Chapter 213: Obito's Graduation
Masahiko didn't know what had possessed Sara. Maybe she had eaten too much ramen recently? Anyway, she had made up her mind to learn the art of ramen making from Teuchi.
"Alright, ramen is a craft too, even if it's a bit lower class than carving and pharmacy..." Masahiko sighed, still feeling a bit awkward.
Masahiko did intend for Sara to learn a craft and live a peaceful, ordinary life. Since she had already missed the best time to build a foundation as a ninja, Masahiko didn't plan to let her become one and face all sorts of dangers.
As for developing towards management, as the former Queen of Roran (Loulan), she did possess some ability. But the Land of Whirlpools was different from Roran; it would become a new great nation in the future, and Sara's abilities wouldn't be enough.
But something like ramen...
"Very well, Teuchi, we are now enemies!" Masahiko cursed silently. All the times he had "bullied" Teuchi before couldn't compare to this one time.
There was no helping it. Early the next morning, Masahiko could only grit his teeth and send Sara to Ichiraku Ramen. After explaining the purpose of their visit, Teuchi was simply overjoyed...
"You don't really have any improper intentions towards my daughter, do you?" Masahiko glared, eyes wide.
"No, no! The shop just happens to be too busy, and I was preparing to take another apprentice. Your daughter is just right, and this way I can also repay you for your help back then." Teuchi hurriedly explained.
"You sure have a great way of repaying me..." Masahiko sighed and waved his hand, signaling Sara to stay. "Since you want to learn ramen, learn it well. At least surpass Teuchi's skills."
"Rest assured. 'As long as there is life, learning never stops.'" Sara repeated the line again.
"I think you guys are all trying to make things difficult for me... for me, Hagoromo."
Shaking his head, Masahiko walked out of Ichiraku Ramen and returned to his shop.
Before he could even steady himself, waves of familiar laughter came from outside.
"Hahaha, Great-Great-Grandpa, I heard you have a fifteen or sixteen-year-old daughter?"
Masahiko's face darkened. "Come in and talk. Can you be a little less loud?"
He was afraid that if Tsunade kept shouting, the entire Konoha would know he was Masahiko Uzumaki.
Tsunade understood his meaning and spoke in a hushed voice, "I know. So, where is your illegitimate daughter?"
He didn't know what kind of scenarios Tsunade had imagined about Masahiko's daughter.
Masahiko frowned, calming himself internally.
"I need to be calm, calm... I can't let the younger generation see me as a joke."
"What? Are you in such a hurry to meet your Great-Grandmother?"
This time, Tsunade's smile froze on her face. Suddenly having a fifteen or sixteen-year-old Great-Grandmother was something she found hard to accept...
"Don't change the subject. What is the situation? Grandma Mito also asked me to come and ask."
Masahiko's face darkened. He hadn't returned to the Senju clan grounds recently because he was afraid Mito would ask, and he didn't know how to explain. He didn't expect her to send Tsunade.
Masahiko somewhat regretted saying Sara was his daughter. Would saying she was his great-granddaughter be easier to accept? No, maybe even harder. If word got out, it would become a version of Masahiko "abandoning his wife and children."
"Sara... her situation is rather complicated." Masahiko could only explain it this way because the situation was indeed complicated.
"Just treat her as my daughter. As long as you don't tell anyone that I am Masahiko Uzumaki, it's fine."
"She's really your daughter?" Tsunade looked incredulous. She thought this was just a story for the public and expected to hear a different explanation from Masahiko.
"What? Is it strange for me to have a daughter?" Masahiko's face darkened; this concerned a man's dignity...
"Not strange, not strange." Tsunade walked out. Although she said it wasn't strange, her face was full of strange expressions.
"Sigh..." Inside the room, Masahiko let out a long sigh. "Forget it. If it leaks out, I'll just admit it. She is Masahiko Uzumaki's daughter, a child in my old age. Let's see who dares to say otherwise!"
"But I'm truly wronged..." Masahiko looked miserable, not knowing where to complain.
...
In the blink of an eye, another half-month passed, and time arrived at the end of Konoha Year 42.
Masahiko had already accepted various people who knew his true identity coming to express their surprise at him having a daughter in his old age. Even Orochimaru came once, his greenish gaze clearly showing he was even more interested in researching him.
Meanwhile, Sara's learning career progressed smoothly. The ramen she made was already... edible.
Sara was, after all, the heir to the Kingdom of Roran. Cooking had nothing to do with her. She didn't even know how to knead dough, let alone make ramen.
In half a month, she finally managed to make noodles of uneven thickness. Paired with Ichiraku Ramen's soup stock, they could be considered edible. Masahiko tested the poison himself and fortunately wasn't poisoned to death.
Everything was on track. Masahiko had gotten used to the feeling of taking his daughter to and from work every day... even though it was just next door.
The peaceful days continued until a certain weekend when Obito said to him:
"Master, we're graduating next week."
Masahiko was startled, his thoughts wandering.
Team Minato was about to assemble. After that, it should be the Third Great Ninja War, and then the generation of the Konoha 12 (Naruto's generation).
"So fast. It's almost Konoha Year 43..." Masahiko sighed with emotion, feeling everything happened unknowingly.
"Master?" Rin Nohara's soft call beside him woke him up.
"Ah, nothing. I'll go observe the graduation exam." Masahiko responded with a smile.
"Observe?" Obito looked surprised.
"That's right. What, will you be nervous if I watch?"
"No, no, how could I be nervous?" Obito shook his head repeatedly.
Masahiko gave him a look, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
"Don't forget your name. Your name is 'Not Nervous'."
"My name is Not Nervous, Not Nervous..."
Rin covered her mouth and giggled lightly beside them.
"Damn it, Master! My name is Uchiha Obito!"
...
Two days later, Masahiko observed Obito's graduation exam.
Although outsiders were normally not allowed to enter the Ninja Academy, if Masahiko wanted to enter, he only needed to activate his Genjutsu outwards to the maximum to go unnoticed.
Obito could see him and wanted to greet him, but Masahiko stopped him with a wave of his hand.
The exam content was simple, just the Three Body Technique. After "carving training," Obito could already use it proficiently. Although he was indeed a bit nervous because Masahiko was watching, he successfully obtained a forehead protector. Masahiko also received 5 Witness Points.
However...
The proctor was his homeroom teacher, Dan Kato. His resistance to Genjutsu was originally strong, and Obito kept looking towards Masahiko...
A kunai flew past, grazing Masahiko's face, while Dan Kato shouted, "Who is there?"
With black lines on his face, Masahiko used the Body Flicker Technique to appear behind him and kicked him in the butt, sending him flying.
Giving the dumbfounded Obito a victory sign, Masahiko disappeared.
"I won't watch Rin's graduation exam. I guess only Obito gives Witness Points."
"It's not good to keep kicking Dan..."
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