Sora, now a disciple of Orochimaru, limped home uhe moonlight.

  Although her legs ached, Sora's expression was brimming with excitement.

  Having no powerful background, Sora could only rely on the full range of Thunder Breath teiques for now.

  However, Thunder Breath alone wouldn't make her famous worldwide, so she her means to enhance her abilities.

  Without Orochimaru's mentorship, Sora's only option to grow stronger would be to accumute witness points in exge for the abilities she required.

  But when she looked at the cost of abilities in the system's exge store, her heart sank.

  With just 40 witness points, she couldn't afford what she needed.

  Earning a substantial number of witness points required participating ihird Ninja War, but by then, it would be too te.

  Even if she mao exge for new abilities, mastering them wouldn't happen ht.

  The system only facilitated learning the skills; it to Sora to practid refihem.

  That limitation, however, had an upside—Sora could ie her unique uanding of Thunder Breathing into her style rather than relying id methods.

  For instance, her development of Thunder Breath: First Form: Thunderbolt Fsh: Sixth Strike was inspired by Zenitsu Agatsuma's teiques, but she innovated ways to minimize the strain on her legs during direal ges herself.

  Taking a deep breath, Sora resolved to absorb everything Orochimaru taught her like a sponge soaking up water.

  With Orochimaru's guidance, she felt fident that she would be prepared to stand on her own when war arrived.

  Four days ter, at the Ninja Academy.

  In her seat, Uzumaki Kushina was pining to Sora.

  "Sora, you don't know how difficult the sealing teique is. I have to memorize so many things. Do you know the Introdu to the Basics of the Sealing Teique? It's as thick as my palm! And Grandma Mito actually wants me to memorize the whole thing!"

  Kushina's face was sched up in frustration as she vented her woes to Sora.

  Sora chuckled and ruffled her hair. "If you work hard now, you'll be able to rex ter. Kushina, I'm sure you'll bee the stro kunoichi iure."

  Normally, Kushina would have ughed at Sora's encement, but she pouted instead. "It's not that I mind w hard. But Grandma Mito said that after graduation, I'd have to stay with her to keep learning the sealing teique.

  She won't let me take on missions until I master it.

  I was really looking forward t a team with you and going on missions together. I've been dreaming about it for so long..."

  Kushina slumped her shoulders, lookied.

  Shed lightly. "Kushina, actually, there's something I o tell you. After graduation, I won't be teaming up with anyone for missions.

  Four days ago, I became a disciple of Orochimaru-sensei. From now on, I'll be training under him."

  Kushina tilted her head curiously. "Orochimaru-sensei? I've never heard of him."

  It wasn't surprising. Orochimaru was currently reclusive, rarely appearing in public. Apart from the academy, Mito's mansion, or Sora's home, Kushina had no exposure to the broader ninja world and thus no knowledge of Orochimaru.

  "You know about Tsunade and Jiraiya, right? They're two of the Sannin."

  "Yeah, I know them."

  "Orochimaru-sensei is the third member of the Sannin."

  Uzumaki Kushina covered her mouth in shod lowered her voice to firm, "Has one of the Sannins accepted you as a disciple, Sora?"

  Sora smiled and nodded. "Yes, that's right. I passed Orochimaru-sensei's test fhts ago, and now I'm officially his disciple. He said he would e to me today."

  Uzumaki Kushina excimed in surprise, "That's amazing! One of the Sannin, Orochimaru-sensei, accepting you as his disciple—Sora, you're so lucky!"

  Sora felt a pang of guilt and said, "But Kushina, from now on, I'll be training under Orochimaru-sensei. It means we won't have as much time together, and we might not see each other every day anymore."

  Uzumaki Kushina forced a smile and gave Sora a light pun the shoulder. "It's fine. Once you've finished your training, we'll have all the time in the world to hang out again."

  In truth, Uzumaki Kushi deeply disappointed.

  Ever since meeting Sora and being friends, she had spent every day with him without fail. She had grown aced to his stant presen her life.

  Now, knowing they would be apart after graduation, she couldn't help but feel relut and sad.

  But not wanting Sora to worry, she put on a brave fad acted like everything was fine.

  Having been friends with Uzumaki Kushina for so many years, Sora could easily see through her feelings.

  He uood what she was truly thinking, but now wasn't the time to address it. A looming crisis was on the horizon, and Sora o focus on being stronger—both for his sake and for Kushina's safety in the uain future.

  Reag into his pocket, Sora pulled out a small bell.

  This was one of a pair of bells he had spent a signifit amount of money and 30 witness points to acquire from the system's exge shop.

  These bells had no special abilities, but when one bell rang, the other would ring in response, and they could guide each other to their terpart's location.

  Sora had specifically redeemed these bells to prepare for a possible future sario—the potential kidnapping of Uzumaki Kushina by Kumogakure ninja.

  Handing the bell to Uzumaki Kushina, Sora said, "This is for you, Kushina."

  Kushina accepted the bell eagerly, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. "Is this a gift for me?"

  Seeing her excitement, Sora smiled. "Yes."

  Kushina's face lit up with a radiant smile. "I love it! Thank you, Sora."

  Sora rubbed his nose, slightly embarrassed that a simple bell could bring her so much joy.

  Turning serious, he looked at Kushina and said, "Kushina, this bell isn't just a gift. It has a special fun. I have aical one, and as long as y your bell, mine will ring, too. No matter where you are, the bell will guide me to you.

  Promise me you'll always carry it with you. If something happens, ring it immediately, and I'll e to you as fast as I . Do you uand?"

  Notig Sora's ear expression, Kushina nodded solemnly. "I'll carry it with me at all times, I promise!"

  Then, uo resist, Kushina rang the bell and eagerly listened for the sound from Sora's side.

  Hearing the soft chime from Sora's pocket, Kushina beamed with delight, her smile as sweet as ever.

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