Three years passed in a fsh.

  Namikaze Minato graduated early at the age of 10.

  Under Jiraiya's training, Namikaze Minato faced Sora multiple times in battle drills at the ninja school.

  Using his specially trained speed, Namikaze Minato challenged Sora repeatedly but was defeated each time.

  However, the rate of Namikaze Minato's growth astonished Sora.

  Each time they cshed, Namikaze Minato's speed noticeably improved.

  But Sora was alsressing. Now, with the full-sword form of Thunder Breath at his disposal, Sora had begun specialized speed training to enhance his own agility.

  After Namikaze Minato graduated early and became a Genin, he tinued his training with Jiraiya, and Sora hadn't seen him in two years.

  Although Sora had the ability to graduate early, he chose not to apply.

  Unlike Namikaze Minato, who had the guidance of a famous teacher after early graduation, Sora saw no be in rushing.

  With the current peace, early graduates like Genin could only take on D-level missions within the vilge.

  Despite no explicit mistreatment, Konoha's vilgers still harboured reseowards Sora.

  Sora also disliked D-level tasks, such as finding lost pets or pig up trash. The pay was meagre, and the work felt tedious.

  He preferred to use the time to focus on his training.

  When Tsuuro Konoha briefly, she stayed for two days. After visiting Uzumaki Mito, she left with Shizune once more.

  Although Uzumaki Kushina saw Tsunade again at Uzumaki Mito's mansion, she didn't eh her. Kushina still harboured reseoward Tsunade over the i where Sora had stepped in to help her.

  Jiraiya and Namikaze Minato had left Konoha for training. With Tsunade also gone, Orochimaru was the only remaining member of the Sannin in the vilge.

  During this time, Sora met Uzumaki Mito.

  As the wife of the First Hokage, Sora assumed Uzumaki Mito was closely tied to the Hokage fa and approached her with caution.

  Yet Uzumaki Mito's warmth toward him left Sora puzzled, as it felt unusually enthusiastibsp;

  Uzumaki Kushina, meanwhile, was learning the sealing teiques of the Uzumaki der Uzumaki Mito's guidanbsp;

  Sora had awakened his Sharingan but kept it hidden.

  Sarutobi Hiruzen instructed both Jiraiya and Tsuo keep the matter a secret.

  If the Uchiha discovered that Sora had awakehe Sharingan, they would likely attempt to recim him.

  Such a move could lead to flict between Sora and the Uchiha bsp;

  With Sarutobi Hiruzen aiming to groom Sora, he was determio prevent any possibility of Sora returning to the Uchiha . Additionally, now was not the right time to front the Uchiha.

  If tensions arose, Sarutobi Hiruzen wouldn't be able to protect Sora openly.

  Thus, keeping the Sharingan a secret was the safest approach. Onatured and gained power, it would be a settled matter, leaving the Uchiha with no recourse.

  Sora was tent with this arra, as he had no desire to deal with the arrogant Uchiha who had always looked down on him.

  Over these three years, figures like Uchiha Obito, Hatake Kakashi, Nohara Rin, and Might Guy were borer another.

  Based oimeline, Kakashi was expected to ehe battlefield at the age of five.

  The peaceful era in the ninja world had at most two years left before the o of a Cold War, or possibly even less.

  This period was marked by the anticipated event of Uzumaki Kushina's kidnapping by three Kumogakure shinobi.

  The i was expected to occur when Uzumaki Kushina became a Genin, though the exact timing remained unclear.

  Following her kidnapping, local flicts would likely begin to escate across the ninja world.

  Uzumaki Kushina was now 12 years old, leaving six years until she would i the ails from Uzumaki Mito and bee the new Jinchūriki.

  It also meant Uzumaki Mito's death roag, and time was running out for Sora to prepare.

  With a maximum of two years of peace left and six years until Kushina's transformation, She battlefield as the only means to accelerate his growth signifitly.

  Thus, he rigorously utilized his evenings for interaining.

  The results were promising.

  Being a half-blood desdant of the Senju , Chiba possessed a naturally rge Chakra reserve, which had grown expoially over time.

  He resolved to accumute suffit witness points and strengthen himself as much as possible before Kushina became the ails Jinchūriki.

  In the past three years, Sora had earned 50 witness points.

  One signifit instance was his tal witnessing of Might Guy's birth.

  At the time, Sora had strained his muscles from overtraining and visited the ninja hospital for medie.

  There, he overheard someone calling out Might Duy's name.

  Intrigued by the legendary man who would one day single-handedly kill four of Kirigakure's Seven Ninja Swordsmen, Sora quietly followed him.

  By ce, he withe birth of Might Guy and gained 50 witness points.

  However, other notable births during this period were out of his reach.

  Children from prestigious ninja s were inaccessible to him, limiting his opportuo gain further points.

  It was now te evening.

  Sora tinued his rigorous training at Konoha's training ground.

  Using 10 witness points, he had exged for a new sword and ractising purely with physical strength, swinging it against a wooden stake without using any Chakra.

  Sweat trickled down his face, dripping onto the ground.

  Suddenly, a hoarse voice sounded behind him.

  "You're w hard."

  A chill ran down Sora's spine as he realized he hadn't sehe presence of anyone nearby.

  Spinning around sharply, his pupils tracted at the sight before him.

  Pale skin, purple eye shadow, magatama earrings, and snake-like vertical pupils.

  It was Orochimaru, the only Sannin Chiba had never met in person.

  Sora immediately adjusted his demeanour, bowing slightly and addressing him with respect, "Lord Orochimaru."

  Orochimaru, arms crossed, approached Sora with a peculiar expression.

  "I've been you for many days. At such a young age, you've mastered impressive ninjutsu and awakehe Sharingan. Truly a testament to your lineage as a desdant of the Uchiha and Senju s."

  Sora raised his head, meeting Orochimaru's gaze without fear, though his curiosity was evident.

  "Lord Orochimaru, you've been me for many days?"

  Orochimaru smiled, though, to Sora, it felt more like a sneer.

  "The old mao have a fondness for you and even suggested I take you as a disciple.

  I've no iion of doing so, as teag would only distract me. However, I find myself intrigued by you.

  You and I are alike—masters of disguise, showing the world only the side we wish for them to see.

  Don't bother denying it. The predatleam in your eyes betrays you, even if only for an instant. I like that look, like a snake lying in wait, ready to strike."

  Sora's scalp tingled with unease as he realized Orochimaru wasn't simply him—he was ied in making him a disciple.