章 145: **Chapter 145: The Disappeared Kato Dan!**
After Nawaki's breathing stabilized, Tsunade's tense expression softened. Her heart was filled with relief—more than anything else, Nawaki's safety mattered to her.
"Sensei, where is that man?" Reiki asked, sitting nearby with a calm expression.
"He didn't return to the village. He's now classified as a rogue ninja," Tsunade replied. "That's the explanation the Third Hokage gave me."
Talking about Kato Dan clearly stirred something in Tsunade. Mentioning Sarutobi Hiruzen's handling of the matter brought a look of disappointment to her face. Perhaps, even now, Tsunade was beginning to lose faith in the village, sensing the politics at play in how the situation was managed.
"Sensei, what's next? Are you going to leave the village to pursue him?" Reiki asked, knowing that Tsunade wouldn't let this go. For her, leaving Kato Dan unchecked meant a potential threat to the lives of those she loved, especially Nawaki and Reiki himself. Kato's spiritual transformation technique was a rare and dangerous ability that few could defend against.
"Pursue him?" Tsunade took a sip of sake. "I applied, but they rejected it. The Third Hokage said he'd already assigned ninjas to track him down."
Hearing this, Reiki felt a pang of frustration. Sarutobi Hiruzen was indeed a shrewd man. The legacy left to him by the Second Hokage had suffered under his tenure. If not for Konoha's strong foundation, the village might already have fallen from prominence in the ninja world.
"Reiki, you should go get some rest," Tsunade said, placing her sake bottle aside and stirring her chakra, which dispelled the effects of the alcohol. Without another word, she vanished.
As Tsunade left, Reiki moved to the courtyard.
"Lord Morishita," he called softly.
In an instant, a figure materialized before him.
As expected, whenever Reiki returned to the village, Morishita was there to watch over him.
"Is there something you need to know?" Morishita asked in a low voice.
"This isn't the first time I've seen something like this," Reiki began. "The Hokage has his reasons, I'm sure. But does the village truly need to keep using Tsunade like this?"
Seeing Reiki nodding thoughtfully, Morishita shared his perspective. "The village needs Tsunade-sama now more than ever, and the Hokage has made his choice accordingly."
Reiki's lips curved in a slight smile. *Protecting the village?* he thought. *It sounds noble, but with each attempt to patch things up, they're slowly pushing the village toward a cage of its own making.* These were the decisions that would ultimately lead to the Third Great Ninja War.
"Lord Morishita, I need to know where Kato Dan is," Reiki said, his eyes steady with resolve.
Morishita's reply was brief. "I don't know." And with that, he disappeared.
Reiki's smile deepened. He knew what that meant. Kato Dan was still somewhere in the village. After all, if such a valuable piece were no longer useful, the Hokage would hardly let him wander freely.
With this in mind, Reiki left the yard.
…
Half an hour later, he arrived at the Interrogation Department.
"Reiki! I heard you made Chunin!" Igaoka greeted him warmly. "Interested in joining our interrogation team? I can get you a great position!"
With his new Chunin status, Reiki now had more options for village duties. Many would need to continue taking missions to build their reputation, but some, like him, could explore different paths.
"No, I'd rather stick with medical ninjutsu," Reiki replied, smiling. "But do you have any special interrogation cases lately? Maybe I can help."
"A few," Igaoka said, chuckling. "But enough about that—you've just been promoted! Since Tsunade-sama's too busy to celebrate, we'll do it here in the Interrogation Department."
Igaoka quickly arranged a small celebration. Reiki didn't turn down his kindness, accepting the friendly gesture.
When the meal was served, Igaoka made sure there was juice for Reiki—he was still only eight, after all.
"Are you sure you don't want to reconsider?" Igaoka asked. "Joining the interrogation team wouldn't interfere with your medical duties."
"Medical ninjas can still support the interrogation department, but for now, let's eat. I'm starving," Reiki replied, deflecting the conversation.
As the meal wrapped up, the other ninjas left, leaving only Igaoka, his assistant Ibiki, and Reiki at the table.
"Lord Igaoka, what would happen if I were to act against the village's decisions?" Reiki asked quietly, his tone calm.
"Going against the village?" Igaoka raised an eyebrow. "Let me guess—this is about Tsunade-sama, isn't it?"
At a subtle wave from Igaoka, Ibiki left, leaving them alone. He knew Reiki wasn't a typical child; his poise, skill, and remarkable interrogation techniques had long made Igaoka view him as an adult.
"Yes," Reiki replied. "I need information. You're one of the few I trust in the village, so I'm hoping you won't refuse me."
Igaoka's face tensed. He had the information Reiki wanted, but he also knew the weight of what he was asking. Sharing such intel could drive Reiki to act in defiance of the village. But withholding it…
"I can only tell you this much," Igaoka finally said, "there's no need to pursue him. You won't find him. I can't say more than that."
"Thank you, Lord Igaoka," Reiki said, standing. "If you ever need my help, I'll be there." And with that, he left the Interrogation Department.
"Ah…" Igaoka sighed heavily, watching Reiki's figure disappear. "I don't know if this was the right choice. The village... maybe…" He shook his head, lost in thought, before turning back to his duties in the Interrogation Department.
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