Chapter 33: This Is All for Our Future
The news Orochimaru brought exceeded Yoru's expectations.
Even more surprising—Hiruzen Sarutobi valued him this highly.
Kushina had only become the Nine-Tails jinchuriki two months ago. Logically, Hiruzen should allow them time together, letting Yoru comfort Kushina's heart.
Yet after just two months, he wanted Yoru to graduate early. Why?
Yoru couldn't help speculating.
Had Hiruzen witnessed their growth and grown too impatient to wait before recruiting Yoru into the Hokage's faction?
Considering his Telescope Technique, he probably frequently spied on Yoru and Kushina's battles. Perhaps he'd watched today's duel, felt Yoru was already struggling against Kushina, and specifically sent Orochimaru to deliver timely assistance?
The more Yoru thought about it, the more likely it seemed. The timing was too perfect.
However, this suited Yoru's intentions perfectly.
Nawaki would turn eleven next month. If no butterfly effect occurred, the Second Shinobi World War would erupt next year.
Even if Yoru's class graduated normally, Orochimaru and Jiraiya wouldn't have much time to train them.
Establishing a master-disciple relationship with Orochimaru to sign the Ryuchi Cave summoning contract would also require considerable time.
Becoming Orochimaru's disciple early was undoubtedly beneficial for Yoru.
Thus, Yoru immediately decided.
He nodded at Orochimaru: "Orochimaru-sensei, I'm willing to graduate early."
Orochimaru seemed completely unsurprised by Yoru's decision, smiling and nodding: "Excellent. Then I'll wait for you at the Ninja Academy tomorrow."
After speaking, Orochimaru stood and vanished in a blur.
"Yoru, will it become hard to see you from now on? Can we not train together every day anymore?"
Though knowing this benefited them both, Kushina still felt somewhat downcast.
Yoru reached out and stroked Kushina's head, speaking softly: "This is all for our future."
These nearly explicit words made Kushina's cheeks flush as she bashfully lowered her head.
...
The next day, Yoru arrived at the Ninja Academy early.
Yuya—who'd already received notice—led him to a testing room.
Early graduation didn't require defeating a veteran genin.
Someone capable of defeating veteran genin wouldn't need early graduation as a genin—they'd directly take the chunin exam instead.
Early graduation required three steps.
First: teacher recognition, then helping the student apply. Second: obtaining the principal's—meaning Hiruzen Sarutobi's—approval. Third: parental consent and signing at the academy.
The original series' Itachi Uchiha's early graduation followed this process.
With Yoru's parents deceased, only his own signature was needed.
After completing these steps, Yoru needed to demonstrate his abilities, proving he possessed the strength to become an official genin.
In the testing room, Yoru first performed shuriken and kunai throws, then Body Flicker and concealment techniques, finally taking the Three Basic Techniques assessment.
The three evaluating examiners unanimously awarded perfect scores.
Because Yoru hadn't used the Clone Technique but rather the B-rank Shadow Clone Technique, amazing everyone.
After all, many veteran genin only knew one C-rank elemental technique.
A fifth-year already mastering Shadow Clone Technique, reportedly having demonstrated a C-rank Earth Release technique during practical combat assessments—such strength exceeded many veteran genin, possibly qualifying him to directly take the chunin exam.
With the academy's stamp of approval, news of Yoru's early graduation quickly spread throughout the Ninja Academy.
Learning the Great Demon Lord was graduating early, all the school's boys erupted in cheers.
That bullying dog finally wouldn't attend school anymore. Wonderful!
The girls felt somewhat regretful. The school had lost another eye-catching handsome boy.
Class 5-A's students cheered while feeling quite curious about Kushina Uzumaki's reaction.
Strangely, Kushina appeared completely indifferent, still studying seriously.
Aside from Minato Namikaze sensing something off, no one discovered the classroom's Kushina Uzumaki was actually just a shadow clone.
"Congratulations. From now on, you're an official genin. Number 007185."
After Yoru finished taking his profile photo, Orochimaru's figure finally appeared, handing the former a genin forehead protector.
Yoru accepted the forehead protector and tied it around his forehead, looking at Orochimaru: "Orochimaru-sensei, will you train me individually?"
"Yes. Starting today, you're my disciple." Orochimaru nodded.
Yoru's face immediately lit up with delight: "Really? That's wonderful!"
Though genin called their jonin instructors "sensei," their relationship wasn't actually master-disciple but superior-subordinate.
If the superior disliked this batch of subordinates, once someone on the team promoted to chunin, they'd become hands-off supervisors with no obligation to teach ninjutsu.
Only disciples recognized by jonin instructors established true master-disciple relationships, receiving ninjutsu instruction and even exclusive techniques.
This demonstrated Orochimaru's statement's immense value.
As for jonin instructors training individual disciples, though rare in Konoha's history, examples existed.
And all these examples were Orochimaru.
Like the original series' Nawaki, like the original series' Anko Mitarashi—both individually accompanied Orochimaru.
"Don't celebrate too early. My instruction is quite strict." Orochimaru smiled.
"That suits me perfectly." Yoru grinned at Orochimaru. "Orochimaru-sensei, please don't hold back with me."
"Heh. Let's leave here first."
Orochimaru led Yoru out of the academy.
They'd just exited the gates when a red-haired figure came running over.
"Orochimaru-sensei, Yoru."
Kushina Uzumaki first greeted Orochimaru, then seeing the forehead protector on Yoru's head, her eyes brightened: "Yoru, you've graduated now?"
"Yeah. Want to try it on early?" Yoru removed his forehead protector and handed it to Kushina, who accepted without hesitation and tied it on.
Orochimaru smiled watching the two, then told Yoru: "Before you begin executing missions, I need to understand your strength first. You have half an hour to prepare. I'll wait at your usual training location."
After speaking, Orochimaru vanished.
Hearing his words, Kushina's eyes widened: "Yoru, you're fighting Orochimaru-sensei?"
"Yes. Come watch too. Let's witness the gap between ourselves and a jonin."
"Sounds great!"
Kushina's interest immediately sparked as she walked home shoulder-to-shoulder with Yoru.