"I am old enough and I don't need a summoning animal who will outlive me." Hiruzen spoke with a smile while smoking. After taking the blood prints of Kakashi and Asuma, Ken nodded and proceeded downstairs to gather the necessary supplies. Kakashi actually decided to bring out his original summoning animal, Pakkun.
Needless to say, Pakkun felt betrayed after meeting his buddy, and he went into a barking frenzy against the cat. It was well-known that cats and dogs often fought, and in this instance, the fighting was warranted. Since Kakashi's Palico was a healer, it struggled mightily in battle against Pakkun.
Hiruzen and Asuma were watching Kakashi's attempts at mediation between the two and laughing to themselves.
"Kakashi, it looks like you've got a new issue on your hands.. Hehehe." Asuma said. Kakashi gave him the fish-eyed stare of death and simply summoned them back. Asuma was rubbing his Palico because he was overjoyed to finally have one of his own.
He and Kakashi had already agreed to start putting away more money from the next mission so that they could each have more Palicos. Aoto brought a plethora of items back with him. It started in the joints at first. The jelly beans arrived last, followed by chocolate frogs. Hiruzen and the others didn't understand, but they were intrigued.
After selling the joints, he showed them the frogs. At first, they didn't think anything of it, but when they saw the frogs leaping around and croaking, they got scared.
"Aoto, did you make this? But you don't have any techniques." Asuma had to know for sure.
"I know. However, I learned the fundamentals in education. It's unfortunate that I can only create one frog in a day because my chakra reserve is so low." Aoto stated in a deeply mournful voice.
"Aoto, if you don't mind can I check your chakra reserves?" Inquired Hiruzen. Any near or skilled sensory ninja could detect a person's remaining chakra reserves. However, touching the subject was necessary to ensure an exact measurement was taken. Aoto didn't mind and lifted his hand to Hiruzen.
Hiruzen was disheartened to learn that Aoto's remaining energy was practically nil. That a savant like him should have such a meager supply of chakra was deeply upsetting to him. Simply creating a frog that looked almost alive was a stroke of genius on his part.
"Aoto, I want you to join the ninja school so that you can learn ninjutsu. Continuous learning will help you maximize your chakra reserve." As Hiruzen put it.
"No. I am happy with my life. I am already helping Konoha with Palico and if I go away the people might not get access to these beasts. The three guests who had come only know me and they might not trust anyone." Aoto scoffed. Going to ninja school? To what end? Getting beaten up and bullied by classmates for being a dud. He rather loved his shop where he was a God.
"Are you sure?" When Hiruzen heard Aoto's reply, he was disappointed. Aoto nodded his head. Hiruzen kept staring down at the hopping frog in his palm. This was really a work of genius and he couldn't even sense the chakra used in making these dead frogs come to life.
The chocolate frog's momentary resuscitation was likely the result of an optimal Yin and Yang release. To call what Aoto just accomplished "genius" would be an understatement. While that was going on, Asuma took a mouthful.
"This is .. This is delicious."
"Of course it is. I will sell these frogs soon when I make multiple of these." Aoto spoke up.
"You want to sell these? Oh yes. These are chocolates. This will be a great attraction." Hiruzen did not need explanations. All of Aoto's concepts were fantastic, and his execution was even better.
"What are these jelly beans? They come to life too?" Kakashi questioned. They looked at Aoto strangely as he clumsily explained the beans. The difference between the two was night and day.
What was up with this kid? Curious, three of them took one in their mouth. All three were promptly spit out with the exception of Hiruzen.
"Fortunate me. I got a strawberry flavored."
"Yuck, I can't describe the flavor..."
"cough.. cough... Aoto I am not trying this again."
Hiruzen was pleased with himself when he saw that the other two had gotten the poor ones, but he didn't try his luck any further. He understood Aoto's motivation for selling. The children would enjoy this because it is similar to wagering. Everyone, including the elderly, would be able to experience it.
"Hokage, I will sell these in front of schools and playgrounds. I hope that is okay." Aoto said.
"Yes. No problem with that." Hiruzen's attention was still riveted on the amphibian. Simultaneously, he let out an internal exhale. God had given Aoto a great intellect but didn't give him an able body.
"Do you happen to have anything similar, Aoto?" Inquired Hiruzen.
"No. Not yet." Aoto said.
"Yet? You want to make something like this?" Hiruzen understood him and inquired.
"Hokage, I am now paying more attention to medical field and digital. Maybe someday if I am interested I will look into it."
"You mean you made this frog while not being interested in it?" Even Kakashi was startled by this. Aoto nodded his head.
"Damn!" Hs own genius seemed to be nothing in front of this kid.
"Medical?" Hiruzen was confused so Asuma spoke to him about the medical honey that he had sold.
"Do you have more things like that?" Inquired Hiruzen.
"No. I recently came across some of my father's old papers and am making an effort to decipher them. Maybe in a few days I will have to go to the hospital to talk to doctors about my doubts." Says Aoto.
Hiruzen looked bright and cheerful. This youngster was a prodigy in every respect. He didn't seem to know that he was a genius in yin and yang control which was rare to be found in a single person and now he knew about medical arts too.
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Read 15 chapters ahead on my p@treon.cm/thelightedghost