Starting Point

Time-Skip; Two years and one month later;

What is meant to be will inevitably happen. The Third Shinobi World War, which began years ago, is now coming to an end. Nearly all of the Great Nations have exhausted their power, and fighting along the borders has ceased. Several nations have signed cease-fire agreements with the Hidden Leaf. However, the people of Konoha have gained little from this situation, receiving only assurances of alliances on paper that could be disregarded at any moment.

This fact made many of the citizens and shinobi undeniably upset and angry at the Third Hokage and his administration. The Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi took all the blame on himself and resigned as Hokage and nominated Minato Namikaze as the Fourth Hokage.

Meanwhile in the Higuchi Home in Konoha;

In the courtyard overlooking one of the many forests created by the First Hokage, Haruka was training Kaito both physically and in taijutsu. He was proud of his son, and this training started one month ago on Kaito's birthday.

At Kaito 3rd Birthday; Kaito POV:

Haruka wished him a happy birthday and said, "Son, now that you are three years old, you have an important decision to make. Do you want to be a Ninja, or do you prefer to stay a civilian? We will support you either way. However, you should know that Senju body training typically begins at age three, and we unlock your chakra at four before you enter the academy."

I looked at my dad excitedly and started jumping around, "finally, I can start training. I have been asking Mom for a while now but she wouldn't let me. Of course, I want to be a Ninja dad."

My dad looked at me and asked, "Why do you want to be a ninja? If you can give me a convincing answer, I will start training you."

I looked at my dad, who seemed a bit sad yet proud at the same time. He said, "Honestly, I want you to be safe. I want to be strong enough to protect you, our family, and the village so that nothing can hurt you."

My dad looked at me and said, "I was scared you would say that. You see, your mom doesn't want you to be a shinobi because of how much she suffered to bring you into this world. At the same time, we know you want to become one. You have studied a lot about the history of your clan and have played with your toy kunai and shuriken as if you were training since you were two. Your mom wants you to become a civilian because she is afraid of losing you, but we know we can't stop you. So be prepared for the harshest training you can imagine. Tomorrow, we will start with Senju body training, followed by Senju Taijutsu. After we build up your body for a while, we will open your chakra after a year of hard work."

I then asked Dad, "Why can't we open up my chakra sooner?" I wanted more time to work on my chakra control before the academy, as there are nearly two years until I start. This would allow me to focus on other things, especially learning Shadow Clone Jutsu, which is essential for my growth.

Dad then said, "You see, chakra is a combination of physical and spiritual energy. Being part Senju and Uzumaki gives you huge reservoirs of chakra. However, the downside is that our chakra constantly energizes our bodies, making it difficult to build the muscle strength required for Senju-style taijutsu. This style uses chakra to amplify your strikes, and if your body isn't built properly, you could hurt yourself."

He then continued "The advantage of our taijutsu is significant. Unlike the Uchiha, who focus on speed and counterattacks, the Senju taijutsu style is an all-rounder that can be adapted to anyone's preference. If you push this taijutsu style to its limits, you could reach the level of Lord Hashirama or Lady Tsunade, where each punch or kick can have destructive capacity equivalent to level B or even level A jutsu, or attain a speed similar to that of Lord Tobirama. But for now, I will come up with a training plan for you to start with, beginning tomorrow at 5 a.m."

This was the beginning of my training. Every morning, I started with endurance training because Dad said that before learning how to fight, we needed to be able to last through a fight. I began by running around the village. Dad stated that we would start strength training and practicing Taijutsu katas only after I could complete one lap around Konoha in under three hours.

The first week, especially the first day, was extremely difficult. On that day, I couldn't even finish one lap and ended up fainting. When my dad carried me back home, I was only half-conscious. I noticed my mom helping me by making me bite her, and then I began to feel as if all my pain was just a dream. I felt energized and kept my eyes closed as I listened to her talking with my dad.

Haruka asked her, "Are you sure you want me to train him this hard? Even a Senju typically starts with just 10 kilometers and then gradually increases their training. You're using your Kekkei Genkai to ensure he doesn't sustain any lasting injuries during his training, and not even the Konoha higher-ups are aware of it."

Honoka replied, "I want him to be safe. If he wants to become a shinobi, then we will train him to be the best shinobi that ever existed, so I won't have to worry. As for Heal-Bite, you don't need to be concerned; he doesn't have any chakra—just some muscle fatigue from time to time. That won't cost me much life-force, so he won't have any lasting injuries, and you can push him harder."

I was in tears my mom was doing all this for me this was the first true moment that I called her mom without any feeling of awkwardness I opened my eyes and looked at her "Mom you don't have to worry I will be the strongest shinobi so that no one will ever dare to fight me and you won't have to be scared"

My intense training began, and the first time I completed a lap around Konoha, it took me nearly six hours of running. I was exhausted. However, after three weeks of endurance training, I can now complete the lap in about four hours.

In the afternoon, I was doing sprints in the forest next to our house while wearing the resistance seals that my grandmother, Yua, gave me. This routine continued for the next week, and I finally reached a three-hour mark two days before the one-month deadline I had set for myself. Coincidentally, the inauguration of the Fourth Hokage was scheduled for two days from now.

My dad started strength training the very next day using resistance bands. He advised me never to use gravity seals or weights until at least my seventh birthday. He demonstrated the basic Senju taijutsu katas and also taught me leg and core strengthening exercises. He explained that a shinobi must prioritize speed before strength, emphasizing that the legs are the foundation of everything. He wants to build my training from the ground up.

Today is a special day, so we had to stop our training early because Mom called us. "Haruka and Kaito, stop training and take a shower. We need to be at the Hokage's building in an hour," she told us.

I was confused, so I asked my mom, "Why, Mom?" She replied, "You see, when a Hokage is appointed, the heads of all departments should be present behind him, along with the representatives of all the clans. Since Kushina will be standing next to Minato as the Deputy of the Sealing Corps, it becomes my job to be there. Also, since Lady Tsunade isn't in the village, your grandfather Aoto will represent the Senju Clan. Now hurry up so we won't be late!

'So Minato is the Fourth Hokage, huh, seems like canon is still the same'

After hearing my mom nag me for the 12th time, we reached the Hokage Tower before the ceremony started. I was waiting in the back when I met Aunt Kushina wearing her Jonin outfit and called her " Auntie Kushina".

She turned around and saw me. "My little Kaito, you're here! Is your dad with you?" I responded, "Dad is with Grandpa Aoto, talking to the other heads of the clans. Are you excited that Uncle Minato is going to become Hokage?"

"Of course, I am excited, dattebane," she responded, squeezing herself next to me on the seat in the hallway outside one of the meeting rooms.

"When I came from Uzushiogakure after the village was destroyed, I felt lonely. On the first day of the academy, I boldly declared that I would be the first female Hokage. I thought that if I became Hokage, people would recognize me not as an outsider but as one of Konoha's own. Everyone laughed at me, except for your Uncle Minato. At first, I thought he was just being wuss, but I later realized that he didn't laugh because he believed in my goal. He also wanted to become Hokage, so his dream was like an extension of mine. What about you, Kaito? What is your dream?"

I replied to her, "I want to become the strongest Shinobi so that I can protect my family and my village." I looked at her and saw her smile at me. Then she said, "That's a beautiful dream, Kaito. Never lose sight of it."

I then heard an old man chuckling. I looked over and saw the Third Hokage watching me.

"That it is," he said, smiling.

"Kushina, can you introduce me to this little man?"

With pride swelling in her chest, Kushina stood up, pointed at me, and said, "Lord Third, this is my nephew, Kaito Uzumaki Higuchi, the future strongest ninja and Hokage."

Then she turned to me and added, "This is Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Fossil, I mean Third Hokage." I struggled to hold back my laughter as I noticed her snickering, while he began to cough from the smoke.

He ignored the humorous remark and turned to me. "So, you're Honoka and Haruka's boy. Becoming the strongest doesn't happen without hard work, especially when you have a goal. Protecting your family and the village will motivate and guide you. Good luck! If you ever need anything, feel free to come to me. I may be old, but I wasn't called 'the professor' for nothing."

Aunt Kushina urged him to stop his tirade about the Will of Fire, saying, "Lord Third, if we don't go now, we will miss the inauguration."

This was the first time I met the Third Hokage. The rest of the day proceeded as normal, with Minato becoming the Fourth Hokage. I always thought his Hokage coat looked awesome, and in real life, it looked even cooler. This was also the first time I shared my goals and dreams with anyone, and I am determined to make sure they happen.