Official Certification, Master-Disciple Dialogue

Finally obtaining the Yin Seal he had dreamed of, Gojo Yoru felt both elated and unexpectedly calm.

As he had thought before.

The fact that Uzumaki Kushina could bring the Scroll of Sealing from Hidden Whirlpool Village before him seemed simple on the surface, but was actually quite incredible.

After all, the destruction of the Land of Whirlpools and Hidden Whirlpool Village was precisely because of the Uzumaki Clan's Fuinjutsu.

Moreover, Gojo Yoru was certain that the sealing techniques snatched by the major nations were at most ordinary and advanced Fuinjutsu and Barrier Ninjutsu.

Some super rare and powerful sealing techniques could never be casually passed down. Even clan members who contributed significantly could only obtain one-time independent scrolls.

They might even be inscribed with restrictions similar to the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal and defenses against mind-reading jutsu.

Such measures were common among almost every Secret Jutsu Clan, mainly to prevent clan members from defecting or being looted after death, thus preventing clan secrets from leaking out.

As a prestigious ninja clan spanning a thousand years, the Uzumaki Clan's Scroll of Sealing was second only in value to Konoha's Scroll of Sealing.

If placed in the ninja world, it could instantly spark the Second Shinobi World War.

And now, this thing was simply laid out before Gojo Yoru.

Without the tacit approval of Uzumaki Mito and Sarutobi Hiruzen, this would be impossible!

In Gojo Yoru's eyes, this scroll was a signal.

A signal that both Uzumaki Mito and Sarutobi Hiruzen recognized him and were preparing to nurture him.

Otherwise, no matter how love-struck Uzumaki Kushina was, those two great figures would never allow her to do something so impulsive.

Now they should all have high hopes for Gojo Yoru, hoping he would learn the Uzumaki Clan's Fuinjutsu and, in the future, possess the ability to handle the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki's rampage.

At the same time, they hoped he could suppress and reform the Nine-Tails together with Uzumaki Kushina.

Thinking of this, the surprise in Gojo Yoru's heart was even greater than obtaining the Yin Seal.

This meant that his relationship with Uzumaki Kushina had received "official certification." Even if the latter became the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, those higher-ups would not dare to intervene, and would even secretly support the two from behind, using resources to nurture Gojo Yoru.

After Uzumaki Mito died, unless Gojo Yoru had a disagreement with Sarutobi Hiruzen or fell out with him, as long as he remained in Konoha, no trouble would ever come to him.

As long as he displayed strong talent and strength, Gojo Yoru's future prospects would be unimpeded.

"Teacher Sarutobi, why are you so unusual today, actually inviting me and Orochimaru over for a meal?"

"Brat, you have the nerve to say that? Since when does a teacher have to take the initiative to invite his students? If I hadn't invited you, would you never come to pay your respects to me?"

"Cough... I haven't taken any missions in a long time. I'm broke."

"Then why don't you go work?"

"No can do. I still need to stay in Konoha for material gathering. I'm planning to write a novel. Once I earn royalties, I'll properly pay my respects to you."

"Oh? Come over and tell me more."

That evening, Sarutobi Hiruzen rarely invited his two disciples, Jiraiya and Orochimaru, to his home for dinner.

Orochimaru was in the kitchen helping Sarutobi Biwako with the cooking, while Jiraiya and Sarutobi Hiruzen were drinking and bickering at the dining table.

Among the three disciples, Orochimaru was the one the Sarutobi couple was most satisfied with and proud of, but the one who could chat most freely with Sarutobi Hiruzen was the irreverent Jiraiya.

One inherited the mantle of ninjutsu, the other inherited the mantle of lechery—they shared common interests.

Jiraiya, who held a treasure trove of Sarutobi Hiruzen's dark secrets, acted as casually in the Sarutobi home as if it were his own, incredibly bold.

After dinner, Sarutobi Biwako refused Orochimaru's offer to help wash the dishes. The master and his two disciples moved from the dining room to the tea room.

Orochimaru took over the task of brewing tea, while Sarutobi Hiruzen lit his pipe, puffing clouds of smoke.

Jiraiya couldn't be bothered with such formalities. He sat cross-legged on the tatami, looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen, and cut straight to the point: "Teacher Sarutobi, do you have something to order us to do?"

"Can't I just want to have a heart-to-heart with you two?"

No sooner had Sarutobi Hiruzen spoken than Jiraiya shot him a contemptuous look. Even Orochimaru, who was rinsing the tea, cast a sidelong glance at Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"You two brats, what kind of look is that?" Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately scolded.

"Cut it out, Teacher Sarutobi. Only you would promote Orochimaru to Chunin and then hand over the entire team to him," Jiraiya ruthlessly retorted. "It's only because the three of us are strong and lucky that we didn't die dozens of times over."

"If I hadn't raised you like that, would you have the strength you have now?"

"Fine, fine, I can't argue with you." Jiraiya raised his hands in surrender, then asked again, "So what heart-to-heart do you want to have with us, Teacher Sarutobi? It's not about the women's bathhouse, is it?"

"Brat, keep your voice down." Sarutobi Hiruzen made a motion to hit Jiraiya with his pipe, scaring the latter into covering his head with both hands.

Orochimaru watched the scene with a smile.

After a bout of horseplay, Sarutobi Hiruzen finally got to the point. "You've been Jounin for a while now. Your overall abilities are excellent, but you're still missing one link. Have you ever thought about becoming a Jounin Instructor, training a few subordinates, and scouting out promising talents to inherit your legacy?"

Jiraiya's eyes lit up. "Teacher Sarutobi, do you want us to be Nawaki's Jounin Instructor?"

"Nawaki's Jounin Instructor has already been decided. Even your teacher has no say in it." Sarutobi Hiruzen raised a finger, pointing at the ceiling.

Jiraiya instantly deflated, looking dejected. "If it's not being Nawaki's Jounin Instructor, then I'm not interested for now. The promising talents me and Orochimaru have our eyes on won't graduate for a long time yet."

"Oh? Who have you set your sights on?" Sarutobi Hiruzen's interest was piqued. He hadn't expected these two disciples to silently find him two grand-disciples without a word.

"They only move up to fifth grade in April. Orochimaru has his eye on the top student, and I've got my sights on the second place." Jiraiya answered truthfully.

Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately turned to look at Orochimaru, a meaningful smile on his face. "The child of Sa and Mio—is he your disciple?"

Orochimaru caught the implication in Sarutobi Hiruzen's words and chuckled lightly. "It seems Teacher Sarutobi, you've noticed him too. Well, that's only natural—he is, after all, that outstanding."

"Not just me. Lady Mito has also been keeping an eye on him."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's reply made both Orochimaru and Jiraiya's expressions shift.

There were very few people whom Sarutobi Hiruzen would address as "Lady."

In Konoha now, there was only one: the wife of the First Hokage, who had founded the village.

Though the Senju Clan had long since merged into Konoha, to the point where even Tsunade and Nawaki had abandoned the Senju surname, as long as that lady still lived, the Senju Clan remained.

She represented not only the Senju Clan but also the First Hokage himself.

And every ninja clan in Konoha was a loyal supporter of the First Hokage.

As Sarutobi Hiruzen had just said, that lady was "the higher authority."

Her decisions were beyond even the Hokage's power to interfere.