The entrance into Konoha was a whirlwind. As soon as they passed through the gates, Tsunade was intercepted by high-ranking ninja, including the advisors Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, visibly relieved by her return—but no less curious about Akari and Kaien. Their scrutinizing gazes lingered on the boy's Eyes of Infinity, despite Tsunade's efforts to downplay their singularity.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, received them personally. Aged but still imbued with a benevolent wisdom, he listened carefully to Tsunade's toned-down account. The story of Akari, cousin of Mito, and her son Kaien—found after decades of disappearance, marked by a unique Uzumaki dōjutsu and developmental delay caused by trauma—was accepted, not without a trace of skepticism in the Hokage's eyes, but with evident compassion. He agreed to offer them a home and protection under Tsunade's supervision.
Danzo Shimura, the Hokage's shadow, was also present. His piercing eyes never left Kaien for a moment. Akari sensed the danger he represented—a silent and calculating threat. Aware of Danzo's vigilance, Tsunade was extra cautious in her explanations, insisting on Kaien's "fragility."
The following days were dedicated to settling in. Akari and Kaien were housed in a modest but comfortable home, under Tsunade's discreet supervision. The potential Fifth Hokage never lost sight of her goal: helping Kaien develop his intellect while protecting his innocence.
Tsunade grew increasingly attached to Kaien. Her role as an improvised "great-aunt" turned into genuine affection. In him, she saw not only a miracle of her restored clan but also a pure soul and an unexpected source of joy. She decided it was time to begin his education.
"Kaien," Tsunade began one morning as they sat in the garden, "today we're going to learn new things."
Kaien, sitting on the ground making Fae dance around a butterfly, lifted his Eyes of Infinity toward her. "Learn what, Tsunade-chan?"
"To understand the world around you. Words, ideas." Tsunade had a hunch. Kaien's eyes weren't just a source of power—they were also a window into the essence of things. If she could guide him, he might "read" information directly.
She started with children's books, simple concepts. At first, Kaien understood nothing except the pictures. But Tsunade, with infinite patience, placed her hand on his forehead and transmitted the intent behind the words—their meaning. Then she asked him to focus with his eyes.
"Look at the book, Kaien. Let your eyes see beyond the words, see the idea."
Kaien closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them again. The cosmic patterns in his eyes swirled more intensely. He placed his hand on the page, and to Tsunade's disbelief, the information seemed to pour directly into his mind.
"It's a horse," said Kaien, pointing at an illustration. "It runs fast. It eats grass." His sentences were still simple, but he had absorbed entire concepts.
Day by day, Tsunade repeated the exercise. With his Eyes of Infinity, Kaien didn't read books—he absorbed knowledge. Abstract concepts, logic, causality—everything static in his childlike mind unlocked at lightning speed. His intelligence grew at an astonishing rate. In just a few weeks, Kaien mentally progressed from a three-year-old to a seven-, then ten-year-old. He understood complex conversations, asked relevant questions, and his vocabulary expanded exponentially.
Despite this meteoric intellectual growth, his personality remained surprisingly unchanged. He was still joyful, carefree, friendly, and kind-hearted. His ability to understand good and evil also developed. He clearly distinguished between "kind" and "mean" actions and always sought to please Akari and Tsunade.
"Tsunade-chan, why are people mean?" he asked one day after absorbing the history of the ninja world's creation and wars.
"Because they're afraid, Kaien. Or because they want too much power," Tsunade replied, her heart tight from the innocent question.
Kaien frowned, his eyes darkening in a kaleidoscope of colors. "Being mean isn't nice. It makes people cry."
Another day, as he watched Akari prepare a meal, Kaien looked at her intently. "Mom... when you were 'broken,' you were sad. I fixed you because I love you a lot." Akari nearly dropped her knife. Kaien didn't grasp the full meaning of "bringing someone back to life," but he understood the concept in his own way.
Thanks to his eyes and Tsunade's intuitive training, Kaien now understood how to bring the dead back to life. He didn't comprehend it as a ninja would use a jutsu, but as a natural process of "fixing" existence. He knew the energy he was made from could "put the pieces back together" of someone who had been "broken."
Meanwhile, rumors spread through the village. The arrival of Tsunade and her "family" drew attention. Whispers about the boy with strange eyes and fiery hair began circulating.
One afternoon, Akari was in a nearby park with Kaien, letting him play on the swing while Ryuu tried to push him (with limited success). Fae fluttered around them. Akari sensed a familiar presence approaching. A young boy with messy blond hair, bright blue eyes, and a loud orange jacket dashed toward them.
"Hey! You're new here, dattebayo!" said Naruto Uzumaki, full of energy. His curious gaze landed on Kaien, then on Fae and Ryuu. "Whoa! What are those? Super cool summons?"
Akari smiled. This was the Naruto Uzumaki—the mixed-blood of her clan that Tsunade had spoken of. He looked mischievous but radiated warmth and kindness.
"Hello," Akari replied. "Yes, we're new. I'm Akari, and this is my son, Kaien."
Naruto looked at Kaien, then at his eyes. He felt a strange energy in him—different from anything he knew, but powerful. "Your eyes are super weird! Are we from the same family, dattebayo?"
Kaien looked at Naruto, his own Eyes of Infinity catching the boy's vibrant energy and loneliness. "You're an Uzumaki too?" asked Kaien, his usual innocent curiosity showing. "Your hair is yellow like the sun! And you have whiskers!" He reached out a finger to touch Naruto's cheek.
Naruto stepped back slightly, surprised. "Hey, those are birthmarks! And yeah, I'm Naruto Uzumaki! I'm gonna be Hokage, dattebayo!"
"Hokage?" asked Kaien, turning to Akari.
"That's the village leader, sweetheart," Akari explained. "The one who protects everyone."
"Oh! Like the nice man with white hair!" said Kaien, referring to Hiruzen.
Naruto nodded proudly. "That's right! The Third Hokage is awesome! And I'm gonna be even more awesome than him!"
A simple, pure friendship began to blossom between the two Uzumaki. Naruto, used to being rejected, was surprised by Kaien's immediate acceptance. At this point, Naruto didn't yet know about the Nine-Tailed Fox sealed inside him, or the weight of that secret. He just saw a strange but friendly newcomer. Kaien, who had never known other children, found in Naruto an ideal playmate despite their mental differences. Naruto didn't mock his childlike behavior—he found it a bit eccentric, but mostly fun. He was especially fascinated by Fae and Ryuu.
Akari was delighted to see Kaien flourish. The isolation of his dimension had left a mark, but the presence of a figure like Tsunade and the friendship of Naruto began to fill that void.
However, their situation remained precarious. During a meeting with Hiruzen and the advisors, Danzo brought up the matter of Kaien insistently.
"Hokage-sama, this child, Kaien Uzumaki, is an anomaly. His dōjutsu holds unknown power. He must be studied, intensively trained, and his loyalty ensured. He could be a formidable weapon for Konoha." Danzo's gaze was dark, full of greed.
Tsunade immediately intervened. "Danzo, Kaien is a child! He's suffered immense trauma that blocked his development. He needs care, not to be turned into a weapon. His dōjutsu is unstable and unpredictable. We must protect him from himself and from outside influence." She sounded so convincing, she almost believed it herself.
Hiruzen, weary from political battles, sighed. "I agree with Tsunade. Kaien is now a child of Konoha, a survivor of the Uzumaki clan. He will be under the guardianship of Tsunade Senju and Akari Uzumaki. His training will be supervised by Tsunade personally, with a focus on his well-being and social reintegration."
Danzo didn't object aloud, but his icy glare at Kaien and Tsunade showed he would not abandon his ambitions. He saw Kaien's incredible potential—and the threat it posed to his plans if the boy remained out of his control.
Tsunade felt the tension in the air. The battle was far from over. But looking at Kaien, whose intelligence grew daily while keeping his pure and carefree heart, she knew the fight was worth it. His fiery red hair, streaked with silver, symbolized the blend of his distant past and uncertain future. For Mito's granddaughter, and for Akari, it was now clear that Kaien's destiny was inextricably tied to Konoha's—and that she would be his protector to her last breath.