The moment Jiraiya finished speaking, the three of them immediately perked up, their eyes lighting with anticipation.
A reward?
Jiraiya slowly unfurled the scroll in his hand and glanced at them with a faint smile.
"Well, I doubt you're interested in listening to a long preamble," he said lazily. "So I'll skip straight to the important part."
He cleared his throat slightly, then spoke in a more formal tone:
"In recognition of your outstanding performance on the battlefield, the Village hereby appoints—"
"Aoki Yoru as Jonin."
"Tanaka Kenta and Shimizu Yui as Special Jonin."
The tent fell silent for a brief moment.
Jiraiya raised his head and looked at their stunned expressions with amusement.
"Additionally," he continued, "due to your decisive role in defeating the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki and contributing significantly to the war's victory, each of you will be credited with the equivalent of two S-rank missions."
With that, he handed three scrolls to them.
Aoki Yoru accepted his scroll, his expression calm—but inside, he was already grinning from ear to ear.
The promotion itself didn't excite him much.
What truly made his heart race… were the rewards from two S-rank missions.
Ever since he had spent a fortune on experimental equipment, his once comfortable savings had vanished overnight. From a so-called "Konoha millionaire," he had fallen straight into poverty—so broke he had practically considered pawning his clothes.
"With this… I can finally breathe again," he thought.
At the very least, his research wouldn't come to a halt anytime soon.
"Alright," Jiraiya said, stretching his arms slightly. "That's the Village's reward. Now comes my personal bonus."
The three immediately looked up.
"Do you have any questions regarding your cultivation?" Jiraiya asked.
He wasn't stingy when it came to guiding promising young ninjas. After all, they were the future pillars of Konoha.
The trio exchanged glances, their eyes filled with excitement.
Guidance from one of the legendary Sannin—this was an opportunity that couldn't be missed.
Previously, Tsunade's guidance had already helped them tremendously.
Now, with Jiraiya…
Their growth could only accelerate further.
One by one, they began asking questions—about Chakra control, Ninjutsu application, combat instincts, and training bottlenecks.
Jiraiya answered each question with remarkable clarity.
His experience was vast, and his teaching ability was exceptional. With just a few words, he could pinpoint their weaknesses and offer precise solutions.
Even Aoki Yoru, who was already confident in his own understanding, found himself learning new perspectives.
Taking advantage of the moment, he asked about something that had been troubling him for a long time—
Sealing Techniques.
His progress in this field had been painfully slow.
Without proper guidance, advancing further was extremely difficult.
Jiraiya didn't hold back. He explained the foundational principles of sealing techniques, their structure, and even some advanced concepts.
Time passed quietly.
The sun gradually began to set.
By the end of the session, Jiraiya let out a long breath.
"Phew…"
He looked at Aoki Yoru with undisguised astonishment.
"This kid…"
Yoru had absorbed everything like a sponge—constantly asking follow-up questions, making connections, and pushing deeper into the subject.
It felt as though there was no limit to his capacity.
"Terrifying talent," Jiraiya thought.
Then, a satisfied smile appeared on his face.
"This boy will definitely become someone extraordinary in the future. Perhaps… he might even surpass the Sannin."
"It seems you've all gained something," Jiraiya said aloud, glancing at them.
Then, as if suddenly remembering something, his expression shifted.
A lecherous grin spread across his face.
He reached into his robe and pulled out a book.
"By the way… would you like to appreciate this great lord's latest masterpiece?"
Aoki Yoru's face immediately darkened.
Here we go…
"No thanks," he said flatly. "That book is mediocre at best—no real plot, and the writing is dry."
He had once used a Transformation Technique to sneak into a bookstore and read it.
The result?
Utter disappointment.
It was nothing but blunt, repetitive descriptions—no depth, no storytelling, no emotional engagement.
Jiraiya froze.
"…What did you just say?"
His expression turned incredulous.
"This is my masterpiece! It's famous across the entire Ninja World! Every refined gentleman owns a copy!"
Aoki Yoru turned to Kenta and Yui.
"You two head back first," he said casually.
Although they were curious, they didn't question him and quietly left the tent.
Once they were gone, Aoki Yoru stepped forward slightly and lowered his voice.
"Lord Jiraiya… allow me to share a few ideas."
What followed…
Was a completely different level of storytelling.
From character-driven narratives to intricate plotlines, emotional development, and layered relationships—Aoki Yoru began recounting stories from his previous life.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the tent grew darker.
By the time he finished, Jiraiya was completely stunned.
His face was flushed, his mouth slightly open, and even a bit of drool had escaped without him noticing.
"Genius!" Jiraiya suddenly shouted.
"You're an absolute genius!"
He grabbed Aoki Yoru's shoulders, his eyes shining.
"To have such storytelling ability at your age… even I feel ashamed!"
Aoki Yoru waved his hand modestly.
"Not at all. I'm just good with theory," he said. "Compared to you, Lord Jiraiya, who has… practical experience, I'm far inferior."
Jiraiya puffed up proudly.
"Of course! This immortal has experienced countless battles!"
Aoki Yoru leaned in slightly, his tone turning persuasive.
"In that case… what do you think about publishing these stories?"
Jiraiya raised an eyebrow.
"If you write them, they'll definitely become hits across the Ninja World," Yoru continued. "We can split the profits… fifty-fifty."
He paused.
"No—forty-sixty. You take sixty."
Jiraiya shook his head.
"You came up with the ideas," he said. "Fifty-fifty."
Then he slung an arm over Yoru's shoulder.
"If you get more inspiration, you must tell me immediately!"
Aoki Yoru nodded seriously.
"Of course."
This is a long-term source of funding, he thought.
My experiments are secured.
After bidding farewell, he left the tent.
The Assassination
Night had fallen.
After leaving headquarters, Aoki Yoru returned to his dormitory, intending to rest.
But the moment he lifted the curtain and stepped inside—
He froze.
For a brief second, his eyes narrowed.
Then, without a word, he turned around and walked out as if nothing had happened.
He didn't stop.
He walked straight toward the outskirts of the camp.
Deep within the forest.
Aoki Yoru stopped.
Silence surrounded him.
Then—
Crackle.
Lightning Release Chakra burst from his feet, spreading rapidly across the ground like a living current.
Moments later—
Rustling sounds erupted beneath the soil.
Dense swarms of black insects crawled out, attempting to escape.
Too late.
The lightning pierced through them mercilessly.
Crackle—snap—
The insects convulsed, burned, and turned to ash.
Aoki Yoru slowly lifted his head, his gaze fixed on the darkness ahead.
"Come out," he said coldly.
"Danzo should have told you about my sensory abilities."
"Hiding is pointless."
Silence.
Then—
Rustle… snap…
A figure stepped out from the shadows.
Dark gray bodysuit. Black cloak. High collar.
Aoki Yoru's eyes narrowed.
Aburame Torune.
"So he finally made his move…" Yoru thought.
Out loud, he said calmly:
"Did Danzo send you here to die?"
Torune didn't reply.
Instead, he raised both arms.
Instantly—
A black tide surged from his body.
Countless poisonous insects poured out, forming a writhing, living cloud.
"Secret Technique: Insect Haze."
The swarm exploded outward—
Transforming into countless needle-like projectiles that filled the sky.
At the same time—
"Secret Technique: Poison Dust."
A dense black mist spread rapidly, covering the area.
Aoki Yoru's eyes sharpened.
"Going all out from the start, huh…"
These techniques were lethal.
The insects would burrow into flesh, devour Chakra, and release deadly toxins.
The mist would paralyze the body with a single breath.
Torune himself was essentially a walking death zone.
Anyone within range would die.
But—
Aoki Yoru only smirked.
"You really think that's enough?"
He raised one hand and formed a seal.
"Lightning Release…"
The Chakra around his body surged outward.
"…Lightning Shield."
A sphere of crackling electricity expanded around him, forming a barrier several meters wide.
Inside the barrier, Aoki Yoru stood calmly.
The incoming insects struck the shield—
And instantly burned.
Exploded.
Turned to ash.
Even the poisonous mist was blocked completely.
Aoki Yoru nodded slightly.
"Not bad."
Then, with a faint smile, he added:
"Guess I nailed the style too."
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)