Sparks flared as blades clashed.
In the training field of the Hatake estate, Kadoya, Minato, and Saiguu were engaged in a heated three-way sparring match.
Kadoya's short water-forged blade slammed against Minato's knife, the clang echoing through the clearing. Both boys sprang back just in time to avoid a sweeping dual strike from Saiguu, who darted in with a blade in each hand.
Not missing a beat, Kadoya and Minato reengaged, water meeting steel as their weapons collided again in a blur of motion and precision.
From the sidelines, Sakumo observed with a quiet smile. He could already see their distinct approaches taking shape.
Minato and Saiguu had both chosen knives roughly the same length as a standard kunai, an intentional decision. If they could master Kenjutsu with weapons similar in size to the tools they were already used to, integrating swordsmanship into their fighting styles would be seamless.
Kadoya, however, had chosen a different path.
His weapon was a sleek, chakra-forged water blade, longer than a kunai, shaped more like an actual short sword. Its fluid edges shimmered with condensed chakra, hardened to the point it could rival steel.
Sakumo was quietly impressed.
To form water-based weapons that are durable, with such fine control over chakra nature manipulation… at his age? It was nothing short of extraordinary.
The most fascinating part, however, was Kadoya's versatility. Because his blade was made of water chakra, he could shape it however he liked, dagger, saber, broadsword, so long as he had the chakra to maintain it.
Unbeknownst to the others, while Kadoya's body was sparring, his shadow clone in the background had been silently accumulating points through the Shop System. Once he gathered enough, Kadoya immediately purchased Kenjutsu Lv. 1, integrating it directly into his system.
The effect was instant.
His footwork tightened. His strikes gained better rhythm. His form began shifting from raw talent into something more refined, noticeable enough that both Minato and Saiguu had to adapt to the sudden leap in his skill.
With a sharp clap of his palms, water surged around Kadoya's hands, shaping into another blade. Now dual-wielding shimmering water weapons, he stepped forward to meet the charge of the other two eight-year-olds.
The clash of steel and chakra-filled blades echoed across the training field.
Time passed quickly in the rhythm of combat, swing, block, counter, and sweat slicked their brows as they pushed themselves harder with each exchange.
Watching them from a distance, Sakumo eventually called a break and sat them down beneath the shade of a tree.
"That was solid work," he said, nodding approvingly. "Now… have any of you heard of Chakra Blades?"
The kids glanced at one another, then shook their heads.
Sakumo smiled faintly. "Chakra Blades are weapons forged from special metals capable of conducting chakra. With proper training, you can infuse your elemental chakra into them, turning even a basic strike into something much more devastating. You can also use them to extend your ninjutsu."
That caught their attention.
Kadoya's eyes lit up with a smile. Minato leaned forward with interest. Saiguu crossed her arms, her mind already imagining how to integrate it into her style. Even Kushina, though she wasn't learning Kenjutsu, still perked up at the thought.
The idea of owning a weapon that could merge seamlessly with their chakra made their young imaginations run wild.
"Interesting," Kadoya muttered with a grin.
Narrowing his gaze toward Minato, Kadoya recalled how Minato's special made Flying Raijin Kunai in the future were made using this type of chakra metal.
He could already see the image of his best friends holding his specially made kunai in hand, dressed in the Hokage robe.
...
Time moved steadily on.
The four children, Kadoya, Minato, Saiguu, and Kushina, continued their weekend training with Sakumo whenever he wasn't away on a mission. Though short, those sessions were intense and meaningful, slowly sharpening their skills and deepening their bonds.
But while they grew stronger, one soul in the village was slowly fading.
Mito Uzumaki's health had begun to decline more noticeably. Age had long since left its marks, but now it was clear: her time was drawing to a close.
There were still things she wished to pass on, especially to young Kushina.
Kadoya, despite having mastered the techniques of the Uzumaki Clan, wasn't a blood member. He could teach the forms, the theory, even the history, but he couldn't help Kushina unlock her full potential as an Uzumaki. Not in the way Lady Mito could.
One day, Kadoya visited the Senju compound, quietly making his way to Mito's room.
There she sat at the edge of her bed, her once-strong frame frail and worn. Her hair was white as snow, and her face bore the deep lines of wisdom and years gone by.
"Grandma Mito," Kadoya greeted gently.
Her head turned, and a warm smile lit her face. "Kadoya. It's good to see you again."
She raised a hand, waving him closer. "Don't just stand there like a stranger. Come in, child."
Kadoya stepped inside, the room calm but heavy with unspoken emotions.
Despite her declining health, Mito could still see through people. She'd heard the whispers about Kadoya, the oddness, the aloofness, but she understood him better than most. He was blunt, yes. Sometimes even reckless. But to those he truly cared about, he was fiercely loyal and kind.
And that, to her, mattered more than any rumors.
"Kadoya," Mito said softly, her voice weathered by time. "My time is running out."
The weight of her words hung in the air.
"After I pass, little Kushina will need support. Promise me you'll be there for her."
"You don't have to worry, Grandma Mito," Kadoya replied calmly. "Kushina's already one of us. No matter what happens, she won't be alone."
Mito smiled. She had met his circle of friends before and had seen the sincerity in each of them:
Minato, bright and optimistic, always lifting others up.
Saiguu, cold at first glance, but reliable and quietly compassionate.
And Kadoya... chaotic, clever, yet always dependable when it truly mattered.
She was relieved. If she had to leave Kushina behind, at least it would be in good hands.
"Very good, child," she whispered, before pulling a sealed scroll from beside her bed. She held it out to him. "This scroll is the key to the Uzumaki vault. It holds the secrets and history of our clan. I want you to have it."
"Grandma Mito…"
Mito's eyes softened. "Don't argue. I've already acknowledged you as the heir of the Uzumaki Clan, at least until Kushina is ready to bear that title herself."
Kadoya fell silent, accepting the weight of her words. He knew the truth: he wasn't the rightful heir. His position was only temporary. One day, Kushina would take back the role that was hers by blood.
As if reading his mind, Mito added, "Of course, she may only reclaim the title with your acknowledgment. This won't be handed to her out of pity or expectation, she must earn it."
Kadoya nodded slowly. "I understand."
It was fair. It gave him time to guide the clan's legacy in Kushina's stead, while also giving her something to strive for. She wouldn't just inherit it. She'd become worthy of it.
Congratulations! Hidden Quest Complete: "Heir to the Uzumaki Clan: Act 2"
Reward: +Uzumaki's Red Hair +2 Chakra Level + 2 Fūinjutsu Level
...
After leaving the Senju Compound, Kadoya returned home.
Now lost in thought, with Lady Mito passing, Kushina will become the next Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, and Kadoya now could cosplay as Kadoya Uzumaki if he wanted to.
Still, he is troubled by the hidden quest: "Heir to the Uzumaki Clan", although the reward is nice, and he could gain a lot from it, he still wonders.
Would he fail this quest by handing back the title of heir to Kushina, or would that count as him finishing it?
His quest system isn't the typical quest in an RPG game, it doesn't tell him what to do or how to complete the quest. Its progression and reward are solely based on his actions and the consequences that follow.
If he finished this chain quest, then maybe he could get the Uzumaki's bloodline, but if doing so meant that Kushina would never inherit the legacy and title of the Uzumaki Clan Head.
Then does that still count as him finishing it?
But if the quest needs him to give the title to an actual Uzumaki, and it's just waiting to be handed back.
Would Kushina even accept it by then?
Heck, if she married Minato and decided to take his family name Namikaze, then won't that mean Kadoya failed this quest?
"This is so annoying!" He shouted, looking more annoyed by his system's lack of details in his chain quests.
Although he is happy that his quest gives him free rein to choose what he wants to do with his life, it lacks details in some important parts, making him feel frustrated.
He wants this world to be peaceful, but how can he be sure what he is doing is right or wrong?
This feeling is like playing a visual novel, you knew there is a good ending and many bad endings, but you don't know which options to take, and you only get one try at it, with no save or do-over.
Kadoya doesn't want this world to fall into ruin, he doesn't want to be trapped in the Infinite Tsukuyomi, he doesn't want Kaguya to end up destroying this world.
Snap!
The sound of bone breaking rang out in the dark room. Kadoya looked down at his broken finger before breaking another one.
He is thinking too much about this, and honestly, it isn't good for his mind.
His current level is still too weak to be thinking about all of those things that will probably happen in the next twenty to thirty years or so.
If Kadoya filled his head with negative thoughts, he might actually fall into madness.
"Alright, let's grind to clear my mind." He decides, making his way to the yard, and begins training.
...
Inside the spacious training yard tucked at the edge of the Uchiha compound, Kadoya was sharpening his Kenjutsu, water blades slicing the air in smooth, precise arcs. His focus was intense until a firm voice cut through the rhythm of his strikes.
"Impressive Kenjutsu... Kadoya Uchiha, if you still have the courage to face me… fight me."
Kadoya paused, his blades dissipating with a splash. A stout, grey-haired shinobi stepped onto the grounds, his presence heavy. Deep crimson eyes spun with a full three-tomoe Sharingan, gleaming beneath his brow.
The intruder was none other than Sentaro Uchiha, a well-known and controversial figure within the clan. A fervent voice among the Hawk Faction, those radical enough to demand an Uchiha take the Hokage's seat.
His gaze radiated quiet hostility. The air around him seemed to grow colder, tighter, under the weight of his killing intent.
Kadoya slowly turned, meeting his stare without a shred of hesitation.
"Sentaro-san," he said coolly, "this is private property. My family's training ground. My sister and I practice here... alone."
His eyes narrowed slightly, sharp and calculating. "If I recall correctly, there's a clearly marked sign at the entrance. So tell me… did you come here to exchange techniques, or are you simply looking for a reason to fight me?"
Though his tone remained polite, there was no mistaking the steel behind it.
Kadoya didn't like acting overly serious. He joked, he teased, he coasted. But when someone brought trouble to his doorstep, he didn't greet them with a smile.
This wasn't some random run-in. You didn't accidentally wander into the Uchiha clan's outer district. The intruder chose to be here.
"I take it this is about me putting those so-called 'prodigies' in the hospital?" Kadoya said, a low scoff slipping from his lips. "Or maybe the rumors you old men keep whispering... that I'm secretly a Senju?"
He spread his arms slightly, mockingly.
"Is it the Water Release and my combat style, which some old men don't like? So now you come to give me a forced lesson?"
A flicker of amusement passed through his eyes, but it didn't reach his tone. His chakra was already shifting.
Although his sister warns him about this, that some Uchiha would come looking for him to cause trouble.
But Kadoya wasn't afraid. Currently, with his skill in Water Release, Hamon, Kenjutsu, Fūinjutsu, Ninjutsu, and even the power of the Mera Mera No Mi.
A regular Jonin who didn't know Water Release couldn't truly harm him. Kadoya also realized that, thanks to the Psychic Plate sealed inside him, his proficiency in Genjutsu also got a massive boost, and his resistance toward Genjutsu also increased.
This is why, even facing a Jonin from the Uchiha, Kadoya wasn't afraid. Unless they are a Water Release Ninja like him, or have the Mangekyou, they couldn't really harm him.
Sentaro's Sharingan narrowed, a hint of frustration behind the swirling red. "Kid… your way of thinking is dangerous," he growled. "And it needs to be corrected."
Though his tone was firm, there was tension in his voice, discomfort.
Sentaro was nearly thirty. He had no interest in playing enforcer for the elders. But Setsuna had ordered him to act, to put this upstart in his place.
He hadn't wanted to come. He still didn't want to do this.
After all, even if he won, he'd just be the guy who bullied a kid.
And if he lost?
That shame would follow him for the rest of his life.
No matter how talented Kadoya is, his title is still a student of the ninja school...
The Uchiha clan generally advocates confrontation between the strong, and such bullying in the clan is shameful.