Orochimaru!

"Li, starting tomorrow, you'll train under my disciple Orochimaru for a while!"

It was another morning. When Li arrived at the Third Hokage's home, he saw someone standing beside the Third Hokage: Orochimaru, one of the Sannin. He had a long, snake-like face and a chilling gaze. Even when he smiled, he gave off a cold, unsettling feeling.

"Yes, Teacher!" Li nodded. The Second Shinobi World War had just ended, and the village had plenty of matters to deal with, such as forming alliances and paying reparations. Although Orochimaru would later develop a pathological obsession with the Sharingan, he hadn't reached that point yet. Training under him for now seemed like a good arrangement.

"So you're the genius student Teacher Sarutobi often talks about. My name is Orochimaru, and I suppose you could call me your senior. You'll train under me for a while from now on!" Orochimaru chuckled, his voice carrying an indescribable chill.

Li simply nodded. He didn't particularly dislike Orochimaru, but he didn't like him either. After saying goodbye to Hiruzen Sarutobi, Li began training under Orochimaru.

"When fighting someone, chakra is one factor in winning. The second is how you use your Ninjutsu. Pay attention: I said how you use it. In battle, the strength of your Ninjutsu only determines the decisive strike. But before that strike comes, you need to set it up with many smaller techniques and Taijutsu. Teacher Sarutobi told me about you. You're quite good—you've studied all sorts of things, and your Taijutsu, Ninjutsu, and Genjutsu have all reached the limit for someone your age. But being proficient in everything also means being mediocre at everything. Whatever abilities you possess, you need to choose one decisive strength. In the future, you'll have to rely on it to secure victory in battle. Li, I don't know who trained you before, but now that Teacher Sarutobi has entrusted you to me, I'll make sure to teach you properly. Come on, follow my method and begin the next stage of your training!"

On a flat grassland, Orochimaru explained some crucial points to Li.

Li didn't take everything Orochimaru said to heart. A decisive strength was indeed essential, but that didn't mean he could neglect his other abilities. What if he specialized in Ninjutsu and his opponent fought him at close range? What if he focused on Taijutsu and his opponent kept him at a distance with Ninjutsu? Li would never let that happen to him. Never let your weaknesses become fatal flaws—that was the principle he lived by. That was also why he spent several times longer than others training, strengthening every aspect of his abilities.

Although their philosophies differed, Orochimaru was still a good teacher. After exchanging just a few moves with Li, he could point out his mistakes and set out what he needed to correct. And so, Li's life training under Orochimaru began.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Three muffled thuds rang out as all three kunai sank into the bullseye on the tree. Kushina jumped up excitedly. It was the first time she had hit the bullseye with every kunai.

"Li, thank you! I couldn't have improved this quickly without you!" Kushina came over to Li, her little face flushed. Before he could reply, she clenched her fists and huffed, "Hmph! At tomorrow's kunai lesson, I'll show those people who laughed at me who the real genius is!"

Watching Kushina get carried away with her own imagination again, Li smiled helplessly. He had been training under Orochimaru for nearly a month, and he had also spent that month teaching Kushina. But she was so careless that it had taken her almost a month to master something as simple as throwing kunai.

"All right, it's getting late. Let's stop here for today. I'll come see you again tomorrow," Li said with a smile as he stood up.

Kushina looked up at the sky. The night breeze was a little chilly, and it really was already late. Thinking about how she kept taking up Li's time every day, she felt a little embarrassed and said softly, "Sorry for making you come help me train every day!"

"What are you saying? Aren't we friends? Of course I should help you!" Li said, flicking her smooth forehead with a finger. Kushina rolled her eyes at him again. After they playfully bickered for a while, they both fell silent.

"All right, I really have to go. You should get some rest too!" Li said, turning to leave. But he suddenly remembered what had been happening in Konoha lately and turned back to Kushina, frowning slightly. "Kushina, unless you really need to, don't go out at night. There have been a lot of people from other villages in Konoha lately!"

In the original story, Kushina had once been kidnapped. It hadn't happened at this point, but who knew whether someone might have been targeting her before then? Every one of the Five Great Shinobi Countries had a Tailed Beast, and members of the Uzumaki Clan were ideal Jinchuriki. Now that envoys from Sunagakure had come to Konoha to sign a war-reparations treaty, there were all kinds of people about. As an ideal candidate to become a Jinchuriki, Kushina could easily attract someone's attention.

"It's fine! I'm strong. If anyone tries anything, I'll beat them all up!" Kushina said, unconcerned. She shook her head and waved her fist angrily.

Seeing that Kushina hadn't taken his warning to heart, Li knew there was no point in saying more. Maybe he was just worrying over nothing. With that, he waved and left the yard.

Beneath the starless night sky, two figures hurried through the streets. Both wore masks, but their clothes weren't those of Konoha Ninja.

"Tch, we need to send two Genin to kidnap a kid who hasn't even graduated from the Ninja Academy? The village is making a mountain out of a molehill!"

"Shut up. We were soundly defeated in the last war because we didn't have a Jinchuriki. If we'd had one, then with the Third Kazekage's strength, Konoha wouldn't have stood a chance!"

"We're here. Keep out of sight!"

The two Ninja reached the house where Kushina lived and concealed themselves. They were only Genin, but from the way they moved, they seemed to be the sort who would remain Genin forever.

"If we pull this off, we should get promoted to Chunin even with our current Genin strength, right?" one of them snickered, a cold glint in his eyes as he stared at Kushina's house.