Naruto: You Call This A Medical Ninja?

One noon, a week later, Tsunade walked out of the Hokage Building with a puzzled expression.

Back at the yard, Reiki had just finished preparing lunch.

"Teacher, are you back?"

"Shizune, set a place for the teacher too."

Seeing Tsunade enter with a contemplative look, Reiki quickly stepped outside.

"Reiki..."

"I'm hungry, let's eat first."

With Shizune and Yuhi Kurenai present, Tsunade withheld what she initially wanted to say.

"Alright."

Reiki nodded.

After the four of them finished their meal, Shizune and Yuhi Kurenai began cleaning up.

"Shizune, let Reiki wash the dishes today. You and Kurenai can go buy some meat."

"I want to enjoy Reiki's barbecue tonight, so pick up some other ingredients too."

Tsunade handed Shizune a wad of money.

"Wow, it's been a while since I last had Brother Reiki's barbecue."

"Reiki-kun..."

...

Amid laughter, the two women left the yard.

"Teacher, you..."

"The Third Hokage wants me to join the leadership of Konoha."

"He wants me to bring back the members of the Senju clan who have integrated into the village and officially recognize their identity."

Tsunade revealed the recent discussion.

"High-level positions!?"

Reiki looked at Tsunade in surprise, though deep down he wasn't surprised.

He had taken so many actions that it would be odd if Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't respond.

"Yes."

"But I have no desire to do so."

"They have their own lives now, a life independent of me."

"Besides, I don't want them used as leverage by the Third Hokage."

Tsunade reclined on the chair, looking resigned. Now, Nawaki was the only family she had left, and that identity as a clan member was already a burden. The larger the clan, the greater the worries, and ordinary clan members brought little strength. Simply put, it was a move to bind Tsunade to the village.

"Teacher, I'm guessing you refused, right?"

Reiki asked with a smile.

"Yes, I refused."

"But what confuses me is why..."

"I'm the reason."

Reiki admitted before Tsunade could finish her question.

"You did this?"

Tsunade sat up, looking at Reiki with surprise.

"Because I have been associating with so many families, I've been under surveillance by the Third Hokage."

"Additionally, my actions represent your will to a significant extent, Teacher."

"At least, that's how the Third Hokage perceives it."

"So, I made a show of promoting the Will of Fire, even in the orphanage."

"When the genin took their exams, they wrote essays praising the Third Hokage—essays that were more than ten pages long."

"Teacher, if I put it this way, you should understand."

Reiki explained, albeit a bit embarrassed. It was an odd method, after all.

"You mean to say that you used this method to gain the Third Hokage's trust?"

Tsunade was astonished. She knew her disciple well enough—someone who would even strategize against their own teacher and comrades.

"Not trust, exactly. More like I showed him what he wanted to see."

"Which is a change in your stance, Teacher."

"That's why he made this offer."

"But it's a good thing you refused."

"If you don't get involved in the high-level power struggles, Sarutobi Hiruzen's focus will shift elsewhere."

"For instance... keeping Danzo in check!"

Reiki said with a knowing smile.

Yes, that was Reiki's plan. Directly targeting Sarutobi Hiruzen was more trouble than it was worth, and Reiki had other priorities—like gaining experience. The best approach was to pit one schemer against another. And who better than Danzo?

Drive away the wolf!

"Then... what is your next goal?"

Tsunade asked, feeling more and more that Reiki was no ordinary disciple.

Medical Ninjutsu—Genius!

Combat Ninjutsu—Genius!

Pharmacology—Expert!

Strategy—Mastermind!

If these talents were seen separately, they'd be impressive. But for one person to embody all of them? And he was only nine years old!

"My goal is simple: to make everyone in Konoha stronger and ensure the village's stability."

"This... is my path as a medical ninja!"

Reiki said seriously.

*Thud!*

"Speak plainly!"

Tsunade punched him. Since when did this kid start playing word games?

"Um... Teacher, I just want Brother Minato to become Hokage and, with support, dismantle the monopoly at the top."

"This way, the darkness in the village can be swept away."

"Brother Minato is pure and just. With the right backing, he can achieve this."

Reiki said, rubbing his head in mock hurt. He even thought about asking Minato for compensation—after all the secret support, he just got punched for it.

"Minato Namikaze... dismantle the leadership's monopoly?"

"Have you spoken to Jiraiya about this?"

"And Orochimaru? You must have contacted him too, right?"

Tsunade asked, frowning.

"Yes, Lord Orochimaru is aware, and Lord Jiraiya knows as well."

Reiki admitted cautiously. Both were important to his plan and had roles to play. His deal with Orochimaru made sharing this information with him necessary, lest Orochimaru act impulsively and disrupt the plan.

"So, I'm the last to know?"

"You little..."

Tsunade raised her hand, preparing to hit him again.

"No, no... Teacher, you're not the last to know."

"Brother Minato doesn't know yet!"

"And Shisui and Nozuki don't know either."

Reiki jumped into the yard, speaking quickly.

"What don't we know?"

Just as Tsunade was about to chase Reiki, Minato Namikaze entered the courtyard with Kushina and Nozuki.

"I was just telling the teacher that Nozuki didn't know we were having a barbecue tonight."

"Would you like to join us for dinner?"

Reiki asked with a grin.

"Well... in that case, we should prepare more."

"Tsunade-sama, I brought some rare medicinal herbs from my recent mission for you."

Minato responded to Reiki and handed a scroll to Tsunade.