The journey to Konoha stretched over several days, each kilometer bringing Akari closer to uncertainty. Yet, the presence of Tsunade, her dear cousin Mito's granddaughter, was a beacon in the darkness. Tsunade, despite her reputation as an inveterate gambler and explosive personality, proved to be an unwavering ally and, surprisingly, a maternal figure for Kaien.
Tsunade's attachment to Kaien was almost instantaneous. From their very first day of traveling together, she was fascinated by the child. She observed his Eyes of Infinity, which sparkled with all the colors of the universe, yet never ceased to be deep blue. She was both bewildered by the immense power they contained and touched by the absolute purity that emanated from them. The way Kaien interacted with Fae and Ryuu, his living creations, was a constant spectacle of joy and wonder. He would laugh aloud when Fae perched on his nose or when Ryuu, the little dragon, tried to puff smoke onto his shoe.
For Tsunade, accustomed to the complexity of adults and the darkness of the shinobi world, Kaien's simplicity was a balm. He was a three-year-old child in an adolescent's body, and his naiveté was disarming. He asked direct questions, without ulterior motives, and his joy was contagious.
"Tsunade-chan, you have pretty blonde hair like the sun!" he declared one morning, trying to braid a flower into it. His fingers, though large, were clumsy but gentle.
Tsunade laughed, a rare sound for her in years. "Thank you, Kaien. Your hair is like fire, isn't it?" She ran a hand through his flaming red hair flecked with silver highlights, feeling the softness and unique texture of his strands.
She found herself spending more and more time with him. She taught him how to fish in rivers, showed him how to identify different plants, and read him simple stories by the campfire in the evenings. Kaien absorbed everything with insatiable curiosity. He didn't always understand complex concepts, but he memorized sounds, shapes, and colors.
Akari observed their interaction with a mix of joy and relief. She saw affection growing in Tsunade's eyes. The family bond, even though Tsunade was her cousin's granddaughter, was forming faster and deeper than she could have hoped. Tsunade didn't just see Kaien as a responsibility or a problem to manage; she saw a pure being, a miracle to cherish. This affection strengthened her resolve to protect him.
"He's... special, isn't he?" Akari whispered to Tsunade one evening, as Kaien slept peacefully, Fae nestled in his hair and Ryuu curled up at his feet.
Tsunade nodded, her eyes fixed on Kaien's sleeping face. "More special than anyone I've ever met. He reminds me... of Hashirama-jiji's purity, combined with Mito-baa-chan's vitality. But his power... that's something else. It's infinity." She sighed. "The more I look at him, the more I realize the world isn't ready for him."
"That's why we must be careful," Akari replied. "Have you thought about how we'll integrate him into Konoha? How to explain his eyes, Fae, Ryuu?"
Tsunade's Plan for Konoha
Tsunade had painstakingly devised a plan. "The Eyes of Infinity will be presented as an extremely rare Uzumaki dōjutsu, a mutation that appeared due to the trauma of Uzushio. We'll emphasize that it's unstable and reacts to his emotions. That will explain the color variations. As for Fae and Ryuu, we'll say they are summons from an unknown lineage, but very weak, unable to survive far from him. We'll have to be careful they don't do anything extraordinary."
"And his mentality?" Akari asked.
"We'll say that the trauma of Uzushio's fall, combined with decades of solitude in an unknown dimension, resulted in severe psychological developmental delay. We'll need to emphasize his emotional 'fragility' so that no one tries to exploit him. It's the only way to protect him from leaders like Danzo, who would only see a weapon to sharpen," Tsunade explained, her face darkened. "I know my sensei, Hiruzen, he's good, but he's also surrounded by advisors with hidden agendas."
The discussion continued, with Tsunade describing Konoha's current politics, tensions with other villages, and the rising power of certain clans. She mentioned Naruto Uzumaki, a mixed-blood member of the Uzumaki clan, the Kyūbi's jinchūriki, who was about to graduate from the Academy.
"He's a bit of a... hothead," Tsunade said with an amused smile. "But he has a heart of gold. A true spirit of Konoha."
Akari was relieved to hear that another member of her clan had survived. "Kushina managed to have a child. That's good news. I hope we can meet him."
"Of course. But let's be careful at first. The details of Naruto's life are quite... sensitive." Tsunade knew that the presence of another Uzumaki, as powerful and naive as Kaien, could also draw unwanted attention to Naruto.
Arrival in Konoha
In the following days, Tsunade began to prepare Kaien for their arrival in Konoha. She taught him to restrain his powers, not to make objects or creatures appear randomly, even though it was difficult for a child who had never known limits. She explained to him, in simple words, that "grown-ups don't always understand special magic" and that he needed to "keep secrets so as not to upset them." Kaien, trusting his "Tsunade-chan," obeyed as best he could, though he didn't grasp the gravity of the situation.
Shizune, for her part, was both admiring and frightened by Kaien. She treated him with infinite gentleness, but her own ninja perceptions told her that this child was a force capable of remaking the world. She helped Tsunade devise the necessary lies, her heart heavy with the deception, but convinced it was the only way to protect Kaien.
Finally, after two weeks of travel, the imposing walls of Konoha appeared on the horizon. The great village gate came into view, with patrolling ninjas guarding the entrance. Akari felt a wave of emotion wash over her. She was back, but the village she had known had changed, and so had she.
"That's Konoha, Kaien," Akari said, her voice a little shaky.
Kaien, amazed, squeezed her hand. "It's big, Mom! There are lots of people!"
Tsunade took a deep breath. "It's time. Akari, remember the plan. Shizune, you know what you have to do."
As they approached the gate, the guards noticed them. Their eyes widened as they recognized Tsunade Senju, the legendary Sannin. News of her return had probably already spread. But their gazes also lingered on Kaien. His Eyes of Infinity, even from a distance, shone with an undeniable aura, drawing everyone's attention. His flaming red hair flecked with silver highlights made him unique. Fae discreetly hid in Akari's hair, while Ryuu nestled against Kaien's leg, looking like a domestic cat.
"Lady Tsunade!" a stunned guard exclaimed. "You've returned!"
Tsunade, resuming her usual imperious kunoichi demeanor, nodded. "Yes. And I've brought back family. This is Akari Uzumaki, a distant blood cousin of mine, and her son, Kaien. They are survivors of Uzushio, recently found."
The guards exchanged glances. Uzumaki? That was big news. And this child... his eyes.
"His dōjutsu is a unique mutation of the Uzumaki clan, a result of the trauma from his village's fall," Tsunade calmly explained, her voice leaving no room for questions. "He's still very young and needs care. The Hokage must be informed of our arrival immediately."
The information spread like wildfire. Tsunade's return, one of the legendary Sannin, was already a major event. But the fact that she brought back two Uzumaki survivors, including a child with such peculiar eyes, would shake Konoha's foundations.
Tsunade knew the game had only just begun. Hiruzen would be understanding, she hoped. But the others... Danzo in particular. Protecting Kaien from the village's thirst for power and control would be her greatest challenge. She squeezed Kaien's hand, his innocent smile a testament to his ignorance of the burden he carried. She would do everything to protect this child, this rediscovered family member, whatever the cost. The fate of Konoha, and perhaps the world, now rested on the fragile shoulders of a child with infinite powers and a woman determined to keep him safe.