AN: Welcome back to another chapter of Thunder God! I'm actually typing this on the same day as the first chapter, so maybe I'll release it today too—time will tell. I left you on a bit of a cliffhanger, but this chapter promises to be more exciting. Without further ado…
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Chapter 2: Progress
Raiko returned to the orphanage without any issues. The journey back had been almost too easy. "Really, they should think of upping their security. If little ol' me can sneak out, what about everyone else?" he thought with a sigh, shaking his head. The image of someone more malicious than him slipping in or out crossed his mind, making him uneasy. "This could be a huge problem. I should probably bring it up to the Hokage someday… if I ever get the chance."
Shaking off his concerns, Raiko focused on the real prize: the scroll lying before him. He gently placed it on his makeshift desk, marveling at its luxurious appearance. The rich red fabric and gold trimmings gave it an almost regal air, completely at odds with the sparse and rugged environment of the orphanage. "Why did they make this so fancy? It's just a training scroll. Was this meant for someone important?" he mused.
Curiosity aside, he quickly unrolled the scroll, eager to see what it contained. His eyes scanned the neatly written instructions. The task seemed simple enough: he needed to channel his chakra evenly across the surface of a leaf to make it float. Raiko frowned slightly. "This feels different from how it was explained in the anime and manga, but hey, as long as it works."
Before he could begin, Raiko took a moment to center himself. He knew chakra control required patience and focus, especially at his current level. His first priority was finding the right balance—a sweet spot where he could channel enough energy to perform the exercise without overexerting himself.
He grabbed a small leaf he had picked earlier and sat cross-legged on the floor. Placing the leaf in front of him, he closed his eyes and began concentrating. The sensation of chakra flowing through him was still new and strange, but he was slowly getting the hang of it. After several failed attempts, he found the right balance. He smiled as the leaf wobbled slightly, then hovered for a brief second before falling.
"Alright," he muttered to himself. "Let's do this."
Over the next thirty minutes, Raiko practiced tirelessly, pushing through the frustration of failed attempts. Sweat trickled down his forehead, but he refused to stop. Finally, he succeeded in making the leaf hover steadily in midair for several seconds. His triumph was short-lived, however, as the leaf dropped when his concentration wavered.
But the most surprising part of his training wasn't just the hovering—it was the discovery of a hidden potential. By carefully pushing out small bursts of chakra, Raiko could propel the leaf several feet into the air. It was far harder to stabilize it at such heights, but he realized this advanced method could greatly improve his control.
By the end of his session, Raiko couldn't stop grinning. His muscles ached, and his chakra reserves were nearly depleted, but he didn't care. "This might be harder than I thought, but I'm already seeing progress. One step closer to becoming stronger."
Feeling accomplished, Raiko decided to reward himself. The orphanage's meals were passable at best, and he always saved his small allowance for something better. Slipping out of the orphanage again—something he was now far too skilled at—he made his way toward Ichiraku Ramen.
As Raiko strolled through the streets, savoring the peaceful atmosphere, something unusual caught his attention. A small figure darted past the crowds, running straight for the ramen stand. It was quick, almost a blur, but Raiko immediately recognized the unmistakable spiky blonde hair.
His heart skipped a beat. It was Naruto Uzumaki.
Raiko froze, his mind racing. "So it's true. I'm in Naruto's generation." He felt a strange mix of excitement and apprehension. Seeing Naruto in person, so young and full of life, was surreal. They looked about the same age, though Raiko couldn't help but notice he was a little taller. "Ha! Take that, Naruto!" The childish thought made him chuckle, and he quickly shook his head. "I'm really starting to act like a four-year-old."
Naruto skidded to a stop in front of the ramen stand, his wide, curious eyes turning to Raiko.
"Hey, Naruto," Raiko greeted, his voice as sweet and innocent as possible. "What do you want?"
Naruto blinked in surprise, taking a wary step back. "How do you know my name?" he asked, his tone defensive but tinged with curiosity.
Raiko froze for a moment, realizing his slip-up. "Crap! Think, Raiko, think!" Forcing a smile, he quickly came up with an excuse.
"Oh, uh… I heard the nice lady at the ramen stand say it one time! You're kinda famous around here, you know?"
Naruto tilted his head, frowning slightly. "Famous? Me? That's a first," he muttered under his breath, crossing his arms.
Raiko shrugged, casually steering the conversation away from his mistake. "Well, since we're both here, wanna grab some ramen?"
Naruto's eyes lit up at the suggestion, his suspicion melting away. "You're buying, right?"
Raiko laughed. "Of course." He waved Naruto over, and the two of them entered Ichiraku Ramen together.
As they ate, Raiko watched Naruto carefully, taking in every detail. His messy hair, his bright eyes, his enthusiastic slurping of ramen—all of it was fascinating. "So this is him—the future hero of the Hidden Leaf Village. He doesn't seem like much now, but someday…" Raiko's gaze softened. "He's going to be amazing. And maybe, just maybe, I'll get to help him along the way."
For now, though, Raiko's focus was on his own journey. If he wanted to survive in this world—let alone thrive—he'd need to keep training, learning, and growing stronger. And with Naruto by his side, the road ahead felt a little less daunting.
As the meal at Ichiraku Ramen came to an end, Naruto stretched his arms above his head and let out a satisfied sigh. "Man, that was the best! Thanks, Raiko!"
"No problem," Raiko replied with a grin. "Maybe we'll do this again sometime."
Naruto gave him a toothy smile, his enthusiasm contagious. "Yeah! See ya around!" With that, Naruto dashed off into the streets, leaving Raiko standing outside the ramen stand.
Raiko watched him go, his thoughts swirling. "So that's Naruto… he's so full of energy, but underneath it, you can tell he's lonely. No one deserves that. He's going to have it rough, but he'll make it through. I know he will."
Turning on his heel, Raiko made his way back to the orphanage, the cool night air brushing against his skin. As he walked, his thoughts shifted back to himself and the challenges that lay ahead. "Naruto might be destined for greatness, but I have no guarantees. If I want to survive in this world, I need a plan—a real plan."
When he arrived back at the orphanage, the place was as quiet as ever. Most of the other children were already asleep, their soft snores echoing through the cramped halls. Raiko quietly slipped into his tiny room and shut the door behind him. Sitting cross-legged on his makeshift bed, he let out a deep breath and began to think.
"Alright, Raiko. If you want to be strong enough to make it in this world, you can't just wing it. You need structure. A regimen. Something to push you past your limits."
He reached for the scroll he had brought back earlier, unrolling it once more. The leaf-floating exercise had been a good start, but he needed to plan for the long term. "Step one is chakra control. If I can master it early, it'll make learning jutsu and fighting techniques so much easier. The next step… maybe physical conditioning? My body is already stronger than it was on Earth, but I'll need to keep improving if I want to stand a chance against future enemies."
Raiko grabbed a scrap of paper and began jotting down ideas, his handwriting clumsy but determined.
1. Morning Chakra Control Practice: Spend at least an hour working on precision exercises like the leaf-floating technique. Once that's mastered, move on to water-walking and tree-climbing when I'm ready.
2. Physical Training: Start with basic exercises—push-ups, sit-ups, running. Build up endurance and strength gradually. Incorporate sparring or basic taijutsu practice if possible.
3. Research and Study: Sneak back to the library and gather as many scrolls as possible. Focus on beginner-level jutsu and chakra theories. Knowledge is just as important as strength.
4. Stealth Training: Practice sneaking around the orphanage and the surrounding areas. The better I am at avoiding detection, the more freedom I'll have to explore and train.
5. Self-Defense and Combat Basics: Once I have better chakra control and physical strength, start practicing basic combat techniques. Maybe I can find someone to spar with—though I'll need to be careful not to draw too much attention.
Raiko leaned back, staring at the list. It wasn't perfect, but it was a start. He couldn't afford to be lazy or unprepared. This wasn't some game—this was the Naruto universe, and danger could come from anywhere at any time. "If I don't take this seriously, I won't make it past the academy, let alone the Chūnin Exams."
He glanced out the small window of his room, the moonlight illuminating the village beyond. The thought of becoming strong enough to stand alongside—or even surpass—the legendary shinobi of this world filled him with both excitement and dread. "I have the knowledge from my past life, but that's not enough. I need to turn that knowledge into power."
Raiko clenched his fists, determination burning in his chest. Tomorrow, he would start his regimen. Tomorrow, he would begin the journey toward becoming a true ninja.
For now, though, he lay down on his bed, his mind racing with possibilities and plans. As his eyes drifted shut, one thought lingered: "One step at a time. I'll get there. No matter what."
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AN: I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! Raiko is already making progress, and now he's met Naruto! Things are definitely going to pick up from here. 1.7k words—we're getting there! Longer chapters are still the goal, but expect updates every four days or less. See you in the next one!