That evening, Minato and Kushina visited the Uchiha clan. News of the visit, brought by Shisui, left Reiki with a satisfied smile. The Third Hokage's plan to sow discord was proceeding, but with an oversight—Minato's straightforward and open nature.
Minato's exceptional abilities in mission analysis and execution were unmatched, but he lacked experience with the subtleties of village politics. This was why Uchiha Fugaku had been so surprised by Minato's response. Most would show at least some resentment toward being watched, but Minato had shown none.
---
In the training yard, Reiki was sparring with Shisui. The two paused when they noticed Tsunade approaching. Shisui stood up to greet her.
"Shisui, how are your eyes now?" Reiki asked.
"Three Tomoe," Shisui replied calmly. He had awakened his Sharingan when a teammate died, a memory he mentioned with a composed demeanor.
Reiki nodded. "So it's at the three-tomoe stage now. Let's check again when Obito and the others return from their mission. I want to see if there are any differences in how your Sharingan develops."
"Alright," Shisui said, though his eyes held a weariness. "By the way, Reiki, you should be careful. There's talk that some people might target you."
Reiki raised an eyebrow. "Really? Well, no fighting for today then. Let's take a break."
Shisui sighed with relief. Reiki's relentless push for training was known to tire even the most diligent shinobi. At eight years old, Reiki was already at the jounin level and had techniques that could challenge high-level opponents. For Shisui, fighting Reiki always meant being on the receiving end.
"Yeah, thanks," Shisui muttered and sat down.
"Oh, and Shisui, you should talk to the Hokage if the Root approaches you again. Staying passive might make things difficult for you," Reiki advised.
Shisui's expression darkened at the mention of Root. "I already told Danzo I'm not interested. I don't want anything to do with them."
Reiki's eyes narrowed. "Good. But keep your guard up."
---
Five days later, Minato and his team set off on their mission, leaving Reiki to his routine of training, helping at the hospital and orphanage, refining chakra, and concocting potions. A month passed in this quiet cycle.
One day, during a sparring session in the training grounds, Hatake Sakumo watched as Reiki unleashed powerful Fire and Lightning Release techniques.
"Reiki, with skills like yours, why stick to being a medical ninja?" Sakumo asked, impressed. "You could be a formidable combat ninja. Your swordsmanship is nearly at my level."
Reiki smiled modestly. "No, Uncle Sakumo, I still prefer being a medical ninja. All these techniques are just tools to help me become the best one."
Sakumo chuckled, then his expression turned somber. "To be honest, I haven't been on a mission in a while."
Reiki noticed the shift and pressed gently. "Why not, Uncle Sakumo?"
Sakumo's eyes dimmed. "Most of the village's shinobi are either at their limits or focused on refining their abilities and strengthening their bodies. Missions that require jounin-level combat skills are scarce."
Reiki nodded thoughtfully. The recent pharmaceutical crisis had pushed many chunin and genin into nonstop mission work. Jounin like Sakumo found themselves sidelined, resulting in Sakumo essentially being "unemployed."
"Uncle Sakumo, why not take on a mission with me?" Reiki said, his tone inviting. "I've got something in mind."
Sakumo's eyebrows rose. "You? A mission? You're famous for avoiding those, Reiki. What kind of mission could this be?"
Reiki grinned and handed him a scroll. "The Land of Demons. This mission is open to all shinobi in the world. It involves the seal of an evil spirit."
Sakumo's eyes widened as he read the details. "The Land of Demons? The seal of a malevolent entity?"
"That's right. It's a chance to do something meaningful, rather than stay idle and grow restless. And, Uncle Sakumo, you need this," Reiki said, adding, "Oh, and I've already got our team lined up."
At that moment, Uchiha Shisui and Namikaze Nozuki appeared behind Reiki.
"Shisui, Nozuki! You're coming too?" Sakumo asked, surprised.
"Yes, we've got the mission approval from the Hokage," Shisui said with a nod. Nozuki grinned, eager for the adventure.
"Uncle Sakumo, are you in?" Reiki asked, eyes twinkling with anticipation.
Sakumo stared at the young shinobi before him and felt a flicker of excitement. After a moment, he smiled. "Alright, let's go have some fun."
>>>>>
Up to Chapter 480 available on Patreon.com/c/GGFanfiction :)
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