Chapter 39 (Patreon)

Ordinary training was no longer enough for Yujiro to make any real progress.

If he wanted to grow stronger quickly, then he needed to step into real life-and-death battles.

The next morning, at the Ninja Academy—

“What?”

The instructor stared blankly after hearing Yujiro’s request.

“You want to graduate early?”

Yujiro held the black blade over his shoulder and smiled lightly.

“Is there a problem?”

“This…”

The instructor immediately looked troubled.

The boy had only enrolled a few days ago, and now he already wanted to graduate?

Beside Yujiro, Uchiha Itachi calmly spoke up.

“According to the Academy rules, students are allowed to graduate early as long as they pass the graduation assessment in advance.”

“The test consists of the Transformation Technique, Clone Technique, and Body Replacement Technique. Passing any two is enough.”

The instructor sighed helplessly.

Of course he knew about Yujiro and Itachi’s strength.

Honestly speaking, these two probably already surpassed ordinary Genin.

“I’ll need to ask Hokage-sama first.”

“Alright.”

Itachi nodded calmly and stood beside Yujiro.

Yujiro secretly felt amused.

Having Itachi around really was convenient.

Half the troublesome talking got handled automatically.

The instructor hurried off toward the Hokage Tower.

Meanwhile, Yujiro and Itachi simply waited outside leisurely.

About half an hour later, the instructor finally returned.

“Hokage-sama approved it.”

He rubbed his forehead helplessly.

“Alright, let’s begin the assessment.”

“Transformation Technique.”

Puff.

Both Yujiro and Itachi completed it perfectly.

“Clone Technique.”

Puff. Puff.

Two flawless Bunshin appeared instantly.

The instructor fell silent for a few seconds before finally sighing.

“Congratulations. You both passed the graduation test.”

“From today onward, you are officially Genin of Konohagakure.”

Then he continued,

“Hokage-sama also said that if you passed, a special Jōnin instructor would meet you tomorrow morning at Training Ground Seven. Eight o’clock sharp.”

Yujiro took the Konoha forehead protector and looked at it quietly for a moment.

The corner of his mouth slowly lifted.

So now…

He was officially a Genin.

Which meant he could finally start moving around properly.

After all—

Konoha’s Genin were basically monsters disguised as children.

At that moment, a crowd had already gathered outside the classroom.

The door slowly opened.

Yujiro and Itachi casually walked out together.

Itachi had already tied his forehead protector around his neck.

Meanwhile, Yujiro wrapped his around his right arm.

“You passed!”

Uzuki Yūgao immediately ran over with an excited look on her face.

Her eyes were filled with envy.

Originally, she had wanted to graduate together with Yujiro.

After all, she already knew the Transformation Technique, Clone Technique, and Body Replacement Technique too.

But Yujiro refused immediately.

What a joke.

This was wartime.

Once you became a Genin, there was a high chance you would be sent to the battlefield.

And Genin on the battlefield were little more than cannon fodder.

Yujiro’s next goal was simple—

He wanted to step onto the battlefield personally.

Only true danger could force him to grow fast enough.

So naturally, he would never let Yūgao follow him into something that dangerous.

Yūgao understood that Yujiro was doing it for her sake, so although she felt disappointed, she still accepted it quietly.

“Yeah,” Yujiro said with a smile. “We passed.”

Then he suddenly added,

“Let’s go celebrate.”

“Celebrate?” Yūgao blinked.

“A hot spring.”

The moment she heard that, Yūgao’s cheeks instantly turned red.

Still, she nodded obediently.

Itachi, meanwhile, planned to return home and report things to Fugaku, so he left on his own.

For once, Yujiro did not train.

Instead, he spent the entire day wandering around Konoha with Yūgao.

Because once he truly left the village…

There would not be many peaceful days like this anymore.

Yujiro had already made up his mind.

He would leave Konoha and enter the battlefield.

Otherwise—

How could he grow stronger?

And if he did not become stronger…

How could he protect the people around him?

Yujiro always believed in one thing.

Pressure creates growth.

If you never push yourself to the limit, then you will never know how far you can go.

As night slowly fell, the two finally headed toward the hot springs.

After bathing, Yujiro leaned lazily beneath the pavilion outside and quietly waited for Yūgao.

A few minutes later, Yūgao walked out as well.

Yujiro glanced at her and smiled faintly.

“Let’s head back.”

“Mhm.”

Yūgao nodded softly.

Under the moonlight, the black-haired boy and the girl in purple walked side by side through the quiet streets.

The scene felt strangely peaceful.

…

…

Deep underground.

Root Headquarters.

The air was dark, damp, and filled with the smell of blood and chemicals.

Orochimaru stared at the corpse lying on the operating table with a crazed expression.

“So close…”

“Just a little more…”

“I’m almost there…”

The forbidden technique he devoted everything to—

The Living Corpse Reincarnation Technique.

A forbidden art capable of transferring his soul into another body and taking it over completely.

Not only that—

He could also inherit everything from the host body.

Even Bloodline Limits.

At that moment, the hidden laboratory door slowly creaked open.

Shimura Danzō walked in with a cold expression.

“Orochimaru.”

“How are the human experiments progressing?”

His tone carried obvious impatience.

Now that the village was becoming increasingly stable under Namikaze Minato’s leadership, Minato’s popularity among the villagers continued to rise.

If this continued for a few more years—

The position of Hokage would become completely untouchable.

“Ninety-nine percent complete.”

Orochimaru casually wiped the blood from his gloves and slowly turned around.

A strange smile appeared on his pale face.

“There’s only one small issue left.”

“What issue?”

Danzō frowned.

Orochimaru’s eyes slowly drifted toward Danzō’s right eye.

“The Sharingan alone can still be suppressed.”

“But once Hashirama’s cells are fully transplanted into your body…”

“Your body won’t be able to endure the imbalance.”

“The cells will eventually destroy you from the inside.”

Danzō silently narrowed his eyes.

He knew Orochimaru had not finished speaking yet.

Orochimaru suddenly grinned.

“To maintain balance, you’ll need another compatible chakra source.”

Then his snake-like tongue slowly slid across his lips.

“So,” Danzō said quietly, “you want the Sharingan.”

“Not just the Sharingan.”

Orochimaru’s golden eyes gleamed dangerously.

“I want living Uchiha test subjects who have already awakened their eyes.”

The madness in his voice was impossible to hide.

For the sake of his research, Orochimaru had already crossed countless lines long ago.

Danzō’s expression darkened slightly.

Naturally, he understood Orochimaru’s intentions.

At the same time—

He also had plans of his own.

“…Fine.”

“I’ll handle it.”

Then Danzō added coldly,

“And restrain yourself for now.”

“If you need living test subjects, I’ll arrange people from nearby villages instead.”

Orochimaru merely gave a hoarse laugh.

There was not the slightest hint of restraint in his eyes.

His research was already nearing completion.

As long as he succeeded—

He would obtain immortality.

And only with eternal life…

Could he uncover every truth hidden within this world.

As for Konoha?

Orochimaru’s lips slowly curved upward.

That village was far too small to contain his ambitions.