For the next month, Gojo Yoru spent every day training and carrying out missions.
During missions, Gojo Yoru played the part of a well-behaved child.
After hearing Orochimaru's understanding of the Will of Fire, D-Rank Missions carried even more weight in Gojo Yoru's eyes than S-Rank Missions.
This was Sarutobi Hiruzen's new test.
Only those who loved this village could earn the recognition of this Ninja Hero.
Someone who did not care about the village or its people was practically a time bomb and not worth investing in at all.
So, throughout that month, Gojo Yoru greeted the villagers with a smile every day. Even when dealing with troublesome Konoha civilians who loved picking fights, he never got angry.
If the students at the academy had seen such a sight, their jaws would have dropped.
As for training...
Before Orochimaru's guidance, Gojo Yoru and Uzumaki Kushina either trained in Nature Transformation and ninjutsu or held Taijutsu Duels.
Even during No-Rules Duels where ninjutsu was allowed, they held back considerably, afraid of hurting each other.
As Uzumaki Kushina caught up in strength, those sparring matches had gradually become less useful.
Now that Orochimaru had pointed them in the right direction, Gojo Yoru and Uzumaki Kushina improved dramatically that month.
Every seven days, Orochimaru conducted a Survival Exercise with Gojo Yoru and Uzumaki Kushina. He gradually stopped holding back, allowing them to personally experience the aura of death.
Just like in the Chunin Exam of the Original Work, Orochimaru infused his killing intent into genjutsu, making Gojo Yoru and Uzumaki Kushina see their own miserable deaths. Uzumaki Kushina was so frightened that she vomited on the spot.
Gojo Yoru's face also turned pale as he once again felt the gap between himself and an Elite Jonin.
Without using his Space-Time Bloodline, even if he had mastered the Rasengan and Fire Style: Rasengan, he was merely a child holding a knife before a powerhouse of that level.
Threatening, but not by much!
To evade Orochimaru's pursuit, Gojo Yoru and Uzumaki Kushina's coordination grew better and their teamwork became increasingly seamless.
At first, they still needed to formulate tactics and prepare signals in advance.
Gradually, all it took was a glance for the other to immediately understand.
Gojo Yoru no longer fought alone, and Uzumaki Kushina was no longer reckless.
The former had little Chakra, so whenever they needed large-scale ninjutsu, they left it to Uzumaki Kushina and her enormous Chakra reserves.
Once Uzumaki Kushina, who had mastered Wind Release: Great Breakthrough, created over a dozen Shadow Clones and had them all unleash Wind Release: Great Breakthrough, she could whip up a typhoon.
Even someone as strong as Orochimaru had to use powerful Earth Style to block it or burrow underground.
Whenever that happened, Gojo Yoru would sneak over and attempt a killing blow. If it failed, he retreated.
Although the two were still no match for Orochimaru, they were no longer the disorganized mess they had been at the beginning.
During post-battle reviews, Orochimaru also rarely singled out Uzumaki Kushina anymore.
Both of their ninja qualities were improving at a rapid pace.
August 9th.
It was a very ordinary day.
If the Senju Clan had not integrated into Konoha, then this day would have been a grand occasion.
Because today was the birthday of the First Hokage's grandson.
As Konoha's foremost legitimate noble clan, if the Senju Clan still existed, the grandeur of this birthday celebration would have surpassed Hyuga Hinata's by more than tenfold. The entire village might even have celebrated together.
Unfortunately, with the Senju Clan gone, few people knew it was Nawaki's birthday.
Gojo Yoru also did not know whether this Crown Prince of Konoha had held his final birthday banquet.
However, the next day, Uzumaki Kushina brought him some good news.
"Yoru, guess what's inside this scroll?"
In the second-floor living room of the Gojo Family home, Uzumaki Kushina held a scroll and waved it before Gojo Yoru, her face brimming with a smug smile.
Seeing how happy Uzumaki Kushina looked, Gojo Yoru played along and asked, "Is it a Ninjutsu Scroll?"
"Hehe, here's a hint... The scroll contains a technique you've really wanted me to learn." Uzumaki Kushina continued to keep him guessing.
Gojo Yoru vaguely guessed what it was, but he still widened his eyes in cooperation. "Oh~~ Could it be the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu?"
"Wrong! It's Chakra Burst, you idiot!"
Having successfully gotten the reaction she wanted from Gojo Yoru, Uzumaki Kushina sat beside him and slowly explained, "Yesterday was Nawaki's birthday. Just like you said, I gave him the Rasengan as a gift. He really liked that Ninjutsu without hand seals."
"But Lord Tsunade seemed a little embarrassed about it. She spoke with me privately afterward and wanted to give me a return gift. She wouldn't even let me refuse."
"Don't you always say that my monstrous strength is perfect for learning Lord Tsunade's Monster Strength Fist? I just mentioned it casually, and she gave me the Senju Clan's Chakra Burst training method."
Uzumaki Kushina clenched her fist and gestured before Gojo Yoru, her tone filled with arrogance and menace. "Once I learn Lord Tsunade's ultimate technique, if your mouth gets foul again, I'll punch you straight into the intensive care ward."
"Oh my, I'm so scared~~"
Gojo Yoru patted Uzumaki Kushina's round face and, as foul-mouthed as ever, said, "Actually, Tomato-Nai, you must have misheard. With your weight, you're not suited for Monster Strength Fist at all. You're better suited for the Akimichi Clan's Expansion Jutsu. Maybe you'll sit me to death with that butt of yours!"
At those words, Uzumaki Kushina's little face instantly turned red at a visible speed.
Her expression shifted from smugness to gritted teeth.
"Smelly-Mouth Night, I'll strangle you to death!"
In the end, Uzumaki Kushina lost control and pounced on Gojo Yoru, grabbing his neck with both hands as she shouted.
But before long, tears welled in Uzumaki Kushina's eyes, and she collapsed onto the sofa, twitching.
"Hahaha... Don't tickle me, don't tickle me, I surrender, hahaha..."
As Gojo Yoru had Uzumaki Kushina writhing around like a maggot, a smile of success surfaced in his heart.
Everything was going according to plan!
Gojo Yoru had originally thought that, since Uzumaki Kushina was staying with the Senju Clan, learning Monster Strength Fist would be easy for her.
But unexpectedly, he had triggered the Butterfly Effect.
With the Gojo Family's treasure vault, Uzumaki Kushina had only retrieved the Uzumaki Clan's Scroll of Sealing from Uzumaki Mito and had not learned the Senju Clan's ninjutsu.
While Uzumaki Mito was still alive, Uzumaki Kushina might have been too embarrassed to ask.
After Uzumaki Mito died, Uzumaki Kushina, who felt like a parasite, had even less nerve to do so.
But that could not stump Gojo Yoru.
As a transmigrator, Gojo Yoru knew that Tsunade had a straightforward and generous personality. As long as Uzumaki Kushina asked, Tsunade would most likely teach her Monster Strength Fist out of consideration for Uzumaki Mito.
Since Uzumaki Kushina was too embarrassed to ask, he only needed to make Tsunade take the initiative.
The current Tsunade was completely obsessed with doting on her younger brother.
Her brother came first in her heart.
Rather than currying favor with her, it was better to curry favor with Nawaki.
That was why, during their everyday sparring, Gojo Yoru had repeatedly hinted to Uzumaki Kushina that if she could learn Monster Strength Fist, she would be able to fully unleash her talent for monstrous strength.
Afterward, he guided Uzumaki Kushina into growing closer to Nawaki and let her give him the Rasengan as a birthday gift.
As long as Tsunade saw the Rasengan, she would understand how precious that ninjutsu was.
Her brother liked it, and she could not possibly refuse it.
All Tsunade could do was give Uzumaki Kushina a return gift she could not refuse.
When Tsunade brought it up, Uzumaki Kushina, who had already been hinted at countless times by Gojo Yoru, would definitely not miss the chance to ask for Monster Strength Fist.
This scheme displayed the skill Gojo Yoru had developed over the years from writing guides.
No need to make a self-interested request; they were all pieces on the board!
Before you continue