Comparing the period before and after it, one would find that the stretch of time that had just passed was the most "peaceful" period since Yagoromo had arrived in this world.
After all, the entire world had finally extricated itself from war, though Yagoromo understood perfectly well that this was nothing more than the calm before the storm.
Still, peace did not mean there was nothing to do.
Take Jiraiya, for example. During this period, he had stayed in Konoha the entire time. His main task was attempting to bring the wandering princess of Konoha back to the village… Though perhaps there were other, more personal and less wholesome motives mixed in there as well. He probably just did not dare say them aloud.
Of course, he had not completely ignored Orochimaru's matter either. However, for various reasons, Orochimaru had vanished without a trace during this period. Jiraiya could not even obtain vague intelligence about him… This was perfectly normal. For Uncle Snake, there were only two options: either hide properly, or get himself killed by a bunch of chūnibyō teenagers until he faceplanted for good.
Aside from that, Jiraiya would also help Yagoromo educate the next generation of shinobi, and… from time to time, engage in activities that he called "gathering material" but were really just peeping. He had even found time to publish a sequel to his best-selling book that was extremely inappropriate for minors.
As for what Yagoromo was doing, that was much simpler.
He had completed his "work."
Like someone with a truly profound love for education, Yagoromo had entered sage mode during this period, carefully instructing the future heroes who would one day face the Demon King, until they had gained a considerable degree of combat strength.
If one divided the growth process of a shinobi into stages, a basic conclusion could be drawn. Apart from the abnormal genius-type shinobi of the wartime era, most shinobi generally spent the period before the age of twelve on basic training. The three to four years after that were a period of rapid growth in strength, followed by a stage of steady improvement and consolidation.
Before the age of twenty-five, a shinobi's experience, awareness, and combat style would basically have stabilized. The height they could reach would usually not exceed their current level by too much.
Of course, the strength of talented shinobi would continue to grow, unrestricted by this rough division of stages. A typical example would be a certain Kakashi from Konoha, while a special example would be Uncle Snake, who truly embodied "never too old to learn."
Although shinobi only began to form real combat strength after their basic training, that did not deny the importance of foundational training. Rather, the six years spent at the Ninja Academy were an important basis for determining just how far a shinobi could ultimately grow.
However, after the shinobi world war, the Ninja Academy's teaching methods had changed to a certain extent. They seemed to have "degraded" a little, with all kinds of coursework becoming far too lax.
This highlighted the importance of "private tutoring."
In short, with Yagoromo's special educational methods, combined with the fact that Kimimaro and Haku were both talented shinobi to begin with, the two of them, now fifteen years old, already possessed considerable combat strength.
Although if they truly fought, it could basically be confirmed that victory would still belong to a certain someone. At this point, however, Haku and Kimimaro could be regarded as having "one Kakashi" worth of combat strength. As for why they would still lose, there was an obvious difference between theoretical combat strength and actual performance. First, this particular "Kakashi" had extraordinarily rich combat experience, as well as a wide variety of methods in battle. The title of Copy Ninja had a place even throughout the entire shinobi world. Second, the brightness of the halo above this man's head was second only to Naruto-kun's.
As for the current Mirai and Naruto, in terms of foundation, the two of them, as members of the Uzumaki clan, undoubtedly possessed the greatest advantage. As long as experience points were stuffed into them with all one's might, their strength would increase rapidly… In fact, it would not be an exaggeration to say that it would "inflate."
This meant that Yagoromo's waiting could finally be declared over.
His actions could begin.
Although it was not an inevitable choice, allowing these two children to participate in what he was about to do had always been the situation Yagoromo hoped to see. It was precisely because of their participation that his actions would hold greater meaning… Not meaning for Kushina and the Fourth Hokage, but meaning for Yagoromo himself.
However, that would have to wait until the children's group successfully graduated from the Ninja Academy… Even though that was merely a negligible ceremony.
...
In accordance with the principle that bromance was truer than yuri, Yagoromo still went to welcome Sarutobi Asuma's return. However, after the two met, they turned around and headed straight for the Ninja Academy.
"Are you interested in the brats at the Ninja Academy?"
Yagoromo was somewhat puzzled by Asuma's behavior. The two of them meeting up was enough, so Asuma could now go find his girl. Why was he following him to the Ninja Academy? Could it be… this uncle had grown tired of the sordid struggles between adults and was preparing to return to his pure and innocent childhood?
If he really thought that way, he had better deal with the beard on his face first. His girl had waited so long she was practically about to climb over the wall, yet he still did not know to hurry up.
"Because my next job might be something like this too…" Asuma explained.
With that, Yagoromo understood. Asuma had returned to the village and was immediately being put back to work, gaining the opportunity to lead a newly graduated genin team.
Moreover, he had only just returned to the village and did not want to go see Yūhi Kurenai just like this. First, they had not seen each other for many years, so he was somewhat nervous. Second, Kurenai had recently been promoted to jōnin, so he still had to prepare a suitable gift.
"Compared to the past, Konoha really hasn't changed at all." Looking at the familiar scenery, Asuma sighed with emotion.
"Really? I think the changes are still pretty big." Yagoromo gave a completely opposite opinion, and he even said it quite seriously. It seemed everyone's perception was different.
Who would have thought that after hearing Yagoromo say this, Asuma would immediately turn his gaze toward the Hokage Rock.
"If we're talking about changes…"
If they were talking about changes, then the faces of the First Hokage and Second Hokage on Konoha's landmark, the Hokage Rock, seemed a little crooked…
Yagoromo was helpless. At least pay attention to the important things, such as the disappearance of the entire Uchiha clan. Do not focus only on surface-level changes like this.
"That? Previously, a geologist said it was caused by the rising and falling of rock strata due to crustal movement. It falls under tectonic motion and geological change. If you trace it back to the root, it was a problem with the First Hokage's original site selection…"
Yagoromo defended himself, even though there was no such profession as a geologist in this world.
Faced with such a powerful explanation, what else could Asuma say?
In any case, they had better hurry to the Ninja Academy.
But after the two arrived at the Ninja Academy, they found that something seemed off. Should this place not be holding a quiet and cheerful graduation exam right now? Why did it look a little chaotic?
Yagoromo and Asuma exchanged a glance, then immediately walked into the examination venue… Yagoromo had a premonition. Could it be that the girl from his family had stirred up some new trick again?
Then Yagoromo's premonition came true.
The moment he walked into the venue, he discovered a white-haired person lying on the ground… He could not remember this person's name, but according to his impression, this person should be a chūnin teacher at the Ninja Academy.
But why beat someone into this state?
Look at that head, like a piece of shaqima pastry… It was ruining his appetite.
An Anbu was checking the injuries of the white-haired guy who had faceplanted. He should be the Anbu who had been secretly following Naruto today, but no matter how he checked, the other party had already lost consciousness.
"What happened here?" Yagoromo asked.
He knew whom he should ask.
Was this not supposed to be the graduation exam? Why had someone beaten a teacher up for no reason?
However, his tone carried more confusion than reproach. Was this a bit excessive? Clearly, Yagoromo did not think so. Mirai would not do something so baffling without reason. Besides, even if she really had done it "for no reason," she would not face Yagoromo's reproach… The latter would help find a suitable excuse to muddle through the matter.
Mirai stuck her tongue out at Yagoromo.
"Sorry, Yagoromo. I went a little overboard."
What was Yagoromo supposed to say now?
In any case, no matter what had happened, graduating amid a commotion was very much in this child's style.
Uh, or perhaps it should be said that it was very much in their family's style.
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