Chapter 10: Orochimaru's Investment and Expectations
Yoru had long been mentally prepared for Orochimaru's question.
The moment Orochimaru saw the Rasengan, Yoru knew a probing was unavoidable.
Organizing his thoughts, Yoru looked directly at Orochimaru: "A ninja's battle is a battle of intelligence! I don't want others to know my trump cards, and I don't wish to graduate early for now. I still want to learn more knowledge at the academy."
Seeing Yoru's serious expression, Orochimaru was momentarily stunned.
Clearly, he hadn't expected such a response from Yoru.
After collecting himself, Orochimaru's gaze toward Yoru filled with appreciation.
It seemed this child wasn't just physically precocious—his mentality was remarkably mature as well.
While other children were still playing ninja games, and even prodigies couldn't resist the temptation of early graduation to become ninjas, he was hiding his strength and accumulating knowledge.
So what had caused such transformation and thinking in him?
Undoubtedly, it must be the news of Gojo couple's death.
In this moment, Orochimaru seemed to see his own reflection in Yoru.
He too had undergone tremendous changes after losing both parents.
Therefore, Orochimaru could understand Yoru's intention to conceal his edge.
Only by hiding powerful trump cards could one create miracles in desperate situations, turning certain death into survival.
He wasn't afraid of seeing blood as an early graduate ninja—he wanted to become stronger, master more knowledge, to handle unexpected situations that might arise at any time, ensuring neither he nor his comrades would follow in their parents' footsteps.
Thinking this, Orochimaru's favor toward Yoru surged dramatically.
Outwardly, he offered high praise: "An excellent mindset, truly worthy of being Hayate and Mio's son. If they could see you now in the Pure Land, they would be greatly comforted."
"I believe you will surely surpass them in the future and become one of Leaf Village's ace combatants."
Before Yoru could modestly respond this time, Orochimaru continued asking: "Was that ninjutsu just now a gift left to you by Hayate?"
"No, the Rasengan is a ninjutsu I developed myself." Yoru shook his head.
"Rasengan? Quite a good name."
The corners of Orochimaru's mouth lifted slightly, with an expression that said he'd expected as much.
Given that technique's power, if it had been developed by Gojo Hayate or inherited by the Gojo family, it would have long been famous throughout Leaf Village and the ninja world.
Simultaneously, he couldn't help but marvel inwardly.
Developing a ninjutsu with at least B-rank training difficulty at this age—such talent was truly dazzling!
But outwardly, Orochimaru remarked casually: "That technique's power is very strong, with both Shape Transformation and Chakra control reaching the highest level. And unless I'm mistaken, it's also a seal-less ninjutsu without attributes? Were you just trying to inject Nature Transformation into it but failed?"
"As expected of Lord Orochimaru!"
Yoru widened his eyes, looking at Orochimaru with an expression of 'shock'.
Then he gazed at Orochimaru with feigned anticipation, his eyes burning with intensity.
Orochimaru's lips curved slightly as he raised his right hand.
Coiled around his wrist was a small white snake that had appeared at some unknown time.
The small snake opened its mouth and spat out a red scroll completely disproportionate to its body size.
Orochimaru tossed the scroll to Yoru and said, "This contains my understanding of Nature Transformation over the years. I no longer have use for it, so I'm giving it to you."
Upon hearing this, Yoru's hand, which had just caught the scroll, trembled slightly.
Then his eyes shifted, and he put on an expression of wild delight, bowing at a perfect 90-degree angle to Orochimaru. "Thank you, Orochimaru-sensei!"
Orochimaru, taking in every change in his expression, did not correct the address. Instead, he left behind words full of anticipation.
"I hope that the next time we meet, your growth will astonish me."
With that, Orochimaru vanished in an afterimage.
Only after Orochimaru had been gone for over ten seconds did Yoru straighten up, gazing at the scroll in his hand with overwhelming joy.
This was truly an unexpected delight!
The surprise wasn't the Nature Transformation scroll Orochimaru had gifted him, but the fact that the other hadn't refused his presumptuous form of address.
Yoru had originally assumed that the first of the Legendary Three Ninja he would encounter would be Tsunade, whom he planned to meet through Kushina, Jiraiya, or Minato.
He never expected that the first of the Three he would meet and interact with would be Orochimaru!
Moreover, this legendary ninja—whose talent and brilliance were second only to Tobirama Senju, who survived from the original series' youth arc all the way to Boruto, not only avoiding obsolescence but constantly making his presence felt through science—seemed to hold considerable goodwill toward him and greatly appreciated his abilities.
If that were the case, then Yoru might not need to rely on Kushina to latch onto Tsunade.
As long as he could secure Orochimaru's support, he could not only gain access to the latter's resources and connections but also form a contract with Ryūchi Cave, thereby obtaining its Sage Mode.
Once he mastered Sage Mode, Yoru's Space-Time Chakra would transform into Space-Time Senjutsu Chakra.
At that point, he dared not imagine how powerful he would become!
Thinking this, Yoru began to analyze Orochimaru's gift and tacit approval.
The reason Orochimaru hadn't refused his presumptuous address was undoubtedly due to his talent.
Before awakening his Space-Time Ability, Yoru's original plan had been to shock the Leaf Village with the Rasengan, compelling the higher-ups to tacitly allow his friendship with Kushina and invest in him.
Developing an A-rank, hand-seal-less Ninjutsu at the age of nine was simply terrifying.
Such talent was impossible for anyone to ignore.
Especially for a powerhouse like Orochimaru!
With top-tier Chakra control and Shape Transformation, once he improved his Nature Transformation, Yoru's Rasengan could be perfected into an S-rank secret technique.
S-rank Ninjutsu represented the highest level in the shinobi world—techniques that couldn't necessarily be mastered no matter how much effort was expended, and couldn't even be copied by the Sharingan.
Such techniques, even among the Five Great Shinobi Villages, were classified as forbidden arts or trump cards, sealed away in scrolls or stored in the Kinjutsu Repository.
Shinobi who mastered techniques of this caliber possessed the power to threaten a Kage.
Once their overall capabilities were elevated, they became the ace combatants of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, commonly known as—Jōnin.
These Jōnin were also regarded as candidates for Hokage and, in emergencies, could assign A-rank missions to any ninja in the village.
When the Five Kage sacrifice themselves or step down, they all possess the qualifications to run for the Five Kage and to vote.
Orochimaru is now such an existence!
Yoru has also demonstrated the potential to become such an entity in the future.
Orochimaru, who currently dreams of becoming the Fourth Hokage, needs to build his own team and requires powerful, trustworthy subordinates.
Yoru's potential, identity, and current age perfectly align with this requirement.
This scroll and not refusing Yoru's form of address are Orochimaru's investment and expectations in him.
As long as Yoru continues to showcase his potential, even if Orochimaru doesn't take him as a disciple, he will increase his investment and utilize the privileges of being a Hokage's disciple to nurture him.
Since his transmigration, the backing Yoru has always dreamed of has finally been found!