So much seemed to have happened—Anbu's notice, Sarutobi Hiruzen granting special privilege, teleporting to the western border base, infiltrating Amegakure with Tsunade to seize the antidote formula, fighting Hanzō of the Salamander, becoming the "Black Flash" known across the shinobi world—
But in reality, only a single day had passed.
Without Flying Thunder God, Gojo Yoru might still be on the road to the border base.
And without Flying Thunder God, he would at best be a member of the support corps.
What happened today pushed Yoru further into this world—and also made him feel, deeply, how miserable it was to lose the transmigrator's advantage of knowing the plot.
If he had arrived during the original story era, Yoru could have perfectly hidden Flying Thunder God and his space–time abilities by relying on canon knowledge.
In the entire shinobi world, the only ones capable of discovering his secret would probably be Black and White Zetsu with Mayfly.
Yet in this era, in less than a day, Yoru's Flying Thunder God was exposed.
If it weren't for the darkness, the rain, and the fact that "This" moved like a flash, the information about his space–time distortion—an attack-type space–time ability—might have leaked too.
Shinobi of this era… were kind of strong.
Of course, part of it was simply because Yoru didn't know their intel.
Like the salamander being able to use Water Body Flicker—something that completely stunned him.
If he had known that beforehand, he absolutely would not have used "This." He would have agreed with Jiraiya's proposal to retreat.
It can burrow, "swim" underground, run insanely fast on land, has ridiculous defense, possesses the strongest poison in the shinobi world, and can use Water Body Flicker too—
If it were a sage creature, it would be the strongest summon in the world.
Having been separated from Kushina for only a day, Yoru did not return to Konoha. Instead, he fulfilled his promise and teleported to Konan.
Konan was in an inn room, folding paper to pass the time. Yoru's Flying Thunder God kunai sat beside her.
When Yoru appeared out of thin air beside the table, Konan jumped—then her eyes immediately bloomed with joy.
"Yoru-sama!"
No longer "Onii-san," but "Yoru-sama."
Clearly, something had happened while the shadow clone arranged her lodging.
Yoru had already received that information while caring for Tsunade.
Yoru patted Konan's head and smiled. "Sorry to keep you waiting. Yesterday got busy."
"N-no—!" Konan shook her head rapidly, flustered. "Yoru-sama's matters are more important."
The shadow clone hadn't had much chakra. After arranging her lodging, it dispelled.
Since reuniting, Konan hadn't said much to Yoru at all.
The clone only left her one message: when the real body came, he would teach her ninjutsu, and she would follow him and learn.
The shift from "Onii-san" to "Yoru-sama" had been Konan's own choice.
She already saw herself as Yoru's subordinate.
Being taken in, being trained, being taught ninjutsu—this was enormous kindness. How could Konan dare show any attitude?
Seeing Konan's face go pale, Yoru understood: that first awkward "distance" had frightened her.
War orphans in this world feared almost nothing—except being abandoned by the "adult" they recognized and chose to follow.
Yoru understood.
He didn't comfort her with words. Instead, he pulled out the transparent resealable bag again.
Taking out the purple paper flower, he pinched it between two fingers and waved it in front of Konan's eyes, smiling gently.
"This paper flower is how we first met. It's also the fate that brought us together again. And in the future, it'll be the bond connecting us."
"Now— I'm giving it to you."
Under Konan's blank stare, Yoru tucked the flower into the hair on the right side of her head. Then he placed both hands on her shoulders and looked straight into her amber eyes with his ice-blue gaze, serious and steady.
"Remember this. You're not someone who can be thrown away. And you won't become my burden."
"You're a subordinate I chose. In the future, you'll be my right-hand."
"So—"
Yoru pinched Konan's cheek lightly, the corner of his mouth lifting.
"If even I value you this much, don't you dare look down on yourself. I hate timid, self-pitying subordinates."
"…"
Konan stared at Yoru, and her eyes suddenly heated uncontrollably.
Her heart was painfully sensitive right now. She knew he had seen through her feelings—and was comforting and encouraging her in his own roundabout way.
And precisely because she understood, she was overwhelmed.
That respect and importance—made a girl who had lost everything feel like she'd regained everything.
Tears slid out of her eyes. Konan's unease transformed into the most innocent, brightest smile as she nodded hard.
"…Mm!"
It was a heavy, nasal "mm."
She was already choking up and couldn't speak.
But unlike Kushina, who would throw herself at Yoru and sob loudly, Konan was very strong.
Because—Yoru hated timid, self-pitying subordinates.
With the mind of someone in his twenties, Yoru was good at "handling kids," especially in a world where children matured fast.
A few sincere lines were enough to thin the initial distance dramatically.
With time together, it would vanish completely.
Yoru didn't teach Konan ninjutsu immediately.
Instead, he first rented a house in the town near the inn and moved her there.
He had other plans for Konan—he didn't intend to take her back to Konoha.
After solving housing, he took her shopping and let her decorate the new home according to her tastes.
With the Gojo family fortune accumulated over generations, plus his parents' death compensation and pension, Yoru wasn't short on money in this life.
More than that, he'd completed hundreds of D-rank missions and an S-rank mission. His pay was only split with the village and Orochimaru—no teammates to take shares.
He'd earned hundreds of thousands of ryō on his own.
Long-term rent and renovation were nothing. He could even buy the house outright with cash.
While setting up the home, Yoru deliberately chose topics that helped them grow closer, chatting with Konan and deepening their understanding of each other.
For example, Yoru learned Konan's family had been ordinary poor civilians—no money to send her to the Ninja Academy.
No shinobi in the family line. They only knew about "ninja" and "Hanzō-sama"—they didn't even know the word "chakra."
Hearing that, Yoru couldn't help thinking: This is what a real commoner genius looks like.
Jiraiya taught her only three years, yet through pure effort and talent, Konan became one of the strongest among Kage-level before thirty.
Even Sasori—who killed the Third Kazekage—couldn't make her budge.
No wonder she was the woman who killed Obito once.
Yoru's expectations for Konan only rose.
With his help, Konan becoming an upgraded "White Tiger" was inevitable.
Konan, through conversation, also learned that Yoru was a Konoha ninja, and that her parents' killers were Iwa-nin from the Land of Earth—and that Land of Rain was now in chaos.
She became even more grateful.
Without Yoru taking her in, she could already imagine her future: wandering, fighting hunger every day, or dying to wild beasts or shinobi.
How could she have a warm bed, a house better than her old one, and a sense of safety that filled her to the brim?
A grateful girl became even more determined to become an excellent ninja and repay Yoru.
"Yoru-sama, you've been busy all day—let me handle dinner!"
By the time the new home was arranged, it was already evening.
Yoru planned to cook her a hearty meal, but Konan stopped him.
Looking at the obedient girl, Yoru patted her head and smiled.
"Tomorrow you can do it. Today you just enjoy."
Konan's eyes immediately lit up with joy.
Did that mean Yoru wasn't leaving tonight—and maybe not tomorrow night either?
Wonderful!
Still, Konan insisted. "Then let me help you."
"Sure," Yoru agreed this time.
Whether because poor kids grow up early or because Konan had natural "good wife" instincts, she worked with practiced hands despite being only six.
Even though it was their first time cooking together, she quickly developed a rhythm with him—she let him handle the main cooking while she supported smoothly. It felt comfortable.
Working together, they made a rich dinner quickly.
They didn't eat in silence; they kept talking.
"You're kidding… Yoru-sama, you're only eleven?" Konan stared, chopsticks in hand, adorably wide-eyed.
"And you don't look like a six-year-old either—your height, your maturity," Yoru laughed.
Yoru didn't remember every detail from canon, but he was sure Konan had Yang affinity and was abnormal in some way.
From a poor family, yet taller than average; when he used medical jutsu to check her, she was healthy.
And when working, she had plenty of strength.
Combined with what Jiraiya had said, Yoru began to see Paper Release's likely principle.
Yin Release represents spirit. Yang Release represents the body.
Yin is formless. Yang is form.
The Akimichi clan's body-control secret arts are Yang-based.
Jiraiya's hair-control secret arts are Yang-based. A technique that turns the body into paper would also be Yang-based.
So to develop Paper Release, the first step was mastering Yang nature transformation.
After dinner, Konan insisted on washing dishes and strongly refused Yoru's help.
Sitting on the new sofa, Yoru opened the scroll he'd traded with Jiraiya.
He didn't read the method itself—he read the notes and insights from the development process.
"As I thought…"
Yoru's lips curved upward.
The scroll confirmed his hypothesis.
Paper Release's core really was Yang Release, plus chakra control.
When it came to developing Paper Release, Yoru couldn't—and shouldn't—do it for Konan. It would only pressure her.
When a hobby becomes a "goal," it can become the biggest obstacle.
What Yoru could help with were fundamentals: chakra control, Yang nature transformation, and sealing arts.
He wouldn't even teach her elemental ninjutsu.
Otherwise, a girl hungry to grow stronger might get trapped in a dead end, obsessing over the five elements.
All he needed to do was strengthen her base and teach her the knowledge of Yang nature transformation. Then, when she was alone at home with nothing to do but fold paper, she would eventually try on her own.
And Paper Release would be born naturally.
So Yoru fell into thought, constructing a training plan for Konan in his mind.
Only when Konan's voice reached him did he snap back.
"Yoru-sama, I've drawn hot water for you. Go bathe first."
Yoru paused.
Konan looked like she'd cleaned the bathroom—she was a bit dirty and a bit wet from it.
What a rare thing.
Other than the mothers from his two lives, this was the first time a girl had ever drawn hot water for him.
Warmth rose in his chest. Yoru smiled sincerely.
"Thanks, Konan. You worked hard."
"It wasn't hard. It's what I should do," Konan shook her head. This time her face showed no anxiety—only the joy of being praised.
After both of them bathed, it was already very late.
Looking at Konan—clean and adorable in a white pajama set—Yoru smiled.
"Sleep well tonight. Starting tomorrow, I'll teach you how to become a ninja."
"Mhm, mhm!" Konan nodded repeatedly, eyes full of anticipation.
Environment shapes people.
In canon, growing up with Yahiko and Nagato, Konan didn't really have her own goal; she treated their dreams as her own. She wasn't particularly interested in "being a ninja" or ninjutsu.
But now, Konan was overflowing with drive.
Because she had set her ultimate dream:
To become an outstanding ninja.
To become Gojo Yoru's right-hand.
That was her meaning.
Yoru didn't know what she was thinking; otherwise he might have felt his earlier words were a bit too much.
War orphans in this world were twisted like that.
Give them a little love, and you become their whole world.
Kushina was like that. Konan was like that. Haku was like that. Kimimaro was like that. Karin too…
A sick world.
Yoru stayed in the town for three days.
Day one: resettle Konan.
Days two and three: teach her ninja basics—how to extract chakra, how to train daily to build physical and spiritual energy.
Before leaving, Yoru took a thick wad of money and stuffed it into Konan's hands.
"The fridge is full. I already took you grocery shopping once. When you run out, buy food the way I showed you."
"Keep three meals a day. Every meal needs proper nutrition. It affects your growth—don't try to save money for my sake."
"If you want to repay me, get strong first, then repay slowly later."
"I'll come check on you from time to time. Don't slack off."
Yoru pinched her cheek like he always did and smiled.
"Next time I come, I hope your cheeks are as pale as mine—easier to pinch."
"I will, Yoru-sama," Konan said, reluctant to see him go, but her eyes were firm.
"Ja ne."
With one hand in his pocket and the other raising three fingers, Gojo Yoru vanished without warning.
Konan stood there for a long time, then returned to her room and began reading the books Yoru had brought back from Konoha.
As for Yoru—he still didn't return to Konoha.
He went back to the border base.
And the moment he arrived, he heard a "piece of bad news."
~~~
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