Soon, Reiki had Hyuga Tetsu stripped down and placed in the steaming medicinal bath Tsunade had prepared. Almost immediately, the water began to bubble and change, turning from murky to crystal clear as it absorbed the impurities from Tetsu's body.
"Faster than expected," Reiki muttered. Turning to Tsunade, he said, "Teacher, I'll handle it from here."
He pulled Tetsu from the bath, wrapped him in fresh clothes, and carefully placed him on the ground. Then, with practiced movements, he unfurled a scroll and activated a barrier around them.
"Tsunade-sama, will my son be alright?" Nobu, Tetsu's father, asked, his worry plain on his face. Though he trusted Reiki's abilities, he was still unnerved by the unusual circumstances.
"Tsunade-sama," Nobu said, nervously, "you're sure this is safe?"
"Reiki has this under control," Tsunade assured him calmly. "Return to the hospital and issue an assignment authorizing Reiki to complete this treatment here. Let everyone know he's working at your residence," she instructed.
Hyuga Nobu hesitated but nodded. "Understood, Lady Tsunade."
The word quickly reached Hyuga Baisen, the clan leader.
"What? You've allowed a medical ninja to treat a Hyuga privately?" Baisen's face darkened. "Retrieve Tetsu immediately. He must remain within the clan, intact, even if it means his death."
The Hyuga elders agreed and promptly made their way to Nobu's residence, where they found Tsunade seated calmly outside the barrier surrounding Reiki and Tetsu.
"Lady Tsunade," Baisen began, eyeing her with a mixture of respect and irritation.
"Oh, Hyuga Baisen," Tsunade replied with a thin smile. "What brings you here?"
Baisen's expression stiffened. He had hoped to retrieve Tetsu without causing a scene, but with Tsunade there, things were complicated. The Hyuga clan guarded their Byakugan fiercely, and allowing an outsider to access it in such a private manner was unthinkable. Still, he chose to be diplomatic.
"Tsunade-sama," he said, "as you know, our clan must protect the Byakugan's secrets. We're grateful for your disciple's assistance, but may we observe the procedure?"
"Reiki's barrier is there for a reason. Interfering could compromise his work," Tsunade replied firmly. "You'll have to wait here."
Baisen bit back his frustration. With Tsunade present, forcing entry would be unwise, so he reluctantly signaled for the clan members to remain on guard. They would have to wait.
Inside the barrier, Reiki worked meticulously. Tetsu's body was fragile, requiring constant mending as his Byakugan energy fluctuated. In just half an hour, Reiki had to repair Tetsu's chakra pathways six times, the stress evident in the sheen of sweat on his face.
The strain was taking its toll, yet each treatment pushed Reiki closer to understanding the cause of Tetsu's symptoms. Finally, after what felt like hours, a system notification appeared:
**[Ding, congratulations to the host. You have completed the initial treatment…]**
Relieved, Reiki realized he had gathered invaluable experience—and a clearer picture of the changes happening in Tetsu's Byakugan.
As night fell, Baisen grew anxious, unable to sit idly any longer. Just as he was about to voice his frustration, the barrier faded, and Reiki emerged, looking exhausted but triumphant.
"Reiki!" Tsunade rushed to his side, channeling some of her chakra into him. "How did it go?"
"No issues with his health, Teacher," Reiki said, catching his breath. "Tetsu's Byakugan was the main source of trouble, but it's stabilized now. He'll be fine after some rest."
"So, the treatment worked?" Tsunade asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Yes. The symptoms stemmed from what I suspect is a form of bloodline boundary disease affecting the Hyuga," Reiki explained. "While the Uchiha clan's Sharingan has its side effects, I hadn't expected the Byakugan to have something similar."
Tsunade nodded thoughtfully, while Baisen, overhearing this, turned pale. Bloodline disease among the Hyuga? If Reiki's findings were correct, it could change everything for the clan.
"Well then," Tsunade said, directing her gaze at Baisen. "We'll leave. Chief Hyuga, if there's anything further, please bring Tetsu to Reiki for follow-ups."
Baisen stammered, "Thank you, Lady Tsunade…"
But before he could continue, she had already disappeared with Reiki.
Left standing awkwardly, Baisen's mind spun with questions. He could no longer deny that the young medical ninja had uncovered a condition within the Byakugan itself. And as Nobu approached to check on his son, Baisen knew he would need to reconcile with both Reiki and Tsunade, for the sake of his clan's future.