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Year 42, Senju training ground, Konoha
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Ryoichi was inside his personal training ground working on his Bloodline limit.
It was a rare moment for him since it was the first time he trained after returning from the future.
It's been almost a month and his busy schedule had left him little to no free time. One after another he's being occupied whether from the Senju clan's affairs, Anbu's management, Konoha's politics or the development of Akihara village.
The future knowledge also prolonged his personal research time which honestly wasn't a problem.
'It's the amount of time I have to spend on managing different organisations.' Ryoichi thought. And it was true. He took control of all these organisations to collect resources for his research. But as he becomes stronger and stronger he are feeling them becoming shackles.
At this point, there was almost nothing that Ryoichi couldn't forcefully acquire that his organisation could.
'And now managing these organisations is cutting in my research time completely opposite to what their purpose was.'
Ryoichi thoughts were interrupted when he felt one of the Senju Anbu entering his range.
He cut off the Chakra supply making the green sphere before him slowly fade, causing the suspended fox to fall on the ground.
'Chrono Statis, the signature move of the Wizard King Julius Novachrono' Ryoichi thought as the Anbu finally reached him and knelt behind him.
"What is it?" Ryoichi asked turning around.
"Patriarch, Prince Nawaki was attacked." The Anbu said making Ryoichi pause a bit before asking.
"So?"
"The guards you left alongside the Anbus protecting him were able to save him but he received severe injuries." The Anbu answered.
"Where is he now?" Ryoichi asked.
"In the hospital, Princess Tsunade is healing him."
"Hmm, lead me," Rhoichi said making the Anbu start Flickering.
Ryoichi followed the Anbu to Konoha's main hospital where he was led by the Anbu to a certain room.
Standing outside, Ryoichi saw the Nawaki lying on the bed with life life-supporting attached to his bandaged body. Ryoichi also Mito and Tsunade standing beside the bed looking devastated.
Mito was in better condition as her sadness was hidden behind her poker face something Ryoichi guessed came after experiencing the death of most of her family. But Tsunade looked crushed with her makeup ruined and her mascara forming tear marks.
Ryoichi opened the door and entered the room making the two women turn to him.
"Ryoichi!" Tsunade all but jumped at him, wrapping her arms around his neck with her head buried in his shoulder.
Ryoichi froze for a moment, not knowing how to respond. And only when he felt his shoulder dampening did he break out of his stupor.
He sighed and loosened the control of his emotions letting them take the reign.
"Shh. It's alright he's going to be fine." Ryoichi consoles, caressing her head softly.
"But he's not! I have healed all his injuries but he's still not waking up from his coma, even Yamanaka failed to wake him up." Tsunade said between her sobbing.
"Is that so? Let me check on him first." Ryoichi said softly making Tsunade pause and look up from his shoulder.
"Okay…" She nodded slowly
Ryoichi removed himself from her and approached Nawaki. Placing his hand on his forehead he let his Haki flow through the teen's body.
"This…" Ryoichi frowned as he noticed the cause of Nawaki's coma.
""What?"" Mito and Tsunade questioned simultaneously.
Ryoichi stopped touching Nawaki's forehead and turned to the ladies.
"It's not his body and mind that the problem." And answered.
"Then what?" Tsunade questioned, her tearful eyes containing confusion.
"It's his soul. It's in a shocked state." Ryoichi answered.
"What does that mean, Ryoichi?" This time Mito questioned.
Ryoichi looked in her teal eyes and answered.
"His soul went into a shocked state due to exhaustion"
"How?" Mito questioned again.
"I'm not sure but if I have to guess then probably due to the imbalance of yin and yang Chakra." Ryoichi gave a short answer but looking at the confused faces of both ladies he explained further. "Before succumbing to his injuries and losing consciousness, Nawaki deprived his Charka reservoir to its limit and when Tsunade healed him his Chakra reservoir started recovering but the recovered Chakra was too yang in nature due to his bloodline and his exhausted mind not providing any spiritual energy. To balance itself Nawaki's Chakra searched for another source which unfortunately was his soul."
A look of understanding flashed onto ladies face as Tsuande broke down again.
"It's my fault I shouldn't have completely healed him so quickly and given him a stamina recovery blend." She cried.
Ryoichi approached her and wrapped her into a comforting hug.
"No, it's not your fault." He whispered into her ears.
"No, it is. It's all my fault. I was the one who fought with you to let Nawaki go on missions outside the village. You warned me how dangerous it was but I was too stubborn and despite that, you placed Anbus and even a Kage to protect him." Tsunade said, denying Ryoichi's words.
Not knowing what to say to that Ryoichi tried to change the subject.
"It's alright, I have a way to heal his soul." And fortunately for him, it worked as the two ladies perked at his words.
"I have been studying souls for sometimes so I have some ideas on how to cure Nawaki." Ryoichi continued making both lady's eyes shine with hope, but his next words dimmed them.
"But it will take time, as my knowledge and mastery aren't quite up to the task."
After that Ryoichi revealed some information about the souls and some ideas how to heal them.
Tsunade asked to be part of the research which Ryoichi wanted to decline but her flushed face and puffy eyes shining with determination made it impossible.
After comforting them some more Ryoichi exited the hospital, leaving the two ladies alone.
He walked up to a remote place as a shadow materialised behind him.
"How did this happen?" Ryoichi asked in his usual voice but the Shadow could feel the cold anger hidden behind it which surprised the Shadow as he had never seen or felt his master angry.
"We were ambushed by Shinobis who were after Nawaki's life and managed to seriously injure him." The shadow replied with his head low.
"Isn't this the exact reason I placed you to protect him, Ryomen" Ryoichi questioned his eyes narrowing behind his glasses.
"Yes."
"Then how did the situation escalate so much."
"Master, the people who attacked Nawaki were Mizuki's members." Ryomen's words paused Ryoichi.
"Mizuki, you say? How do know it was Mizuki?" Ryoichi questioned as Ryomen felt Ryoichi's cold fury disappearing, replaced by the familiar void of emotions.
"Master, I was able to capture the one leading the attack. After interrogating him I found him not only belonging to Mizuki but also the secret organisation that buys their corpses contacting them a few days earlier. That's why they were so desperate, going as far as to attack Nawaki despite him being protected by many Anbus and a Kage-rank Shinobi." Anbu answered.
"Is that so?"
"Yes, master."
"Then tell Aina to prepare, we will intercept their next meeting," Ryoichi ordered making the Anbu nod and disperse in the shadows.
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