Li Yu felt he couldn't wait any longer to test his Wood Release techniques. Taking advantage of the night, he slipped out of the laboratory and hurried back to the Senju Clan's compound.
As he reached the entrance to the compound, someone spotted him. Two ninja jumped out and blocked his way.
"Who goes there?"
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"
Several more figures appeared, surrounding Li Yu.
Li Yu called out, "It's okay, I'm one of you! I'm Nawaki. I'm back!"
After a Senju Clan sensor confirmed his identity, he was allowed inside the compound.
Li Yu returned to his room, immediately took a scroll from the shelf, unrolled it, and tried forming the Hand Seals.
Wood Release: Wood Clone
He created two clones and had them fight. After about the time it took to burn a stick of incense, they ran out of chakra and the jutsu automatically ended, leaving two sections of wood behind.
"Solid clones really are amazing. Wood Release is so useful. Wood Release is the best."
"If I can one day create eight Wood Release clones like Uchiha Madara—clones that can each use Susanoo—now that would be incredible."
Now that he knew his own potential, and understood the story's plot, he had a bright future ahead of him.
He would focus on Wood Release in battle and only activate his Sharingan when delivering a killing blow. All he had to do was pretend to be a Senju Clan ninja who had awakened Wood Release.
The next day, Li Yu returned to Orochimaru's laboratory to say goodbye.
When he saw that the research materials on his desk had vanished, leaving it completely bare, the corners of his mouth lifted. He thought smugly, Good thing I destroyed the gene-fusion serum ages ago. The remaining research is nothing to worry about.
"But Orochimaru-sensei really is quick."
He went to the room where he had been resting and saw Orochimaru there, too.
"Nawaki, you're awake. How are you feeling?"
"Sensei, I feel great. The experiment was a success."
"I'm going outside to test what this body can do."
Orochimaru showed no surprise. "Nawaki, it seems you have your own plans. I won't keep you, then. I look forward to seeing what you achieve."
After saying goodbye to Orochimaru, Li Yu found a secluded corner and dispelled his clone, which turned into a piece of wood.
A pale-faced man with long hair draped over his shoulders stepped out of the shadows to the side and clicked his tongue.
"Well, well. My student sure is cautious."
"He learned Wood Release so quickly. If I hadn't secretly followed him, I wouldn't have noticed that the one I just saw was a Wood Clone."
He licked his lips with his long tongue, his eyes alight with fervor.
"Nawaki, you really are a fine disciple. So cunning."
"Are members of the Senju Clan naturally good at studying jutsu and forbidden techniques?"
"Never mind. I'd better hurry and find a test subject to try out the research."
"The First's power..."
Meanwhile, Li Yu's real body was still inside the Senju compound, studying the Wood Release and Senjutsu scrolls left behind by the First.
He used Wood Clones to study for several days, learning every Wood Release technique recorded in the scrolls.
Li Yu was currently in the body of twelve-year-old Senju Nawaki. Ninja rank: Genin. Chakra natures: all. Chakra reserves: at the level of a Jonin. Sage Body + Sharingan.
Li Yu knew the research he had left for Orochimaru definitely wouldn't be enough to create another person like him. With one of the gene-fusion serums missing, Orochimaru would figure it out sooner or later.
Before Orochimaru noticed, he would work hard to improve his strength and find an identity to hide behind. Above all, Li Yu didn't want to leave Konoha yet.
Once he had made up his mind, Li Yu immediately set out for the Hokage Office Building to speak with the Third Hokage.
The Third Hokage's office.
The first thing he saw was a man wearing a red hat with the character for "fire" written on it, a pipe in his mouth, and hair that wasn't as white as he had imagined. Beside him stood a ninja with silver-white hair and a Forehead Protector.
This should be the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi in the prime of his life. The man beside him was the White Fang of the Leaf, Hatake Sakumo. They said his strength surpassed even that of the Sannin. He was currently the head of the Hokage's Anbu.
Li Yu felt a little excited, but quickly composed himself and said, "Greetings, Lord Hokage. Lord White Fang."
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked surprised.
"Nawaki, before you went missing, you couldn't move your arms and legs properly. Tsunade left the village to look for you."
"Lord Hokage, I hid away and used a secret family technique to recover. I also awakened the clan's precious Kekkei Genkai: Wood Release."
Li Yu's next words successfully drew Sarutobi Hiruzen's attention, leaving him stunned.
"What? Wood Release? You awakened Wood Release?"
Behind the Third Hokage, Hatake Sakumo's eyes lit up.
Li Yu immediately performed the technique.
Wood Release: Wood Clone
At that moment, wooden tendrils burst from both sides of Li Yu's body and joined together, forming the solid clone unique to Wood Release.
Li Yu created four clones in one breath without much effort. Each clone had the chakra reserves of a Genin.
Seeing this, Sarutobi Hiruzen was overjoyed, his eyes glistening with tears.
"Good, good! Where the leaves dance, the fire burns on. The flames will continue to illuminate the village and help new leaves sprout."
"The First's Wood Release has finally found an heir."
Li Yu reluctantly endured the Third Hokage's Will of Fire speech, expressed his agreement, and said at just the right moment, "My dream is to become Hokage."
Hearing his answer, Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded with satisfaction. He narrowed his eyes and took a puff from his pipe.
His answer seemed to be exactly what Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi had expected.
"Nawaki, since you've awakened Wood Release, I want you to join the Anbu under my direct command, so the village can protect you better."
"That way, you can use a codename to conceal your identity."
"Lord Hokage, that's exactly what I had in mind. I agree to join the Anbu."
Hearing Li Yu's answer, Sarutobi Hiruzen turned to the White Fang of the Leaf beside him and said, "Sakumo, I'm entrusting this child to you. Look after him. His file must be kept at the highest level of secrecy. He is Konoha's hope for the future."
Li Yu immediately dispelled his Wood Clones and followed the White Fang of the Leaf out of the Hokage Office Building and into the Anbu.
The White Fang of the Leaf personally registered Li Yu and handled his paperwork. Then he pointed to the masks on the wall.
"Pick a mask."
Li Yu immediately took down an oval mask in green and white. The whites of its eyes were green, its pupils black, and curved green markings ran beside the eyes, with another forked curved marking extending across the forehead.
Green suited his Wood Release. His codename would be Zi Yu.
"Zi Yu, you'll be assigned to my Anbu squad. First, learn the Anbu rules and the Hand Seals for entering and leaving the barrier."
Li Yu received the standard Anbu gear: a black bodysuit, wrist guards, armor, a ninja sword, a mask, and a tool pouch.
He spent the whole day learning Anbu signals, the Hand Seals for entering and leaving Konoha's barrier, Anbu rules, and the scope of Anbu missions: pursuit, assassination, protecting the Hokage, and dangerous assignments.
And so Li Yu began his life in the Hokage's Anbu, spending each day refining his chakra and practicing Hand Seals and Wood Release techniques.
He also had the Medical Ninjutsu scrolls Tsunade had left behind. He couldn't waste the Senju Clan's talent.
Healing Jutsu, Mystical Palm Technique, poison extraction... The simpler Medical Ninjutsu should be enough.
Li Yu spent nearly a week in the Anbu. Most of his missions involved patrolling and keeping watch inside the village.
The Anbu squad Li Yu was assigned to had four members. The leader was a burly man, about one meter ninety tall, with solid muscles. His codename was Yan Xing, and he specialized in Earth Release and Taijutsu.
One of the other two members was a woman with purple hair and a slender figure. Her codename was Yue Ying, and she specialized in Konoha-Style Kenjutsu.
The other was short and thin, about one meter forty tall, and rather shy when speaking. His codename was Shui Qi, and he specialized in Water Release and Wind Release.
The last member was Li Yu. He was a little taller than the other two squad members. His codename was Zi Yu, and he specialized in Wood Release and Medical Ninjutsu.
That was what the Anbu records said. The Hokage really was looking out for Li Yu.
The squad had two Taijutsu specialists and one long-range attacker.
That was perhaps how the team looked on paper. Li Yu thought of it in terms of the games he'd played in college: Yan Xing was the tank who took damage, Shui Qi used Water Release to make smoke, Wind Release to speed up the team, Yue Ying protected them in close combat, and he was the healer.
They were the sort of team that ran if they couldn't win, with a strong emphasis on protection.
They weren't very offensive, so they wouldn't be much use in a head-on fight. But they'd be great at protecting someone during a retreat.
The Hokage was looking after Li Yu so well. He almost wanted to spam "666" for Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Li Yu began his daily patrols, passing the time. At first he was excited, and everything seemed new. But after patrolling every day for a while without a single chance to fight, he did at least get to see many of the village's prominent clans.