In this year, Gojo Yoru only returned to Konoha twice.
Once was in March, when Uzumaki Kushina graduated from the Ninja Academy, becoming an official Genin.
She didn't form a ninja squad with other classmates but was incorporated into Team Orochimaru, becoming Gojo Yoru's teammate, with Orochimaru as the Jonin instructor.
This was already decided internally.
Having called him Sensei for so long, and having developed a combat tacit understanding with Gojo Yoru, forming a deep bond, neither Orochimaru, nor Gojo Yoru, nor even Sarutobi Hiruzen would let Uzumaki Kushina team up with anyone else.
Sarutobi Hiruzen would only feel at ease if Orochimaru and Gojo Yoru took Uzumaki Kushina out on missions.
If others were to lead Uzumaki Kushina, not to mention whether it would attract the coveting of enemy countries, if Uzumaki Kushina was stimulated on the way and fell into a rampage state, no one could stop her.
Unless Uzumaki Kushina was kept in Konoha forever, only Gojo Yoru and the Sannin could take Uzumaki Kushina out on missions.
Undoubtedly, Gojo Yoru caused another butterfly effect.
With him around, having already made a resounding name in the Ninja World, Sarutobi Hiruzen, who regarded him as the benchmark for the new generation of the Hokage's lineage, was very reassured about him.
When the war ended, Gojo Yoru could take Uzumaki Kushina out on missions anytime, unlike in The Minato One-Shot, where she could only move in the central area of Konoha and was monitored by at least two Anbu whenever she went out.
However, it was wartime now. Uzumaki Kushina could only stay in Konoha to execute some D-rank missions, helping the village and villagers with trivial matters.
Other Genin could choose to join the support unit and go to the battle line, but Uzumaki Kushina could only move in the central street of Konoha.
The second time he returned to Konoha was for Uzumaki Kushina's birthday.
While chatting, Gojo Yoru learned that he had caused another butterfly effect.
Konoha caught two enemy ninjas infiltrating the village, Cloud ninjas from Kumogakure in the Land of Lightning.
Learning this news, Gojo Yoru's guess from back then was confirmed.
Namikaze Minato's hero saving the beauty in the original work was indeed a setup by Sarutobi Hiruzen using Cloud ninjas, aiming to create an opportunity for Namikaze Minato, who had always had a crush on Uzumaki Kushina, to make her develop a good impression of him, then form a bond, acknowledge, and begin to integrate into this village.
When their son graduated, he used Mizuki to do it again.
Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't act throughout the process, just using those pawns to create coincidences to achieve the desired effect.
But now, Uzumaki Kushina had formed a bond with Gojo Yoru. To not drag Gojo Yoru down and prevent the Nine-Tails from hurting him, she had been training hard.
Gojo Yoru was also fighting bravely on the front line. Sarutobi Hiruzen, not wanting to distract him, naturally wouldn't let Cloud ninjas target Uzumaki Kushina.
Even though with Uzumaki Kushina's current strength, she didn't fear those two Cloud ninjas at all, Sarutobi Hiruzen, worried that the seal would be affected, leading to Nine-Tails Chakra leakage before Gojo Yoru grew up, still didn't have the idea of using those two Cloud ninjas to test Uzumaki Kushina's growth.
After all, in this world where the human body has 130 trillion cells, twelve years old is a very sensitive stage.
Trainee ninjas mostly graduate at twelve and then begin their blood-stained ninja careers.
Uzumaki Naruto in the original work also started leaking Nine-Tails Chakra due to emotions at this age; from fourteen or fifteen, he would enter a semi-Tailed Beast state at the drop of a hat, and that was just half of the Nine-Tails.
If not for Uzumaki Mito's Chakra protecting Uzumaki Kushina, the Four Symbols Seal in her body, which was only half of the Eight Trigrams Seal, would have long given the Nine-Tails countless opportunities to make her enter a semi-Tailed Beast state.
Uzumaki Kushina needed a safe and comfortable environment to grow, preventing her emotions from fluctuating violently, thereby creating opportunities for the Nine-Tails to weaken the seal left by Uzumaki Mito's Chakra.
Gojo Yoru was quite satisfied with Sarutobi Hiruzen's approach.
If Uzumaki Kushina were kidnapped while he was around, Gojo Yoru's evaluation of this Hokage still in his prime would definitely drop.
In wartime, with you overseeing Konoha, the base camp, if the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki could still be kidnapped, what use are you as Hokage?
...
At dusk on August 18th, Gojo Yoru returned to Konoha again.
He knew that on this day, a girl would secretly prepare a birthday cake for him.
Gojo Yoru didn't want to ruin the girl's intentions and expectations.
Sure enough, he teleported into the room, pushed the door open, and saw the living room decorated for a birthday.
Unlike the simplicity of the previous two birthdays, Uzumaki Kushina, now grown up with experience and time, specially decorated the living room of Gojo Yoru's house as she wanted.
As soon as Gojo Yoru came out, he saw a figure pouncing on him, hanging on him like a sloth, arms around his neck, smiling: "Yoru, happy birthday."
Hugging the girl back with both hands, Gojo Yoru didn't say thank you but teased with a smile: "Tomato-na, trespassing on a private residence again?"
"Hehe... having a key doesn't count as trespassing. Besides, who said back then that I could come to his house anytime? Forgetting your own words, were you beaten silly on the battlefield? Let me give you a punch to fix your brain." Uzumaki Kushina not only imitated Gojo Yoru's foul-mouthed tone but also pinched his cheek like he used to do.
Gojo Yoru let Uzumaki Kushina pinch his face, not fighting back this time.
In this year, not only did he change tremendously, but Uzumaki Kushina did as well.
Whether due to age, the characteristic of Heal Bite, or becoming a Genin, Uzumaki Kushina this year was simply a different person from last year.
Last year, Uzumaki Kushina was about thirty centimeters shorter than Gojo Yoru.
And she had a round face full of collagen, very pinchable.
Height, face, and eyes all revealed a girl's childishness.
But this year, Uzumaki Kushina's height shot up to 1.55 meters, only a twenty-centimeter difference from Gojo Yoru.
That round face, which looked exactly like a tomato when flushed with anger, already had the outline of an oval face.
Having executed multiple D-rank missions, contacting various people, beginning to understand and integrate into this society, she also shed her student childishness.
After experiencing a life-and-death battle and baptism of blood, Uzumaki Kushina would be an extremely outstanding Genin capable of killing enemies above her level.
If Gojo Yoru's physical fitness weren't different from ordinary people but the same height as boys of the same age, Uzumaki Kushina might have clung to the identities of "Big Sister" and "Little Brother."
This year's birthday was still spent by Gojo Yoru and Uzumaki Kushina alone.
After dinner, it was time for the cake.
This time without Gojo Yoru's help, Uzumaki Kushina could make a very beautiful three-layer cake, showing great progress.
After making a wish and eating the first piece of cake, it was the familiar cake fight again.
Uzumaki Kushina became braver with each fight. Every year she got smashed all over by Gojo Yoru, but the next year she still bravely initiated the challenge.
After cleaning the house, it was already past 8:00 PM.
Like last year, Gojo Yoru used Flying Thunder God Transfer to send Uzumaki Kushina back to the Senju mansion.
Taking a bath and returning to his room, Gojo Yoru lay on the soft bed, hands behind his head, looking at the ceiling illuminated by moonlight.
His heart went thump thump, not arrhythmia from sudden death precursor, but pure nervousness.
The anticipation and apprehension in his eyes were stronger than ever.
For Gojo Yoru, today's importance was no less than defying the heavens to change his fate six years ago.
The evolution six years ago allowed Gojo Yoru to break free from shackles, possessing the capital and potential to reach the top even without establishing a relationship with the Otsutsuki clan.
Without that evolution, Gojo Yoru's current strength would be at most a veteran Chunin, as evaluated by those sensing ninjas.
In terms of strength, he would definitely be overtaken by Namikaze Minato, who could easily defeat two Cloud ninjas, or even left far behind.
This was not only a talent gap but also a major restriction. Even with the advantage of knowing the plot as a transmigrator, possessing resources and opportunities, he couldn't break such restrictions at this age.
Just as Namikaze Minato had the talent to learn the Flying Thunder God Technique, while Gojo Yoru couldn't learn it at all without space-time ability.
Only guys with ridiculously strong talent could break such restrictions, becoming Jonin or even Kage-level powerhouses awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan at twelve or thirteen.
Today six years ago was the beginning of Gojo Yoru turning from a civilian genius into a monster. That transformation was called a "New Miracle of the Ninja World" by the Slug Sage.
And today, six years later, would decide Gojo Yoru's path ahead: a difficult evolution path full of bumps, or verifying the guess, a ladder to godhood where success comes naturally?
If that feeling like sudden death still didn't come this year, it meant Gojo Yoru's [Cell Renewal Cycle Theory] was false, and there were no so-called first and second evolutions.
Only a portion of cells capable of extracting space-time power was his biggest Cheat from transmigration, forever at that amount.
In this case, Gojo Yoru would not only need to rely on the Yin Seal but also on technology, trying every means to increase the capacity of Space-Time Chakra.
Otherwise, unsealing the Yin Seal, the capacity would be at most Chunin-level Space-Time Chakra. Even if it could hurt a Ten-Tails Jinchuriki, it would be hard to kill those pure-blooded Otsutsuki.
Once his Chakra ran out, those pure-blooded Otsutsuki who also mastered space-time abilities could kill him easily.
The more glorious the early stage, the more wretched the later stage.
This was destined to be a growth path full of hardships.
If the [Cell Renewal Cycle Theory] was confirmed and the evolution arrived as promised, it meant such evolution happened every six years.
After each evolution ended, a portion of Gojo Yoru's 130 trillion cells would update, becoming special cells capable of extracting physical energy, spiritual energy, and space-time power.
When all cells were replaced by space-time cells, Gojo Yoru's space-time ability would not only become a Space-Time Kekkei Genkai, but his constitution would also be a Space-Time Body.
In the future, every move would be a space-time Ninjutsu.
If the enemy didn't master same-level space-time power or rule power capable of contending with space-time, facing Gojo Yoru's moves, they could only run away, or maybe not even run away before being erased by space-time.
By then, Gojo Yoru would be an invincible existence.
So Gojo Yoru's mood today was the most nervous since transmigration.
If one could go straight to the finish line, who would want to walk a bumpy road full of difficulties?
Time passed minute by minute, and in the blink of an eye, it was 9:00 PM.
Usually at this time, Gojo Yoru would have started resting.
But now, Gojo Yoru couldn't sleep at all.
He couldn't tell if it was due to nervousness or if the precursor to evolution had quietly arrived.
However, the decisive moment was after midnight.
Gojo Yoru tried his best to calm his emotions, telling himself not to care so much, slowly waiting for the arrival of the next day.
When the clock on the wall and the alarm clock on the bedside table simultaneously reached twelve o'clock.
With a thump, a heartbeat like a drum sounded so loud in this quiet room late at night.
Gojo Yoru's pupils constricted abruptly.
The familiar yet strange feeling struck again after six years.
Taking off his pajamas, Gojo Yoru didn't need to put his hand on it or turn on the light to see his left chest heaving violently, as if the heart inside was slamming against the body, wanting to drill out.
The heartbeat frequency exceeded the normal range almost instantly, even the limit the human body could bear.
The violently beating heart, perhaps affecting the pumping function, caused Gojo Yoru's body temperature to rise rapidly, becoming scorching hot.
Unlike six years ago when it started with arrhythmia, then heartbeat and body temperature accelerated slowly.
This evolution came like a violent storm.
"So hot, so thirsty..."
Clearly feelings associated with fever, flu, palpitations, and chest tightness, yet Gojo Yoru didn't feel uncomfortable at all. His head didn't hurt; instead, he was incredibly excited.
If not for the thirst, Gojo Yoru even wanted to go to the battlefield for a slaughter.
Having experienced it once and knowing this was the body mutating without any danger, Gojo Yoru didn't panic at all this time.
He got up, picked up the water pitcher, gulped down water, and then went to the bathroom for a cold shower.
In this state, he couldn't go to the battlefield, nor would he stay in Konoha.
Thus, Gojo Yoru left a note for Uzumaki Kushina, teleported a leave application to Orochimaru, and then teleported continuously out of the Land of Fire, appearing in the snowy mountains of the Land of Iron.
During the evolution, Gojo Yoru's body was like having a perpetual motion machine installed, his energy always in an abundant state.
Even if he didn't eat or sleep for ten days, he wouldn't feel hunger or fatigue.
The first evolution, Gojo Yoru initially only felt panic, then excitement and anticipation, knowing this was a body mutation, just thinking about what changes he would have afterward.
But this time, Gojo Yoru not only didn't panic but was thinking if this state of abundant energy could be utilized by him?
Ordinary people without ninja aptitude had physical and spiritual energy as their stamina.
And ninja Chakra was also related to stamina.
Chakra bottoming out meant stamina bottoming out.
Overdrawing Chakra meant overdrawing the body and lifespan.
Now that Gojo Yoru was in a state of infinite energy, did it mean... his ordinary Chakra was also infinite?
Gojo Yoru really wanted to try, but worried it would affect the evolution in his body.
Finally, Gojo Yoru chickened out and abandoned that idea.
The evolution lasted until the early morning of August 28th and still hadn't ended.
With the experience from last time, Gojo Yoru felt the end time should be twelve noon.
And after the evolution ended, Gojo Yoru would fall into a period of extreme weakness and coma, which might be the price for infinite energy.
So in the morning, Gojo Yoru teleported to the Hot Spring District, appearing in Konan's home.
"Yoru-sama!"
As soon as Gojo Yoru appeared, he was discovered by Konan, who had finished training and was reading to improve knowledge and spiritual energy. Her cute small face instantly blossomed with a brilliant smile.
However, her greeting didn't include "long time no see."
In this year, although Gojo Yoru rarely returned to Konoha, he often came to the Hot Spring District to check Konan's growth and teach her more basics.
As one of the precocious geniuses, Konan was very competitive. Although her growth speed was still far inferior to Nagato and Uzumaki Kushina, it was second only to Hatake Kakashi in the original work.
Possessing the Yang attribute, nourished by three nutritionally sufficient meals and a sea of books, her Chakra amount had reached the Genin level.
Before long, her Chakra amount might surpass Gojo Yoru's from last year, which was a very cruel thing.
True geniuses were just that comprehensive.
This had nothing to do with physical development but how much energy they could extract and how much energy they could mix to form Chakra.
When Hatake Kakashi was five, he was also just a shorty, but his Chakra amount allowed him to perform the Multi-Shadow Clone Technique in the classroom.
This was the restriction!
Unless one was also a talent monster, even a transmigrator couldn't break this invisible restriction.
Under Gojo Yoru's deliberate guidance, Konan hadn't touched Five Elements Ninjutsu knowledge in this year, only Hiden technique knowledge.
Since she had learned various basics and Gojo Yoru didn't teach her new Ninjutsu, when folding paper, Konan indeed thought of the Hiden technique development Gojo Yoru mentioned, trying to turn her origami hobby into a Hiden technique.
Although she hadn't cultivated Paper Release yet, Konan could already cover paper with Chakra for telekinetic origami.
Learning this news, Gojo Yoru finally began to teach Konan new knowledge, which was to try merging the Three Body Technique, Hiding Technique, and Body Flicker Technique with paper, developing basic extension techniques unique to Konan.
Once successful, it would be the B-rank technique from the original work—Dance of the Shikigami.
This Paper Release Ninjutsu allowed Konan to turn into countless paper fragments for movement and transformation, and even ignore physical attacks like elementalization in the One Piece world. These were all basic extension techniques incorporating attributes.
To provide inspiration for Konan, Gojo Yoru even demonstrated Earth Release basic extension techniques for her.
Konan was working towards this direction.
Gojo Yoru didn't chat with Konan but instructed seriously: "Konan, around noon, I might enter a period of coma. Don't panic; this is a side effect of a technique. I will stay in the basement in advance and set up barriers and traps. I need you to watch over my body."
Hearing this, the smile on Konan's face was instantly replaced by seriousness.
She nodded vigorously and said seriously, "Yoru-sama, I will definitely protect you."
"Sorry to trouble you."
Gojo Yoru rubbed Konan's head and smiled: "I should be in a coma for about twenty-four hours. When I wake up, I'll feel very hungry. Please prepare food for me in advance."
"Mhm mhm..."
Konan nodded repeatedly again.
Thus, Gojo Yoru used Flying Thunder God Transfer to move a bed to the basement covered with formulas, then pasted explosive tags all around, even using space-time ability to extend wires and explosive tags outward.
Once someone moved underground and triggered the explosive tag trap, the commotion would reach the basement.
Time approached twelve noon.
Sitting on the bed, Gojo Yoru instructed Konan again: "If an accident happens, you can try to wake me up. I don't know if that side effect is a coma or just falling asleep."
"I understand, Yoru-sama."
Gojo Yoru didn't rely solely on Konan but used the Shadow Clone Technique to create a Shadow Clone.
As soon as twelve noon arrived, the heartbeat frequency exceeding the human limit instantly returned to calm, just as it came.
The fever-like body temperature, dry mouth, and hyperactive brain state also disappeared instantly.
"Tro..."
Again, before he could finish a sentence, Gojo Yoru's vision went black, and he collapsed on the bed, falling into a deep sleep.
With a poof, the Shadow Clone also turned into a cloud of white smoke and disappeared.
This scene scared Konan.
Fortunately, her psychological quality was tough, and she didn't scream.
Then the girl's nerves tensed up. Even though she was in a sealed basement, she looked around nervously, suspicious of everything.
To bring herself a sense of security, Konan even took out the Raijin Sword Gojo Yoru gave her, ready to face enemies.
Until night, the bells connected to wires in the basement didn't make a sound, and Konan finally relaxed.
Checking the time and worried that Gojo Yoru might wake up at any moment, Konan hurriedly got up to go out and prepare dinner.
To save time, Konan only made a portion for one person, then took a soldier pill and returned to the basement to take care of Gojo Yoru.
Late at night, Konan's eyelids were fighting, but she didn't dare to sleep.
This was something Gojo Yoru overlooked.
It wasn't until the morning of August 29th that Gojo Yoru, who had been in a coma for nearly twenty-four hours, slowly woke up.
"So tired..."
Just like six years ago, as soon as Gojo Yoru woke up, he felt as if his body had fallen apart.
That intense fatigue was something Gojo Yoru hadn't experienced since becoming a ninja, not even when his Chakra was exhausted.
"Yoru-sama, you're awake!"
The girl's voice reached his ears, and the lit candle illuminated the basement.
Looking at Konan, who looked happy but had slightly bloodshot eyes, the scene before the coma instantly surfaced in Gojo Yoru's mind.
Ignoring the fatigue, he revealed a smile to Konan: "Konan, thanks for your hard work."
"Not hard at all. Yoru-sama, how do you feel?" Konan shook her head and asked, her eyes full of concern.
"Very hungry. Is there anything to eat?"
"Yes, I'll go bring it down now."
Konan was about to get up but was stopped by Gojo Yoru: "No need to bring it down specially. Let's go up together."
After speaking, Gojo Yoru tried to sit up.
But as soon as he sat up, his vision went black again, and he almost fell back onto the bed.
Konan hurriedly supported Gojo Yoru, looking worried: "Yoru-sama, maybe I should go bring it down."
"No need, just help me up."
Gojo Yoru shook his head, then stood up with Konan's support, slowly leaving the basement.
On the way, he asked, "Konan, how long was I in a coma?"
"Less than twenty-four hours."
"Only less than twenty-four hours?"
Gojo Yoru found it incredible.
Six years ago, he didn't pay attention to the time.
Calculating the time deliberately this time, he realized the backlash was so fierce, yet he was in a coma for less than twenty-four hours.
And in less than twenty-four hours, his body functions were so poor; it was a bit outrageous.
Not only was his stamina bottomed out, but his Chakra was also bottomed out. Did that aftereffect suck his energy dry?
Fortunately, the Space-Time Chakra in the Yin Seal wasn't sucked dry, so he didn't need to store it again.
Back upstairs, Gojo Yoru devoured the breakfast made by Konan.
The portion for one person was quickly swept clean.
Gojo Yoru was still very hungry.
Konan hurriedly went out to buy food.
Gojo Yoru ate breakfast for more than ten people before filling his growling stomach.
Even after stuffing so much food in, his belly didn't bulge at all, like a male version of Hinata.
"Phew... strength finally returned."
Gojo Yoru clenched his fist, his eyes full of anticipation.
"Konan, I want to be alone for a while."
Telling Konan, Gojo Yoru went to his room and sat cross-legged on the bed, checking the growth brought by this evolution.
Thump—
Just like back then.
As soon as Gojo Yoru prepared to refine Chakra, a projection suddenly appeared in his mind.
Even though his eyes were closed, his gaze came to the room where the human heart was located.
In that room, Gojo Yoru saw that black heart again.
Like ringing in his ears, or in his mind, or exploding in the depths of his soul... Gojo Yoru heard the thump, thump of heartbeats.
Besides the heartbeat sound, there was nothing else.
But this time, the image of the heart didn't flash by in an instant.
After continuous beating, Gojo Yoru's gaze suddenly looked deeper inside.
He saw the blood vessels of the heart, and with each beat, some black photons would surge out of the heart, flowing along the blood vessels to unknown places.
Before Gojo Yoru could observe carefully, the inner vision image disappeared.
Gojo Yoru opened his eyes, thinking to himself: "My heart indeed has a problem."
"But why does that inner vision image only appear in the heart room? Is that heart really the body's heart? Can a human heart be black?"
Gojo Yoru suddenly had an idea: when there was a chance in the future, he must use Medical Ninjutsu to check his heart to verify his inner thoughts.
But now, he had more important things to do.
Closing his eyes, Gojo Yoru continued to refine Chakra.
Three types of energy constantly surged out from the cells. The most abundant were still physical energy and spiritual energy, mixing to form ordinary Chakra.
And a portion of physical energy and spiritual energy seemed to be affected by gravity, separating from the main body and mixing with the third energy to form black Space-Time Chakra.
After an unknown amount of time, Gojo Yoru's Chakra and Space-Time Chakra had recovered to their original amounts.
However, the cells in his body were still constantly surging with three types of energy, continuing to mix and form two types of Chakra, allowing Gojo Yoru's ordinary Chakra and Space-Time Chakra to break through the original "bottleneck."
Finally, Gojo Yoru's ordinary Chakra stayed at the Jonin level.
And Space-Time Chakra broke through the Genin level, reaching what the Rain ninja once evaluated—veteran Chunin.
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