Naruto: You Call This A Medical Ninja?

After a moment of silence, Black Zetsu blinked in confusion. "Eh?! Why am I still alive?!"

He looked at the two figures before him. Kaguya Otsutsuki's expression had shifted from cold indifference to one of recognition and affection. Otsutsuki Tate, on the other hand, wore a friendly smile—the kind one might expect from a ramen shop owner. It was almost unsettling how such a smile could persist during serious matters.

"Alright," Tate said, setting Black Zetsu down. "I didn't trust Kaguya completely, so I used you as a test. Now, I can finally trust her."

Turning to Kaguya, he asked, "What's your next move?"

Tate's cautious behavior stemmed from his precarious position as both an overseer and a collaborator with traitorous members of the Otsutsuki clan. Betrayal was unforgivable in their clan, and concealing the ninja world's location for so many years already marked him as a traitor. One wrong step could lead to irreversible consequences.

Kaguya, now calm, replied, "I'm not ready to act yet. While Reiki, the medical ninja, invited me to assist, their current strength is still insufficient in my eyes. I plan to explore the ninja world instead. It has been far too long since I've truly seen it. Once they reach a higher level of strength and still require my help, I will return."

"Mother, I can be your guide!" Black Zetsu offered eagerly. "I know the entire ninja world better than anyone."

"Very well," Kaguya agreed. Turning to Tate, she added, "Thank you for your hospitality, but it's time for me to go."

With that, Black Zetsu slipped into the folds of Kaguya's robes, and the two departed. As they vanished, Tate closed his eyes and murmured to himself, "It seems they've made their decision. Reiki truly is a lucky young man. Well, time for me to rest. The shop opens tomorrow!"

Meanwhile, at the special training camp, Reiki stood before Sarutobi Asuma, who looked thoroughly defeated.

"You mean to tell me you think you're useless? That you regret being born human? Are you planning to slink back as a failure and live like a powerless monkey?" Reiki teased, looking at Asuma with exasperation.

Asuma, visibly crushed, replied, "Why didn't you call me for the mission? Why was I the only one left to be beaten, while everyone else got to fight back?"

Reiki scratched his head, feeling slightly guilty. "Well... Asuma, you're our Konoha representative in this special training camp. It wouldn't be fair to use you for missions where we outmatch the enemy. Besides, this was a test of your strength. The ones who attacked you weren't weaklings, right?"

"Not weaklings?!" Asuma huffed. "Kakashi, Gai, Obito, and Azawa—they all came at me together, with no intention of holding back. I lasted a while, but I still lost."

Lowering his head in disappointment, Asuma muttered, "A loss is a loss."

Reiki clapped a reassuring hand on Asuma's shoulder. "Think about it. You held your own against that group for as long as you did. That's incredible! Anyone else, even me, would've had a tough time. You're stronger than you realize."

Encouraged, Asuma stood straighter. "You really think so? Maybe I've been too strong all along, and that's why I've felt isolated!"

Before Asuma could spiral into a lengthy monologue of self-praise, Reiki used his ability to teleport him away. "Go do your daydreaming elsewhere," Reiki muttered with a smirk.

Nearby, Tsunade and Jiraiya observed the scene. Asuma, now brimming with confidence, walked away with a spring in his step.

"Did you see that?" Jiraiya asked incredulously. "That guy just bounced back from the brink of despair! What did Reiki even say to him?"

Tsunade grinned. "Reiki's abilities aren't limited to physical healing. His words have a way of mending mental wounds, too. For ninjas, emotional resilience is as important as physical strength."

The instructors from other villages, however, grew restless. Many of their injured ninjas hadn't received treatment yet.

"Instructor Tsunade," Ai of Kirigakure interjected, "don't you think it's time for Reiki to attend to our special training members? We've already brought them here and queued up."

"Yes," Bubbles added. "Healing should be on a first-come, first-served basis, and our ninjas from Kirigakure have been waiting their turn!"

The line of injured ninjas, now forming from all villages, made it clear that Reiki's reputation as a healer extended far beyond Konoha. It was only a matter of time before every village sought his skills.