Nawaki's Birthday, Monster Strength Fist Acquired

The following month, Gojo Yoru spent every day training and carrying out missions.

During missions, Gojo Yoru played the part of a good child.

After hearing Orochimaru's interpretation of the Will of Fire, D-Rank Missions weighed heavier in Gojo Yoru's eyes than S-Rank ones.

This was Sarutobi Hiruzen's new test.

Only those who loved this village could earn the recognition of this Ninja Hero.

A person who didn't care about the village or its villagers was nothing but a Time Bomb, utterly unworthy of investment.

So for this month, Gojo Yoru faced the villagers with a smile every day. Even when dealing with Konoha's troublemakers who loved to pick fights, he didn't lose his temper.

If his classmates at the academy had seen this scene, they would have been utterly shocked.

As for training...

Before, without Orochimaru's guidance, Gojo Yoru and Uzumaki Kushina either trained in Nature Transformation and ninjutsu or engaged in taijutsu duels.

Even when they held No-Rules Duels where ninjutsu was allowed, they held back greatly, afraid of hurting each other.

Such sparring had lost most of its effectiveness as Uzumaki Kushina's strength caught up.

Now, with Orochimaru pointing them in the right direction, Gojo Yoru and Uzumaki Kushina's improvement this month was very noticeable.

Every seven days, Orochimaru would conduct a survival drill with Gojo Yoru and Uzumaki Kushina, gradually holding back less and less, letting them personally feel the breath of death.

Just like in the Original Work's Chunin Exam, Orochimaru blended killing intent into genjutsu, showing Gojo Yoru and Uzumaki Kushina their own gruesome deaths, scaring Uzumaki Kushina so badly she vomited on the spot.

Gojo Yoru's face also turned pale, once again feeling 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, before a powerhouse of this level, he was just a child holding a knife.

Threatening, but not much!

To evade Orochimaru's pursuit, Gojo Yoru and Uzumaki Kushina's cooperation grew better and better, their tacit understanding stronger and stronger.

At first, they still needed to plan tactics in advance and prepare signals.

Gradually, they only needed a single glance for the other to immediately understand.

Gojo Yoru no longer fought alone; Uzumaki Kushina no longer acted recklessly.

The former had a small chakra reserve, so when large-scale ninjutsu was needed, he left it to Uzumaki Kushina, who had a massive chakra pool.

Uzumaki Kushina, who had mastered Wind Release: Great Breakthrough, only needed to create a dozen Shadow Clones, and have them all use Wind Release: Great Breakthrough together, to whip up a typhoon.

Even someone as strong as Orochimaru had to use powerful Earth Style to block, or burrow underground.

Whenever that happened, Gojo Yoru would sneak over for a decisive killing blow, and retreat if he failed.

Although the two still couldn't defeat Orochimaru, they were no longer the scattered mess they had been at the start.

During post-battle reviews, Orochimaru rarely had to point out Uzumaki Kushina anymore.

Both of their ninja qualities were improving rapidly.

August 9th.

This was a very ordinary day.

If the Senju Clan hadn't merged into Konoha, then this day would have been a very grand occasion.

Because today was the birthday of the First Hokage's own grandson.

As the premier noble clan of Konoha's orthodox lineage, if the Senju Clan still existed, the grandeur of this birthday celebration would have been ten times that of Hyuga Hinata's, possibly even a village-wide celebration.

Unfortunately, with the disappearance of the Senju Clan, few people knew about Nawaki's birthday.

Gojo Yoru didn't know whether this Crown Prince of Konoha had held a final birthday banquet.

But the next day, Uzumaki Kushina brought good news.

"Yoru, guess what's inside this scroll?"

In the second-floor living room of the Gojo residence, Uzumaki Kushina held a scroll in her hand, waving it in front of Gojo Yoru's face, a smug smile on her face.

Seeing Uzumaki Kushina so happy, Gojo Yoru played along and asked, "Is it a Ninjutsu Scroll?"

"Hehe, here's a hint... Inside this scroll is a technique I really hope I can learn." Uzumaki Kushina continued to keep him in suspense.

Gojo Yoru vaguely guessed what it was, but still cooperated, widening his eyes: "Oh~~ Could it be the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu?"

"Wrong, it's Chakra Burst, you idiot!"

Having successfully gotten emotional value from Gojo Yoru, Uzumaki Kushina sat down beside him and explained slowly: "Yesterday was Nawaki's birthday. Like you said, I gave the Rasengan as a gift to Nawaki. He really liked that Ninjutsu without hand seals."

"But Lord Tsunade seemed a bit uneasy. Afterwards, she called me aside to talk, wanting to give me a return gift, and she wouldn't let me refuse."

"You always said my Monster Strength was suited for learning Lord Tsunade's Monster Strength Fist, right? So I casually mentioned it, and she gave me the Senju Clan's Chakra Burst training method."

Uzumaki Kushina clenched her fist and gestured in front of Gojo Yoru, her tone carrying arrogance and threat: "Once I learn Lord Tsunade's special technique, if you keep running your mouth, I'll send you straight to the ICU with one punch."

"Oh, I'm so scared~~"

Gojo Yoru patted Uzumaki Kushina's round cheeks and, as usual, let his mouth run: "Actually, Tomato-Nai, your ears are just clogged. With your build, you're not suited for Monster Strength Fist at all—you'd be better off learning the Akimichi Clan's Expansion Jutsu. That way, I might actually get sat to death by your ass!"

Hearing this, Uzumaki Kushina's little face visibly reddened in an instant.

Her expression shifted from smug to gritting her teeth.

"Smelly-Mouth Night, I'll choke you to death!"

In the end, Uzumaki Kushina couldn't hold back and tackled Gojo Yoru, grabbing his neck with both hands as she shouted.

But soon enough, Uzumaki Kushina's eyes brimmed with tears, and she collapsed onto the sofa, convulsing.

"Hahaha... stop, stop tickling, I surrender, hahaha..."

Gojo Yoru, who had Kushina writhing like a worm under his control, revealed a knowing smile in his heart.

All of this was part of his plan!

Gojo Yoru had originally thought that for Uzumaki Kushina, who was lodging with the Senju Clan, learning Monster Strength Fist would be a simple matter.

But he hadn't expected to trigger the Butterfly Effect.

With the Gojo Family's treasury at her disposal, Uzumaki Kushina had only retrieved the Uzumaki Clan's Scroll of Sealing from Uzumaki Mito, without learning any Senju Clan techniques.

While Uzumaki Mito was still alive, she might have been too embarrassed to ask.

After Uzumaki Mito's death, Uzumaki Kushina, feeling like a parasite, had even less nerve to do so.

But this didn't stump Gojo Yoru.

As a transmigrator, Gojo Yoru knew that Tsunade was a straightforward person. As long as Uzumaki Kushina spoke up, out of respect for Uzumaki Mito, Tsunade would most likely teach her Monster Strength Fist.

Since Uzumaki Kushina was too shy to ask, he'd just make Tsunade take the initiative.

At this point, Tsunade was a total brother-con.

Her little brother was the top priority in her heart.

Rather than buttering her up, it was better to win over Nawaki.

That's why Gojo Yoru, in their daily sparring sessions, 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.

After that, he guided Uzumaki Kushina to get closer to Nawaki, allowing her to give the Rasengan to him as a birthday gift.

Once Tsunade saw the Rasengan, she would recognize the value of that technique.

Her little brother liked it, and she couldn't refuse.

All Tsunade could do was give Uzumaki Kushina a return gift she couldn't turn down.

When Tsunade brought it up, Uzumaki Kushina, already hinted at countless times by Gojo Yoru, would never miss the chance at Monster Strength Fist.

This scheme showcased the skill Gojo Yoru had honed over the years writing strategy guides.

No need for selfish motives to speak—they were all just pieces on the board!