Chapter 79: Identity Transformation—What Can I Say?
The location where Yoru placed his Flying Thunder God seal was a private room Orochimaru specifically cleared for him.
His arrival didn't alert anyone, including the sensory and barrier teams maintaining defensive perimeters.
Just exiting the room, Yoru encountered a vest-wearing shinobi head-on.
Before Yoru could greet him, the shinobi—whose status was at least chunin—bowed with fanatical expression: "Yoru-sama!"
Yoru felt somewhat startled.
These three days, he'd grown accustomed and immune to being called "Yoru-sama"—provided it was from Konan.
Besides Konan, this was his first time seeing someone address him as "sama"—especially a vest-wearing senior whose rank exceeded his own.
Within seconds, Yoru understood.
This was fame's benefit!
Both Jiraiya and Tsunade viewed injuring the salamander as an achievement even the Five Great Villages couldn't accomplish—immense glory.
Even the shinobi world's Demigod personally acknowledged Yoru's accomplishment, calling him Black Flash—the shinobi world's future.
In clever people like Orochimaru's eyes, Hanzo was sacrificing his reputation to destroy Yoru through excessive praise.
But in those "fools" easily influenced by public opinion, Yoru had achieved what the Five Great Villages couldn't—the only one in years to injure the salamander and earn the Demigod's recognition.
Just as Jiraiya said, in merely three days, the name "Black Flash · Gojo Yoru" spread throughout the entire shinobi world, including Water Country far from the ninja continent.
Wartime always produced frequent geniuses and heroes.
This battle—destined to be called the Second Shinobi World War—had just begun when Fire Country produced a super genius recognized by the shinobi world's pinnacle, an enemy nation's leader!
Another piece of intelligence, propelled by some unknown force, rapidly spread throughout the shinobi world.
Yoru—who appeared at least sixteen in the portrait—was actually only eleven years old.
At eleven, he'd mastered the shinobi world's rare super S-rank technique, becoming the first existence to injure the salamander after the Demigod's ascension.
Current Yoru resembled canon's super-enhanced version of Hatake Kakashi.
Once future Kakashi rose—that prodigy who became an all-around jonin at twelve while developing A-rank Lightning Release technique—he wouldn't seem so shocking.
Before him stood the even more absurd Yoru.
Yoru didn't yet know all this.
After realizing he'd become both famous and important, Yoru quickly accepted this identity transformation.
He raised his hand in response, politely asking: "Hello, senpai. Is Orochimaru-sensei still at the base?"
"Orochimaru-sama, Tsunade-sama, and Jiraiya-sama have all left the base."
Hearing this, Yoru raised an eyebrow: "Did they go to the front lines? Did Amegakure's combat forces attack?"
"No. Tsunade-sama's younger brother had an incident." The shinobi answered truthfully. "Due to three-front warfare, we need supply provisions. Support forces recently transported supplies here, then several squads rotated shifts."
"Support forces mainly provide logistics, medical care, sensory abilities, and intelligence support."
"Tsunade-sama's younger brother probably wanted to help the battle lines gather intelligence. On the road, he accidentally stepped on an enemy-placed Exploding Flame Formation."
Yoru: "..."
What can I say?
If not for experiencing infiltrating Amegakure with Tsunade to obtain antidote formula, plus the cave's unexpected events causing slight changes in their senior-junior relationship, Yoru would've wanted to add—MAN!
Even with him—this variable making predetermined history increasingly deviate—appearing, Konoha's prince still couldn't survive past twelve, still died to explosive tags. Could only say... this was fate!
Before going to Amegakure, Tsunade mentioned Amegakure shinobi excelled at deploying Exploding Flame Formations.
Having experienced Water Body Flicker's escape capabilities, Yoru knew Exploding Flame Formations didn't affect Amegakure shinobi at all—they'd definitely deploy traps everywhere.
This should be common knowledge among three great nations. Tsunade, who cared so much for her brother, definitely would've told Nawaki.
Even if Tsunade didn't mention it, Senju clan members protecting Nawaki certainly would've warned their young master.
Nawaki had many opportunities to change fate.
If he hadn't participated in war, as First Hokage's direct grandson and the Senju's future, Hiruzen—even for Tsunade's sake—wouldn't have let him fight. Then nothing would've happened.
If he'd just stayed at the border base, as a support force member with Senju clan protection constantly nearby, nothing would've happened either.
Even... if he'd been slightly cautious, creating a Shadow Clone while traveling to scout ahead, still nothing would've happened.
Unfortunately, he missed all these gifts of fate.
When someone avoided this many opportunities yet still chose willfulness, they paid the price for their actions.
Nawaki was clearly the perfect example.
The mighty God of Shinobi's direct grandson, awakened Senju bloodline, entered ninja academy at five, already mastered Rasengan at twelve. Should've had a bright future, yet died to explosively cheap tags—individually costing barely more than shuriken, not even matching kunai value.
Moreover... without killing a single enemy! (FAAAHHHH!)
This absurdity and peculiarity made Yoru—across two lifetimes—unforgettable, the impression remaining vivid.
Even when seeking timeline anchor points, Yoru didn't choose Nagato with Rinnegan but Nawaki instead.
Shaking his head inwardly helplessly, Yoru thought briefly before deciding to go see.
"Thank you for informing me, senpai. Excuse me."
Raising his hand in response again, Yoru vanished into thin air.
Witnessing Flying Thunder God's teleportation firsthand, that shinobi's eyes filled with worship: "So that's the legendary Flying Thunder God Technique? Just like rumors—absolutely no movement trajectory. Amazing!"
---
Rain poured down. In a certain rainforest at Fire-Rain Country border stood a wooden cabin.
Yoru's figure appeared without warning at the cabin entrance.
Beside him, Orochimaru leaned against the doorframe edge.
"Orochimaru-sensei."
Yoru softly greeted. The latter nodded slightly.
Looking inside, both Tsunade and Jiraiya were present. The former knelt before a cloth-covered corpse, eyes hollow, hair and clothes soaked by rain.
When someone reached extreme sorrow, they paradoxically couldn't cry.
Tsunade clearly exemplified this.
Jiraiya—possibly seeing Tsunade like this for the first time—didn't dare approach to comfort her, only standing behind helplessly watching.
One glance told Yoru that Nawaki was thoroughly dead.
Only those with tragic death conditions had corpses covered by cloth—leaving the deceased final dignity.
After confirming Nawaki still couldn't change fate, Yoru shifted his gaze to Orochimaru.
Canon Nawaki's death was a key factor in Orochimaru's corruption.
His early two personality transformations both related to losing people close to him.
His parents' deaths made Orochimaru mature overnight, becoming a genius in Hiruzen's eyes—appearing cold and extremely self-focused externally but actually fearing companions getting hurt.
Under Hiruzen's guidance, he became the most perfect support in Yoru's eyes.
Canon Nawaki's death not only reminded Orochimaru of his parents but also because he personally witnessed Nawaki's explosive tag death scene.
That student he considered exceptionally excellent, who'd definitely bear the Senju's honor—didn't die to enemy assassination or fall fighting enemies with fatal wounds.
But rather... killed by cheap explosive tags!
Was life... truly this fragile and cheap?
From that moment, Orochimaru conceived immortality ideas, gradually developing Orochimaru-style techniques. Then seduced by Danzo Shimura, he chose joining Root as his guard, began researching Hashirama cells and forbidden techniques, eventually raiding the forbidden jutsu vault's guards to seize Eight Branches Technique and Impure World Reincarnation, conducting human experiments, embarking on the missing-nin path.
This lifetime, Orochimaru was no longer Nawaki's teacher. Yoru felt extremely curious whether he'd still develop immortality research ideas.
Orochimaru not only didn't enter the cabin avoiding rain but stood at the entrance being soaked, seemingly wanting icy rainwater to extinguish something. His gaze appeared deep yet completely unfocused on Nawaki and Tsunade, thinking about something unknown.
His only reaction: when Yoru appeared, he nodded in response.
The atmosphere felt somewhat oppressive. Yoru suddenly regretted coming.
Life-death separation scenes—even when involving unrelated parties—still affected one's emotions.
Thus Yoru imitated Orochimaru, leaning against the doorframe's other side, being rained on, listening to rain sounds, not looking inside.
Time passed unknown amounts. Rain curtains shifted from thick to thin, then from light drizzle to pouring downpour.
With sky perpetually shrouded in dark clouds—pitch black everywhere—no one knew how many hours passed.
Until hearing a "POOF" sound, Yoru redirected his gaze back inside.
First sight: white smoke. Then Tsunade—appearing extremely disheveled despite experiencing no combat—emerged from smoke holding a storage scroll.
She didn't even glance at nearby Jiraiya or Orochimaru at the doorframe edge. Instead, voice hoarse, she told Yoru: "Take me... and Nawaki... home."
Not even using any title—showing how suppressed her emotions were.
Yoru made eye contact with Orochimaru who'd turned toward him, then nodded. Raising his hand onto Tsunade's shoulder, both vanished into thin air.
Several teleports later, they appeared at an abandoned training ground.
This remained Konoha's core district—Hokage Rock visible.
Tsunade didn't use Body Flicker to vanish but walked heavily toward home, her back appearing lost and disoriented.
Yoru didn't return home either but followed Tsunade, visiting the mansion for the first time.
Currently afternoon. Kushina Uzumaki—now promoted to sixth grade—should still be at ninja academy.
Combined with Nawaki going to the border, the mansion lacked servant presence.
Upon entering, Tsunade walked straight toward the shrine.
This time, Yoru didn't follow but sat on the garden's engawa.
Before long, Yoru's ears caught faint crying and apologizing sounds.
"Grandfather, Grandmother... I'm sorry. I couldn't protect Nawaki... now I'm alone!"
That final sentence overflowed with sorrow and fragility.
Within two short years, losing two beloved relatives sequentially. Canon had just obtained love briefly before her lover also died in battle, organs removed—no wonder Tsunade developed hemophobia.
These successive tragedies—not collapsing already counted as good.
Like with Konan, Yoru didn't comfort Tsunade.
Such matters—not resolved by "condolences"—required the person themselves to overcome.
What he could do: wait for Tsunade's self-recovery.
"Yoru, when did you return?"
Unknown time passed when Yoru suddenly heard a voice filled with delighted surprise.
Looking toward the sound's direction, Kushina Uzumaki approached joyfully at a small run.
Yoru smiled, greeting her: "Kushina, you're out of school."
"Mm mm... Yoru, why are you here?"
Kushina nodded first, then suddenly reacted, somewhat curious why Yoru appeared here.
After all, since they'd known each other, she'd never brought Yoru here.
Yoru pointed toward the shrine: "I escorted Tsunade-sama back."
Hearing crying from the shrine direction, Kushina's heart suddenly lurched, voice carrying barely detectable trembling: "Did... something happen?"
Yoru didn't know Kushina and Nawaki's relationship well—just patted her shoulder: "Nawaki-senpai sacrificed himself."
"You're lying..."
Kushina's pupils constricted. Hand covering her mouth, eyes showed disbelief looking at Yoru.
When Yoru nodded confirmation, her eyes immediately filled with mist, emotions violently fluctuating.
Sadness definitely existed, but more likely: hearing again about someone close dying.
Among the few more unfortunate than Tsunade: Kushina counted as one.
First losing nation and clan, finally integrating into her host family, that fellow clansman matriarch voluntarily ended her life because of Kushina. The next year, the household's "older brother" also disappeared.
The originally lively mansion would become even more desolate.
If not for Mito Uzumaki's remaining chakra not yet vanishing, Kushina's current mental state would absolutely be an excellent opportunity for Nine-Tails to launch attacks.
"Go check on Tsunade-sama. She probably needs your help most now."
Yoru still didn't comfort but persuaded once.
"Mm."
Kushina walked toward the shrine looking dazed.
With Kushina—who shared similar suffering—standing guard, Yoru finally stopped lingering. Instead, he headed to the Hokage Building to report to Hiruzen.
***
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