The Third Hokage's Interest

"Yamanaka Tohru and Hatake Kakashi?"

In the Hokage Office, Yamashiro Ginichi was reporting to the Third Hokage on the new students' performance at the Ninja Academy. The class Yamashiro Ginichi taught was an elite class. Half its students came from ninja clans, while the civilian students had all ranked near the top in the entrance examination.

"Yes, Lord Hokage! These two are the most gifted students I have ever taught. Yamanaka Tohru in particular could already use Water Release and Lightning Release ninjutsu at the age of five."

"With Sakumo's guidance, it isn't surprising that Kakashi has reached this level. As for Yamanaka Tohru, I will keep an eye on that child."

"Then, Lord Hokage, I'll be leaving now!"

"Mm, you've worked hard."

After Yamashiro Ginichi left, Sarutobi Hiruzen stood before the window of the Hokage Office. Yamanaka Tohru's talent reminded him of his own disciple and grand-disciple. Orochimaru had now become one of Konoha's pillars, while Namikaze Minato was also among the most outstanding Jonin.

"Yamanaka Tohru, huh?"

Yamanaka Tohru had no idea that Yamashiro Ginichi had already reported his performance to the Third Hokage. As usual, after school, he went home to refine Chakra and train his taijutsu.

"Tohru! Dinner!" Yamanaka Tohru, who had been practicing side kicks in the courtyard, stopped training.

"Brother Inoichi, is there anyone in the clan named Yamanaka Fu?"

"Yamanaka Fu? No."

"Then, Brother Inoichi, are there any clan ninja who were forced to join Root?"

"Yes. And I've opposed it more than once. I find Root's training methods and principles impossible to accept."

"Brother Inoichi, are there any other children in the clan besides me?"

"Yes, Yamanaka Jin. He's two years old and has just started learning the clan's secret techniques!"

Root would not choose the direct descendants of any clan. For that very reason, although the various clans were dissatisfied, they were unwilling to offend Danzo over collateral family members.

The Ino-Shika-Cho clans were different from the other clans. Their numbers were already small, and they had no distinction between main and branch families. Every child was immensely precious. However, the three clans together were still not enough to stand against Danzo.

Yamanaka Tohru did not know at what age Danzo would take Yamanaka Jin into Root, or even whether he would demand that Yamanaka Jin join Root at all. But as a member of the Yamanaka Clan, he had to prepare for the worst and ensure Yamanaka Jin's safety.

Yamanaka Tohru had no favorable impression of Danzo whatsoever. In his eyes, Danzo was merely a schemer who used his love for the village as a pretext, stopping at nothing to achieve his goal of becoming Hokage.

In his previous life, Yamanaka Tohru had often discussed Danzo with others. Danzo had not appeared on the night of the Nine-Tails, nor had he appeared during Orochimaru's Konoha Crush Plan. Danzo might have held some feelings for Konoha, but compared to his ambition of becoming Hokage, Konoha meant little.

If he wanted to protect Yamanaka Jin, the Yamanaka Clan would inevitably have to confront Danzo head-on. Danzo was the Hokage's advisor, commanded Root, which was no weaker than the Anbu, and was also a comrade of the Third Hokage. The Ino-Shika-Cho clans alone would likely find it difficult to contend with him.

Yamanaka Tohru also understood that no matter how much of a genius he appeared to be, he would have no voice among Konoha's upper ranks until he turned that talent into strength. To save Yamanaka Jin, he had to demonstrate enough value. Talent alone could never make the Third Hokage pressure Danzo.

The only method Yamanaka Tohru could think of now was his old profession from his previous life—medicine.

Standing on the shoulders of giants, Yamanaka Tohru was confident that he could combine the medical systems of two different worlds, improve upon them, or even create entirely new Medical Ninjutsu. Once his Medical Ninjutsu gained widespread recognition, his influence would naturally increase greatly.

Yamanaka Tohru did not ask Yamanaka Seiko to teach him Medical Ninjutsu. First, he needed to understand this world's medical system.

The best place to learn about the medical system was Konoha Hospital. The Konoha Library also had some relevant records.

"Mother, can you teach me the [Shadow Clone Technique]?" Having decided this, Yamanaka Tohru chose to bid farewell to the Ninja Academy. The Ninja Academy could not teach him much more, so a Shadow Clone could handle it for him. What Yamanaka Tohru needed was time—time to grow.

"[Shadow Clone Technique]? Why do you suddenly want to learn that?"

"Mother, I don't think the Ninja Academy can teach me much anymore. I'll let a Shadow Clone attend school for me! I want to go to the Konoha Library and understand this world."

Yamanaka Seiko had always known about Yamanaka Tohru's talent. Seeing this child, still with childishness on his face, declare so seriously that he wanted to understand the world made her feel as though her child had grown up.

"All right! I'll teach you the Shadow Clone Technique. Unlike the ordinary [Clone Technique], a Shadow Clone is a physical body just like the caster. The difficulty of the Shadow Clone Technique lies in Chakra control, because the original body's Chakra is divided equally among the clones. Shadow Clones can attack and use ninjutsu, but once struck by an enemy, they disappear. If you're using one to attend the Ninja Academy, make sure not to let anyone hit it."

Yamanaka Seiko explained the principles, advantages, and disadvantages of Shadow Clones in detail, then had Inoichi demonstrate it once. After several failures, Yamanaka Tohru successfully used the Shadow Clone Technique.

The next day, Yamanaka Tohru created a Shadow Clone and had it attend the Ninja Academy in his place, while his original body went to the Konoha Library.

"Eh? Something's off about this little guy!" After learning of Yamanaka Tohru's talent from Yamashiro Ginichi, Sarutobi Hiruzen had become very interested in the genius. Today, Sarutobi Hiruzen sacrificed his precious time patrolling Konoha's women's bathhouse to observe Yamanaka Tohru with the Telescopic Technique.

"So it's a Shadow Clone! Where's the little guy's original body?" Sarutobi Hiruzen searched through the crystal ball.

"Why is he at the Konoha Library?" Sarutobi Hiruzen aimed the crystal ball at the book Yamanaka Tohru was reading. "Medical Ninjutsu?"

"Who's there!" Yamanaka Tohru felt his hairs stand on end. He rose to his feet and looked around, but there was no one nearby.

"This little guy's senses are sharp!"

Yamanaka Tohru was certain no one was around. That left only one explanation—the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen!

That old pervert! Why isn't he peeping on the women's bathhouse? What does he want with me? Yamanaka Tohru did not dare show it, and could only continue pretending to search for the voyeur.

After pretending his search had yielded nothing, Yamanaka Tohru sat back down with a conflicted look and continued reading. The two remained locked in a silent standoff until Yamanaka Tohru could no longer feel that gaze.

"Whew! He finally left!" But what left Yamanaka Tohru speechless was that the "peeping tom" appeared right in front of him in broad daylight.

"Little guy, stop pretending! You sensed me, didn't you? Young people these days have no manners. They don't even know how to welcome an old man like me."

Yamanaka Tohru had no choice but to stand and say, "Greetings, Lord Hokage!"

"Little guy, I remember your name is Yamanaka Tohru, right? The Ninja Academy isn't on break today, is it?"

"Lord Hokage, my Shadow Clone is at the Ninja Academy." Since he could not avoid this, Yamanaka Tohru decided to take the opportunity to have the Third Hokage support his study of Medical Ninjutsu.

"Oh? Your Shadow Clone is at school, so what are you doing here?"

"Lord Hokage, I am teaching myself Medical Ninjutsu."

"Medical Ninjutsu? Why do you want to study Medical Ninjutsu?"

"Because if I learn Medical Ninjutsu, I'll be able to treat Konoha ninja injured in the war. Lord Hokage said that all Konoha ninja are family."

A sharp gleam flashed through Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes. His previously drowsy gaze suddenly turned serious as he looked Yamanaka Tohru in the eye.

"Hehe! I see! Then work hard! This old man thinks highly of you."

Sarutobi Hiruzen patted Yamanaka Tohru's head and left with a smile. The moment he was gone, Yamanaka Tohru slumped weakly into his chair, gasping for breath. Just a trace of the Ninja Hero's aura had been so terrifying. But recalling Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression as he left, Yamanaka Tohru knew he had made the right gamble.

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