Chapter 52: Increased Investment, Favoritism
"I don't know. He only learned the Flying Thunder God Technique a few days ago."
Orochimaru shook his head, telling a small lie.
Learning the Flying Thunder God Technique on the very first day after returning to Konoha would be too shocking to reveal.
Having Space-Time talent was one thing, but displaying too much ability would make anyone suspicious.
If not for what came next—and the difficulty of detecting it through the Telescope Technique—Orochimaru wouldn't have wanted to inform Hiruzen Sarutobi this quickly.
"That boy Yoru truly does possess Space-Time talent."
Hiruzen calmed himself, sat down, and lit his pipe. Exhaling smoke with evident satisfaction, he smiled at Orochimaru. "Since he's already mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique, we shouldn't waste this jutsu's strategic deterrence. Take him on more missions and spread those Flying Thunder God seals everywhere."
"Once war breaks out, he'll be Konoha's secret weapon."
"I understand. That's exactly what I was thinking." Orochimaru nodded. "However, Yoru's weakness is quite obvious right now. His chakra attributes don't include Lightning Release. I'm planning to teach him Lightning Release nature transformation next."
"You're planning to strengthen his genjutsu resistance?"
As the Professor of Ninjutsu, Hiruzen instantly grasped Orochimaru's intention.
"Yes. I'd like to request permission to borrow the Sword of the Thunder God." Orochimaru nodded.
"The Rasengan that boy developed is even more suitable for the Flying Thunder God Technique than Second Hokage's Flying Thunder God Slash. Unfortunately, his chakra reserves can't compare to the Senju clan, and he lacks the Water attribute."
Hiruzen's expression filled with regret. Exhaling another puff of smoke, he continued: "Lightning Release can indeed strengthen genjutsu resistance. However, to counter genjutsu users, you can't rely solely on defense. Sometimes the best defense is a good offense."
"Sarutobi-sensei, you mean..." Orochimaru immediately realized something.
"Besides the Sword of the Thunder God, I'll allow you to make an independent scroll copy of the Genjutsu: Bringer of Darkness Technique." Hiruzen began increasing his investment.
His favoritism became crystal clear in this moment.
As the student of his most accomplished disciple, the chains binding the Nine-Tails jinchuriki, and simultaneously Konoha's second wielder of the Flying Thunder God Technique—Gojo Yoru's position in Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart now far exceeded even Minato Namikaze's from the original timeline.
If conditions allowed, he would love nothing more than to train Yoru—whose white hair matched Tobirama-sensei's—into a new generation's Tobirama Senju.
Unfortunately, Yoru wasn't a member of the Senju clan. He lacked their massive chakra reserves and the Water attribute.
Otherwise, Hiruzen would have already passed down the Second Hokage's Water Release inheritance to him.
"Then on Yoru's behalf, let me thank you first, Sarutobi-sensei."
Having his guess confirmed, Orochimaru's face broke into a pleased smile.
Genjutsu: Bringer of Darkness Technique was a forbidden-level genjutsu. Even Orochimaru didn't know this technique.
Not because he couldn't learn it, but because acquiring it required completing missions and exchanging merit points.
Yet Yoru, having completed just one S-rank mission, could now obtain this technique's training method.
As Yoru's teacher, Orochimaru benefited from his student's success.
Creating an independent scroll meant Orochimaru could also learn the Genjutsu: Bringer of Darkness Technique.
"Orochimaru, train this boy well. He'll become your greatest asset." Hiruzen smiled meaningfully.
Orochimaru's expression grew serious. He nodded firmly. "I understand, Sarutobi-sensei."
...
Crackle crackle crackle...
Click click click...
"Hahahaha..."
The sounds of converging electrical currents, camera shutters, and a girl's belly-clutching laughter echoed through the abandoned training ground.
The person laughing so hard was naturally Kushina Uzumaki.
No one could blame the girl for finding this so hilarious. The scene before her eyes was simply too image-destroying.
Yoru, who normally maintained such a cool appearance, now had his white hair—which usually covered his ears—transformed into a massive afro.
Though his body, wreathed in electrical currents, showed no blackened burns, and his face bore no expression of pain through sheer force of will, appearing quite resolute...
That afro hairstyle hit Kushina's funny bone perfectly.
This was absolutely lifetime blackmail material. Kushina had to photograph it for proper preservation.
Even when Yoru shot her a warning look, even knowing she'd face malicious retaliation later, Kushina didn't care in the slightest.
"Focus on feeling the electrical current flowing through your chakra pathways. Try to make your own chakra assimilate with it."
Orochimaru, who was electrocuting Yoru with the Sword of the Thunder God, offered a reminder.
Yoru could only spare Kushina temporarily. He closed his eyes and did as Orochimaru instructed.
Even on his first attempt at drawing lightning into his body, Yoru realized that as long as you found the right method, developing nature transformation later in life really wasn't particularly difficult.
This was advanced chakra control taken one step further.
Just like medical ninjutsu and sealing techniques required controlling non-elemental chakra and transforming it into other attributes.
The only difference was that unlike medical ninjutsu and sealing techniques—which both required innate talent—nature transformation simply needed finding the correct method and dedicated training, like tree climbing and water walking.
However, merely developing the attribute was only the beginning. Becoming a master of that element still required both talent and years of refinement.
The Third Raikage represented this path's endpoint—the ultimate pinnacle beneath the Otsutsuki.
"Alright, take a break."
Since chakra pathways couldn't withstand prolonged electrocution, Orochimaru counted the seconds carefully. The moment three minutes passed, he stopped.
"Tomato-na, prepare to die!"
Rather than sitting down to rest and heal, Yoru charged toward Kushina.
Kushina didn't run. Instead, she put away her camera and launched a charged jumping punch.
BOOM—
A thunderous explosion and violent tremor made Orochimaru's mouth twitch. He looked at Yoru with eyes full of pity.
Yoru seemed to sense something and dodged Kushina's jumping punch just in time.
The missed fist struck the ground directly.
Terrifying chakra blasted a massive crater into the earth. Cracks of varying sizes kicked up clouds of dust, spreading in all directions.
That punch was unmistakably... Superhuman Strength.
Just as the Rasengan was the most suitable technique for the Uzumaki and Senju clans, Chakra Enhanced Strength was a Senju clan secret art. Similarly, only someone with massive chakra reserves could rapidly master it and unleash its maximum power.
"Tomato-na, are you trying to kill me?!"
Staring at the ground shattered by a single punch, Yoru rarely felt genuine fear.
"Hmph... Scared now? If you make me angry again, I'll send you to the emergency room with one punch." Kushina raised her fist with a smug expression.
If he didn't still want to hide his abilities, Yoru would have used intangibility to properly teach Kushina a lesson.
However, his heart filled with satisfaction.
While he rapidly grew stronger, the girl worked just as hard to become powerful.
Starting with Superhuman Strength, she'd begun breaking free from her predetermined fate. Aside from the Uzumaki clan's unique abilities and sealing techniques, plus Sage Mode and the Rasenshuriken, Kushina now possessed nearly everything needed to face the Nine-Tails—to seize its chakra and activate the golden chakra mode.
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