Naruto: You Call This A Medical Ninja?

Reiki arrived at Tsunade's room, and the moment he stepped inside, Tsunade's voice rang out sharply.

"You still know how to come back?! Are you planning to explain yourself now?"

Reiki smiled sheepishly but kept his composure. "Teacher, I didn't intend to keep anything from you. It's just..."

Before Tsunade could cut him off, Reiki continued, "Teacher, your personality isn't suited for handling certain matters. You're straightforward, gentle, bold... but too kind. If I told you everything, it might have made you feel guilty or afraid of revealing the plan."

Tsunade sighed, her stern expression softening. "Fine, you and your smooth talk. The results were good this time, but some ninjas' confidence was shaken. You need to address this. We've invested significant resources in them, and if this disrupts their progress, it would be a great pity."

Reiki nodded with a grin. "I knew you'd understand, Teacher. I'll handle it."

With Tsunade reassured, Reiki resumed his usual training routine, ready to tackle new challenges.

The next day at noon, Black Zetsu arrived at Konoha's gates. After a moment of contemplation, he entered and made his way to Ichiraku Ramen—not for the food but for someone he knew would be there.

As he stepped inside, a few ninjas enjoying their ramen greeted him.

"Black Zetsu! Is your mission complete?" one asked.

"Aren't you supposed to be at the special training camp?" another chimed in.

Black Zetsu nodded politely. "The mission isn't finished. A new training task was issued, and they're working on it. I had to return for something, so I decided to stop by for some ramen."

He took a seat, and moments later, Teuchi placed a steaming bowl in front of him. "Here you go. When you're done, come help in the back," Teuchi said with a smile.

Black Zetsu began eating but froze as the first noodle entered his mouth. "Chakra...!?" he thought, startled. Yet, considering Teuchi's mysterious nature, he decided not to question it.

After finishing the ramen, Black Zetsu moved to the kitchen, where a familiar figure was washing dishes.

"Mother," Black Zetsu greeted.

"Wash the dishes first," Kaguya Otsutsuki said calmly, her hands moving with practiced ease. Though such menial tasks were new to her, they posed no challenge.

Black Zetsu nodded and began washing dishes alongside his mother. The sight of the legendary Otsutsuki Kaguya and Black Zetsu washing dishes in a ramen shop would have left anyone dumbfounded.

Once the dishes were done, Teuchi closed the shop and hung a "Closed" sign on the door.

"Black Zetsu, did Reiki send you here?" Teuchi asked.

"No. Reiki doesn't know Mother is already in Konoha. This morning, he asked me to seek her assistance, so I came," Black Zetsu explained.

Teuchi nodded thoughtfully. "If this visit was your initiative, then there's something I need to tell you. Kaguya and I plan to invade the ninja world soon. We must act before they fully adapt to the new era Reiki is leading them into. Once they cross that threshold, our plans will be much harder to execute."

Black Zetsu listened intently as Teuchi outlined their strategy, which began with a chilling first step: assassinate Reiki.

"Killing Reiki will sever the ninja world's future. Without him, internal conflicts will lead to their downfall, sparing us from direct intervention."

Teuchi handed Black Zetsu a bone rod, infused with Kaguya's All-Killing Ash Bones. "Use this while talking to Reiki. It shouldn't be difficult for you."

The cold, calculated plan hung in the air as Teuchi spoke with unsettling calm, as though discussing trivial matters.

Black Zetsu hesitated, conflicted. "I... I can't do it."

Before he could finish, Teuchi's expression darkened. In a flash, he severed half of Black Zetsu's body, pulling him forcefully from White Zetsu.

Black Zetsu turned to Kaguya, silently pleading for her intervention, but her gaze remained indifferent, her face devoid of emotion.

"Have I... been abandoned?" Black Zetsu thought, despair washing over him. "I'm sorry, Reiki. I may not make it back to you."

Though his physical form was immobilized, Black Zetsu's mind was already planning. His death here wouldn't end him; his avatar would inherit his consciousness and relay everything to Reiki. If nothing else, his sacrifice could buy Reiki time to prepare for the coming storm.

"Even in defeat, I can still serve..."