Chapter 174: Chapter 174: Suspicions in the Interrogation Department
After persuading Tsunade to leave the casino, Reiki gathered their purchased medicinal supplies and headed back to Konoha. With the high-level conflicts quiet for now, Reiki's life settled back into his usual rhythm of rigorous training and treating patients. A week passed uneventfully until, one afternoon, after treating his last patient, Reiki was approached by Shizune, who was holding a notebook and eager to learn.
"Brother Reiki, I'm curious. That last injury seemed straightforward—a simple stab wound. Why did you go through so many steps to treat it?"
Reiki smiled. "Shizune, that wound on Uncle Kang Jian's arm might look ordinary, but it carried a secret toxin. Not deadly, but if untreated, it would block his chakra pathways over time. Left unchecked, he might have lost his ability to be a ninja within a year."
Shizune's eyes widened. "A toxin… I noticed the wound looked normal, though."
"Exactly," Reiki continued. "But if you look closely, the tissue around the wound was showing subtle signs of necrosis. It's not always obvious, but experience helps."
Just then, a knock on the door interrupted them.
"Minister Yihe?" Reiki opened the door to find Yihe, who appeared unusually tense.
"Reiki, I came to ask if you'd come to the Interrogation Department to treat some ninjas. Their condition is severe, and they can't be moved here," Yihe said, concern in his voice.
Reiki nodded. "Of course. Shizune, can you hand in the task report and head home? I'll meet you there later."
Soon, Reiki and Yihe were on their way to the Interrogation Department. Yihe's silence and serious expression made Reiki suspect something was amiss. He was right. As they neared the dungeon, his senses were overwhelmed by the sharp scent of blood and the signs of serious injuries. Inside, the sight was grim—mutilated bodies, some belonging to the very members of the Interrogation Department. Many were already dead, while others clung to life in terrible states of suffering.
"Minister Yihe, these methods are extreme. Is there no less brutal way to conduct interrogations?" Reiki asked with a frown, trying to mask his horror.
"This wasn't my doing…" Yihe sighed. "I'll explain later. For now, do what you can for them."
Reiki immediately created shadow clones to assist in treating the injured, focusing on stabilizing them and preventing further deterioration. It was only by the following noon that he managed to finish, though the damage was severe. Even with his skills, complete recovery was beyond his capabilities for most of them.
Exhausted, Reiki finally sat down with Yihe in his office, ready for answers.
"Minister Yihe, what's going on here?" Reiki asked, his voice steady.
"These injured individuals were under interrogation, and most were caught attempting to infiltrate or spy on the village," Yihe explained. "Our department suffered severe losses when someone attacked to retrieve them. Seven special jonin were killed in this raid, but this wasn't an ordinary rescue attempt. Whoever attacked was very skilled. After killing our men, they mutilated the prisoners—cutting off limbs and taking… something."
Reiki's brow furrowed. "Do you suspect these individuals were spies from other villages?"
"That's one possibility," Yihe replied, "but it's unusual. They were interrogated thoroughly, yet it seems they were hiding something even we didn't uncover. Whoever broke in was willing to kill to ensure that information stayed hidden."
Reiki's mind raced, his instincts telling him that whatever was behind this attack might be connected to a larger plot. The complexity of Konoha's political landscape made this kind of danger ever-present, reminding him how crucial it was to keep honing his skills.
"Thank you, Minister Yihe," Reiki finally said, standing. "I'll be going now; I need some time to process this. If anything else comes up, please let me know."
As Reiki exited, his thoughts wandered to the various security forces within the village—the Hokage's ANBU, the Root Organization under Danzo, and the Uchiha clan's police force. This fragmented structure kept Konoha's security system diverse, but it also left gaps that someone had clearly exploited.
*Perhaps it's time I learn more about the Security Department,* he thought, though he quickly shifted his mind back to his training.
Later that day, back in the Interrogation Department, Yihe was debriefing with his young son, Morino Ibiki, who had been training hard and was excited to share his recent progress.
"Father, I've been practicing my illusions!" Ibiki said eagerly. "I've even mastered one that can make people speak the truth."
Yihe smiled proudly, knowing that his son was already developing a skillset that would make him a formidable interrogator in his own right.
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