Naruto: Hidden Hokage

"Whose pretty kid is this?" Tsunade asked with a teasing smile. "Is he yours, Nonō?"

As for Yorin's gaze, she didn't mind. After all, it was just a child. She wouldn't bother getting angry. If it were Jiraiya, though, she'd punch him without hesitation.

"He's Yorin, a child from the orphanage," Nonō Yakushi explained gently.

"Yorin?" Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "The same Yorin who defeated Asuma?"

Nonō looked at Yorin instinctively. While it wasn't widely known that Asuma was the Hokage's son, she hadn't expected such a young child to defeat him.

"I just got lucky," Yorin said with a humble smile.

(Asuma: Why must you hurt me like this?)

Nonō couldn't hide her surprise. Now she understood why Hiruzen Sarutobi had taken Yorin from Danzo Shimura's grasp. His talent was undeniable. However, she also felt a pang of concern. The better Yorin was, the less likely Danzo would let him go.

"So, what brings you to me with this little guy?" Tsunade asked, chuckling lightly.

"Yorin is your fan. He wanted to meet you," Nonō replied, gently patting his head.

"You're a Genjutsu user, yet you're my fan?" Tsunade asked, intrigued.

(I'm more of a ball fan, Yorin thought but knew better than to say it out loud.)

"I think medical ninjas are amazing. They save lives," Yorin said earnestly.

"Really?" Tsunade paused, a faint shadow crossing her face. "Studying medicine won't save the ninja world."

(You sound like the Sage of the Forest, Yorin thought, suppressing his urge to retort.)

"Anything else you'd like to say, kid?" Tsunade asked, stretching before preparing to leave. "I have a patient to see."

Yorin hesitated before shaking his head. What could he say? Bow down and call her Sensei on the spot? That would be out of place.

"Until next time, then," Tsunade said, waving as she left.

"Director, does Lady Tsunade perform surgeries herself?" Yorin asked, feigning curiosity.

"She does," Nonō replied with a nod. "But she doesn't handle minor injuries."

Yorin felt a spark of realization. This meant she wasn't afflicted by hemophobia.

In the original story, Tsunade developed her fear of blood after witnessing Dan's death. Since that event hadn't happened here, the timeline had diverged.

For Yorin, this was excellent news. If Tsunade remained in Konoha, he could win her attention by demonstrating a strong Yang Release talent. If she wandered aimlessly as in the original timeline, opportunities to connect would be scarce.

"Director, can you teach me medical ninjutsu?" Yorin asked, looking up at Nonō.

"Medical ninjutsu?" Nonō seemed surprised. "Is it because of your admiration for Tsunade?"

"No, I want to help others," Yorin replied sincerely. (And protect my own hide from Danzo, he thought.)

"Medical ninjutsu requires a strong foundation in theoretical knowledge before learning techniques," Nonō explained, pulling out a scroll. "But since you're so eager, let's give it a try."

(Bless you for being so kind, Yorin thought.)

The scroll, however, wasn't a medical textbook. Instead, it was a comprehensive list of medical books he would need to study.

"You can visit the Konoha Hospital library to read these or borrow a few at a time," Nonō said with a smile.

(This… this is just the entry-level requirement?)

"Thank you, Director!" Yorin said, forcing a smile, even as Tsunade's words echoed in his mind: Studying medicine won't save the ninja world.

After borrowing two beginner-level books, Yorin left the hospital, resigned to the overwhelming workload ahead.

Outside, Yorin decided to resume training for his E-Rank Talent: Swift Strides.

The requirement was straightforward: achieve the peak speed of a standard Genin. With his two weeks of running and the recovery boost from Sturdy Physique, he estimated he was close to success.

To find a suitable place, Yorin jogged northward until he arrived at Konoha's Fourth Training Ground.

There, he spotted a familiar figure—Kakashi Hatake. The boy wasn't training alone. He was sparring with an older, white-haired man wielding a tanto.

(That must be Sakumo Hatake.)

Sakumo, renowned as Konoha's White Fang, was even more famous than the Sannin at this time. However, in two or three years, he would tragically take his own life after a mission failure.

Yorin didn't want to interrupt them. Instead, he began running laps along the edges of the training ground, steadily increasing his pace.

(No matter what, I'll take every step forward. One day, I'll make my mark in this world.)