The Sword of the Thunder God Was a Perfect Fit for Uchiha Yi

By the time Tsunade returned home, Uchiha Yi, Uchiha Mikoto, Nawaki, Kushina Uzumaki, Minato Namikaze, Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and the others were already waiting there.

As Jiraiya's student, Minato Namikaze had also been brought along today, a rare occasion.

Over the past six months, Minato's strength had improved visibly. Jiraiya truly had a gift for building a student's foundations, and Minato was exceptionally talented. Under Jiraiya's guidance, he had become one of the best in his year.

He was still nowhere near Uchiha Yi, or even Kushina Uzumaki, but he had caught up with the children from ninja families and even surpassed them.

Everyone expected Minato to meet the graduation requirements in his second year. Whether he would apply for Early Graduation would be up to him and Jiraiya.

Graduating early alongside Uchiha Yi and the others was out of the question. Minato had not reached that level yet, and Hiruzen Sarutobi would not allow it.

Minato was stunned for a moment when he learned that Uchiha Yi had applied for Early Graduation, but he soon accepted it. He knew there was a considerable gap between them. Still, he would catch up!

"Here, kid. This sword is yours." After greeting everyone, Tsunade tossed the Sword of the Thunder God to Uchiha Yi.

"Is that the Second Hokage's Thunder God Sword?" Jiraiya exclaimed as soon as he saw it.

He had once taken a liking to the sword and even asked the old man for it. But the old man had been too stingy to hand it over.

"It is." Tsunade folded her arms, looking proud. "Officially, we traded Chidori for the Thunder God Sword. Remember to make a copy of the Chidori technique scroll for the old man."

"Got it." As expected, Uchiha Yi had no objection to handing over Chidori. He was already turning the Thunder God Sword over in his hands, reluctant to put it down. He channeled Chakra into it, and lightning instantly burst from the blade.

"So it's that sword!" Mito Uzumaki recognized the Sword of the Thunder God at once. Her expression grew distant. "I remember Tobirama forged it to make up for his lack of skill with Lightning Release."

"The Second Hokage wasn't good at Lightning Release?" Orochimaru looked at Mito Uzumaki with curiosity. His idol was neither the mighty First Hokage nor his own teacher, Hiruzen Sarutobi, but Tobirama Senju.

He had never expected Tobirama Senju to be poor at Lightning Release.

"Tobirama eventually developed his Lightning Release, but early on, he truly wasn't very good at it. Quite a few special materials went into forging the Sword of the Thunder God, too. It's exceptionally sharp.

"Apart from a handful of other weapons, the Sword of the Thunder God is among the finest in the world." Mito Uzumaki gazed at it, lost in memory. "Yi, try channeling Lightning Release Chakra into it."

"Yes!" As Uchiha Yi channeled Lightning Release Chakra into the sword, its lightning flared to at least twice its previous intensity.

"Lightning Release increases the sword's power. It can even block some ninjutsu with ease," Mito Uzumaki explained. "But in the end, the Sword of the Thunder God is only a tool. Don't rely on it too much. Your own strength is what matters."

"I understand, Granny Mito!" Uchiha Yi formed Chidori's hand sign with one hand. In an instant, Chidori shrieked to life, its lightning winding around the Sword of the Thunder God. The glow intensified again, drawing every eye in the room.

Clearly, the Sword of the Thunder God suited Uchiha Yi even better than they had imagined.

Uchiha Yi looked pleased. He had not developed Chidori Stream yet, but with the Sword of the Thunder God, he had effectively achieved the same thing.

That meant Uchiha Yi now had what it took to challenge a Special Jōnin. He would not even be afraid to face some veteran Jonin.

Uchiha Yi had begun to come into his own, but this was no time to get carried away. Powerful shinobi from other villages knew about him and wanted to eliminate the threat he posed. And then there was Madara Uchiha, lurking in the shadows—another problem Uchiha Yi would have to face.

Until Madara Uchiha was dead, Uchiha Yi needed to keep a lower profile.

At the very least, he could not reveal strength beyond what Madara Uchiha could control.

"Looks like the Sword of the Thunder God suits you. Don't let it go to waste!" Tsunade was glad to see Uchiha Yi wield it so well. If her second grandfather could see this, surely he would be smiling in his grave.

"I won't, Teacher Tsunade!" Uchiha Yi knew the Sword of the Thunder God was neither all-powerful nor invincible. Naruto and Sasuke had smashed it to pieces, after all.

If they could break the sword, other powerful shinobi certainly could. He still needed to grow stronger himself.

"By the way, Orochimaru, how's your squad coming along?" Tsunade asked. "I heard from Teacher Sarutobi that Hizashi Hyuga might be joining it."

"Yes." Orochimaru nodded calmly. Hizashi Hyuga, Nawaki, and Uchiha Mikoto made for a strong squad.

It would also give him a chance to study the Senju and the Uchiha more closely. He was probably the first person to lead a squad with that combination.

The Hyuga Clan was no slouch either. It was an illustrious clan with a thousand-year history, and its Byakugan was one of the three great dōjutsu.

The Byakugan had enormous strategic value. Combined with Uchiha Mikoto's careful nature, it would nicely balance Nawaki's recklessness.

"You two get to lead squads, unlike me." Jiraiya scratched his head in frustration. "Minato clearly can't graduate early this year, and finding teammates who can keep up with him is going to be anything but easy."

Minato Namikaze gave an awkward smile. He was holding Teacher Jiraiya back. He really was sorry about that.

"Isn't that your own fault? Minato could just about manage Early Graduation if he had to. You could keep him with you the whole time. Don't think we don't know what you're planning." Tsunade folded her arms, her face full of disdain.

Jiraiya wanted to form a squad made up entirely of shinobi from ordinary families. Tsunade would not stop him. After all, many of those shinobi still carried Senju blood.

It was what her grandfathers would have wanted, too. But shinobi from ordinary families were bound to lack certain advantages.

Jiraiya had raised his standards all the way to Minato's level. It would be surprising if he found anyone who met them.