Since it was the weekend, Reiki and his team completed their morning training and headed to the training ground. However, Reiki quickly noticed there wouldn't be any actual combat training that day. Slightly disappointed, he turned to Kakashi, hoping for an explanation.
"Is there no combat training on weekends anymore?" Reiki asked.
Kakashi nodded. "They've been giving everyone time with their families on weekends."
As they chatted about missions and Reiki's latest experiences, he felt a sudden urge to return to the compound. Shizune's recent distress weighed on his mind, and he wanted to be sure she was safe.
---
Upon arriving back, he immediately noticed the open courtyard door—a stark contrast to Shizune's usual care to close it. The unease in his chest intensified as he caught sight of a familiar figure inside: Kato Dan, a man Reiki had no affection for, especially given his connection to Sarutobi Hiruzen and the pressure he placed on Tsunade.
"Shizune, let's go to the hospital!" Reiki called, putting on a cheerful tone as he entered the yard.
Seeing Kato Dan caught off guard, Reiki forced a smile. "Lord Dan, I didn't expect to see you here this early."
Dan's friendly expression didn't fool Reiki in the slightest. "I just came to check in on Shizune, make sure she's doing well," Dan replied with a smile.
"Well, Shizune and I have a busy day, so we'll be off," Reiki said, gently pulling her away. As they left, he glanced back to see Dan's confused expression.
Outside, Shizune looked down, clearly embarrassed. "Uncle Dan asked me to find out why Lady Tsunade has been avoiding him," she murmured.
"So he wanted you to help him reconcile with Tsunade?" Reiki asked, doing his best to keep the irritation out of his voice. Shizune nodded, uncomfortable.
"Listen, Shizune, that's between them. You shouldn't feel responsible. You're my junior sister, and that's all you need to worry about," he assured her. With a gentle smile, he led her to the hospital to help her unwind and focus on something productive.
As they began treating patients, Reiki used his "Blue Hand" technique to calm Shizune's nerves. By the afternoon, she looked visibly lighter and more at ease, the sadness in her eyes beginning to fade.
---
Later that day, a familiar voice called out, "Doctor Reiki, I'm here to trouble you again!" Turning, Reiki saw Namikaze Minato, Nozuki's older brother, smiling through his fatigue.
"Brother Minato! Another S-rank mission?"
"Just an A-rank," Minato replied with a chuckle. "But I ran into some tough opponents." He paused, noticing Reiki's curiosity. "By the way, Nozuki told me your recent mission was an A-rank too! First mission at that level? Tsunade-sama has a lot of faith in you."
"Speaking of missions," Minato continued as Reiki treated his injuries, "has Tsunade-sama mentioned an upcoming joint mission?"
"Joint mission? Against who?" Reiki's interest piqued; joint missions at such a fragile time were rare.
"The Land of Rain," Minato replied, his expression growing serious. "The mission starts in half a month."
Reiki's eyes narrowed at the mention of the Land of Rain. Hanzo, the Salamander, was still leading the Land of Rain, and Reiki knew from memory that the Akatsuki organization was beginning to rise there. Could this be the start of the chain of events that would lead to Pain's eventual rage against Konoha?
Minato, seeing Reiki deep in thought, added, "The Land of Rain's tricky. It's best not to act alone. Stick close to us if you can."
After Minato left, Reiki realized the true nature of the mission—this wasn't about suppressing a threat but creating a chance for Kato Dan to gain Tsunade's attention. Hiruzen Sarutobi seemed to be orchestrating this mission for Dan's benefit.
"If that's his plan, maybe it's time to take matters into my own hands," Reiki thought, his gaze hardening as he prepared for the difficult choices ahead.
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Gimme Power stones I'm Poor