Chapter 9: The Calm Before the Storm—Orochimaru
Time flowed like fine sand through an hourglass—two years passed in the blink of an eye.
During those two years, the shinobi continent fell into an eerie calm.
High-level commissions arising from minor nation conflicts, previously common, had decreased significantly.
Yet paradoxically, despite the gradually destabilizing economy, the Four Great Shinobi Villages—whose main business model involved exploiting smaller nations while seeking opportunities to recruit subordinates or expand territory—uncharacteristically refrained from manufacturing conflicts. It was as if they were still licking their wounds from the First Shinobi World War, recuperating their strength.
As victors of the First Shinobi World War, Konoha and the Land of Fire had detected something amiss. They'd secretly mobilized spies planted in various nations, ordering them to closely monitor whether the great villages were planning any major moves.
Little did they know, the Four Great Villages' conspiracies had quietly shifted from the shinobi continent to overseas territories.
By the time they realized what was happening, they would have lost a powerful ally.
Konoha Year 33, March 27th.
The Waterfall Lands, some distance from Konoha.
Near the water's edge stood a white-haired child approximately 160 centimeters tall, his face still remarkably youthful. His left hand gripped his right wrist, ice-blue eyes focused intently on his right palm.
Hovering above his palm was an energy sphere the size of a ping-pong ball, glowing blue.
The sphere's core was white, surrounded by blue—the white center contained a high-speed rotating chakra vortex forming the jutsu's nucleus.
The energy sphere appeared remarkably stable, clearly a completed technique.
Yet the white-haired child showed no satisfaction. His expression remained serious, as if wanting to add something more.
Though his body didn't move, he gave the impression of exerting tremendous effort.
Under his focus, one thread among the countless chakra vortexes forming the white core suddenly turned black.
This hint of black was barely noticeable within the whole, practically invisible without careful observation.
However, its appearance disrupted the sphere's balance. Like water boiling inside a balloon, it became scalding hot, ready to burst.
Without hesitation, the white-haired child pressed the energy sphere in his hand against the nearby cliff face.
BOOM!
A massive explosion sent stone fragments flying and dust billowing.
When wind cleared the debris cloud, the cliff revealed a huge crater covered in spiral patterns.
Just from examining these spiral marks, one could imagine what would happen if this sphere struck a person—they'd be launched airborne, spinning at high speed as they flew backward.
If the chakra could penetrate the body like the Hyuga clan's Gentle Fist, it might even pulverize internal organs.
Without question, this was an extremely lethal advanced technique—moreover, a rare seal-less jutsu in the shinobi world.
Yet the white-haired child who'd mastered this advanced technique—nine-year-old Gojo Yoru—showed no joy whatsoever. Instead, he muttered with some frustration: "Failed again. Is it really this difficult?"
"Your chakra control and shape transformation are more than sufficient. Perhaps you should work on nature transformation instead."
"Who's there?!"
The sudden voice made Yoru's expression change dramatically.
He'd carefully selected this region—Waterfall Lands surrounded by forest.
He'd even laid extensive steel wire and bells throughout the surrounding woods. Touching even one would trigger a chain reaction, detonating deeply hidden explosive tags to create a loud warning.
Even if wild animals accidentally triggered the alarm, Yoru would end his training for the day.
Under such precautions, anyone who could appear here silently was no ordinary individual.
While preparing to activate his internal Space-Time chakra, Yoru turned toward the voice's source.
When he saw the speaker clearly, his pupils contracted slightly.
Immediately, Yoru adopted a respectful posture, bowing slightly toward the voice: "Orochimaru-sama."
Near the water's edge, a young man in a green vest had appeared without warning.
Black long hair, pale skin, golden serpentine pupils, and purple eye shadow marked his distinctive features.
This young man was one of the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi's three direct disciples, destined to earn the title "Legendary Sannin" in the future—Orochimaru.
The current Orochimaru lacked his future sinister and cunning aura. Instead, his impression resembled Itachi Uchiha or Sasuke Uchiha—handsome and aloof.
Yoru held no fear of Orochimaru during this period.
Not yet collaborating with Danzo Shimura, not yet corrupted, this Orochimaru was Hiruzen Sarutobi's top candidate for Fourth Hokage, a Konoha shinobi who'd inherited the Will of Fire, and a reliable partner Tsunade trusted enough to entrust with her brother's safety.
"What's your name? How old are you?" Orochimaru studied Yoru with growing curiosity.
From a distance, he'd assumed some genin was training here.
Unexpectedly, it turned out to be a child with premature development.
That baby face looked even younger than Nawaki. Could he be younger than fifth year?
Naturally unaware of Orochimaru's thoughts, Yoru answered honestly: "My name is Gojo Yoru. I'm nine years old."
"Gojo?"
Orochimaru raised an eyebrow. "What relation are Gojo Satsu and Gojo Mio to you?"
"They're my father and mother."
'As I suspected,' Orochimaru thought, then offered gentle praise aloud: "Your parents were both heroes. You're quite talented yourself. That technique just now was beautiful—and powerful."
"You're too kind, Orochimaru-sama." Yoru maintained a humble facade while inwardly breathing a sigh of relief.
Jonin parents truly provided invisible connections.
"Why aren't you training in the village? Why specifically come all the way here?"
Learning Yoru was the descendant of acquaintances, Orochimaru grew even more curious.
He'd found this location because while returning, he'd accidentally discovered the extensive steel wire and explosive tags. Unable to resist investigating with earth-style Body Flicker, he'd unexpectedly witnessed Yoru training the Rasengan.
A prematurely developed body meant exceptional physical and spiritual energy.
The chakra control and shape transformation contained in that technique meant training difficulty of at least B-rank, possibly even A-rank, because Orochimaru suspected Yoru had just attempted to inject nature transformation as well.
Combining peak-level shape transformation and nature transformation would create an S-rank ultimate technique.
Mastering such a high-difficulty technique at age nine meant Yoru fully qualified for early graduation. Many chunin, even tokubetsu jonin, lacked such powerful trump cards.
Possessing such talent yet deliberately concealing it, specifically coming here to train—was he trying to hide his capabilities?