Two and a Half Years of Sediment

Uchiha Ying Yue felt a profound sense of gratitude toward Uzumaki Mito in his heart.

Without the support of Uzumaki Mito, as a descendant of both the Senju and Uchiha clans—especially after his Wood Release abilities were revealed—he would inevitably have attracted significant attention and even hostility.

However, precisely because of Uzumaki Mito's protection, the upper echelons of Konoha chose to adopt a wait-and-see approach and offer support rather than hostility when dealing with Ying Yue.

After overcoming the trust crisis, Uchiha Ying Yue decided to focus his energy on enhancing his own strength and accumulating knowledge. To utilize his time more efficiently, Ying Yue cleverly employed the Wood Release: Clone Technique.

Uchiha Ying Yue sent a wood clone to attend classes at the Ninja Academy to continue learning and consolidating the fundamental knowledge of the Ninja World. He also kept another wood clone stationed at the Konoha Library to read and study various books on ninjutsu, history, and scientific technology.

The vast wealth of knowledge within the Konoha Library allowed Ying Yue to gain a deeper understanding of the history of the Ninja World and the mysteries of ninjutsu.

Meanwhile, Ying Yue's original body followed the father-son duo, Might Duy and Might Gang, focusing on taijutsu training. Ying Yue not only tempered his physical strength but also continuously delved into the techniques of the Eight Inner Gates.

Over the span of two years, Ying Yue's physical fitness improved significantly, and his mastery of the Eight Inner Gates became increasingly proficient; he was now able to open the Gate of Opening, the Gate of Healing, the Gate of Life, and the Gate of Pain.

Ying Yue's other wood clone spent almost every day at the Konoha Library.

The library was a treasure trove of knowledge in Konoha, housing all sorts of books on ninjutsu, history, geography, strategy, and more. By reading these volumes, Ying Yue further enriched his knowledge base and began to develop a keen interest in various complex ninjutsu.

During his studies at the library, Ying Yue gradually noticed a young man of about twenty who also frequently appeared in the corners of the library.

This young man had long, gray-black hair, and his eyes revealed a sense of calmness and wisdom. He was always buried in various ninjutsu scrolls and ancient texts, displaying an extreme thirst for knowledge.

Uchiha Ying Yue recognized the young Orochimaru. Although his appearance was somewhat different from the future, Orochimaru's temperament remained quite unique; in the entire village of Konoha, Orochimaru was likely the only one with such a peculiar aura.

Ying Yue decided to befriend Orochimaru. As a scientific genius in the original story, whether it was forbidden ninjutsu, physical modifications, genetic engineering, or scientific inventions, he was a top-tier talent in the entire Ninja World. Establishing a good relationship with Orochimaru would be of great help to his future plans.

One day, when Ying Yue and the young man reached out at the same time to grab the same book on the structure of human meridians, their gazes met in the air. Ying Yue noticed a flash of surprise in the other's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a polite smile.

"Apologies, I didn't expect anyone else to be interested in this book," the young man spoke first, his voice gentle and slightly raspy.

Ying Yue smiled faintly and handed the book to him: "No, it should be me who arrived late. Please, go ahead."

The young man took the book, scrutinized Ying Yue carefully, and then introduced himself: "My name is Orochimaru. And you?"

"Uchiha Ying Yue," Ying Yue replied, feeling a spark of interest in the name Orochimaru.

As they conversed, Ying Yue discovered that Orochimaru had an exceptionally strong interest in ninjutsu, especially in various obscure and advanced ninjutsu theories. During their exchange, Ying Yue, thanks to his [Professor of Ninjutsu] ability, his advantage of knowing the plot, and his modern perspective, constantly offered insightful observations that left Orochimaru feeling incredibly surprised and in agreement.

As time passed, Ying Yue and Orochimaru's interactions at the library became more frequent. The two often discussed the principles and applications of ninjutsu together, exchanging their respective research insights.

Ying Yue's [Professor of Ninjutsu] ability allowed him to have a very deep understanding of ninjutsu, while Orochimaru, with his extremely high talent and wisdom, quickly absorbed Ying Yue's insights.

Orochimaru gradually realized that Ying Yue was not just an ordinary ninja who loved to learn; his ability to understand and analyze ninjutsu was completely on par with his own, and in some aspects, even surpassed it.

"At first, I thought I was pursuing knowledge in solitude, but I didn't expect that you, Ying Yue, were the same," Orochimaru remarked with a rare sense of emotion after one of their discussions concluded.

Ying Yue smiled: "Knowledge is the root of power. I have a strong interest in knowledge and hope to master more of it."

A glint of approval and appreciation flashed in Orochimaru's eyes: "Ying Yue, I have rarely met someone like you. You are a genius, just like me."

Ying Yue felt Orochimaru's recognition. Although their goals might differ, their shared pursuit of knowledge allowed them to build a deep friendship during those times in the library.

Once, the two discussed until late at night. Uchiha Ying Yue and Orochimaru sat in a corner of the library, surrounded by piles of books, already immersed in a discussion about their future plans and goals.

"Ying Yue, what do you want to do in the future?" Orochimaru asked suddenly, his eyes filled with a hint of anticipation.

Uchiha Ying Yue thought for a moment and answered frankly: "My ideal is to become the Hokage and protect the peace and stability of Konoha."

Orochimaru smiled slightly upon hearing this, his eyes flashing with the light of wisdom: "Becoming the Hokage is a grand goal. But I have different pursuits. I want to master all ninjutsu and explore all its mysteries."

Uchiha Ying Yue nodded: "Everyone has their own pursuits. Regardless, I hope we can both find true power on the path to achieving our ideals."

Orochimaru nodded solemnly: "Yes, Ying Yue. I look forward to exploring the limits of ninjutsu and discovering the truths of this world with you in the future."

Uchiha Ying Yue recalled his knowledge of the Naruto plot, as well as his perspective as a modern person, and a bold plan gradually began to take shape in his mind.

Possessing the [Professor of Ninjutsu] ability, Ying Yue's understanding and research capacity for ninjutsu already far exceeded that of ordinary people. He knew that through the combination of science and ninjutsu, exploring the secrets of the Ninja World and enhancing his power was definitely a major direction for the future.

Orochimaru's talent cannot be underestimated. If I can cooperate with him to establish a laboratory, perhaps I can explore many hidden powers and even have a chance to unravel the powerful secrets of the Otsutsuki Clan, Ying Yue pondered inwardly, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

Uchiha Ying Yue began to envision that the future laboratory would not just be a place for studying ninjutsu, but a base capable of conducting extensive experiments, analysis, and creation—researching various ninjutsu, Kekkei Genkai, chakra natures, and even conducting genetic experiments to probe the source of the Otsutsuki Clan's immense power.