Mentor

Yamanaka Tohru held no expectations for the instructor the Third Hokage had mentioned. The next day, he wasn't in a hurry and strolled leisurely to the Hokage building a little past ten. After greeting the ninja on guard downstairs, he went up.

At the door of the Hokage's office, just as Yamanaka Tohru was about to knock, a clattering noise came from inside.

"Could someone be assassinating the Hokage?" Yamanaka Tohru activated Lightning Release Chakra Mode, drew his [Chidori Blade], and slowly pushed the door open.

With Lightning Release Chakra Mode flaring, Yamanaka Tohru instantly placed himself between the two people confronting each other.

"Hokage-sama, are you alright?"

"Tohru, if you hadn't come, there would have been trouble! This is your instructor. She got impatient waiting for you and thought this old man was messing with her—she nearly tore my office apart."

Hearing the Third Hokage's words, Yamanaka Tohru's forehead lined with black streaks. He shot the Third Hokage a contemptuous look. Boss, you're the Hokage, can't you show some authority? What's with this put-upon little wife act?

"Hey, I'm talking to you! Are you my student?" The woman's voice was crisp and pleasant to hear, but her tone was grating.

Her blunt words cut off Yamanaka Tohru's internal grumbling about the Third. He turned around and saw his instructor.

"Holy crap!" Yamanaka Tohru couldn't help but exclaim at the red-haired beauty before him. It was actually Uzumaki Kushina!

Uzumaki Kushina, Naruto's mother, wife of the Fourth Hokage Namikaze Minato. A member of the Uzumaki Clan, skilled in sealing techniques. She was the current Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

In the original story, Uzumaki Kushina had a notoriously fiery temper. Most of her peers had been beaten up by her, earning her the title Blood Red Pepper. During the Nine-Tails incident, the seal loosened during childbirth, allowing Obito to take advantage and release the Nine-Tails. After the Nine-Tails broke free, Kushina didn't die immediately thanks to the Uzumaki Clan's immense life force. Using the Uzumaki Clan's special chakra and their Kekkei Genkai-level sealing technique [Adamantine Sealing Chains], she suppressed the Nine-Tails again. In the end, the Nine-Tails was sealed into Naruto's body, and both husband and wife perished.

When Yamanaka Tohru had watched that scene in the anime in his past life, he'd cried his eyes out. Especially Kushina's words to Naruto—the thick maternal love made him, someone who lacked a mother's affection in his previous life, imagine Kushina as his own mother. In this life, he had Yamanaka Seiko's constant care, but seeing Kushina again still stirred his heart deeply.

As Yamanaka Tohru recalled his past life, Kushina was sizing up this student of hers. She'd heard Yamanaka Tohru's name before—Konoha's youngest Medical Ninja, a medical prodigy on par with Tsunade. That was something everyone at Konoha Hospital acknowledged.

Though this kid was from the Yamanaka Clan, he had black hair like the Uchiha Clan. His features weren't particularly handsome, but they were pleasant to look at.

The Lightning Release Chakra Mode Yamanaka Tohru had used when entering also startled Kushina. As a Jinchuriki, she rarely left the village, but as a Konoha Jonin, how could she not recognize the Raikage's Nintaijutsu?

And the flash of delight in Yamanaka Tohru's eyes when he saw her didn't escape Kushina's notice. After becoming the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, she had gained the ability to sense good and evil. Yamanaka Tohru's feelings toward her were unmistakably fond, even carrying a hint of dependence.

Since coming to Konoha, Namikaze Minato, Uzumaki Mito, and Sarutobi Hiruzen had made her feel warmth. Others didn't have much acceptance for her as an outsider. Some mocked her red hair, and she used her fists to shut them up. Yamanaka Tohru's fondness and dependence made Kushina happy. She was very satisfied with this student.

"Old geezer, I'm taking this student!"

Hearing Kushina's words, the Third Hokage breathed a sigh of relief. If Kushina hadn't agreed, he really couldn't have forced it. Everyone had to appease the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. Besides, her boyfriend was still guarding Konoha. Even with the Third Hokage's thick skin, he couldn't bring himself to pressure Kushina.

Yamanaka Tohru really did need an instructor. Originally, Hatake Sakumo was the best candidate. The Third Hokage knew that for the past two years, Hatake Sakumo had often taught Yamanaka Tohru. But recently, Sunagakure had been stirring again.

Tsunade had left Konoha, Orochimaru was in the Land of Water, and that unreliable Jiraiya still hadn't returned from the Land of Rain—three years already! After much deliberation, the Third Hokage could only send Hatake Sakumo out.

"Yamanaka Tohru, right? Come with me! Don't mind this old geezer." That was Kushina's usual style, and the Third Hokage was helpless against it.

"Then, Hokage-sama, I'll take my leave."

Downstairs, Kushina said she wanted to see Yamanaka Tohru's strength. He had no choice but to agree, and the two headed toward the Third Training Ground.

"Let me introduce myself first. I'm Uzumaki Kushina, Konoha Jonin. I like Ichiraku Ramen, hate quite a few things, and my dream is to become Hokage!"

"I'm Yamanaka Tohru, Konoha Genin. I like researching ninjutsu, and my dream is to become the strongest in the ninja world!"

"What do you hate?"

Kushina's question made Yamanaka Tohru think of that thick-skinned old man who'd tried every trick to keep him at Konoha Hospital.

Becoming Kushina's student had made Yamanaka Tohru happy at first. But only after leaving the Hokage's office did it dawn on him—that Third Hokage still didn't want him leaving the village. Kushina hardly ever received missions requiring travel all year. If the instructor couldn't go out, how could Yamanaka Tohru, a mere Genin?

"I don't hate anything!"

"Kids these days are so boring. Come on, let me see what you've got. Attack me with everything you've got—I'm really strong." Kushina said.

Yamanaka Tohru nodded. Lightning Release Chakra Mode erupted, and he drew his short sword, activating [Chidori Blade].

With Lightning Release Chakra Mode boosting him, Yamanaka Tohru used Lightning Body Flicker to appear right in front of Kushina, slashing at her with the short sword.

"Not bad speed!" Yamanaka Tohru's attack was easily dodged by Kushina. Missing his strike, he formed a single-handed seal, and [Chidori] took shape.

"I've never seen this technique before! Did you create it yourself?" A hint of surprise flashed in Kushina's eyes. Her left hand was wrapped in red chakra as she caught Yamanaka Tohru's [Chidori] barehanded.

Nine-Tails chakra really is something. Yamanaka Tohru hadn't expected [Chidori] to be blocked like this.

Kushina controlled the Nine-Tails chakra, letting it continue to leak out. Her pupils gradually turned red, and a single red tail formed behind her.

"Hey, Yamanaka Tohru! I'm going to attack now! You'd better pull out all your trump cards, or you might die!"

Kushina wasn't joking. Wrapped in the Tailed Beast Cloak, her speed and power were amplified. In the original story, during Naruto and Sasuke's first battle at the Valley of the End, Naruto—at most Chunin level at the time—was so fast under the Tailed Beast Cloak's boost that even Sasuke with his two-tomoe Sharingan couldn't track him.

Yamanaka Tohru found himself in a similar situation. Kushina was already a Jonin, even an Elite Jonin, and her control over the Nine-Tails was far more refined. Before he even realized where Kushina was, he was sent flying.

This book is signed. Rest assured, collect it.