8 8."Kidō!?"
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After a night of rest,
The next morning, Sousuke woke up early.
After a quick wash and finishing breakfast, Sousuke organized his clothes and prepared to head to the Konoha Forest. It was the place where he had secretly trained and practiced all this time.
Gripping tightly onto the emerald green Kyōka Suigetsu, he slanted it at his waist, and a look of excitement appeared on Sousuke's face.
Yesterday, Kyōka Suigetsu told him that she would teach him some special "ninjutsu" today. These unique "ninjutsu" might help him advance further on his path!
Sousuke couldn't help but feel excited. As an orphan who had lost his village, he didn't have many opportunities to learn ninjutsu.
You see, even in the Ninja Academy, he and his classmates, who were about to graduate as low-ranking ninja, didn't have much chance to learn those amazingly powerful ninjutsu!
From what Sousuke understood,
The rise of ninja accompanied the decline of the samurai era, and ninjutsu! It was the crucial ability that distinguished ninjas from samurai and even surpassed them.
Ninjutsu, as the name implies, is the use of chakra extracted from the body or the direct physical effects achieved by the user.
Every ninja village has its own unique style of ninjutsu, and it is the utmost importance in the village! In Konoha, without a doubt, it is the Fire Release ninjutsu.
As for their group of students who have yet to graduate from the Ninja Academy, they only learned the most basic Transformation Technique and a C-rank ninjutsu like Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique.
There was more focus on throwing ninja tools and physical combat!
As for those A-rank or even S-rank ninjutsu! Only ninjas who have made significant contributions to the village or have completed a sufficient number of missions can learn them.
Of course, there are some exceptions, such as family secret techniques!
Just like the famous Hyuga clan and Uchiha clan in Konoha, their clan members can have earlier access to powerful family ninjutsu, making Sousuke somewhat disdainful of the village's ninjutsu that he desires but cannot obtain.
With an excited heart, Sousuke arrived in the middle of the Konoha Forest.
There stood a giant tree trunk with numerous scars, its bark completely peeled off, and the sturdy trunk covered in mottled wounds and bloodstains.
These were the traces of Sousuke's past training efforts!
Sousuke supported his glasses on the bridge of his nose, looking at these marks of history, at his previous blood and sweat, and he couldn't help but be slightly fascinated.
Just then!
"No one's success can be achieved overnight. The so-called strong ones are merely the accumulation of time, but in front of you, their strength will ultimately become a force that serves you."
Kyōka Suigetsu appeared by his side, seemingly out of nowhere. She was leaning lightly against a tree, her gaze fixed on Sousuke, and her lips lightly parted as she spoke in a seductive tone.
Sousuke just glanced at her from the corner of his eye and didn't respond to her words. Under the black frames of his glasses, his gaze slightly narrowed!
"Boom!"
A silver-white flash of a blade!
The tree that once recorded Sousuke's past came crashing down, stirring up a cloud of dust!
Slowly, he sheathed the sword back at his waist.
The lenses of his glasses shimmered with a white light, making it impossible to see what he was contemplating.
"Let's begin, Kyōka Suigetsu. I'm very interested in the Kido you mentioned!"
Sousuke said softly, still as refined as ever.
Without being surprised by Sousuke's sudden action, as if nothing had happened, Kyōka Suigetsu walked slowly towards him, her beautiful kimono and flower hairpin shining under the dappled sunlight, displaying an unusual beauty.
With her delicate face, she looked at Sousuke's smiling face and gently spoke.
"As you wish,"
"Sousuke." However, the smile at the corner of his mouth seemed even more intense!
...
In the Hokage's office,
For some reason, the summoned teacher, Suzuki-sensei, was now giving a detailed report on yesterday's physical training test at the Ninja Academy!
In the office, apart from Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, there were three other important figures from the village.
Mito Hozuki, Kocho Shirabe, and a one-eyed man with a cross-shaped scar on his chin, Danzo Shimura!
After Suzuki-sensei finished his report, the Hokage asked him to leave.
Inside the room, the Third Hokage had his crossed hands resting on the desk, staring intently at the other three individuals, and spoke up!
"What do you think of these three children?"
Upon hearing the Third Hokage's question, Mito Hozuki and Kocho Shirabe nodded. After thinking for a while, Mito Hozuki looked at the Third Hokage and spoke.
"Hizashi, Goro, and Orochimaru are all excellent children, both in talent and personality. We have no objections to you taking them as disciples. However, as for this Jiraiya..."
After hesitating for a moment, Mito Hozuki clenched his teeth and continued.
"I believe this child lacks stability in character! On the other hand, Sousuke seems like a good choice. Why not consider him!?"
Upon hearing his words, the Third Hokage lightly furrowed his brow and looked at the profiles of the children on the table, lost in thought.
After a while,
He raised his head, his gaze firm as he looked at Mito Hozuki and the others.
"The child named Jiraiya, I have had contact with him before. Although he has a very carefree nature, there is no doubt that he possesses excellent determination in the Will of Fire. I can see the love for the village in his eyes, and I also believe that he will become an outstanding ninja in the future!"
After finishing his words, he lightly tapped his finger on the desk, seemingly recalling something with his gaze.
"As for the child Sousuke, although he is outstanding, I still insist on choosing Jiraiya!"
In the end, he didn't mention that when he arrived at that house, the Sand Village's ninja had already been massacred, powerless to resist, and only a child a few years old remained in a pool of blood. That child was Sousuke!
Over the years, he had often observed that child but had not found any abnormalities. He could see the child's love for the village, but Hiruzen Sarutobi still had concerns about him, ultimately not choosing him as a disciple.
With his decision made, Mito Hozuki and Kocho Shirabe no longer objected, allowing Hiruzen Sarutobi to select Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya as disciples!
Just then, Danzo Shimura, who had been silently sitting there with his eyes closed, suddenly spoke up.
His opened one eye flickered with a gleam of light.
"That child, Sousuke, I want to take him as my disciple."
Upon hearing this statement, it immediately surprised the other three!
Mito Hozuki looked at him seriously and said,
"Danzo, do you know what you're saying? You should know that the establishment of 'Root' has already made many people in the village dissatisfied. If you now take a civilian child as a disciple, do you think those guys will let you get away with it?"
Kocho Shirabe also advised from the side,
"Yes, Danzo, the people in the village won't agree with 'Root' being entrusted to civilians. Are you sure you want to take him as your disciple?"
Danzo Shimura was not influenced by these words.
He calmly persisted in his choice.
The Third Hokage also looked at him sternly.
Finally, he sighed.
"Danzo, treat that child well!"
...
In the dark depths of Konoha, the newly established organization, Root, was still being perfected.
Danzo Shimura walked through the dark corridor.
The sound of his wooden sandals echoed incessantly.
He whispered softly,
"Sousuke... Hiruzen... let's see which one of our disciples is stronger..."
