Having finally obtained the coveted Yin Seal, Gojo Yoru was delighted, yet surprisingly calm.
It was just as he had thought before.
That Uzumaki Kushina could bring Uzushiogakure's Scroll of Seals to him seemed simple, but it was actually incredible.
After all, the Land of Whirlpools and Uzushiogakure were destroyed because of the Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Jutsu.
And Gojo Yoru was very certain that the Sealing Jutsu snatched by those major nations were, at most, some common and high-level Sealing Jutsu or Barrier Jutsu.
Some super-rare and powerful Sealing Jutsu would never be allowed to circulate freely. Even clansmen who contributed to the clan could only obtain a one-time independent scroll.
They might even be inscribed with restrictions similar to the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal or techniques to prevent mind reading.
Such methods were possessed by almost every clan with Hiden techniques, mainly to prevent clansmen from betraying the clan or having their bodies scavenged, leading to the leak of the clan's secret techniques.
As a prestigious ninja clan that had lasted for a thousand years, the Uzumaki Clan's Scroll of Seals was second only to Konoha's Scroll of Seals in value.
Placed in the Ninja World, it could definitely trigger the Second Great Ninja War immediately.
And now, this thing was placed right in front of Gojo Yoru.
Without the tacit approval of Uzumaki Mito and Sarutobi Hiruzen, this would be impossible!
In Gojo Yoru's eyes, this scroll was a signal.
A signal that both Uzumaki Mito and Sarutobi Hiruzen acknowledged him and were prepared to nurture him.
Otherwise, no matter how love-struck Uzumaki Kushina was, those two big shots wouldn't allow her to do such an impulsive thing.
Now, they likely had high hopes for Gojo Yoru, wishing for him to learn the Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Jutsu so that he would have the ability to deal with a rampaging Nine-Tails Jinchuriki in the future.
They also hoped that he could suppress and influence the Nine-Tails together with Uzumaki Kushina.
Thinking of this, the surprise in Gojo Yoru's heart was even greater than obtaining the Yin Seal.
This meant that his relationship with Uzumaki Kushina had received "official certification." Even if she became the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, those higher-ups wouldn't dare to intervene. They might even assist the couple from behind the scenes and use resources to nurture Gojo Yoru.
After Uzumaki Mito's death, unless Gojo Yoru had a disagreement with Sarutobi Hiruzen or fell out with him, as long as he stayed in Konoha, no trouble would come to him.
As long as he displayed powerful talent and strength, Gojo Yoru's future path would be unobstructed.
...
"Sarutobi-sensei, why are you acting so out of character today, inviting Orochimaru and me over for dinner?"
"You brat, you still have the nerve to say that? What kind of master-disciple relationship has the teacher inviting the disciples? If I didn't invite you, would you never show me any filial piety?"
"Cough, cough... I haven't been on a mission for a long time. I'm broke."
"Then why don't you go work?"
"No can do. I still need to stay in Konoha to gather material. I'm planning to write a novel. Once I earn the royalties, I'll show you proper filial piety."
"Oh? Come tell me about it in detail."
That evening, Sarutobi Hiruzen rarely invited his two disciples, Jiraiya and Orochimaru, to his home for dinner.
Orochimaru was helping Sarutobi Biwako in the kitchen, while Jiraiya and Sarutobi Hiruzen were drinking and bickering at the dining table.
Among the three disciples, Orochimaru made the Sarutobi couple most satisfied and proud, but the one who could chat best with Sarutobi Hiruzen was the disrespectful Jiraiya.
One inherited the mantle of Ninjutsu, and the other inherited the mantle of lechery; they shared common hobbies.
Holding a lot of Sarutobi Hiruzen's dark history, Jiraiya was as casual and arrogant in the Sarutobi household as in his own home.
After dinner, Sarutobi Biwako refused Orochimaru's help with the dishes, and the master and two disciples moved from the dining room to the tea room.
Orochimaru took over the job of making tea, while Sarutobi Hiruzen lit his pipe and puffed out smoke.
Jiraiya couldn't be bothered with these formalities. He sat cross-legged on the tatami mat and looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen, getting straight to the point: "Sarutobi-sensei, do you have any orders for us?"
"Can't this old man just want to have a heart-to-heart with you guys?"
As soon as Sarutobi Hiruzen finished speaking, Jiraiya cast a contemptuous look, and even Orochimaru, who was rinsing the tea, glanced sideways at Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"You two brats, what are those looks for?" Sarutobi Hiruzen scolded angrily.
"Come on, Sarutobi-sensei. Only you could do something like handing over the entire squad to Orochimaru right after he was promoted to Chunin," Jiraiya complained mercilessly. "It's only because the three of us are strong and lucky; otherwise, we would have died dozens of times already."
"If I hadn't let you run free like that, would you have your current strength?"
"Fine, fine, I can't out-talk you." Jiraiya raised his hands in surrender, then asked again, "So, Sarutobi-sensei, what kind of heart-to-heart do you want to have with us? It's not about the women's bathhouse, is it?"
"You brat, keep your voice down." Sarutobi Hiruzen made a gesture as if to teach Jiraiya a lesson with his pipe, scaring the latter into covering his head with both hands.
Orochimaru watched this scene with a smile.
After some banter, Sarutobi Hiruzen finally got to the point and asked, "You've been Jonin for a while now, and your overall qualities are excellent, but there's still one link missing. Have you ever thought about becoming Jonin instructors, training a few subordinates, and looking for excellent seedlings to inherit your mantle?"
Jiraiya's eyes lit up immediately: "Sarutobi-sensei, do you want us to be Nawaki's Jonin instructor?"
"Nawaki's Jonin instructor has already been decided internally. Even I, your teacher, have no right to interfere." Sarutobi Hiruzen pointed to the ceiling.
Jiraiya was instantly discouraged and said dejectedly, "If it's not to be Nawaki's Jonin instructor, then I'm not interested for now. The seedlings Orochimaru and I have our eyes on won't graduate for a long time."
"Oh? Who have you set your sights on?" Sarutobi Hiruzen became interested. He hadn't expected these two disciples to silently find two grand-disciples for him without saying a word.
"They are only advancing to the fifth grade in April. Orochimaru has his eye on the Chief Student, and I have my eye on the second place," Jiraiya replied truthfully.
Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately looked at Orochimaru, his smile somewhat meaningful: "Hayate and Mio's child is your disciple?"
Orochimaru understood Sarutobi Hiruzen's meaning and chuckled lightly, "It seems you've noticed him too, Sarutobi-sensei. Makes sense, he is so outstanding after all."
"Not just me, Mito-sama is also paying attention to him."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's answer changed the expressions of both Orochimaru and Jiraiya.
There were very few people whom Sarutobi Hiruzen would respectfully address as "-sama."
Currently in Konoha, only the wife of the First Hokage who founded the village fit that description.
Although the Senju Clan had integrated into Konoha, and even Tsunade and Nawaki had abandoned the Senju surname...
As long as this lady was still around, the Senju Clan still existed.
She represented not only the Senju Clan but also the First Hokage.
And all the ninja clans in Konoha were supporters of the First Hokage.
Just as Sarutobi Hiruzen said earlier, this lady was "the higher-up."
Even the Hokage had no right to interfere with her decisions.
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