**Chapter 52: Roll Up!**

After three hours of rest, the three young ninjas felt nearly recovered. Tsunade, ever the diligent teacher, had prepared special military food pills for them. 

"Let's start the second test," she announced. "This time, it's all about teamwork and understanding your own strengths and weaknesses." 

The training continued well into the evening. 

"You don't have to go back tonight. Everyone's staying at my place," Tsunade added. "I've already spoken with Minato, and the head of the Uchiha clan." 

As they arrived at Tsunade's house, Shizune hurried out upon hearing their voices. 

"Teacher, you… I seem to have not cooked enough food," she said timidly, eyeing the newcomers. 

"It's fine; we're not too hungry," Shisui reassured her. 

"I'm hungry! Shizune, come help me!" Reiki interjected, his appetite taking precedence. "There's no way we're not eating enough—especially since we're still growing!" 

After dinner, the four of them gathered in the yard, the evening air filled with their chatter. 

"Brother Reiki, once you become a genin, will you have to leave the village for missions?" Shizune asked, her eyes wide with curiosity. 

"Maybe," Reiki replied thoughtfully. "But even if I do, I promise I'll be back quickly. You need to keep working hard, Shizune. I want to see how strong you've gotten when I return!" 

"Okay!" Shizune nodded enthusiastically, her mood brightening. 

"Reiki, are you going to focus on developing as a medical ninja?" Shisui queried, intrigued. "I've seen the combat training you did with Kakashi. Are you not planning on becoming a fighting ninja?" 

"I plan to do both," Reiki said confidently. "Medical ninjas aren't just healers. We can be powerful fighters too!" 

He raised his hand, conjuring flames at his fingertips, which quickly transformed into crackling lightning. "See? I've mastered both Fire Release and Thunder Release. I won't just be a healer; I'll be a force to be reckoned with!" 

"Wow!" Shisui's eyes sparkled with excitement. "That means I won't just have a strong companion; I'll have a super powerful medical ninja on my side! This feels like a real win for me!" 

Beside them, Nozuki smiled quietly, feeling a warmth from their camaraderie. She had been brought to Konoha by her senior, Namikaze Minato, three years ago. Most of her time had been spent with Kushina, who was often under surveillance due to her unique status. She longed for friends, and it seemed she had finally found them. 

As night fell, they all gathered in one room, a request from Tsunade to foster their bond. It wasn't that there wasn't enough space, but rather that she wanted them to understand each other better—an essential skill that would benefit them on the battlefield. 

Once Shizune drifted off to sleep, the remaining three began refining their chakra, the true hallmark of their budding talents. They understood that titles of genius or high talent were merely external validations; true genius lay in perseverance and hard work. 

--- 

The next morning brought with it a sense of urgency. 

"Where's Reiki?" Shisui asked groggily, noticing the absence of his teammate. 

"Senior Brother Reiki should be up making breakfast for us by now," Shizune replied, yawning. 

As the trio made their way to the living room, they found a spread of delicious food already laid out on the table. 

"What a great partner!" Nozuki exclaimed, her heart warmed by the gesture. 

"I need to eat quickly, then I can prepare breakfast for Senior Brother Reiki!" Shizune said, her enthusiasm palpable. 

"Prepare breakfast for him? Didn't he make it himself?" Shisui was confused. 

"Senior Brother Reiki goes for morning exercises every day. He says it's not healthy to eat right before working out. So, I want to prepare breakfast for him after he finishes!" Shizune explained. 

Before she could elaborate further, Nozuki and Shisui dashed out of the yard, determined to catch up with Reiki and ensure he didn't forget them. 

"Eh? You guys are here too?" Reiki turned, surprised to see his teammates. 

"Of course! We're training together today, right?" Shisui replied, catching his breath. 

"Exactly," Reiki said, not waiting for any criticism. "I have the next training plan ready!" 

--- 

Later, at the training ground, Obito frowned as he confronted Reiki. 

"Boss Reiki, this isn't fair! We couldn't even defeat you on our own, and now you bring in reinforcements?" 

As a member of the Uchiha clan, he recognized Shisui's talent and felt the odds were stacked against them. 

Kakashi, however, offered a different perspective. "It's good. In this kind of battle, we can better discover our weaknesses. Plus, it's a relief not to be beaten by Reiki all on my own. At least the frustration won't be so overwhelming!" 

Might Guy nodded in agreement, enthusiastically ready for the challenge. 

After everyone had finished breakfast, Reiki returned home, feeling a sense of satisfaction from the morning. 

"The teacher is out," Shizune noted, her voice low. "She said we'd rest today, then start on low-level tasks tomorrow to get some exercise." 

Reiki's expression turned serious. "But Shizune, why does it feel like something's off? The teacher seemed angry when I saw her. Did something happen?" 

Shizune hesitated. "Today, someone from ANBU came to speak with her…" 

Reiki frowned deeply at that. It was unusual for Tsunade to be disturbed by ANBU unless something significant was afoot. 

"Sir Morishita, may I ask you something?" Reiki ventured outside, gazing into the shadows. 

Suddenly, a dark figure emerged from the depths, stepping into the light.

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