"I only came here to eat meat."
Rei corrected him flatly.
Don't go pinning on him some undercover identity.
Black Zetsu: "..."
"If you want meat, then behave and listen to me obediently!"
Black Zetsu barked roughly, trying to sound threatening.
When it came to this monster before him, other than using meat as leverage, Black Zetsu truly could not think of any other method.
Sealing it away...
Black Zetsu could not bear to.
After all, he had cultivated this monster for such a long time.
He had no intention of letting his hard work go to waste.
Moreover, although this monster was defiant and unruly, it had its advantages—its mind was foolishly simple, its luck was extraordinarily good, and its outward appearance flawless.
As long as there was meat, it would obediently listen.
Amamiya Rei looked up at the ceiling and said to Black Zetsu: "I want to eat Minato and Kushina's meat. When the time comes, I'll definitely be there."
Even though Black Zetsu couldn't see the monster's eyes, he could already hear the stubbornness in its tone.
Black Zetsu: "..."
This monster truly feared nothing when faced with the lure of meat!
And it wasn't the first time Black Zetsu had discovered that for the sake of eating meat, this creature would act recklessly beyond measure.
He could not bear to seal it away, and fighting it proved pointless....
So what choice did Black Zetsu have?
He could only help the monster cover its tracks.
He even had to inform Obito, just in case Obito decided to wipe Rei out in passing.
Black Zetsu felt that after this trip to Amamiya Rei's place, the weight upon his shoulders had suddenly become far heavier.
He left, heavy with worries.
Without even saying goodbye to the monster.
---
That afternoon, on the way to work at the hospital, Rei happened to run into Uchiha Itachi, who was carrying Sasuke out to bask in the sun.
"..."
Itachi really had chosen a fine time.
On the very day of the Nine-Tails' Rampage, he brought Sasuke outside to sunbathe.
Itachi also noticed Amamiya Rei. He politely stepped forward to greet him.
So young, and yet he already carried himself like an old soul.
The way he cared for his little brother looked even more mature than their father.
Amamiya Rei bent down slightly, lowering his gaze to fix upon the little Sasuke cradled in Itachi's arms.
At this moment, Sasuke was sleeping soundly against his brother's chest.
Completely unaware that his lifelong best friend was about to be born.
White and plump under Itachi's careful raising, little Sasuke's entire body exuded the kind of meat-fragrance that stirred Rei's criminal impulses.
Unable to resist the temptation, Rei went and bought a box of sweet dango for Uchiha Itachi, exchanging them for the temporary custody of his younger brother.
"May I hold him for a while?"
Rei asked gently, his eyes fixed on Itachi.
Itachi looked at the sweet dumplings in Rei's hand, then looked at his sleeping little brother.
Finally, he passed Sasuke into Rei's arms.
Rei also handed over the box of sweet dumplings to Uchiha Itachi.
A box of sweet dumplings in exchange for brief possession of Sasuke—quite the bargain.
Even if he couldn't eat, holding the child and inhaling his scent was enough to satisfy his craving for the moment.
Amamiya Rei's mouth was watering.
This second brat really was so plump!
Plump was good.
Yes, plump was wonderful!
Children should always be chubby—that's what makes them delicious!
Oh!
No, no!
Children should always be chubby—that's what makes them blessed with good fortune!
"Waaah—waaah—waaah—waaah—"
Rei hadn't held him for more than three minutes before his ears were assaulted by a piercing infant's cry that nearly shattered his eardrums.
He looked down at Uchiha Sasuke, who had opened his eyes and immediately begun bawling at the top of his lungs: "..."
As expected of that bratty second brother!
So young, and already this insufferable!
Hearing his little brother's wails, Itachi panicked.
He quickly set aside the dumplings, stretched out his arms, and retrieved Sasuke from Rei's hold.
Instantly, the moment Sasuke laid eyes on his brother's familiar face, the ear-splitting cries ceased.
The little boy clenched his tiny, pale fists, sniffling pitifully in his brother's arms.
Amamiya Rei: "..."
What a strange pair of brothers!
Itachi gently patted his brother's back until Sasuke's eyelids once again began to droop.
Out of the corner of his eye, Itachi glanced at the half-eaten sweet dumplings, a trace of regret flickering across his face.
What a pity...
The very next second—
The dumpling floated right up to his lips.
Of course dumplings didn't sprout legs and walk to Itachi.
It was the kind-hearted Amamiya Rei who had brought it to his mouth.
There is only one word to describe this action—feeding!
Itachi's eyes widened in surprise as he looked at Rei.
Amamiya Rei: "..."
His patience was limited.
He warned Uchiha Itachi to hurry and eat.
Itachi quickly ate up the sweet dumplings from Rei's hand.
Lowering his head, his face flushed red as he whispered his thanks.
Amamiya Rei stood up and rubbed his hair.
Thanks were useless—in the future, he would have to repay with meat!
"Don't stay outside too late. Remember to go home early. I need to get to work now."
After leaving those words of advice, Amamiya Rei hurried off to the hospital.
---
Stepping through the hospital's front doors, Rei headed toward the first ward.
Suddenly, a voice called out from behind.
"Rei."
Leaning casually against the service desk in the hospital lobby, Honma Mei called out to Rei.
"Hmm?"
Rei turned his head in puzzlement, walked over to Honma Mei, and asked, "What is it, Mei-senpai?"
Honma Mei pointed at a bouquet of red roses lying on the desk.
"From an admirer of yours."
She gave him a playful wink.
Amamiya Rei: "..."
Who?
It couldn't possibly be Uchiha Shisui.
Shisui had already departed on a mission yesterday, leaving the village.
On the bouquet, Amamiya Rei found a card.
The words written were simple yet restrained—lines of subtle affection. Had Rei not been steeped in the world of the internet for so many years, he might not even have recognized it as love poetry.
There was no signature, so Rei did not know who had sent them.
Most likely, it was from some ninja he had once saved, expressing gratitude.
Unbothered, Instead, Rei dismantled the bouquet and handed out the roses one by one to the young nurses working in the hospital.
"Ah! Thank you, Rei!"
"So fragrant! Rei, you're too kind!"
"What beautiful roses!"
"..."
Rei was met with a chorus of enthusiastic thanks from the nurses.
Watching from the side, Honma Mei: "..."
Such practiced movements.
But thinking about it, it made sense. Everyone in this hospital—including Honma Mei herself—knew that Amamiya Rei was never short of admirers.
So receiving flowers must be nothing out of the ordinary for Rei.
Rei returned to his ward and devoted himself once again to eating meat and saving lives.
Until dusk fell.
Although the time of dismissal was the same as always, because of the arrival of winter, nightfall always came early.
On his way home, Amamiya Rei suddenly felt a tremor in his chest, as though his very heart had quivered. His blood surged violently, restless and unsettled.
He glanced up at the pitch-black night sky—no stars twinkled, only a pale moon hung high above.
Rei lowered his eyes and kept walking forward.
The next instant.
An overwhelming surge of chakra erupted, suffocating in its intensity.
Like a calm sea's surface suddenly overwhelmed by a massive storm surge!
The tidal wave of chakra crashed outward, boundless and unstoppable, as if it would drown the entire village of Konoha.
***