Naruto: You Call This A Medical Ninja?

Seeing Reiki's eagerness to help the injured ninjas, Tsunade sighed, feeling a mix of pride and exasperation. Despite his overwhelming strength, why was he still competing with medical trainees like Shizune for treatment duties? Tsunade shook her head and redirected her attention to the battlefield where Otsutsuki Kaguya was engaged in combat.

Even though Reiki had taken out half of the opposition, Kaguya still seemed anxious during the simulated invasion. Tsunade found this puzzling. During regular training sessions, Kaguya's hesitance might have been understandable, but this was a simulation designed to mimic an actual invasion. Her behavior seemed uncharacteristically restrained.

Tsunade made a mental note to raise this concern during the post-battle debrief but decided to wait until the battle concluded.

Reiki's Medical Efficiency

When the fighting subsided, Tsunade intended to call Reiki for a conversation, but one of his shadow clones intercepted her.

"Teacher, what can I help you with?" the clone asked politely.

Tsunade hesitated for a moment before waving it off. "Never mind. Let him finish treating the injured first," she muttered, watching as Reiki's clone diligently assisted the medical teams.

Hours later, all the injured were treated, and the efficiency of Reiki's work was undeniable. Moreover, the medical ninjas under his guidance had made noticeable improvements in their techniques.

Debriefing the Simulation

After the treatment was complete, the ninja coalition gathered to analyze the simulated invasion. Namikaze Minato took the lead, summarizing the results.

"In this simulation, we lost again. However, the improvement in individual performance and team coordination has been significant. Let's reflect on what we've learned and suggest improvements for the next simulation," Minato began.

The group discussed their observations:

Ai's Input: "Our lack of coordination remains a major issue. In high-intensity battles, even small mistakes can cascade into catastrophic consequences. We need to better understand each other's strengths and weaknesses to avoid hindering one another."

Kitsuchi's Suggestion: "We're too eager in our approach. Charging in all at once isn't the best strategy. We should stagger our efforts and focus on disrupting the enemy's rhythm while supporting our main attackers. Also, the timing of using Reiki's potions needs to be more strategic. Some ninjas didn't even get to engage before the effects wore off."

Nara Shikaku diligently recorded all the feedback, adding his insights as well. The debriefing extended until the next morning, with the coalition identifying areas for improvement and solidifying plans for their next simulation.

A Question for Kaguya

After the meeting, the leaders of the great ninja villages and their key members gathered to discuss a peculiar observation. Tsunade took the lead, addressing Otsutsuki Kaguya directly.

"Lady Kaguya, I have a question. During the simulation, did you hold back during the battle?" Tsunade asked bluntly.

Kaguya's brow furrowed. "Hold back? Why would I?"

"Your approach seemed restrained. For instance, Reiki managed to defeat his opponents before you did. If you were holding back to give others an opportunity, it might undermine the purpose of these simulations. But if you weren't holding back..." Tsunade trailed off, her gaze shifting to Reiki.

Kaguya glanced at Reiki, then replied firmly, "I wasn't holding back. Reiki has grown strong—so strong that I can't guarantee I could defeat him without external support."

Her statement sent a ripple of surprise through the group. Reiki, who had been casually chatting with Uchiha Shisui and Namikaze Nozuki, froze in place.

"What?!" Reiki exclaimed, bewildered. "Why is this about me? I'm just a medical ninja!"

The declaration brought all eyes to Reiki, sparking a mix of reactions:

Gural: "Reiki's a monster, plain and simple. Not surprising at all." Kakuzu: "As expected of our leader. His rise to power is remarkable, yet not surprising." Yagura: "Reiki, how about a one-on-nine battle against us jinchuriki next time?"

Laughter and teasing rippled through the group. Reiki's reputation, even at his young age, had already made him a legend among his peers. For the ninjas present, it was almost expected that someone as unconventional as Reiki would excel in ways no one else could.

Despite being just thirteen years old, Reiki's strength and ingenuity felt perfectly natural to those who knew him. In their eyes, anything less from him would've been the real surprise.

For Reiki, however, being constantly viewed as "normal" despite his extraordinary feats left him in an awkward position. Sometimes, being normal wasn't all that normal.