During the first three years of Tsunade's reign, Konoha was destined to be relatively stable. Uchiha Raizen didn't have much reason to worry about his family's safety.
One night, sitting alone in his room, Raizen felt a restless urge to test one of his specialized abilities: Time Leap.
Time Leap allowed him to jump into the future or return to the past. As a transmigrator who possessed a Clan Revitalization System, his primary goal was naturally to pursue the heroines. In his current timeline, many of them weren't within his reach yet. Sakura, Hinata, and the others were only twelve years old—far too young for his requirements. Waiting years for them to grow up was testing his patience.
With his current strength, he no longer needed to maintain a low profile or hide in the shadows. He could pursue what he wanted at will.
After arranging matters at home, Raizen activated Time Leap.
A distorted vortex appeared, and Raizen plummeted into a space that resembled a space-time tunnel. Countless images flickered before his eyes. He saw a specific face and reached out to touch the vision.
The image shattered, space-time twisted, and Raizen was pulled in.
Simultaneously, back in his original timeline in Konoha, Shima was preparing to perform a Reverse Summoning Jutsu. However, the sudden distortion of space-time intercepted the technique.
The Ruins of the Future
On the ruins of a devastated Konoha, Sakura Haruno cried out in desperation: "Naruto, come back! Please, Naruto!"
As her words fell, space-time warped. A handsome man wearing the Uchiha clan crest landed coolly in front of her, his expression aloof.
At the exact same moment, back at the Uchiha clan estate's lake in the past, three giant toads suddenly appeared and slammed heavily onto the water's surface.
The image Raizen had selected was the exact moment Sakura desperately called for Naruto during Pain's assault. He chose to enter this specific timeframe to test his mettle against Nagato's Deva Path. Having experience against the Six Paths of Pain now would serve him well if Nagato ever attacked his own timeline.
Sakura slowly raised her head, looking at the man who had suddenly appeared in front of her with utter bewilderment.
"Hmph. Finally, you look like a proper woman," Raizen remarked, scanning the older Sakura with a faint smile.
"Who are you?"
Before Sakura could speak, Tsunade, who was nearby, staggered to her feet. She stared at Raizen with a sharp, guarded gaze.
"Sister Tsunade, are you alright?"
Seeing the battered and bloodied Tsunade, Raizen immediately flickered to her side. He supported her with genuine concern, his expression full of heartache.
This sudden turn of events left both Tsunade and Sakura dazed. Even the ANBU guarding Tsunade were confused. Seeing Raizen's intense worry for her, the ANBU chose to trust that this stranger meant the Hokage no harm and remained still.
"You're calling me sister?" Tsunade looked at him, puzzled. She searched her memory but couldn't recall ever meeting this handsome Uchiha.
"Of course! You're my dear sister; you've always been so good to me," Raizen said with a chuckle. In his timeline, Tsunade had just contributed several hundred million Ryō to his coffers—she couldn't be a "better" sister.
"I don't remember that. And judging by your clothes... you're an Uchiha? Who are you, exactly?" Tsunade remained wary.
Raizen didn't answer. Instead, he looked toward the area where Pain had landed. He frowned internally. Why hasn't he arrived yet?
According to the original timeline, the Sage Shima should have Reverse Summoned Naruto and the three giant toads by now. He turned to Sakura and asked, "Did you call for him?"
"Huh?" Sakura looked at Raizen, startled by the sudden question. "Call for who?"
"Naruto!" Raizen prompted. "Hurry up and shout: 'Come back, Naruto!' Quick! Summon him back!"
Sakura, not understanding his intent, whispered, "I... I just shouted that a moment ago. And then you appeared."
"You already shouted!?" Raizen was confused. In the canon, Shima summons Naruto immediately after that cry. Why hadn't they appeared?
Meanwhile, in the past, Naruto Uzumaki—in Sage Mode—stood atop Gamabunta's head, looking at his surroundings in total confusion.
"Where are we, Grandma Shima?"
"This is the lake in the Uchiha district of Konoha! It seems we were caught in a space-time turbulence and swept into a different era," Shima muttered, landing on Naruto's shoulder with a frown.
The Bargain
"What exactly are you trying to do?" Tsunade asked, her patience wearing thin. Konoha was in the middle of an existential crisis; she had no time for riddles.
"Step aside. I don't have time for you right now," Tsunade said, pushing Raizen's hand away. She leaped down to confront the Deva Path Pain.
"I am the Fifth Hokage. As the Hokage, I will settle this with you!"
"It seems you've come to understand pain a little," Deva Path replied coldly. "But I have no interest in you. Even at this stage, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki hasn't appeared. It seems he intends to hide at Mount Myōboku and never return. Since he isn't coming, there is no further use for any of you."
"Sensei!!!" Sakura knelt on the ruins, her heart filled with despair. Tsunade was heavily injured and had exhausted vast amounts of chakra; she was gasping for air just standing up. There was no way she could defeat that monster.
"Sakura Haruno. Do you want to save the village? Do you want to save everyone?" Raizen asked calmly from beside her.
"I do!"
"I can save your village, but I have one condition."
"As long as the village is saved, I'll agree to any condition!!"
"Good. Put this on."
"This is...?"
"Something to ensure you don't break your promise."
Without hesitation, Sakura put on the item Raizen handed her. In the next heartbeat, it vanished into her skin.
"Now, cheer for me," Raizen said, a confident smirk appearing on his face. "And remember my name. I am Uchiha Raizen."
In this alternate space-time, Raizen finally introduced himself by the name that would define his legacy.