Chapter 23: Tomato-na and Foul-Mouth Yoru
Regardless of the world, everyone experiences the same phenomenon.
As children, time crawls by at an agonizing pace. Days sometimes feel like years.
But after growing up, time flies past in the blink of an eye.
Yoru—whose soul belonged to an adult from another world—had always experienced the latter.
The infant period when he possessed consciousness from birth, the toddler years when he extracted chakra at age three, the student period when his cheat ability awakened at age six... all felt like yesterday.
As a new calendar hung on the wall, another year had quietly arrived.
Before he realized it, Yoru's age had returned to double digits.
January 7th, Konoha Year 34.
Today marked the start of the third term at the Ninja Academy.
Yoru had already dressed and now stood before a full-length mirror, examining the reflection of the young man staring back.
Not yet ten years old—no matter how tall he grew, he was still just a kid.
At ten, one became an early adolescent.
But Yoru's early adolescent stage deviated significantly from normal.
In the original series, Jiraiya stood one hundred ninety-one centimeters tall—an absolute giant in the world of shinobi.
Yet when that giant graduated at age twelve, his height hadn't differed much from his peers.
Yoru, however, still had several months before turning ten.
His height had already reached one hundred sixty-two centimeters. He'd grown another two centimeters over the winter break, and the loose clothes purchased just last year would soon no longer fit.
Being this tall at ten wouldn't be particularly unusual in many regions of his previous world.
In certain countries of this world, such height likewise wasn't especially rare.
But in Konoha, where the average height for his age group hovered around one hundred thirty to one hundred forty centimeters, Yoru's stature was genuinely absurd.
No wonder his "school bully" persona intimidated the entire academy. This height advantage alone was crushing.
Just standing before him, classmates who were a full head shorter immediately felt overwhelming pressure.
That represented dominating power.
Even Yoru himself could confirm that in this life, his adult height would definitely exceed one hundred eighty centimeters—possibly reaching one hundred ninety, making him a small giant.
"Looks like it's not just the matching surname and similar appearance. Even the height might be nearly identical. Am I actually going to become Gojo 2.5?" Looking at the handsome youth in the mirror, Yoru couldn't help teasing himself.
Despite saying this, Yoru felt otherwise internally.
Though his appearance resembled Gojo Satoru, Yoru's abilities were more like Sukuna's.
Wielding Space-Time power, only others would be bisected by him—no one would ever bisect Gojo Yoru. Definitely not!
After adjusting his collar one final time, Yoru shoved both hands in his pockets and leaped from the balcony.
Outside the gate, a figure had been waiting for some time.
Seeing Yoru descend this way, Kushina Uzumaki couldn't resist commenting: "Always showing off. The day you fall, I'll laugh at you forever."
Despite her words, a flash of admiration flickered through Kushina's eyes.
Both were blue-eyed handsome boys, but Yoru and Minato Namikaze represented opposite extremes in style, leading to completely contradictory fashion choices.
Minato embodied warmth—classmates called him "Little Sun," and he dressed like a caring sweetheart.
Yoru embodied coldness—people called him "Great Demon Lord," and he dressed in dark, aloof elegance.
Yoru wore a white open cardigan over a black shirt, paired with black pants and shoes.
This predominantly black style would appear somewhat alternative on others.
But on Yoru—with his white hair and white eyelashes—the combination was perfect.
Especially when Yoru wasn't smiling, those ice-blue eyes combined with his habit of keeping both hands in his pockets and his height advantage over peers created an impression of looking down from above with contemptuous aloofness.
Girls who favored this style would experience racing heartbeats from a single glance, their masochistic tendencies exploding.
The most extreme ones would transform into ultimate devotees, maintaining single-minded devotion even if the object of their affection never showed them kindness. They'd betray close friends who'd saved them for the sake of unrequited love. If their beloved chose to abandon the village, they'd forsake their parents to follow, accepting a life of being hunted by their village's shinobi even if their parents couldn't hold their heads up afterward or might choose suicide from the pressure.
Even after being cursed at or nearly killed, they'd choose forgiveness afterward.
Even if their beloved chose another person, they'd silently offer blessings and remain unmarried for life.
Unfortunately, Yoru was born at the wrong time—this generation lacked such absurd devotees.
Kushina Uzumaki, who'd spent several months with Yoru, knew this guy wasn't actually an ice king but rather someone even gentler than "that effeminate pretty boy," just with a stubborn personality who enjoyed mocking her—a "show-off trying to look cool."
Case in point: Yoru immediately launched into mockery. "If you're still half-asleep, go catch up on rest in the classroom. Otherwise I seriously question whether your brain is still resting on your pillow at home. Once your Body Flicker can at least glimpse my afterimage, then you can talk to me like that, Tomato-na."
"Foul-Mouth Yoru, what did you say? Say that again if you dare!"
"If your hearing's bad, visit the hospital's ear department. I only specialize in treating brains. Want me to punch you? Guaranteed immediate results."
"I'll punch you first!"
Kushina demonstrated being outmatched yet loving to fight, ultimately being unable to accept defeat. Baring her teeth, she charged at Yoru.
The two bickered and roughhoused while walking toward the Ninja Academy.
Judging from their familiar verbal sparring and physical scuffles, this was clearly their daily routine.
Ever since Yoru taught Kushina the Rasengan, she'd become even clingier.
Kushina's personality was essentially female-version Naruto Uzumaki.
Optimistic and cheerful, proactive and positive, spirited, competitive, strong self-esteem, unafraid to love or hate... these were all her personality traits.
Although Kushina hadn't yet become the Nine-Tails jinchuriki, winning her over was actually as simple as winning over Naruto Uzumaki.
Acknowledge her, care about her, and immediately gain Kushina Uzumaki's affection.
That's exactly what Yoru had done.
When the entire class mocked Kushina, he'd acted before Minato Namikaze, extending goodwill and immediately earning Kushina's favor.
During taijutsu sparring he showed no mercy, then used medical ninjutsu to create a suspension bridge effect, causing that affection to transform.
The Rasengan delivered the fatal blow, igniting the girl's passion.
After that day, Kushina visited Yoru's house daily—either receiving Rasengan instruction inside or dragging Yoru out to train or explore the village.
This term, she'd even taken the initiative to come to Yoru's house wanting to walk to school together.
In this world where five and six-year-olds understood romance, Kushina's feelings for Yoru were utterly transparent.
At some unknown point, the golden-haired loser dog who'd always watched from hiding had chosen to give up.
The NTR warrior had claimed another glorious victory!