A Pressured Decision

[A/N: Sup...]

Entering his office without any notice Kushina spoke to Rei while slightly confused. "What are you talking about exactly?" Rei didn't answer right away as he sat behind his desk and smiled. "Kushina, how often did you have to help the Fourth Hokage with his work?" Hearing the question out of the blue, Kushina thought to herself.

"Well, normally I would take care of political meetings you know? But sometimes I would also help him with any work he brought home." Rei nodded as he opened the drawer to his side and reached for a stack of papers. "So would you say you're confident enough to run the Leaf in his absence?" Again hearing a strange question, Kushina hesitantly nodded.

"Wait Rei you mean?" Shisui caught on to what Rei was suggesting as Kushina looked between the two of them. "I'm still confused." Shisui turned to Kushina and began to explain. "As you know the Captains and their divisions handle security for the most part and specified tasks linked to the division in question."

Kushina nodded, showing she was following. "Because of their place mainly focusing on security, divisions wouldn't normally get mixed into the decisions made for the Soul Society. All the major questions, reports, and issues would be directed to Rei. However, the issue is Rei cant handle all of the work himself. There is a mix of both important and unimportant issues that take up all his time."

Rei placed the stack of papers in front of Kushina as he spoke. "So the ideal concept would be creating a council of sorts to handle that stuff while I reserve myself. As they make decisions for the betterment of the Soul Society I focus on greenlighting the more important changes and decisions. However, everyone in that kind of Council needs to have a good insight on how things work."

At this point, Rei's intention was obvious. He wanted Kushina to be on that Council so she could lift some of the weight off of him. It's the reason why so far he only had Shisui on it due to his intelligence at such a young age. And with Kushina added to that, it would finally begin shaping things up.

'A council member would have some levels of authority. While she works on the Council she can focus on slowly becoming a division captain. And it'll let me keep a direct eye on her in the meantime.' Excluding the whole getting to trust them part, Zanpakuto was one of their overwhelming advantages military-wise.

Though he did trust Zabuza, Haku, and even more so Shisui after all this time, their souls were not strong enough to become Shinigami, that's why they're still training. Rei did regret he couldn't grab them when they were alive, but this was the hand he was dealt. "I'm guessing you're not gonna turn this down right?"

Coming out of his thoughts, Rei looked at Kushina.

Without a moment's hesitation, she shook her head. "No, I'll do it." Rei smiled as he turned to Shisui. "With the two of you working together I doubt you can complain about not helping me out now. And it should speed up the process of finding more potential council members. Alongside that Kushina I want you to assist in the Lieutenant & Captain recommendation process."

Kushina tilted her head to the side as Rei explained. "Haku and Shisui are knowledgeable generally and can recognize famous Ninja for their time based on the name. However direct recognition from faces is another thing entirely. You've been in the field a lot longer than them so I want you to go through every candidate and see if any of them are recognizable."

'Oh, I see that makes sense. So this is the chance I'm being given to prove myself, meaning I can't screw this up.' Seeing the resolve in Kusahina's eyes, Rei sighed inwardly. 'The Council is coming together and Shisui should be able to manage it just fine. Captain & Lieutenant selection also shouldn't be an issue since we can recognize well-known Ninja by name and face.'

"Well with all these changes occurring alongside the search going on for those Hollows this going to take a while to implement. And with all the heavy work off your shoulders, you're going to have a lot more free time." Hearing Shisui pointing that out, Rei knew he was right. 'I can send everyone else messages about the new information I learned about Hollows later. But for now…'

"I think it's best if I take this time to continue training." Though he was speaking to himself, Shisui and Kushina heard it and gave him a strange look. "Really? I wouldn't imagine you need to get much stronger than you are now." Kushina nodded in agreement. "Indeed for your age, your strength is staggering."

Rei shook his head lightly. "No, I have been putting a lot off due to how much work I've been dealing with. I've barely made any new progress or bothered honing any of my techniques. Believing I'll be able to handle any new threats that appear without putting in any effort is just being ignorant."

While Kushina was making an almost baseless guess just from what she saw from Rei, Shisui had seen him when he snapped. But in the end, that was when Rei was wielding Ryujin Jakka's power without reserve. It was a tiring process and more than that if he wanted to master Ryujin Jakka more.

He didn't dare use it inside the Soul Society. Now that thousands of people lived there, hell, he didn't trust himself enough to use it in a sparring match. 'Mastering Ryujin Jakka and increasing my skill in Hakudo, Flash Step, Zanjutsu, and Kido. I'm going to have to bring it all up a notch.' Staring at Rei for a moment, Shisui shrugged his shoulders.

"Well, I guess it is reassuring knowing the Soul Society's number one force is getting stronger. I'll try to make sure none of us fall too far behind you." With that, both Kushina and Shisui left Rei's office. "Looks like he's become a lot more welcoming than we first met." Compared to how he was acting before, now Kushina felt relieved.

"Everyone here has died under their own unique circumstances. I personally find the fact I can make difference even after death reliving in a way. No matter the village or identity everyone is given a fair shot and chance at a second life. It makes some things easier to handle knowing your one of the people who helps manage that."

"I can see that. Knowing friends and family will be in good hands after the end is a weight off your shoulders." As they walked, Kushina thought about the insane amount of things she had gone through when alive. So many missions took her to so many different places, and with it, her fair share of death.

'You'd think after dying all of your worries would disappear and you'd get some sort of retirement. But I guess this isn't so bad.' From that point on, that day marked when Kushina was officially concluded into the Council. Rei eventually did get around to telling everyone what he learned about hollows, and it only caused everyone to up their guard.

Despite the chaos this situation could have caused, thanks to Kushina's original suggestion, they could hunt for potential hollows a lot easier. And the number of hollows that came from those suspects continued to grow as the days went by. Initially, Rei thought about revealing the hollow's existence to the Soul Society; however, that would cause panic.

So instead, Rei decided to let information about them leak slowly but surely. Start it off as rumors and work its way from there so people would feel the urge to stay inside at night instead of cowering in fear. It was through all of this that the situation was kept under control. With all of that settled, for the time being, Rei's mind focused on three things.

One was trying to find the strange force that keeps trying to reach for him and being blocked by Ryujin Jakka. Two was making sure Zabuza, Haku, Shisui, and Kushina's Soul training was taken care of properly to yield the best results. Finally, Rei had the time to start dealing with his own training in private.

The Soul Society continued to run its course this way for days, and as those days built up, it turned into weeks and eventually months. And as the end of the year began to approach, it was only then that things in the outside world began to quake. And one such quake had reached the Leaf Village not too long ago.

"And this is confirmed to be from the Raikage?" Tsunade was sitting in the Hokage's office talking to Shusine, who was standing beside her. "Yes, my lady." A Kage Summit was a huge deal. It meant a Kage of one of the five nations deemed something a big enough issue that either their nation or nations needed to deal with it.

It had been a long time since the incident dealing with Rei and Danzo. However, due to how information travels, Tsunade knew the other Kage had finally gotten word about it at most a few months ago. Even though the message sent by the Raikage alluded towards the Akatsuki, there was also another mention. And that regarded a 'Troubling Force' growing in the Land Of Fire.

Having read the message as well, Shizune looked towards Tsunade. "Staying neutral won't work if all the other nations conclude that they want to get rid of Rei. And the battle that ensues will take place inside of the Land Of Fire if it does." Tsunade didn't need to be reminded as she sighed. "I understand that." Although she didn't know precisely how the Soul Society was growing, it most certainly was.

And that meant the possibility that Rei and others like him existed was increasing. From what they had seen all that time ago, he was already capable of destroying the Hidden Leaf in a sea of fire. Letting a full-blown war against people like that occur in the Land Of Fire would be the worst-case scenario.

'But if the other Villages pressure us then there is nothing we can do. Rei has already broken way too many guidelines based on many different treaties. Even though I convinced the Daimyo and the elders to let him off it doesn't mean the other nations will.' For a moment, Tsunade closed her eyes before concluding. 'In the end, the Villages safety comes first.'

"Shizune I want you to bring me, Ino Yamanaka." Shizune's gaze changed for a moment before she nodded. "Yes, Lady Tsunade." Leaving the Hokage's office, there was a moment where Tsunade simply looked out of her office window. There was still a section of the Village slightly less developed and cruder than the rest.

It acted as a constant reminder to Tsunade as It was the part of the Village where Rei ended up burning down. "They just seem to get younger and younger. But it's still the newer generations that cause the most issues." Whispering to herself, Tsunade heard a knock on the door. "Lady Tsunade I've bought her here."

Tsunade called them in and following behind Shizune was Ino. Compared to the beginning of the year, Ino had officially joined a force within the Leaf Village. Although she was initially advised against it by friends and family, her progress in increasing the effectiveness of her clan's techniques was evident.

Now she was wearing a uniform modeled from the Torture and Interrogation forces. A large dark purple cloak covered her while she wore her more loose clothing underneath. That, accompanied by her long hair covering her face and back, made her more fit for some of her new assignments that required interrogation.

"You called for me Lady Tsunade?" Tsunade nodded as she put on a smile. "Yes, Ino I know you have been busy lately. Despite still being less talented in Medical Ninjutsu compared to Sakura you've been doing extremely well in all other areas. That includes your rapid improvement when it comes to your clan's specialty."

Hearing Tsunade's sudden praise, Ino was slightly wary as she thanked her. "I appreciate it Lady Tsunade, your training paired with the right motivation has done wonders for me. However, I'm guessing you didn't call me here just for that." Ino spotted Shizune's strange shifting as she looked back at Tsunade.

"Ino everything I say is to stay confidential for now understood?" Ino nodded, and with her agreement, Tsunade told her about the Kage Summit. At first, Ino didn't understand why Tsunade would share something like that with her. But as she spoke, she slowly began to understand precisely why.

"Lady Tsunade what exactly are you…" Ino's words trailed as Tsunade put her hands together. "As you know we have been making sure any of our involvement with Rei has been kept secret. Our neutral standpoint on that has not changed. However, it appears that at Kage Summit the chances that Rei will be brought is almost a guarantee. And even more, so that he will be dealt with."

"Rei's thoughts on the Leaf as a whole are most likely negative and he's a danger to us all. However, he seems more hospitable towards Team Asami and to you. He considers you as not a threat at the very least means it's possible for you to speak with him. This is less of a request on his part than a warning." Ino took a deep breath and tried to rebuke Tsunade. "Lady Tsunade I don't thi-"

Before she could finish, Tsunade spoke once again. "As soon as possible he needs to immediately vacate the Land Of Fire or we can not be held responsible for what happens next. While the Akatsuki are still hunting for the Tailed Beast including Naruto, I have gotten reports that they have also been searching for Rei in particular. That only makes the situation worse..."

Mixing up her words, Tsunade leaned inwards. "I hope you can understand how important this is Ino. With your assistance well be able to save more than we will lose by the time the Kage Summit is called." Tsunade left almost no room for Ino to say or refute anything. It was clear she was forcing her into a corner.

"Yes, Lady Tsunade I'll prepare myself right away." Tsunade nodded as she said one last thing. "You'll be accompanied by members of the Anbu Black ops to the perimeter we've set up around Rei's location." With that, Ino left the office, creating a thick atmosphere that lingered. Shizune turned to Tsunade and spoke to her.

"It's not like you to pressure someone like that Tsunade especially when it comes to a mission." Tsunade nodded in agreement. "I know however we need to use whatever we can. Rei must be removed from the Land Of Fire before it's too late. Sadly that means even her personal feeling on matters must be tossed aside."