The talent boost from the first evolution made Gojo Yoru a veritable genius.
This was the main reason why he managed to successfully inject Fire Release nature transformation into the Rasengan in just over a year.
When Orochimaru began teaching him Earth Release extension techniques, Gojo Yoru mastered Earth Clone, Earth Replacement, Earth Hiding, and the Earth Body Flicker he wanted most in just three days.
Seeing this, while Orochimaru was satisfied with Gojo Yoru's comprehension, he stopped teaching him other Earth Release techniques.
As a qualified teacher, one should formulate a reasonable training plan based on the student's characteristics and abilities, maximizing their strengths rather than blindly patching up weaknesses.
Gojo Yoru had already mastered the Rasengan, which had extremely strong single-target damage, and the Fire Release: Rasengan, which could cause large-scale damage upon explosion. He didn't lack powerful offensive methods.
With his Chakra amount, learning high-level Ninjutsu that consumed massive amounts of Chakra would actually lead him into a dead end.
Gojo Yoru's specialties were speed and the stealth ability of the Phantom Body Flicker Technique.
He was simply a born assassin!
The only shortcoming was that his normal stealth ability wasn't strong, and his Chakra was easily detected by Sensing Techniques.
Now that he had learned the Earth Release extension techniques, Gojo Yoru's concealment and stealth abilities had both improved significantly.
As long as he mastered these extension techniques proficiently, or merged them with the stealth ability of the Phantom Body Flicker Technique, throughout the entire Ninja World, only those with top-tier Sensing Techniques or Dojutsu users like the Byakugan and Ketsuryugan would be able to discover Gojo Yoru.
By then, Gojo Yoru would be a top-class assassin in the Ninja World.
With this skill alone, he could easily become an Anbu squad leader or a Tokubetsu Jonin.
On this day, Orochimaru created a Shadow Clone to take Uzumaki Kushina for sensing training.
His main body, however, took Gojo Yoru on a mission.
This was the difference between a disciple and a subordinate.
When other Genin just graduated, even if they passed the Jonin instructor's test, they needed to execute missions and spend a long time together to slowly gain the Jonin instructor's appreciation before being taught Ninjutsu.
Orochimaru, having nothing to teach Gojo Yoru for the time being, took him on missions.
At the Hokage Building, Gojo Yoru saw the Third Hokage again after many years.
The last time he saw this "Professor" was during the Will of Fire speech in the first grade.
As the principal of the Ninja Academy, Sarutobi Hiruzen would appear a few times a year.
The ones he interacted with most were always the first-year freshmen whose seeds had not yet been planted.
"Are you Hayate and Mio's child? Not bad, indeed as outstanding as Orochimaru said." Sarutobi Hiruzen examined Gojo Yoru with a kindly smile, as if seeing Gojo Yoru in person for the first time.
Gojo Yoru immediately put on a flattered look and bowed to Sarutobi Hiruzen: "Orochimaru-sensei's praise is too generous. Thank you, Hokage-sama, for your recognition, not only agreeing to my early graduation but also arranging for Orochimaru-sensei to be my Jonin instructor."
"Hehe, I didn't arrange Orochimaru for you. He requested to lead you himself, even resigning from his border duties for this. This is fate between you two; don't disappoint his expectations."
Gojo Yoru immediately raised his head, looking at the smiling Orochimaru with astonishment, then pursed his lips and said firmly, "Please rest assured, Hokage-sama. I will definitely not disappoint Orochimaru-sensei!"
Looking at Gojo Yoru, who had transformed from an isolated character to someone who valued relationships and was very polite after resolving his inner knot, Sarutobi Hiruzen was even more satisfied with this grand-disciple.
Except for being taller, the current Gojo Yoru was simply as cute as Orochimaru when he was young.
Especially since the other party was the existence the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki relied on the most.
As long as Gojo Yoru was one of them, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki would be the strongest trump card he could use, unlike Mito-sama who was high above.
If Gojo Yoru could learn the Flying Thunder God Technique, Sarutobi Hiruzen would hold two killer moves in his hands. Even if prestigious clans like the Uchiha and Hyuga united, they couldn't shake his position.
It was precisely because of this that Sarutobi Hiruzen was so anxious to bring Gojo Yoru into the Hokage's lineage and allowed Orochimaru to lead him alone.
He believed his most proud disciple would definitely be able to cultivate Gojo Yoru into an inheritor of the Will of Fire.
After a few more pleasantries, Sarutobi Hiruzen arranged a mission for Gojo Yoru.
It was a very ordinary D-rank mission: helping villagers with farm work.
Since Gojo Yoru had no teammates and Orochimaru wouldn't step in to help, he could only create two Shadow Clones to assist himself.
When the Shadow Clones dispelled, Gojo Yoru felt a rare wave of exhaustion.
Since it was still early, Orochimaru took Gojo Yoru on two more D-rank missions, both helping villagers solve trivial matters.
On the way back to the Hokage Building, Orochimaru looked at the somewhat dirty Gojo Yoru and asked with a smile, "Do you find these kinds of missions boring?"
"A little." Gojo Yoru nodded honestly.
"Then are you curious why, despite your strength being so great, you are still asked to perform these low-level missions?"
"It is to cultivate our sense of responsibility as ninjas and basic execution ability, laying the foundation for undertaking higher-level missions."
Hearing Gojo Yoru's answer, Orochimaru was slightly surprised.
Glancing at this boy whose mind was as mature as his body, Orochimaru's eyes were full of appreciation, but on the surface, he nodded: "That is indeed one reason, but more importantly, it is to let you personally experience the lives of the villagers and re-acquaint yourself with this village founded by the First Hokage."
"You haven't left Konoha yet, so you don't know how cruel the outside world is."
"When you go out and come back, you will discover how wonderful Konoha is. Here, there are no barriers between clans, and no hierarchy between people due to powerful clans and ordinary clans. Everyone in the village is family."
At this point, Orochimaru's golden eyes seemed to shine with a light as dazzling as the sun, and his tone was firm: "We strive to become stronger not only for ourselves but also to protect our compatriots in the village, to guard this hard-won peace and happiness. This is... the Will of Fire."
Gojo Yoru: "..."
Good heavens, so you're here to brainwash me!
Orochimaru in this period had a style that was a bit too beautiful, completely different from his later self.
If it were any other child, they would have been fired up by Orochimaru's words long ago.
But Gojo Yoru felt no ripples in his heart, and even wanted to laugh a little.
However, worried about blowing his cover, he looked at Orochimaru with admiration and nodded as if enlightened: "I understand, Orochimaru-sensei!"
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