Chapter 20: Three Years of Growth
Three years passed in the blink of an eye.
Minato Namikaze graduated early at age ten. Under Jiraiya's tutelage, he'd frequently sparred with Kagenori during the academy's combat drills, specifically testing his specially trained speed against Kagenori's techniques. Yet each encounter ended in Minato's defeat.
Kagenori found Minato's growth rate astonishing—every clash showed significant speed improvements. But Kagenori himself progressed relentlessly, honing his velocity through Thunder Breathing's forms.
After Minato's early graduation and genin promotion, he continued training with Jiraiya outside Konoha. Kagenori hadn't seen him in two years.
Though capable of early graduation himself, Kagenori never applied. Firstly, he lacked Minato's advantage of immediate elite mentorship post-graduation. During peacetime, early graduates could only undertake low-paying D-rank missions like pet retrieval or trash collection—tedious tasks he'd rather spend training.
While open harassment had ceased, underlying resentment toward him persisted. Why bother with troublesome D-ranks when he could better use that time honing his skills?
After Tsunade's brief return—staying just two days to visit Mito before departing with Shizune—Kagenori had encountered her at Mito's residence. Kushina, still resentful over Tsunade's intervention during the bullying incident, refused to speak with her.
With Jiraiya and Minato training abroad, and Tsunade wandering, only Orochimaru remained among the Sannin.
Kagenori had met Uzumaki Mito personally. As the First Hokage's widow, he assumed she belonged to the Hokage faction, making him wary. Yet her attitude puzzled him—she seemed excessively warm.
Kushina now learned Uzumaki sealing techniques from Mito.
Kagenori's Sharingan awakening remained secret—Sarutobi had sworn Jiraiya and Tsunade to silence. Were the Uchiha to learn of it, they'd inevitably approach him, either demanding his return or provoking conflict. Since Sarutobi intended to cultivate him, he couldn't permit Uchiha reclamation. With the clan not yet ready for confrontation, openly protecting Kagenori would prove difficult. Secrecy was optimal—by the time Kagenori matured, the situation would be irreversible.
Kagenori appreciated this—he'd no desire dealing with those arrogant Uchiha who'd always scorned him.
During these three years, Uchiha Obito, Hatake Kakashi, Nohara Rin, Might Guy, and others were born successively—calculated based on Kakashi's battlefield deployment at age five.
The peace period would last at most two more years before cold war erupted, possibly sooner—around when Kushina would be kidnapped by Kumo-nin. This occurred during her genin days, though the exact timing remained unclear. However, once it happened, localized conflicts would inevitably ignite across the ninja world.
Kushina, now twelve, had six years until adulthood—when she'd succeed Mito as Nine-Tails Jinchūriki. And Mito would die.
Time pressed upon Kagenori. At most two years of peace remained, with six years until Kushina's jinchūriki fate. Yet battlefields offered the fastest growth.
He utilized every nighttime hour for rigorous training, achieving considerable results. As distant Senju relatives, all Uzumaki possessed massive chakra reserves. With half-Senju blood, Kagenori's own reserves expanded exponentially.
He needed sufficient witness points and maximum strength before Kushina's sealing.
Over three years, he'd gained fifty points—from witnessing Might Guy's birth. While training, he'd strained muscles and visited the hospital for medication. Hearing Might Dai's name—the man who'd single-handedly slaughtered four Mist Swordsmen—he'd followed out of curiosity, accidentally witnessing Guy's birth and earning points.
He couldn't witness other significant births—as clan children, they remained inaccessible.
Now, deep night found Kagenori still training at Konoha's grounds. Having spent ten points on another katana, he practiced pure physical sword swings against wooden posts, sweat dripping from his chin.
Suddenly, a hoarse voice spoke behind him. "Such dedication."
Ice shot up Kagenori's spine—he'd sensed no presence. Whirling, his pupils contracted.
Pale skin, purple markings, magatama earrings, serpentine pupils—Orochimaru, the only Sannin he'd never met.
Quickly composing himself, Kagenori bowed slightly. "Lord Orochimaru."
Crossing his arms, Orochimaru approached. "I've observed you many days. So young, yet mastering powerful ninjutsu, awakening the Sharingan—worthy of Uchiha and Senju heritage."
Meeting Orochimaru's gaze steadily, Kagenori asked, "You've been watching me?"
Orochimaru's smile seemed mocking. "The old man appears quite fond of you—wants me to take you as my student. I've no interest in teaching—distracts from research. But you intrigue me."
His voice lowered. "Kagenori, we're alike—wearing masks, showing others only what we choose." He gestured dismissively. "Don't deny it. Your unconscious expressions betray you. But your eyes—like a serpent poised to strike—I quite like that."
Kagenori's scalp prickled. So Orochimaru had come to recruit him.