By the time Kushina and Naruto arrived, Liao Wu had already made himself scarce. He had only teased Ayame a little; he had no intention of abducting her to be his concubine.
Even if he did abduct her, now was not the time. He would at least have to wait until Hashirama was in the ground.
Then he could abduct Kushina and make her his concubine too.
Liao Wu walked along the streets of the Leaf Village and found himself at the Ninja Academy before he knew it.
The Ninja Academy stood in the heart of the village, its interconnected multistory buildings with white walls and vermilion eaves arranged at varying heights. A distinctive rounded tower stood in the center.
A plaque bearing the fiery red character for "ninja" hung high over the main entrance, surrounded by lush trees. The branches of an old tree drooped in front of the gate, with a weathered wooden swing hanging from them.
Inside was a broad rammed-earth training ground, with throwing targets and physical training equipment lined up along one side. The classrooms were spacious, with high ceilings and rows of long wooden desks.
Liao Wu stood beside the Ninja Academy's gate, trying to find some trace of the past.
He recalled how Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru had once raced along that track on the training ground, each trying to outdo the others.
Time had flown, and more than thirty years had passed in a blink.
Those children who had once laughed and played at the Ninja Academy had long since made lives of their own.
Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru had become the Sannin.
He, too, had become the lord of a nation, holding dominion over all cats beneath the heavens, with the power to decide who lived and who died.
Liao