Naruto: Hidden Hokage

"I... I'll be back!"

Asuma Sarutobi didn't know what else to say and eventually forced out a defiant statement.

He turned and left the field, feeling the weight of everyone's gazes. It was utterly uncomfortable.

Had it not been during class, he would have fled already.

Yorin couldn't help but chuckle.

Oh, Asuma, poor Asuma.

He had done it on purpose.

He didn't even need to think to know what Asuma had been practicing.

Since that was the case, he'd simply counter it.

Not only could he easily defeat Asuma, but he could also leave him feeling deeply unwilling to accept the outcome, ensuring there would be a next time.

A perfect plan.

"Are kunai really that useful?"

Rin Nohara's eyes sparkled.

"It's not that he's strong; it's because we Uchiha are strong," Obito Uchiha noticed her reaction and said, feeling a surge of urgency. "He's just using Uchiha techniques."

"Why haven't I seen you use them before?" Rin blinked and asked.

Rin, a ninja of civilian origin, had only ever interacted with Obito from the Uchiha clan.

"Uh... well... you see..."

Obito was instantly drenched in a cold sweat.

Seeing his reaction, Rin didn't press further. She simply assumed he was being competitive and spouting nonsense again.

Kakashi Hatake shook his head slightly.

Obito was half-right.

Using strings to control kunai was indeed one of the Uchiha clan's favorite techniques.

Thanks to their Sharingan, their dynamic vision was far superior to others, making such techniques easy for them.

However, Yorin didn't have a Sharingan.

This meant his mastery of ninja tool throwing was extremely high.

Even so, the fact that he hadn't used genjutsu was surprising.

Poor Asuma had been played like a fiddle.

For Kakashi, however, this was good news.

He had gathered useful information.

By the time of the final exams, he'd be prepared for Yorin's ninja tool throwing.

The moment the practical combat class ended, Asuma Sarutobi dashed out of the room.

He wanted to leave this land of heartbreak as quickly as possible.

With a loud bang, the sound startled Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was sitting on the sofa smoking.

What's going on?

Did Danzo slam the door again?

Turning his head, Hiruzen saw a crestfallen Asuma Sarutobi.

"Lost again?"

Hiruzen blurted out.

"..."

Asuma froze, feeling like he'd taken yet another critical hit.

I didn't even say anything yet, and you already assumed I lost?

Damn it!

I hate being a ninja!

Asuma rushed into his room and locked the door.

Sitting on the bed, he felt overwhelmed with gloom.

He wanted a cigarette.

Images of Hiruzen Sarutobi puffing clouds of smoke flashed through his mind.

In the living room, Hiruzen Sarutobi waited for a moment before receiving a detailed report of the sparring match between Asuma and Yorin from an Anbu ninja named Haru.

The content was so brief that he could hardly believe it.

Although Asuma wasn't a top-tier genius, he had ample resources at his disposal, making him no less capable than other talents.

Before this, Hiruzen had assumed that in the rematch, Yorin would lose.

After all, Asuma had undergone half a month of special training.

But after reviewing the match, Hiruzen was at ease.

It wasn't an unjust loss.

Yorin had completely grasped Asuma's mindset and used it to achieve an easy victory.

This kind of skill Hiruzen called combat intelligence.

Hiruzen couldn't help but think of Minato Namikaze.

Minato's combat intelligence was exceptionally high. Even against stronger opponents, he could hold his own.

"This is an unexpected gain," Hiruzen thought to himself, stroking his beard.

Yorin's performance satisfied him, but Asuma hadn't done poorly either.

Hiruzen had seen and appreciated Asuma's hard work over the past two weeks.

Effort could make up for shortcomings.

If Asuma maintained this diligence, he might eventually catch up.

Perhaps the Sarutobi clan could produce another Hokage.

"Asuma," Hiruzen called from outside the door, "do you know why you lost?"

After a few seconds, the door opened.

"Why?" Asuma asked stiffly.

"It's your combat experience," Hiruzen replied with a chuckle. "Simply countering genjutsu isn't enough."

"What should I do, then?" Asuma asked instinctively.

"Do you want to learn? I can teach you."

Raising his voice slightly, Hiruzen added, "I am the Hokage, you know!"

Time flew, and Saturday arrived.

Apart from attending classes, Yorin spent his time practicing Leaf Style Swordsmanship, reaching 30% proficiency.

However, today's task wasn't about swordsmanship but medicine.

After breakfast, Yorin leisurely made his way to Konoha Hospital.

"Yorin, you're here again!"

"You've grown taller! Let me see!"

"Have you eaten? Do you want to come to my room?"

Along the way, several nurses greeted him warmly.

Having visited Konoha Hospital many times to borrow books, Yorin had become well-acquainted with them.

His good looks and connection to Nonō Yakushi naturally made him popular.

Yorin had come to understand one thing deeply:

If you don't work hard, you'll become a toy for women.

Standing outside Nonō Yakushi's office, Yorin finally found some peace.

He raised his hand and knocked on the door.

"Come in," Nonō's voice called out.

"Dr..."

Yorin's words trailed off as he entered.

Sitting at the desk wasn't Nonō Yakushi but Tsunade.

"Long time no see, little one," Tsunade said, resting her chin on the back of her hand.

She leaned forward slightly, and the heavy weight she bore seemed to press against the desk, accentuating its outline.

"Tsunade-sama."

Yorin quickly greeted her.

"I heard from Nonō that you've been studying medical ninjutsu recently?" Tsunade asked with a smile.

"Yes, but I haven't made much progress," Yorin replied awkwardly.

"Reading alone won't cut it; you need practice."

Tsunade stood up. "Coincidentally, Nonō and I have a surgery to perform. You can observe."

"Alright!"

Yorin's eyes lit up as he agreed.

Practical experience leads to real knowledge.

Besides, getting closer to Tsunade was a win-win—winning twice, in fact.

Nonō Yakushi showed a hint of worry.

She was concerned that Yorin might not handle the bloody scene well.

"Let's go," Tsunade said as she walked out.

She was doing this as a favor to Nonō, going along with the flow.

How much Yorin could learn depended on him.

"Tsunade-sama, please, he's the only survivor," a blond-haired young man said as he approached the operating room.

"I'll do my best, Inoichi," Tsunade replied seriously.

Inoichi Yamanaka?

Yorin recalled that his ability to awaken memories of his past life and access the system was partly thanks to the Yamanaka clan's memory check.

But if even Inoichi and Tsunade were personally involved, the patient must be no ordinary case.

Following Nonō, Yorin entered the operating room.

The air was thick with the stench of blood.

He wrinkled his nose, feeling a wave of nausea.

To his surprise, the ninja on the operating table looked completely ordinary—just a mid-level chunin.