Rat – Tiger – Dog – Ox – Hare – Tiger!
Amamiya Rei's hands moved swiftly, forming the seals.
"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"
From Rei's mouth, several tiny fireballs shot forth—only to flicker out midair, vanishing before they could reach their target.
They looked no different from dying candles, burning faintly until the final spark, a mere gust of wind was enough to extinguish them.
"..."
Rei blinked in disbelief.
This... should it be considered a success? Or a failure?
Well... perhaps it was still a success!
Although the power was pitifully weak, at the very least, the technique had taken shape.
Cautiously, Rei turned his gaze to the side, stealing a glance at Uchiha Fugaku. A strange, guilty unease welled up inside him.
It was the same guilty unease as a student who, after losing their cheat sheet, performed poorly on an exam—now standing before the stern gaze of the homeroom teacher.
The pitiful sparks of Phoenix Sage Fire Technique stood in stark, almost humiliating contrast to that terrifyingly massive Great Fireball Technique he had unleashed before. The difference was heaven and earth.
Uchiha Fugaku's pitch-black eyes bore into Rei, unblinking, unwavering.
The intensity of that stare made Rei's skin crawl with discomfort.
Sensing Rei's unease, Fugaku shifted his gaze away. Inwardly, however, he passed his judgment.
— "Exceptional talent for ninjutsu, but performance is extremely unstable!"
For the rest of the morning, Fugaku devoted all of his time to instructing Amamiya Rei in properly mastering the Phoenix Sage Fire Technique.
Only when Rei's technique reached a level not inferior to Fugaku's own did Fugaku finally allow him to leave.
For the first time, Rei had caught a true glimpse of Uchiha Fugaku—the terrifying demon-like instructor.
Surely this man had to be a Virgo!
Not only endlessly critical, but consumed by the most merciless perfectionism.
Unless Rei's technique reached the standard Fugaku deemed satisfactory, he simply would not let Rei rest.
By the time Amamiya Rei returned home at noon, he was completely exhausted. He only recovered enough energy to head to the hospital after taking a nap to replenish his strength.
And the moment he stepped into the main hall, he froze.
There, standing amidst the flow of shinobi and patients, was a familiar figure.
Uchiha Shisui.
He had returned from a mission? But... why was he here, in the hospital?
Shisui shouldn't have been injured. By now, he had already awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan—so few in the shinobi world could ever hope to match him. The chance of him being wounded was laughably small.
Rei's sharp eyes swept quickly across Shisui's body. No wounds, no blood. Instead, what caught his attention was the faint glow flickering in Shisui's eyes.
In that instant, Rei understood.
He had come to disturb Rei's meal.
"Rei, are you busy right now?"
Even though it had only been a few days, Shisui felt as if he hadn't seen Rei for half a year. Rei seemed different now—more open, more alive, more accepting of Konoha.
The sight filled Shisui's heart with quiet happiness.
Hearing Shisui's question, Rei nodded without hesitation.
Yes. He was very busy.
Busy replenishing his nutrition.
Shisui had best not get in the way.
A small shadow of disappointment passed through Shisui's heart, but it was gone in the next breath. Just seeing Rei again was enough for him.
"Then... I'll wait until you're done," he said gently.
Rei replied coolly: "Suit yourself."
With a lofty air, he entered the hospital ward.
Revealing a mouth full of fangs.
Nutrition meal—he had arrived!
The door shut tight behind him.
From the corridor, Honma Mei, who had witnessed the entire scene, couldn't help but glance several more times at Uchiha Shisui.
Her kind heart stirred, and she sought to comfort this lovestruck boy's fragile heart: "Rei takes her patients very seriously. To her, nothing matters more than saving lives. She finishes work at five-thirty...you might try again around five."
Mei kindly reminded this young Uchiha.
Shisui gave her a small shake of his head, offering thanks before answering firmly, "No. I'll wait for her to finish here."
Mei's pupils widened slightly. "You're going to wait five whole hours?"
Shisui nodded.
Five hours wasn't long at all. He couldn't understand why this medical ninja looked so surprised.
Mei clicked her tongue repeatedly in her heart. Fine then!
She was just too out of touch with this era of head-over-heels teenage romance.
Very well—youth in love had their own madness. No amount of persuasion would move them.
She gestured toward the benches. "You can sit there while you wait."
"Thank you," Shisui said with quiet sincerity.
Waving her hand dismissively, Mei hurried off into another ward.
Perhaps under Rei's influence, the entire hospital had recently been working at a much higher efficiency.
[Ding!]
[Scanning in progress...]
[Scan complete.]
[Congratulations, host has obtained: "Ninja A Meat Chunk" ×1]
[Ding!]
[Scanning in progress...]
[Scan complete.]
[Congratulations, host has obtained: "Ninja B Meat Chunk" ×1]
[Ding!]
[Scanning in progress...]
[Scan complete.]
[Congratulations, host has obtained: "Ninja C Meat Chunk" ×1]
...
To Rei, the sound was heavenly music.
Time passed without notice until finally, with a satisfied burp, he leaned back.
Casting a glance at the wall clock, he affectionately patted the unconscious shinobi's cheek.
"You must take good care of your body," he said with utter sincerity, even though the patient remained fast asleep.
Rei's greatest wish was for every shinobi of Konoha to grow plump and well-fed.
Satiated, he removed his gloves and white coat before stepping out into the corridor once more.
Rounding the corner into the main hall, he instantly spotted Shisui rising from his seat.
Their eyes met. Shisui walked quickly toward him.
"Rei, may I take you out for yakiniku?" Shisui asked, voice filled with expectation.
Just then, Honma Mei happened to pass by and kindly added: "I can help you inform Kushina-sama."
"..." Rei's silence was heavy.
Shisui even had accomplices? Already?
It hadn't been long at all, and yet the boy's handsome face had already swayed Mei into playing his wingman?
Rei could not deny it—among the Uchihas, handsome men abounded, and Shisui was certainly one of the finest. But no matter how handsome they were, in front of Amamiya Rei they were simply not worth comparing!
Because Muzan's male form was the most handsome of all—unparalleled and peerless.
Which meant that no matter how handsome someone else might be, they could never surpass Rei himself.
Still... he had eaten much heavy meat today, some lighter meat might indeed help with digestion.
And since Shisui was offering to treat him, Rei could reluctantly agree.
He nodded.
Shisui's lips curved upward in a rare, gentle smile.
The yakiniku restaurant was bustling, packed with people.
While Shisui busied himself grilling the meat for Rei, he asked about his work at the hospital.
"I may dislike shinobi, but I don't want to see anyone get hurt," Rei said between bites, "That's why I chose to work at the hospital."
Shisui gazed at him, his eyes softened with quiet warmth.
He had always known. This was who Rei truly was: gentle, kind, compassionate.
"I'll be in the village for quite some time," Shisui ventured, watching him carefully. "I heard you've been training, haven't you?"
Rei nodded. "That's right."
"I could teach you as well... may I come tomorrow?"
Rei studied him for a moment. One after another: Kakashi, Shisui, Fugaku...
This training lineup was turning into an all-star cast.
Finally, he inclined his head. "You may."
Shisui's lips curved into a faint smile.
He could feel it, the icy wall between them slowly melting.
Rei had always been soft-hearted.
After the meal, Shisui insisted on escorting Rei home. Rei didn't refuse because on the way back, he needed to find the right opportunity to plant a spore on Shisui's body.
***