Chapter 127: Running Away from Marriage
"Tobirama, I thought you were the type who could never sit still," Masahiko said with a smile.
Two weeks had passed since the selection of the Third Hokage. Masahiko originally thought that even if Tobirama stepped down, he wouldn't be able to stay idle and would continue busying himself with various affairs.
To his surprise, Tobirama actually showed a smile. "I feel I should learn a thing or two from you."
Masahiko was startled for a moment, then nodded. "True. Not worrying about anything leads to a long life."
"What about those experiments of yours?" Masahiko hesitated for a moment but asked anyway.
"That place has already been destroyed by me, and the captives have been dealt with," Tobirama replied calmly. "The Edo Tensei (Reanimation Jutsu) has also been sealed away by me and placed within Konoha's Scroll of Seals."
Masahiko paused. "Does Hiruzen-kun know about this...?"
Tobirama shook his head. "Hiruzen-kun likely had his suspicions long ago. Besides, since he has become the Hokage, he must eventually come into contact with these darker aspects."
"Even you admit it's a 'dark aspect'..." Masahiko sighed. "Forget it. The Edo Tensei is quite useful; with it, resurrecting you and your Big Brother will be much easier."
Tobirama was stunned. "But aren't you unable to sense the Pure Land?"
Masahiko nodded. "Once I am strong enough, or once this technique finds its next master, it will be fine."
Tobirama's expression changed. "Next master? Great-Uncle, this technique..."
"I know," Masahiko interrupted. "It doesn't matter. Who knows, maybe one day someone will summon you to fight against me?"
Tobirama smiled bitterly, not knowing what to say.
The two fell into silence until a familiar figure burst into the room.
"Elder Masahiko! Lord Hokage!" It was Sakumo. He had almost instinctively called Masahiko "Grandpa," but seeing Tobirama there, he ultimately used his official title.
Masahiko didn't mind, but seeing Sakumo looking flustered, he frowned.
"What's wrong, Sakumo? What happened?"
"Elder Masahiko, news just came from the Uzumaki side. Yuna is missing."
Masahiko stood up abruptly, instinctively thinking that Kumogakure or Kirigakure had kidnapped her.
"When did she disappear?"
Sakumo smiled bitterly. "Supposedly she left this morning. She left a letter behind. Izuko-kun found it and hurried over."
"She left a letter?" Masahiko breathed a sigh of relief. "What did it say? And where is Izuko-kun?"
"The letter said: 'The world is so big, I want to see it.'" Sakumo spoke with a hint of confusion.
Masahiko's face stiffened, and he didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Over ten years ago, he had said the exact same thing before going to the Hidden Cloud Village. He didn't know where that little girl-kun had heard it and decided to copy him.
Knowing the actual situation, Masahiko relaxed slightly. He had been ready to march on Kumo or Kiri just a moment ago.
"Izuko-kun went to Lady Mito's place. It's said that Yuna seemingly took Lady Mito's son with her as well."
"Dozan?" Tobirama, who had been watching silently, spoke up in surprise. In his mind, Dozan was already a candidate for the future head of the Senju clan.
Masahiko was also stunned, his mouth twitching as he looked at Sakumo.
"What kind of play is this? It couldn't be an elopement, could it? Dozan is only 13, and Yuna is six years older than him. Besides, Sakumo is so talented and handsome..." Masahiko's mind was racing with wild thoughts, feeling completely speechless.
Tobirama sighed. "Great-Uncle, let us go and pursue them. It has only been half a day; the two children-kuns couldn't have gone far."
Masahiko nodded. "I will head toward the Hidden Cloud, you head toward the Hidden Rain. Also, Sakumo, chase toward the Hidden Sand. You don't have to go too far; the chances of them going that way are low."
Sakumo hesitated for a moment. "Elder Masahiko, what about the direction of the Hidden Mist?"
Masahiko shook his head. "They can't sneak onto the Uzumaki clan's ships, and they wouldn't get far walking on water. To guard against the Mist, the elites of the Uzumaki Patrol are all stationed there."
"Then I shall set out first, Great-Uncle," Tobirama said before vanishing from the room.
"Does he have Flying Raijin kunai in that direction?" Masahiko muttered. "You set out too, Sakumo. Don't worry too much; Yuna has plenty of good gadgets on her."
Although Yuna had been obsessed with research over the years and her strength was only at the Chunin level, combined with her various messy pieces of equipment, an average Jonin really couldn't take her down. Furthermore, 13-year-old Dozan already possessed Chunin-level strength himself.
Sakumo nodded and flickered away.
Masahiko sighed, left the room, and took flight once more toward the Hidden Cloud.
"Logically, with Yuna's personality, she should be curious about the Hidden Cloud's research on the Chakra Diffusion Cannon, so the most likely destination is Kumo."
Masahiko flew low, ignoring the alerted ninjas and panicked civilians in the villages he passed.
"She left this morning. If she took this direction, even if they traveled at full speed, those two children-kuns wouldn't have reached the Land of Rivers yet."
"Then, it must be somewhere between Konoha and the Village Hidden in Hot Springs. Hot Springs..."
Just as Masahiko fell into thought, he froze.
"Dozan's chakra?" Masahiko felt caught between laughter and tears. "A small village-kun less than thirty kilometers from Konoha... I found them that easily?"
Masahiko landed. Dozan was leaning against a large tree, looking utterly dejected.
Masahiko had an ominous feeling. Sure enough, seeing Masahiko, Dozan handed over a letter.
"Grandpa Masahiko, you caught up so fast! Take this brat-kun back with you; I don't want to bring him along! Also, don't bother looking for me anymore. Over the last two years, I've secretly made some gadgets to counter your sensing abilities—you won't find me! Don't worry; I'll be back in a year at the earliest, or five years at most... As for Sakumo, though he is a 'good person,' I really do find that white-haired guy a bit annoying. Please stop trying to set us up."
Masahiko held the letter and read it twice, not quite knowing what to say.
"Sakumo got hit with the 'Good Person' card... so Yuna is actually running away from an arranged marriage?"
Looking at the dejected Dozan, Masahiko sighed. "Let's go. Follow me back, brat-kun."
Masahiko created a Shadow Clone to take Dozan back while his main body continued the pursuit.
After circling for dozens of kilometers, Masahiko still couldn't sense Yuna's chakra.
"She really developed a device to block sensing?" Masahiko muttered, making a large loop further out.
"Nothing? Maybe she turned back after dumping Dozan? I should have asked Dozan earlier." Masahiko sighed. Seeing the sky grow dark, he planned to go back and see if Tobirama had any luck; Tobirama had developed his own unique sensing ninjutsu long ago.
After returning to the village, Masahiko went to Mito's house first. Mito was currently "educating" Dozan.
Izuko was also there, her face filled with anxiety.
"Sensei, you've returned." Izuko didn't even ask for the result, as if she already knew Masahiko would return empty-handed.
Masahiko was startled. Before he could ask, Izuko explained, "Yuna developed a bracelet capable of shielding all of a person's chakra fluctuations. Once chakra is injected, sensing ninjutsu cannot detect it. Lady Mito has already confirmed this."
"Even Mito can't sense her?" Masahiko frowned.
"This is going to be troublesome..."
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