Each with Their Own Plans

After bidding Tsunade farewell, Uzumaki Reikawa finally obtained an official identity in Konoha.

Back in the office, Tsunade pondered the meaning behind what Uzumaki Reikawa had said about being alive. He still had not mentioned his true origins, and this exchange had not given her any more useful information.

Still, his attitude had been confirmed. As long as he did not threaten Konoha and was willing to help deal with Akatsuki, that was enough.

And from their brief, probing exchange just now, the strength Uzumaki Reikawa had displayed was absolutely no weaker than her own!

On his way back, Uzumaki Reikawa thought to himself, I'm officially on the payroll now, and my ninja rank was raised straight to Jonin. Looking at the Konoha forehead protector in his hand, he tapped it with a finger, a faint smile appearing on his face. He had always worn it around his arm before. Maybe next time, he would try wearing it on his forehead?

Hopefully, he would never have a chance to slash a line through it. He stopped walking. Tsunade's newly assigned residence stood before him, a two-story house with its own small yard. Considering Konoha's current finances, they had really spared no expense. Well, free things really did feel great~

Just as Uzumaki Reikawa was inspecting his house, a loud Bang! suddenly came from the gate, making him instinctively shrink his neck.

"Is Big Brother Reikawa home?" Naruto dragged Sasuke, whose face was dark with frustration, into the yard.

"No!"

The next moment, while Naruto was still utterly confused, pain suddenly shot through his backside. He and Sasuke were each kicked out with a single kick, and the door slammed shut behind them with a Bang!

Rude little brats!

Once Naruto came back to his senses, he rubbed his aching butt and knocked on the door. Pressing himself against it, he shouted, "Big Brother Reikawa, I was wrong! We have something to ask you! Please open the door!"

After a while, the door in front of them still remained shut. Just when Sasuke thought that because of Naruto's stupidity, their trip had been for nothing—

The door suddenly opened. Naruto had not expected it; since he was leaning against the door, he was about to fall face-first to the ground when Uzumaki Reikawa grabbed him by the collar with one hand.

Then he looked at Sasuke helplessly. "Come in. Remember to close the door."

After changing shoes and sitting down, Uzumaki Reikawa watched Naruto and Sasuke glare at each other without either of them speaking first. He asked speechlessly, "What do you two want?"

"Big Brother Reikawa, Granny Tsunade said you're really strong and can help me control the Nine-Tails. Is that true?!"

"..."

"!" Sasuke was rather surprised and looked at Uzumaki Reikawa. He had actually come clean to the Hokage? In that case, the explanation Sasuke had prepared could not be used. As for why he had come with Naruto, they had merely run into each other on the road by coincidence.

"...Then what does Sasuke want?"

"Nothing..."

"If it's nothing, turn left when you go out. Take care, no need to see you off!"

Seeing that Uzumaki Reikawa was really about to throw them out, Sasuke hurriedly said, "Fine, I do have something to ask. But I want to wait until Naruto leaves."

Naruto: "??? What do you need to hide from me?"

"It has nothing to do with you."

"Tch~" Naruto pursed his lips, looking as though he did not care to know anyway.

"Then Naruto, as for your question, I think you should have an answer after tomorrow. Now please go outside."

"But..."

"If you keep saying 'but,' then train by yourself tomorrow."

"Fine..." Naruto looked back every few steps and dragged his feet for a long while, but he eventually went out.

Once Naruto had left, just as Uzumaki Reikawa was about to say something to Sasuke—

Sasuke's forehead suddenly bulged with veins. He made a stop gesture, indicating that he needed to go out first.

The next moment, several loud thumps and crashes came from upstairs before everything fell silent. Naruto, who had been hiding upstairs, was directly knocked unconscious by Sasuke, his eyes turning into spirals as he was tied up.

"Brutal..." Just hearing the sounds made it seem painful.

Sasuke sat back down and asked, "Do you know Uchiha Gen?"

He's right in front of you.

"Uchiha Gen...? I know him. He even gave me a mask." Uzumaki Reikawa rubbed his chin and began getting into character.

"!! You know him? Where is he now?" Sasuke was delighted at the words.

"I don't know if that counts as knowing him. We only met once. As his clansman, shouldn't you know your own clan's movements better than I do?" Uzumaki Reikawa asked in return.

Then he abruptly changed the subject. "Still, although I've never fought him, I can tell that he's quite strong. Akatsuki should be very interested in him. Maybe he's there?"

Sasuke frowned deeply at that. Akatsuki again? Itachi was in that organization too. "Then can you take me out of the village?"

"What, you want to slash a line through your forehead protector?"

"No. I just have a truth I must uncover. Consider it a favor I owe you." Sasuke's expression was sincere, serious, and solemn, without his usual look of being owed money by everyone.

Uzumaki Reikawa fell silent. Why did that empty-handed promise sound so familiar?

"You're not strong enough."

"But even Kakashi-sensei can't beat me anymore."

Uzumaki Reikawa did not believe that claim. If Sasuke were truly right, then Kakashi would be far too weak.

Uzumaki Reikawa shook his head. "...Your teacher was going easy on you. If you don't believe me, find other Jonin to spar with. Even if you can match Kakashi for a while, that's only because he's your teacher and you're used to his attack patterns."

Seeing Sasuke's unconvinced expression, Uzumaki Reikawa suddenly smiled. "How about trying me first? I guarantee I won't use strength beyond that of a Chunin."

Sasuke's expression darkened further. Was he saying Sasuke could not even beat a Chunin? "No need. Come at me however you like."

"However I like?" Uzumaki Reikawa suddenly appeared behind Sasuke and placed a Kunai against his neck. "Are you sure?"

Sasuke suddenly exploded into a wooden log, while a Lightning Blade struck down from above toward Uzumaki Reikawa's position.

"Very fast." Uzumaki Reikawa praised him, but the next moment, he directly flung out a chain of Adamantine Sealing Chains, binding Sasuke and smashing him to the ground. The Lightning Blade vanished on its own as well.

Sasuke struggled on the ground, but his chakra flow became extremely sluggish, and he could not break free at all. His feelings were incredibly complicated, and he really wanted to shout: You're cheating!!

But Adamantine Sealing Chains were indeed Uzumaki Reikawa's ability. It was simply far too overpowered in his hands. This blow also snapped Sasuke out of the delusion brought on by his growing strength.

"Don't be mad. You were the one who told me not to hold back." Uzumaki Reikawa grinned. In truth, he had been a little too confident when he said he would only use Chunin-level strength. If things went badly, Sasuke might have landed a few hits on him.

Still, Sasuke's strength had indeed improved quite nicely. "Anyway, I can agree to it. Once I've settled Naruto's matter, I can take you out. During this time, study properly under Kakashi-sensei. If possible, you can ask other Jonin for some guidance too. Hmm—anyone except that bushy-browed one."

Elsewhere, Karin watched the bite marks on her arm gradually disappear, her heart filled with excitement. "Sakura, thank you...!"

Sakura wiped the sweat from her forehead, her green eyes curving as she indicated that it was nothing. She smiled at Karin. "It's nothing. Aren't we friends?"

As she watched the bite marks slowly vanish, Sakura herself was filled with a sense of accomplishment. After Tsunade learned what Sakura had done, she had handed this matter over to her. It was also a good opportunity for this future medical ninja to gain experience.

Looking at her smooth arm, as though the bite marks had never existed, Karin's gaze suddenly became determined. "I wonder if I could... I want to learn medical ninjutsu too."