Kakashi
Kushina Uzumaki looked Chi Yu in the eyes, her voice full of resolve. "I'm willing to become the next Nine-Tails Jinchūriki."
Chi Yu's expression darkened. "Kushina, absolutely not. If you want to repay Mito-sama, there are other ways. Becoming a Jinchūriki isn't just painful—it's dehumanizing. I will never agree to this."
Kushina gently embraced him. Her voice was soft, but steady. "I'm not doing this for Lady Mito. I'm not doing it for the village either. I'm doing it for you. You've done so much for me… I don't want to be a burden anymore."
Chi Yu's gaze softened, but his jaw remained clenched. He responded firmly, "You were never a burden—not before, not now, and not ever. I've told you that already."
"I'm not tired, Kushina. Fighting for you gives me purpose. It's the one thing that keeps me moving forward."
"But if you become a Jinchūriki, it would feel like all I've done was for nothing. Like I couldn't protect you. That's not love, Kushina. That's surrender."
"You just need to believe in me. I'll handle the rest. So long as you trust me, I'll never stop trying."
Kushina leaned her head against his chest, murmuring, "I believe in you, Chi Yu. I won't bring it up again. I'm sorry."
Chi Yu let out a quiet sigh of relief and gently ruffled her hair. "Kushina… I'm going to leave Konoha someday. This village was never really home to me. The only good thing here is you."
"When the time is right, we'll leave. We'll find somewhere else—somewhere we can really belong."
Kushina looked up at him, eyes firm and unwavering. "I'll go with you, no matter where."
Chi Yu smiled faintly. For the first time in a while, he felt at peace.
---
Chi Yu and Kushina spent the next two days together.
During that time, Kushina took care of everything—meals, chores, everything.
It had to be said: her cooking was excellent. Chi Yu ate like a man who hadn't had a good meal in months.
But today, after lunch, it was time to part ways again. Kushina had a mission to carry out with her team. Chi Yu had business at the Ninja Academy.
Konoha was holding its graduation ceremony today. Chi Yu, now a Jōnin, had been instructed by Orochimaru to select a Genin disciple.
Unlike other Jōnin, who were assigned full three-man squads, Chi Yu was expected to choose only one student—a personal apprentice.
And it was clear what Orochimaru intended. Just as Orochimaru had recruited Chi Yu, now Chi Yu would choose someone to mold in the same image.
Naturally, the disciple couldn't be from a prestigious clan. Those clans protected their heirs closely. That ruled out the Uchiha, Hyūga, Inuzuka, Aburame, and others.
The issue was, Chi Yu didn't have much insight into which civilian-born students had real potential.
Might Guy came to mind—but Guy was too specialized in taijutsu. Not the type Chi Yu needed.
So he decided to keep an open mind. If no one suitable appeared… he'd just pick someone to fulfill the formality.
---
At the gate of the Academy, Chi Yu spotted a familiar blond.
Minato Namikaze.
Of course. Chi Yu had expected this. Minato had mentioned he'd be getting a team today.
But while Minato would be randomly assigned a three-man Genin cell, Chi Yu, due to his special arrangement with Orochimaru, had more flexibility.
As expected, Minato approached first.
"Chi Yu! What a surprise. Did you change your mind? Decided to take on a team after all?"
Chi Yu sighed. "I'm not here for a team. Just a disciple. Don't follow me around."
Without waiting for a reply, he brushed past Minato and entered the Academy.
Minato chuckled. He was used to Chi Yu's attitude by now and followed shortly after.
---
The graduation exam had ended.
A crowd of new Genin stood at attention on the training ground, each freshly given a forehead protector.
Several Jōnin—maybe a dozen—waited with the Academy staff to be assigned their squads.
Due to the ongoing war, the graduation standards had been lowered. This year's class was unusually large.
Only the top students would be placed into Jōnin-led teams. The rest would be temporarily assigned to Chūnin for training or sent to support units.
Chi Yu scanned the lineup.
He recognized one face instantly: Masada Hayabusa, his former teacher.
The man stiffened as soon as he noticed Chi Yu.
Masada had never thought highly of him. Yet here Chi Yu stood—once the student he looked down on, now a Jōnin under one of the Sannin.
Chi Yu looked at him briefly, eyes cold and indifferent. Then he looked away.
Masada felt a pang of bitterness.
That brat... after everything, not even a hello?
"Teacher Masada!" Minato greeted him warmly.
Masada turned, breaking into a bright smile. "Minato! It's been too long. You've grown into an excellent shinobi. A Jōnin already—truly remarkable."
Minato scratched his head. "It's all thanks to your early guidance."
"Hah, you're still as humble as ever," Masada said. His eyes drifted toward Chi Yu and narrowed. "Unlike some others… No gratitude at all."
Meanwhile, Chi Yu had locked eyes on a particular Genin.
A boy with white hair—Kakashi Hatake.
Strange, Chi Yu thought. Wasn't Kakashi already a Chūnin? Why is he standing with the Genin?
Then it clicked.
Right. In the original timeline, Kakashi was promoted early, but he was still teamed up with Obito and Rin under Minato.
Obito Uchiha and Rin Nohara had only just graduated.
If Kakashi wasn't part of the team assignment, how could that team even form?
So Kakashi had been temporarily included in the Genin assignment ceremony—likely to streamline the process.
Chi Yu narrowed his eyes.
Interesting…
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