Chapter 425: The Key!

Just as Reiki was about to press his hand on his abdomen to isolate the tailed beast chakra, the energy within him suddenly destabilized, surging uncontrollably.

If not for Reiki's precise mastery over his abilities, the "room" created by his surgical fruit would have shattered under the strain.

Immediately activating his Sage Mode, Reiki reinforced the "room" to stabilize the environment.

"What is this…?" he murmured, perplexed. He prepared to isolate the Rinnegan from the tailed beast chakra in his body to continue his treatment. However, as he worked, the tailed beast chakra within him began to resonate with the seal.

The seal started loosening on its own.

Reiki froze, his eyes widening in astonishment. This had not happened earlier when he isolated the Rinnegan.

"Could this... be the key?"

A shiver ran down Reiki's spine as realization struck him. Otsutsuki Hagoromo had planned this all along.

By embedding a jutsu seal within the Rinnegan, Hagoromo ensured that if Uchiha Madara ever came into contact with tailed beast chakra, the seal would activate automatically. This would release Kaguya Otsutsuki if her chakra was present.

In hindsight, it wasn't just Black Zetsu who had manipulated Madara in the original events—it was a well-coordinated deception by Hagoromo, Kaguya, and Black Zetsu alike.

Reiki couldn't help but feel sorry for Madara. For all his brilliance, the man was a pawn in a far greater game.

Shaking off the thought, Reiki raised his hand and formed a seal.

With a puff of white mist, a White Zetsu clone appeared beside him.

"Go in," Reiki instructed, transferring a portion of the tailed beast chakra into the clone's body. Under his control, the clone placed its hand on the Rinnegan.

The seal on the Rinnegan transferred to the White Zetsu's forehead, leaving the Yin-Yang Release technique intact.

"That's it!" Reiki exclaimed in triumph. His hypothesis had been correct—the seal could be transferred without damaging the Rinnegan.

Opening the door, Reiki found Uchiha Madara waiting just outside.

"Madara-sama…" Reiki faltered, suddenly recalling that he had unceremoniously tossed the elder Uchiha out of the room earlier.

"Give me the eyes," Madara demanded flatly, ignoring Reiki's awkward hesitation.

"Uh… what?" Reiki blinked in confusion.

"I can sense your excitement. You've resolved the issue with the Rinnegan, haven't you? Hand them over," Madara said, his voice steady but firm.

Reluctantly, Reiki handed the Rinnegan to Madara, who inspected them carefully. Sensing no lingering foreign chakra, Madara inserted the eyes back into their sockets.

"Good. I'll keep these," Madara declared, satisfied. "Now, tell me—why are you working with Black Zetsu?"

Reiki sighed, realizing he couldn't avoid the question any longer. "Black Zetsu has information about Kaguya Otsutsuki. By cooperating with him, I can help unite the ninja world against a common enemy."

Madara scoffed. "And the conflict between me and Black Zetsu? Should I call him over and crush him again?"

Reiki shrugged. "If it'll make you feel better, sure. But he's too weak to survive another beating."

"Hmph. I don't waste my time on the weak," Madara replied dismissively. "I'll let this slide for now. Hand me the potion."

Reiki laughed. "Madara-sama, you're acting like I owe you something." Despite his playful tone, he handed over a vial of vitality potion.

"You need to take care of your body if you want to achieve greater heights," Reiki said with a grin.

Madara accepted the potion with a nod, retreating to his room. Before settling in, he erected a barrier to prevent further interruptions.

Watching the barrier take shape, Reiki couldn't help but feel slightly embarrassed about his earlier actions.

Reiki shifted his focus, opening a panel to locate his next target. The recent Five Kage Summit had left many ninja villages regrouping, with most leaders still stationed nearby. This gave Reiki a perfect opportunity to continue his work.

First, Reiki visited the location of Cloud Village.

"Reiki, Medical Ninja?" Gular greeted him, surprise evident on his face. Though Reiki appeared to be a mere nine-year-old, Gular knew better than to underestimate him.

"I'm here to check on Killer Bee. Is he still resting?" Reiki asked with a friendly smile.

Before Gular could respond, Killer Bee himself appeared, rapping as he approached. "Yo, yo, yo! You're here to see me? What's it gonna be?"

Reiki chuckled. "How have you been since the last time I treated you?"

Bee grinned. "Feeling good! My bond with Gyūki is stronger than ever. Why do you ask?"

"I want to treat Yugito as well. Is she still here?" Reiki explained.

"Yugito? She's back in the village. If you want to treat her—"

After finishing his visit to Cloud, Reiki traveled to Iwagakure.

He first treated Onoki's chronic back pain, earning the Tsuchikage's gratitude. Then, he offered treatment to Han and Rōshi, ensuring the tailed beasts within them were in balance.

Each step brought him closer to his goal, ensuring the ninja world would be better prepared for the coming storm.