Genma was making his way from the Hokage's office to return some books she no longer needed to the hospital library when he ran into Raido. "Hey there, I have some information you might want to hear."
Genma looked at his friend in surprise. "Yeah? Good stuff?"
"Maybe. Follow me."
So Genma returned to the Hokage's office, books in hand. When they got there Raido approached Lady Tsunade. "Lady Hokage?"
She looked up from the never ending pile of paperwork on her desk. "Yes Raido?"
"I have an idea to share with you, concerning the young women staying in the village, Emi." Raido began.
Lady Tsunade's interest was instantly notable, putting down her pen and pushing the paperwork aside she gave Raido her full attention. "Yes?"
"Well, I saw the wound the day before yesterday when she was at Genma's." He was interrupted by the Hokage at this.
"She was over there for pain relief?" Genma nodded his answer to her knowing there would be more. "How often has she been to you Genma?"
"Every few days, although it is getting more frequent and I think the pain is more intense with each bout."
"I see. Go on Raido."
"I took the opportunity to ask her a few questions about the weapon. I believe the weapon was poisoned and that there is residual poison in her system."
"Ok. I'm listening."
Genma was also and he had a question. "Wouldn't that have been dealt with when she was treated? And if it wasn't dealt with then why is she still alive?"
"Yes. I'd like to know that also." Emi's voice made them turn around to see her standing in the doorway, pain causing her to grit her teeth.
Genma moved over to her and offered her support as she made her way to a chair. "Do you want help with that?" He asked her this quietly because he knew that needing help grated on her.
"I want to hear what he has to say first." The pain she was feeling was evident in her voice but she raised her head to look at Raido.
Raido nodded to her, "As I was saying, if the poison is similar to the one I use on my sword then it would behave differently from other kinds of poison. I don't know for sure because I've never treated anyone after I've killed them." He smiled humbly. "I know that the poison I use has no antidote, it's why I chose it."
"But isn't that your own development?" Lady Tsunade asked.
"It is, buts that not to say that someone else might not come up with a similar one." Raido took a breath. "My poison can only be removed one way, the extraction technique. I chose it partly for that reason, it's unlikely that in the field, immediately after battle someone will have access to a medic who is both skilled in the extraction technique and prepared to do it quickly."
"Do you know how you were treated Emi?" Lady Tsunade looked at her.
"I don't. I was unconscious when I was brought in."
"So if you're right Raido. How do you explain her condition?"
"Well, I did some reading yesterday after seeing her at Genma's. What I found was that the effects of certain poisons with similar effects can be mitigated by an antidote. In other words, the antidote will seem to be working but the effects of the poison will continue to work, increasing with time," here he paused as if he didn't want to say the rest, "and eventually the poison will still have the same effect."
Lady Tsunade understood the underlying message he was relaying. "You mean it will still kill her, just not immediately?"
"Yes." Raido's voice carried the tone of one who was delivering a message he didn't want to deliver.
"I see." Emi's voice was small and frightened. "So he won anyway, didn't he?" Tears could be seen forming at the corners of her eyes.
Genma crouched next to her. "Hey. We're not giving up, just assessing the full situation. Don't you give up either." His voice was quiet and reassuring and she visibly calmed down.
Lady Tsunade observed the intimate actions between Genma and Emi. "So, the way I see it our options are limited. We could send someone back to the Matsuzaki compound and get the details of her treatment, if they are willing to share them. Or we can simply proceed ahead as if we know they did the least possible." She grimly stared out the window. "Emi? It's your pain, what do you want?"
"I don't know, honestly. What would moving forward entail? I don't want to be a burden."
"Well, I suppose I'd take you over to the hospital and do the poison extraction on you. I should warn you that under the best of circumstances it is very painful. And then we'd proceed from there. And stop worrying about being a burden, we wouldn't offer if it wasn't something we weren't willing to do."
Emi looked up at her, confusion on her face, "I just don't understand why you do it, that's all."
