Orochimaru's Investment and Expectations

For Orochimaru's question, Gojo Yoru had already mentally prepared himself.

The moment Orochimaru saw the Rasengan, Yoru knew an interrogation was unavoidable.

Organizing his thoughts, Yoru met Orochimaru's gaze directly. "A shinobi's battle is a battle of information! I don't want others to know my trump cards, and I don't want to graduate early for now. I still want to learn more knowledge at the academy."

Looking at Yoru's serious expression, Orochimaru paused for a moment.

Clearly, he hadn't expected such a response from Yoru.

Snapping back to reality, Orochimaru's eyes toward Yoru filled with appreciation.

It seemed this child wasn't just physically precocious—his mind was also remarkably mature.

While other kids were still playing ninja games, and even geniuses couldn't resist the temptation of early graduation to become shinobi, he was hiding his strength and accumulating knowledge.

So, what had sparked this change and these thoughts in him?

Without a doubt, it was the death of the Gojo couple.

In that moment, Orochimaru seemed to see his own reflection in Yoru.

He too had undergone a massive transformation after losing both parents.

Thus, Orochimaru could empathize with Yoru's desire to conceal his edge.

Only by hiding powerful trump cards could one create miracles in desperate situations, turning a dead end into a path of survival.

He wasn't afraid of becoming a shinobi early and facing bloodshed; he wanted to grow stronger, master more knowledge, to prepare for any unexpected misfortune, ensuring he and his comrades wouldn't follow his parents' path.

Thinking this, Orochimaru's goodwill toward Yoru surged.

Outwardly, he offered high praise: "An excellent mindset. Truly the son of Sa and Mio. If they could see you now in the Pure Land, they would surely be deeply comforted.

I believe that in the future, you will surpass them and become one of Konoha's ace combat strengths."

Before Yoru could humbly respond, Orochimaru continued, "Was that jutsu just now a gift from Sa?"

"No, the Rasengan is a jutsu I developed myself." Yoru shook his head.

"Rasengan, is it? A fine name."

Orochimaru's lips curled slightly, as if he had expected as much.

Given the power of that jutsu, if Gojo Sa had developed it or it was a Gojo family inheritance, it would have long been famous across Konoha and the shinobi world.

At the same time, he couldn't help but inwardly marvel.

Developing a jutsu of at least B-Rank difficulty at this age—what dazzling talent!

But outwardly, Orochimaru said calmly, "That jutsu's power is formidable, its Shape Transformation and chakra control are top-tier, and if I'm not mistaken, it's a natureless Ninjutsu without hand seals, isn't it? Were you trying to infuse it with Nature Transformation just now, only to fail?"

"As expected of Lord Orochimaru!"

Yoru's eyes widened, his face a mask of "shock" as he stared at Orochimaru.

Then, he looked at Orochimaru with feigned anticipation, his gaze burning with intensity.

Orochimaru's lips twitched upward, and he raised his right hand.

Coiled around his wrist, a small white snake had appeared without warning.

The snake opened its mouth and spat out a red scroll that was completely disproportionate to its size.

Orochimaru tossed the scroll to Yoru. "This is my understanding of Nature Transformation over the years. I have no use for it now, so I'll give it to you."

Hearing this, Yoru's hand, which had just caught the scroll, trembled slightly.

Then, his eyes darted, and he put on a look of wild joy, bowing to Orochimaru at a perfect ninety-degree angle. "Thank you, Teacher Orochimaru!"

Taking in every shift of Yoru's expression, Orochimaru didn't correct the address, only leaving behind a hopeful remark.

"I hope the next time we meet, your growth will astonish me."

With that, Orochimaru vanished into a blur.

More than ten seconds after Orochimaru left, Yoru straightened up, staring at the scroll in his hands, his eyes brimming with delight.

This was truly an unexpected windfall!

The surprise wasn't the Nature Transformation scroll Orochimaru had gifted him, but the fact that the man hadn't rejected his presumptuous form of address.

Yoru had originally thought the first of the Sannin he'd encounter would be Tsunade, whom he'd meet through Uzumaki Kushina as part of his plan, or Jiraiya, through Namikaze Minato.

But unexpectedly, the first Sannin he met and interacted with was Orochimaru!

And this legendary shinobi, whose talent and genius rivaled only Senju Tobirama, who survived from the Original Work's youth arc all the way to Boruto, never phased out and constantly asserting his presence with technology, seemed to hold great favor and appreciation for him.

If that were the case, Yoru might not need to cling to Tsunade's coattails through Uzumaki Kushina.

As long as he could latch onto Orochimaru's, he'd gain not only the man's resources and connections but also a contract with Ryūchi Cave, unlocking its Sage Mode.

Once he mastered Sage Mode, Yoru's Space-Time Chakra would transform into Space-Time Sage Chakra.

At that point, Yoru couldn't imagine how strong he'd be!

Thinking this, Yoru began to analyze and internalize Orochimaru's gift and tacit approval.

Orochimaru hadn't rejected his presumptuous address—it was surely because of his talent.

Before awakening his Space-Time Ninjutsu, Gojo Yoru's original plan was to shock Konoha with the Rasengan, forcing the higher-ups to tacitly allow him to befriend Uzumaki Kushina and invest in him.

Developing an A-Rank ninjutsu without hand seals at the age of nine was simply too astonishing.

Such talent could not be ignored by anyone.

Especially by a powerhouse like Orochimaru!

With top-tier chakra control and Shape Transformation, once he also elevated his Nature Transformation, Gojo Yoru's Rasengan could be perfected into a Forbidden Level S-Rank ninjutsu.

And S-Rank ninjutsu was the highest level of jutsu in the ninja world—techniques that, no matter how much effort one put in, might not be learned, and were Forbidden Arts that even the Sharingan could not copy.

Such jutsu, even in the Five Great Shinobi Villages, were sealed in the Scroll of Sealing or stored in the Forbidden Jutsu Library as ultimate trump cards.

And a ninja who mastered this level of jutsu possessed the strength to threaten a Kage.

Once their overall abilities were raised, they became the Ace Combat Strength of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, commonly known as—Elite Jonin.

Such Jonin were also called Hokage candidates, capable of issuing A-Rank missions to any ninja in the village in times of emergency.

When a Five Kage died or stepped down, they were qualified to run for the position and cast votes.

Orochimaru was exactly that kind of existence right now!

Gojo Yoru had also shown the potential to become such a figure in the future.

Orochimaru, who still dreamed of becoming the Fourth Hokage, needed to build his own faction and needed powerful subordinates he could trust.

Gojo Yoru's potential, identity, and current age all perfectly fit this.

The scroll and the fact that Orochimaru did not reject Gojo Yoru's address were his investment and expectations for him.

As long as Gojo Yoru continued to display his potential, even if Orochimaru did not take him as a disciple, he would increase his investment and use his privileges as the Hokage's disciple to nurture him.

Since his transmigration, Gojo Yoru had been dreaming of finding a backer—and now, he had finally found one!