Troubles of Youth

"Yamato, huh? A little earlier than in the plot, and judging by this level of vitality, he’s already reached the level of a Sage Body evaluation. Though it’s only Beginner Sage Body, it looks like he has a chance to avoid that awkward position from the original story."

Looking at the experimental subject’s parameters, Xu Yue felt more at ease. Although Orochimaru’s live experiments using the Sharingan to suppress the First Hokage’s Cells had all failed, producing only some "dead things," Yamato had still emerged among the surviving subjects under the immense inertia of the plot. Well, he probably didn’t have a name yet. His first name should have been Root’s codename, Kinoe, followed by Tenzo. Yamato was the codename he used when teaming up with Naruto and the others. (He would still normally be called Yamato from now on.)

Even without the boosts from his newcomer status, he had produced a Beginner Sage Body like Xu Yue’s own. Orochimaru’s dedication to research truly made him a role model for his peers.

But according to the original plot, Yamato should have been handed over to Danzo for training. Who knew what kind of shady deal Orochimaru and Danzo had made.

After the Fourth Hokage died, Yamato had first met Kakashi during a mission to assassinate the Third Hokage. Later, after Orochimaru defected, he had accepted Danzo’s orders to assist Orochimaru’s escape. It was during that mission that he met Kakashi again and was finally led onto the "Righteous Path."

Yes, according to the original plot, Orochimaru’s defection took place after the Nine-Tails incident.

It was even quite possible that Danzo had been the one to expose Orochimaru. Cooperation was cooperation, but a rival for the position of Hokage still had to be eliminated…

As for whether Xu Yue’s appearance would change this man’s fate, that remained unknown. He also did not know whether Yamato’s Sage Body could improve without the space’s absolute fairness.

Clearly, judging from how easily Orochimaru had let him off, Orochimaru believed Yamato could gradually improve just as Xu Yue had…

It had to be said that because of the influence Xu Yue had exerted on Orochimaru, the progress of Orochimaru’s various research projects had improved accordingly.

Judging from the experimental subject’s parameters, the Curse Mark and similar things had nearly been fully developed because of Living Corpse Reincarnation.

However, Xu Yue had no interest in that thing mixed with fragments of Orochimaru’s soul. It was merely an inferior version of Sage Jutsu. Since he possessed a Sage Body, he should plan for the genuine article instead…

During this brief period, Xu Yue had also successfully signed Dragon Cave’s Summoning Scroll through Orochimaru.

With the bond of master and disciple between them, it naturally went fairly smoothly.

It had only cost him 30 favorability points, along with a B-Rank Plot, to learn one of the Orochimaru-style ninjutsu that Xu Yue valued most.

Orochimaru-Style Substitution Jutsu

Although its Chakra consumption was quite high, it was far more practical than the ordinary Substitution Technique, which required hand seals and could only be used to bully weaker opponents.

There was no such thing as having too many life-saving skills. Whether it was disgusting or not did not matter.

The greatest conflict between Xu Yue and Orochimaru had been "resolved" by Flying Thunder God, so this exchange with the "ultimate final boss" remained entirely harmonious.

A good teacher, a good disciple, a good assistant, a good scientist…

Based on some later changes to the Curse Mark, Xu Yue offered Orochimaru corresponding suggestions and continued to farm favorability as much as possible.

As for whether Orochimaru’s strength would increase because of this, whether the Curse Mark’s binding power would grow stronger and lead to Sasuke getting taken out in the end, Xu Yue could not be bothered to care…

The laborers from Root who had bought slots were frantically grinding missions, while the Genin who lacked sufficient strength were frantically scrubbing toilets.

After Xu Yue had mastered the forbidden restrictions controlling their seals, no one from Beiyang came to bother him anymore. The twin brothers did seek out Xu Yue’s Wood Clone a few times, expressing their apologies for being unable to intervene back then.

As for Bao Ji, due to the confidentiality agreement she had signed with Xu Yue, those Shogunate Gate newcomers who had been tricked could not even find the culprit. They did not even know that she had already changed masters.

Bao Ji herself was clearly feeling guilty about certain other matters as well, so she did not come to trouble Xu Yue.

During those days, Minato Namikaze also headed to the Land of Lightning frontlines for his final reputation-building campaign before becoming Hokage.

Kakashi had also begun operating independently after becoming a Jonin himself.

Xu Yue had continued to monitor Kakashi’s mission progress and Rin’s movements, while constantly adapting to Force Sense, a skill that seemed simple but had considerable room for research.

At the same time, he was absorbing the series of knowledge related to Sealing Jutsu, preparing for reverse summoning later on…

"Ah-da! Feel the fiery blood of youth!"

As Xu Yue sat on a rock by the river, deepening his Force Sense, a familiar foolish voice rang out beside his ears.

Sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed, Xu Yue seemed to have foreseen it. He raised a hand and blocked the incoming fierce kick.

Then, without changing his cross-legged posture, he dealt with the storm-like barrage of attacks that followed in an instant.

In that brief moment, there were over a hundred consecutive strikes!

Forceful gusts intertwined, afterimages filling the air.

Only after a crack did the boulder beneath Xu Yue finally fail to withstand the recoil from their clash, splitting apart and collapsing completely.

Xu Yue then raised his hand to deflect Might Guy’s kick and flipped backward, landing atop the water’s surface.

Only then did Xu Yue slowly exhale a sword-like stream of white vapor and open his eyes to look at the thick-browed fellow.

As expected of Might Guy, whose strength came from years of accumulated effort. At his current age, he had already reached the level of advanced Body Mastery? He was even a few points stronger than Xu Yue’s taijutsu had been when he first entered this mission!

Even without an advanced Sage Body, he had already surpassed ordinary elite Chunin and touched the threshold of Special Jonin. No, with a brief burst of power, even ordinary Special Jonin might not be his match!

That couldn’t be right. Was Might Guy really this strong already?

But when Xu Yue saw the fellow who kept shouting about youth suddenly wilt, he vaguely understood the reason.

Eight Inner Gates!

Might Duy had already taught this secret technique to Might Guy.

Might Guy had probably opened the first one or two Gates to achieve that kind of short-term explosive power.

Without counting the Eight Inner Gates, he should still be just a little short of advanced Body Mastery, at the level of an ordinary elite Chunin.

"Hard work truly isn’t enough yet. Then next, I’ll run one hundred laps around Konoha!"

Having failed the challenge and just opened the Eight Inner Gates, the weak and dispirited Might Guy immediately sprang back to his feet as though his Chakra had erupted.

He actually endured the soreness and trembling after opening the Gates and prepared a new round of training.

"Yue, how about it? Let’s compete and see who finishes first!"

Panting heavily and trembling in the legs as he forced himself to stand, he still did not forget Xu Yue. He gave him a thumbs-up and flashed his signature smile.

Although the pull of his aching muscles made that already unattractive smile even uglier, it carried an indescribable feeling. It seemed able to effortlessly infect others and turn them into foolish guys like him.

It had clearly been a long time since he had seen this fellow. Because of their missions, even the identities Xu Yue had inherited had not met for a long time.

Yet when they met again, it still felt so natural, without any sense of distance.

Perhaps idiots simply had no troubles.

"No problem. But if I win, you have to teach me the secret technique you just used."

Even if Might Guy had not come looking for Xu Yue, Xu Yue had been planning to find time to seek him out. Wasn’t something like the Eight Inner Gates practically tailor-made for a Sage Body?

Before the Gate of Death, there was no need to worry too much about the side effects.

Even when Might Guy had opened the Gate of Death in the original story, Naruto had ultimately saved him with Yang Release.

If a Sage Body, which likewise represented Yang Release, reached its highest level, perhaps it could mitigate the effects of the Gate of Death.

Given the space’s absolute fairness, if he paid the price, it should spare him, right…

Yet despite having a current maximum favorability of 50 with Might Guy, despite their bond as companions of youth, and despite Might Guy’s straightforward personality, Xu Yue’s calculations failed this time. He was rejected!

Xu Yue could not help feeling somewhat surprised. In his understanding, as long as he paid enough Plot Points, the Eight Inner Gates should have been the easiest thing to obtain. Neither Might Guy’s personality nor the bond between them should have posed any obstacle.

"Yue, you are an incredible genius, but using this technique requires one strict condition: self-restraint."

Might Guy wore a serious expression that was extremely rare for him. Combined with those thick brows, he looked somewhat comical, but Xu Yue could fully sense his sincerity.

"My father told me that true victory is not defeating a powerful enemy, but protecting what is most important to you. I still haven’t understood that myself, so I can’t teach it to you yet."

Hearing Might Guy’s words, a ripple stirred in Xu Yue’s heart.

He still hadn’t understood it? That meant that part of the plot had not begun yet. But even with Xu Yue’s current strength, if he intervened, he would be lucky just to escape unscathed by relying on his speed.

A little troublesome, but that was what made it interesting, wasn’t it…

Note: Wood Style was Wood Style, and a Sage Body was a Sage Body. There was a difference. In the original story, Yamato could only be considered to have mastered Wood Style, but he did not possess a Sage Body.

Today’s second update. The third and final update for today will come later!