Guidance

Yamanaka Tohru didn't have high hopes for the guidance teacher the Third Hokage had mentioned. The next day, he took his time getting to the Hokage Building, arriving after ten. He greeted the ninja on guard downstairs, then went up.

At the Hokage Office door, Tohru was about to knock when he heard a series of crashes from inside.

"Was someone trying to assassinate the Hokage?" Yamanaka Tohru activated Lightning Release Chakra Mode, drew his Chidori Blade, and slowly pushed the door open.

Lightning Release Chakra Mode flared to life, and in an instant, Tohru stood between the two people facing off.

"Lord Hokage, are you all right?"

"Tohru, if you'd been any later, I wouldn't be! This is your guidance teacher. She got tired of waiting for you and thought the old man was stringing her along. She nearly demolished my office."

After hearing the Third Hokage's words, Tohru was speechless. He gave the Third Hokage a disdainful look. Seriously, you're the Hokage! Could you show a little dignity? What was with that sulky, put-upon look?

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

Her blunt words interrupted Tohru's inner rant about the Third Hokage. He turned around and saw his guidance teacher.

"Holy shit!" Tohru couldn't help exclaiming at the red-haired beauty in front of him. It was Uzumaki Kushina!

Uzumaki Kushina was Naruto's mother and the wife of Fourth Hokage Namikaze Minato. A member of the Uzumaki Clan, she excelled at Sealing Jutsu. She was this generation's Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

In the original story, Uzumaki Kushina had a very fiery temper. She'd beaten up nearly all her classmates and earned the nickname Blood Red Pepper. During the Nine-Tails Incident, the seal weakened while she was giving birth, giving Obito the chance to release the Nine-Tails. After it broke free, Kushina's immense vitality as a member of the Uzumaki Clan kept her alive. Using the Uzumaki Clan's unique Chakra and their Kekkei Genkai-like sealing technique, Adamantine Sealing Chains, she suppressed the Nine-Tails once more. In the end, the Nine-Tails was sealed inside Naruto, and both Kushina and Minato died.

When Tohru had watched that part of the anime, he'd cried his eyes out. Kushina's words to Naruto had especially moved him; her deep, boundless motherly love had made Tohru, who'd lacked a mother's love in his previous life, imagine her as his own mother. In this life, Yamanaka Seiko had doted on him in every way, but seeing Kushina again still left Tohru overwhelmed with emotion.

As Tohru reminisced about his previous life, Kushina studied her student, too. She'd heard his name long ago: Konoha's youngest Medical Ninja, a medical genius on par with Tsunade. Everyone at Konoha Hospital agreed.

Although the boy belonged to the Yamanaka Clan, he had black hair, just like the Uchiha Clan. His features weren't exactly handsome, but they were pleasing to look at.

The Lightning Release Chakra Mode Tohru had used when he entered had startled Kushina, too. As the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, she rarely had a chance to leave the village, but she was still a Konoha Jonin. How could she not recognize the Raikage's Nintaijutsu?

And Kushina hadn't missed the flash of delight in Tohru's eyes when he saw her. After becoming the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Kushina had gained the ability to sense good and evil. There was no doubt that Tohru liked her—and even felt a little dependent on her.

Since coming to Konoha, Kushina had found warmth in Namikaze Minato, Uzumaki Mito, and Sarutobi Hiruzen. The others didn't feel much acceptance toward her as an outsider from another village. Some people had mocked her red hair, so she'd made them shut up with her fists. Tohru's affection and dependence made Kushina happy. She was very pleased with her student.

"Old geezer, I'll take this student!"

Hearing Kushina's words, the Third Hokage breathed a sigh of relief. If she hadn't wanted to take him, he really couldn't have forced her. Everyone had to keep the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki happy. Besides, her boyfriend was protecting Konoha. No matter how thick-skinned he was, the Third Hokage couldn't bring himself to force Kushina.

Yamanaka Tohru did need a guidance teacher. Hatake Sakumo would have been the best choice, and the Third Hokage knew that Sakumo had often taught Tohru over the last two years. But Sunagakure had been acting restless again lately.

Tsunade had left Konoha, Orochimaru was in the Land of Water, and Jiraiya, that unreliable man, still hadn't returned from the Land of Rain. It had been three years! After thinking it over, the Third Hokage could only send Hatake Sakumo out.

"You're Yamanaka Tohru, right? Come with me. Ignore that old geezer." This was typical of Kushina, and the Third Hokage could only accept it.

"Then, Lord Hokage, I'll take my leave."

After they went downstairs, Kushina said she wanted to see how strong Tohru was. He could only agree, and the two headed for the Third Training Ground.

"First, let me introduce myself. My name is Uzumaki Kushina, and I'm a Konoha Jonin. I like Ichiraku Ramen, and there are a lot of things I dislike. My dream is to become Hokage!"

"My name is Yamanaka Tohru. I'm a Konoha Genin. I like studying Ninjutsu, and my dream is to become the strongest in the Shinobi World!"

"Then what do you dislike?"

Kushina's question reminded Tohru of that shameless old man who'd done everything he could to keep him at Konoha Hospital.

At first, Tohru had been happy to have Kushina as his teacher. But once they'd left the Hokage Office, he'd suddenly realized that the Third Hokage still didn't want him leaving the village. Kushina hardly ever got missions that took her away from the village, so if his guidance teacher couldn't leave, there was no way a Genin like Tohru could go either.

"There's nothing I dislike!"

"Kids these days are so boring. Come on, show me what you can do. Attack me with everything you've got. I'm pretty strong."

Tohru nodded. Lightning Release Chakra Mode burst into life, and he drew his short sword, activating Chidori Blade.

Boosted by Lightning Release Chakra Mode, Tohru used Lightning Body Flicker and appeared right in front of Kushina, swinging his short sword at her.

"Not bad speed!" Kushina easily dodged Tohru's attack. His strike missed, and he formed Hand Seals with one hand. Chidori took shape.

"I've never seen this technique before! Did you create it yourself?" A flicker of surprise crossed Kushina's eyes. Red Chakra enveloped her left hand, and she caught Tohru's Chidori head-on.

The Nine-Tails' Chakra really was incredible. Tohru hadn't expected Chidori to be stopped like that.

Kushina continued releasing the Nine-Tails' Chakra. Her eyes gradually turned red, and a red tail appeared behind her.

"Hey, Yamanaka Tohru! I'm going to attack now! You'd better use every last trump card you've got, or you might die!"

Kushina wasn't joking. Wrapped in the Tailed Beast Cloak, her speed and strength were enhanced. During Naruto and Sasuke's first battle at the Valley of the End, Naruto had been at best a Chunin. With the boost of the Tailed Beast Cloak, Sasuke, who had the Two-Tomoe Sharingan, still couldn't keep track of him.

Tohru found himself in a similar situation. Kushina was a Jonin, possibly even an Elite Jonin, and she had far better control over the Nine-Tails. Tohru had no idea where she was before she sent him flying.