Chapter 25: The Sannin's Attention
March 20th, early morning.
The moment Yoru woke, inexplicable irritation gnawed at him.
For someone who slept a full nine hours nightly with abundant vitality and energy, this felt utterly bizarre.
If this were anyone else, they might attribute the mood to today's final exams.
But for Yoru, final exams were merely going through the motions—they'd stopped being stressful years ago.
When the clock reached 7:50 AM, after preparing a nutritious breakfast and settling down to read in the living room, Yoru finally realized something was wrong.
Normally, Kushina Uzumaki would have knocked on his door by now.
But school started soon, and still no sign of Kushina appeared.
She'd maintained this routine for an entire term—coming to Yoru's house for breakfast before walking to school together. She wouldn't miss it without reason, especially not on exam day.
Yoru's eyes narrowed slightly. "Could it be today?"
Since the original series never specified the exact date, Yoru didn't know when Kushina would become the Nine-Tails jinchuriki.
Considering his irritable mood upon waking and Kushina's absence, Yoru felt one hundred percent certain this related to the jinchuriki.
"Of all days, why today? Can Mito Uzumaki not hold on any longer?" Yoru wondered, then rose to eat breakfast alone.
After washing the dishes, he headed toward the academy.
Today actually belonged to the sixth-years.
Before the sixth-grade graduation exams, the other five grades' final exams paled into insignificance.
Just like the opening ceremony in April, parents had already crowded the academy gates early this morning.
After sending their children inside, they waited outside for results.
When the sixth-grade students emerged as a group, the atmosphere here would surely overflow with joy and sorrow, laughter and tears, praise and scolding, comfort and more...
But none of that concerned the other five grades' students yet.
Yoru—who'd be entering fifth grade next month—had witnessed this scene for years now. He couldn't even be bothered glancing toward the parent clusters, walking straight through the gates.
Yoru didn't notice three gazes observing him from a distance.
"Orochimaru, is that the prospect you've taken interest in?"
"Yes."
"That height—he was only nine last year? You're kidding. He looks as tall as Tsunade already! Are the academy teachers and Sarutobi-sensei all blind? Why leave a monster with that height wasting time and talent in the Ninja Academy instead of graduating him early?"
"He deliberately concealed his abilities. He wants to remain at the Ninja Academy."
"Why? That height proves his chakra reserves are abnormal too. Forget his classmates—even sixth-grade graduates wouldn't be his match. What challenge is there staying at the academy?"
"He wants to accumulate knowledge—to possess the strength and wisdom to handle even desperate situations."
Hearing this, Jiraiya—who'd been complaining moments earlier—suddenly fell silent.
Tsunade, who'd specifically come to see Nawaki off today, looked at Yoru's retreating back with admiration, then smiled at Orochimaru: "No wonder you like this kid so much. He's basically an enlarged version of you as a child."
Orochimaru chuckled softly. "He's far superior to what we were at his age."
"Oh?"
Tsunade and Jiraiya's interest immediately sparked. The latter raised an eyebrow. "You mentioned he concealed his abilities. Has he already mastered advanced elemental techniques?"
"With that abnormal physique plus Satsu and Mio's inheritance, mastering advanced techniques at this age isn't particularly strange." Tsunade congratulated Orochimaru. "Congratulations, Orochimaru. You've found an excellent student. Too bad for Nawaki—I'd originally hoped you'd become his instructor."
"Isn't there another candidate right here?" Orochimaru immediately provided support for his friend.
Jiraiya immediately gave Tsunade exaggerated winks. She rolled her eyes and mercilessly mocked: "Forget it. Let Jiraiya lead Nawaki? I'm afraid he'll turn my adorable brother into a pervert. I'd rather quit my hospital position and do it myself than let that happen."
Jiraiya suffered massive emotional damage, his entire body turning ashen gray.
Seeing this, even Orochimaru could offer no help.
Yoru had no idea the future Legendary Sannin were currently observing him.
The moment he entered the classroom, he couldn't help raising an eyebrow.
That familiar figure was already seated beside his desk.
However, Kushina Uzumaki currently resembled someone catching up on sleep, her head resting on the desk.
This clearly abnormal appearance drew worried glances from a certain golden-haired loser dog who'd already chosen to give up after seeing no hope.
"I don't remember provoking you yesterday. Why the sulking again?"
Yoru arrived at his seat. Under Minato Namikaze's envious gaze, he reached out and ruffled Kushina's hair.
When Kushina looked up, Yoru jumped in surprise. "Did you go rob someone last night? Why do you look like a ghost?"
Kushina looked as though she hadn't slept all night or had been crying—her eyes bloodshot, her eyelids swollen and dark.
Normally, Kushina would have immediately retorted.
But now, she only forced a smile at Yoru, her voice hoarse: "I'm fine. Just feeling a bit unwell, so I didn't come find you."
Yoru understood immediately.
Kushina hadn't yet become a jinchuriki, but she'd already learned about jinchuriki and tailed beasts.
The girl must have been terrified—staying awake all night, possibly crying the entire time.
If today weren't exam day, she might not have even wanted to come to school, not wanting Yoru to see this ugly side of her.
Yoru glared at the classmates sneaking glances, scaring them into looking away.
Scooting his chair closer to Kushina's, Yoru sat down without speaking. He formed hand seals to create green chakra covering his palm, then placed it before Kushina's face, treating her swollen eyelids.
Watching Yoru's focused expression—just like after their first battle last year when he'd used medical ninjutsu to treat her—Kushina vaguely remembered how fast her heart had beaten then, how hot her face had felt.
Even now, Kushina's breath caught, and the fear filling her heart suddenly intensified.
Tears she thought had dried up spilled out again.
Sometimes silent crying carries more infectious power than wailing.
Seeing this, Yoru immediately made a decision.
He lowered his hand and pulled Kushina out of the classroom.
Watching this scene, Minato Namikaze couldn't suppress his impulse to follow.
But after thinking it over, he gave up, releasing a powerless sigh internally.
However, several minutes later, he saw Yoru and Kushina walk back in through the rear classroom door.
Moreover, Kushina's face no longer showed her previous distress.
Minato froze slightly, then couldn't help feeling admiration for Yoru.
Amazing—he'd cheered her up that quickly. Was this why he couldn't match Yoru?
Immediately after, Minato noticed something that made his pupils contract sharply.
Wait!
This wasn't Kushina Uzumaki or Yoru's real body—these were... Shadow Clones?!
Upon discovering this, Minato's first reaction wasn't amazement at Yoru's strength, but curiosity about where their real bodies had gone.
Looking at the two shadow clones sitting calmly, waiting for the written exam to begin, Minato suddenly felt certain.
Once Yoru and Kushina's real bodies returned, he truly would have no hope left.