Chapter 328: Letting Go of Myself
The next day, early morning.
Masahiko expertly piloted the spaceship, bringing Toneri back to the location where they initially launched for the moon.
"It seems you've visited Earth quite often. You've figured out the routine, knowing that launching from here will land you exactly in that hidden spot on Earth. Speaking of which, isn't there another passage between the moon and the Earth?"
Toneri nodded. "That passage is on the other side of the moon. Do you want to go see it?"
"Forget it, I'll see it next time I return." Masahiko hesitated for a moment. "Let's take you to Earth first."
Under Masahiko's control, the spaceship quickly started, breaking free from the moon's gravity. A few minutes later, Masahiko was back in the familiar atmosphere.
He hadn't paid much attention when he flew to the moon previously, but now, personally piloting the spaceship, he realized what an incredible divine artifact it truly was. Not only was it fast and capable of combat, but it could also protect the 'passengers on board', allowing even little Toneri to travel between the moon and the Earth unharmed.
Although this moon was 'artificial' and breathing wasn't an issue during transit, the back-and-forth gravitational shifts would still cause significant harm to someone with an average physique. This spaceship, however, completely negated those effects.
Noticing his expression, Toneri explained softly, "This is a divine artifact left by ancestor Hamura. The ancestors used it to migrate to the moon back then."
Masahiko nodded in understanding. With the Sage of Six Paths having divine artifacts left and right, it was only normal for his younger brother, Hamura Otsutsuki, to have a ship.
"I need to take this apart and study its principles when I have time. If I can mass-produce replicas..." Masahiko showed an intrigued expression.
While they spoke, the two were less than ten thousand meters above the ground. Masahiko looked down at the earth and suddenly smiled. "Toneri, do you know what it means to let go of yourself?"
Toneri was startled. "Is it... relaxing one's state of mind?"
"Exactly." Masahiko flipped and jumped out of the spaceship, plummeting straight down.
Toneri: "???"
Losing its pilot, the spaceship trembled, snapping Toneri back to reality. He hurriedly took control and chased after the 'suicidal' Masahiko.
Masahiko, meanwhile, faced upwards, arms spread wide, falling under the pull of gravity.
"This kid isn't bad, knowing to come save me. But I'm not tired of living; I just wanted to bungee jump from ten thousand meters high for a thrill!"
As the ground drew closer, just as Masahiko prepared to manipulate gravity to steady himself, a familiar voice suddenly called out from below: "Great-Grandpa! You're finally back!"
Masahiko was startled and turned his head. "Kushina, why are you here?"
"Boom..."
It was a sad story.
...
Over ten minutes later, a pale and dusty Masahiko crawled out of the ground.
"Great-Grandpa, are you alright?"
Kushina smiled awkwardly, feeling like she had done something wrong.
Masahiko shook his head speechlessly. Bungee jumping failed, almost killed myself, played too hard. On the other side, little Toneri had it worse; he had been knocked out by Minato and was being carried in his hand.
"I'm fine, I was just... falling for fun earlier. Also, about that child, no need to be on guard, I brought him back from the moon."
"You... really know how to play." Kushina glanced at Masahiko's tattered appearance, then processed what he said. "Brought him back from the moon?"
"Mm, I'll explain all that later. First, tell me why you guys are here?"
Minato 'flashed' over. Masahiko gave him a look and took the unconscious Toneri from his grasp.
"Why hit him so hard..."
Minato smiled bitterly. "When you fell earlier, I thought he did it, so I hit a bit hard. As for why we are here, it's because there seemed to have been an explosion here a few days ago. Kushina and I thought it might be related to you, so we came to investigate."
"Explosion? Oh right, I almost self-destructed a couple of days ago." Masahiko looked thoughtful. He weighed Toneri in his arms, then looked at the 'spaceship' stuck slanted in the dirt, and shook his head speechlessly. "Let's clean up and talk when we get back!"
...
Konoha Village, Senju Clan Compound, Mikoto's house.
Masahiko changed into a fresh set of clothes and explained his experiences over the past few days to Kushina, also learning about some major and minor events from them.
"The Fourth Ninja War is over, huh." Masahiko pondered and nodded. With Konoha fully mobilized, the Rock Village should be unable to hold on.
"Mm, Nawaki and the others should be back in a few days," Mikoto chimed in.
"Great-Grandpa, you should tell us more about the moon," Kushina was full of curiosity.
"Mmm..." A groan sounded, and Toneri finally slowly woke up. His first sight was Masahiko's gentle smiling face.
"Awake? You child, how could you fall asleep while driving a spaceship?"
Toneri: ?
He felt uncomfortable all over, and his head throbbed with a splitting pain. "Didn't you jump out of the spaceship?"
Masahiko spoke gently, "You child, did you have a nightmare?"
Toneri: ??
"Pfft..." Kushina burst out laughing. Minato had struck with full force earlier, instantly knocking Toneri out; he had no idea what happened.
"Senior, who are these people?"
Masahiko continued to smile gently and introduced everyone to Toneri one by one. Then, pointing at Toneri, he said, "This child is named Toneri, Toneri Otsutsuki. I brought him back from the moon."
Hearing this, Kushina's expression became slightly peculiar. "Otsutsuki? How did you get another son?"
Masahiko glared at her. "Get out of here! With this skin color, this hair, these eyes, how could he possibly be my son!"
"But when you opened your Taobao shop, didn't you call yourself Hagoromo Otsutsuki?"
Toneri was startled. "Senior, you and the Sage of Six Paths are..."
Masahiko smiled bitterly, finally understanding where the misunderstanding came from.
"I was just too lazy to come up with a name back then, so I borrowed one." Masahiko explained the story of the Sage of Six Paths to them, then pointed at Toneri. "He is a descendant of the Sage of Six Paths' younger brother, Hamura Otsutsuki."
Minato looked thoughtful. "The Sage of Six Paths actually existed? And the Otsutsuki clan..."
Masahiko smiled. "Not only does he exist, but the Sage of Six Paths might even be peeping at me right now."
Toneri was shocked. "The Sage of Six Paths is still alive? How is that possible..."
"He is indeed dead. He's just using a special method to peep at me from the Underworld."
"Then what about ancestor Hamura?" Toneri looked expectant.
Masahiko was momentarily stunned, then slowly shook his head. "He is truly and completely dead; his soul is probably gone too."
Seeing Toneri's disappointed face, Masahiko smiled and added, "Unless Teuchi from Ichiraku Ramen is Hamura Otsutsuki, then he is truly dead."
"Boss Teuchi from Ichiraku Ramen?" Kushina didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Great-Grandpa, you seem to care about him a lot."
Masahiko smiled. Seeing Toneri's face full of longing and curiosity, he shook his head speechlessly. This child has seen too few people, he's too easy to fool. I need to let him interact with more people.
"Mikoto, where are Naruto and Little Hiko? Have them come meet their new friend."
Mikoto smiled bitterly. "Those two went off to duel somewhere again. Also, Great-Great-Grandpa, the Uchiha must have learned of your arrival. People have been coming more and more frequently these past two days. You..."
"I know," Masahiko smiled. "If Little Hiko changes his name to Masahiko Uchiha, I would indeed feel very awkward."
It could be said that a junior in his own family naming themselves after him was an expression of respect, but a Masahiko from the Uchiha family... it always felt like an insult. Madara would probably laugh at him.
Mikoto breathed a sigh of relief, but Masahiko continued to add, "Since the surname is changing, why not change the first name too? How about Sasuke Uchiha?"
Mikoto was stunned. "Why... Sasuke?"
Seeing Mikoto's reaction, Masahiko shook his head slightly. As expected, Meiling Uchiha's child isn't named Sasuke?
He hadn't dared to ask before because Little Hiko looked too much like the Sasuke from his past life, and he had awakened the Sharingan on his very first day refining chakra, which perfectly fit the setting of Indra's reincarnation.
He was just deceiving himself. As long as he didn't let Little Hiko change his surname to Uchiha, then Meiling's child should be the one named Sasuke Uchiha...
But his conversation with Toneri last night made him realize that it was already Konoha Year 54. All his 'acquaintances' had been born. There was no point in agonizing over it anymore; what had happened could not be changed.
If Meiling Uchiha didn't give birth to Sasuke, could he force her to change her child's name, or make her give birth to another one?
"Great-Great-Grandpa, are you really willing to let Little Hiko change his surname to Uchiha?" Mikoto was somewhat anxious, and Kushina beside her also frowned.
"Whether he changes it or not, you decide for yourselves." Masahiko smiled and shook his head. "I have already decided to let go of myself."
Toneri was startled. "Senior, so I really wasn't dreaming earlier."
"Mm, you weren't dreaming." Masahiko turned his head with a smile, glancing at the four people in the room with varying expressions.
It's me who is dreaming. The me in the dream probably still thinks I'm watching an anime.
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