Naruto: You Call This A Medical Ninja?

After hearing Reiki's explanation, Uzumaki Daemon's turbulent emotions began to settle. Although he had been cut off from the world for a long time, names like Mito-sama and Kushina Uzumaki still carried weight for him. He knew that someone connected to such prominent figures of his clan wouldn't go to the trouble of helping him if they meant harm.

Especially after witnessing Reiki's strength in their earlier clash—power that didn't even rely on the chakra unique to the Uzumaki clan—Daemon felt conflicted.

Half an hour later, Reiki stood up, brushing the sweat from his brow.

"I have to admit, your clan's method of suicide is quite… effective," he said with a small smile. "If any other medical ninja from the ninja world were here, they wouldn't have been able to handle the state you were in."

Daemon hesitated, his voice laden with regret. "I'm sorry... I misunderstood you earlier. Thank you, Reiki-san. But why did you save me? Even after how I acted… If you had let me die, I wouldn't have complained."

Reiki shrugged casually. "I'm a medical ninja. Treating the injured is my ninja way—no reason beyond that. If you need a reason, it's because I am a medical ninja." He pointed proudly to his forehead protector and grinned.

Daemon was stunned by Reiki's cheerful demeanor. The bright smile reminded him of a time when he too had light in his eyes—before life in hiding had dimmed it. Overwhelmed by conflicting emotions, he began to cry.

Reiki didn't say anything, simply watching quietly. Sometimes, tears were the best way to release pent-up pain and frustration.

Ten minutes later, Daemon finally stopped crying, his embarrassment outweighing his sorrow as he noticed Reiki staring at him.

"Why did you really save me?" Daemon asked again. "With your abilities, you must be someone important in Konoha. Why come to a place like this?"

Reiki raised an eyebrow. "Important? You're overthinking it. I'm just practicing my craft. I happened to come to this village, you happened to be here, you happened to be injured, and I happened to have the skills to treat you. That's it."

"That's it?" Daemon's voice rose in disbelief. "There's no way things are that simple! You must be after something—my clan's physique, my chakra—something!"

Reiki sighed, shaking his head as he stood up. "You're overthinking it. I'm not interested in your body." With that, he disappeared before Daemon could say anything more.

Moments after Reiki left, the village chief woke up and hurried to Daemon. "Daemon! Did that medical ninja-sama do anything to you?"

"I'm fine," Daemon reassured him, still trying to process what had just happened. "Village Chief, did he really treat everyone in the village?"

The chief nodded. "He charged 100 yen per person and healed everyone. Even my bad back feels brand new!"

Daemon furrowed his brow. Maybe, just maybe, he had misunderstood Reiki entirely. But before he could dwell on the thought, Reiki reappeared, walking toward him with purpose.

Daemon's initial wariness flared up again. "I knew it! You're back for me after all!" he accused.

The village chief interjected nervously, "Reiki-san, please don't hurt him. He's a good boy, just a bit defensive..."

Reiki frowned and waved a hand dismissively. "Hurt him? I'm a medical ninja, not a combat ninja. I don't have a mission to harm anyone."

"Then why are you back? To take me to Konoha?" Daemon challenged, bracing himself.

"Give me money," Reiki said flatly, holding out his hand.

Daemon blinked in confusion. "What?"

"Your treatment fee—100 yen," Reiki repeated.

Five minutes later, Uzumaki Daemon stood frozen in disbelief. After all his paranoia and suspicion, it turned out that Reiki had simply returned to collect the 100 yen medical fee. Even more humiliating, Daemon didn't even have 100 yen to pay him. The village chief had to lend him the money.

For a moment, Daemon's fragile self-esteem crumbled. The realization that he couldn't even afford a simple treatment cut deeper than any insult.

"Village Chief," Daemon said softly, "I think it's time for me to leave this place."

The chief looked at him with concern. "Leave? Where would you go?"

"I'm going to Konoha," Daemon declared, his voice firm. "I'm going to join their special training programs. And when I succeed, I'll make sure that guy knows I'm worth far more than 100 yen!"

For the first time in years, a fiery determination burned in Daemon's eyes, reigniting the spirit that had been buried under layers of fear and despair.