Subsequent Effects

After Danzo left, an Anbu ninja handed a report to the Third Hokage.

The Third Hokage opened the report, his expression growing increasingly grave.

"Minato, take a look at this report." Namikaze Minato was Jiraiya's disciple, making him the Third Hokage's grand-disciple. He had held the front lines throughout the Second Shinobi War, and the Third Hokage trusted him greatly.

"Minato, this is a serious matter! Such a major problem has arisen within Konoha. As Hokage, I cannot escape blame."

Namikaze Minato accepted the report, opened it, and quickly skimmed through it. After finishing, he gave Yamanaka Tohru an odd look.

"Let the kid have a look too." The Third Hokage noticed Namikaze Minato's expression and told him to pass the report to Yamanaka Tohru.

Yamanaka Tohru took the report and read it. It stated that someone had broken into the Forest of Death and used a large-scale technique similar to a Tailed Beast Bomb, causing extensive damage to the forest.

After reading it, Yamanaka Tohru felt equally embarrassed. Looking for the culprit right in front of the two culprits—no wonder Namikaze Minato had that expression.

"Sigh! This unknown ninja invaded the village and used such a powerful ninjutsu within it. This is a provocation against Konoha!"

In Year 40 of Konoha, the Third Hokage was at the peak of his life and had a far hotter temper than he would in old age. Being provoked by another ninja village like this made him furious.

Yamanaka Tohru and Namikaze Minato exchanged meaningful looks. In the end, Yamanaka Tohru forced himself to step forward. "Um, Lord Hokage. The matter with the Forest of Death was probably, perhaps, maybe, possibly done by Brother Minato."

"What? Minato, that was your handiwork?" the Third Hokage asked, looking at the embarrassed Namikaze Minato beside him.

"Lord Hokage, I was testing an advanced technique based on the [Rasengan]: [Wind Style: Rasenshuriken]. I have a [Flying Thunder God] mark in the Forest of Death, so I entered without using the entrance."

Upon learning that the Forest of Death incident was not a provocation from another village and that no spies had infiltrated Konoha, the Third Hokage breathed a sigh of relief.

"Minato! Even when testing ninjutsu, you can't make such a huge commotion. The [Rasengan] is the technique you just handed over to the village, right?"

"Yes, Lord Hokage. This technique adds nature transformation to the [Rasengan]. Yamanaka Tohru and I developed it together."

Yamanaka Tohru, who had been watching the show from the side, was suddenly mentioned by Namikaze Minato. He hurriedly said that he had little to do with it and that Namikaze Minato had developed it for the most part.

"You two actually caused such a huge disturbance. Fine, this old man will settle it for you this time. Don't let there be a next time."

Hearing the Third Hokage's words, the two of them sighed in relief.

"Minato, take me to the Forest of Death. I want to see your technique with my own eyes."

"Yes, Lord Hokage."

On the other side of the Forest of Death, the scene was reenacted. Namikaze Minato used the Rasenshuriken and blasted another huge hole into that side of the forest.

The Third Hokage fell silent after witnessing the Rasenshuriken's power. Once the Anbu ninja lying in ambush around them arrived, he declared the matter a Konoha S-rank secret. Other than the Hokage, no one had the right to inquire into it.

After returning to the office, the Third Hokage smiled at the two of them. He had always known about Namikaze Minato's talent.

At the age of ten, he had graduated from the Ninja Academy with the strength of a Special Jonin. After learning the [Flying Thunder God] and being tempered on the battlefields of the Second Shinobi War, he had reached Kage-level at only sixteen. Now, he had developed a super S-rank ninjutsu like the Rasenshuriken. Namikaze Minato had already grown into a pillar of Konoha.

As for Yamanaka Tohru, he had displayed talent as a Medical Ninja from a young age. After Tsunade left Konoha due to her hemophobia, Yamanaka Tohru had suddenly risen to prominence.

At the age of five, Yamanaka Tohru had saved Hatake Sakumo with his exceptional surgical skills. Over the following two years, he had treated nearly a hundred jonin at Konoha Hospital, earning Medical Ninja recognition from all of Konoha's ninjas.

The Third Hokage had originally believed that Yamanaka Tohru's talent lay primarily in being a Medical Ninja. However, a little over a month ago, Yamanaka Tohru had applied to graduate early and defeated Uchiha Mitsuru, an elite chunin with a Two-Tomoe Sharingan. The Third Hokage had high hopes for Yamanaka Tohru's future.

Today, Yamanaka Tohru had helped Namikaze Minato develop the [Rasengan] and Rasenshuriken. The Third Hokage was certain that, as long as Yamanaka Tohru did not die young, he would become another Kage-level powerhouse like Tsunade—someone capable of both fighting and healing. The only pity was that Yamanaka Tohru did not have a medical-type Summoning Beast like the slug.

Yamanaka Tohru had no idea that his talent and worth had gained the Third Hokage's approval. Right now, he only felt uncomfortable all over under the Third Hokage's stare.

"Lord Hokage, if there's nothing else, I'll head back first. Sister Kushina is still waiting for me!" Yamanaka Tohru finally said, unable to endure it any longer.

"Mm, you two may both leave."

The village had gained two A-rank techniques, and the Forest of Death matter had been resolved. The Third Hokage also had to deal with the aftermath.

After bidding the Hokage farewell, the two left. Namikaze Minato used the [Flying Thunder God] to bring Yamanaka Tohru back to the Third Training Ground.

Yamanaka Tohru did not know that, shortly after the two left, Danzo came to the Hokage Office again.

"Hiruzen, what's going on with the Yamanaka Clan? When Root was established, didn't you promise that I could choose people freely from every clan?"

"Yamanaka Tohru exchanged two A-rank techniques for the Yamanaka Clan to no longer join Root."

"Root is Konoha's darkness, its people silently dedicating themselves to Konoha. Isn't the Yamanaka Clan also one of Konoha's clans? Hiruzen, you're indulging Yamanaka Tohru too much. If you handed him over to me—"

"Enough, Danzo!"

The Third Hokage's aura erupted. Without the Sharingan or First Generation Cells—and with one arm severed by Hatake Sakumo—Danzo was at most an Elite Jonin. The Third Hokage, meanwhile, stood at the peak of Kage-level. His aura alone rendered Danzo unable to move.

"Danzo, remember that I am the Hokage." With that, the Third Hokage withdrew his aura and ignored Danzo.

The Third Hokage's attitude caught Danzo completely off guard, while the Third Hokage's strength left him no choice but to submit.

"I understand. From now on, Root will no longer select people from the Yamanaka Clan." Danzo agreed with a gloomy expression.

The Third Hokage nodded and had Danzo leave.

The next day, at the Third Training Ground, Yamanaka Tohru began studying Sealing Jutsu.

The first Sealing Jutsu Kushina taught him was the [Fire Sealing Method].

The [Fire Sealing Method] was not complicated, but it was very practical. In the original story, Jiraiya had used this simple Sealing Jutsu to seal Uchiha Itachi's Amaterasu.

Yamanaka Tohru did not have Uzumaki Clan blood, so his talent for Sealing Jutsu was average. It took him an entire day before he succeeded with the [Fire Sealing Method] once.

By the time Yamanaka Tohru left the Third Training Ground, it was already night.

To return from the Third Training Ground to the Yamanaka Clan compound, he had to pass a Hot Spring Inn. As usual, Yamanaka Tohru passed by the inn, only to discover an unusual sight.

A white-haired man lay sprawled on the roof of the Hot Spring Inn, lifting a roof tile with a lecherous expression on his face.

Under Yamanaka Tohru's perception, every movement the white-haired man made was crystal clear.

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