"You want to leave the Village to forge a Ninja Sword?"
Kakashi looked at Aoki Yoru, who had come to see him early in the morning, with a look of surprise on his face.
Aoki Yoru nodded. "Yeah, there isn't a suitable one in the Village, so I want to go and check out other countries."
Kakashi rubbed his chin. "That shouldn't be a problem since the war is over, but I can't decide. It requires the Sandaime's approval. Come on, I'll take you to see him."
Hokage Office.
The Third Hokage held his pipe, blew out a puff of blue smoke, and a smile appeared on his face.
"In that case, then go. Don't be in a hurry to come back; I'll give you a year to see the customs and people of the Ninja World. This will be of great benefit to your growth."
Aoki Yoru looked at the Sandaime in surprise, not expecting such an unexpected gain. This way, he would have plenty of time to travel the Ninja World, seeking greater power while broadening his horizons.
He took a deep breath and bowed deeply to the Sandaime: "Thank you for your guidance, Hokage-sama. I am truly grateful."
The Sandaime looked at the light igniting in his eyes, slowly exhaled a smoke ring, and spoke in a gentle yet powerful voice: "Go. Konoha will always be your home. No matter how far you go, remember to come back and visit."
Walking out of the Hokage Building, Aoki Yoru took a deep breath, feeling instantly refreshed. He hadn't expected things to go so smoothly.
Kakashi walked up from behind him. "Be careful out there. I know you're very strong, but the Ninja World never lacks underhanded tricks; one careless move and you'll fall for one. Also, the Ninja World is full of hidden talents, so never underestimate anyone."
Aoki Yoru nodded; he was the most cautious of all. "Don't worry, Sensei. I won't get overconfident. If I can't win, I'll run. Don't forget Yatagarasu."
The next day, at the main gate of Konoha Village.
Aoki Yoru had just arrived with his backpack when he saw Kenta and Yui waiting at the main gate.
Kenta walked over leaning on a crutch and bumped fists with him. "I'm so jealous of you, being able to go out and travel for a year."
"Hahaha, once your injury heals, you can also apply for travel."
Kenta shook his head at the words. He didn't have the kind of talent Aoki Yoru had that would allow the Hokage to permit him to travel the Ninja World. As far as he knew, only the Sannin had received such treatment.
At that moment, Yui took out a map and handed it to him. "This is a map of the Ninja World drawn by our Shimizu Clan over several decades. I hope it helps you."
Solemnly taking the map and seeing that even Village roads were marked, Aoki Yoru put it away carefully and immediately thanked her. "Thanks, this map will be very useful to me."
Aoki Yoru slung his backpack over his shoulder, turned around, and waved vigorously at the two of them, a light smile playing on his lips:
"I'm off! I'll bring back some souvenirs for you guys when I return!"
The two of them waved back. "Be careful on the road! Remember to write back!"
Aoki Yoru took one last look in the direction of Konoha, then turned and stepped onto the forest path outside the Village, his figure quickly disappearing into the dense trees.
Aoki Yoru was walking through the dense forest outside the Village, enjoying the scenery of the Ninja World for the first time, when his footsteps suddenly came to a halt.
He could clearly sense a strange and cold Chakra hiding in the shadows of a tree trunk ahead, locking onto his back like a venomous snake.
He didn't turn around, but slowly rested his hand on the Ninja Sword at his waist, his voice calm yet filled with alertness: "Come out. Aren't you tired after hiding for so long?"
"Clap clap clap—"
A man with skin so pale it was almost sickly and golden vertical pupils as cold as a snake's stepped out from behind the tree. A feminine smile hung on the corners of his mouth, and his entire being exuded an eerie and dangerous aura.
"As expected of Yoru-kun, such keen perception."
Aoki Yoru's pupils constricted suddenly, and his fingers involuntarily tightened their grip on the Ninja Sword. He stared intently at the other's snake-like vertical pupils and said in a low voice:
"The Cold Lord—Orochimaru?"
"It seems Yoru-kun knows my name. I am truly honored."
As he spoke, his long, thin tongue flicked across the corner of his mouth like a snake's, and the smile in his golden vertical pupils deepened, as if he were examining a rare experimental subject.
Looking at Orochimaru appearing before him, Aoki Yoru's face darkened, and he gritted his teeth, saying, "Is it Danzo?"
Orochimaru gave him a surprised look. "It seems Yoru-kun has guessed it. It was that fellow Danzo who sent me the message."
Then, the feminine smile on his face grew even more pronounced. "Yoru-kun, I have learned everything about you. With your talent, staying in Konoha is a waste. Why not come with me? I will help you fully realize your potential. As for Danzo, I can even help you deal with him."
Looking at Orochimaru who kept trying to entice him, Aoki Yoru slowly drew his cracked Ninja Sword and pointed it straight at him.
"I'll deal with that rat in the gutter myself later. As for you, Sannin Orochimaru, let me see the difference between you and the other two."
Orochimaru's expression darkened; he saw disdain on Aoki Yoru's face. "Hehehe! I didn't expect to be underestimated by a brat. Then let me witness your strength."
The aura around Orochimaru suddenly turned cold, his sleeves billowed out, and several pitch-black snake shadows shot out like arrows, attacking him.
Aoki Yoru remained calm. His Ninja Sword left its sheath, a cold light flashed, and he sliced all the snake heads lunging at him in half.
Seeing his technique broken so easily, Orochimaru wasn't angry. His hands quickly formed seals, and the Chakra around him surged suddenly.
"Ninja Art: Myriad Snake Net Formation"
Countless black snakes poured out frantically from the ground, the grass, and beneath his robes, coiling together in layers. A foul stench wafted towards him, completely trapping Aoki Yoru in the center of a sea of snakes.
In the center, Aoki Yoru looked at the dense swarm of snakes around him with interest, showing no sign of fear.
"Oh, it's this technique. But if the individuals are too weak, what use is there in numbers?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the Lightning Release Chakra on his body surged, spreading frantically from his feet in all directions.
The moment the dense swarm of venomous snakes touched the lightning, they let out ear-piercing hisses, their bodies instantly pierced by the current and turned to charcoal.
"Remarkable lightning-attribute Chakra, I..." Orochimaru, who was speaking, had his pupils contract. He forced himself to swallow his words as a blade appeared through his chest, blood dripping down.
"I'm tired of your talk." Aoki Yoru's voice came from behind. He was holding the hilt, the blade plunged into his heart.
"As expected, compared to the other two Sannin, you are far behind."
As he spoke, he twisted the hilt, crushing his heart. "Orochimaru, how long has it been since your strength improved? You've already been left behind by the other two."
As soon as he spoke, Aoki Yoru immediately leaped back, creating distance between them. Orochimaru wouldn't die that easily; his title as the "King of Survival" in the Ninja World wasn't for nothing.
In the field, Orochimaru, who had supposedly lost his breath, suddenly threw his head back. His mouth opened to an exaggerated limit, almost tearing his cheeks, and he actually slid out of his own mouth completely unharmed, soaking wet and covered in fluid.
Unlike watching anime, seeing this scene for real for the first time made Aoki Yoru feel instinctively nauseous. Frowning, he flicked the blood off his sword.
"What a truly disgusting technique."