Early morning, on the road to school, a group of children chattered as they ran.
"Asuma-san hasn't been at school for days. They say Hokage-sama grounded him!"
"Really? But he's the Hokage's son!"
"Who knows? I heard he got into big trouble."
Reiki, on his morning jog, overheard the gossip. Finishing his warm-up lap, he arrived at the training ground where two familiar faces were already waiting.
"Obito! Guy!"
Might Guy and Uchiha Obito, who had been training with him recently, were ready and fired up.
"Hey, Reiki!" they greeted him, exchanging a look before charging straight at him. They had been sparring with Reiki for the past few days, trying to close the gap in skill.
"Reiki, we're not holding back today," said Guy, his eyes shining with determination as he launched into the Konoha taijutsu he had practiced tirelessly. Obito followed up, releasing a massive fireball.
They coordinated well this time, using Obito's fire jutsu to cut off Reiki's escape. But just as it seemed they had the upper hand, Reiki vanished.
*Boom!* An instant later, Reiki's fist connected with Obito before Obito could even react, while Reiki turned on Guy with equal precision. Despite Guy's strength and resilience, Reiki's use of shadow clones overwhelmed them both. After a few minutes, the two young shinobi lay on the ground, completely spent.
At that moment, a familiar voice called out, "Mind if I try too?"
Reiki looked up to see Kakashi Hatake watching him. This was the first time they'd crossed paths since their last battle.
"Give me a moment to heal these two," Reiki said, then placed a hand on each of his fallen friends. With a soft glow from both hands, their injuries healed quickly, leaving them feeling refreshed. Reiki felt a rush of energy too, his proficiency growing further with every healing.
"Thank you," said Obito, sitting up.
*Ding!* The system chimed in Reiki's mind: "Congratulations, host. Physical fitness improved." He stood, picking up his sword and nodding at Kakashi.
The two of them fell into combat without needing any further words. Reiki noticed immediately that Kakashi's swordsmanship had improved. But Reiki's technique had evolved as well, and he could see gaps in Kakashi's form. Swordsmanship demanded precision, and even a slight miscalculation could break one's flow.
"Kakashi, your grip is too tight. Don't force it—let the sword move with you," Reiki advised, parrying and redirecting Kakashi's strikes while correcting his stances and approaches.
After ten minutes, Kakashi, breathing hard, lowered his sword. "I lost," he admitted, bowing respectfully.
"Remember what I taught you. You have the skill, Kakashi, but you need to strengthen your endurance too. Proper training and nutrition are essential," Reiki said, offering advice like a seasoned teacher.
"I understand," Kakashi replied, getting ready to leave. But before he could go, Reiki held up a hand. "Wait. Since you lost, there's a fee."
"A fee?" Kakashi was puzzled, glancing at Obito and Guy. Both of them nodded knowingly, their expressions a mix of amusement and resignation.
"The fee is that you get a good beating, and then I heal you," Reiki explained matter-of-factly. "I am a medical ninja, after all."
Kakashi raised an eyebrow but agreed, thinking Reiki wouldn't go too hard. However, three minutes later, Kakashi lay bruised and sore on the ground, realizing Reiki hadn't held back at all. After treating him with the same careful healing, Reiki helped him up.
"You two knew about this, didn't you?" Kakashi asked Obito and Guy, who grinned.
"We're used to it by now," Obito replied. "After all, it's kind of like an advanced training method!"
Kakashi could only shake his head as he followed them toward the academy, still trying to process the strange training routine Reiki had put them through.
---
Meanwhile, Reiki and Shizune made their way to the hospital. Just as they were about to start rounds, Reiki's system pinged again: "Injured Minato Namikaze detected. Proceed to treat immediately."
Turning to Shizune, Reiki instructed, "Check the public ward first. See if any of yesterday's patients need follow-ups. I'll handle the advanced ward."
Ascending to the upper floors, Reiki noticed a red-haired woman standing outside one of the rooms, worry evident on her face. It was Kushina, Minato's fiancée. The sight confirmed his suspicion—Minato's room was just ahead.
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Gimme Power stones I'm Poor