At this point in time, Ichiraku Ramen didn't exist yet. Teuchi, the young boy who would one day take over the famous ramen shop, was still trailing behind his father, who served ramen that was, truthfully, only average. It was edible, but far from memorable.
After a quick bowl of ramen, Shinki wandered the market, picking up a few items of clothing before heading home. But as he walked through a small park near the Hyuga clan's compound, he came to a sudden stop.
Two masked Anbu stood in his path.
"Hyuuga Shinki, Danzo-sama wishes to see you," one of them announced.
*Danzo?* Shinki's mind raced. Was this about Kushina, a warning to stay away from her? Or was Danzo intrigued by his potential and looking to recruit him?
With a sigh, Shinki turned and followed the masked figures into the park, where Danzo awaited him, standing alone in the quiet, shaded clearing.
"Hyuuga Shinki, do you know what you're doing?" Danzo's voice was harsh, cutting through the silence.
"???" Shinki tilted his head, feigning ignorance. He let the tension hang in the air before responding, "I'm not sure what you mean, Danzo-sama. I'm a Konoha shinobi; I have the right to go shopping, eat ramen, and buy clothes."
Danzo's single visible eye narrowed. "Don't play dumb. Stay away from Kushina. The Nine-Tails Jinchūriki is not someone you should associate with."
"Oh," Shinki said, nodding as if taking the warning seriously. "Understood."
He kept his expression neutral. In reality, Kushina was the one seeking him out, and Tsunade had been the one to introduce them. If Danzo had an issue, he should be confronting those two. But Shinki wasn't going to say that out loud.
"If that's all, I'll take my leave." Shinki turned and walked away, leaving Danzo to stew in frustration.
Danzo watched Shinki go, feeling increasingly irked. The boy's calm compliance didn't sit right. The more Danzo thought about it, the more he convinced himself there was some hidden defiance in Shinki's behavior.
"Damn it!" Danzo muttered, stopping himself just before letting slip a disrespectful thought. At this point, he was merely an ambitious assistant to the Hokage, not yet the powerful leader of Root. He hadn't the authority to act openly against the Hyuga or Uzumaki clans.
Meanwhile, Shinki walked out of the park, a grin spreading across his face. Danzo's warning felt hollow; as long as Mito and Tsunade stood by him, Danzo's reach was limited.
The next morning, Shinki arrived at Konoha Hospital bright and early. Tsunade, who had been on duty overnight, met him at the entrance, yawning and rubbing her eyes.
"Ready for your first day?" Tsunade asked, her tone a mix of fatigue and teasing.
"I'm all set," Shinki replied.
Tsunade nodded, pulling him aside. "Listen, I won't bore you with the basics—patient intake, treatment protocols, you know the drill. Oh, and the scroll for the super strength technique is in the cabinet. Study it, but don't leave it here. Return it to me when you're done."
Shinki's eyes widened. The super strength technique was the reward she'd promised after he passed his medical ninja exam.
"Thank you, Tsunade-sama."
"Don't mention it," Tsunade said, already turning to leave. She stopped when Shinki spoke up.
"By the way, Danzo's men came to see me last night. He warned me to stay away from Kushina."
Tsunade's eyes darkened. "That old buzzard! Ignore him. I'll tell Grandma Mito about this."
With a determined scowl, she marched off, leaving Shinki chuckling to himself. *Having powerful allies really does make life easier.*
Tsunade wasted no time returning home and relaying the situation to Uzumaki Mito.
"Grandma, Danzo's gone too far. He wants to control everything and everyone. He even suggested imprisoning Kushina," Tsunade fumed.
Mito's face remained composed, her eyes unreadable. "Rest, Tsunade. I will handle this personally."
Relieved, Tsunade's posture relaxed. "Okay, Grandma. I'm exhausted. I need sleep. Staying up all night is the worst."
Mito's assurance meant Tsunade could let go of her anger and focus on recuperating. Danzo's interference, while frustrating, would be dealt with properly when Uzumaki Mito decided to step in. And that was something even Danzo dared not challenge.
As Tsunade left for her room, a quiet determination settled over Mito. If Danzo was trying to undermine Kushina's well-being and the stability she had fought so hard to maintain, it was time to remind him why the Uzumaki name still carried weight in Konoha.
>>>>>
Gimme Power Stones or give me death, or something like that