Yami was already mentally prepared for Orochimaru's question.
The moment Orochimaru saw the Rasengan, Yami knew he could not avoid being tested.
After quickly organizing his words, Yami looked Orochimaru in the eyes.
"A ninja's battles are information battles. I don't want others to know my trump cards, and I don't want to graduate early for now. I still want to stay in the academy and learn more."
Orochimaru froze for a moment.
Clearly, he had not expected that answer.
When he came back to himself, the way he looked at Yami was filled with appreciation.
It seemed this kid was not just physically developed early. Even his mind was unusually mature.
While other children were still playing at being ninja, and even geniuses could not resist the temptation of graduating early, this one was hiding his strength and accumulating knowledge.
So what made him think this way?
There was only one answer.
The deaths of Sa and Mio.
In that instant, Orochimaru seemed to see his own reflection in Yami.
He had changed drastically after losing his parents too.
So Orochimaru could understand the desire to hide one's edge.
Only by keeping a powerful trump card hidden could you create a miracle in a desperate situation and turn a dead end into a way out.
Yami was not afraid of seeing blood early. He simply wanted to become stronger, to master more knowledge, so he could respond to any sudden disaster and ensure he and his companions would not follow the same road his parents did.
With that thought, Orochimaru's favor toward Yami surged.
On the surface, he gave generous praise.
"A very good idea. As expected of Sa and Mio's son. If they can see what you're like now in the Pure Land, they would feel at ease."
He paused, then continued.
"I believe that in the future, you will surpass them and become one of Konoha's trump cards."
Before Yami could reply modestly, Orochimaru asked another question.
"That jutsu just now, was it Sa's gift to you?"
"No," Yami shook his head. "The Rasengan is a jutsu I developed myself."
"Rasengan. A very good name."
Orochimaru's lips lifted slightly, like this was exactly what he expected.
If that jutsu's power came from Sa, or from inherited family techniques, it would have been famous in Konoha and throughout the ninja world long ago.
At the same time, Orochimaru could not help clicking his tongue inwardly.
Developing a jutsu with at least B-rank training difficulty at this age was dazzling talent.
But on the surface, Orochimaru remained calm.
"That jutsu is very powerful. Its shape transformation and chakra control are already at the highest level. And if I didn't misread it, it's also a non-elemental, seal-less jutsu, right? Just now, you were trying to inject nature transformation into it, and you failed."
As if struck by lightning, Yami widened his eyes with an expression of pure shock.
"As expected of Orochimaru-sama!"
Then, as if he could not contain himself, he looked at Orochimaru with deliberately obvious anticipation, his gaze burning hot.
Orochimaru's smile deepened. He raised his right hand.
At some point, a small white snake had coiled around his wrist.
The snake opened its mouth and spat out a red scroll that did not match its size at all.
Orochimaru tossed the scroll to Yami.
"This is my understanding of nature transformation over the years. I don't need it anymore. Take it."
The moment Yami caught the scroll, his hand trembled slightly.
Then his eyes shifted, and he put on an expression of wild joy. He bowed at a perfect ninety degrees.
"Thank you, Orochimaru-sensei!"
Orochimaru saw every change in Yami's expression, but he did not correct the title. He only left Yami with words full of expectation.
"I hope the next time we meet, your growth will shock me."
With that, Orochimaru vanished into a blur.
Only after more than ten seconds did Yami straighten up, staring at the scroll in his hands, eyes bright with delight.
This was a huge surprise.
Not because of the scroll about nature transformation.
But because Orochimaru had not rejected the pushy title.
Yami originally thought the first of the Three Legendary Ninja he would come into contact with would be Tsunade, through Kushina, or Jiraiya, through Minato.
He did not expect the first one he met would be Orochimaru.
And this legendary ninja, whose talent and brilliance were second only to Tobirama, who survived from the early era all the way into the distant future and still kept making waves with new methods, seemed to hold real goodwill toward him, even genuine appreciation.
If that was the case, then Yami might not need to rely on Kushina to get close to Tsunade at all.
As long as he could latch onto Orochimaru, he could gain resources and connections, and even sign a contract tied to Ryuchi Cave, obtaining its Sage Mode.
Once he mastered Sage Mode, his space-time chakra would evolve into space-time senjutsu chakra.
At that point, Yami did not even dare imagine how strong he would become.
With that thought, Yami began analyzing Orochimaru's gift and silent permission.
Orochimaru did not reject the title because of Yami's talent.
Before awakening space-time power, Yami's original plan was to use the Rasengan to shock Konoha, making the higher-ups tacitly allow him to befriend Kushina, and invest in him.
Creating a seal-less A-rank jutsu at nine years old was terrifying.
No one could ignore talent like that.
Especially someone like Orochimaru.
With top-tier chakra control and shape transformation, once nature transformation caught up, Yami's Rasengan could be refined into an S-rank ultimate.
S-rank jutsu were the highest-class techniques in the ninja world. No matter how hard you worked, you still might never learn them. Even the Sharingan could not copy them.
A technique like that, even in the five great villages, would be classified as a forbidden trump card, locked away in restricted archives.
And a ninja who mastered that level of technique possessed the means to threaten a Kage.
Once their overall ability rose to match, they became a village's trump card, an elite jōnin.
These were the kind of jōnin known as Hokage candidates. In emergencies, they could issue A-rank missions to any ninja in the village.
When a Kage died or stepped down, they had the qualifications to compete and be voted on.
Orochimaru was exactly that kind of person right now.
And Yami had shown the potential to become that kind of person in the future.
Orochimaru, who still dreamed of becoming the Fourth Hokage, needed to build his own foundation. He needed powerful subordinates he could trust.
Yami's potential, his background, and his age fit perfectly.
This scroll, and Orochimaru not rejecting the title, were Orochimaru's investment and expectation.
As long as Yami continued to show his value, even if Orochimaru did not take him as a direct disciple, he would invest more, and he would use the privileges of a Hokage's disciple to cultivate him.
The support Yami had dreamed of since transmigrating at last had a shape.
(End of Chapter)
[Check Out My P@treon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!!][[email protected]/euridome]
[Thank You For Your Support!]