In the Hokage's office in Konoha,
Seisuke and the other two handed the confidential letter and the sealed intelligence scroll to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Hiruzen opened the confidential letter from Enma Mitokado and looked at Seisuke in surprise. "Enma and Koharu, those two prudent old fellows, actually took such a risky move and sent you and Torune to assassinate the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. It was a bold act. However, your strength amazes me."
"Contributing to the village is what we Konoha ninjas should do."
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded in satisfaction. This kind of awareness was worthy of being his grand - disciple!
"In Enma's confidential letter, your contribution has been mentioned, and he requested a reward for you. It's indeed justifiable. However, the Scroll of Seals is still out of the question."
They couldn't just give a young ninja the jutsu from the Scroll of Seals every time they accomplished something. Those jutsu were not to be casually given out.
Seisuke wasn't disappointed either. After all, the Scroll of Seals was an important secret within the important secrets of the village, and it was impossible for him to possess it permanently.
"Hokage - sama, I want to learn Water Release." Since the jutsu from the Scroll of Seals was out of reach, he could make some other requests. It would be hard for Hiruzen Sarutobi to refuse.
"Water Release?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at him in surprise and said, "Your chakra natures are Wind and Fire. Learning Water Release would indeed add another nature to your body. However, Water Release might not be a good match for you."
Those who were proficient in Fire Release generally didn't learn Water Release. Just like the Uchiha clan, whose chakra natures were mostly Fire and Lightning, they basically wouldn't learn Water Release. Unless they copied it with the Sharingan, they would never study it.
Learning a jutsu that didn't match one's chakra nature would only increase the difficulty of learning and using it. It would be better to focus on what one was good at.
"I was often restricted by the Water Release of the Kirigakure ninjas on the battlefield in the Land of Waves. I want to get revenge. If possible, I'd like to learn the Water Release of the Second Hokage - sama."
The Second Hokage, apart from his numerous forbidden jutsu, was known for his "Sea Release."
Relying on the powerful physique and massive chakra of the Senju clan, the Water Release he used might even be more powerful than that of the Mizukage from the neighboring Land of Water.
Of course, the main reason Seisuke wanted to learn it was that many of the Second Hokage's Water Release jutsu were self - created, which could catch the opponent off - guard.
Hearing Seisuke's somewhat childish words, Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head and said with a smile, "The Water Release of the Second Hokage - sama is indeed powerful. However, to reach his level, the amount of chakra required is no small matter."
The chakra amount of the Senju clan was comparable to that of only the Uzumaki clan in the ninja world. It wasn't something that could be achieved easily.
"My chakra amount has now at least reached the jounin level."
With continuous battles, Seisuke's chakra amount had been increasing rapidly. Especially after obtaining Samehada and fighting Mei Terumī for several days, the amount of chakra in his body had increased significantly compared to before.
Saying it was at the jounin level was just an approximation. If there was really a measurement unit, it was probably equivalent to ten or even more Kakashis with the Sharingan.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stroked the beard on his chin and said, "I see. Come to me at this time tomorrow. Well, do Asuma and Kurenai have any interest? The battle achievements you've accumulated can also be exchanged for jutsu."
"I use Wind Release and Fire Release, old man." Asuma snorted, saying unhappily.
Kurenai said, "If possible, I want to learn genjutsu."
Her father had positioned her as a genjutsu - type ninja. She could learn other jutsu, but she wanted to keep studying genjutsu.
"If it's Fire Release and genjutsu, I have some here. Come together at this time tomorrow. Also, Seisuke, your teacher Orochimaru has returned. You can go and visit him."
"Teacher Orochimaru? Has the war with the Land of Wind ended?"
If the war hadn't ended, Orochimaru couldn't have come back. If he was back, it meant the war with the Land of Wind was over.
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded and said, "Yes, it has ended. You can go to him and learn some new jutsu."
"Oh, okay."
The three of them left the Hokage's office. Seisuke said goodbye to Kurenai and Asuma and immediately headed to Orochimaru's place.
He pushed the door open and entered. Orochimaru was doing an experiment in his laboratory, dressed as usual, swirling a test - tube in his hand.
However, what caught Seisuke's attention was that in the laboratory, besides Orochimaru, there was a purple - haired loli holding the shed skin of the white snake that Orochimaru regarded as a mascot.
Seeing his arrival, the purple - haired loli said, "Who are you? This is Teacher Orochimaru's place. Outsiders can't come in casually."
Teacher Orochimaru...?
Looking at the purple - haired loli, Seisuke said, "You are..."
The purple - haired loli slapped her flat chest and said proudly, "I'm Teacher Orochimaru's newly - accepted disciple, Anko Mitarashi. And who are you? Hurry up and say. If you don't, I'll ask Teacher Orochimaru to deal with you!"
Orochimaru on the side showed an intrigued expression. He wanted to see what would happen between his two disciples.
Anko Mitarashi?
So this is my so - called junior sister?
Come to think of it, I'm now, like Anko, backed by the most powerful connections in Konoha, even in the ninja world.
Grand - grand - master: The First and Second Hokages!
Grand - master: The Third Hokage!
Senior - brother: The Fourth Hokage!
Uncle - master: The Fifth Hokage!
Junior - nephew: The Sixth Hokage!
Junior - nephew: The Seventh Hokage!
Who else can compare?!
Seisuke coughed, then ruffled Anko's purple hair. But he got his hand slapped away. Anko said angrily, "How can you be so impolite? What are you laughing at? Is it that funny?!"
"Kekekekeke!" Seisuke let out a laugh like that of the Count of Monte Cristo, looking at Orochimaru and saying, "Teacher Orochimaru, where did you find this disciple? She's so cute. Hello, I'm Seisuke Asakawa, your senior - brother, my dear junior sister."
"Senior - brother?! Stop joking. Teacher, do I really have a senior - brother?"
Anko asked Orochimaru, who was watching the show.
Orochimaru slowly put down the test - tube filled with an unknown liquid and said, "Yes, you have a senior - brother, and it's him."
"..." Anko
"Why didn't you say so from the beginning?"
"You didn't ask either."
"Ah... well..." Anko
Anko, who had thought she was Orochimaru's only disciple, suddenly found out there was someone senior to her. She became sullen. Looking at Seisuke, she said awkwardly, "S - Senior - brother, hello!"
"Yeah, hello. Here's a little gift for you."
He opened his hand, and a small purple snake crawled out from his sleeve, sticking out its tongue at Anko.
The little snake was chubby and quite cute. It immediately won Anko's heart. She took it with a smile and said, "Thank you, senior - brother."
This time, the "senior - brother" didn't sound as awkward as before.
"I'm glad you like it."