Chapter 3
The next day, Rei found herself walking home from the Academy with Sasuke. The raven-haired boy was unusually quiet, his usual aloofness replaced with a brooding silence that was starting to worry Rei. She nudged him gently, trying to coax him into conversation.
"Sasuke, are you okay?" she asked, her brow furrowed in concern. He glanced at her, his dark eyes unreadable.
"I'm fine," he replied, his tone curt. Rei wasn't convinced. She knew Sasuke well enough to know when something was bothering him. She decided to push a little further.
"Are you...jealous?" she asked, her tone teasing. Sasuke's eyes widened, and he quickly turned away, his cheeks flushing a light pink. Rei couldn't help but laugh at his reaction. "Oh my god, you are! You're jealous of Naruto!"
"I am not!" Sasuke retorted, his voice rising in indignation. "Why would I be jealous of that idiot?"
Rei shrugged, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Maybe because I spent the day with him instead of you?" she suggested, her tone light. Sasuke huffed, crossing his arms over his chest.
"I don't care who you spend your time with," he said, although his tone suggested otherwise. Rei laughed again, reaching out to ruffle his hair.
"Sasuke, you're my first and best friend. You're not getting rid of me that easily," she reassured him, her tone sincere. Sasuke looked at her, his expression softening. He uncrossed his arms, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"Good," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I wouldn't want to."
They continued their walk in comfortable silence, the tension from earlier dissipating. When they reached the Uchiha compound, Sasuke led Rei to his house, where they spent the rest of the afternoon together. They did their homework, sparred a little, and even cooked dinner together, a simple meal of rice and grilled fish.
As they were cleaning up, Shisui arrived, his usual cheerful demeanor in place. "Rei, it's time for training," he announced, his gaze flicking between her and Sasuke. Rei nodded, wiping her hands on a towel before turning to Sasuke.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Sasuke," she said, giving him a small wave. Sasuke nodded, a small smile on his face.
"See you tomorrow, Rei."
As she left with Shisui, Rei couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment. She had friends, she was learning and growing, and she was happy. She looked forward to what the future held for her.
Training with Shisui was always intense but rewarding. He was a patient teacher, always pushing her to her limits but never beyond. He taught her new techniques, helped her refine her existing skills, and even sparred with her. Despite the grueling nature of their training sessions, Rei always looked forward to them. She loved the feeling of progress, of becoming stronger and more capable.
After a particularly intense sparring session, Shisui called for a break. They sat down on the grass, catching their breath and drinking water. Shisui looked at Rei, a thoughtful expression on his face.
"You're improving, Rei," he said, his tone serious. "Your control over your chakra is getting better, and your Taijutsu has improved significantly."
Rei beamed at his praise, her heart swelling with pride. "Thank you, Shisui," she said, her voice filled with gratitude. "I couldn't have done it without you."
Shisui chuckled, ruffling her hair affectionately. "You're a hard worker, Rei. You're going to be a great ninja one day."
Rei's smile widened at his words. She was determined to prove him right. She was going to be the best ninja she could be, and she was going to protect her friends, no matter what. As they resumed their training, Rei couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation.
As the sun began to set, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, Itachi arrived at the training grounds. Rei, who was in the middle of a sparring match with Shisui, paused to greet him.
"Itachi, you're here!" she exclaimed, her face lighting up with joy. Itachi nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"I am. I heard you've been training hard, Rei," he said, his tone light. Rei beamed at him, her heart swelling with pride.
"I have. Shisui has been a great teacher," she replied, glancing at Shisui, who was watching their exchange with a fond smile on his face.
Seeing Itachi reminded Rei of a question she had been meaning to ask. "Itachi, why did you become a ninja? Do you like fighting?" she asked, her tone serious. Itachi looked taken aback by her question, but he quickly composed himself.
"I became a ninja to protect the village and the people I care about," he replied, his tone sincere. "As for fighting... it's not something I enjoy, but it's a necessary part of being a ninja."
Rei turned to Shisui, her gaze questioning. "What about you, Shisui? Why did you become a ninja?"
Shisui looked thoughtful for a moment before answering. "I became a ninja because I wanted to make a difference. I wanted to protect the village and its people," he said, his voice filled with conviction. "And like Itachi, I don't enjoy fighting, but I understand its necessity."
He paused, looking at Rei with a serious expression. "Rei, being a ninja isn't just about fighting. It's about self-sacrifice... being a nameless shinobi who protects peace from within its shadow. That's the true mark of a shinobi. Are you okay with that?"
Rei considered his words carefully before responding. "I don't like fighting, but I will if it means protecting the people I care about and the village that took me in," she said, her voice steady. Shisui smiled at her, his eyes filled with pride.
"That's a good answer, Rei," he said, ruffling her hair affectionately. "I'm proud of you."
Rei beamed at him, her heart filled with warmth. She was determined to become a great ninja, one who could protect her friends and her village. As they resumed their training, a thought occurred to her. She could also help her team by learning medical ninjutsu.
After training, Rei made her way to the village library. She was eager to start studying medical ninjutsu, hoping to gain a new skill that could aid her in her future missions. However, when she tried to access the medical ninjutsu section, the librarian stopped her.
"You're too young to be looking at these books, dear," the librarian said, her tone stern. Rei frowned, her brow furrowing in frustration.
"But I need to learn medical ninjutsu. It's important," she protested, her voice rising in indignation. The librarian shook her head, her expression unyielding.
"You need permission from the Hokage to access these materials. They're not for children," she said, her voice firm. Rei's frustration grew, but she knew arguing wouldn't get her anywhere.
"Fine. I'll get permission from the Hokage," she said, turning on her heel and storming out of the library. She was determined to learn medical ninjutsu, and she wouldn't let anyone stand in her way.
As she made her way to the Hokage's office, Rei couldn't help but feel a sense of determination. She was going to become a great ninja, one who could protect her friends and her village. And learning medical ninjutsu was just the first step in achieving that goal.
Rei moved swiftly and silently, her small form blending seamlessly with the shadows as she approached the Hokage's office. She had always been good at stealth, a natural talent that Shisui had helped her hone over the past few months. As she neared the office, she felt a familiar chakra signature. 'Hokage-sama,' she thought, a small smile tugging at her lips. But there was another chakra signature, one she didn't recognize. 'A visitor?'
She climbed up the side of the building, her movements agile and precise. She reached the window of the Hokage's office and peered inside, her heart pounding in her chest. She saw the Hokage talking to a man with a bandaged right arm and eye. She didn't recognize him, but she could tell from his stern expression and the way he carried himself that he was someone important. She took a deep breath and slipped through the window, her entrance silent.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, didn't look surprised to see her. He turned to her with a warm smile, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Rei, your stealth skills are improving," he complimented, causing her to beam with pride. He then turned to the man beside him. "Danzo, this is Rei."
Rei bowed politely, her gaze meeting the man's single visible eye. "It's a pleasure to meet you, sir. I apologize for interrupting your conversation. I sensed another presence with Hokage-sama, but I couldn't recognize who it was," she explained, her tone respectful.
Hiruzen chuckled, his eyes filled with pride. "Your sensory abilities are getting better every day, Rei. Soon, you'll be on par with your great grandfather," he said, causing her to blush with happiness.
Remembering why she was there, she cleared her throat. "Hokage-sama, I need your permission to access some materials at the library. The librarian won't let me," she said, her tone serious.
Hiruzen raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. "What materials are you trying to access, Rei?" he asked, his tone curious.
"Medical ninjutsu," she replied, her gaze steady. Hiruzen looked surprised, but he quickly masked it with a smile.
"You're eager to learn, Rei. That's commendable," he said, his tone approving. He then wrote a note and handed it to her. "This should give you access to the materials you need. But remember to pace yourself. Learning medical ninjutsu is not easy."
Rei took the note, her heart filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Hokage-sama," she said, bowing once again. She then turned to leave, disappearing as silently as she had come.
After she left, Danzo turned to Hiruzen, his single eye narrowed. "Is it true that she's only four and already in the Academy?" he asked, his tone skeptical.
Hiruzen nodded, a proud smile on his face. "Yes, it's true. Rei is a prodigy. She's already showing signs of becoming a great ninja."
Danzo's gaze hardened. "And who's training her?" he asked, his tone sharp.
"Shisui Uchiha," Hiruzen replied, his tone casual. Danzo's eye widened slightly, but he quickly composed himself.
"I see," he said, his tone neutral. He didn't voice his displeasure, but Hiruzen could tell what he was thinking. 'Danzo has always been wary of the Uchiha,' he thought, a sigh escaping his lips.
As the two men continued their conversation, Rei was making her way back to the library, the Hokage's note clutched tightly in her hand. She was eager to start studying medical ninjutsu, a new skill that could aid her in her future missions. She was determined to become a great ninja, one who could protect her friends and her village. And learning medical ninjutsu was just the first step in achieving that goal.
Rei arrived at the library, her heart pounding with anticipation. She approached the librarian, her gaze steady as she handed over the Hokage's note. The librarian read the note, her eyes widening in surprise. She looked at Rei, her gaze filled with newfound respect.
"Very well, you may access the medical ninjutsu section," she said, her tone polite. Rei thanked her and made her way to the section, her eyes scanning the numerous books on the shelves. She picked out a few beginner books and settled down at a table, her mind focused on the task at hand.
Hours passed as Rei immersed herself in the world of medical ninjutsu. She learned about chakra control, healing techniques, and even some advanced procedures. She took notes, her hand moving swiftly as she jotted down important points. She was so engrossed in her studies that she didn't notice the time passing.
It was only when the librarian announced that the library was closing that Rei looked up from her books. She blinked in surprise, realizing that she had spent the entire evening at the library. She quickly gathered her notes and returned the books to their shelves before thanking the librarian and leaving.
As she made her way home, Rei couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. She had taken the first step towards learning medical ninjutsu, a skill that would undoubtedly prove useful in her future missions. She was determined to become a great ninja, one who could protect her friends and her village. And she was one step closer to achieving that goal.
Over the next few weeks, Rei dedicated herself to her studies. She spent her free time at the library, studying medical ninjutsu and practicing her chakra control. She also continued her training with Shisui, her skills improving with each session. She even managed to impress Itachi with her progress, a feat that filled her with pride.
Rei's dedication didn't go unnoticed. Her classmates, including Naruto and Sasuke, admired her determination and hard work. Even the teachers at the Academy were impressed by her progress. Rei was quickly becoming known as one of the most promising students in her class, a reputation she wore with pride.
Despite her busy schedule, Rei made sure to spend time with her friends. She often studied with Naruto, helping him with his schoolwork and training with him. She also spent time with Sasuke, their bond growing stronger with each passing day. She even managed to make new friends, her outgoing personality and kindness winning over her classmates.
Rei's life was busy, but she wouldn't have it any other way. She was learning, growing, and making a difference. She was becoming a great ninja, just like she had always dreamed. And she was doing it with her friends by her side.
As she lay in bed one night, her mind filled with thoughts of medical ninjutsu and training, Rei couldn't help but smile. She was happy, truly happy. And she was excited for what the future held. She knew that there would be challenges and hardships along the way, but she was ready to face them. She was ready to become the best ninja she could be. And she was ready to protect her friends and her village, no matter what.