The next day, Li Yu changed into his black robe early, put on his Anbu mask, and went to report for duty.
Today, he was going to meet his students at the Ninja Academy. Unlike Kakashi, Li Yu wasn't going to be late. He arrived at the classroom early.
As he reached the door of the graduating class's classroom, he spotted Namikaze Minato in a green flak jacket.
"Minato, you're here early."
"Yeah. You're early too, Nawaki."
After exchanging a few pleasantries, the two entered the classroom together.
Seeing them come in, the Chunin instructor of the graduating class said,
"Uchiha Obito, Nohara Rin, Hatake Kakashi."
"Your team leader, Namikaze Minato, is here."
Li Yu watched the black-haired boy with goggles stand up from his seat and thought, That's definitely Obito—the future big bad.
A girl with two purple markings on her face stood up, as did a silver-haired boy with dead fish eyes and a cool expression.
"So that's Nohara Rin and Kakashi."
This was Li Yu's first time meeting Kakashi, and he thought the boy looked quite a bit like Hatake Sakumo.
Looking at the three of them, Li Yu couldn't help wondering whether he should change their fates or let events unfold as they had in the story.
Without Obito, Madara would find another Uchiha and carry out his plan another way. What would be in it for me? What do I care what happens to the Uchiha Clan?
It was like being given the correct answers to an exam beforehand, then choosing not to copy them and insisting on solving everything yourself.
He was a transmigrator without a system, and he had to rely on himself for everything. His only advantage was knowing the story and having information about the various shinobi and their techniques.
Since he had the ability to see what was coming, why not make use of it?
Watching Namikaze Minato walk away, Li Yu's gaze gradually turned cold. He kept telling himself that it was all to avoid disrupting the story. Minato, Kushina, I'm sorry.
As Minato reached the door, he seemed to sense something and suddenly turned back with a warm smile.
"Nawaki, come over to my place for dinner sometime."
Li Yu almost lost his composure. Stiffly, he replied, "Sure, sure. I'll come."
It was as if Minato had somehow heard his thoughts. Li Yu watched him disappear through the classroom door and only then let out a breath.
"Sarutobi Asuma, Yuhi Kurenai, Uzuki Yugao."
"Your team leader is Senju Nawaki."
One had black hair and the other purple, so they were easy to tell apart. Kurenai and Yugao were both quite cute as children.
Li Yu couldn't be bothered to study them any longer. He beckoned the three over, led them out of the classroom, and headed to the training ground.
Li Yu tugged at the Forehead Protector covering his left eye and said casually,
"I'm your Jonin leader, Senju Nawaki."
"All right, your turn."
The three introduced themselves. It didn't really matter, though; their files had all the information he needed.
"All right, that's enough."
"Attack me together. Let's see how strong you are."
Sarutobi Asuma said smugly, "Oh? You'd better watch out, sensei."
According to their files, Sarutobi Asuma was indeed the strongest of the three. He excelled at both Taijutsu and ninjutsu, though his genjutsu was a little weaker.
"Then let's begin."
The three immediately jumped back and spread out, surrounding Li Yu in a triangle. Each pulled kunai and shuriken from their ninja pouches and, with perfect coordination, hurled them at him at the same time.
Li Yu sidestepped in one direction and caught a kunai aimed at him, then knocked every other kunai and shuriken out of the air and onto the ground.
Uzuki Yugao drew the sword from her back, while Yuhi Kurenai and Sarutobi Asuma drew kunai. They charged at Li Yu from three directions.
Clang, clang, clang! Their weapons clashed repeatedly.
The three exhausted their moves, but Li Yu blocked them all with ease. Seeing that they had shown him about all they could with Taijutsu, he made his move.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
He struck each of the two girls in the stomach, using a gentle force to send them flying. He showed no such consideration to Sarutobi Asuma, kicking him hard in the rear.
"Off you go!"
The two girls flew through the air and landed on their feet, while Asuma shot away like a human cannonball and slammed into a tree, sending leaves fluttering down.
Sarutobi Asuma struggled to his feet, an angry look on his face, and formed hand seals.
He could actually use ninjutsu. I wonder if he has enough chakra. To be able to use a technique right after graduating, he must be one of the best in his class.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
Li Yu dodged the fireball with the Body Flicker Technique. Seeing Sarutobi Asuma panting after using the technique, he knew they'd done enough.
"I've got a decent idea of your abilities now."
"First, I'll treat you to barbecue. Starting tomorrow, you'll be taking on Genin missions."
The two girls cheered, "Hooray!" and immediately seemed to forget that their stomachs had been hurting.
"I've heard it's really good. I want to try it."
The four of them went to the Barbecue Restaurant for a meal. It cost Li Yu more than fifty thousand ryō again. He hadn't expected the girls to have such appetites.
"Thank you for the meal, sensei."
The three headed home one by one. Watching them leave, Li Yu sighed.
"The future pillars of Konoha."
"Seeing Yugao's performance today, her sister probably hasn't told her about me yet."
He'd worked his way up from the Ninja Academy to become a team leader. Thinking about how, for a long time to come, he'd have to do D-rank missions—finding cats and dogs for the village, weeding fields, and planting crops—
"It doesn't seem quite as fun as I thought."
"I'll just make a Wood Clone to go with them around the village for D-rank missions."
"Then I can go home and spend time with Yuying, and take a look at my Hot Pot Restaurant, which is still being renovated."
Having made up his mind, Li Yu hummed a tune and strolled home.