The ninja of the Ninja World all firmly believed in one saying.
That was... a ninja's battle was a battle of intelligence!
Gojo Yoru believed the same, provided there was no Super Kage Level combat strength involved.
Below the Super Kage Level, even the Third Raikage, who stood at the pinnacle of the Five Kage, possessed the Strongest Shield and Strongest Spear, and could fight the Eight-Tails alone without losing, could still be worn to death through sheer numbers.
Only those who surpassed the Five Kage could not be defeated through intelligence. Only Super Kage Level experts could deal with Super Kage Level experts.
Tokiya clearly did not possess such overpowered strength.
But Gojo Yoru possessed an overpowered ability.
Before his opponent realized that his ability was actually Space-Time Power capable of merging into space, Gojo Yoru used a small trick to cut Tokiya into pieces.
This was also the first time Gojo Yoru had used the Black Blade to cut someone down.
Even gemstones and earth were as fragile as thin paper before it; the human body was no exception.
Gojo Yoru's blade encountered no resistance. Empowered by the Phantom Body Flicker Technique, it moved as swiftly as a brush, drawing streak after streak of black through the air.
Anything within those black streaks was mercilessly severed.
Unfortunately, the Black Blade's power was not yet enough to tear apart space. Otherwise, that strike would have been a true Dimensional Slash.
Even so, Gojo Yoru still named the move Dimensional Slash and held great expectations for its potential.
"You... what did you just do?"
Having successfully slain a powerful enemy, Gojo Yoru did not pause to marvel at the Dimensional Slash's might. Instead, he intended to further destroy the corpse and erase all traces.
At that moment, a familiar voice suddenly sounded beside his ear.
Gojo Yoru jumped, nearly thinking there was another ambush.
Following the source of the voice, Gojo Yoru's eyes widened. "Teacher Orochimaru..."
On top of a massive boulder not far away stood Orochimaru, staring at Gojo Yoru with an incredulous look.
It was not difficult to tell from his expression that Orochimaru had witnessed the entire scene of Gojo Yoru killing Tokiya.
He might even have been there from the very beginning.
Gojo Yoru instantly understood, and his gaze toward Orochimaru filled with resentment. "Teacher Orochimaru, that was too much."
"I merely wanted to see how much you had grown during this time. After all, a Survival Exercise was only an exercise."
Orochimaru leaped down from the boulder and walked over to Gojo Yoru. His eyes locked onto the Chakra Blade in Gojo Yoru's hand as he continued his earlier question, his voice even trembling slightly. "What exactly happened with that sword just now?"
He had not asked about the Rasengan, nor about the hidden Chakra of the Phantom Body Flicker Technique, yet he kept pressing about the Dimensional Slash.
This showed just how greatly the sight of Gojo Yoru cutting Tokiya into pieces had shocked Orochimaru.
Because Orochimaru knew very well that the blade in Gojo Yoru's hand was no divine artifact. It was merely a Chakra Blade forged with a certain material mixed into it, making it easier to channel Chakra outside the body for Nature Transformation.
Forget a worthless Chakra Blade like this—even the Second Hokage's Thunder God Sword, or the famous divine artifacts of the Ninja World, could not cut an adult into a pile of flesh within a few seconds, even when coated in the sharpest Wind Style Nature Transformation.
Clearly, the problem was not the sword. The problem was his disciple, Gojo Yoru.
Seeing Orochimaru's expression, Gojo Yoru knew he could not hide it anymore.
It would be exposed eventually anyway. There was no need to damage their teacher-student relationship over something so minor.
So Gojo Yoru grinned, revealing a proud smile. "It isn't the sword, Teacher Orochimaru. This is my ability—my strongest trump card."
Seeing Gojo Yoru admit it, Orochimaru's breathing suddenly quickened, and his voice trembled even more. "Is... is it a Space-Time ability?"
It was one thing not to think in that direction, but once he did, many of his previous doubts were instantly resolved.
At the same time, the implications became even more terrifying the more he considered them.
The reason Gojo Yoru's Phantom Body Flicker Technique could not be sensed through Chakra, and the reason it was so unusual, was because... both his true body and his phantoms had merged into space.
Only then would his Phantom Clones not disappear after being struck. Only then could his real body conceal its Chakra presence, only to reveal it when attacking.
But... that was simply too unbelievable.
Could someone in this world truly wield Space-Time Ninjutsu to such a degree?
The Flying Thunder God Technique alone had already stumped countless geniuses.
Thus, Orochimaru stared fixedly into Gojo Yoru's eyes, wanting an answer.
The next second, Gojo Yoru smiled and nodded. "It is a Space-Time ability, and it isn't a Secret Technique. It is my... Kekkei Genkai."
Orochimaru's pupils abruptly contracted as he exclaimed, "A Kekkei Genkai?!"
The storm in Orochimaru's heart grew fiercer the more he knew, and the shock he felt now only deepened.
He had originally thought that Gojo Yoru's ability to use Space-Time Power was a Secret Technique that no one in the Gojo Family had ever comprehended, or perhaps a Space-Time gift he had suddenly awakened through talent, like the Second Hokage.
Yet... it was actually an inborn Kekkei Genkai, one that might even be passed down to his descendants?!
Did that not mean Gojo Yoru could use Space-Time Power as easily as any ordinary ninjutsu, and could even develop other types of Space-Time Ninjutsu?
Did such a Kekkei Genkai truly exist?
If it did, then what the hell was the legendary Wood Style?
Perhaps only the Sage's Eye from myth, which had created the moon, could compare to it?!
Watching Orochimaru become as stunned as he had expected, Gojo Yoru smiled, then solemnly requested, "When I was six, I suddenly discovered that I had awakened Space-Time abilities. This power is difficult to control. Even now, I have only developed the Phantom Body Flicker Technique and the Dimensional Slash from earlier, and they consume an enormous amount of Chakra. Until my Chakra reserves increase, I ask that you keep this secret for me for the time being, Teacher Orochimaru."
Hearing that, Orochimaru came back to his senses.
As he looked at this disciple whose body and mind were both extraordinarily mature, Orochimaru's eyes held nothing but endless appreciation and satisfaction.
"You did the right thing. Before you possess sufficient strength, power like this must be concealed even from your closest relatives." Orochimaru made a solemn promise. "Since you are willing to tell me this secret, then as your teacher, I cannot disappoint you. Unless you reveal this ability yourself, I will not disclose even the slightest detail to anyone—not even my teacher, the Third Hokage."
Joy appeared on Gojo Yoru's face, and he bowed to Orochimaru. "Thank you, Teacher Orochimaru."
Seeing that Gojo Yoru possessed such formidable power while still respecting his teacher so deeply, Orochimaru's fondness for him surged once more.
At that moment, Gojo Yoru was no longer merely future Ace Combat Strength in Orochimaru's eyes.
Nor was he merely one of the future Five Kage. He was the future New God of Shinobi!
Someone who could wield Space-Time Power as though it were an ordinary ninjutsu already possessed the potential to break the rules.
And such a person was his student.
Thinking of that, Orochimaru felt that even the position of Hokage seemed to be nothing more than that.
Suddenly, as though recalling something, Orochimaru smiled. "You completed this 'mission' very well. I'll give you the reward early."
"I originally intended to give it to you as a birthday gift, but considering that your Chakra had not been sufficient at the time, and that you should not have been distracted by learning other things, I abandoned the idea."
"Now it seems I let good intentions lead to bad results and delayed your growth."
After saying that, a small white snake crawled out from Orochimaru's sleeve. It opened its mouth and spat out a scroll far larger than its body, just as it had when he gifted the Nature Transformation scroll years ago.
Before you continue