Tsunade, You'll Be His Teacher

Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya were all Hiruzen Sarutobi's students, and he trusted them. They had grown into ninja capable of standing on their own. It was time to give them more responsibility—and tell them a few things they needed to know.

"Uchiha Yi? Kushina seems to get along well with him. She's mentioned him to me before.

"But is that kid really so talented that he can be compared to Kagami?" Tsunade knew Kagami Uchiha too. Any Uchiha who had earned the approval of her Second Grandfather, despite his distrust of the clan, had to be someone special.

As Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi could not lead them on missions himself. Kagami Uchiha had led them on quite a few instead, teaching them a great deal along the way.

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded slightly and looked toward Uchiha Yi, who was chatting with Kushina Uzumaki and Minato Namikaze. "Yi awakened his Sharingan earlier than anyone in Uchiha history.

"He's already quite skilled in Fire Release and Lightning Release. Even without his Sharingan, he has the ability to graduate early.

"If he had applied for early graduation, he might have broken your record as the earliest graduates.

"As things stand, I suspect he may already have strength comparable to a Chunin."

"Oh? A six-year-old Chunin?" Orochimaru studied Uchiha Yi with interest, running his snake-like tongue over his lips.

"I only said his strength may rival a Chunin's. Whether he could become one would still depend on an assessment. And since he hasn't applied for early graduation, I won't make him graduate," Hiruzen Sarutobi reminded him with a light cough.

Tsunade followed his gaze to Uchiha Yi. For some reason, she felt an odd sense of closeness to the kid.

What was it about this Uchiha?

"Tsunade, would you be interested in becoming his teacher?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked, pointing toward Uchiha Yi.

"Me, his teacher?" Tsunade blinked. She had just been wondering why Uchiha Yi felt so familiar, and now Hiruzen Sarutobi had made this proposal. "I may not bear the Senju name, but Senju blood still runs through my veins. He's an Uchiha!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi took out his pipe and drew on it, smiling. "Why should that be a problem?

"Didn't Teacher Tobirama take Kagami as his student? The First even joined forces with the Uchiha to found Konoha.

"The Senju Clan has disbanded, and the Uchiha are part of the village. Yi is part of the village too. Why can't you take him as your student?

"It might even become a story people tell for years. He needs you to protect him while he grows."

In truth, Hiruzen Sarutobi could have had Uchiha Yi study under Orochimaru. After some hesitation, though, he chose Tsunade.

Deep down, Hiruzen Sarutobi still favored Orochimaru as the next Hokage. If Yi became Orochimaru's student, Uchiha Yi might genuinely become a candidate to succeed him.

Nawaki's talent likely could not match Uchiha Yi's.

Of course, with the Senju Clan behind him, Nawaki would have the advantage over ten Uchiha Yis. The people of Konoha were far more willing to support the Senju Clan.

But that would only stir up more trouble within the Uchiha Clan.

Making Tsunade Uchiha Yi's teacher avoided that problem. To make it up to Yi, he could have Uchiha Mikoto study under Orochimaru. Then the Dove Faction would have two pillars to rally around, with Uchiha Yi at its head and Uchiha Mikoto supporting him.

Yi would belong to the Hokage Lineage, yet would be unlikely to become Hokage himself. To Hiruzen Sarutobi, that was the best outcome.

It was not that Hiruzen Sarutobi disliked Uchiha Yi or wanted to scheme against him. It was simply that an Uchiha was not suited to the role.

As friends and comrades-in-arms, the Uchiha were utterly dependable. But if an Uchiha became Hokage, who knew what might happen?

On his first day as Hokage, he might declare war on the entire Shinobi World. By the second, Konoha would be gone!

Tsunade fell silent. If Uchiha Yi became her student, the Uchiha Clan would likely be thrown into turmoil again. The Hawk Faction in particular would see him as a thorn in its side.

Kagami Uchiha had studied under Tobirama Senju because Tobirama had the strength to back it up. What did she have?

Besides, Tsunade knew she was not the best person to teach Uchiha Yi.

Orochimaru was.

As for Jiraiya, Tsunade dismissed him without a thought.

"Give it some thought. Things aren't easy for the boy right now," Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a sigh. "If you take Uchiha Yi as your student, I'll let you take Kushina Uzumaki as a student later too."

"Kushina?" Tsunade looked surprised. She knew something of the fate that might await Kushina.

She had assumed Kushina might never be allowed to leave Konoha in her lifetime.

She had not expected Teacher Sarutobi to agree to let her take Kushina as a student.

"Yes. Kushina is a good girl, and she's found people she cares about in Konoha. As her older cousin, you can't simply leave her on her own, can you?

"Besides, you're the best person to teach her, aren't you?

"If she can learn Lady Mito's Sealing Jutsu, along with your Monstrous Strength and Medical Ninjutsu, she could stand on her own one day, even if she becomes nothing more than an ordinary ninja." Hiruzen Sarutobi was thoroughly pleased with the children currently attending the Ninja Academy.

Sarutobi Shinnosuke, Nawaki, Uchiha Mikoto, Uchiha Yi, Kushina Uzumaki, Hyuga Hiashi, Hizashi, and the new generation of Ino-Shika-Cho—they were all among Konoha's brightest young talents.

If they grew into their potential, Konoha had a bright future ahead of it!

Tsunade had to admit she was tempted. She knew Kushina Uzumaki, the younger cousin her grandmother had kept close, quite well.

Grandmother had said Kushina's talent for Sealing Jutsu was no worse than her own.

And with the Uzumaki Clan's physique and vitality, teaching Kushina Uzumaki Monstrous Strength and Medical Ninjutsu seemed like a way to set her up for life.

Thinking of that possibility, Tsunade had to admit she was tempted.

By then, Minato Namikaze had stepped onto the practice field. His opponent was a member of the Sarutobi Clan. Minato displayed solid fundamentals and an excellent sense of timing, defeating his opponent with measured precision.

"Old man, do you know that blond kid?" Jiraiya's eyes lit up as he watched Minato Namikaze.

Having come from a civilian family himself, Jiraiya had a natural fondness for ninja from similar backgrounds. In Minato Namikaze, he saw a reflection of his younger self. That kid takes after me.