REVIEWS AND POWERSTONES PLSSS!!!!!Chapter 40: Even Gods Cannot Save Him—The Village-Leaving Mission Arrives
After many years, another girl hosting a birthday celebration for him cleansed Yoru's heart.
Having removed his inner demons and begun a new life, Kushina Uzumaki was Yoru's first friend and his bond to integrating into this world.
Now the girl's heart-striking move finally gave Yoru a sense of belonging to this world and someone to protect.
This night, Yoru and Kushina played wildly.
They ate the cake together, but the failed attempts in the kitchen became their weapons for an all-out cake battle.
After cleaning the house and bathing, the two wore robes, held hands, and wandered the night market, leaving traces of their innocent childhood throughout Central Street's various locations.
Only when night grew deep did Yoru escort Kushina back to the First Hokage's mansion.
The clock struck midnight of the next day.
Space-Time's gift didn't arrive this year either.
The following day, Kushina—having successfully delivered her surprise and finally able to relax—was predictably absent.
Yoru could only come to the training ground alone.
When Orochimaru saw Yoru, he immediately noticed something had changed about this youth.
Recalling information fed back from yesterday afternoon's shadow clone, Orochimaru smiled: "Your mood seems quite excellent. Looks like you had fun last night."
"Orochimaru-sensei, so you already knew." Yoru instantly understood. No wonder Orochimaru's smile yesterday was so meaningful.
Orochimaru smiled without speaking.
SCREECH—
Before the two could begin a new day's training...
A high-pitched eagle's cry suddenly rang across the sky.
So loud that all of Central Konoha could hear it.
Looking up at the hawk circling above Central Street, Orochimaru's expression shifted slightly. He then instructed Yoru: "You get a day off. Rest well. Tomorrow at the same time, meet me here."
After speaking, Orochimaru vanished with Body Flicker.
Yoru likewise watched the hawk above, his eyes narrowing slightly.
As an excellent student in academic subjects, Yoru naturally knew this hawk cry's meaning.
This was an emergency summons signal.
Hearing this cry, any jonin in the village needed to immediately report to the Hokage Building.
'If I remember correctly, this session's Chunin Exams already ended long ago. Could war be coming?' Yoru couldn't help speculating internally.
He couldn't be blamed for thinking this. After all, the Second Shinobi World War was too unfamiliar to Yoru.
What still impressed him vividly were only a few scenes glimpsed in TV anime.
First: Nawaki full of vigor, ignoring green-vested Konoha shinobi's warnings, rushing forward with the shinobi run, then jumping down a small slope and—BOOM—getting blown up, dying with zero kills.
(lol, it's giving. "I got this" then "FAAHHH" hahahahahaa.)
This suicide method meant unless Nawaki was prevented from participating, even descending gods couldn't save him.
Second: The scene of the Legendary Sannin confronting Hanzo.
Third: The Ame Orphans' apprenticeship and Orochimaru's transformation.
Plus some fragmented scenes—like Jiraiya training the three Ame Orphans, Kato Dan supporting Tsunade then dying, Tsunade developing hemophobia.
Yoru had no impression even of Konoha's White Fang killing Sasori's parents.
The Second Shinobi World War wasn't yet his stage.
But Yoru attached immense importance to this battle.
This war arrived too early—during his weakest period.
Had he completed the Yin Seal or passed through the second evolution, Yoru could manage with ease.
Now, Yoru only hoped war would come slower, giving him more development time.
...
"Yoru, you didn't go on missions today?"
At noon, Kushina came to Yoru's house.
Seeing Yoru reading in the living room, she walked over and sat beside him, peeling fruit from the coffee table while asking.
"Orochimaru-sensei had matters today and gave me time off." Yoru set down his book, smiling. "Good thing you didn't come this morning, or you'd have wasted a trip."
"Hmph... my luck's always been excellent." Kushina wrinkled her nose proudly.
Yoru nodded approvingly: "Indeed. If your luck weren't good, you'd never have met me."
Kushina: "(⊙o⊙)"
If not for the knife in her hand, Kushina truly wanted to pounce and pinch Yoru's face to test how thick his skin actually was.
She couldn't help rolling her eyes: "Narcissist. You've got that backwards."
"Just facts." Yoru spoke coolly, legs crossed, book in hand—a CEO's posture.
"If I had money now, I'd definitely buy a camera and photograph your smug appearance, then mock you properly when you're grown." Kushina complained.
The speaker was casual, but the listener took note. Yoru's eyes suddenly flashed.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK—
Before Yoru could respond, knocking sounds suddenly reached both their ears.
Both Yoru and Kushina froze slightly.
Kushina looked at Yoru with disbelief: "Besides me, someone else actually knocks on your door?"
Yoru's lips twitched slightly.
Though those words hurt, they were absolutely true.
Both stood and went downstairs, opening the door.
Seeing who stood outside, Kushina exclaimed with surprise: "Orochimaru-sensei?"
Yoru likewise felt surprised, but respectfully stepped aside and gestured: "Orochimaru-sensei, welcome to the Gojo household. Please come in!"
"Pardon the intrusion, but I won't enter."
Orochimaru shook his head in refusal, retrieved a paper slip from his person and handed it to Yoru, his expression serious: "Go purchase everything on this list. Tomorrow morning at nine, wait for me at the village gate. I'm taking you outside the village for a mission."
"...Yes!"
Just receiving the slip, Yoru's expression immediately became solemn.
The first village-leaving mission was finally arriving?
However, seeing Orochimaru's manner, why did it feel like more than just an ordinary C-rank mission?
Orochimaru didn't chat with Yoru. After giving him the slip, he transformed into white smoke and vanished—just a shadow clone.
Apparently, Orochimaru's real body remained busy.
"Yoru, you're leaving the village? Does that mean you won't return for a long time?" Kushina's emotions turned somewhat downcast.
Already accustomed to being with Yoru daily, imagining Yoru absent for an extended period filled her with inexplicable panic.
As though returning to when she'd just arrived in Konoha last year!
Noticing Kushina's emotional change, Yoru couldn't help stroking her head, smiling: "This is unavoidable. If you're bored at home, go to the Ninja Academy and find some bullies to occupy your time."
"Pfft..."
Kushina instantly burst into laughter at Yoru's words, giving him a playful eye roll and coquettishly scolding: "The Ninja Academy's biggest bully was you. Who else could I find?"
"Setting that aside, didn't you want to buy a camera? Let's go now." Yoru changed the subject, taking Kushina's small hand toward the storage room.
***
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