Chapter 150: Nightmare
In a cave in the southwestern part of the Land of Fire, Masahiko slept, his forehead covered in cold sweat.
His body convulsed, and he suddenly sat upright, opening his eyes with a slightly dazed expression.
"Was that... a nightmare?" Masahiko muttered, looking around at his surroundings.
After a long while, he slowly let out a breath of relief.
"I haven't had a nightmare in a long time. It was pretty scary. If that battle ended like that, I'm afraid the Uchiha would have unified the ninja world..."
Masahiko looked around. The Katsuyu summon had long since disappeared, and the Four Red Yang Formation at the cave entrance was gone too, replaced by a giant spider web.
"What the hell? Did I enter the Spider Cave? How long was I out..."
Masahiko froze, suddenly feeling this scene was inexplicably familiar.
"It can't be. Why is it exactly the same as in the dream?"
"Earth Release: Super-Weighted Boulder Technique (Super Hardening Technique)!" Masahiko formed seals, hardening his entire body.
A Fire Release burned away the spider web, and Masahiko walked out of the cave in a few steps. The dazzling sunlight hit him, but Masahiko forced himself not to close his eyes.
"Phew, it didn't happen again..." Masahiko muttered, breathing a sigh of relief.
Outside the cave lay the same forest, though Masahiko felt it was slightly more lush than before.
"Hmm, some time must have passed."
"Then, I'll go see what happened to Madara first. The Rinnegan can't be left wandering outside."
Masahiko flew rapidly northward, returning to the previous battlefield.
"Here... it actually turned into this?"
The landscape before him had changed completely. The water left over from Masahiko's Water Release seemed to have evolved into a wide river. Many people who looked like commoners were building a bridge. Masahiko slowly descended.
The crowd's gaze converged on him, and an old man walked over.
"Ninja-sama, what brings you here?"
Masahiko frowned. He had clearly flown here, yet he wasn't recognized?
"Fixing the bridge?" Finding that he wasn't as famous as he imagined, Masahiko could only ask awkwardly.
The old man nodded. "Yes. During the Great Ninja War over a year ago, Kannabi Bridge was blown up by the ninja lords. Now that the war has ceased, we have to rebuild it to facilitate travel."
Masahiko nodded. "Is that so..."
Suddenly, he felt something was wrong. "Kannabi Bridge? Blown up over a year ago?"
Masahiko looked dazed. "Did I sleep-travel through time? Wasn't Kannabi Bridge blown up by Minato's team?"
Masahiko's expression became complicated as he glanced at the civilians repairing the bridge. "It shouldn't be that not a single person recognizes me..."
The ominous feeling in Masahiko's heart grew stronger. He quickly took flight, heading toward Konoha.
Konoha... Changed?
Ten minutes later, outside Konoha Village, Masahiko stared at the massive Hokage Rock, slightly dazed.
"Hashirama, Tobirama, Hiruzen, Minato!"
"Have so many years really passed in a flash?" Masahiko felt that something was inconsistent, but he couldn't pinpoint exactly what was wrong.
The gatekeeper ninjas of Konoha had changed; Masahiko didn't recognize them. He walked through the main gate, using a simple genjutsu to make everyone ignore him.
Konoha Village looked somewhat dilapidated. Many villagers were rebuilding structures, as if they had just experienced a war.
"This time point..." Masahiko's expression changed several times as he walked quickly toward the Hokage Building.
Along the way, the discussions of many villagers reached his ears.
"Nine-Tails..."
"Fourth Hokage-sama..."
"Sacrifice..."
"Damned demon fox..."
...
"Minato died? To seal the Nine-Tails? How could this happen..." Masahiko felt low.
Arriving at the Hokage Building, an Anbu blocked his path.
Masahiko was startled. Although he wasn't skilled in genjutsu, his Level 8 Yin Release wasn't just for show. He didn't expect someone in the Anbu could see through it.
"Who are you? To dare infiltrate Konoha using genjutsu?"
Masahiko sighed. "To think even I am not recognized. Have the Anbu changed personnel too?"
Just as he finished speaking, the Anbu opposite him trembled slightly and spoke excitedly, "Is it... Lord Masahiko?"
Masahiko paused, then nodded slightly.
The Anbu opposite him ripped off his mask, revealing an extremely familiar face.
"Lord Masahiko, I didn't expect you to still be alive!"
"Hiruzen?" Masahiko spoke subconsciously, then realized. "At this age... you must be Shinnosuke, right? How have the Whirlpool and Konoha been during the years I was away?"
Shinnosuke hesitated, then said, "Lord Masahiko, please go upstairs. Father and the three Elders are all there. You can ask them if you have questions..."
Masahiko nodded and walked up the Hokage Building with trepidation in his heart.
The mission assignment desk was empty, and no other Anbu intercepted him. Masahiko walked all the way to the top floor.
Pushing open the door to the Hokage's office, four people inside looked at Masahiko simultaneously.
Masahiko froze on the spot. Danzo and Hiruzen being in the room was fine, but the other two were actually Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane!
"You two? How did you become Elders? Where is Kagami!" Masahiko demanded.
The four people opposite him were silent at first. Then Hiruzen rubbed his eyes in disbelief and spoke excitedly, "Lord Masahiko? You're still alive! Where did you go after the battle with Madara Uchiha?"
Masahiko waved his hand. "Never mind that. Answer my question!"
Hiruzen paused, about to speak, when Danzo stopped him from the side.
"Don't be in a rush to speak. The person in front of us isn't necessarily Elder Masahiko; it could be someone else using the Transformation Jutsu!"
Facing the doubt, Masahiko didn't get angry; he was currently feeling urgent inside. After a slight concentration, all four people in the room began to float.
"It really is Lord Masahiko!" Homura and Koharu exclaimed, and Hiruzen also looked excited.
Seeing Masahiko's serious expression, Hiruzen hesitated, then shook his head. "Shortly after your battle with Madara Uchiha, the Second Great Ninja War restarted. Kagami sacrificed himself in the Hidden Sand Village."
Masahiko's expression changed several times. Trembling, he asked the question he was most worried about. "What about the Land of Whirlpools?"
Hiruzen's expression darkened, causing Masahiko's heart to sink as well.
"Speak! What happened to the Land of Whirlpools!"
Hiruzen hurriedly said, "Lord Masahiko, the Land of Whirlpools is fine. However..."
After hesitating repeatedly, Hiruzen spoke, "Facing the invasion of the Land of Water, your disciple, Kento Uzumaki, used the Eight Gates Formation..."
"Is that so?" Masahiko recalled bits and pieces of Kento-kun in his mind, and his heart grew cold.
"Then what about Konoha? What happened with Minato?"
"You know about Minato?" Hiruzen asked first, then explained, "Earlier, when Kushina was giving birth, a masked man suddenly attacked and released the Nine-Tails. To protect the village, Minato used the Reaper Death Seal (Dead Demon Consuming Seal), sealing the Nine-Tails and sacrificing himself."
"Used what?" Masahiko's face froze, and he cursed loudly in his heart.
"Where did the Reaper Death Seal come from?"
"This is still a nightmare."
"Two nightmares in a row... so it was you playing tricks... Black Zetsu!"
☆☆☆
-> 30 Advanced chapters Now Available on Patreon!!
-> https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Hollowborn
(Just remove the hyphen (-) to access patreon normally)
If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that's help the story a lot Thank you