Chapter 201: Awkward
Half a month after Gensuke passed away, the vacant position of the Daimyo of the Land of Whirlpools was filled by his son. Masahiko had originally planned a selection system, but it ultimately reverted to an inheritance system. However, there were absolutely no voices of opposition within the Land of Whirlpools.
"For them, hereditary succession of the Daimyo is probably what's considered normal."
Just like that, Kushina's father, Nikawa Uzumaki, became the second Daimyo of the Land of Whirlpools. With the assistance of the elite Patrol Squad, he began to deal with the backlog of affairs from the past half-month. Meanwhile, Masahiko took the three squad members back to Konoha.
It wasn't that he was anxious this time. Rather, after deciding to abduct Minato to the Land of Whirlpools in the future, Kushina was somewhat eager to confirm Minato's thoughts, knowing that Minato dreamed of becoming Hokage.
"Besides, I haven't collected the fee for the 'Salamander Ancestor' from Hiruzen yet!" Masahiko thought to himself.
In Konoha Village, Masahiko went straight to the Hokage Building, while the three young squad members went to the Senju compound to tell Mito about what had happened in the Land of Whirlpools over the past few days.
"Elder Masahiko, you've returned." Hiruzen was still at the door to welcome him.
Masahiko smiled. "You should have a general understanding of what happened in the Land of Whirlpools these past few days, right?"
Hiruzen nodded. He naturally knew about a major event like the change of the Whirlpool Daimyo.
"That's good. Hand over the money."
Hiruzen was startled, then nodded repeatedly, taking out ten million ryo from the desk behind him.
"This is a small token of our regard as an ally."
Masahiko froze for a long while before reacting. He stuffed the money into his chest pocket, then extended his hand again. "I want the remuneration for the mission."
Hiruzen: "..."
At this moment, he really wanted to say, "Give that ten million ryo back to me," but ultimately, he didn't dare. However...
"Elder Masahiko, there were no Living Salamanders in your mission haul."
"I brought back the Ancestor of Salamanders for you; what more do you want?"
Hiruzen smiled bitterly. "The one you brought back... its species is unknown, so we don't dare use it for the time being."
"It's really not a salamander?" Masahiko paused. "Is the meat poisonous?"
Without waiting for Hiruzen to answer, Masahiko continued, "Even if there are no live salamanders, I collected way more of the other herbs than required. And regardless of what that big guy is, such a massive corpse must have some use."
"Are you sure... you won't even give me a hundred ryo?"
Hiruzen really wanted to say, "I already gave you ten million ryo." After hesitating again and again, he decisively paid up. It was just an A-rank mission anyway; it was only three hundred thousand ryo.
Masahiko took the money and smiled with satisfaction, speaking nonsense. "That's more like it. I was so poor I couldn't even afford ramen. Alright, I'm going to ask Teuchi for a bowl of noodles."
Hiruzen could only smile bitterly as he saw Masahiko off.
After finding a concealed spot to use the Transformation Jutsu, Masahiko navigated his way to Ichiraku Ramen, only to find it undergoing renovation, or rather, expansion.
To the left of Ichiraku Ramen was Masahiko's Taobao Shop, and to the right was the pedestrian street. If Teuchi wanted to expand, he could only figure out a way within his own premises.
"Teuchi really struck it rich; he's building a small two-story western-style building." Masahiko smiled. Unlike before when Teuchi worked hard to renovate it himself, he had now hired several craftsmen to do the work.
In addition, Masahiko saw two notices recruiting apprentices. It seemed Teuchi was overwhelmed even with his whole family pitching in.
Looking at the chaotic Ichiraku Ramen and the frazzled Teuchi, Masahiko didn't go up to disturb him and went directly back to his own shop.
There were a few more small notes inside the shop. He originally thought they were new business orders, but upon reading them, he realized they were all left by Obito, basically asking where he had gone.
"This identity disappeared suddenly for half a month, yet there's a little apprentice who cares."
Masahiko smiled and tidied up the accumulated dust in the room slightly. He took out a sealing scroll from his chest, and after a few hand seals, a pile of "weeds" appeared on the floor. It was the Paralysis Grass he had collected on the island earlier.
"Using this stuff for training is much more effective than any weighted object," Masahiko muttered and started weaving "bracelets."
There was quite a lot of Paralysis Grass. Masahiko wove twenty bracelets in a row and still had plenty left over.
"These should be enough. As for the rest..." Masahiko frowned, then suddenly smiled and wove an "Immortal Binding Rope."
Masahiko shook it with his hand, then shook his head in dissatisfaction. "This appearance is too ugly. I have to think of a way... maybe apply some gold powder?"
Just as he was thinking this, someone actually came to the door.
"Senior, you're ba...ck..."
It was little Kakashi. Before he could finish his sentence, his tongue went numb, and then he planted face-first onto the ground.
Masahiko was slightly startled, then realized Kakashi must have been paralyzed.
"It seems this stuff needs to be processed before it can be used. Otherwise, if you wear the bracelet, anyone you touch will collapse... Eh, that actually sounds kind of interesting."
While he was immersed in his own thoughts, Kakashi, who had fallen face-first on the ground, wanted to cry but had no tears. The feeling of being completely stiff wasn't pleasant, and right now, he was more worried that he had fallen into some kind of "trap."
After a while, Masahiko realized Kakashi was still lying on the floor. He smiled and asked, "Kakashi, no school today?"
"Oh, right, you graduated."
Kakashi: "..."
Masahiko put away the woven bracelets and the Immortal Binding Rope. After nearly an hour, Kakashi finally recovered from the stiffness and slowly stood up.
Masahiko put on an innocent look. "You must remember to balance work and rest in training. Look how tired you are; you suddenly fell asleep in my shop for so long. If your breathing hadn't been steady, I would have called an ambulance."
Although Kakashi didn't understand what an ambulance was, his breathing couldn't stay steady anymore.
"Senior, just now I..."
"What did you need me for?" Masahiko nonchalantly changed the subject.
Kakashi took a deep breath. "It's about that guy Obito. There was no news of you during this time..."
Masahiko smiled. "Did he ask you to keep an eye out for when I returned?"
"No, it's just that I was also quite worried about you. Thank you for the wood carving you gave me."
"Is that so? I understand. Thank you for your concern. I just went out to pick some grass this trip." Masahiko didn't expose Kakashi's awkward language.
"Picking grass..." Kakashi suddenly recalled what he saw when he entered and thought about his stiff body. "Senior, was that Paralysis Grass?"
Masahiko's face stiffened. Kakashi actually knows about this stuff.
"Yes, it's Paralysis Grass. Woven into bracelets or something similar, after processing, it can provide a better training effect than weights."
Kakashi nodded. "Since you returned safely, I'll be going now."
"Come find me in a few days; I'll give you a bracelet."
"Then thank you, Senior."
Watching Kakashi walk away, Masahiko snickered inwardly: He clearly came on Obito's behalf, yet he's so awkward about admitting it...
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