The dark underground base
Danzo received the intel from a Root ninja and read it carefully.
"Hmph, Senju Nawaki."
"No, I could call you Zi Yu, too."
"Just you wait. You've made me live like a rat for real."
"Go tell Orochimaru to speed up his research. I want to see results. I'll prepare twice the materials for him."
To avoid Li Yu, Danzo used Shadow Clones and the Transformation Technique whenever he met with the Konoha High Command, conducting everything in secret.
Li Yu's assassination attempt had scared Danzo half to death. It had also indirectly driven him to become Konoha's most shadowy figure, whose whereabouts no one knew.
After so many days of D-rank missions, Li Yu's team had also completed five C-rank missions. They still hadn't run into any enemy ninja, unlike in the original story.
Kakashi's Team 7 had encountered two Chunin and two Jōnin on their first C-rank escort mission, on the way to the Land of Waves.
Jōnin like Momochi Zabuza and Haku were only found on A-rank missions. At most, a C-rank mission would involve bandits; they wouldn't run into a fight with ninja.
It was no wonder the protagonists, Naruto and Sasuke, were so strong. The first opponents they fought outside the village were already that powerful.
This time, Li Yu's team had received another C-rank escort mission.
Konoha Gate
"Everyone's here. Get ready to move out."
The four of them followed the merchant caravan toward the Land of Hot Water.
"Sensei, escort missions are so boring. We haven't seen a single ninja."
"Yeah. Training's so exhausting every day, but we haven't had a chance to put it to the test."
Li Yu glanced at Sarutobi Asuma, who was walking on the other side of the carriage with a listless expression.
"Oh? You're that eager to test your strength?"
"During our last escort mission, you handled over a hundred bandits without much trouble."
"The major nations have been making moves lately. Once we leave Konoha, stay alert and be careful."
"Got it."
After several days on the road, the caravan stopped and started along the way, but nothing happened.
"Ninja, we'll be entering the Land of Hot Water soon. We'll give you a reward when we reach our destination, too."
Li Yu gave a noncommittal reply and continued walking.
"Hm? Someone's coming."
"Eight of them. Two squads. They're moving pretty fast."
Li Yu sensed the situation ahead but said nothing as he continued with the group. He glanced at his three students and smiled mysteriously.
With both hands still in his pockets, he formed Hand Seals and used an Earth Clone and the Substitution Technique, slipping away from the group without anyone noticing and hiding in the bushes by the road.
"Ah, that's what it's like having students. I could take care of this easily, but I have to put on a show to train them."
He placed a hand on a tree and expanded his sensory range.
"One Jōnin leading a squad, one elite Chunin leading another, three Chunin, and three Genin."
"Looks like I'll have to take it easy when the fight starts."
Li Yu's Earth Clone walked with his hands in his pockets, looking completely relaxed. When the enemy had nearly closed in, he suddenly shouted, "Everyone, be alert! Ninja are approaching. Prepare for battle!"
"Yuhi Kurenai, sense the area a kilometer ahead, on both sides of the road."
"Yes, Sensei."
As a genjutsu and sensory ninja, Yuhi Kurenai had pretty good sensory abilities.
"Eight enemies are rapidly approaching from ahead. The two leading them have strong chakra."
Sarutobi Asuma came over and said, "Kurenai, are you sure? Why would there be so many ninja?"
Uzuki Yugao drew the sword from her back and asked nervously, "Exactly! This is only a C-rank escort mission. Could they be bandits?"
"That's right. They're ninja. Yuhi Kurenai's senses are correct. One Jōnin and one elite Chunin are leading two squads."
At Li Yu's confirmation, all three tensed up. On their first encounter with ninja from another country, they'd run into a whole group of them.
"Sensei, I'll deal with them."
"Get ready to fight. Asuma, Yuhi Kurenai, Yugao, protect the others."
When the merchants heard there were several ninja, they hurried into the woods behind the three students.
They could already see several figures sprinting toward them in the distance.
"Kumogakure ninja. Their Taijutsu's impressive, and they're fast."
Li Yu saw four of the eight break off and dart into the woods, quickly chasing after Sarutobi Asuma and the others.
"There's a sensory ninja among the Chunin, too. Not bad."
The four ninja rushed up and surrounded Li Yu.
"A Konoha Jōnin. Who are you?"
"I don't think there's anyone like him in the intel. He must be a newly promoted Special Jōnin."
"Konoha's nothing special. We'll take this Special Jōnin down first."
Li Yu ignored them and kept his eyes on the woods. After the four Kumogakure ninja disappeared from sight, he turned to the men around him and said helplessly,
"Are you done talking? If so, you can die now."
His gaze sharpened. He crouched into a fighting stance, bent at the waist and knees, and drew three Specialized Kunai as if to throw them.
The four Kumogakure ninja immediately greeted him with a volley of Shuriken and Kunai, then began forming Hand Seals.
"Whoosh!"
Li Yu activated Flying Thunder God and vanished from the center of the encirclement. From one side, he hurled three Specialized Kunai at them.
"Flying Thunder God Slash!"
"Thud! Thud! Thud!"
Three of the ninja, who had just lost sight of him and were in the middle of forming Hand Seals, had their necks pierced by Kunai.
Then he hurled a bloodied Kunai at the Kumogakure Jōnin. Chakra gathered in his left hand, forming a Rasengan, and he drove it toward the man's face.
The Kumogakure ninja dodged the Kunai. Grinning, he raised a katana wreathed in purple lightning and slashed at the Rasengan in Li Yu's hand—also known as the Kidney Crusher.
Flying Thunder God: Level 2. Just as the katana was about to hit the Rasengan, Li Yu appeared above his enemy. He caught the Kunai in the air with his right hand, twisted his waist, and slammed the Rasengan into the man's back, driving him into the ground.
"Boom!"
Circular cracks spread across the ground as sand and dirt flew everywhere. The earth shook. The Kumogakure Jōnin had been blasted through from behind and was well and truly dead.
Li Yu had imitated Fourth Hokage Namikaze Minato's stylish Flying Thunder God: Level 2 strike against Obito during the Nine-Tails Incident.
In a lightning-fast flurry of moves, Li Yu had taken out a Jōnin and three Chunin in a few short breaths.
He casually flicked the blood off his Kunai, adjusted his Forehead Protector, and looked toward the direction the second squad of Kumogakure ninja had gone. With his hands in his pockets, he strolled after them.
"Ah, the side effects of upgrading the Mangekyō Sharingan have finally worn off. It feels better fighting with both eyes."
"I wonder how Kakashi got used to it."
Meanwhile, the other four ninja had run into Sarutobi Asuma and the others, and the fighting had begun.
"You little Konoha Genin, we'll take you out in no time!"
"Clang! Clang!"
He knocked away several Shuriken and quickly formed Hand Seals.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
Sarutobi Asuma spat flames from his mouth, sending them flying toward the four ninja.
The leading Kumogakure Chunin's Ninja Blade crackled with yellow lightning. He brought it down on the flames, splitting them apart, then hurled several Shuriken before engaging Sarutobi Asuma in Taijutsu.
Sarutobi Asuma wielded a Chakra Blade in each hand. Infused with Wind Release chakra, their edges were incredibly sharp.
The hilt had four holes to fit the fingers besides the thumb. The hilt and blade were one piece, with a sharpened, saw-like edge.
"Clang! Clang!"
He was fighting two Kumogakure ninja skilled in Taijutsu on his own.
"Oh, Asuma's Taijutsu is pretty good. He's probably at Chunin level. No wonder he'll become a Guardian Ninja."
The other two Genin charged at Uzuki Yugao and Yuhi Kurenai.
Uzuki Yugao stepped forward and held her sword in front of Yuhi Kurenai. Behind her, Yuhi Kurenai formed Hand Seals, and her eyes flashed red.
"Demonic Illusion: Tree Binding Death!"
A dark-skinned Kumogakure Genin clutched his neck, his face twisted in pain.
Uzuki Yugao clashed swords with the other ninja.
"Can those kids handle this?"
"Exactly!"
"I hope the ninja let us go when it's over."
"We should get out of here!"
The merchants and their guards looked terrified, their legs trembling as they prepared to flee.
A figure blocked their path. It was Li Yu, hands in his pockets and looking completely relaxed.
"Everyone's safe. Go back to where we were before. They've all been taken care of."
The group turned tail and ran back the way they'd come.
"Thank you, ninja! We'll be sure to reward you!"
Watching the ordinary people hurry away, Li Yu shook his head and sighed.
"This is the world of ninja."
"The Third Shinobi World War isn't far off."
He turned his attention back to his students' fight. Sarutobi Asuma was still holding off two opponents by himself.
Uzuki Yugao and Yuhi Kurenai were scrambling and had suffered a few injuries, but they'd taken out the two Genin. Seeing that things were going badly, the Chunin quickly threw down several smoke bombs and prepared to retreat.
"You Konoha brats can fight. Just you wait!"
"Bang! Bang!"
Li Yu emerged from the smoke. With one hand apiece, he took down the two fleeing ninja with Taijutsu in an instant.
"Sensei, are you all right?"
"Sensei!"
Although Sarutobi Asuma had fought two opponents at once, he'd still taken some injuries. It seemed the old Third, Sarutobi Hiruzen, had given him plenty of extra training.
Having someone from a major clan to guide you gave you a much better chance of surviving missions than an ordinary ninja—and made you mentally tougher.
Li Yu gave them an approving nod.
"I'm very satisfied with how you all performed."
"Take care of your injuries, then come back to the caravan with me."
They encountered no further danger along the way and reached the Land of Hot Water a day later.
"Ninja, thank you for your help this time."
"This is just a small token of our appreciation. Please accept it."
Li Yu didn't refuse. He accepted the twenty thousand ryō and took his three students to relax in the Land of Hot Water instead of hurrying back to turn in the mission.
In the capital of the Land of Hot Water, he relaxed with his three students and enjoyed the hot springs.