Chapter 28: Official Recognition—Master and Disciples Converse
Finally obtaining the coveted Yin Seal, Yoru felt both elated and unexpectedly calm.
Just as he'd suspected.
Kushina bringing Uzushiogakure's Sealing Scroll before him seemed simple on the surface, but was actually extraordinary.
After all, the Land of Whirlpools and Uzushiogakure's destruction had been caused precisely by the Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques.
Moreover, Yoru felt absolutely certain the great nations had stolen only ordinary and advanced sealing techniques plus barrier techniques.
The super-rare and powerful sealing techniques could never spread freely. Even clan members with family contributions could only receive one-time independent scrolls.
Such scrolls might even be inscribed with restrictions like the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal and defenses against mind-reading techniques.
Nearly every secret technique ninja clan employed such methods—primarily to prevent clan members from defecting or having their corpses looted, leading to family secrets spreading.
As a prestigious ninja clan spanning a millennium, the Uzumaki clan's Sealing Scroll's value ranked second only to Konoha's Forbidden Scroll.
In the shinobi world, it could immediately trigger a Second Shinobi World War.
And now, this item simply sat before Yoru.
Without tacit permission from Mito Uzumaki and Hiruzen Sarutobi, this would be impossible!
In Yoru's eyes, this scroll represented a signal.
A signal that both Mito Uzumaki and Hiruzen Sarutobi recognized him and prepared to nurture him.
Otherwise, no matter how love-struck Kushina became, those two important figures would never allow her to act so impulsively.
They must now place high hopes in Yoru, expecting him to learn the Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques and eventually possess the ability to handle a Nine-Tails jinchuriki losing control.
Simultaneously, they hoped he could suppress and pacify the Nine-Tails together with Kushina.
Thinking this through, Yoru's inner joy exceeded even obtaining the Yin Seal.
This meant his relationship with Kushina had received "official recognition." Even after she became the Nine-Tails jinchuriki, the higher-ups wouldn't dare interfere—they'd even provide support from behind, using resources to cultivate Yoru.
After Mito Uzumaki's death, unless Yoru developed conflicts with Hiruzen Sarutobi or completely fell out with him, as long as he remained in Konoha, no troubles would find him.
As long as he displayed powerful talent and strength, Yoru's future prospects would face no obstacles.
...
"Sarutobi-sensei, you're acting strangely today. You actually invited me and Orochimaru over for dinner?"
"Brat, you've got nerve saying that? What kind of master-student relationship requires the teacher to invite the disciples? If I hadn't invited you, would you ever think to show filial respect?"
"Ahem... I haven't taken missions in ages. No money."
"Then get back to work!"
"Can't. I'm staying in Konoha to gather material. I'm planning to write a novel. Once I earn manuscript fees, I'll properly show respect."
"Oh? Come tell me more about this."
That evening, Hiruzen Sarutobi unusually invited his two disciples Jiraiya and Orochimaru to dinner at his home.
Orochimaru was in the kitchen assisting Biwako Sarutobi. Jiraiya and Hiruzen Sarutobi sat at the dining table drinking and bantering.
Among the three disciples, Orochimaru satisfied and made the Sarutobi couple most proud, but the one Hiruzen Sarutobi could chat most freely with was the irreverent Jiraiya.
One inherited the ninjutsu legacy, the other inherited the perverted legacy—both shared common interests.
Jiraiya—who possessed abundant blackmail material on Hiruzen Sarutobi—acted as casually in the Sarutobi household as in his own home, quite brazenly.
After dinner concluded, Biwako Sarutobi declined Orochimaru's offer to help with dishes. The master and two disciples moved from the dining room to the tea room.
Orochimaru took over tea preparation duties. Hiruzen Sarutobi lit his pipe, puffing clouds of smoke.
Jiraiya couldn't be bothered with such formalities. He sat cross-legged on the tatami and got straight to the point with Hiruzen: "Sarutobi-sensei, do you have some task for us?"
"Can't this old man just want to chat with you both?"
The moment Hiruzen Sarutobi finished speaking, Jiraiya shot him a contemptuous look. Even Orochimaru—currently washing teacups—glanced sideways at Hiruzen.
"You two brats, what kind of look is that?" Hiruzen immediately scolded.
"Come on, Sarutobi-sensei. Only you would do something like handing an entire squad to Orochimaru the moment he became chunin." Jiraiya mercilessly criticized. "It's only because we three are powerful and lucky that we didn't die dozens of times over."
"If I hadn't raised you that hands-off, would you have your current strength?"
"Fine, fine, I can't win arguments with you." Jiraiya raised his hands in surrender, then asked again: "So what do you want to chat about, Sarutobi-sensei? Not the women's bathhouse, surely?"
"Brat, keep your voice down!" Hiruzen made a motion to strike Jiraiya with his pipe, scaring the latter into covering his head with both hands.
Orochimaru smiled watching this scene.
After some playful roughhousing, Hiruzen finally got to the main topic: "You've both been jonin for some time now. Your comprehensive abilities are excellent, but you're still missing one element. Have you considered becoming jonin instructors, training subordinates, and identifying excellent prospects to inherit your legacy?"
Jiraiya's eyes immediately lit up: "Sarutobi-sensei, you want us to become Nawaki's jonin instructor?"
"Nawaki's jonin instructor has already been internally decided. Even I have no authority to interfere." Hiruzen raised his hand, pointing at the ceiling.
Jiraiya instantly deflated, looking utterly dejected: "If it's not becoming Nawaki's instructor, then I'm not interested right now. The prospects Orochimaru and I favor won't graduate for a long time."
"Oh? Who have you chosen?" Hiruzen's interest sparked immediately. He hadn't expected these two disciples to silently select two grandstudents for him.
"They're only entering fifth grade in April. Orochimaru favors the Chief Student, and I favor second place." Jiraiya answered honestly.
Hiruzen immediately looked toward Orochimaru, his smile somewhat meaningful: "Satsu and Mio's child is your disciple?"
Orochimaru understood Hiruzen's implication, chuckling softly: "Looks like you've noticed him too, Sarutobi-sensei. Makes sense—he is exceptionally outstanding."
"Not just me. Lady Mito is also watching him."
Hiruzen's response made both Orochimaru and Jiraiya's expressions shift.
Few people warranted Hiruzen Sarutobi addressing them as "Lady."
In current Konoha, only the First Hokage's wife—who founded the village—held that distinction.
Though the Senju clan had integrated into Konoha, with even Tsunade and Nawaki abandoning the Senju surname...
As long as that lady lived, the Senju clan still existed.
She represented not only the Senju clan but also the First Hokage himself.
And every ninja clan in Konoha revered the First Hokage.
As Hiruzen had just said, this lady was "above."
Her decisions couldn't be interfered with—not even by the Hokage.