The Great Battle Approaches

Having completed his new ninjutsu, Li Yu returned to the laboratory, feeling satisfied. He looked at the data for "Sage Art: Wood Release Rasenshuriken" recorded on the scroll and wore a smug smile.

He sealed the scroll and put it away, only to suddenly receive the memories transmitted by a Wood Clone he had dispelled.

In the Forest of Death, Uchiha Obito had run into Might Guy. Just as Obito was about to show off, Might Guy kicked him unconscious.

Obito had essentially been carried to victory by the jonin-level Kakashi, passing the Forest of Death exam with a footprint still visible on his face.

Obito encountered Might Guy again during the third exam. Furious, he wanted to settle the score, but unfortunately, Might Guy had no memory of ever doing anything to offend him.

As Obito turned his head at the sound of Nohara Rin cheering him on, he remained lost in the glow of her support. The moment he turned back, the referee called the start of the match, and Might Guy—a man of few words and heavy actions—knocked him out with a single kick once again.

Seeing Obito's performance, Li Yu couldn't help but cover his forehead and sigh. "It really is just like the original story. Obito is truly miserable; anyone who gets kicked by Might Guy ends up meeting a tragic fate."

Obito and Nohara Rin were still genin, while Kakashi was a chunin. Looking at the performance of his own three students, all of whom had become chunin, he felt a sense of pride.

He closed his eyes to finish absorbing the memories from the Wood Clone and let out a long breath.

"The Chunin Exams have ended just like that. War shouldn't be far off now."

"Actually, I'd still prefer a peaceful life with a wife, a warm bed, and children at my knees, but unfortunately, there are always people who won't allow it."

Li Yu left the laboratory and went to the main hall, where he saw Uzuki Yuying bustling about preparing dinner like a young wife, with Uzuki Yugao helping to set the table nearby.

"Teacher, you're here!"

"I became a chunin!"

Uzuki Yugao looked at Li Yu with a happy expression and flashed a peace sign.

He walked over, patted Uzuki Yugao on the head, and praised her, "Haha, Yugao is amazing. You didn't let your teacher down."

After the three finished dinner, they sat down to chat.

"Yugao, now that you've successfully become a chunin, you cannot slack off in your training. Strive to become a jonin as soon as possible."

"Sister, are you already a jonin?"

Uzuki Yuying smiled mysteriously. Over this long period of familiarizing herself with the Flying Raijin-Seal and the conversion and use of three types of Tailed Beast chakra, she had become proficient with the Flying Raijin and had learned many special methods for using ninjutsu. She just hadn't found a chance to properly test their power.

"That's right, I am already a jonin."

"Sister, I will work hard!"

"Yugao, seeing you so motivated, I've decided to design a special training regimen for you for a while."

"Really? I will definitely work hard!"

As for Uzuki Yugao's strength, it was better than her foundation in the original story, where she only knew Konoha-style swordsmanship. Since she possessed non-elemental chakra and couldn't learn the five basic nature transformations, Li Yu planned to teach her the Rasengan and, incidentally, improve her genjutsu capabilities.

At this moment, Uzuki Yugao bit her finger adorably and asked with embarrassment, "Teacher, should I call you brother-in-law or teacher?"

"That's simple: call me brother-in-law at home, and teacher when we're outside."

"Yugao, since you've become a chunin, your brother-in-law has a gift for you."

"Follow me." Li Yu stood up to lead the way, taking the two of them to the laboratory.

He had Uzuki Yugao sit down inside a formation engraved with black patterns.

"Yugao, this is a gift from your brother-in-law."

Considering the impending Third Shinobi World War, his three students would inevitably need to go to the battlefield. Driven by his own bias, Li Yu decided to give Uzuki Yugao some extra guidance to put Uzuki Yuying's mind at ease.

"Brother-in-law, what kind of gift is it?"

"You'll know in a moment."

He followed the same procedure as before, sealing a Flying Raijin Mark onto Uzuki Yugao's right wrist and sealing a portion of his own chakra within it.

The only difference was that he didn't add any Tailed Beast chakra, wanting to ensure Uzuki Yugao wouldn't become overly reliant on the sealed power and would instead use her own chakra to activate the Flying Raijin.

"Yugao, feel this Flying Raijin Mark. It contains twenty percent of my chakra; use it only in times of crisis."

"For the next few days, I'll have your sister accompany you in training. You must practice diligently during this time."

"I will, brother-in-law."

He handed Uzuki Yugao several specialized kunai and then led the two of them out of the laboratory.

The next day.

In the early morning, he gently moved Uzuki Yuying's limbs from where they were wrapped around him, slowly lifted the quilt, and climbed out of the warm bed.

He donned his mask and black robe, then arrived at the Anbu office to review the latest intelligence reports.

"Oh, the Land of Wind and the Land of Earth have declared war on Konoha."

The Land of Wind, believing the Third Kazekage's disappearance was the work of Konoha, launched the war to divert internal conflict. "They actually launched the war together? I remember in the original story, the Land of Wind started it first. This time, the timeline has been pushed back, and they're doing it alongside the Land of Earth."

"Onoki certainly has some ideas."

At this moment, Shui Qi hurried in from outside. Seeing that Li Yu was there, he called out, "So you're here! The Third Hokage is looking for you."

"Alright, I understand."

On the way to the Hokage Office Building, I saw many ninjas hurrying about, each moving at high speed, and quite a few were leaving the building as well.

Hokage Office Building - Hokage Office

"Third Hokage, did you summon me for something?"

"Zi Yu, you've arrived. Let us speak in private."

"Both the Land of Earth and the Land of Wind have declared war on us simultaneously, and both have assembled a significant number of ninjas."

"I have already dispatched Namikaze Minato to counter the Land of Earth's forces."

"Manpower within the village is tight. Zi Yu, take your team to the Land of Wind battlefield. You must end the conflict with the Land of Wind as quickly as possible."

"Understood, Hokage. I shall go and assemble my subordinates at once."

As Li Yu prepared to turn and leave, Sarutobi Hiruzen called out to him, "Help me look after Asuma." With that, he clamped his pipe between his teeth and turned to look out the window.

Li Yu could only offer a dry "Heh," and after being rewarded with a smack to the back of his head, he wisely took his leave of the Hokage Office Building.

In truth, there were still a few days before the actual engagement. Assembling ninjas and preparing vast quantities of ninja tools and provisions meant that the larger the force, the greater the commotion, making it easy to anticipate the enemy's intentions in advance.

Taking advantage of the remaining few days, I conducted final special training for Uzuki Yugao, Yuhi Kurenai, and Sarutobi Asuma.

The lazy Li Yu had spent quite a bit more time with Uzuki Yuying lately. Although I had assigned the special training for my three students, I still brought in Senju Rika to supervise and guide their practice.

From time to time, he would provide special guidance on Uzuki Yugao's taijutsu and genjutsu; Li Yu saw all of this, but he didn't expose them.

"Yu, do you think there's a chance for Yugao and Rika?"

"Observing them over these past few days, I think there's a real possibility. Senju Rika is so handsome—he's almost half as handsome as I am."

"Hmph, you're just full of yourself."

"I'm only speaking the truth."

"That kid Rika is currently a Special Jonin, and with the Senju Clan's natural talent, he'll be a Jonin before long. He's a textbook 'tall, rich, and handsome' catch."

Receiving a charming, sidelong glance from Uzuki Yuying, Li Yu couldn't help but start getting handsy with her.

After a soft moan, Li Yu began to lose himself once more.

On the day before departure, Senju Rika found Li Yu and proposed joining him on the Land of Wind battlefield, only to be decisively refused by Li Yu.

"Rika, I have an important mission to entrust to you."

As he spoke, he produced a sealing scroll, a slip of paper, and a letter, placing them into Rika's hands as he instructed:

"The scroll contains twenty million ryo, the slip of paper has an address, and you are to deliver the letter to Tsunade."

"After Tsunade reads the letter, she will return to the village with you. Here is a brocade pouch; take it with you."

"If my sister returns to the village and flies into a rage upon not seeing me, you are to open the pouch."

Having finished his instructions, Senju Rika left the village that afternoon, heading toward the path where Tsunade could be found.

With the departure for the battlefield set for tomorrow, Li Yu, intending to make some preparations in advance, took out a map to study it carefully. I cannot miss this golden opportunity to find Lord Madara; I recall he is hiding somewhere in the Land of Grass, but I cannot miss the Land of Wind battlefield either.

Late at night, a figure clad in a black robe, with an Anbu mask faintly visible beneath the hood, moved at high speed through the Konoha barrier, racing under the cover of darkness toward the Land of Earth battlefield.