With things as they were, Yihe knew he wouldn't be able to find Reiki anytime soon.
"Hokage-sama, I'll return to my duties. If I uncover anything, I'll report back."
With a respectful nod, Yihe departed, leaving Sarutobi Hiruzen to wrestle with his own concerns. First, there had been Tsunade's unresolved issues, which had drained much of his focus. Then Asuma had fallen into a coma, and just as he'd awakened, his health took another turn. Now, even Hiruzen himself wasn't feeling right, and the only one capable of handling the problem—Reiki—was still recovering. Hiruzen was deeply unsettled, waiting anxiously for Reiki to regain his strength.
Just then, an ANBU ninja approached and knelt, "Hokage-sama, Tsunade-sama has returned, along with Jiraiya-sama. Shall I ask Tsunade-sama to examine you?"
"Tsunade is back?" Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes brightened. "Good. I'll wait here for her. You and the medical ninjas may return to your duties."
The ANBU ninja hesitated, "But Hokage-sama, if you need Reiki's assistance—"
"I'll manage," Sarutobi Hiruzen reassured him.
At that moment, Reiki stepped out of the house, looking remarkably revitalized, with no trace of the exhaustion from before.
"Reiki, you—" Wu Zuo started in surprise, knowing well how depleted Reiki's condition had been. His swift recovery was startling.
"Wu Zuo, I'm really fine," Reiki assured him, driving his large sword into the ground in front of him as his chakra flared up. "If you'd like, check me again."
Wu Zuo approached Reiki, inspecting him thoroughly. Moments later, Wu Zuo's face paled with shock. Reiki's organs and meridians had been severely strained, yet he was standing before them, seemingly healthy.
"Master Wu Zuo, I don't want my teacher to find out about my condition. Could you help me keep this a secret?" Reiki whispered, glancing toward Tsunade's imminent arrival.
Wu Zuo frowned. "Reiki, you're serious? Your current condition is—"
"Please, Wu Zuo!" Reiki implored, holding Wu Zuo's hand with a desperate look. If Tsunade discovered he'd overused medications to expedite treatments, she'd undoubtedly be furious—and his ability to work freely would be restricted.
Wu Zuo sighed. "Alright. But promise me, after you recover fully, come to the hospital for a proper check-up."
"Of course! Thank you, Wu Zuo," Reiki replied with visible relief. He definitely wanted to avoid Tsunade's wrath.
With that, Wu Zuo called the other medical ninjas, and they quietly left the courtyard. Soon after, the ANBU followed suit, leaving only Reiki, Shizune, and Sarutobi Hiruzen in the courtyard.
In the afternoon, Tsunade and Jiraiya arrived.
Upon entering, Jiraiya was taken aback to see Sarutobi Hiruzen there. "Lord Hokage? What brings you here?" he asked, puzzled, since Hiruzen rarely visited the Senju quarters.
Before Hiruzen could explain, Reiki stepped forward. "Teacher, Hokage-sama's health needs attention. Could you examine him?"
Tsunade looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen, confused. If something was wrong with him, he had the entire medical department at his disposal. Why had he been waiting specifically for her?
"Tsunade," Hiruzen began, his expression turning serious, "the medical ninjas in the village couldn't detect anything. Only Reiki seems to have noticed. But now he needs to rest, so I need you to take a look."
Tsunade stepped forward, placing a hand on Hiruzen's as she began her assessment. "What exactly are you feeling, Hokage-sama? Any specific symptoms?"
"My body feels drained, my chest feels tight at times, and there's occasional dizziness," he explained, recounting recent events with Asuma and his suspicion that something was amiss.
Listening closely, Tsunade's brows furrowed. But after her examination, she was perplexed. The symptoms Hiruzen described were consistent with fatigue, nothing more.
"Hokage-sama, your health is indeed serious. I'll need time to determine the best course of action. Please return for now, and I'll come to you as soon as I have a treatment plan," Tsunade said with a calm tone.
"Very well. There's much I still need to handle in the village," Hiruzen replied, giving a nod before departing.
Once he left, Tsunade frowned, glancing at Reiki before heading into the living room. "Come in," she called.
Reiki felt Tsunade's penetrating gaze, knowing she wouldn't be easily misled. Jiraiya followed, curious, but as he stepped into the room, Tsunade promptly kicked him back out.
"What's gotten into her?" Jiraiya muttered, rubbing his sore side. Deciding not to push his luck, he left to "gather writing materials" at the Konoha bathhouse.
Once they were alone, Tsunade's expression turned icy as she looked at Shizune. "What has he been doing while I was away?" she demanded.
Shizune hesitated, glancing at Reiki before detailing the recent events.
When she finished, Tsunade seized Reiki's hand, using her medical expertise to assess his condition. Her expression turned grave as she realized the extent of his injuries. Reiki's internal organs and chakra pathways were showing severe signs of strain and overuse.
"Reiki, are you trying to kill yourself?" she asked sharply, her gaze unwavering.