When the issue with the Police Forces finally settled, Takeshi was soaking in the hot springs with his friends, sipping juice and chatting merrily.
That night, each of them stayed in a single room.
Of course, Takeshi covered all the expenses.
As for where the money came from...
An anonymous account would always transfer a vague amount of money to Takeshi every month.
...
The next day, while Takeshi was still curled up in bed dreaming about Kakuzu's unexpected death and inheriting all his money, a loud banging on the door jolted him awake.
Rubbing his sleepy eyes, Takeshi opened the door and saw Obito standing there with a pitiful expression.
"What's wrong?"
Yawning, Takeshi stepped aside, signaling for him to come in, while asking what Obito wanted.
"Didn't we agree to help Rin handle her transfer procedures today? Why are you still in bed?"
Obito shook his head, indicating he'd stay outside, and asked when Takeshi was planning to head out.
"Huh? We agreed on that? Let me think..."
Takeshi clearly froze for a moment after hearing that.
Having spent so many years with Takeshi, Obito immediately realized he had completely forgotten about it and repeated what Takeshi had said last night with a bitter face.
"Sounds familiar. Alright, got it. If you don't want to come in, just wait outside. I need to change."
Although Takeshi vaguely remembered something like that, he didn't take it too seriously.
Still, this concerned Obito's lifelong happiness, so it really should be taken seriously.
Fortunately, the solution was actually pretty simple.
"Let's go, idiot Obito."
After changing into his jōnin vest, Takeshi kicked Obito in the butt, motioning for him to follow.
"Hurry it up. I booked the bathhouse for three days—need to be back by noon to continue soaking."
Muttering about how expensive the hot spring tickets were, Takeshi brought Obito to the girls' lodging area and called Rin out.
...
At Konoha Hospital.
Nobi Matsu, who had just recently become the hospital director, sat in his office listening to a subordinate report while constantly rubbing his twitching right eyelid.
"Is something wrong, Director?"
The department head reporting on yesterday's patient intake noticed his superior's strange behavior and quickly tried to curry favor.
"Nothing much. Probably didn't sleep well last night."
Though he said that, Nobi Matsu had a foreboding feeling in his heart.
Come to think of it, Rin Nohara had requested three days off, supposedly to reunite with old comrades. He figured he'd use the opportunity while she was back to have his son meet her.
While the Nobi clan wasn't as influential as the Sarutobi clan, they had joined Konoha back in the First Hokage's time. Marrying a civilian-born girl was already a great concession on their part.
Thinking of his son, who had already mastered the Body Replacement, Clone, and Transformation Techniques before graduation, Nobi Matsu believed the boy had a bright future ahead.
Becoming a jōnin before the age of thirty was well within reach.
...
"Huh? Why is the door locked?"
Just as Nobi Matsu was planning his son's future, a jiggling sound came from the locked office door.
The one fiddling with the handle outside was Takeshi, who had already dug up quite a bit of information on Nobi Matsu.
Behind him stood a visibly nervous Rin and Obito, who kept trying to comfort her.
A bit farther away, the two hospital guards were being held up in conversation by two Root ninja Takeshi had brought with him.
Oh right, Root had been reorganized—they were no longer called Root ninja but rather instructors of the ANBU Training Division. Their positions were officially under ANBU now.
"This one's mine!"
Since this concerned his own happiness, Obito's temper flared, and he immediately prepared to kick the door down.
"Why are you so aggressive? What if the director's having a heart-to-heart with a female subordinate?"
Grabbing Obito by the collar, Takeshi suddenly realized something—this guy he grew up with had actually gotten taller than him.
That settles it—milk with every meal from now on!
Rolling his eyes at Obito, Takeshi injected ice-style chakra into the keyhole, condensing it into a key and smoothly unlocking the door, all while the others looked on.
"You all..."
The sound insulation in the room wasn't great, so the director and department head had heard everything Takeshi said.
Seeing them boldly walk into his office, Nobi Matsu could no longer hold back his anger. He slammed the desk and was about to rebuke them.
At the same time, he shouted:
"Where's security? Why did you let unauthorized personnel into the office area?!"
"Don't be so tense, Director Nobi."
Looking visibly unimpressed, Takeshi inspected the office decor, brushing his hand along the armrest of the sofa on the eastern side of the room.
"Director."
At that moment, Rin Nohara stepped into the office.
The moment he saw her, Nobi Matsu immediately understood the purpose of this visit.
Hah, so they brought a jōnin to back her up? Looks like the rumors about Rin having participated in the Third Great Ninja War were true—she really did have some high-level comrades from back then.
However...
Eyeing Takeshi standing in front of the couch lost in thought, Nobi Matsu couldn't for the life of him remember which female jōnin in Konoha matched her appearance and age.
"You may leave now."
He dismissed the department head with a tone that remained unchanged.
A mere jōnin—there was no shortage of them trying to get favors from him in this hospital.
"Uh, yes, of course."
Nobi Matsu didn't recognize Takeshi, but the department head who had worked overtime during the Uchiha attack on Konoha definitely did.
After all, it was he who arranged Takeshi's hospital bed.
Knowing Takeshi's background, he didn't utter another word, quickly slipped out of the office—and immediately bumped into the two ANBU holding down the security guards.
"Not here for pleasantries, huh? Good luck, you two..."
Seeing the pleading eyes of the security guards, the department head covered his face with a folder and pretended not to notice.
...
"My job keeps me very busy. Technically, based on your level, you shouldn't be here talking to me about this matter, but since Rin Nohara is an outstanding medical professional in our hospital, I'll hear you out."
After straightening his clothes, Nobi Matsu casually picked up the application form Rin had submitted, clearly preparing to humiliate Takeshi.
Even someone as dense as Obito could hear the condescension in his tone.
So he was saying Takeshi didn't have the qualifications to speak to him face to face?
Was he always this bold?
Obito's expression instantly twisted with anger.
Even Rin beside him couldn't help but start worrying for the director.
She just wanted a job transfer, not a bloody incident...