After completing Uchiha Natsume's treatment, Reiki and his team departed, leaving behind the relieved Sand Ninja. For the first time, despite their injuries, they were grateful to avoid further encounters with Konoha's medical ninja. They had received more treatments in one night than ever before, and each had come with a different reason.
As the group traveled, Asuma's curiosity knew no bounds. He followed Reiki, peppering him with questions.
"Reiki, I've noticed that your mission skills improve every time you go out. I think I'm getting faster too."
"Reiki, will we run into another battle while chasing these rogue ninjas?"
"Reiki…"
By evening, the four reached the River Country border.
"Reiki…"
"How about we do some combat training?" Reiki interrupted Asuma before he could ask another question. "We have a mission in the River Country tomorrow, so let's train now."
"Alright!" Asuma replied eagerly.
…
Five minutes later, Asuma lay on the ground, twitching slightly. Reiki decided not to treat him immediately to allow for a moment of peace. Asuma's persistence could be overwhelming.
"Reiki, what's your take on this pursuit mission?" Morishita asked as he and Hyuga Oyo joined them, his expression serious.
"Kokusuke Chunin and Kishichi Jounin?" Reiki said, recalling their information. Both were deserters from the Second Ninja War who had betrayed their comrades for their own survival—Kokusuke fled the battlefield, abandoning his teammates, while Kishichi pushed his comrades toward the enemy and escaped alone. Such betrayal was unforgivable in the ninja world.
"Do you have any special intelligence or strategies for dealing with traitors, Morishita-sama?" Reiki asked, considering the mission carefully.
"Both of these men have ties to influential clans—Kokusuke to the Shimura clan and Kishichi to the Sarutobi clan. The reports of their betrayals came from their respective clans' witnesses. Would this change your perspective?" Morishita inquired.
"Accounts from our village's ninjas are generally more reliable than the words of defectors. In any situation involving betrayal, it's essential to trust our comrades first. However, if there's more to their stories, we'll find out once we confront them," Reiki answered confidently. "The mission itself remains unchanged."
Morishita nodded in approval, while Hyuga Oyo looked impressed. Reiki's response was thorough and aligned with standard protocols for handling traitors. It was an exemplary answer that even seasoned ninjas would commend.
"Very good, Reiki," Morishita praised. "Your sense of responsibility is commendable, making you a reliable ninja. For this mission, Hyuga Oyo and I will provide support. You and Asuma will handle most of the contact during the pursuit. Are you up for it?"
"No problem!" Reiki affirmed. "I'll treat Asuma now," he added, glancing at Asuma, who was still sprawled on the ground.
As Reiki knelt to heal Asuma, Morishita couldn't help but smile at the scene. This was the essence of youthful enthusiasm, an energy that was both invigorating and sincere.
…
The next morning, the team entered the River Country. According to their intelligence, Kokusuke and Kishichi were working as guards for a chamber of commerce and a casino. Many rogue and wandering ninjas sought such work to maintain a semblance of their old lives.
"Let's start with the casino," Reiki suggested, pointing to its location on the map.
"A casino? Are you sure we should go there?" Asuma asked hesitantly. They were just kids, after all.
"We're ninjas now. Let's move," Reiki said, leading the way.
Once inside, Reiki approached a table and turned to Asuma. "Hand me some money."
Asuma handed over 100,000 yen without question. Being the Hokage's son, he had no shortage of funds.
"Big," Reiki said confidently, placing a bet.
The dice rolled, and the dealer announced, "466, sixteen points. Big!"
Reiki kept betting, winning repeatedly until the initial 100,000 yen grew to over a million. His aggressive betting soon caught the attention of the casino's management.
"Are those kids really ninjas? And from Konoha?" the casino owner muttered, watching them closely. A seven-figure winning streak in minutes was unacceptable.
"Boss, they're just kids. Ninjas have sharper judgment than most people, so dice games give them an edge," an employee explained. "But… wait. Look who's over there," he whispered, pointing subtly at the table.
Kokusuke, sitting nearby, noticed the young ninjas and froze. He recognized Reiki from the front lines with Tsunade—a renowned medical prodigy and her personal disciple. And Asuma was Sarutobi Hiruzen's youngest son, an unmistakable Konoha combatant. Their presence could only mean one thing: a mission.
Kokusuke's heart raced as realization dawned. If these two were here, Konoha must already know his location.
>>>>>
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