The Genius of the Yamannaka Family

Konoha Year 34. The Second Great Ninja War raged on with increasing intensity. While Konoha had secured some advantages on various battlefields, the situation was far from optimistic. It was only thanks to the recent conflict between the Cloud and Stone Shinobi that Konoha could conserve some forces, focusing on dealing with the Sand Shinobi and the Mist Shinobi of the Land of Water, who were eyeing them covetously.

Meanwhile, Yamanaka Tohru had passed his first birthday. When he was six months old, he could already speak some simple words. "The young master of the Yamanaka clan is a genius!" Such talk had already spread among the three Ino-Shika-Cho clans. When news spread that Yamanaka Tohru hadn't wet the bed since he was three months old, the entire village of Konoha knew: the young master of the Yamanaka clan was a genius.

Being more precocious than the average child seemed normal to Yamanaka Seiko. After all, the Yamanaka clan's secret techniques all revolved around spiritual energy. While the child was still in her womb, Seiko had used the clan's secret methods to guide him in sensing spiritual power. But soon after his first birthday, Yamanaka Tohru gave Seiko a tremendous shock.

At just one year old, Yamanaka Tohru had learned to form hand seals after watching her cousin demonstrate only a few times. When Seiko saw her son's chubby little hands clumsily practicing the seals, she was stunned. What kind of ninja talent was this?

Whether Yamanaka Tohru was a genius, even he himself didn't know. At only one year old, he couldn't refine Chakra, let alone learn ninjutsu. In this perilous world of Naruto, especially being born during the era of the Great Ninja Wars, he had been a swaddled infant during the Second War and didn't need to participate. But what about the Third Shinobi World War? In the original story, a genius like Kakashi graduated at five and still ended up on the battlefield. It was certain that even if Tohru graduated normally, he would be sent to the front lines of the Third War. So now, unable to refine Chakra or learn ninjutsu, Yamanaka Tohru could only practice forming hand seals.

On September 15th of Konoha Year 34, Hatake Kakashi, son of the Konoha White Fang, Hatake Sakumo, was born. On October 15th, at Kakashi's one-month celebration, every clan in Konoha sent representatives to offer congratulations. The Yamanaka clan was no exception.

The Yamanaka clan sent Yamanaka Inoichi, one of the next generation's Ino-Shika-Cho. The previous year, the 15th Generation Ino-Shika-Cho had all graduated from the Ninja Academy together, and these three youths were also the next clan heads of the Yamanaka, Nara, and Akimichi clans. Yamanaka Seiko received a personal invitation from Hatake Sakumo. On October 15th, a group of four plus an infant went to the Hatake residence to offer their congratulations.

Hatake Sakumo rose to prominence during the First War, but truly made his name in the Second War. His Chakra short sword, radiating white light, had reaped hundreds of enemy ninja. In terms of sheer power, he could be considered second only to the Hokage within Konoha.

The Hatake clan's compound wasn't large, and with so many visitors today, Yamanaka Tohru and his group had to queue up to enter.

"Aunt, weren't you invited by Lord Sakumo? You can take us in through the side entrance."

"That's right, that's right. Aunt, you can save us some seats, otherwise there won't be anywhere to eat." The Akimichi clan truly was all about food. Hearing Akimichi Choza's words, Yamanaka Tohru rolled his eyes. Only the Akimichi clan would be thinking about food at a time like this.

"Yeah, waiting here is such a hassle." Nara Shikaku looked impatiently at the long line ahead. Looks like Shikamaru gets his dislike of trouble from his father, Tohru thought, watching the three of them and comparing them to their future children. Yep, all definitely biological.

Yamanaka Seiko nodded and entered through the side door. The infant Yamanaka Tohru in her arms watched as his mother walked familiarly into the inner chambers of the Hatake house. She had clearly been here more than once.

"Senior Seiko, you're here!" A purple-haired woman in the inner chamber of the Hatake house looked very happy to see Seiko.

"The Flower of Konoha Hospital is a mother now too." Yamanaka Seiko was clearly very familiar with Kakashi's mother. The two chatted happily, while Yamanaka Tohru watched the sleeping Kakashi beside them.

At one month old, little Kakashi naturally wasn't wearing a mask. In his past life, Tohru had been a fan of Kakashi. Graduating at five, becoming a Chunin at six—he set records. Unfortunately, after accepting Obito's Sharingan, his already limited Chakra was drained by the eye, making him reluctant to even use a Shadow Clone, forcibly turning him into "Hatake Fifty-Fifty." After succeeding as the Sixth Hokage, he was jokingly called the weakest Hokage by fans.

"Seiko, you're here!" While the two mothers were chatting enthusiastically, Hatake Sakumo entered. Yamanaka Tohru looked up at the man in casual clothes before him. He had long silver hair tied in a ponytail. At this moment, Sakumo showed none of the Konoha White Fang's aura; he looked more like an ordinary man greeting a friend.

"Sakumo, long time no see!"

"So this is Kagami's child?"

"Mm! His name is Yamanaka Tohru."

"Yamanaka Tohru? Good. Hardly anyone knew you two got married anyway. It was right not to return to that clan! Since Kagami is gone, Seiko, if you ever need my help, just say the word. You and Kagami are both my friends." After speaking, Hatake Sakumo waved at Junko and went back to attending to the other guests.

Not returning to that clan is right? Could my father be from the Hyuga Clan!? If I went back, I'd be branded with the Caged Bird? His mother's conversation with Hatake Sakumo sent Tohru's thoughts racing. It seemed his father was no ordinary civilian ninja.

Konoha Year 35. The 14th Generation Ino-Shika-Cho departed together for the Land of Earth battlefield. Yamanaka Tohru was very reluctant to see his uncle go. This gentle man often held him. Although he was his uncle, in Tohru's eyes, Yamanaka Akito was like a father to him.

That same year, Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade joined forces in the Land of Rain to confront the man known as a demigod, the pinnacle of the ninja world—Hanzo of the Salamander. Though they couldn't defeat him, they successfully held him back and even earned his recognition. He called them the Legendary Sannin. When the news reached Konoha, morale soared.

That same year, on the Land of Wind battlefield, Tsunade successfully developed an antidote to the poison on Chiyo's puppets. The Sand Shinobi retreated in defeat, and Konoha gained a massive advantage on that front.

Konoha Year 36. On the Land of Lightning battlefield, Konoha clashed with the Cloud Shinobi. Facing pressure from both the Earth Shinobi and Konoha, the Cloud Shinobi found themselves overextended and chose to withdraw. That same year, Senju Nawaki accidentally fell into a trap and died.

Konoha Year 37. Dan Katō fell in battle. Tsunade, one of the Sannin and a princess renowned for her Medical Ninjutsu, developed a fear of blood.

That same year, Yamanaka Tohru began refining Chakra, taking the first step on his path to becoming a powerhouse.

PS: Tsunade developing her fear of blood definitely happened during the Second War. Exactly when in the Second War is hard to say. My personal speculation is near its end. The Sannin rose to prominence during the Second War. It's certain that after stopping Hanzo in the Land of Rain, Tsunade went to the Land of Wind battlefield, because in the original story, Chiyo held a grudge over Tsunade cracking her poison. And Tsunade couldn't very well fight on the Land of Wind front while suffering from hemophobia. So I've set the date of Tsunade developing her fear of blood to the end of the Second War.