Chapter 229: Birth Gift
The Chunin Exams came to a close.
To borrow a phrase from a math teacher: there was one, and only one, candidate who became a Chunin.
The candidate's name was not outside Masahiko's expectations: Kakashi Hatake. This also earned Masahiko 10 Witness Points.
Obito was definitely a little unhappy with this result, but Masahiko couldn't be bothered to comfort him; he had performed too stupidly in this Chunin Exam. Even if he had Jonin-level strength now, with this IQ, he would probably still get KO'd by Guy.
"He wasted my guidance." Masahiko muttered inwardly. In his heart, he felt he had taught Obito his trump card—his ultimate moves.
Time passed, and another half-month went by, bringing the date to mid-May of Konoha Year 43.
Mikoto's "due date" was getting closer and closer, but Masahiko noticed that the atmosphere in Konoha had become oppressive.
Nowadays, although various clans in Konoha could be said to be blossoming, the two largest clans were still the Senju and the Uchiha, unchanged since the beginning.
These two clans hadn't been particularly prolific in terms of population in recent years, but combined, they possessed a quarter of Konoha's combat power. Fortunately, the hostile relationship passed down from the Warring States Period hadn't changed; it was just temporarily suppressed.
A few years ago, when Mikoto Uchiha married into the Senju clan, some families panicked, fearing a "regime change" in Konoha.
Fortunately, subsequent developments were relatively normal. After Mikoto Uchiha married, the Uchiha clan paid little attention to this daughter who had married out, as if they had excluded her from the family.
Especially when Nawaki and Mikoto went a full four years without offspring, these families felt more at ease.
But unexpectedly, that "sky-high price carving shop" in the bustling district of Konoha started selling supplements and came up with some "Six Flavor Rehmannia Pills", allowing Nawaki and Mikoto to conceive. This was very annoying to people.
Whether the child born possessed the Senju constitution or the Uchiha's ocular power, it would be fine; the two clans might even tear each other apart over it. But if the child possessed both the constitution and the ocular power, they might truly become the bond linking the two clans.
Unbeknownst to Masahiko, countless people gnashed their teeth in hatred at his Taobao Shop... but still secretly went there to buy a bottle of medicine.
Fortunately, the people of the Naruto world were relatively "simple." They hadn't seen many smear campaigns or internet troll armies. Otherwise, rumors like "The Taobao Shop sells fake medicine" would have spread throughout Konoha long ago.
However, although such rumors didn't spread, Masahiko gradually realized something was wrong.
In recent days, the number of people coming to the shop had obviously increased. They didn't buy medicine, but looked at him with "unique" eyes. Most of them were members of small clans.
Whether in the Warring States Period or in Konoha, if a small clan wanted to gain a voice or a sense of security, they had to "attach" themselves to a large clan, with Senju and Uchiha being the top choices. Therefore, the conflict between these two families also spread to the small clans. The thing these small clans feared most was a union between the two giants.
Although Masahiko was a bit slow, he wasn't stupid. After a while, he realized what was wrong. The various clans of Konoha were obviously more concerned about the movements of the Senju and Uchiha.
"What the hell are they doing?" Masahiko found it hard to understand the thoughts of these people.
Whether the Senju and Uchiha united or not, what did it have to do with them?
As the days drew closer, at the end of May, Masahiko made a move.
Still entrusting Sara to Ichiraku Ramen, Masahiko closed the shop door and wandered out of Konoha.
When he returned an hour later, he had reverted to his original appearance and walked openly through the main gate of Konoha.
However, his image at this moment was really strange. In his left hand, he held a strangely shaped object—it was Optimus Prime transformed into a "truck." In his right hand, he held a small white kitten, which was looking vigilantly at the surrounding environment. This was what he had just brought back from the Fire Capital.
These were the gifts Masahiko had prepared. He really couldn't wait for the 100-day celebration or the first birthday; he would just give them to the child upon birth. Nawaki or Mikoto could just hold onto them for now.
"Elder Masahiko, what are you doing?" The two ninjas guarding the gate asked in confusion.
Masahiko smiled. "I heard Nawaki's child is about to be born. I'm here to deliver a birth gift for the child."
"Birth gift?" The two looked dumbfounded as they watched Masahiko walk away.
In less than half an hour, the news that Masahiko Uzumaki, the Great Elder of the Land of Whirlpools, had come to give a birth gift to Nawaki Senju and Mikoto Uchiha's child spread throughout Konoha. After a moment of stun, all the clans began to curse.
"Having a baby, and you still have to collect gifts?"
There was no helping it. Since Masahiko had given a gift, they didn't dare not to give one, so they all began to prepare.
Inside the Senju clan grounds, Mito also looked blankly at Masahiko's peculiar attire.
"Second Grandpa, what is that in your hand?"
"Oh, this is the birth gift I prepared for Ritian." Masahiko gestured with Optimus Prime, making it transform to show Mito.
"If it's a girl, I'll give her this little kitten."
Mito smiled bitterly. "Second Grandpa, leaving aside how a newborn baby is supposed to play with these things, that name 'Ritian'..."
Masahiko paused and nodded. "That's right, Ritian is a bit ugly. How about Aotian? or Tianzhu?"
Masahiko glanced at Optimus Prime again.
"As long as... you're happy."
Masahiko pondered again. "If it's a girl, this name doesn't sound quite right. What would be a good name for a girl?"
Mito really wanted to say: Even if it's a boy, neither of those names sounds good.
"Great-Great-Grandpa, you're here."
Everything looks brighter when you're happy. Nawaki walked in with a glowing red face and greeted Masahiko.
Masahiko looked at him with a smile. "You should stay home and take care of Mikoto. I'm fine; I just brought two small gifts."
Nawaki smiled embarrassedly. "My sister is taking care of Mikoto closely every day now; I don't need to worry. She said there's about a week left before mine and Mikoto's child is born. She'll take good care of her during this time."
Masahiko was speechless. Even as a single dog, he felt there was something wrong with Nawaki's words.
"Nawaki clearly has a personality destined for a lonely life; he just had dumb luck to land Mikoto." Masahiko muttered.
Sure enough, Mito aside also looked disappointed in him. "Can Little Tsunade's care be the same as yours?"
Pushing Nawaki out, Masahiko muttered, "Still a week? It's soon."
"Meow~" A cat's cry came, making Masahiko's eyelid jump.
"There's still a week left; what about this cat?"
"Second Grandpa, if it's a boy, this cat..." Mito said slowly.
"Hmm... I probably can't return it." Masahiko sighed. "I can give it to Sara. Girls should like this kind of cute animal."
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