A Gathering of Future Sannin

Night fell. Gojo Yoru returned home and finally opened the scroll gifted by Orochimaru.

Dense text met his eyes. After just a few glances, he clicked his tongue in admiration: "As expected of 'Lord Orochimaru,' just like in the original work—generous enough!"

Gojo Yoru wasn't lacking methods for Nature Transformation training.

His father in this life was an all-round Jounin, and the basic requirement to become such a Jounin was mastering at least two Nature Transformations.

Moreover, having a surname meant the family had once seen glory.

In the underground chamber of the Gojo Family, there were scrolls containing training methods for four types of Nature Transformation.

However, these training methods were all common knowledge.

But the scroll in Gojo Yoru's hand recorded Orochimaru's understanding of Nature Transformation.

As a rare full-attribute genius in the ninja world, the scroll Orochimaru gifted not only contained the Nature Transformations of the Five Elemental Natures but also insights into the two hidden attributes: Yin and Yang.

Hidden attributes were, naturally, those that couldn't be detected by chakra paper.

Still, Gojo Yoru knew he possessed both Yin and Yang attributes.

His development was far too abnormal; his powerful life force and chakra were both tied to the Yang attribute.

With his strong soul, he had already mastered the Sensing Technique and a C-rank Genjutsu by the end of last year.

Adding the Fire and Earth attributes detected by chakra paper, Gojo Yoru's attributes should number four: Yin, Yang, Fire, and Earth.

But how to develop these two hidden attributes—Gojo Yoru had no clue at all.

Because this kind of knowledge was an important inheritance held tightly by the Village Higher-ups and the Secret Jutsu Clans.

And now, this very knowledge appeared on the scroll gifted by Orochimaru.

That was why Gojo Yoru felt so moved.

This kind of knowledge might greatly help him master Space-Time Chakra.

After all, Yang Release represented the physical body, while Yin Release represented the spirit.

With the Rasengan as a cheat, Gojo Yoru's chakra control had already reached a certain level. To advance further, he needed the help of Yang Release knowledge or Medical Ninjutsu.

Only by perfectly controlling chakra flow and release through every meridian and acupoint—like the Senju Clan's Monster Strength Fist, the Hyuga Clan's Gentle Fist, and the Akimichi Clan's Expansion Jutsu—could Gojo Yoru take the next step in mastering Space-Time Chakra, blending ordinary chakra with Space-Time Chakra in a fixed ratio to perform techniques.

If successful, he could both apply a Space-Time buff to ordinary ninjutsu and reduce the consumption of Space-Time Chakra.

Gojo Yoru would no longer be just an ordinary ninja when fighting with regular chakra, only gaining terrifying cross-rank combat power when using Space-Time Chakra.

At that point, the Rasengan might truly be infused with Space-Time Chakra, becoming a unique orb technique that never appeared in the Original Work!

Thinking this, Gojo Yoru immediately performed the Shadow Clone Jutsu he had mastered last year, creating two shadow clones to read the scroll with him and learn by cheating.

While Gojo Yoru was frantically absorbing new knowledge.

In an izakaya on Konoha's Central Street.

"Orochimaru, it's really hard to see you these days!"

"If you want to see me, you can ask Teacher Sarutobi to transfer you to the border. I'm sure he'd be very happy."

"Haha... forget it. My dream isn't to become Hokage, so I don't need that many merits to run for office. This lazy life of eating and waiting to die is comfortable enough."

"I think you just don't want to leave someone!"

"Cough, cough..."

The sounds of clinking glasses, banter, and teasing echoed from behind the curtain.

The future Konoha Sannin were having a class reunion.

At this time, they were in their prime, full of vigor and high spirits.

Still single, Tsunade was beautiful and moving. Propping her cheek with one hand and shaking a sake flask with the other, she exuded a dashing elegance.

Watching the two who hadn't changed since childhood, bickering at the drop of a hat, Tsunade smiled without a word.

As for Orochimaru using her to tease and "play wingman" for Jiraiya, causing that guy to choke on his sake and turn red-faced and flustered, Tsunade couldn't care less.

Tsunade was well aware of Jiraiya's feelings for her and had told him more than once that he wasn't her type.

Their bond as three wouldn't be strained by romantic entanglements.

Clinking glasses with Orochimaru, Tsunade changed the subject and asked, "How many days can you stay this time?"

Hearing this, Orochimaru's slightly raised smile suddenly faded. His expression turned serious as he shook his head: "I don't know. The border has been very quiet lately. Those great nations all pulled back at the same time. I don't know if they've secretly allied or are plotting something."

"That shouldn't be possible, unless they're willing to set aside their grudges. Otherwise, they couldn't form a four-nation alliance like in the last Ninja World War."

"Maybe they've all given up on expansion. After all, with their countries' economies, they can't sustain such massive expenditures."

"I hope so." Orochimaru took a drink, his eyes deep. "But that atmosphere makes me very uncomfortable."

"You've been at the border too long. Your mind's gone haywire. Have Tsunade prescribe you some medicine." Jiraiya teased first, then sensing the shift in mood, changed the subject with excitement: "Speaking of which, I found a pretty good kid at the Ninja Academy a while ago. He only moved up to fourth grade in April, but he already has the strength to graduate early. And the talent he's shown—I feel it's not inferior to ours."

"What, you lazy bum want to become a Jounin Instructor?" Tsunade couldn't help but mock, while a thought stirred in her mind. Her gaze turned back to Orochimaru, just as she was about to say something.

Orochimaru suddenly lifted his gaze and stared at Jiraiya, asking, "What's his name?"

"Na... Namikaze Minato. What's wrong?"

Startled by Orochimaru's look, Jiraiya couldn't help but feel uneasy. "Don't tell me he's your man, or have you already set your sights on him?"

If that were the case, things would get awkward.

Hearing that it wasn't Gojo Yoru, Orochimaru returned to his usual demeanor and chuckled lightly. "I have indeed taken a liking to a prospect. He's only nine this year. If both of them enter the Academy at six, they might even be in the same grade—or even the same class."

"Oh?"

Jiraiya and Tsunade perked up with interest. The former let out a sigh of relief and asked with curiosity, "For you to have your eye on him, his talent must be remarkable. Is he a descendant of one of the Great Ninja Clans?"

"No, and his parents are people you both know." Orochimaru shook his head. "He's the son of Gojo Sa and Gojo Mio."

Tsunade seemed to recall something and said sympathetically, "Is he one of the orphans from that major mission?"

"The First Hokage distributed the tailed beasts to give them a check and balance against each other, yet those villages actually send Jinchuriki out on missions. How damn infuriating!" Jiraiya said indignantly.

"Life can be fragile at times. Once you become a ninja, you must be prepared for accidents to happen at any moment," Orochimaru said in a somber tone.

"Enough talk. Let's drink."

Sensing the shift in atmosphere, Tsunade raised her glass to cut them off, also setting aside the thought that had just crossed her mind.

She had originally planned to ask Orochimaru to take Nawaki as his disciple. Since he already had someone in mind—and that someone was even her younger brother's junior—there was no need to trouble him.

She would go back and discuss it with her grandmother, either taking on the role herself or arranging for a clansman who had abandoned their surname and integrated into Konoha to serve as Nawaki's Jounin Instructor.