"Hokage-sama, this is what happened—Tom has awakened the ability of Mu Dun on his own."
Inside the Hokage's office, Yamato knelt before the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, wearing his ANBU gear and reporting in a steady voice.
"Tom from the Uzumaki clan?" Hiruzen's expression sharpened. "Yamato, immediately escort Tom to the ANBU secret medical facility for a full physical evaluation. His current condition must be documented thoroughly."
The Third Hokage's pipe smoked slowly as he added with gravity, "This matter is now classified as SS-rank. It must not be leaked to anyone."
"Yes, sir!" Yamato responded and quickly turned to carry out the order.
The moment Yamato left, a shadow in the corner of the office stirred. From the dimness, Danzo Shimura stepped into the light.
"Danzo, are you certain that Tom is the boy who traded information with you?" Hiruzen asked without turning around.
Danzo's voice was firm. "Absolutely. That boy is the same one who brought me the Izanagi research report. You should hand him over to me. Only I can fully uncover the truth behind his Mu Dun awakening. Someone willing to deal with me at this age… may very well be the next Orochimaru. Don't make the same mistake again."
Hiruzen turned, eyes narrowed behind his glasses. His voice was cold.
"Danzo, I won't repeat my past mistakes. I let Orochimaru slip through our fingers. I won't let it happen again—and I will not hand Tom over to you."
As the Hokage's words landed, an overwhelming pressure filled the room. Even Danzo, who had faced countless life-and-death situations, was briefly stunned. In that moment, he once again felt the powerful presence of a true ninja hero—Konoha's Ninkyo, the embodiment of the Will of Fire.
Danzo clenched his jaw but said nothing. He turned to leave.
"Let's hope you're right this time," he muttered. "I'll keep watching him. If anything happens, I'll act accordingly."
The door closed behind him.
---
Meanwhile, deep beneath the village in the ANBU Underground Medical Facility, Tom was already undergoing a full physical examination. The place felt more like a secretive research lab than a hospital. Its halls were filled with a fusion of strange, chakra-based machinery and old-world techniques—an eerie blend of science and ninjutsu.
"Lord Tom, we need to collect a sample of your blood," said one of the attending medical-nin respectfully.
"Go ahead," Tom replied calmly.
He wasn't worried. The moment he'd awakened from the transplant, he had performed a self-diagnosis using both traditional medical ninjutsu and diagnostic techniques inspired by Eastern medicine from his past life. The results were fascinating. The transplanted Yamato cells, originally derived from Hashirama's DNA, had taken on unique characteristics. His body now hosted three different types of cells—his own, Hashirama's, and Yamato's—all functioning independently yet harmoniously.
For the next two months, Tom's missions were entirely suspended. He was relocated to the facility for continuous observation, chakra analysis, and ideological "reinforcement" by the Hokage's inner circle.
It felt like being half prisoner, half research subject.
But Tom didn't waste the opportunity.
During this time, he became acquainted with medical personnel from the Nara Clan, renowned for their wisdom and precision. And while some in his position might have felt restless or cornered, Tom found clarity.
This world, as dangerous as it was, had incredible entrepreneurial potential.
If hot pot had been his first breakthrough business (now flourishing thanks to his partnership with the Akimichi clan), his second project would be something truly unexpected in the world of shinobi: cosmetics.
During one quiet afternoon, Tom had sorted through his late mother's belongings. Among them were handwritten notes and small jars—remnants of homemade beauty creams she had crafted as a medical-nin. The formulas were primitive by his standards, but they sparked an idea.
In his previous life, cosmetics had been a booming industry. Why not bring that to the shinobi world?
When he shared his concept with a Nara clan medic, she immediately understood the potential. Her eyes sparkled—not with greed, but with the shrewd insight that the Nara were known for.
Under surveillance, Tom and the Nara medics held several discreet meetings. They refined the idea, and with permission, Tom was allowed to access certain medical equipment for "chakra-based healing experiments."
It was the perfect cover.
He extracted essential oils from 17 types of herbs, using different heat levels, solvents, and chakra-induced reactions. The mixture was carefully blended using medical ninjutsu to stabilize it, then enhanced with floral scents for fragrance.
And so, Yingxiang Ointment was born—a moisturizing and healing cream with cosmetic benefits. It would later become the cornerstone product of a full cosmetic line in the ninja world.
But Tom wasn't done.
He began experimenting with a more advanced idea: using wood-style chakra's regenerative properties to enhance medicinal formulas. His goal was to create something close to a panacea—a chakra-infused, fast-acting healing elixir capable of stabilizing severe injuries almost instantly.
With support from the Nara clan and the cutting-edge technology in the facility, he succeeded in creating a prototype: the Yangjing Pill.
Though not as powerful as mythical medicines that could revive the dead, it was a revolutionary advancement in modern shinobi medicine. It could rapidly accelerate healing from both internal and external wounds when used in conjunction with medical ninjutsu.
Unfortunately, the production costs were sky-high. The ingredients were rare, and the chakra manipulation needed for refinement was demanding.
Still, the scarcity only increased the pill's value.
Recognizing the importance of the discovery, Tom did something that shocked even the most skeptical members of the Third Hokage's circle:
He handed over the full research notes and production process to Hiruzen, free of charge.
"I don't want this to be monopolized," he said. "If it can save lives, then it should."
---
When the Third Hokage read through the carefully organized data and verified the formulation, he was speechless.
He looked out the window, sunlight pouring over the Hidden Leaf Village, and a warm smile crept onto his face.
This boy…
He's not another Orochimaru.
He carries the Will of Fire.
As he lit his pipe, Hiruzen made a silent vow:
He would protect this child's path, no matter what.