Of course, Kyuushin didn't know what was happening with Tsunade. Since she had said his practice was flawless, he naturally seized the opportunity to continue practicing while his Gene Lock state was still active.
About ten minutes later, the Gene Lock deactivated. Excruciating pain instantly swept through his entire body, but this time it was much more manageable than the last. Although it was still agonizing, he could barely control his body. The duration was also much shorter; in just a minute or two, the intense pain gradually receded, replaced by a profound feeling of weakness. He simply lay down on the spot and, unexpectedly, dozed off in a daze.
"Lord Kyuushin, you will catch a cold sleeping here."
In his haze, he felt someone calling him. He abruptly opened his eyes and saw a man standing over him.
"Lord Orochimaru, why are you here?" he asked, surprised after recognizing the visitor.
"Tsunade got drunk, so Jiraiya and I are taking her back. She happened to mention you while she was drinking, so I came to take a look," Orochimaru explained. He glanced around at the pockmarked and messy training ground, where the marks made by powerful fists were obvious.
"I heard that you learned Tsunade's Monstrous Strength Fist in a very short time. Seeing this now, it's still quite astonishing."
Kyuushin waved his hand dismissively. "I've only just learned the basics. I'm not proficient yet, and it's still hit or miss."
Orochimaru smiled, a thin, knowing smile. "I am different from Tsunade and Jiraiya. They would be surprised by your aptitude. But I know there are always some people in this world who cannot be judged by ordinary standards. Lord Kyuushin, in my opinion, you are such a person."
Although Orochimaru said so, Kyuushin himself knew that without the Gene Lock, his aptitude, while better than most, was still far from top-tier. Much of his perceived genius was simply the advantage of foresight from his past life. His adult soul allowed him to quickly understand and master certain knowledge when he studied it. This was very evident when Mito taught them sealing jutsu. And now, this forced activation of the Gene Lock to learn the Monstrous Strength Fist had furthered that impression.
In the eyes of others, he was becoming a prodigy who learned ninjutsu at an incredible speed. While he wanted to play the role of a talented child to gain resources, he worried this reputation was becoming too exaggerated. If it attracted the covetousness of people with ulterior motives, the resulting danger would be more trouble than it was worth.
As if seeing through Kyuushin's thoughts, Orochimaru nodded again. "Your temperament is also very good. It's hard to imagine you're just a six or seven-year-old child. However, you don't need to worry. Your abilities are currently only known by a few of us, plus the Third Hokage. We will not leak this information, and with Lady Mito's protection, no one will dare to lay a hand on you. So, embrace your talent. I look forward to the day you grow up."
As he spoke, he took out a ninjutsu scroll. "This is for you. It's just a basic ninjutsu. Consider it my initial investment in your potential."
Since Orochimaru put it that way, Kyuushin had no choice but to accept it. Orochimaru then left as silently as he arrived.
"Hoo..." Kyuushin let out a long breath. Although he knew that Orochimaru had not yet become the twisted figure he would later be, being in his presence was still incredibly pressuring. He opened the scroll and found that it was indeed a relatively basic ninjutsu, the Body Flicker Technique. However, this technique was considerably more advanced than the academy's three basic jutsu and was usually only taught to ninja of Chunin rank or higher.
Kyuushin looked at the sky; it was already evening. He put away the scroll, preparing to go eat. Although Mito was not present, the servants in the mansion were. He went to the front hall, and soon the dishes were served. It was a pity he was eating alone today. Mito was away, Kushina was with her mother, and Tsunade was drunk. It seemed Nawaki was also gone. He asked a servant and found out that Nawaki had gone to participate in a survival exercise organized by the Ninja Academy for the higher grades.
He slowly finished his meal alone, then took a bath. Seeing that it was still early, Kyuushin decided to go out for a stroll. He had been in Konoha for a while but had never explored the village at night. The streets were always brightly lit, and since he had nothing to do, it was a good time to look around.
Upon reaching the street, Kyuushin learned from the villagers' conversations that a festival was taking place, making it even livelier than usual. There were all kinds of stalls selling snacks, toys, and trinkets. Various pubs, barbecue shops, and ramen stands along the road were also packed with people.
Kyuushin walked and observed, holding a cup of juice. Since he had just finished dinner, his stomach couldn't fit any more despite all the tempting snacks.
"Kyuushin! Kyuushin!" He heard someone calling him. Following the sound, he saw his two deskmates, the Uchiha twins.
Sachiko ran over excitedly, leaving her older sister trailing behind her. "Kyuushin, you're out shopping too!"
"Yes, I had nothing to do tonight, so I came out for a stroll by myself."
Sachiko hesitated, a worried look on her face. Kyuushin knew what she wanted to say; as a prominent clan, the Uchiha would naturally know what had happened to the Uzumaki. However, before the little girl could speak, he said first, "Your outfit today is very cute."
Upon hearing this, Sachiko immediately cast aside her concern. She twirled in front of him, holding her skirt. "Right? I specifically picked this for the festival." The little girl was wearing a rather traditional outfit that looked quite beautiful on her, making her resemble a doll.
While they were talking, her older sister Makiko also walked over, accompanied by a woman who appeared to be in her twenties.
"Honestly, Sachiko, you saw your classmate and just abandoned your sister and me," the woman said teasingly. "Why don't you introduce him?"
Sachiko's cheeks flushed slightly. She pulled Kyuushin over. "Mom, this is Uzumaki Kyuushin." Then she looked at him. "This is my mom."
"Hello, Auntie. You look so young. If you hadn't said anything, I would have thought you were her older sister."
Chie heard Kyuushin's name, glanced at his distinctive red hair, and then smiled warmly. "Lord Kyuushin is very eloquent. I hope we haven't disturbed you."
"Not at all. I've been in Konoha for a while, but this is my first time out at a night market."
"If you're alone, you can come with us," Makiko offered.
"Thank you, I'd like that," Kyuushin replied with a smile, happy to not be alone.
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