At noon, just as Hiruzen Sarutobi was preparing to take a short nap…
He was once again startled awake by an unexpected report.
Any thought of sleeping instantly vanished.
“Is what you’re saying true?”
“Aoba Hayashi really learned the Mystical Palm Technique in a single morning?”
Hiruzen’s eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets.
He felt as though the ANBU standing before him was making a joke.
Learning the Mystical Palm Technique in only half a day was unbelievable enough.
But more importantly…
The child was only five years old.
A five-year-old mastering the Mystical Palm Technique in half a day?
He understood every single word individually.
Yet somehow, when put together, they sounded completely unreal.
Even Tsunade hadn’t been this outrageous back then.
And just yesterday…
He had been thinking to himself:
“If only Aoba Hayashi possessed talent in medical ninjutsu…”
Then today, he received exactly that report.
Could someone be spying on my thoughts?
Danzo?
“Lord Third.”
“The report is completely accurate.”
“The one who personally taught Aoba Hayashi the Mystical Palm Technique was Skui.”
The ANBU answered honestly.
“Skui?”
“Then it’s probably true.”
Her name alone served as proof.
If someone were to ask who would eventually become Konoha’s leading authority on medical ninjutsu after Tsunade’s departure…
The answer would most likely be Skui.
At only fifteen years old…
Her extraordinary medical talent had already earned her the rank of Special Jonin.
Within just a few more years…
She would become both the director of Konoha Hospital and the head of Konoha’s Medical Division.
With someone like her personally guaranteeing Aoba’s talent…
There was no longer any doubt.
Aoba possessed enough potential to inherit Tsunade’s entire legacy of medical ninjutsu.
After all…
Although Tsunade remained Konoha’s greatest medical ninja…
Her psychological trauma prevented her abilities from being fully utilized.
If Aoba could inherit all of Tsunade’s techniques…
Then he would truly qualify as a future Hokage candidate.
“What an outstanding young hero…”
Hiruzen couldn’t help sighing in admiration.
He then took out paper and a brush, quickly writing several lines.
Once finished…
He sealed the document inside a scroll before handing it to the ANBU.
“Count this as a B-rank mission.”
“Find Tsunade.”
“And personally deliver this scroll to her.”
“Yes, sir!”
The ANBU respectfully accepted the scroll.
Hiruzen added several more instructions.
“Observe whether Tsunade intends to return to the village.”
“If she refuses…”
“Secretly contact her creditors.”
“Give them a little…
encouragement.”
He understood Tsunade’s current state.
Not only had she lost her will to return…
She also still harbored considerable resentment toward him, her former teacher.
She might very well assume he was deceiving her…
Ignore the letter completely…
And refuse to come back.
To ensure her return…
He had no choice but to resort to underhanded methods.
The ANBU hesitated.
Behind the mask…
His single visible eye showed obvious concern.
“Lord Third…”
“What if Lady Tsunade finds out?”
He was genuinely worried.
If his identity were exposed…
An enraged Tsunade might simply punch him into pieces.
“Don’t worry.”
“She isn’t unreasonable.”
“And if she’s going to settle accounts…”
“This old man will be the first one she comes after.”
“Also…”
“Once this mission is complete…”
“Arrange a meeting between Naruto and Aoba Hayashi.”
“I understand.”
In the end…
The ANBU accepted the assignment.
After all…
If the sky collapsed, someone taller would hold it up.
When delivering the scroll…
He could simply disguise himself with the Transformation Technique.
At lunchtime…
Only Hayashi and Aoba remained at home eating together.
Although Yugao had already become a Chunin…
She was still only fifteen years old.
After staying away from home all night, her parents were naturally worried.
So after returning from Konoha Hospital…
She had gone home first to reassure them.
“I never expected you to actually possess talent as a medical ninja.”
Although Hayashi wasn’t a medical ninja himself…
Back when he had led a genin squad, one of his teammates had specialized in medical ninjutsu.
He fully understood what mastering the Mystical Palm Technique in half a day actually meant.
Even without that experience…
He knew the Mystical Palm Technique was an A-rank medical ninjutsu.
He had never heard of anyone mastering an A-rank technique in only half a day.
“Maybe…”
“That’s just what being a genius is like.”
Although it was entirely thanks to his cheat…
Being able to show off so openly still made it impossible for Aoba to suppress the smile on his face.
He wasn’t particularly worried about attracting unwanted attention.
After all…
He possessed no secret techniques.
No unique bloodline limit.
Though merely a civilian…
He still had an elite Jonin uncle standing behind him.
And the talent he displayed happened to be in medical ninjutsu—
Hardly something people would view as threatening.
Who would bother targeting him over that?
“Don’t get carried away just yet.”
“Since your talent clearly lies in medical ninjutsu…”
“How do you plan to arrange your future training?”
A person’s time and energy were limited.
No one could excel equally in every field.
Aoba’s aptitude for medical ninjutsu was clearly far superior to everything else.
Perhaps…
His ninjutsu and taijutsu training should temporarily take a back seat.
Aoba, however, already had a plan.
“Big Sis Skui wants me to intern with her every morning.”
“I’ll learn other medical ninjutsu while also gaining practical experience.”
“As for the afternoons…”
“I’ll continue my normal training schedule.”
Hayashi frowned.
“Aoba.”
“People only have so much energy.”
“Are you sure trying to do both won’t become overwhelming?”
“Don’t worry.”
“I can handle it.”
Seeing Aoba’s confidence…
Hayashi finally nodded.
“If you’re certain…”
“I won’t interfere.”
“But if you ever find yourself unable to keep up…”
“You’ll need to prioritize.”
He knew Aoba was young…
But also exceptionally independent.
There was no point trying to persuade him further.
If genuine difficulties arose…
Aoba would make the necessary choices himself.
“Mhm.”
Aoba nodded several times before burying himself in his lunch.
He still had a commission to complete later.
Watching the boy enthusiastically devour his meal…
Hayashi suddenly had another idea.
Aoba’s talent is this extraordinary…
Perhaps I should request an audience with Lord Third.
Maybe…
He could become one of the Legendary Sannin—Princess Tsunade’s disciple.
After lunch…
Aoba tidied himself up before leaving the house.
He was going to “accidentally” run into Hinata.
As for where…
Naturally, the entrance to Ichiraku Ramen.
According to the Hyuga guard…
Hinata was coming specifically to find him.
Since she didn’t know where he lived…
There was a very high chance she’d first ask around at Ichiraku.
Walking through the streets…
Aoba continued thinking.
How exactly can I help Hinata change her personality?
After all…
Hiashi had paid him one hundred thousand ryō.
That was nearly equivalent to an A-rank mission.
If he merely spent half a day playing with her…
He wouldn’t feel comfortable accepting that money.
Meanwhile…
Hinata had also finished lunch.
After saying goodbye to her parents…
She immediately ran out of the Hyuga compound.
As she hurried through Konoha’s broad streets…
A strange feeling of freedom welled up inside her.
She had never felt this relaxed before.
Right now…
More than anything…
She wanted to see Shirakumo Aoba.
She felt that whenever she was with him…
She never had to hide anything.
Because…
He always understood exactly what she was thinking.
Just as he’d instantly realized she was still hungry that day.
The only problem was…
She had no idea where Aoba lived.
So she could only rely on her memory…
Searching for the ramen shop where they had first met.