Chapter 560: Chapter 560: It’s Reiki’s Turn
The aftermath of Hatake Sakumo's intense battle with Kaguya Otsutsuki left everyone in awe. Kaguya, known for her stoic demeanor, even found herself admiring the swordsman's skill. Sakumo's mastery of swordsmanship, combined with his newfound enhancements, had momentarily put Kaguya on the defensive—a rare feat indeed.
While Kaguya had managed to avoid critical injuries thanks to her space-based abilities, Sakumo's strength was undeniable. Each slash carried power potent enough to shatter her defenses briefly, and the chakra coat that enveloped him added another layer of danger.
The moment Sakumo's sword cleaved through space and erased one of Kaguya's arms, the entire battlefield fell silent.
Reiki quickly sprang into action.
"Teacher, Orochimaru-sama is in your hands for now!" he called out, tossing Orochimaru over to Tsunade. He then darted toward Sakumo, who had been knocked back by the energy backlash.
As Reiki reached Sakumo, a shadowy figure emerged beside him—a ghostly manifestation resembling a wise, elderly man. The figure extended its hands, stabilizing Sakumo's energy-ravaged meridians.
Reiki placed his hands on Sakumo as well, absorbing the violent energy wreaking havoc within his body.
"Just relax. I've got you," Reiki said calmly.
A familiar system notification rang in Reiki's mind:
[Ding! Congratulations to the host. You've successfully healed Hatake Sakumo and gained the ultimate swordsmanship technique.]
With Sakumo stabilized and healed, Reiki moved on to his next target—Kaguya Otsutsuki.
Kaguya, in the process of regenerating her lost arm, watched as Reiki approached. She allowed him to proceed with the treatment, curious about his motives.
"Reiki, the power that erupted from Hatake Sakumo earlier... That was your doing, wasn't it?" she asked, her tone neutral but probing.
"Ah, yes," Reiki replied without hesitation. "I just thought it'd make your training more exciting. And who knows? Maybe you'll find it useful when it's time to put those pompous Otsutsuki in their place!"
Kaguya raised an eyebrow at his nonchalant response, but a faint smile tugged at her lips. She appreciated his audacity—and his results.
With Kaguya healed, Reiki intended to step back and observe, continuing to support from the sidelines. But before he could leave, a powerful pull drew him into the center of the battlefield.
Beside him, Shisui and Nozuki were also pulled into the fray.
"Reiki, I signed us up for this match!" Shisui announced cheerfully.
Reiki's face darkened. "You did what?"
Shisui, ever the enthusiastic teammate, grinned. "Come on! This will be fun!"
Reiki sighed heavily. "I thought you were the calm, reserved type... When did you turn into this overly energetic mess?"
Nozuki smirked. "Shisui, save the chatter. Let's focus."
The three now stood face-to-face with Kaguya, who regarded them with an amused expression.
"Do you need time to prepare?" she asked teasingly, her tone clearly directed at Reiki.
Reiki's stomach churned. He could already picture the hundreds of black rods Kaguya would undoubtedly shove into him.
"Yes, we do," he replied without hesitation.
Turning to Shisui and Nozuki, Reiki placed his hands on theirs, transferring his chakra into their bodies.
"Take this and don't argue. Let it circulate, and get ready to use your full strength!"
"This much chakra…" Shisui began, his eyes widening.
"Don't waste time talking! Shisui, I want your Susanoo at full power. Full-body form, no holding back! And don't worry about your eyes—I'll heal them as many times as needed."
Kaguya watched the exchange with interest. Reiki's ability to distribute chakra so effortlessly was impressive, and his boldness was almost endearing.
As the preparations concluded, Reiki clenched his fists and steeled himself. He had initially planned to avoid direct combat, but the system had other ideas.
[System Notification: Treatment Mission Activated!]
Objective: Join your teammates, injure Kaguya Otsutsuki, and then heal her. Reward: Double healing drops for the next 30 minutes.
Reiki groaned. "Of course, you show up now…" he muttered under his breath.
Despite his complaints, he couldn't ignore the rewards. If injuring Kaguya meant gaining more power and experience, then so be it.
Turning back to his teammates, he gave a wry smile. "Alright, let's give her everything we've got."
Kaguya's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Well then, let's see what you're capable of, Reiki. Don't disappoint me."
With that, the battle began.