Chapter 20 (Patreon)

At that moment, beneath Konoha.

Inside one of Orochimaru’s research bases, hidden within Root.

“Orochimaru, you would do well to restrain yourself for the next few days.”

Behind him stood an old man with the right side of his face wrapped in bandages.

Shimura Danzō.

At this point, the Uchiha Clan had not yet been exterminated.

Because of that, Danzō had only managed to obtain a single Sharingan from the battlefield and transplant it into his right eye.

Even one Sharingan was already enough to cause him no small amount of suffering.

“Sarutobi came to see me yesterday.”

Seeing Orochimaru ignore him, Danzō could not help but let out a heavy sigh.

“Sensei.”

Orochimaru placed the test tube in his hand down and slowly turned around.

“Danzō, the reason I work with you is because you are supposed to keep annoying matters like this away from me.”

His snake-like eyes narrowed slightly, and a hoarse laugh escaped his throat.

“Don’t forget who transplanted that eye for you.”

Danzō’s expression darkened.

“Don’t worry, Orochimaru. When the time is right, I will drag Minato down from that seat.”

His voice grew colder.

“And when that happens, the position of Hokage will still be yours.”

“Hokage?”

Orochimaru suddenly laughed.

“I have no interest in such empty authority.”

The reason he had once tried to seize the position of Hokage was only because it would have made his research easier.

But now, it seemed that was no longer necessary.

His goal was never something as meaningless as the Hokage’s seat.

His goal was eternal life.

Only by becoming immortal could he uncover the truth of this world.

Only an undying body could continue pursuing every mystery that science had to offer.

“By the way,” Orochimaru suddenly said, “look into someone for me.”

Danzō narrowed his eye.

“Who?”

“Yujiro. A boy who uses a black blade.”

Orochimaru’s smile deepened slightly.

“He should be around five years old.”

Danzō frowned.

A child?

Most likely Orochimaru’s next experimental target.

However, Danzō said nothing more.

He simply turned and left the laboratory.

…

The next morning.

A purple-haired girl stood outside Yuhi Kurenai’s house with a sword strapped to her back.

“Yujiro! Open the door!”

Uzuki Yugao shouted with all her strength.

However, the one who opened the door was not Yujiro.

It was Yuhi Kurenai.

“Eh?”

Kurenai blinked in surprise.

Yugao was not exactly a stranger to her. They had even eaten together before.

“Yugao?”

Kurenai looked at the purple-haired girl curiously.

“Kurenai-nee.”

Seeing Kurenai, Yugao’s voice became much quieter.

“Are you looking for Yujiro?”

Kurenai keenly noticed that something about Yugao seemed a little different today.

“Mm… he said yesterday that he would train with me.”

Yugao quickly made up a reason.

In truth, after being scared to tears by Yujiro yesterday, she had learned that he was Kurenai’s younger brother.

That was why she had come here specially today.

She wanted to settle things with Yujiro.

Last time, she simply had not been mentally prepared.

That was why she had been frightened to tears.

But this time, Uzuki Yugao had already made up her mind.

She would make Yujiro understand the strength of Konoha-Style kenjutsu.

“So you two were training together.”

Kurenai smiled.

“He should be at the back mountain right now.”

“Thank you.”

Yugao gave a quick nod and immediately left.

Kurenai watched the small purple figure disappear into the distance, and a faint ripple stirred in her heart.

Yujiro really is something…

He already managed to attract a girl this quickly?

Eh?

Maybe not just one.

Maybe two…

“Mm…”

…

Konoha’s back mountain.

Itachi and Kakashi stared at the valley in stunned silence.

They clearly remembered that yesterday, this place had not shown such large-scale destruction.

“It’s nothing,” Yujiro said calmly. “I just happened to run into Orochimaru last night.”

He spoke as if it were no big deal.

“We exchanged a few moves. That’s all.”

“So it was Orochimaru…”

Kakashi let out a breath of relief.

Then his expression froze.

“Wait…”

His visible eye widened.

“O-Orochimaru?!”

Yujiro nodded.

“You mean Orochimaru of the Legendary Sannin?” Kakashi asked again, still somewhat unwilling to believe it.

“Yeah.”

Yujiro gave a simple answer.

Kakashi swallowed.

A chill ran down his spine.

“No need to look that surprised.”

Yujiro drew his black blade.

He could feel it.

He was getting closer to the second stage.

He had to raise his strength again.

“Start training.”

Yujiro stopped wasting words and rushed toward Itachi and Kakashi with his blade in hand.

Clang! Clang!

Kunai and black blade collided, sending bright sparks flying through the air.

“Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!”

Uchiha Itachi seized an opening and quickly formed hand signs.

In the next instant, dense fireballs shot toward Yujiro from several angles.

After returning home every day, Itachi had continued to train himself relentlessly.

By now, he had already mastered quite a few ninjutsu.

Yujiro swung the black blade in his hand and split the incoming fireballs apart one by one.

This kind of C-rank ninjutsu did not hold much offensive power against him.

“Lightning Style: Chidori!”

Kakashi also found the right moment and launched his attack.

“One-Sword Style: Black Blade—Horizontal Slash.”

Black light and lightning collided violently.

In the end, the impact turned into a wave of air that spread out in every direction.

Ding! Congratulations, Host, for breaking through your physical limit. Unlocking progress increased by 0.2%. Limiter: Level 1 — 93.2%.

Yujiro pulled back his black blade.

A smile appeared on his face.

“Yugao, are you done watching?”

Yujiro tilted his head slightly.

Ten minutes ago, he had already noticed the figure hiding in the tree in the distance.

Uzuki Yugao slowly moved and appeared in front of him.

Her heart was still beating wildly.

Only after watching Yujiro’s battle with Kakashi did she truly understand the gap between them.

If she fought him seriously…

She would basically be walking to her own death.

“Do you need something from me?”

Yujiro rolled his wrist and smiled casually.

“I…”

Yugao froze.

“Um… well…”