Chapter 140: A Call for Help
Time flew by, and in a blink, it was February of Year 31 of Konoha.
Masahiko, who had been focused on preserving his health and training in the Land of Whirlpools, checked his status bar.
Gentle Fist LV8 (2,138,649/5,000,000)
"At this rate, if I keep training, I should reach Level 9 in about four or five years!" Masahiko exclaimed, then let out a sigh. "However, I just can't stay idle..."
It was already February, and Masahiko needed to escort the five exchange students from the Uzumaki clan to Konoha.
"Taking Kushina to Konoha!" Masahiko muttered, then cheered up. Kushina going to Konoha meant Naruto was in sight!
Masahiko took the five children, bade farewell to their "guardians," and embarked on the journey to Konoha. This time he didn't fly; there was no rush, and the journey provided a good opportunity to give the children some advice.
Masahiko smiled. Seeing that the four children other than Kushina looked nervous, he said, "Don't worry. In Konoha, it's not much different from the Uzumaki clan. If you have any problems, just find me. I will be staying in Konoha for a while."
"Great-Grandpa, does Konoha have little foxes?" Kushina's question made Masahiko pause. She hadn't forgotten what he told her two years ago.
Masahiko shook his head. "When you become strong enough, you'll have the chance to see one."
Actually, Masahiko wasn't sure if he should let Kushina inherit the position of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. Being a Jinchuriki had its pros and cons. With Masahiko around, no one in Konoha would dare force her. It would depend on her own willingness when the time came.
Masahiko glanced at the others again. "If I am not in Konoha, go to the Senju clan grounds and find Grandma Mito Uzumaki."
"Grandma Mito? I haven't met her yet!" Kushina spoke up again, and the other children also looked curious.
The last time Mito returned to the clan was in Year 18 of Konoha for her eldest nephew's funeral. These little ones, the oldest of whom was only ten, naturally wouldn't have met her.
Masahiko smiled. "When we get to Konoha, I'll take you to see Mito first."
Although Mito was Konoha's Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, her own strength and status meant Konoha couldn't really restrict her movements. She rarely returned to the Whirlpool, probably because she married into the Senju clan at only fifteen. Nearly fifty years had passed in a flash, and there were few people or things familiar to her in the Whirlpool anymore. This was a common ailment of the elderly, and Masahiko felt it even more so. Compared to the Whirlpool, he preferred staying in Konoha, where at least there were "acquaintances."
Although he was bringing five children along, they all had some ninja foundation, so their travel speed wasn't slow.
As they walked, Masahiko explained the things they needed to pay attention to in Konoha. In a flash, half a day passed, and Konoha was already in sight.
The gatekeeper ninjas hadn't changed; it was still those two. The Konoha Chunin who had nearly stabbed Masahiko with a kunai smiled sheepishly upon seeing him and offered to lead the group of six to the Hokage Building.
"Forget it. I'm afraid you'll stab me with a kunai on the way," Masahiko teased. "It's not like I don't know the way. I'll take them to the Senju clan first."
"Please go ahead, Elder!"
Masahiko led the five children to the Senju clan. Compared to before, the Senju compound was much quieter; most clansmen had gone to the Hidden Rock battlefield.
Mito was already waiting at the gate. Masahiko turned with a smile. "That is your Grandma Mito!"
"Is this little Kushina? Come here, let Grandma take a look!" Mito clearly showed favoritism, but the other children didn't show any dissatisfaction. After all, Kushina was their "Princess."
"Mito... Grandma?" Kushina called out tentatively. Looking at Mito's twenty-year-old face, she dared not confirm it. As a grandmother, Mito looked much younger than Nanako.
Masahiko was startled. "Logically, Nanako's sealing jutsu attainment should be enough to master the Yin Seal. Why hasn't she?"
Without thinking too much about it, Masahiko watched with a smile as the children introduced themselves and greeted Mito one by one.
Facing Mito, the children were clearly closer to her than to Masahiko. It might be because Mito was female, or perhaps because Masahiko, the Great Elder, was too imposing. Of course, the most likely reason was that the generational gap was simply too large.
"Grandma Mito, do you know where the little foxes are in Konoha?" Kushina's question silenced the scene. Mito frowned slightly, then smiled and shook her head.
"Alright, it's been a long journey. I'll take you children to the Senju guest rooms to rest first. There will be plenty of time to chat about these things later." Masahiko said with a smile, leading the children away before returning to Mito.
"Great-Uncle, do you want Kushina to become the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki?"
Masahiko shook his head. "That was just a little story I told her. I didn't expect her to remember it for so long."
Mito paused. "As soon as Kushina entered the clan grounds, I felt the Nine-Tails become restless inside me. She seems to possess a natural power to suppress the Nine-Tails."
Masahiko nodded. "It's innate. That's why I told her the story of the little fox. Let's see what she chooses in the future!"
Mito nodded and smiled. "The little fox is actually quite easy to get along with."
Masahiko paused, shaking his head helplessly.
The New School Term
In the blink of an eye, half a month passed, and the Ninja Academy was about to start. Masahiko took the five children to register one by one.
Masahiko simply dropped the other children off at their classrooms, but after dropping off Kushina, he waited outside the classroom to hear her "Female Hokage Declaration."
"My name is Kushina Uzumaki. I like salty ramen and hate bitter things. My dream is to become very strong and be able to see Konoha's cute little fox!"
Outside the classroom, Masahiko almost face-planted. Since when did Kushina's dream become seeing a little fox...?
"That's right. As the Princess of the Land of Whirlpools, how could she want to become a female Hokage? I'm really stupid..." Masahiko muttered, listening to the various voices inside questioning what a fox was.
However, no one dared to mock her red hair, probably because Masahiko occasionally showed his face in Konoha.
Masahiko couldn't resist sneaking a peek. Unexpectedly, Minato seemed not to notice Kushina at all; his head was lowered, his brow furrowed tight.
"That's not right. Shouldn't it be love at first sight?" Masahiko muttered as he walked out of the Ninja Academy.
Of course, he wouldn't know that a single phrase—"Ugly. Rejected!"—had made little Minato question his entire life.
Just as Masahiko left the Ninja Academy, Chinese characters flashed before his eyes: Witnessed and slightly changed Kushina's enrollment side story. Received 10 Witness Points.
"500 points. Still 2300 points away from 2800... from invincibility!" Masahiko's expression lifted. The Sage of Six Paths had put some pressure on him, and the Great Toad Sage's prophecy made him somewhat anxious.
Just as he was about to head back, Hiruzen appeared beside him with the Body Flicker Technique.
His expression was urgent, making Masahiko's heart skip a beat.
"Elder Masahiko, Hanzo suddenly violated the agreement and attacked my Konoha forces. Tsunade and the others are in danger. I won't make it in time. You are fast; please go and save them..."
Masahiko was stunned, then replied, "Understood. Don't worry, I'll go!"
Without saying more, Masahiko quickly flew towards the Land of Rain.
In his heart, he knew: Another massive wave of Witness Points is about to arrive on the battlefield.
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