Chapter 38: Nawaki's Birthday—Superhuman Strength Obtained
The following month, Yoru spent each day training and executing missions.
During missions, Yoru played the well-behaved child.
After hearing Orochimaru's explanation of the Will of Fire, D-rank missions held even higher importance in Yoru's eyes than S-rank missions.
This was Hiruzen Sarutobi's new test.
Only those who loved this village could earn this ninja hero's recognition.
Someone who didn't care about the village or its people was essentially a ticking time bomb—not worth investing in.
So this entire month, Yoru smiled warmly toward villagers daily. Even when encountering Konoha's troublesome citizens who loved finding fault, he didn't get angry.
If his academy classmates witnessed these scenes, their jaws would drop.
Regarding training...
Previously without Orochimaru's guidance, Yoru and Kushina either trained nature transformation and ninjutsu or engaged in taijutsu duels.
Even when conducting no-rules battles allowing ninjutsu, they remained quite restrained, afraid of injuring each other.
Such sparring—as Kushina's strength caught up—no longer served much purpose.
Now with Orochimaru pointing them in the right direction, Yoru and Kushina's improvement this month was remarkably obvious.
Every seven days, Orochimaru conducted survival exercises with Yoru and Kushina, gradually stopping his restraint and letting them personally experience death's aura.
Just like the Chunin Exams in the original series, Orochimaru infused killing intent into genjutsu, showing Yoru and Kushina their own miserable deaths. The sight terrified Kushina into vomiting on the spot.
Yoru's face turned pale, once again feeling the gap between himself and elite jonin.
Without using Space-Time bloodline abilities, even mastering Rasengan and Fire Release: Rasengan, he was merely a child wielding a knife before such powerful individuals.
Threatening, but not very!
To evade Orochimaru's pursuit, Yoru and Kushina's coordination improved continuously, their teamwork growing stronger.
Initially, they needed to formulate tactics in advance, preparing code words.
Gradually, they only needed eye contact for the other to immediately understand.
Yoru no longer fought alone. Kushina no longer acted recklessly.
When the former with limited chakra needed wide-area techniques, he'd rely on Kushina with her massive chakra reserves.
Kushina—who'd mastered Wind Release: Great Breakthrough—only needed to create a dozen shadow clones all using Wind Release: Great Breakthrough simultaneously to generate a typhoon.
Even Orochimaru required powerful Earth Release to defend or retreat underground.
Whenever this occurred, Yoru would infiltrate for lethal strikes. If unsuccessful, he'd retreat.
Though they still weren't Orochimaru's match, they were no longer disorganized as initially.
During post-battle reviews, Orochimaru rarely criticized Kushina anymore.
Both their shinobi fundamentals were rapidly improving.
...
August 9th.
A very ordinary day.
If the Senju clan hadn't integrated into Konoha, this day would be tremendously important.
Because today was the First Hokage's grandson's birthday.
As Konoha's legitimate first prestigious clan, had the Senju clan still existed, this birthday celebration's grandeur would exceed Hinata Hyuga's by tenfold—possibly even village-wide festivities.
Unfortunately, with the Senju clan's disappearance, few knew about Nawaki's birthday.
Yoru didn't know whether this Konoha prince held a final birthday banquet.
However, the next day, Kushina brought excellent news.
"Yoru, guess what's in this scroll?"
In the Gojo house's second-floor living room, Kushina held a scroll, waving it before Yoru while smiling triumphantly.
Seeing Kushina so delighted, Yoru cooperatively asked: "A ninjutsu scroll?"
"Hehe, here's a hint... this scroll contains a technique you really hoped I'd learn." Kushina continued teasing.
Yoru vaguely guessed but still cooperatively widened his eyes: "Oh! Could it be Multiple Shadow Clone Technique?"
"Wrong! It's Chakra Enhanced Strength, you dummy!"
Having successfully extracted emotional satisfaction from Yoru, Kushina sat beside him and explained leisurely: "Yesterday was Nawaki's birthday. Following your suggestion, I gave him the Rasengan as a gift. He absolutely loved this seal-less technique."
"However, Lady Tsunade seemed to feel somewhat indebted. Afterward, she spoke with me privately, wanting to give me a return gift while not allowing refusal."
"You've often said my superhuman strength is perfect for training Lady Tsunade's Superhuman Strength technique, right? I mentioned it casually, and she gave me the Senju clan's Chakra Enhanced Strength training method!"
Kushina made a fist gesture before Yoru's face, her tone carrying arrogance and threat: "Once I learn Lady Tsunade's ultimate technique, if you keep being foul-mouthed, I'll send you straight to the ICU with one punch!"
"Oh my, I'm so scared!"
Yoru patted Kushina's round face, as foul-mouthed as ever: "Actually, Tomato-na, you're hard of hearing. With your... tonnage, you're completely unsuited for Superhuman Strength training. You're better suited for the Akimichi clan's Multi-Size Technique. That way, you might actually squash me to death with your rear!"
Hearing this, Kushina's small face instantly reddened at visible speed.
Her expression transformed from triumph to grinding teeth.
"Foul-Mouth Yoru, I'll strangle you!"
Finally losing control, Kushina tackled Yoru, hands grasping his neck while shouting.
But quickly, Kushina's eyes welled with tears as she collapsed on the couch, convulsing.
"Haha... stop tickling... stop... I surrender... hahaha..."
Having subdued Kushina until she squirmed like a maggot, Yoru internally displayed a "just as planned" smile.
Everything proceeding according to his calculations!
Yoru had originally assumed that Kushina—residing with the Senju clan—would find learning Superhuman Strength quite easy.
Unexpectedly, he'd triggered a butterfly effect.
With the Gojo family vault, Kushina only retrieved the Uzumaki Sealing Scroll from Mito Uzumaki without learning Senju clan techniques.
While Mito lived, Kushina probably felt too embarrassed to ask.
After Mito's death, Kushina—who felt like a parasite—lacked even more nerve.
But this couldn't stump Yoru.
As a transmigrator, Yoru knew Tsunade possessed a straightforward personality. If Kushina asked, considering Mito's favor, Tsunade would very likely teach her Superhuman Strength.
Since Kushina felt too embarrassed to ask, simply make Tsunade proactively offer.
Current Tsunade was obsessively devoted to her brother.
Her brother occupied first place in her heart.
Rather than pleasing Tsunade, better to please Nawaki.
So Yoru had repeatedly hinted during their daily sparring that if Kushina learned Superhuman Strength, she'd definitely maximize her natural power talent.
Afterward, he'd encouraged Kushina to grow closer to Nawaki, permitting her to give the Rasengan as Nawaki's birthday present.
Once Tsunade saw the Rasengan, she'd recognize the technique's precious value.
Her brother loved it—she couldn't possibly refuse.
All Tsunade could do was give Kushina an unmissable return gift.
When she offered, Kushina—having been hinted at countless times by Yoru—absolutely wouldn't miss the Superhuman Strength opportunity.
This calculated move demonstrated Yoru's accumulated strategic planning skills.
Without utilitarian requests, they all became his chess pieces!
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bro is moving like prime Aizen..or Light?
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