All for Our Future

The news Orochimaru brought came as a surprise to Gojo Yoru.

What surprised him even more was how highly Sarutobi Hiruzen regarded him.

Uzumaki Kushina had only become the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki two months ago. Logically, Sarutobi Hiruzen should have given them time to get along, allowing Gojo Yoru to soothe Uzumaki Kushina's heart.

Yet after only two months, he wanted Gojo Yoru to graduate early. What was the reason?

Gojo Yoru could not help but speculate.

Could it be that Sarutobi Hiruzen had witnessed both his and Uzumaki Kushina's growth and could no longer wait to bring Gojo Yoru into the Hokage's circle?

Considering that he possessed the Crystal Viewing Technique, he had likely often spied on Gojo Yoru and Uzumaki Kushina's sparring. Perhaps he had seen their daytime match and felt that Gojo Yoru was already starting to struggle against Uzumaki Kushina, so he had specifically sent Orochimaru to offer timely help?

The more Gojo Yoru thought about it, the more likely it seemed. The timing of this intervention was simply perfect.

Still, that suited Gojo Yoru just fine.

Nawaki would turn eleven next month. If no Butterfly Effect occurred, the Second Shinobi World War would break out next year.

Even if Gojo Yoru's class graduated, Orochimaru and Jiraiya would not have much time to train them.

Gojo Yoru also needed a long time to deepen his master-disciple relationship with Orochimaru and sign a summoning contract with Ryūchi Cave.

If he could become Orochimaru's disciple ahead of time, it would undoubtedly be a good thing for Gojo Yoru.

Thus, Gojo Yoru immediately made his decision.

He nodded at Orochimaru. "Teacher Orochimaru, I'm willing to graduate early."

Orochimaru did not seem surprised by Gojo Yoru's decision at all. Smiling, he nodded. "Very good. Then I'll wait for you at the Ninja Academy tomorrow."

After saying that, Orochimaru rose to his feet and vanished into an afterimage.

"Yoru, will it be hard for me to see you from now on? Will we not be able to train together every day anymore?"

Although she knew it was for their own good, Uzumaki Kushina was still feeling somewhat downcast.

Gojo Yoru reached out and stroked Uzumaki Kushina's head. "This is all for our future."

Those words, practically a direct confession, made Uzumaki Kushina's cheeks flush as she shyly lowered her head.

The next day, Gojo Yoru arrived at the Ninja Academy early.

Yuya, who had already received the news, brought him to an examination room.

There was no requirement to defeat an experienced Genin in order to graduate early.

If someone could defeat an experienced Genin, why would they graduate early just to become a Genin? They could simply take the Chunin Ninja Exams directly.

To graduate early, one first had to complete three steps.

First, obtain a teacher's approval, after which the teacher would submit the student's application. Second, receive the principal's approval, namely Sarutobi Hiruzen's. Third, obtain the parents' consent and have them come to the academy to sign.

Uchiha Itachi's early graduation in the Original Work had followed this very process.

Gojo Yoru's parents were already gone, so he only needed to sign for himself.

After completing those steps, Gojo Yoru still needed to demonstrate his abilities and prove that he possessed the strength of an official Genin.

Inside the examination room, Gojo Yoru first performed Shuriken and Kunai throwing, then the Body Flicker Technique and Invisibility Technique, and finally underwent assessment in the Three Body Techniques.

The three examiners responsible for grading unanimously awarded him full marks.

Because Gojo Yoru had not used the Clone Technique, instead using the B-rank Shadow Clone Jutsu, he astonished everyone.

After all, many experienced Genin only knew a single C-rank Five Element Ninjutsu.

Mastering the Shadow Clone Jutsu in fifth grade, and reportedly even having used a C-rank Earth Style ninjutsu during the practical assessment—such strength surpassed that of many experienced Genin. He could even directly take the Chunin Ninja Exams.

With the academy's seal, news of Gojo Yoru's early graduation quickly spread throughout the Ninja Academy.

Upon learning that the Great Demon King had graduated early, every boy in the academy erupted in cheers.

That bullying bastard was finally not coming to school anymore. This was wonderful!

The girls, meanwhile, felt a little regretful. The academy had one less handsome face to admire.

While cheering, the students of Class One, Fifth Grade were also extremely curious about Uzumaki Kushina's reaction.

Strangely enough, Uzumaki Kushina looked utterly unconcerned and continued studying diligently.

Other than Namikaze Minato, who sensed that something was off, no one noticed that the Uzumaki Kushina in the classroom was actually just a Shadow Clone.

"Congratulations. From this moment onward, you are an official Genin, number 007185."

After Gojo Yoru had his file photograph taken, Orochimaru finally appeared and handed him a Genin forehead protector.

Gojo Yoru took the forehead protector and tied it around his forehead, then looked at Orochimaru. "Teacher Orochimaru, do you plan to train me alone?"

"Yes. From today onward, you are my disciple." Orochimaru nodded.

Gojo Yoru immediately looked overjoyed. "Really? That's great!"

Although Genin all addressed their Jounin Instructors as teacher, theirs was not actually a master-disciple relationship, but one of superior and subordinate.

If the superior disliked that group of subordinates, then once someone in the team advanced to Chunin, he would become a hands-off manager and have no obligation to teach them ninjutsu.

Only when a Jounin Instructor took a liking to someone did it count as a true master-disciple relationship. They would be taught ninjutsu and perhaps even secret techniques.

This showed just how significant Orochimaru's words were.

As for a Jounin Instructor personally training a disciple alone, there were few examples in Konoha, but they did exist.

And all those examples involved Orochimaru.

Nawaki in the Original Work and Mitaraishi Anko in the Original Work had both followed Orochimaru alone.

"Don't celebrate too soon. My training is very strict." Orochimaru smiled.

"Just the way I like it." Gojo Yoru grinned at Orochimaru. "Teacher Orochimaru, please don't go easy on me."

"Heh heh, let's leave this place first."

Orochimaru led Gojo Yoru out of the academy.

Just as they stepped out through the academy gates, they saw a red-haired figure jogging over.

"Teacher Orochimaru, Yoru."

Uzumaki Kushina greeted Orochimaru first. Then, seeing the forehead protector on Gojo Yoru's brow, her eyes lit up. "Yoru, have you graduated now?"

"Yeah. Want to try it on early?" Gojo Yoru removed the forehead protector and handed it to Uzumaki Kushina, who accepted it without ceremony and put it on.

Orochimaru watched the two with a smile, then said to Gojo Yoru, "Before we begin carrying out missions, I need to understand your strength first. You have half an hour to prepare. I'll wait at the place where you usually train."

With that, Orochimaru vanished.

Hearing his words, Uzumaki Kushina widened her eyes. "Yoru, are you going to fight Teacher Orochimaru?"

"Yeah. Come watch too. Let's see the gap between ourselves and a Jonin."

"Sure."

Uzumaki Kushina was instantly intrigued, then headed home alongside Gojo Yoru.