Chapter 17: The Weight of Ambition

Authors note: I hope you guys like this chapter leave some powerstones and comments so i can get some feedback.

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Raiden lay in his bed, staring at the ceiling. His conversation with Hashirama about uniting the world through conquest echoed in his mind, the weight of it heavier now in the stillness of the night. It was a dangerous idea, but in a world driven by war, perhaps it was the only way to bring lasting peace. Deep down, Raiden knew that his influence was already shifting the timeline—events that had once seemed fixed were now in flux, and the future he had known was becoming increasingly unpredictable.

He sat up, running a hand through his hair, staring out into the moonlit compound. Could he really do it? Could he change the course of this world?

The next day, Raiden and Hashirama trained together, but the usual lightness between them felt strained. Hashirama was quieter, his movements sharp but distracted. As they sparred, Raiden could sense the conflict in his friend—Hashirama was struggling with the implications of their conversation from the night before.

After training, they sat by the compound's edge, the weight of the world pressing down on them.

"Raiden," Hashirama finally said, breaking the silence, "what you said last night... about conquering the shinobi world. Do you really believe that's the only way?"

Raiden hesitated. He could see the doubt in Hashirama's eyes, the desire for a better way. But Raiden had lived through countless battles, witnessed betrayal and bloodshed in both his lives. "Yes," Raiden said, his voice steady. "In a world like this, you can't rely on diplomacy alone. Power is the only language the world understands."

Hashirama looked away, his brow furrowed. "I want peace, Raiden. But not like that. There has to be another way..."

Raiden didn't push further. He knew Hashirama needed time to process the idea, and forcing it would only drive them apart. But he also knew that time was running out. The longer this war dragged on, the more blood would be spilled—and he had no intention of standing by while history repeated itself.

That evening, Raiden sat in his room, the unfinished Strength of a Hundred Seal glowing faintly on the scroll before him. He had spent countless hours refining it, using his Yang chakra to enhance his body's strength, but something still felt incomplete. He had power, yes, but speed—true, explosive speed—eluded him. He needed more.

His mind wandered, thoughts drifting toward something he had read in old scrolls of the Uzumaki library. Nature Energy. the elusive force that could elevate his chakra beyond its limits. Nature Energy, combined with Yang Release, could allow him to amplify his body's natural abilities passivly so—more speed, more power, without exhausting his reserves.

But Nature Energy was dangerous. It required balance. Too much, and the energy would overwhelm him, turning him to stone. Too little, and the benefits would be marginal at best.

Raiden frowned, staring at the unfinished seal. What if he could modify the Strength of a Hundred Seal to store Nature Energy? He had already designed it to stockpile Yang chakra for bursts of strength—surely, he could adapt it to hold Nature Energy as well. If he could create a storage system, he could draw on both Yang chakra and Nature Energy simultaneously, increasing his strength while giving him the explosive speed he sought.

Boom!!!

A explosion went of his Raidens head as the thought what he just theorised, if he combined yang energy and nature energy and made it regulate across his entire body would his body not get stronger and stronger eventually breaking human limits without the use of chakra. and that is just for the physical aspect if he was able to add yin chakra to the mix he might even be able to increase his mental power thereby increasing his chakra.

Immedialty he began sketching new symbols on the scroll, carefully considering how the two types of energy would interact. The Yang chakra would naturally enhance his body, but adding Nature Energy would require a delicate balance. The seal would need to do more than just store energy—it would have to regulate its flow, preventing the dangerous overflow that could turn him into stone.

As his brush moved across the paper, Raiden's thoughts raced. The possibilities were endless. With Nature Energy reinforcing his body, his strength would become limitless, and his speed would far surpass anything he had imagined. The enhanced seal could regulate both Yang chakra and Nature Energy, allowing for greater endurance and faster movement.

For now, he would focus on refining the seal, ensuring that it could handle both types of energy. The next step would be training—learning to harness Nature Energy without letting it overwhelm him.

Raiden smirked as he leaned back, staring at the half-finished design. One step at a time. He hadn't completed it yet, but he was close. And when he did, his power—and speed—would be unrivaled.

while daydreaming in his room Raiden heard a argument going on intersted to hear it he walked out of his room when he got closer he witnessed a moment between Hashirama and his younger brother, Tobirama. The two were arguing over the best approach to dealing with the Uchiha.

"They're dangerous," Tobirama said, his voice cold and firm. "The Uchiha won't stop until they've destroyed everything. We need to act now and eliminate the threat."

Hashirama clenched his fists, his frustration clear. "No, Tobirama. I won't condemn an entire clan because of a few individuals. There has to be a way to make peace with them."

Tobirama shook his head, his gaze hard. "You're too soft, Hashirama. They won't bend. They never will."

Hashairama looked dead serioius into tobiramas eyes and said "ENOUGH, I will tell you for the last time i will not genocide a entire clan for the actions of a few, if you still want to do ot you have to defeat me first."

Tobirama a little scared of his brothers serious eyes did not back down and defiantly said "Fine, but mark my words brother you can not trust a uchiha, NEVER" 

The argument ended with both brothers walking away in frustration, and Raiden could feel the tension simmering between them. It was a rift that he knew would only grow wider with time. Tobirama's cold pragmatism clashed starkly with Hashirama's idealism, and Raiden knew that the future of the Senju-Uchiha conflict would be shaped by this tension.

That night, Hashirama invited Raiden to visit the river, to cooldown, it was more meant for hashirama then raiden, neverthless he tagged along hoping to meet madara

As they made their way through the forest, the tension between them seemed to melt away, replaced by the easy camaraderie they had shared when they first met. Raiden could see why Hashirama came to this place—it was peaceful, a refuge from the chaos of their world.

But as they approached the river, something felt different. The air was thick, charged with an energy that made Raiden's skin tingle.

Hashirama slowed his pace, his expression growing more serious. "Something's not right," he whispered, his eyes narrowing as they neared the water's edge.

Raiden followed his gaze, his heart skipping a beat. Standing by the river, his back turned to them, was a figure Raiden didn't recognize. The person stood tall, their posture tense, as if they were waiting for something—or someone.

Hashirama stopped abruptly, his eyes widening in recognition. "That's..."

Madara Uchiha.