Kido!? (Seeking Collection!)

After a night of rest.

The next morning, Sosuke woke up early.

After a simple wash and breakfast, Sosuke tidied his clothes and prepared to head toward Konoha Forest.

That was the place where he had always secretly trained.

Grasping the dark green Kyoka Suigetsu tightly, he tucked it diagonally into his waistband.

An expression of excitement appeared on Sosuke's face.

Because yesterday, Kyoka Suigetsu told him that today she would teach him some special "ninjutsu."

These unique "ninjutsu" might allow him to take faster strides toward the heights!

Sosuke could not help but be excited; as an orphan who had lost his village, he did not have many opportunities to come into contact with ninjutsu.

One must know that even at the Ninja Academy, their group of soon-to-graduate genin had almost no chance to learn those astonishingly powerful ninjutsu!

In Sosuke's understanding.

The rise of the ninja was accompanied by the decline of the samurai era.

And ninjutsu!

It was the crucial ability that distinguished ninjas from samurai and even far surpassed them.

So-called ninjutsu involved refining the chakra within the body to use it, or allowing a ninja's physical body to reach a terrifying transformation that transcended ordinary people.

Every ninja village had its own unique style of ninjutsu, which was also the most vital existence within the village!

In Konoha Village, the undisputed specialty was naturally Fire Style ninjutsu.

As for their group of students who had yet to graduate from the Ninja Academy, they only learned the most basic Three Body Technique, and perhaps a C-rank ninjutsu like Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique.

Most of their training consisted of ninja tool throwing and taijutsu combat!

As for those A-rank or even S-rank ninjutsu!

Only ninjas who had made huge contributions to the village or completed a sufficient number of missions could learn them.

Of course, there were exceptions, such as clan secret techniques!

Like the famous Hyuga Clan and Uchiha Clan in Konoha, their members could come into contact with powerful clan ninjutsu much earlier, and perhaps they even looked down upon the village ninjutsu that Sosuke craved but could not obtain.

With an excited heart, Sosuke arrived in Konoha Forest.

Here stood a massive tree trunk that looked covered in scars; the bark had long since peeled away completely, and the thick trunk was riddled with mottled wounds and bloodstains.

These were the traces of Sosuke's past hard work!

Sosuke raised his hand to gently adjust his black-rimmed glasses, looking at these marks of history.

Watching his past blood and sweat, he could not help but fall into a trance.

Just then!

"No one's success can be achieved overnight; so-called powerhouses are merely products accumulated by time. But in front of you, Sosuke, their strength will ultimately become nothing more than an asset to serve you."

Kyoka Suigetsu appeared at his side, though no one knew when.

At this moment, she was leaning gently against a tree, her eyes fixed on Sosuke, her vermilion lips parting slightly as she spoke to him in a bewitching tone.

Only glancing at her from the corner of his eye, the young Sosuke did not answer her words. Beneath his black-rimmed glasses, his gaze narrowed slightly!

"Bang!"

A silvery-white blade flash flickered!

The massive tree that had recorded Sosuke's past collapsed to the ground with a roar, splashing up a cloud of dust!

He slowly sheathed his blade back into his waistband.

His lenses flashed with a white light, making it impossible to see what he was contemplating in his eyes.

"Let us begin, Kyoka Suigetsu. I am very interested in the Kido you spoke of!"

Sosuke said softly, still appearing as the gentle and elegant person he was.

Not surprised by Sosuke's sudden action, as if nothing had happened at all, Kyoka Suigetsu walked slowly toward him.

Her beautiful floral kimono appeared unusually stunning under the dappled sunlight.

She looked at Sosuke's slightly smiling face with her exquisite features, and her cherry-like mouth spoke softly.

"As you wish, Sosuke."

Yet the smile at the corners of her lips seemed to grow even more profound!

Inside the Hokage's office.

For some reason, the summoned teacher Suzuki was currently reporting in detail on yesterday's taijutsu test at the Ninja Academy!

In the office, besides the Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, there were three other big figures of the village!

Homura Mitokado, Koharu Utatane, and a one-eyed man with a cross-shaped scar on his chin, Shimura Danzo!

After Suzuki finished his report, the Third Hokage dismissed him.

Inside the room, the Third Hokage sat with his hands clasped, resting his chin upon them as he stared intensely at the other three, asking, "Well, what do you think of these three children?"

Upon hearing the Third Hokage's question, Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane both nodded.

After a moment of contemplation, Homura Mitokado looked at the Third Hokage and spoke. "Hiruzen, Tsunade and Orochimaru are both excellent children. Their aptitude and temperament are both outstanding, and we have no objections to you taking them as disciples. However, this Jiraiya..."

He hesitated for a moment before gritting his teeth and continuing, "I believe this child lacks a steady temperament! On the contrary, that Sosuke would be a good choice. Why not consider him instead!?"

Hearing this, the Third Hokage furrowed his brows slightly, looking down at the files of the children on the table, lost in thought.

A while later, he raised his head, his gaze fixed firmly upon Homura and the others. "I have had contact with the child named Jiraiya before. Although his temperament is quite flighty, he undoubtedly possesses an excellent Will of Fire. I can see the love for the village in his eyes!"

"I also believe that he will become an outstanding ninja in the future!"

Having said this, he tapped his fingers lightly against the table, his eyes seemingly lost in memory. "As for the child Sosuke, although he is very talented, I still insist on choosing Jiraiya."

In the end, he did not mention that when he had arrived at that house, the Sand ninja had already been slaughtered, dead without any chance to resist.

Only a child of a few years old had been left lying in a pool of blood, and that child was Sosuke!

Over these past few years, he had often observed the boy, yet he had never discovered anything unusual; he could see the child's affection for the village.

However, Hiruzen Sarutobi still had his reservations, and ultimately decided not to choose him as a disciple.

Once his words settled, Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane no longer stood in his way, leaving Hiruzen Sarutobi to select Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya as his disciples.

Just then, Shimura Danzo, who had been sitting calmly with his eyes closed the entire time, suddenly spoke up.

A faint light flickered within his single open eye. "That child, Sosuke—I will take him as my disciple."

As soon as these words were spoken, the other three were immediately taken aback!

Homura Mitokado looked at him sternly and said, "Danzo, do you know what you are saying!?"

"You must realize that the existence of the Root organization you have formed has already made the people in the village quite dissatisfied. If you take a commoner child as a disciple now, do you think those people will just let you do as you please?"

Koharu Utatane chimed in as well, "Indeed, Danzo. The people of the village will not agree to Root being passed down to a commoner in the future. Are you certain you want to take him as your disciple!?"

Shimura Danzo remained unmoved by these words.

He simply persisted in his choice with his usual composure.

The Third Hokage also looked at him with a serious expression.

Finally, he sighed. "Danzo, treat that child well!"

Deep beneath the darkness of Konoha, the newly established Root organization was still being perfected.

Shimura Danzo walked through the dark corridor.

The sound of his wooden sandals echoed incessantly through the space.

He whispered softly, "Sosuke, is it... Hiruzen... let us see whose disciple will be stronger..."