"The prodigal son, upon returning, is worth more than gold"
"Asuma's nature isn't bad, rest assured, Sarutobi Sensei. The Flying Swallow that left home will eventually return to its nest."
Looking at the elderly man in front of him, who sighed and lamented, Yu could only speak softly to comfort him.
"Even a prodigal son will eventually return, and gold cannot replace it..."
Listening to the words spoken by the seven or eight-year-old Yu, Lord Third, with a face full of ancient wisdom, couldn't help but show a hint of amusement. "I really can't understand where you, kid, get so much philosophy..."
If it weren't for Yu's identity as a war orphan clearly registered in Konoha, Lord Third would almost think that the white-haired youth in front of him had his body possessed by some old monster's soul.
Not only could he think about issues like an adult, but he often said things that made people think deeply.
"By the way, do you have something important to discuss with me?"
After a brief chat, Lord Third returned to a serious expression, looking at Yu in front of him.
Normally, aside from training, Yu would never actively visit the Hokage's office unless there was something important.
"Well, during my time in the medical class..."
"I was idle and developed something like this..."
Yu nodded, getting straight to the point. He reached into the pocket of his white coat and pulled out a Medical Seal.
"What's this?"
Looking at the white paper that Yu placed on his desk, Lord Third couldn't help but furrow his brow. He knew Yu wouldn't give him an ordinary Explosive Tag without reason.
"Take a good look; this isn't an Explosive Tag..."
"But a Medical Seal I specially developed..."
Facing Lord Third's puzzled expression, Yu simply released a sharp thin thread from his hand, directly cutting his own skin. Blood instantly spilled onto the floor.
However, quickly, Yu applied the Medical Seal to his wound. A green medical Chakra enveloped it, and the small wound recovered instantly, leaving no trace behind. !
"Medical Seal?!"
Witnessing this scene before him, Lord Third's eyes widened, and his breathing involuntarily quickened. As the exceptionally knowledgeable Hokage of Konoha, Lord Third naturally recognized the value inherent in this item at a glance.
"How effective is the healing?"
Suppressing the excitement in his heart, Lord Third, with shining eyes, looked at Yu.
"It's decent... Though not as powerful as the Mystical Palm Jutsu, its effectiveness is comparable to standard healing techniques."
Watching the excited Lord Third before him, Yu nodded, a slight smile appearing on his lips.
"Can it be mass-produced?"
Snatching the Medical Seal from Yu's hand, Lord Third carefully examined the paper that looked very similar to a regular Explosive Tag.
"It can, but due to technical issues, currently, I can only produce this Medical Seal independently."
Yu affirmed Lord Third's question, but for now, he had no intention of sharing the production method of the Medical Seal.
After investing so much time and effort into developing this item—it was a trump card for him to infiltrate the power center of Konoha. There was no way he could easily give it away in the short term.
In the language of his previous life, this was his intellectual property and research achievement.
"This is fantastic! You're truly a genius!!"
After receiving Yu's affirmative response, Lord Third stood up directly from behind his desk.
The Medical Seal—undoubtedly, it was a groundbreaking research achievement. If it could be mass-produced, Lord Third could completely envision how the landscape of the ninja world might change because of this item.
"If there's nothing else... I'll head back now, Sarutobi Sensei."
Feeling the excited gaze from Lord Third, Yu rubbed his nose awkwardly.
He planned to return quickly and spend time producing a large batch of Medical Seals. In the current stage of the raging ninja world war, practical and convenient tools like the Medical Seal were undoubtedly in high demand.
"Hmm... You go on and attend to your tasks."
"This time, you've earned great merit for Konoha. Everyone won't mistreat you."
Lord Third nodded, waving his hand to signal him to go back, while his gaze was filled with boundless expectations.
...
As Yu exited the Hokage's office building, it was already evening, and the golden sunset bathed the streets of Konoha.
"Hey, did you hear..."
"That prodigy, Hatake Kakashi, was successfully promoted to Jonin yesterday!"
Walking along the road home, Yu overheard two Chunin from Konoha discussing.
"Ah! Of course, I heard!"
"Isn't he only twelve years old? And already a Jonin!"
Upon hearing this news, another Konoha Chunin looked astonished.
The name of the prodigy Hatake Kakashi was known to everyone in Konoha. Graduating from the Ninja Academy at the age of five, he held a record in Konoha that seemed unbreakable.
"These kids are getting more and more formidable... I heard there are even more impressive ones..."
"Lord Third Hokage took in a disciple just last year... That young boy named Yakushi Yu is only seven years old this year and already a Special Jonin. I really don't know who between them will be more formidable in the future."
Upon hearing his comrade mention Kakashi, the Chunin from earlier sighed.
Although not exactly of the same generation of ninjas, both were genius youths renowned in Konoha. In these two years, the increasingly famous Yu was often compared to Kakashi.
"Has Kakashi become a Jonin?"
"It seems like the battle at the Kannabi Bridge is about to break out... I need to pick up my pace as well..."
Hearing the conversation between the two Konoha Chunin on the roadside, Yu murmured thoughtfully to himself.
If events unfolded according to his memory, Iwagakure from the Land of Earth would send over a thousand ninjas to invade the border of the Land of Fire, crossing through the village of Grass Ninja. The yellow-flash, Minato Namikaze, would lead a three-person team with Kakashi in the rank of Jonin, heading to the Kannabi Bridge in the Grass Ninja village to cut off the enemy's reinforcement supply line.
This battle would completely alter the lives of Kakashi and Obito. In this conflict, Konoha would birth two heroes possessing Sharingan. It would also mark a turning point that would shape the entire world's future.
...
As time passed inexorably, and worldly affairs continued bringing ever-increasing complexity to the world.
Time turned, and with the arrival of the new spring in the 47th year of Konoha, as the initial snow melted, Yu added another year to his age.
During this period, aside from continuous daily training, Yu had been diligently crafting Medical Seals in his spare time.
After a large number of Medical Seals were deployed to the frontlines, the data on continuous casualties among Konoha ninjas drastically reduced. The convenient and practical Medical Seals undoubtedly injected a dose of vitality into Konoha's overall situation on the battlefield.
However, the long-brewing Third Great Ninja War, in its approaching conclusion, finally reached its last eruption of madness.
Accompanying reports from the frontlines were the news of Minato Namikaze, the yellow-flash, leading a successful assault on the Kannabi Bridge, severing the supply lines of the Land of Earth, and repelling the Iwa ninjas. Also, the news of the death of Uchiha Obito.
Finally, on this day, Yu received a hasty summons from Lord Third and the Konoha Elders.
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