Naruto: You Call This A Medical Ninja?

Uchiha Madara, now resolute with the answers he had uncovered, wore a faint smile on his lips. In a blur of motion, he leapt to the top of a massive tree, watching as the traces of Reiki and Orochimaru's presence gradually faded into the distance.

"Hashirama, maybe I've finally figured out our true purpose," Madara muttered, his voice calm yet determined. "But I still have time to make things right. Just wait for me."

Madara's lips curled into a brighter smile. "And when the time comes… I'll finish what I have to do, and then I'll beat you up, just like that boy said!"

For the first time in decades, there was a genuine lightness in Madara's demeanor.

---

Meanwhile, in another part of the land, a shadow emerged from the ground. Black Zetsu, though seemingly obliterated by Madara's overwhelming strength, had not truly perished.

"Damn it! A little brat actually ruined everything!" Black Zetsu seethed. The entity near Madara was merely one of his many avatars, a failsafe he had prepared long ago. Entrusted with the monumental task of reviving his mother, Otsutsuki Kaguya, Black Zetsu had never placed all his hopes on a single vessel.

As he reconstituted himself, a figure clad in white robes and a mask approached. "My lord," the figure said with a bow.

Black Zetsu's voice was steady but cold. "Put a bounty on Konoha's Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya. Triple the previous amount. And triple the bounty for their disciples as well."

"Understood," the masked ninja replied. "But, my lord, there's an issue. The underground world of hired ninjas seems to be… consolidating. Several high-ranking mercenaries have formed an organization, and we don't know much about their leader. However, the identities of their active members raise concerns."

The masked figure handed over a dossier of information.

---

Black Zetsu scanned the documents, his expression growing darker. 

"Kakuzu? Kana? Iron Tower? Souta? Yan…" Black Zetsu murmured. "These were all prominent mercenaries who previously operated independently. And now they're organized?"

The implications were troubling. Hired ninjas rarely banded together, preferring to work alone or in small, temporary teams. Their unpredictability and lack of allegiance had made them useful tools for Zetsu's schemes.

But now, with the emergence of an organized group, their threat and potential interference had grown exponentially.

"Are they still taking missions?" Black Zetsu asked.

"Yes, and with alarming efficiency. They've even eliminated several underground figures from the bounty list, consolidating power rapidly. They've become the most prominent force among hired ninjas," the masked figure explained.

"Have they targeted shinobi from the great villages?" Black Zetsu probed.

"No, not unless provoked. They deal with such matters discreetly. If a confrontation occurs, it is resolved cleanly."

Black Zetsu's eyes narrowed. "Should we suppress their development?"

"No," he said after a pause. "This force may be useful to me. Find their most active member and arrange a meeting. If they don't have a leader, I may step in."

"Understood," the figure responded, vanishing into the shadows.

---

**Back in Konoha**

Reiki sat alone in his courtyard, deep in thought. The sun had risen and set, and yet he remained stuck on one pressing issue: how to "legally" integrate Uchiha Madara back into Konoha. 

When Reiki had first made his bold promises, he hadn't fully anticipated the challenges of convincing the village—and Madara himself. Now, the weight of his words hung heavily on his shoulders.

Orochimaru, meanwhile, waited nearby. Though he was itching to dissect Black Zetsu's body, he knew that until Reiki resolved this situation, any interruptions could jeopardize his freedom to experiment.

Orochimaru watched as Reiki sat motionless, his calm expression unwavering even as time ticked by. The lack of progress made Orochimaru anxious. 

Inside, Orochimaru marveled at Reiki's composure but found himself silently wishing the young ninja would hurry. *Just who has the patience to figure out how to reintegrate a legendary rebel into Konoha?* Orochimaru mused.

---

**Outside the Courtyard**

Nearby, a group of ANBU kept a close eye on the situation.

"Reiki's been back for over a day, and Orochimaru is with him," one whispered. "This isn't normal. Report it to the Hokage immediately. Lord Third won't like this."

Another ANBU nodded and left to deliver the report while the remaining two stayed to monitor the area.

---

**In the Hokage's Office**

Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned as he listened to the report. "Orochimaru is meeting with Reiki? And Tsunade and Jiraiya aren't here?"

Sarutobi's mind raced. Orochimaru rarely spent time with others unless it suited his goals. Was Orochimaru targeting Reiki for his experiments? 

"Hokage-sama," one of the ANBU said, breaking Sarutobi's thoughts, "Reiki is a genius, but he's still a nine-year-old child. If Orochimaru has plans for him…" 

Sarutobi raised a hand, signaling for silence. "I understand. Let's go. I'll see what's happening myself." 

Though Reiki's talents were invaluable, Sarutobi couldn't risk losing him to Orochimaru's schemes.

---

**Unaware of the Hokage's approach, Reiki remained in thought.** 

He didn't care about the ANBU or Orochimaru's impatience. His focus was on the monumental task of bringing Madara to Konoha—a plan that could either solidify peace or tear the village apart. 

For Reiki, this was no ordinary challenge. It was a gamble with the future of Konoha itself.

>>>>>

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