Arriving at the temporary residence, Reiki was met with eager and uncertain faces. The children stared at him, some with wide eyes, recognizing him as one of their own—a boy who had once been part of their world, now transformed into something greater.
"You've all heard from Ma Chuan why I'm here, right?" Reiki began, addressing the group. "We are all descendants of Konoha's heroes. Flowing in our veins is the purest Will of Fire!"
---
Half an hour later, in the Hokage's office, Sarutobi Hiruzen held a report, a small smile playing on his lips.
"We are all descendants of heroes, and the blood of the pure Will of Fire flows in our bodies. So, Reiki said this?" Hiruzen read aloud, his eyes glinting with satisfaction.
So far, Reiki's actions had shown nothing alarming. His interactions with prominent clans had purely been in the capacity of a medical ninja, and he hadn't tried to gain influence. As for Tsunade's disciples—Uchiha Shisui and Reiki—they both embodied the Will of Fire. Nozuki Namikaze, Minato's sister, was untested, but Hiruzen was confident in her upbringing.
It appeared that his promotion of the Will of Fire was bearing fruit. Perhaps it was time to schedule another speech at the ninja academy—such messages could never be shared too often.
"Enough monitoring of Reiki for now," Hiruzen ordered, shifting in his chair. "And send a warning to Danzo. He is not to approach the orphanage without proper clearance. Any recruitment for Root must go through me first."
The ANBU operative nodded and disappeared into the shadows.
---
At the Root headquarters, Danzo's eyes narrowed as he listened to the ANBU report.
"The orphanage's children are now considered training assets under Hokage's protection? And I'm restricted from interfering?" His voice, usually emotionless, carried a hint of irritation.
The recent actions of Sarutobi Hiruzen had been increasingly perplexing. His decisions and attitude seemed to corner Danzo more and more, yet the Hokage had taken no direct steps against him or Root. It was as if the entire political landscape of Konoha was shifting under his feet, leaving him grasping at shadows.
"Hokage-sama's instructions," the ANBU agent confirmed, placing a document on the table before disappearing.
Danzo's eyes scanned the papers. "Reiki again!" he spat, anger contorting his features. This boy had a way of disrupting his plans. Coming from the orphanage, Reiki's rise and current influence made sense—he had a reason to uplift his old companions. But interfering with Danzo's objectives was another matter entirely. Still, with his current projects occupying him, direct action against Reiki would have to wait.
The orphanage, he decided, was something he would revisit in due time.
---
Back at the orphanage, Reiki noted with satisfaction that the ninjas who had been monitoring him had dispersed. His speech had worked. Years ago, during his genin exams, he'd penned pages praising the Third Hokage. Today, that same rhetoric had come in handy, allowing him to gain Hiruzen's favor and trust.
"Ma Chuan, distribute the supplies evenly among everyone. The next batch will be based on assessments," Reiki instructed. "Those who perform well will receive more resources. Everyone starts on the same line, but we'll grade by age."
"Yes, Brother Reiki!" Ma Chuan nodded as Reiki outlined the training and distribution process.
"Are these practice kunai?"
"Look, potions! Are we really allowed to use these?" one child gasped.
"This is a body-enhancing potion! They're so expensive!" another chimed in, awe in their voice.
The excitement in the room was palpable. Even the children who had initially doubted Reiki's motives now felt a surge of gratitude and pride. For too long, they'd felt neglected, forgotten by a village that preached unity but often overlooked them. Reiki's straightforward, decisive methods quickly won their respect.
"Here's your daily training schedule," Reiki announced, holding up a sheet. "I hope you all plan your futures wisely. Aimlessness doesn't belong to us. This village, protected by our parents and mentors, is our home. We are its rightful heirs. One day, you will all be strong, respected ninjas. Let's work hard for that future!"
"Let's do our best!" someone shouted.
"If you don't work hard, you're not a waste; you're just a fool!" another voice echoed, earning laughter from the group.
Reiki's smile widened. Now came the next phase of his plan.
"Everyone, to the training ground. Show me what you've got."
---
Ten minutes later, the children were sprawled on the ground, breathless and sweaty. Reiki had sparred with each of them, taking their training seriously but ensuring no one was hurt beyond minor injuries. His quick healing ensured that everyone recovered swiftly, gaining valuable treatment points in the process.
"Ma Chuan, Bell, Feng, Jian Zhang—you four are among the strongest here," Reiki said, pointing them out. "You'll act as team leaders. Coordinate the training, but remember: schoolwork comes first."
"Yes, Brother Reiki!" they replied, eyes gleaming with determination.
"Alright, let's have a second round of sparring. I want to see what you learned from our first match."
A chorus of groans mixed with laughter filled the air, and the children eagerly stepped forward for another chance to prove themselves.
Reiki knew when to push and when to pull back. After four or five practice rounds and some targeted sparring, he called an end to the training. Experience could be gained, but it was essential to balance training with recovery. As soon as someone showed signs of overexertion, Reiki stopped and praised their progress.
And the progress was visible. In a short time, Ma Chuan, Bell, Feng, and Jian Zhang showed the potential to become Genin-level fighters. Reiki felt a deep sense of satisfaction. This was only the beginning.
---
>>>>>
Up to Chapter 420 available on Patreon.com/c/GGFanfiction :)
Gimme power stonesssss
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