Konoha's Mission Master

Most importantly, he wanted to try his luck at becoming Tsunade's apprentice. This was the best way to rise to the top in one step, and from then on, he would be a true member of the Hokage lineage.

An hour later, Yakumo raised his hand.

Aoyama Reiko's icy gaze instantly locked onto Yakumo.

Are you planning to give up?

"No, quite the opposite... I'm done answering."

Yakumo gave a gentle smile that was as refreshing as a spring breeze. Some limelight had to be shown… after all, if you could latch onto Tsunade, it would be very secure and very rewarding.

"So fast...?" Aoyama Reiko took the test paper from Yakumo with a puzzled look.

"You stay where you are, and I will review your papers on the spot."

Yakumo sat down again and closed his eyes to rest. He could already predict the result... a perfect score.

Ten minutes later, Aoyama Reiko looked up in shock, her eyes filled with excitement as she gazed at Yakumo.

"Rumiko, you'll be in charge of the upcoming exams."

Reiko Aoyama gestured to Yakumo to follow. Since it wasn't wartime, the two-meter-wide corridor of Konoha Hospital seemed incredibly empty, with only the footsteps of Reiko Aoyama and Yakumo remaining.

Yakumo kept rehearsing the possible tests that might come next in his mind. He didn't believe that a perfect score on the first test was enough for him to become Tsunade's apprentice.

"Is your memory very good?" Aoyama Reiko, who was walking ahead, suddenly asked.

"Photographic memory..."

"What about their combat capabilities?"

"Average level in the class." Yakumo scratched his head and answered somewhat embarrassedly. Aoyama Reiko, who was walking ahead, sensed with a little effort that the amount of chakra in the child's body had not yet reached the level of a genin.

"Lady Tsunade plans to travel the ninja world, but the Hokage hopes that she can find a successor to inherit her medical skills before leaving Konoha. However, Lady Tsunade refused. In the end, the two negotiated, and Lady Tsunade will choose a successor but will only teach for two months... After two months, she will leave Konoha," Reiko Aoyama continued.

In the original work, Tsunade did indeed embark on a lucrative journey through the ninja world shortly after World War II, landing on the blacklists of countless casinos. In the end, to escape her debts, she had no choice but to return and inherit the position of Hokage.

This test felt more like being forced into it...

"So what about the second test?" Yakumo asked cautiously, without a doubt that he was the most likely person to become that duck.

"Once the first item is scored perfectly, the second test becomes irrelevant." These eight test questions were designed by Reiko Aoyama herself, and even without consulting any materials, she couldn't achieve a perfect score. In other words, she was inferior to Yakumo in terms of basic medical theoretical knowledge.

"We've arrived. Remember to be respectful in front of Lady Tsunade later," Aoyama Reiko whispered to Yakumo.

The door was marked with the words "Silence" and "Knock before entering".

There was another label that said...

"Dean's Office."

"Mmm-hmm." Yakumo's face was full of excitement.

What's the difference between this and instant success? As long as he becomes Tsunade's apprentice, he'll be the grand-apprentice of the Third Hokage. As long as he behaves himself, who in Konoha would dare to mess with him?

Under the protection of Tsunade and the Third Hokage, he could develop and grow stronger in peace, until... he amazed everyone.

"Thump...thump...thump".

The knocking echoed in the empty corridor.

A dozen seconds later...

There was no response from inside the house…

"Knock knock knock... Lady Tsunade, I'm coming right in."

Reiko Aoyama asked for instructions very respectfully.

A few seconds later, seeing that there was still no response from inside the house…

Reiko Aoyama reached out and grasped the doorknob.

With a click, Reiko Aoyama opened the door, but she didn't go in. She seemed to see something incredibly terrifying and froze on the spot. Yakumo took half a step forward and saw through the gap between Reiko Aoyama and the door...

The dean's office was completely empty!

Master, you ran away before we even met!

"I'm in Konoha, and Tsunade just stood me up."

"I have mixed feelings!"

Chapter 27 Meeting the Third Generation

There's no doubt Tsunade has already run away, using negotiations to keep the Third Hokage calm while secretly leaving without hesitation...

Perhaps "escape" would be a more accurate description... Every day she spent in the hospital increased the likelihood of her hemophobia being exposed, and she was no longer suited to be a doctor.

Holding the letter left by Tsunade, Aoyama Reiko's expression turned somewhat grim. A terrifying pressure of chakra flashed by, revealing the unease in her heart... She hadn't expected that this voluptuous and outstanding doctor was also a powerful ninja.

"Lady Tsunade... has left Konoha, but she has taken you as her student and asked me to teach you. Please wait here... I will go and report to the Third Hokage."

Reiko Aoyama opened the window and used Body Flicker Technique to leave. Yakumo closed the window and sat quietly on the sofa facing the desk, not daring to make the slightest move.

What if this is part of the test?

If nothing unexpected happens, I will become Tsunade's nominal apprentice. Is this compensation for standing me up?

This doesn't seem too bad.

At this moment, the Hokage's office was in an uproar. Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the letter left by Tsunade and his expression changed repeatedly.

In the end, he did not order Tsunade to be brought back, but instead sighed with heartache, "She has indeed suffered too much these years. It would be good for her to travel and change her mood."

"Ii Yakumo..."

As Hiruzen Sarutobi uttered the name, he immediately recalled everything about Yakumo. He had sent his ANBU to investigate when Yakumo and Kushina Uzumaki made contact... He admired him greatly... It's just a pity that he wasn't talented enough and therefore worthless.

Now he's showing a talent for medicine...

He's quite a promising talent.

"Aoyama, go and bring Yakumo here. I want to see this medical genius of Konoha with my own eyes."

"Yes, ma'am." Aoyama Reiko vanished in an instant.

"Go and summon Orochimaru and Jiraiya."

In a corner of the office, the figure of an undercover agent appeared and also used the Body Flicker Technique to leave.

Reiko Aoyama approached Yakumo and told him that the Third Hokage wanted to see him, and Yakumo immediately put on his persona.

"Really? The Third Hokage wants to see me...? This surprise is too sudden! Quick, let's go..."

Reiko Aoyama was slightly taken aback. She had always thought that Yakumo had a rational and stable personality, but the surprise and trepidation on the boy's face did not seem fake.

"You admire the Third Generation Lord very much?"

"That's right... my favorite ninja is the Third Hokage. He's my idol, the goal I strive to achieve, and he taught me how to understand the Will of Fire..."

"Okay, let's hurry up and go."

Reiko Aoyama slowed down her pace due to Yakumo's strength. By the time the two of them finally arrived at the Hokage's office, Jiraiya and Orochimaru had been waiting for a long time.

Jiraiya was sprawled out on the sofa in the office without any regard for his image, while Orochimaru sat upright with a very proper posture, his long, narrow golden eyes scrutinizing Yakumo with great interest.

"Third Hokage..." Yakumo stood there blankly, his eyes filled with excitement and a touch of nervousness.

"Yakumo, is it? Come forward and let this old man take a good look at you..." Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a kind smile and a wave of his hand.

"I...I'm coming..." Yakumo dashed to Hiruzen Sarutobi's desk, his expression becoming even more reserved.

“Not bad, you’re a good kid… You don’t need to be so reserved… Aside from being the Hokage… I’m just an ordinary old man,” Hiruzen Sarutobi continued.

"Tsunade was originally supposed to be in charge of teaching you about medicine, but she had to leave Konoha for some reason. So from now on, Aoyama Reiko will be your mentor... Don't let her young age fool you... she's already the vice director of Konoha Hospital."

“Aoki-neechan… I’m already so happy that you can personally teach me medicine…” Yakumo said in an extremely sincere tone.

"Although you will focus your studies on medicine in the future, you cannot give up learning ninjutsu. After all, you will need to have the ability to protect yourself when you go to the battlefield..." Hiruzen Sarutobi continued in a kind tone.

Before leaving, Tsunade asked Jiraiya and Orochimaru to instruct you in ninjutsu...

"Oh no... If I keep in contact with Orochimaru every day, my hidden strength will definitely be exposed."

"Huff huff..." Yakumo's mind was in turmoil.

"We need to...take the initiative..."

His refusal to train with Orochimaru would seem too abrupt, even revealing the secret of his strength. Unless Orochimaru willingly gives up…

"Third Hokage, really? I can learn ninjutsu from the legendary Sannin...?"

"Of course it's true... How could I lie to you?"

"But... Third Hokage, my talent in ninjutsu is extremely poor. It took me a month and a half to master my family's C-rank ninjutsu." Yakumo lowered his head and said with some shame.

Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly remembered that the Anbu had reported that Yakumo had been practicing C-rank ninjutsu for several nights in a row, but had made no progress.

"Teacher, I have something to do... so I'll be leaving now."

Orochimaru stood up from the sofa, spoke apologetically, and then left using the Body Flicker Technique.

Leaving means refusing.

"As expected... As a ninjutsu genius... the proud Orochimaru hates mediocre people the most, especially mediocre people in ninjutsu... In his opinion, teaching me is a waste of his precious time...?" Yakumo thought to himself.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's smile remained unchanged, but Yakumo could still sense a deeply hidden distance. After all, the core abilities of the medical system required exceptional ninjutsu talent to master…

"Then, old man, I'll take care of this child."

Jiraiya, who was slumped on the sofa, got up and patted Yakumo on the shoulder from behind.

"Alright then... I'll have to trouble you for a while." Hiruzen Sarutobi originally planned to have Orochimaru teach Yakumo, since Orochimaru was far superior to Jiraiya in terms of ninjutsu talent.

"Then I'll take him away first? He can go to the hospital to study this afternoon." Jiraiya turned to Aoyama Reiko and said.

“Okay, I have no objection,” Reiko Aoyama replied.

"Then, Third Hokage-sama... goodbye." Yakumo bowed respectfully and followed Jiraiya toward the door.

"Cough cough cough cough..." Suddenly, Hiruzen Sarutobi coughed violently.

Yakumo paused, then turned around.

He expressed his utmost sincere concern.