After hearing Uchiha Mikoto's request, Reiki was momentarily stunned. She was asking him to name her child?
"Call him Itachi," Reiki said finally, choosing a name he felt embodied strength and insight. "Uchiha Itachi."
"A weasel?" Mikoto laughed softly. "Thank you, Reiki. You must be there when he's born!"
With a few more words exchanged, Reiki left to continue his work for the day.
---
Meanwhile, Sarutobi Hiruzen had received a report that caught his attention.
"Reiki... is he getting too close to the Uchiha?" Hiruzen mused, reviewing the ANBU report. "Did he attend an internal Uchiha meeting yesterday?"
The thought gave Hiruzen pause. Shisui, even as an Uchiha, couldn't have had enough influence to bring Reiki into a sensitive Uchiha gathering. But if Tsunade and the Uchiha were somehow aligning…
The notion made Hiruzen wary. If Tsunade's influence combined with Uchiha's strength, it could become a formidable barrier to his plans. He considered various options, but each one quickly proved problematic.
Namikaze Nozuki? She was on a mission with Minato, gaining strength and deeply committed to the Will of Fire. She was untouchable. Tsunade's younger brother, Nawaki? Any move against him could push Tsunade directly into Uchiha's arms, perhaps even against the village. And as for Reiki… Danzo's previous attempt to rein him in had nearly dismantled the Root organization.
"Better to speak with Tsunade directly," Hiruzen decided.
Soon, an ANBU summoned Tsunade, and she arrived quickly.
"Hokage-sama, what do you need from me?" Tsunade's voice was as cool as ever.
"Tsunade," Hiruzen began, "Reiki visited the Uchiha clan last night. According to our reports, he attended a core Uchiha meeting. Are you aware of this?"
"A core meeting?" Tsunade looked genuinely surprised. She knew Reiki had accompanied Shisui to the Uchiha compound, and even Morishita had mentioned it. But she had assumed it was simply to check on injured clan members.
"It seems you didn't know," Hiruzen continued, watching her closely. "Tsunade, there are certain things I'd prefer you avoid getting involved in. If Reiki acted on his own, I hope you'll caution him. The Uchiha situation is… delicate."
Before he could finish, Tsunade turned and left without another word. Watching her go, Hiruzen sighed. He knew Tsunade well enough to understand that her loyalty lay with her loved ones. She was still manageable for now, though.
---
Leaving the Hokage's office, Tsunade went straight to the hospital, where Reiki was examining ninjas who had returned from missions. Seeing her, he put down his gloves and came over.
"Teacher?"
"Finish up here," Tsunade replied calmly. "I'll be waiting for you in the office."
After finishing his rounds, Reiki joined Tsunade in her office, sitting down curiously. "Is there something urgent, Teacher?"
"Who told you to sit?" Tsunade's voice was sharp, and Reiki instantly jumped up, as if he'd sat on a spike.
Tsunade glanced at Shizune. "Shizune, go buy us some food. Ten large bowls of Ichiraku ramen, and get some yakiniku too."
Shizune glanced at Reiki with concern before heading out. Once the door closed, the room grew tense.
"Did you go to the Uchiha compound yesterday?" Tsunade asked after a deep breath, seemingly bracing herself for his response.
"Yes."
She exhaled slightly, relieved that he was honest. "So, what did the Uchiha clan discuss at their internal meeting?"
"Meeting?" Reiki looked puzzled. "I didn't attend any meeting. I just went, had some snacks, and left. Shisui went into the meeting, but he didn't share the details with me."
Tsunade explained Hiruzen's concerns, mentioning that ANBU had reported Reiki's visit as participation in a secret Uchiha gathering. Reiki listened, understanding her worry.
"It's a misunderstanding, Teacher. I wasn't involved in any meeting. However, it's not hard to guess what they discussed under the circumstances. Likely grievances over the village's delayed rescue and a demand for an explanation. And perhaps a few radicals expressing anger toward Konoha's leadership."
Tsunade studied Reiki's face. His relaxed smile eased her worry. Knowing his character, she felt reassured. He wasn't the type to involve himself in political strife, much less Uchiha's delicate situation. Reiki had always shown a commitment to medical ninjutsu, focusing on healing rather than entangling himself in power struggles.
"I believe you," Tsunade said, her gaze softening. "But be careful in the future. And Shisui… He's young and talented, but I'm worried he could be drawn into family matters that might lead him to do something… rash."
Reiki felt a surge of gratitude. This level of trust from Tsunade meant a lot to him. But he also understood her concerns about Shisui; the young Uchiha's kind heart and loyalty made him an easy target for those with an agenda.
>>>>>
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