Chapter 51: Minato Graduates, Third Hokage's Wild Joy
After hearing Orochimaru's explanation, Yoru fell into deep thought.
He hadn't expected Lightning Release to have such benefits.
As a transmigrator, Yoru actually possessed other methods to strengthen his genjutsu resistance—and more than one.
The first was Sage Mode. Once he activated Sage Mode, Yoru wouldn't just experience a massive power boost—his resistance to various attacks would receive an epic-level enhancement as well.
Natural energy was an overwhelmingly dominant force. Even genjutsu masters couldn't manipulate sage chakra that had been fused with natural energy.
The second method was the Eight Gates technique—one of the three legendary techniques from Shippuden alongside the Reanimation Jutsu and Flying Thunder God Technique.
He didn't need to master the Eight Gates to an extreme level. Simply opening the First Gate would remove the brain's limiters, allowing him to unleash one hundred percent of his body's capabilities while simultaneously disrupting his internal chakra flow.
The only drawback was the technique's excessive consumption of physical energy. Without an iron body, it couldn't be sustained for long.
Yoru had never planned to pursue the Eight Gates. To unleash that technique to its full potential required tempering the body through thousands of brutal training sessions. Doing all that just to open the First Gate offered far too low a return on investment.
From the beginning, Yoru had only ever wanted Ryuchi Cave's Sage Mode.
Unfortunately, training in sage techniques required massive chakra reserves. Otherwise, not only would training fail—it could be life-threatening.
He'd originally assumed he wouldn't be able to strengthen his genjutsu resistance until reaching adulthood. The revelation that Lightning Release could achieve the same result was an unexpected windfall.
This was the benefit of having an excellent teacher.
Eyes filled with anticipation, Yoru asked: "Orochimaru-sensei, is there a fast method to master Lightning Release nature transformation?"
"Of course there is." Orochimaru's smile carried deeper meaning. "Do you know why Kumogakure's shinobi are so devoted to mastering Lightning Release taijutsu?"
"Why?"
"Because their environment consists of cloud-shrouded mountain ranges where thunder roars year-round." Orochimaru smiled. "Living constantly beneath lightning storms, some unlucky individuals inevitably get struck by lightning. So the shinobi and scientists there invented a method—using natural lightning to help their shinobi rapidly master Lightning Release nature transformation and enhance physical capabilities. Over time, this formed Kumogakure's unique Lightning Release taijutsu style."
Yoru understood immediately, his mouth twitching slightly. "This fast method wouldn't happen to be—"
"If you want to develop the Lightning attribute later in life, naturally you must first experience lightning itself." Orochimaru's tone turned teasing. "What's wrong? Are you afraid?"
Kushina covered her mouth, smiling as she watched Yoru.
Though he recognized the obvious provocation, Yoru couldn't tolerate their gazes. Grinning, he said: "That suits me perfectly."
"In that case, we'll begin the next training stage tomorrow."
Orochimaru stood, patting Yoru's shoulder before dismissing them.
Yoru and Kushina headed home together.
Along the way, Kushina mentioned something: "Oh right, Yoru—someone else from our class graduated early besides you."
"Was it Minato?" Yoru raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah, that pretty boy." Kushina nodded. "He apparently found some impressive teacher too, but unlike you, he's got two teammates."
"With his talent and strength, he could have graduated early long ago."
Yoru vaguely recalled that Minato Namikaze's graduation age was ten.
In his previous life, many people had debated whether Nagato or Minato was Jiraiya's senior disciple.
The truth was that before the Ame Orphans, Jiraiya already had three students.
Those three students formed Jiraiya's team—Minato Namikaze and two other male students.
Shinobi squads didn't necessarily need to consist of two boys and one girl.
To avoid situations where two boys might collectively isolate the third boy, team assignments often included one girl with two boys.
However, if a class had very few girls, squads of three boys could form.
Like Might Guy in the original series, who formed a team with Ebisu and Genma Shiranui.
Jiraiya's team was similarly all male.
Yoru remembered this so clearly because those two male students from Jiraiya's team appeared briefly in the Minato one-shot manga.
As for their actual names, Yoru didn't know.
Kushina naturally had no idea what Yoru was thinking.
Seeing him give Minato such high praise, she pouted, complaining: "That pretty boy keeps staring at me all the time, like he's never seen red hair before. It's so annoying. Good thing he graduated early—one less irritating person in class."
Yoru remained silent.
Poor Yellow Flash. Too timid to confess his love at first sight, now condemned as an annoying nuisance for merely watching.
Still, that guy was ridiculously pure-hearted. Even with zero hope, he apparently hadn't given up completely. Could Yoru's early graduation have given him false hope?
...
Meanwhile, at the Hokage's office.
The moment Orochimaru entered, he asked: "Sarutobi-sensei, did you see?"
"See what?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked up from the documents he was reviewing, puzzled.
"You weren't using your Crystal Ball today?" Orochimaru glanced at the crystal sphere on the desk.
"Ahem..."
Hiruzen's face immediately flushed. Coughing lightly, he said: "I typically only observe the village and gauge public opinion to see if any areas need development. Beyond that, I rarely use the Telescope Technique."
"Heh."
Orochimaru's simple laugh carried more devastating force than Jiraiya's blunt accusations ever could.
"Why did you come here, boy?" Hiruzen asked, embarrassment turning to irritation.
But Orochimaru's next words made Hiruzen shoot to his feet.
"Yoru has already mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique."
"Are you serious?!"
Hiruzen's hands slammed onto the desk, eyes locked on Orochimaru, his face written with disbelief.
Seeing Orochimaru nod, Hiruzen could no longer contain his wild joy. Expression filled with excitement, he said: "Excellent! After Tobirama-sensei, Konoha finally has another wielder of the Flying Thunder God Technique!"
Something occurred to him, and Hiruzen quickly asked: "How far can Yoru currently sense the technique's formula?"
The Flying Thunder God Technique was incredibly powerful. Even Orochimaru, a once-in-a-decade genius, lacked the talent to learn it. It was one of the shinobi world's few super S-rank jutsu.
However, the technique wasn't truly invincible.
Ironically, the Second Hokage's cause of death involved choosing to stay behind and face enemies alone rather than using the Flying Thunder God Technique to escape with his students and subordinates.
The Flying Thunder God Technique required sensing the Flying Thunder God seal to perform the teleportation.
In the original series, Obito Uchiha carried a Flying Thunder God seal on his body, yet Minato couldn't sense it and thus couldn't instantly reach the battlefield.
Kakashi Hatake possessed a Flying Thunder God kunai, yet Minato similarly couldn't arrive for immediate support, leading to Obito's resentment and mockery—calling the shinobi world's fastest man someone who always arrived late at critical moments.
This clearly demonstrated that the user's ability to sense the seals had distance limitations.