Bab 309: **Chapter 309: Reiki Keeps Getting Beaten!**
In the courtyard, Nozuki busied herself with preparing a meal while Shisui stayed behind to keep an eye on Reiki.
"Nozuki shouldn't still be angry, right?" Reiki asked, casting a glance at Shisui.
"Uh…" Shisui hesitated. "I can't say for sure. But I do know you got off lighter than I did, so you might want to stay lying down for now."
Shisui's body tensed instinctively at the memory of Nozuki's fists. The unfairness of it all gnawed at him. One thing was certain—Reiki wasn't going to escape unscathed either.
"Is that so?" Reiki muttered, sighing as he lay back down. He had planned to use his medical jutsu to treat himself, but memories of Nozuki's temper—likely influenced by Tsunade and Kushina—made him reconsider. One wrong move and he'd be facing another round of beatings.
Soon after, Nozuki emerged from the kitchen carrying a tray of food. The sight of Reiki still lying on the ground made a vein on her forehead twitch.
"Shisui, has he just been lying there groaning?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes," Shisui replied, suppressing a smirk. "You should go easy on him. He's just recovered, after all. If you keep up like this, he'll end up with lasting injuries. We're partners, aren't we?"
Shisui's words were punctuated by him slowly backing away.
"Yeah, yeah. Nozuki, you're too harsh. We're partners, after all—"
*Wham!*
"Hey, Nozuki, what are you doing?! I'm not fully recovered yet—"
Reiki's protests were drowned out by his cries of pain as Nozuki's reprimand began again.
…
After the latest bout of discipline, Reiki decided it was wise not to pretend anymore. He shot Shisui a look that clearly said, *You did this on purpose.* After using some medical ninjutsu on himself, Reiki joined them at the table for their meal.
With Maitreya away performing blessing ceremonies for families in Fengcheng, the three companions had some quiet time to talk.
"Reiki, are we heading back to the village soon? We've been away for ages," Nozuki said seriously after the meal.
"Yeah, it's time," Reiki agreed. "By the way, has there been any news from the village while I was out?"
Shisui nodded, turning serious. "The village itself has been stable, but there's been a rise in conflicts in the wider ninja world."
"The ninja world? I thought everyone was focusing on developing their own villages now. Have things started to escalate?" Reiki's brow furrowed.
Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki had been on missions to reassure other villages of Konoha's stability and its full control over the tailed beasts. Under those circumstances, other villages shouldn't have been looking for trouble.
"It's true that most villages are developing," Shisui continued. "But resources needed for that development have created competition. Konoha's missions have surged, and our teams have encountered more rival ninjas during assignments. The bigger issue is that a lot of powerful shinobi from major villages have gone missing recently. It's making other villages anxious."
"Especially Kumogakure and Iwagakure," Nozuki added. "They've already had tensions between them, but now things are getting out of hand. Konoha's been sending captured enemy shinobi back, so there's no problem for us right now."
Reiki nodded, understanding Sarutobi Hiruzen's strategy. The Third Hokage's careful diplomacy was maintaining a balance that kept Konoha safe for now.
"Let's inform Lady Maitreya, then prepare to head back to the village," Reiki said. He retrieved a scroll and summoned a small slug with a puff of smoke.
"Master Slug, please inform Lady Tsunade that I've recovered and we're on our way back to the village."
The slug nodded and vanished to deliver the message.
The trio then found Maitreya, expressed their gratitude, and left Fengcheng. The mission that had taken far longer than expected, with Reiki's month-long coma being the biggest setback, was finally behind them.
Three days later, they reached Konoha.
**In Tsunade's Courtyard**
Reiki stood, nervously shifting his weight, while Nozuki and Shisui stood behind Tsunade, who was glowering at them.
When Reiki's message reached Tsunade, she had rushed back to the village and was now waiting for them, arms crossed and eyes blazing.
"Sensei, I—"
"It's good to know you're alive and that you realize your mistake. But why didn't you tell Nozuki and Shisui the full plan? Or even Sakumo, your team captain? Do you have any idea what you put them through?" Tsunade interrupted, her voice sharp with emotion.
"I know," Reiki said, head bowed. "But I also knew that if they were aware of the risks, they wouldn't have let me go through with it."
"So—Nozuki, hit him!"
Before Reiki could finish, Tsunade had given her blessing for another round of punishment. Nozuki didn't need to be told twice, and soon Reiki's yelps echoed through the courtyard.
Shisui watched with a mix of pity and relief. *At least this time, he's the one taking the brunt.*
"What are you smirking at?" Tsunade's voice snapped in Shisui's direction.
"Sensei, I wasn't—"
*Wham, wham, wham.*
Soon, Shisui was on the receiving end as well, joining Reiki on the ground as Nozuki and Tsunade finally relented and headed inside.
Naoshu, who had just returned, blinked in confusion at the scene of Shisui and Reiki sprawled out on the ground.
"Has my sister's training gotten this brutal?" he muttered, swallowing nervously. He had come to welcome Reiki back but thought better of it. "Maybe class is safer," he mumbled and quickly slipped away, deciding that school was the better option for now.
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