Chapter 204: A Long Day's Work
The steady scratching of pens against paper filled the room as Malik and Tsunade worked through another mountain of paperwork. Sunlight filtered through the window, casting long shadows on the documents spread across the Hokage's desk. Tsunade sighed heavily, leaning back in her chair and rubbing her temples.
"I swear, being stuck in a room with you every day is going to be the death of me," she grumbled, glaring at the latest stack of reports.
Malik smirked and rolled his eyes, setting his pen down. "You know, I could just leave and let you handle all of this on your own," he teased, standing up as if to make his exit.
Before he could take a step, Tsunade's voice hardened. "Sit. Back. Down," she ordered, her tone leaving no room for argument.
Malik chuckled and returned to his seat with a mischievous grin. "Always a pleasure working with you, Lady Hokage," he said, picking up his pen again.
As the two settled back into their tasks, Malik glanced over at Tsunade. "So, anything interesting happen while I was away? Aside from all the usual chaos, of course."
Tsunade sighed again, putting down her own pen. "Where do I even start? With Jiraiya still gone and no word on when he'll be back, Naruto's been training in the village any way he can. But you know that boy—he's as restless as ever. He came across some injured men from the village of Katabami Gold Mine while training in the woods. They told him about a gang terrorizing their village, so I sent Naruto and Team Guy on a mission to help out. I figured it would keep him busy and away from his obsession with finding Sasuke or Jiraiya."
Malik raised an eyebrow. "The Katabami Gold Mine? I've heard of that place. Did the mission go smoothly?"
"Smoothly?" Tsunade snorted. "Far from it. Turns out the gang was led by Raiga Kurosuki, a former member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. Naruto thought it was another chance to get a lead on Itachi or Kisame, and maybe find a clue about Sasuke. But when they got there, they found that the villagers were too terrified to even accept help. Raiga had a sick obsession with funerals—he was literally burying people alive for fun."
Malik's face darkened as he listened. "That's… disturbing, even for a rogue ninja. How did Naruto and the others manage to deal with him?"
"It wasn't easy," Tsunade replied. "Raiga had some minions, and one of them turned out to be Karashi, the son of an old acquaintance of Lee's. And Raiga himself was practically unstoppable, thanks to a young boy named Ranmaru who was using a unique dōjutsu to help him. Ranmaru could cast powerful genjutsu and amplify Raiga's techniques. It took Naruto separating Ranmaru from Raiga and using a Rasengan to finally take him down."
"But that wasn't the end of it," Tsunade continued, leaning forward in her chair. "While the team was taking shelter at a small restaurant run by Karashi's mother, Ranmaru went back to where Raiga was buried and used his chakra to revive him. Raiga, even more unhinged than before, tried to kill Naruto and the others using natural energy from a lightning storm. It all came to a head when Raiga chose to end things himself, committing suicide by electrocuting himself."
Malik's expression was somber. "That's rough. What happened to Ranmaru?"
"He survived, thanks to Tenten and the 'Curry of Life,' some ridiculously strong healing dish served at that restaurant. Ranmaru finally saw the futility of Raiga's path and chose to stay behind, helping out at the restaurant as an apprentice."
Tsunade picked up her pen again, twirling it absently between her fingers. "Naruto and the team brought back more than just a mission report, though. It was a reminder of what happens when people like Raiga get too far down the wrong path. And it seems like Naruto learned something important from it all."
Malik nodded thoughtfully. "Sounds like quite an ordeal. I'm glad the kid made it back in one piece." He turned his attention back to the paperwork in front of him. "Thanks for the update, Tsunade. It's good to know what's been going on while I've been dealing with my own problems."
Tsunade grunted. "Don't mention it. Now get back to work, and stop trying to find excuses to chat your way out of it."
Malik let out a soft chuckle as he picked up his pen once more. As much as he enjoyed hearing about the latest events, the endless paperwork wasn't going to fill itself out. The day wore on, but the atmosphere in the room felt a little lighter with the conversation behind them. Even if they had their share of disagreements, Malik and Tsunade made a surprisingly efficient team when it came to handling the Hidden Leaf Village's endless stream of tasks.
Before Malik could fully return to the paperwork, Tsunade cleared her throat and spoke up. "Shizune already gave me the report about what you did in Iwa, but I know you well enough by now. You're not one to stay put for too long."
Malik let out a soft chuckle as he set his fancy pen back down on the paper. "Well, you know how it is," he shrugged. "I've got to check up on my people, do some last-minute house cleaning, and maybe head over to Katabami Gold Mine in the Land of Rivers. I'm also thinking about swinging by the Curry of Life Shop to see what they're up to. Then, of course, I still need to prepare for a trip to the Hidden Sand Village and that up-and-coming Daimyō meeting."
Tsunade tapped her fingers on the desk. "I either already knew that or figured you'd do something like that anyway. But there's something else on your mind, isn't there?" She gave him a stern look. "You're planning on doing something stupid, and I'd like to know what it is."
Malik hesitated for a moment, which was unusual for him. That hesitation didn't go unnoticed by Tsunade, whose eyes narrowed as she asked more insistently, "What exactly are you planning, Malik?"
Taking a deep breath, Malik met her gaze. "Do you know what the Stone of Gelel is? Or the warlord named Haido?"
Tsunade's brow furrowed as she tried to recall the information but didn't respond right away. Malik took her silence as an invitation to explain further.
"The Stone of Gelel," Malik began, "is a powerful mineral that contains immense life energy. It was discovered centuries ago by the ancestors of a now-extinct—or maybe not-so-extinct—civilization. The stone grants incredible regenerative powers and can even halt the aging process. When embedded into a person's body, it allows them to manipulate Gelel energy in various ways, such as launching devastating energy blasts, casting powerful illusions, and transforming into monstrous forms." He paused, letting the gravity of his words sink in. "The entire deposit of Gelel is said to be capable of destroying half a continent, which is what sparked a long and bloody war over it."
"And then we have Haido," Malik continued. "He's a warlord with big dreams. Claims he wants to use the Stone of Gelel to create a peaceful utopia, but in reality, he plans on using its power to rule the world. He's ruthless, manipulative, and doesn't hesitate to eliminate anyone who stands in his way—even his own people."
Tsunade took a moment to process the information. "So, let me guess. You're planning to meet this Haido in person?"
Malik grinned and pointed at her with finger guns. "Bingo! That's exactly what I'm planning to do. I'm going to infiltrate his operation, gain the trust of Haido and his men, and then dismantle it from the inside."
Tsunade let out a long sigh and shook her head, pinching the bridge of her nose. "You know, you're either incredibly brave or incredibly foolish—probably both. Fine, go on and chase after this mad warlord. Just don't come crawling back here when it all goes sideways."
Malik gave a confident nod. "I'll keep you updated. Besides, when have my plans ever gone sideways?" He gave her a mischievous grin.
"Don't tempt fate," Tsunade replied, picking up her pen once more. "Now, if you're done trying to impress me with your reckless schemes, we still have a mountain of paperwork to finish."
With that, Malik got back to work, his thoughts already racing ahead to his upcoming mission. As much as he disliked being stuck indoors doing paperwork, he knew that soon enough, he'd be back out in the world, facing danger head-on.
===
Chapter 204: A Long Day's Work Part 3
Much later in the day, Malik found himself sitting with Tsunade and Shizune at the humble Curry of Life Shop, nestled near the Katabami Gold Mine in the Land of Rivers. The shop was small and warm, its rustic wood interior decorated with bits and pieces of local memorabilia. The comforting aroma of spices filled the air, a smell that immediately whetted Malik's appetite, though he could barely tell if it was lunch or dinner time by now.
Tsunade, on the other hand, was less enthusiastic. She folded her arms and grumbled, "You dragged us all the way out here for some legendary curry? You know, Malik, my time is valuable, and so is Shizune's."
Malik only chuckled in response, sharing an amused look with Shizune, who was quietly enjoying the novelty of their unusual outing. She gave him a warm smile as they waited for their food, making Tsunade roll her eyes.
Malik's gaze soon wandered to the back of the shop, where he spotted the elderly owner, Sanshō, cooking with steady expertise. Her silver hair framed her face beneath a beige hat, her thick glasses giving her an almost comical look as she chopped vegetables with deft precision. Her son, Karashi, moved between tables, taking orders with a natural ease that spoke of years spent in the kitchen.
A young boy approached their table to take their order. He had chin-length, soft purple hair and large red eyes that gave off a hint of intelligence and mystery. Malik recognized him right away as Ranmaru, the young boy who had once fought alongside the rogue ninja Raiga Kurosuki.
"Good afternoon, what can I get for you?" Ranmaru asked in a soft voice, looking at each of them with shy politeness.
Tsunade sighed, still looking slightly grumpy. Shizune, however, examined the menu thoughtfully, clearly taking her time to choose. Malik, on the other hand, was already certain of his order.
"There's only one thing I want here," Malik said with a grin. "Bring us a round of your famous Curry of Life."
As Ranmaru noted down the order, he met Malik's eyes, his gaze lingering for a second longer than necessary. It was a look of recognition, as if he understood that Malik knew about his past, his abilities, and the life he had chosen here with Sanshō. They both understood something unspoken; Ranmaru's silent wish to remain where he felt free and valued was clear.
As Ranmaru turned and left to prepare their food, Shizune noticed Malik's expression, one she recognized as both thoughtful and conflicted.
"Is everything alright, Malik?" she asked, placing a hand on his arm.
Malik gave her a reassuring smile, patting her hand. "Nothing at all, my love, just...thinking. I'm sorry for ordering for both of you, let me call him back that was rude of me . . ."
Tsunade sighed and shrugged, "It doesn't matter as long as you are paying and if the food is good,"
After a short wait, Ranmaru returned with three steaming bowls of the Curry of Life. The bright, spicy aroma filled the air, and Malik felt his stomach rumble in anticipation. He eagerly took a bite, savoring the intense heat and rich flavors that washed over his taste buds. Shizune tried hers as well, her face brightening as she enjoyed the unique spiciness. Tsunade, skeptical at first, took a small bite and quickly broke into a grin, admitting the curry lived up to its reputation.
Ranmaru watched them with a subtle smile as they enjoyed their meal. As he took a step back, Malik slipped a small book onto the table—a discreet way to leave Ranmaru his information and payment. The small gesture held an invitation of sorts, a way for Ranmaru to reach out if he ever wished for a different path in life.
As they left the shop, Malik gave one last glance at Ranmaru, who gave him a silent nod of understanding. He wasn't ready to leave his newfound family at the Curry of Life Shop just yet, but perhaps, one day, that little book would serve as a bridge to an unexpected future.