Konoha Hokage Office Building
Li Yu had received a summons from the Hokage. Dressed in a black robe and wearing a mask, he entered the Hokage Office Building.
"Lord Hokage, what did you want to see me about?"
"Zi Yu, have you made up your mind? This year's Ninja Academy students are about to graduate."
"You can resume your identity as a jonin and just keep your Anbu position on paper. You'll have a dual identity."
"You can leave all the work to Shui Qi. You really know how to slack off."
Third Sarutobi Hiruzen took a drag on his pipe and exhaled. "When will someone handle my official duties for me, so these old bones of mine can get some rest?"
Li Yu gave an awkward laugh and said sheepishly,
"I have no interest in handling official duties every day."
"A dual identity sounds fine. The sunshine's warmer, after all."
In the future, Li Yu would need his Anbu identity as Zi Yu to conceal himself. With his current strength, only Nagato of the Akatsuki and Black Zetsu posed a threat to him.
Perhaps there was also the old Uchiha Madara. But with Madara's frail body and no Rinnegan, Li Yu didn't consider him a threat for now.
He just didn't know where Uchiha Madara was hiding. Even in the original story, his exact location was never given.
"This is a good chance to enjoy the life of a teacher, using Senju Nawaki's identity out in the sunshine."
After hearing Li Yu's words, Third Sarutobi Hiruzen straightened up and opened the documents on his desk.
"That would be excellent. There are quite a few promising graduates this year. Take a look at the students I've assigned to you."
Li Yu took the documents from the Hokage and glanced at them. He chuckled to himself. The old Third sure is shrewd. So this was why he called me here.
Sarutobi Asuma, Yuhi Kurenai, Uzuki Yugao.
"I must say, Lord Third, you're quite good at making arrangements." He put particular emphasis on the words "quite good."
Sarutobi Hiruzen laughed awkwardly, then immediately moved to see him off.
"Nawaki, I've given you the documents. You can go to the Ninja Academy in a couple of days."
"It's almost time for my inspection of the village. You can get going."
Just as Li Yu was leaving, he suddenly added, "Lord Hokage, be sure to inspect the bathhouse carefully. There's a white-haired man near it whose behavior is very suspicious."
At those words, Sarutobi Hiruzen choked on his smoke, his face turning bright red.
"Cough, cough!"
Li Yu left the Hokage Office Building smugly.
Good thing I warned Uzuki Yuying early on not to bathe at the bathhouse. Otherwise, Sarutobi Hiruzen and Jiraiya would have gotten off scot-free.
On Konoha's main street,
Li Yu was in high spirits, wearing a green flak jacket and a Forehead Protector over his left eye.
He was taking Yuying to Yakiniku Q for a barbecue meal.
In the crowd, a blond-haired man and a red-haired woman stood out.
"Minato, Kushina, long time no see."
Minato and Kushina heard someone familiar call out and immediately turned around.
"Nawaki, long time no see!"
"What happened to your eye?"
Li Yu waved a hand and gave an awkward laugh. "It's nothing. I just think it looks cooler this way."
To change the subject, Li Yu quickly pulled Uzuki Yuying over.
"Let me introduce you. This is my girlfriend, Uzuki Yuying."
"Yuying, this is Namikaze Minato and his girlfriend, Uzumaki Kushina."
"Minato, Kushina, come have barbecue with us. It's my treat."
Kushina's eyes lit up. "Since someone's treating, I won't be shy."
They arrived at Yakiniku Q, the most expensive place to eat in Konoha.
The four of them found a table and sat down.
Seeing that all the customers were ninjas, the proprietress hurried over to greet them.
"What can I get for you, esteemed ninja?"
It was Li Yu's first time eating at Yakiniku Q.
"Ma'am, what kinds of meat do you have?"
"We have pork and beef, as well as premium black pork and marbled beef."
"Great. Bring us ten plates of each."
The proprietress beamed when she heard how much they wanted. "You got it! I'll bring it right out."
Before long, all the meat had arrived. The four of them ate and chatted as they grilled.
Li Yu placed a piece of grilled marbled beef on Yuying's plate. Looking at Namikaze Minato, he remembered the matter of teaching students.
"Minato, I heard this year's Ninja Academy class is about to graduate."
"That's right. When they graduate, I've been assigned to lead a team."
Li Yu was curious whether his arrival and the resulting butterfly effect would change the members of Namikaze Minato's team.
"Minato, who are the students you'll be leading? Tell me about them."
"It's no secret. Hatake Kakashi, Uchiha Obito, and Rin."
"Hatake Kakashi from the Hatake Clan is a rare genius. I heard he graduated from the Ninja Academy at five."
"If Kakashi graduated so long ago, why is he still being assigned to your team?"
Namikaze Minato replied with a smile,
"The village has a policy of one jonin leading three students. Kakashi was still assigned to a team of Ninja Academy graduates."
"Nawaki, you've been asking me so many questions. Were you assigned a team of students too?"
Li Yu finished the piece of marbled beef Yuying had fed him, feeling thoroughly content.
"That's right. I'm going to be a teacher too. It should be interesting."
"As for my students, there's the Third's son, Sarutobi Asuma, his childhood friend Yuhi Kurenai, and my future sister-in-law, Uzuki Yugao."
"Two girls and one boy, exactly the opposite of your team."
In his heart, Li Yu had another thought he didn't say aloud: Minato, yours is the team chosen for its talent. Mine is the team chosen for connections.
"Nawaki, your team even includes Lord Third's son."
"It seems the Hokage has high hopes for you."
Li Yu looked at the Senju Clan crest on his arm, then at Yuying beside him, chatting happily with Kushina. With the Third's son and Uzuki Yugao in his team, he knew his ties to Konoha would only grow stronger.
"Ma'am, bring us twenty more plates each of marbled beef and black pork."
Seeing how everyone still wanted more, Li Yu thought, No wonder they're ninjas. They can all really put it away. An ordinary family would have trouble affording meals like this, let alone all the ninja tools.
The four left the barbecue restaurant satisfied. The meal had cost Li Yu 150,000 ryo.
On their way out, Minato even bowed to Li Yu. "I'm really sorry for making you spend so much."