Naruto: You Call This A Medical Ninja?

The woman couldn't quite understand why, but as she looked at Reiki's sunny and confident face, she felt a tinge of disappointment. She had initially been skeptical of him, but now it seemed clear that this Konoha medical ninja wasn't "that kind" of person.

"Master Ninja," she began hesitantly, "about what happened... it was two years ago."

She proceeded to recount the dark history of their village. Two years prior, a group of ninjas had appeared, claiming they were training and seeking a place to stay. They paid generously for their lodging and even taught the village children basic physical training—not chakra techniques, but simple exercises.

To a poor and isolated village, this was a rare kindness. Ninjas, often regarded as godlike figures by ordinary people, won their trust through their approachable demeanor. But the benevolent facade lasted only two weeks.

After that time, the ninjas revealed their true purpose. They began selecting villagers to take away—young people, teenagers, even the elderly. The criteria for selection remained unclear, but the villagers initially believed it was an opportunity for those chosen to train and become ninjas.

When some villagers protested, refusing to let their loved ones go, the ninja group turned violent. Some women were assaulted, others were abducted, and dissenters were brutally silenced. The once-peaceful village had descended into chaos and despair.

"Do they come back often?" Reiki asked, his tone sharp with curiosity.

The woman nodded. "They return from time to time, but there's no set pattern. One of them always… bullies my sister-in-law when they come."

Her voice trailed off, and Reiki frowned, already frustrated by the woman's tendency to overshare unnecessary details.

"Alright, alright. I get it," Reiki interrupted, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I don't need to know the specifics of that situation. Let's stay focused."

Reiki realized he'd need to remain in the village for a while if he wanted to uncover the purpose of these visits and potentially rescue those who had been taken. But staying as a ninja could create unnecessary complications.

"Sister," Reiki said, turning to the woman, "I need your help."

"Help?" Her eyes lit up as Reiki pulled out 10 yen and handed it to her. The sight of money transformed her demeanor instantly.

"Brother Ninja, just say the word. How can I help you?" she said eagerly, stuffing the cash into her pocket.

"I need to pose as your brother," Reiki explained. "I'll stay at your house for a while. I want to wait for those ninjas to return so I can investigate their real purpose. Maybe even rescue the villagers they've taken."

Junko, as the woman introduced herself, agreed readily. However, she hesitated. "Our house is very small, though. You'd have to share... and, well, it's not very comfortable."

Reiki shook his head. "Don't worry about that. I'll build my own shelter nearby."

Relieved, Junko nodded, but her husband, Sekiichiro, posed another challenge. Though he was still unconscious from earlier, bringing him back might arouse suspicion in the village.

"It's fine," Reiki said, shrugging off the concern. "I'm a medical ninja, remember? I'll heal him."

It took Reiki only moments to treat Sekiichiro, who awoke to find both his wife and Reiki staring at him. The man's immediate reaction was to leap to his feet and shield Junko.

"You... you didn't do anything to her, did you?" Sekiichiro stammered, trembling as he faced Reiki.

Reiki rolled his eyes. "Relax. Your wife will explain everything. Also, your back needs treatment, but we'll handle that later. For now, I'll head to your place and start building my shelter."

Sekiichiro relaxed slightly as Junko began explaining Reiki's intentions. Meanwhile, Reiki set to work cutting down trees and preparing materials for a new shelter.

By the time Reiki returned, dragging a load of wood, Sekiichiro had fully understood Reiki's plan and apologized profusely. "I'm sorry, Ninja-sama. We misunderstood you. But about the money—"

"It's fine," Reiki interrupted, grinning. "When this is over, I'll be on my way. You can pay me later if you like. Now, let's focus on the task at hand."

The family's small, cramped hut left no room for debate—Reiki's shelter was necessary. As news of his construction project spread, other villagers came to help. Some were motivated by gratitude, others by curiosity, and a few simply admired Reiki's strength and good looks. Some of the village women even tried to introduce him to potential partners.

By the next afternoon, Reiki's simple shelter was complete. Though he could have built a luxurious home in a day, he kept things low-key, opting for practicality over extravagance. His new quarters allowed him to blend in while waiting for the mysterious ninja group to reappear.

The couple, now trusting Reiki fully, welcomed him as part of their household. As Junko introduced Reiki to other villagers as her "brother," the community's initial wariness began to fade.

Reiki smiled to himself, satisfied. He had gained the villagers' trust and a vantage point to observe and intercept the returning ninja group. Whatever their purpose, Reiki was ready to confront it head-on.