Chapter 41: Creating Portable Space? S-Rank Mission
The items Orochimaru had Yoru purchase were camping equipment.
Backpack, tent, sleeping bag, canteen, cooking utensils, and so on...
Only two items were unrelated to camping: storage scrolls and military rations pills.
Yoru's house still had plenty of these, requiring no additional purchases.
After buying equipment, Yoru took Kushina to purchase cameras—two of them, one for each.
Though digital products were extremely expensive in this era, they meant nothing to Yoru.
Setting aside the mission compensation he'd earned recently—which he only split with the village and Orochimaru without two additional teammates grabbing shares, meaning he earned far more than other genin...
The Gojo family inheritance alone could sustain Yoru's spending for many years.
After buying the cameras, dinnertime had arrived.
"Yoru, when you leave the village tomorrow for your mission, remember to stay safe and take lots of photos."
"What, not keeping a picture together?"
"Looking like this? No way I'm taking a photo with you."
After eating dinner at Yoru's house, Kushina couldn't wait to rush home and fiddle with her new toy.
Seeing off Kushina, Yoru took his camping equipment to the basement, using storage scrolls to pack and organize, compressing massive quantities of items into a single backpack.
While organizing, Yoru couldn't help internally complaining: "I've awakened a 'Space-Time bloodline' yet have no portable storage space. How embarrassing."
"I wonder if storage scroll principles could work on the human body's chakra points, transforming them into dimensional storage spaces? Others can't because they lack Space-Time power and can't absorb it internally, but I not only have abundant Space-Time power, I also have the Uzumaki Sealing Scroll providing assistance."
The more Yoru thought about it, the more feasible it seemed.
Because this was essentially an alternative version of the Yin Seal.
However, for now, Yoru only dared imagine it.
After packing storage scrolls into his backpack, Yoru rummaged through a box and quickly retrieved two white wristbands.
These wristbands were also a type of storage scroll, typically used for storing shuriken and kunai.
Yoru used them to store his chakra blade and camera.
After finishing these preparations, Yoru carried his backpack out of the basement, then bathed and slept.
The next day, 8:50 AM.
Yoru—backpack on his shoulders—arrived at the village gate ten minutes early, awaiting Orochimaru's arrival.
Orochimaru didn't keep him waiting long, quickly appearing with Body Flicker.
"Orochimaru-sensei."
"Orochimaru-sama!"
Yoru immediately bowed respectfully, joined by two chunin on gate duty.
As the Third Hokage's most accomplished disciple, future Orochimaru's fearsome reputation was matched only by his current admiration.
Hearing Yoru address Orochimaru as "sensei," the two chunin's gazes toward him instantly transformed.
"Sorry for the wait."
Orochimaru nodded at Yoru, then retrieved two stamped village exit permits and handed them to the chunin: "Thank you for your assistance."
"No trouble at all, Orochimaru-sama. Please wait a moment." The two chunin felt flattered, then quickly verified and granted passage.
After ten years in this world, Yoru was openly leaving the village for the first time.
Seeing Orochimaru not using Body Flicker for travel and having appeared alone earlier, Yoru finally couldn't resist asking: "Orochimaru-sensei, what mission are we executing?"
"S-rank mission."
"Huh?"
Yoru stared blankly at Orochimaru, feeling his ears had malfunctioned.
Orochimaru was quite satisfied with Yoru's expression, his smile playful as he repeated: "It's an S-rank mission. Scared?"
Coming to his senses, Yoru's lips curved slightly as he deliberately boasted: "Not scared. Geniuses should accomplish what ordinary people cannot."
Yoru didn't believe Orochimaru would lead him to his death.
If real danger arose, worst case he'd just expose his Space-Time bloodline.
Through their time together, Yoru had already recognized this period's Orochimaru and mentally prepared for him knowing his secret.
Orochimaru before corruption and developing the Cursed Seal would only feel delighted learning Yoru possessed Space-Time bloodline abilities.
Deeply respecting others' privacy and knowing Yoru preferred concealment, Orochimaru hadn't even asked how he hid his chakra signature when using Phantom Body Flicker.
Orochimaru naturally didn't know Yoru's confidence source.
Seeing Yoru fearless, he couldn't help smiling and explaining: "Commendable courage. However, this S-rank mission is rather special—it's espionage."
"Espionage? We're collecting intelligence?"
"Yes. Prepare for extended wilderness camping. This will be a grueling wait."
"Understood."
Yoru soon discovered why Orochimaru called it a grueling wait.
Over the following half-month, Orochimaru took Yoru to forests, snowy mountains, and deserts—all uninhabited lands.
With excellent academic performance, Yoru knew which countries they'd visited even without checking maps.
The forest was the Fire Country-River Country border. The snowy mountains were Iron Country. The desert was Wind Country.
The key point: Orochimaru took Yoru to these places and did nothing but... wait.
Sometimes waiting one day, sometimes two or three days, then proceeding somewhere specific to retrieve a scroll.
As for the scrolls' contents, Yoru didn't know. Orochimaru didn't show him.
During this period, Yoru's only function was cooking for Orochimaru.
Someone with Naruto Uzumaki's personality would have lost patience long ago.
Yoru, however, endured the solitude exceptionally well, spending each day training to pass time without complaint.
Well-behaved children receive rewards.
This evening, Orochimaru watched Yoru heating bathwater for him and suddenly asked: "Did Satsu and Mio leave you a summoning scroll?"
Yoru—back facing Orochimaru—instantly held his breath.
Calming his emotions at maximum speed, Yoru turned to face Orochimaru and shook his head: "A summoning beast scroll? No, they didn't."
Orochimaru smiled: "Do you dislike snakes?"
"Of course not. I think snakes are incredibly cool creatures." Yoru shook his head repeatedly.
"In that case, form a contract with Ryuchi Cave like I have."
Orochimaru bit his finger, formed hand seals, and summoned a massive snake.
The giant snake expelled an oversized scroll from its mouth that landed before Orochimaru.
Orochimaru unrolled the scroll and told Yoru: "Use your blood to write your name on this scroll. Afterward, you can use the Summoning Technique to call upon Ryuchi Cave's snakes to assist in battle."
"Yes, Orochimaru-sensei!"
Yoru no longer concealed his inner joy, his face excited.
Finally obtaining the Ryuchi Cave scroll!
Once contracted with Ryuchi Cave, when his chakra reserves became sufficient, Yoru could train in Ryuchi Cave's Sage Mode, transforming his chakra into Space-Time Sage chakra.
Space-Time chakra—formed by fusing three energy types—was already powerful enough. He couldn't imagine what amplification would come from merging natural energy!