Naruto: The Scourge

Note: YeZi = Yuji.

"Feel it, then control it."

In the end, Orochimaru didn't teach Yuji anything specific but left him with this brief instruction.

How to feel it, how to control it—there were no steps provided. However, this did not stop Yuji from trying to sense it.

He spent the entire night experimenting like a fool, using various methods to sense chakra. Perhaps persistence pays off; as dawn broke, he finally felt a stream-like sensation flowing inside him. Starting from his abdomen, it slowly coursed through his body, like a thin creek.

"So, this is chakra…?"

The first rays of sunlight fell on Yuji's young face, quickly evaporating the moisture from his cheeks and wiping away the fatigue.

Clenching his fists tightly, he let a restrained smile bloom on his small face. As he embarked on the endless road ahead, the guiding markers along the way were what kept him going.

From that day on, Yuji headed to the ninja academy with a renewed sense of purpose. No one noticed his transformation. He no longer found the academy dull. In class, he carefully absorbed the knowledge taught by Zemu Mu. Outside class, he practiced increasing his chakra reserves and learning how to control it.

The realization he had was simple: though it would take three years to graduate from the academy, there was no need to follow its pace.

He made the most of what the academy taught, learning everything he could.

What the academy hadn't taught yet, he found ways to teach himself.

Seasons came and went, old trees grew new rings, and grass sprouted anew. Flowers withered and bloomed in cycles.

Time flowed as people wished—sometimes like a rushing river, sometimes like an old man leaning on a cane. For Yuji, during training, he wished time were the old man; while sleeping, he wished it was the river.

Day after day, year after year.

Under the silent watch of many eyes, Yuji grew rapidly from the moment he began to sense chakra.

In less than two years, Yuji's records on the Hokage's desk kept updating, and Sarutobi observed his astonishing progress time and again.

From precise chakra control to diverse applications of chakra:

The first time he concentrated chakra on his body.

The first time he used chakra in his palm to increase destructive power.

The first time he used chakra in his feet to cling to surfaces.

The first time he attempted to coat a kunai with chakra and failed.

The first time he tried manipulating chakra outside his body.

If not for constant surveillance, Sarutobi might have suspected Orochimaru of secretly tutoring Yuji. Yet in truth, Orochimaru's only help was a single sentence. It was that very sentence that unlocked Yuji's potential, propelling his rapid rise.

"Orochimaru, you've really brought back an extraordinary child."

Every time Sarutobi reviewed Yuji's updated records, he couldn't help but marvel.

Suddenly, a figure appeared at the desk without a sound. Sarutobi wasn't surprised.

The visitor was dressed in black with a white fox mask, a member of the Anbu.

"Hokage-sama, Jiraiya-sama has returned," the Anbu reported respectfully before vanishing into a shadow.

Hearing this, Sarutobi was momentarily stunned, then smiled faintly. "He's returned at just the right time."

Today was the graduation day for Yuji's class at the academy.

In the classroom, Zemu Mu stood stiffly at the podium, his hands pressed against the desk. He coldly addressed the slightly matured students before him:

"After today, you'll officially become ninjas."

Even at the last moment, the man couldn't manage a smile.

"This is the team assignment list. Someone will come to escort you later."

Without so much as a congratulations, he posted the team list on the blackboard and left the room without another word.

"Don't die so easily…" he muttered as he exited, a hint of regret flashing in his eyes.

In the classroom, as soon as Zemu Mu left, most students crowded around the blackboard to check their team assignments.

Graduating Genin were grouped into teams of three, each led by a Jonin. The list didn't reveal the names of the Jonin, leaving everyone guessing about their leaders.

Yuji didn't bother checking the list. Instead, he sat by the window, staring at the academy's training field.

Before long, groups of three began forming, but Yuji remained in place, gazing outside.

Kushina Uzumaki spotted her name on the list. The name above hers stood out: Yuji.

Kushina rubbed her forehead and glanced at Yuji, who was daydreaming by the window. She was utterly speechless.

The team assignments clearly followed a pattern: no team had more than one top-performing student—except hers. She couldn't understand why she was paired with Yuji.

"Kushina, from today on, we're teammates."

Startled, Kushina turned to see a boy with a bowl haircut, glasses, and a few pimples on his face. He was half a head shorter than her.

The boy avoided her gaze, as if he wanted to disappear.

"Let's work well together," he said, his voice trembling.

"What's your name?" Kushina asked bluntly.

The boy froze, his mind blank.

Three years of being classmates, yet she didn't know his name.

"I'm Kitahoshi Yoru," he finally managed, sadness evident in his voice.

Kushina awkwardly nodded. She hadn't meant to hurt him, but his presence had always been faint.

"I bet Yuji doesn't know his name either," she thought, glancing at Yuji.

Yoru shivered, his gaze shifting toward Yuji as well.

"He wouldn't forget… would he?"

Kushina walked up to Yuji and slapped the table, successfully drawing his attention.

After a moment, Yuji glanced at Kushina and Yoru. "Uzumaki Kushina. Kitahoshi Yoru. Looks like we're a team."

Hearing his name, Yoru nearly burst into tears.

Kushina crossed her arms. "You don't seem to care about team assignments at all."

Yuji replied calmly, "Does it matter? We'll do our missions, grow stronger, and move forward. That's all."

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