Heads up guys, the OG author haven't up date this Fic since last month, so this Fic is going on hiatus
Chapter 111: With This Kind of Strength, How Could the Third Shinobi World War Even Start?
"You two are finally back. If you'd taken any longer, I would've starved to death."
Yoru and Kushina didn't return to the Gojo family estate but instead went back to the mansion that had belonged to the First Hokage's family.
Just as they finished changing their shoes in the entryway, they saw Tsunade walking over with a face full of complaints: "One of you has Flying Thunder God Technique, the other has Mind's Eye of Kagura. Can't you leave a shadow clone to camp and keep watch while your real bodies come home to eat, bathe, and sleep? Why do you insist on making yourselves suffer? What's the point?"
"Eat properly when it's time to eat, train properly when it's time to train, play properly when it's time to play, and work properly when it's time to work missions—how is your overall quality getting worse and worse?" Yoru rolled his eyes at Tsunade while seriously correcting her: "And—this is already my home. You still owe me twenty-seven million three hundred forty-six thousand seven hundred twenty-five ryo in overdue rent from two years and six months. As a mere tenant drowning in debt, you want the homeowner to come back during missions to cook for you? Have you no shame?"
"I have no money, only my life to give." Tsunade rolled her eyes right back at Yoru, and like a gorilla meme reaching out its hand, she extended her palm toward him: "Lend me another sum. I'll gamble all night until dawn tonight, and when I win, I'll pay you back."
With a "smack," Yoru slapped away Tsunade's outstretched hand, pressed down on her head—which was seven centimeters shorter than Kushina's—and ruffled her light blonde hair while looking down mockingly: "If you have no money, pay off your debt with labor. And what kind of attitude is that for borrowing money? If you want to borrow money, you need to get on your hands and knees and grovel."
"Fine, I want to borrow ten million ryo."
Not only was Tsunade not angry, her eyes lit up instead, and she was about to exploit the loophole and grovel to Yoru.
"This woman is beyond saving."
Yoru stopped Tsunade by putting her in a headlock, dragging the big-breasted cow toward the living room.
Tsunade let him choke her, and while pressed against him, her hands roamed over Yoru's body—appearing to take advantage but actually conducting a brazen pickpocketing operation.
Kushina had long since gotten used to this scene.
After changing her shoes, she ignored the two of them and went to put away the ingredients.
Just as Yoru had expected, Tsunade, who had learned the Yin Seal six years early, had maintained her appearance and figure over these five years at the stage between the lingering bloom of youth and the first blossoming of maturity. She looked only three or four years older than the adolescent Yoru and Kushina.
The Yang Release chakra of the Senju clan and the fine-tuning of the Yin Seal would make Tsunade an ageless goddess second only to Kaguya Otsutsuki.
When she appeared in the original story, her appearance was already from the Third Shinobi World War era, yet this appearance remained unchanged even in the Boruto era.
At that time, she was already seventy years old.
In the original story, Hiruzen Sarutobi was only sixty-nine when he died.
In contrast, by the Boruto era, Mei Terumi was only forty-six but already had a face full of wrinkles—her bloom period was pitifully short.
For the next several decades, Tsunade would dominate the position of the shinobi world's number one beauty.
The only one who could compare with her would be Kushina Uzumaki, who similarly mastered the Yin Seal, was distantly related by blood, and whose Yang Release chakra was equally ridiculously strong.
Over these five years together, Yoru and Tsunade had long since lost any sense of distance.
The stronger a woman is, the more she actually has a hidden side that admires strength.
In front of Orochimaru and Jiraiya, Tsunade was a woman with a bold personality and overwhelming dominance.
Jiraiya couldn't even imagine what Tsunade would look like being gentle.
That was because he couldn't conquer Tsunade, and Tsunade didn't like his type either.
Tsunade's gentle side had only been seen by Nawaki before his death—it was Nawaki's privilege.
But that was a sister's gentleness.
Now, Yoru was the second being to see Tsunade's gentle side.
Over these five years, Yoru had Tsunade completely under his thumb, using force and tactics to grind away her bad habits.
The reason she was addicted to gambling in the original story was, aside from developing a gambling addiction from gambling with Hashirama Senju as a child, mainly because her brother and lover had both died, and she herself suffered from hemophobia and couldn't even fight, so she could only live a life of self-abandonment.
After Tsunade became the Fifth Hokage, her gambling addiction quickly disappeared—after all, she had to process so many documents every day that she had no time for gambling.
Between important matters and gambling, Tsunade would choose the former without hesitation.
So whenever she had nothing to do, Yoru would have her teach at the Ninja Academy and observe whether the academy still had any systems that needed reform.
To prevent the new generation from becoming a second Nawaki, Tsunade was full of passion and enthusiasm in this area, which resulted in her becoming an idol to countless young girls even before gaining the titles of Legendary Sannin or Medical Saint.
Because the elective course system was pushed forward by Tsunade.
This system that allowed even civilian students to possess specialized skills won countless hearts—truly worthy of being the granddaughter of the First Hokage.
Every time she saw those children's eyes full of admiration, and saw more and more of Konoha's new generation mastering medical ninjutsu—or even if they lacked talent for medical ninjutsu, learning other specialized skills that greatly improved their survival ability—Tsunade's heart would be healed, filled with gratification and a sense of accomplishment.
She was deeply impressed by Yoru, who provided such progressive ideas, which was the main reason Yoru could see Tsunade's gentle side.
Of course, Yoru didn't make Tsunade quit gambling entirely.
At regular intervals, he would use the Flying Thunder God Technique to take Tsunade to prosperous cities across all nations as a reward, visiting various gambling establishments to satisfy her addiction.
After she experienced all types of gambling, Yoru introduced gambling games from his previous life, successfully becoming Tsunade's largest creditor.
Besides the shrine outside, the mansion Hashirama Senju left to Tsunade, along with the Senju clan's ninjutsu and secret technique scrolls, had all been lost to Yoru, and she owed him enormous gambling debts.
Tsunade had transformed from homeowner to tenant. A portion of her monthly salary from Konoha Hospital was deducted, and her spending money and gambling funds were all controlled by Yoru.
In martial prowess and intelligence, she fell far short. Even in her hobby of gambling, Yoru could introduce entirely new games, and Tsunade lost everything to Yoru. Her dominant personality was completely suppressed by the even more dominant Yoru.
Like breaking in a horse, this wild mare Tsunade had long been invisibly tamed by Yoru.
Over these five years, Tsunade had already become Yoru's invisible vassal, and now wasn't even as mature as Kushina Uzumaki.
"By the way, Kushina, I need to tell you something."
After dinner ended, the three of them sat cross-legged on the tatami as usual, playing Landlord for a bit of harmless gambling. Suddenly, Yoru brought up today's matter to Kushina: "Lord Hokage said our mission experience has reached the pinnacle of jonin level. Continuing to execute missions like this will only earn us money without any improvement. He hopes I can transition next year and become a jonin instructor for a few years."
Before Kushina could speak, Tsunade couldn't help teasing: "Teacher Sarutobi has his little calculations all worked out. If I'm not mistaken, he wants Yoru to become Asuma's jonin instructor, right?"
"Lord Hokage indeed thinks that way." Yoru nodded.
Kushina's eyes lit up: "Jonin instructor? Can I transition with you?"
"You're overthinking it."
Tsunade copied Yoru's move and pinched Kushina's small face, laughing: "Before you become a perfect jinchuriki, allowing you to go out and execute missions is already the village leadership's maximum tolerance. If it weren't for Yoru being there, unless Orochimaru or I took you out on missions, you wouldn't even be allowed to leave the village."
"As for becoming a jonin instructor, that's even more impossible."
"You're right." Recalling the hazy images from her first loss of control, Kushina immediately became somewhat dejected.
Naturally, Kushina's five years hadn't been smooth sailing.
Even though she had rewritten her original fate and gained powerful abilities early, it was still difficult to suppress the complete Nine-Tails, the strongest Tailed Beast.
The moment Mito Uzumaki's chakra seal disappeared, Kurama took advantage of Kushina not yet having awakened her Adamantine Sealing Chains and tried to break through the seal, forcing her into a half-Tailed Beast transformation.
Fortunately, Yoru discovered it in time, took her away from Konoha, then used his Space-Time bloodline and sealing jutsu to beat Kushina back to her original form.
Learning that Mito Uzumaki's chakra had completely disappeared, Yoru finally used the Space-Time version of the Spiritualization Technique to enter Kushina's jinchuriki space. The two of them together thoroughly beat up Kurama, ultimately using the Eight Trigrams Seal composed of two Four Symbols Seals to lock Kurama in a cage.
From beginning to end, Yoru never let Kushina build a good relationship with Kurama, resolve its hatred, and unlock "Kurama Mode."
Because Yoru didn't want Kushina to form bonds with the Tailed Beast.
This world could never escape the Otsutsuki. Chakra originated from the God Tree fruit, the God Tree was the Ten-Tails, and the Ten-Tails was the Gedo Statue and the nine Tailed Beasts.
To achieve longevity and immortality, one had to obtain the chakra fruit and then refine it into chakra pills.
Between Tailed Beast bonds and longevity and immortality, there could only be one choice.
Naturally, Yoru chose the latter.
It didn't matter if Kushina was a bit weaker. Nine-Tails Chakra Mode plus Sage Mode would still make her a Super Kage-level combatant. In the shinobi world, only a few people could contend with her.
Once he obtained the chakra pills, not only would Yoru and her lifespans skyrocket, but as a mixed-blood Otsutsuki descendant, Kushina might even undergo "atavistic" evolution.
In the future, even without the Nine-Tails, she would definitely become a Super Kage-level powerhouse.
Naturally, Kushina didn't know about Yoru's plans for her.
After her dejection passed, she understood Yoru's meaning and smiled: "Just make your own decision, Yoru. I don't care whether I go on missions or not."
"I'm planning to accept Lord Hokage's request." Yoru stated his thoughts. "People need to have grateful hearts. Over these years, Lord Hokage's care and special treatment toward us has been plain for all to see. Without his help, neither I nor Kushina could have achieved this level of strength and status at our age. Moreover, being a jonin instructor is only a few years—consider it repaying Lord Hokage's kindness."
These words came from Yoru's heart.
He was indeed a very selfish person full of schemes, and when weak, he was an egoist who thought three steps ahead with every move.
But just as mentioned before, Yoru also had people he cared about and a heart full of gratitude.
He had deliberately approached Kushina for the Yin Seal, but it wasn't purely exploitation.
If he hadn't been fond of Kushina, his choice would actually have been to become Tsunade's disciple.
Compared to Kushina, Yoru understood Tsunade far better—after all, the gap in their screen time was enormous.
Orochimaru had guided Yoru's growth, and Yoru respected him from his heart, always addressing him with "you" and "teacher."
For people he wasn't close to, even if they were important characters from the original story, even if they died right in front of Yoru, he wouldn't feel a shred of pity.
Similarly, Yoru could feel Hiruzen Sarutobi's favoritism toward him.
Regardless of the purpose behind that favoritism, Yoru would remember this kindness, always addressing him with "you" and "lord."
If needed in the future, Yoru would also lend his assistance.
Danzo Shimura hadn't targeted Yoru, so the latter wouldn't kill him without reason either.
This was Yoru's worldview.
As long as it didn't touch his interests or ruin his plans, Yoru was someone who respected his teachers, repaid kindness, and at most just had a somewhat nasty personality.
Having spent these years together, Kushina understood Yoru's character well and nodded readily: "Sure, I'll just treat it as resting for a few years. We've already traveled across the entire shinobi world anyway."
"Jonin instructors don't need to go on missions every day. Once your students and subordinates grow up, you can become hands-off anytime. Isn't that exactly what Orochimaru does?" Tsunade made a sarcastic comment, then said with great interest: "If Asuma graduates early, then next year's new generation will have exceptionally high quality. If I remember correctly, Senior Sakumo's son is in the same class as Asuma, along with Senior Makumo's daughter and Dan's niece. They're all geniuses in that class's elite section."
"After the Ninja Academy reform, as long as you master all the basic jutsu and pass the final evaluation of one elective course, you can apply for early graduation. Other people might not master a specialized skill even in six years, but these brats master the basics of one elective course almost every year. Senior Sakumo's son even has all five chakra natures and mastered all the basics of ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu by second grade. He's had the ability to graduate early for a long time."
Yoru also revealed an intriguing smile: "It's not just the next generation of new blood—this entire era has ridiculously high quality."
From their conversation, it wasn't hard to see that Yoru had triggered another butterfly effect.
Sakumo Hatake hadn't committed suicide, and Kakashi Hatake hadn't graduated from the Ninja Academy at age five.
In previous years, Sakumo Hatake had indeed executed a major mission but hadn't faced a choice between two options.
Because such large-scale missions didn't involve just a single ninja squad.
Just as Team Seven rescued Gaara but had Team Guy as support.
With the Second War ending early, Konoha had plenty of talent.
Danzo Shimura, facing the combination of Hiruzen Sarutobi + Orochimaru + Gojo Yoru + Tsunade + Nine-Tails jinchuriki, could no longer see any hope of becoming Hokage.
With Yoru and Kushina as his backing, Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't need to share power with Danzo Shimura to deal with the Uchiha clan. The Shadow of the Hokage now had no idea what he was doing.
Sakumo Hatake had encountered help at the critical moment.
Not Yoru, but Team Jiraiya led by Minato Namikaze.
Five years had passed, and Minato Namikaze had already become another of Konoha's ace combatants, making his name known throughout the shinobi world as the "Yellow Flash."
On this point, Minato had borrowed some of Yoru's glory.
Because of Yoru, space-time was enjoying unprecedented popularity in the shinobi world.
When Konoha suddenly produced another Flying Thunder God Technique user, Minato instantly became a target of attention for every nation's shinobi villages.
After confirming he wasn't a Space-Time shinobi, the leadership of each nation breathed a sigh of relief while also remembering Minato Namikaze's name.
With his combination technique of Flying Thunder God Technique + Rasengan + Wind Release nature transformation, and his relationship with Yoru and Orochimaru being like that between Minato and his teacher Jiraiya from Team Sarutobi, Minato was called a weakened version of Gojo Yoru.
Konoha's current lineup was ridiculously strong.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was in his prime, wielding Five Release compound jutsu.
Not counting the Konoha Elder Council and the clan heads and elites of the major clans, just his ace combatants alone included Team Sarutobi composed of Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade, as well as the shinobi world's top-tier assassin Sakumo Hatake, Dan Kato, and Minato Namikaze, the fully matured Nine-Tails jinchuriki Kushina Uzumaki, and Gojo Yoru, who was called the Embodiment of a Miracle.
All of these people possessed strength that threatened the Five Kage and made them Hokage candidates.
And Yoru knew that Konoha was hiding another super ace combatant.
That was Might Duy, who after opening the Eight Gates Released Formation could instantly kill multiple ace combatants.
With this kind of strength, Yoru couldn't imagine how the Third Shinobi World War could even start.
Even if Sasori of the Red Sand still killed the Third Kazekage and the Land of Lightning seized the opportunity to declare war on the Land of Wind, if they dared to drag the Land of Fire into it, they would definitely be quickly beaten down.
The current Konoha absolutely possessed the strength to fight four nations at once.
In one-on-one combat, they would crush any major nation.
Beyond Konoha's strength reaching unprecedented heights, Yoru knew the shinobi world was also blooming in multiple places.
Like Kumogakure's AB Combo, Sunagakure's Rasa and Pakura, Kirigakure's Seven Ninja Swordsmen and the Byakugan Killer Ao, Iwagakure's Kitsuchi, and so on—
Among the new generation, besides Konoha's Kakashi Hatake and others, there were also Mei Terumi, Darui, Samui, Yahiko, Konan, Nagato, and others.
If the Third Shinobi World War still erupted and drew all these people into it, Yoru couldn't imagine how grand and spectacular that scene would be.
"Three with a single."
"Bomb, airplane!"
"Are you kidding me? I finally got an incredible hand, grabbed the landlord position, and you take me out in one combo?"
"Don't you know your own gambling luck? The moment you realized there was no bomb, you should have known the outcome."
"I'm not playing anymore. Time to bathe and sleep."
After finishing the serious discussion, the three people's harmless gambling unsurprisingly turned into a charity competition.
Looking at the hand she'd just played—three with a single—followed by all super bombs, Tsunade suddenly broke down and threw away the cards, completing today's gambling abstinence once again.
However, before she could stand up and flee, Yoru grabbed her shoulder, then pulled her collar, dragging her in front of him with a smile that didn't reach his eyes: "Bathing and sleeping is fine, but first write the IOU."
Tsunade suddenly put on an acting performance, raising one index finger with tears welling in her eyes, her voice trembling and choking: "I—I didn't win a single hand. Do you have the heart to make me owe another three million ryo?"
"I do. You're already drowning in debt anyway—what are you afraid of?"
"No way. How is this any different from robbery?"
"Robbery isn't as profitable as gambling with you."
"Yoru, you devil!"
Watching Tsunade throw a tantrum trying to renege, and Yoru sitting on top of Tsunade to prevent her escape with not a shred of sympathy, his smile full of malice as he prepared the IOU, Kushina didn't turn a blind eye this time. Instead, revealing the same malicious smile, she took out a camera and selfie stick, set a three-second delayed shot, ran over to Yoru's side as he "rode the master," and struck a peace sign pose.
With a click and flash of light, the scene of the dove occupying the magpie's nest and the guest overwhelming the host was permanently captured.
***
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