Chapter 3: Foundation of a New Life

Chapter 3: Foundations of a New Life

Raizen sat on the wooden floor of his small home, watching Naruto sleep. The infant’s tiny chest rose and fell in soft, rhythmic motions, his thumb barely slipping from his mouth as he dozed.

Taking him in had been the easy part.

Now came the hard part—raising him.

He sighed, rubbing his temples. He had no experience with babies. His life before this had been filled with study, work, and personal freedom. Now, he had a child to care for—a child who couldn’t even walk yet.

But he wouldn’t let himself fail.

He thought back to the things he had observed in his previous life. Parents feeding their children, cradling them when they cried, establishing daily routines. He needed structure—for Naruto and for himself.

Building a Routine

Step one: Food. Naruto was still too young for solid food, which meant he needed milk or baby formula. The orphanage had provided a small supply, but it wouldn’t last long. He’d need to buy more soon.

Step two: Hygiene. Bathing Naruto, changing diapers, and keeping their living space clean. He grimaced at the thought—he had never imagined himself changing diapers—but it had to be done.

Step three: Sleep. He needed to adjust his sleeping patterns to match Naruto’s unpredictable ones. That meant waking up in the middle of the night, comforting him, and learning to function on interrupted rest.

Naruto shifted slightly in his sleep, a tiny sigh escaping his lips. Raizen exhaled as well.

“We’ll figure it out,” he muttered.

But there was another issue—money.

The Financial Reality

The Hokage had given him funds, enough to last two months. It was generous, but temporary. He needed a steady income if he wanted to provide Naruto with a stable home.

Luckily, he had a plan.

Konoha was still recovering from the Nine-Tails’ attack. Entire districts had been reduced to rubble—homes, shops, roads, infrastructure. The village needed to be rebuilt, and he had the skills to help.

Back in his original world, Raizen had completed degrees in architecture and business management. Here, those skills were priceless.

Starting a Business

The next morning, Raizen went straight to the construction district. Workers were already hauling debris, but there was little coordination—everything was being done in a rush, with no proper planning.

He approached one of the foremen, an older man with a thick beard and tired eyes.

“You’re looking for workers?” Raizen asked.

The man scoffed. “We’re always looking. But unless you’ve got strong arms, I don’t think you’re fit for manual labor.”

“I don’t plan to lift bricks,” Raizen replied smoothly. “I plan to organize the people who do.”

The foreman frowned, but Raizen continued.

“Konoha is rebuilding, but the effort is uncoordinated. I can design better building plans, optimize material use, and set up proper schedules so projects don’t overlap. Less waste, more efficiency. That means better pay for workers and faster results for the village.”

The foreman’s skeptical look faded slightly. “…You sound like you know what you’re talking about.”

“I do.”

A few hours later, he found himself speaking with several displaced workers—villagers whose homes had been destroyed, craftsmen who had lost their businesses, even former shinobi who needed new jobs.

He recruited fifteen men to start.

Carpenters, masons, and laborers. He used his remaining money to buy tools and materials, offering fair pay to those who agreed to work under him.

The First Project

His first job was simple—rebuild a destroyed market district. The Hokage’s office had put out contracts, and Raizen successfully negotiated for one.

It wasn’t much, but it was a start.

He drew up blueprints, divided tasks, and implemented a structured schedule for workers. His designs ensured that buildings were sturdy but efficient, using materials that could be easily sourced.

And just like that, his company was born.

As he stood amidst the construction site, watching the workers lay the foundation, Raizen exhaled.

His journey had begun.

Not as a shinobi.

But as a builder of the future.

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