Chapter 37: So He Came to Brainwash Me
The talent boost from the first evolution made Yoru a genuine prodigy.
This was the primary reason he'd successfully infused Fire Release nature transformation into the Rasengan in just over a year.
When Orochimaru began teaching him Earth Release basic extension techniques, Yoru mastered Earth Clone, Earth Substitution, Earth Concealment, and—most desired—Earth Body Flicker in just three days.
Witnessing this, Orochimaru felt satisfied with Yoru's comprehension ability yet stopped teaching other Earth Release techniques.
As a qualified teacher, one should formulate reasonable training plans based on students' characteristics and abilities, maximizing strengths rather than blindly patching weaknesses.
Yoru already possessed the Rasengan with extreme single-target damage, plus Fire Release: Rasengan capable of wide-area devastation upon detonation. He didn't lack powerful offensive methods.
With his chakra reserves, learning advanced techniques requiring massive chakra consumption would actually lead him down a dead end.
Yoru's characteristics were speed plus Phantom Body Flicker's concealment capability.
He was practically a natural-born assassin!
The only deficiency: his normal concealment wasn't strong, chakra easily detected by sensory techniques.
Now having learned Earth Release basic extensions, Yoru's concealment and infiltration abilities had improved considerably.
Once he mastered these extensions proficiently—or fused them with Phantom Body Flicker's concealment—throughout the entire shinobi world, only top-tier sensory techniques or dojutsu wielders like Byakugan and Sharingan could detect Yoru.
At that point, Yoru would become a first-rate assassin in the shinobi world.
With this skill alone, he could easily become an ANBU squad leader or tokubetsu jonin.
This day, Orochimaru created a shadow clone to take Kushina for sensory training.
His real body took Yoru to execute missions.
This was the difference between disciple and subordinate.
Other fresh genin, even after passing their jonin instructor's evaluation, needed to execute missions and spend extended time earning their instructor's appreciation before receiving ninjutsu instruction.
Orochimaru, conversely, temporarily had nothing left to teach Yoru, so he took him on missions.
At the Hokage Building, Yoru saw the Third Hokage again after many years.
The last time he'd encountered this ninja hero was during the first-year Will of Fire speech.
As Ninja Academy principal, Hiruzen Sarutobi made appearances a few times annually.
He interacted most with first-year students not yet indoctrinated.
"So you're Satsu and Mio's child? Excellent. Indeed as exceptional as Orochimaru described." Hiruzen smiled warmly while examining Yoru, as though seeing Yoru's real appearance for the first time.
Yoru immediately displayed flattered excitement, bowing deeply to Hiruzen: "Orochimaru-sensei is too kind. Thank you for recognizing me, Hokage-sama—not only approving my early graduation but also arranging Orochimaru-sensei as my jonin instructor."
"Heh, I didn't arrange Orochimaru for you. He voluntarily requested to take you, even resigning from border work for this. This is your mutual fate. Don't disappoint his expectations."
Yoru immediately raised his head, looking at the smiling Orochimaru with shocked expression, then pressed his lips together determinedly: "Please rest assured, Hokage-sama. I definitely won't disappoint Orochimaru-sensei!"
Watching Yoru—who after resolving his issues had transformed from aloof to emotionally expressive and extremely polite—Hiruzen felt even more satisfied with this grandstudent.
Aside from being taller, current Yoru was exactly as adorable as young Orochimaru.
Especially since he was the existence the Nine-Tails jinchuriki most depended on.
As long as Yoru remained "one of us," the Nine-Tails jinchuriki became his strongest trump card, unlike Lady Mito's untouchable authority.
If Yoru could learn the Flying Thunder God Technique, Hiruzen would wield two ace weapons. Even if the Uchiha and Hyuga prestigious clans united, they couldn't shake his position.
Precisely for this reason, Hiruzen was so eager to recruit Yoru into the Hokage faction and permit Orochimaru to train him individually.
He believed his most accomplished disciple would definitely cultivate Yoru into a Will of Fire inheritor.
After more small talk, Hiruzen assigned Yoru a mission.
A very ordinary D-rank mission: helping villagers with farm work.
Since Yoru had no teammates and Orochimaru wouldn't assist, he could only create two shadow clones to help himself.
After dispelling the shadow clones, Yoru rarely felt exhausted.
Still early, Orochimaru took Yoru to execute two more D-rank missions—all helping villagers with trivial matters.
Returning to the Hokage Building, Orochimaru looked at the somewhat grimy Yoru and asked with a smile: "Finding these missions boring?"
"A bit." Yoru nodded honestly.
"Then are you curious why—despite your strength being so formidable—you're still executing these low-level missions?"
"To develop our shinobi sense of responsibility and basic execution capabilities, laying foundations for undertaking higher-level missions."
Hearing Yoru's answer, Orochimaru showed mild surprise.
Glancing at this youth whose mind matured as early as his body, Orochimaru's eyes filled with appreciation while his expression merely nodded: "Indeed that's one reason, but more importantly, it's to let you personally experience villagers' lives and recognize this village created by the First Hokage anew."
"You haven't yet left Konoha, so you don't understand how cruel the outside world is."
"Once you venture out and return, you'll discover how wonderful Konoha is. Here exists no division between clans, no hierarchy based on powerful versus common lineages. Everyone in the village is family."
At this point, Orochimaru's golden eyes seemed to shine with sun-like radiance, his tone resolute: "We strive to grow stronger not only for ourselves but also to protect our village comrades, to guard this hard-won peace and happiness. This is... the Will of Fire."
Yoru: "..."
Good grief, so he came to brainwash me!
This period's Orochimaru had somewhat excessive aesthetics—completely different from his later incarnation.
Any other child would have been moved to passionate fervor by Orochimaru's words.
Yoru's heart remained utterly unmoved. He even felt like laughing.
However, worried about exposing himself, he still looked at Orochimaru with admiring eyes, nodding with feigned realization: "I understand now, Orochimaru-sensei!"
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