his necklace, the First Hokage necklace given to him by Tsunade on his last birthday. Despite his bond with Tsunade, Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Kakashi paid little attention to him.

Walking through the streets of Konoha, Arashi was a favorite among the villagers due to his kind nature and willingness to help others. He reached the Sarutobi residence, where the maid allowed him in and guided him to Jiji's study. There, he found Hiruzen Sarutobi smoking and reading Icha Icha Paradise while giggling perversely.

Arashi coughed, amused as Jiji freaked out and tried hiding his book.

Hiruzen - "Arashi, my boy, what a pleasant surprise. How is the academy going on?"

Arashi - "The academy is boring. Itachi and I are at the top of our class, and the fangirls are simply annoying." With his good looks, he had a lot of girls lining up for him, much like his best friend Itachi.

Hiruzen then ordered the maid to get a few cookies for Arashi, leaving them alone in the room.

Hiruzen - "So, what have you come here for? I don't mind you coming."

Arashi - "I want to unlock my chakra." He said this with determination. Though usually, ninja unlocked their chakra earlier, Arashi, being neglected, decided to unlock it now. He had trained physically and in taijutsu as well. Hiruzen, aware of Arashi's family situation, agreed to help.

Hiruzen - "Sure, Naruto-kun. Let's go to the yard, shall we?"

Arashi - "Yes, Jiji." He said excitedly.

Both of them reached the yard, and Hiruzen instructed Arashi to feel the power inside him. As Arashi tapped into his chakra, a shockwave of light purple energy radiated from him, causing trees to grow little by little. Hiruzen was shocked at this, and as the power surged, Arashi felt dizzy and eventually blacked out, only hearing Hiruzen shout his name.

Hiruzen - "Arashi, Arashi!"