After finishing his new jutsu, Li Yu returned to the laboratory, thoroughly satisfied. Looking at the information on the scroll for "Sage Art: Wood Release Rasenshuriken," he smiled smugly.
He sealed the scroll away and put it in storage. Just then, he received the memories of a Wood Clone that had dispelled itself.
In the Forest of Death, Uchiha Obito ran into Might Guy. Obito had just been about to show off when Guy kicked him unconscious.
With Kakashi, who had the strength of a Jōnin, carrying him through the exam, Obito practically coasted all the way to the end. He emerged from the Forest of Death with a footprint still on his face.
Obito ran into Guy again during the third round. Furious, he wanted to get even, but Guy had no idea what he might have done to offend Obito.
Obito turned his head at Nohara Rin's words of encouragement. He had only just looked back, still basking in her cheer, when the judge called for the match to begin. Guy, a man of action who didn't waste words, knocked him out with another kick!
Watching Obito's performance, Li Yu couldn't help but sigh and rub his forehead. "It really is just like the original story. Poor Obito. Everyone Guy kicks ends up dead."
Obito and Nohara Rin were still Genin, while Kakashi was a Chunin. Meanwhile, all three of Li Yu's students had become Chunin.
He closed his eyes, finished receiving his Wood Clone's memories, and let out a long breath.
"The Chunin Ninja Exams are over. The war can't be far off."
"Honestly, I'd rather live a peaceful life with a wife, a warm bed, and kids at my knee. Too bad someone always has to spoil it."
Li Yu left the laboratory and entered the hall, where Uzuki Yuying was busy preparing dinner like a dutiful young wife. Beside her, Uzuki Yugao was setting out the dishes.
"Teacher, you're here."
"I became a Chunin!"
Uzuki Yugao happily flashed Li Yu a peace sign.
He walked over and patted her head. "Heh, you did great, Yugao. You didn't let your teacher down."
After the three of them finished dinner, they sat down to chat.
"Yugao, now that you've become a Chunin, don't slack off with your training. Work hard and aim to become a Jōnin soon."
"Big sister, are you a Jōnin already?"
Uzuki Yuying smiled mysteriously. After all this time, she had grown familiar with the Flying Raijin-Seal and the way it let her switch between three types of Tailed Beast Chakra. She could now use Flying Thunder God skillfully and had also learned how to use several special nature transformations. She just hadn't found a chance to test their power.
"That's right. I'm already a Jōnin."
"Big sister, I'll work hard too."
"Yugao, I'm glad you're so motivated. Your teacher's going to put you through a special training regimen for a while."
"Really? I'll definitely do my best!"
As for Uzuki Yugao's abilities, she was probably better trained than her counterpart in the original story, who only knew the Konoha-Style Sword Technique. Since she had no nature affinity, she couldn't learn the five nature transformations, so Li Yu planned to teach her the Rasengan and help her improve her genjutsu as well.
Uzuki Yugao nervously bit her finger and said, "Teacher, should I call you brother-in-law or teacher?"
"That's easy. At home, call me brother-in-law. Outside, call me teacher."
"Yugao, since you became a Chunin, your brother-in-law has a gift for you."
"Come with me." Li Yu stood and led them to the laboratory.
He had Uzuki Yugao sit in a formation carved with black markings.
"Yugao, your brother-in-law has a gift for you."
With the Third Shinobi World War about to begin, he knew his three students might have to go to the battlefield. Acting out of selfish concern, Li Yu was giving Uzuki Yugao some extra help, which would also put Uzuki Yuying's mind at ease.
"Brother-in-law, what is it?"
"You'll find out in a moment."
Just as before, he sealed a Flying Raijin Mark onto Uzuki Yugao's right wrist, along with some of his own chakra.
The only difference was that he didn't add any Tailed Beast Chakra. He wanted Uzuki Yugao to avoid relying too much on the chakra in the seal and use her own chakra more often to activate Flying Thunder God.
"Yugao, feel the Flying Raijin Mark. It contains twenty percent of my chakra. Use it only when you're in danger."
"For the next few days, your sister will train with you. Make sure you train hard during this time."
"I will, brother-in-law."
He gave Uzuki Yugao several dozen specially made Kunai, then led the two of them out of the laboratory.
The next morning
At dawn, Li Yu gently disentangled Uzuki Yuying's arms and legs from around him, slowly lifted the covers, and climbed out of the warm bed.
He put on his mask and black cloak, then went to 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 had lost the Third Kazekage and believed Konoha was responsible. It had also started the war to divert internal tensions. "They declared war at the same time? I remember the Land of Wind started it first in the original story. The war's been delayed this time, and now they're acting together."
"Ōnoki's got some big plans."
Just then, Shui Qi hurried in from outside. Seeing Li Yu there, he called out, "There you are! The Third Hokage is looking for you."
"Got it."
On the way to the Hokage Office Building, he saw many ninja hurrying about. Everyone was moving at a breakneck pace, and plenty of ninja were leaving the building, too.
Hokage Office Building—Hokage Office
"Third Hokage, what did you need me for?"
"Zi Yu, you're here. Let's talk in private."
"The Land of Earth and the Land of Wind have declared war on us at the same time. They've both gathered a large number of ninja."
"I've already sent Namikaze Minato to face the Land of Earth's forces."
"We're short-handed in the village. Zi Yu, take your team to the Land of Wind battlefield and end the fighting there as quickly as possible."
"Understood, Lord Hokage. I'll gather my subordinates at once."
Li Yu turned to leave, but Sarutobi Hiruzen called after him. "Help look after Asuma." Then he puffed on his pipe and turned to gaze out the window.
Li Yu could only reply, "Heh." After being given the cold shoulder, he took the hint and left the Hokage Office Building.
The fighting wouldn't actually begin for a few more days. Gathering ninja and preparing a large quantity of ninja tools and supplies made a lot of noise. The more people involved, the harder it was to keep things quiet, so the enemy nations' intentions would be known in advance.
With a few days to spare, he put Yugao, Yuhi Kurenai, and Sarutobi Asuma through intensive training.
Li Yu, lazy as ever, had recently been spending more time with Uzuki Yuying. Although he had planned the special training for his three students, he still called in Senju Rika to supervise and instruct them.
From time to time, Rika gave Uzuki Yugao special instruction in Taijutsu and genjutsu. Li Yu noticed, but didn't call attention to it.
"Yu, do you think Yugao and Rika might have a chance?"
"After watching them these past few days, I think they do. Senju Rika's so handsome—he's almost half as handsome as me."
"Hmph. You're so full of yourself."
"I'm just telling the truth."
"That kid Rika is already a Special Jōnin, and he's talented, being from the Senju Clan. He'll be a Jōnin before long. He's a real catch."
Uzuki Yuying gave Li Yu a flirtatious roll of her eyes, and he couldn't help getting handsy with her.
After a round of soft moans, Li Yu fell into depravity once more.
The day before they were due to leave, Senju Rika came to Li Yu and asked to go with him to the Land of Wind battlefield. Li Yu flatly refused.
"Rika, I have an important mission for you."
He took out a Sealing Scroll, a slip of paper, and a letter and handed them to Rika, instructing him, "The scroll contains twenty million ryō. The slip of paper has the address. Give the letter to Tsunade."
"After Tsunade reads the letter, she'll come back to the village with you. I've also got a pouch for you. Take it."
"If my sister returns to the village and flies into a rage because she can't find me, open the pouch."
After giving him those instructions, Li Yu watched Senju Rika leave the village that afternoon and set off along the road to find Tsunade.
With the battlefield awaiting him the next day, Li Yu took out a map and studied it carefully, hoping to make preparations in advance. This time, he couldn't miss the golden opportunity to find Lord Madara. He remembered Lord Madara was hiding somewhere in Grass Ninja territory, and he couldn't afford to miss the Land of Wind battlefield either.
Late that night, a figure in a black cloak, with a Konoha Anbu mask barely visible beneath the hood, sped through Konoha's barrier and headed for the Land of Earth battlefield under cover of darkness.