Early July, Konoha Year 44.
In front of the main gate of Konoha Village.
Hundreds of civilians and ninjas gathered here to welco the heroes returning from the Land of Rain battlefield.
The Third Great Ninja War had been over for half a month. The battlefield had been cleared, the wounded had been escorted back to Konoha in advance, and the main ninja force was finally returning.
At the very front of the welcoming procession were, of course, Hiruzen, the Hokage, and Danzo, the Konoha Elder. Masahiko didn't use his original identity; instead, maintaining his appearance as the Taobao Shop owner, he stood in the crowd with Obito-kun, his apprentice, and his daughter Sara.
Leading the ninja troops was Kagami, followed by a group of Jonin headed by Orochimaru, and behind them was the large main force of Chunin and Genin. The newly promoted Chunin who got "experience tickets" to the battlefield were also among them.
"Jiraiya isn't here? Did he go collect material?" Masahiko smiled and shook his head, having so guesses and feeling a bit disappointed.
He actually really wanted to see what exaggerated actions Jiraiya would perform under everyone's cheers and welco. As for Orochimaru, with his gloomy snake face, it was truly boring.
Moreover, he didn't know if it was an illusion, but he felt that the vibe Orochimaru gave him had beco slightly weird.
"Has he still co into contact with human experints?" Masahiko guessed.
Beside him, Obito's fighting spirit was practically burning. Masahiko saw his gaze firmly fixed on Might Guy. It was worth ntioning that in the previous Chunin Exams, Obito had still been defeated at Guy's feet.
However, it could be considered a blessing in disguise. Having successfully awakened the two-tomoe Sharingan, his self-confidence was bursting, and he wanted to wipe out his previous humiliation.
Right now, let alone Guy, if Sakumo hadn't taken Kakashi to the Land of Whirlpools to test prosthetics, Obito would have already gone to call him out.
The ninja troops accepted the cheers and applause at the Konoha gate for a while, endured Hiruzen's baptism of the Will of Fire for a few minutes, and then dispersed on their own, each returning to their own hos and clans.
"Alright, the excitent is over. Let's go back," Masahiko tilted his head and said.
Obito's expression, however, was very strange. It was a mix of fear, anxiety, and expectation.
"Hey, Master, did you see... Rin?" Obito stamred.
Masahiko paused for a mont, imdiately reacted, and revealed a sorrowful expression. "I didn't see her. Rin is probably... Ah, war!"
Beside them, Sara covered her mouth in surprise.
Tears instantly welled up in Obito's eyes. "Impossible! We must have just missed her."
"Obito, accept the reality. I'm also very sad about Rin..."
"I don't believe it!"
Saying this, Obito was about to rush out, but Masahiko grabbed him.
"You just awakened the two-tomoe. As expected, this thod really can't make you awaken the three-tomoe?" Masahiko sighed.
Obito was stunned for a long while, not understanding what was going on.
Sara took her hand away from her mouth, a smile she couldn't hide on her face.
"Father, you're bullying Obito again. Didn't Rin co back several days ago?"
Masahiko smiled and explained, "I saw that Obito seems to have a... physique that easily awakens his eyes, so I wanted to stimulate him a bit and test it out."
Looking at the confused Obito, Masahiko continued, "Look at the procession just now. Were there any wounded? After a great war, how could Konoha have no casualties? It's just that for so reason, perhaps to reassure the civilians so they wouldn't know the exact number of casualties, the wounded were all secretly sent to the Konoha Hospital. As a dical ninja, Rin returned a few days ago and has been busy at the hospital."
Obito fiercely glared at Masahiko, turned around, and ran towards the Konoha Hospital.
"Father, Obito-kun seems to be angry."
Masahiko stroked his chin. "I guess I went a bit too far, but it was for his own good. Without a bit of stimulation, what year would he awaken the three-tomoe, let alone the Mangekyo..."
Ti flowed, and another week passed.
Obito's anger ca quickly and left even quicker. Right now, he was chattering away in front of Masahiko about the recent big and small events in Konoha Village.
"Master, you have no idea how surprised those uncles in the clan were when they found out I awakened my eyes, and directly to the two-tomoe..."
"That guy Guy is indeed strong. Only after awakening my eyes could I barely fight him to a draw. But I've already started learning so of the clan's advanced Fire Release ninjutsu, and I'll soon surpass him... When Kakashi gets back, I'm going to teach him a good lesson too!"
Masahiko listened expressionlessly to the chatterbox Obito's various boasts, feeling helpless inwardly. Thank goodness he hadn't awakened the three-tomoe, otherwise wouldn't he fly up to heaven?
"Master, did you know? Lord Tsunade and Lord Orochimaru of the Sannin are both going to take in disciples. Rin has been preparing for this these past few days."
This sentence made Masahiko pause for a mont, showing so reaction.
"Why don't you go?" Masahiko smiled and said.
Obito and Minato's master-disciple relationship was only on a squad level; it didn't prevent him from taking another master.
Obito looked left and right, and lowered his voice. "Master, don't you think Lord Orochimaru is a bit... hard to approach?"
"At least you're not entirely foolish."
Obito taking Orochimaru as a master, now that would be a huge joke.
However, Masahiko paid a little bit of attention to this matter, because if nothing unexpected happened, this could bring him so Witness Points.
Over the next few days, Masahiko personally participated in the disciple-selection affairs of Tsunade and Orochimaru.
Tsunade's disciple selection was very formal; it was practically an examination for dical ninjas under the age of fifteen. After layers of screening, and a slight push from Masahiko, Tsunade made an exception and chose two disciples: Rin Nohara and Shizune.
Rin leaned towards dical ninjutsu and monstrous strength, while Shizune leaned more towards poison creation and detoxification.
"Monstrous strength Rin?" Masahiko truly couldn't imagine what that would look like, but he still muttered in his heart, "Obito, you're on your own now."
Later, from Orochimaru's side, Masahiko also received a piece of news that made him care a little.
"You said Jiraiya took in a disciple in the Land of Rain?"
Seeing Orochimaru nod in confirmation, Masahiko pondered slightly. "Of all places, the Land of Rain. What a coincidence."
"That idiot, who knows what he's thinking. Although that new disciple of his has so foundation in ninjutsu, he's already quite old." Orochimaru revealed a playful smile.
Masahiko didn't dwell on Jiraiya taking a disciple, but instead frowned and looked at Orochimaru's weird expression. "Human experints and such, it's better to touch them less."
Orochimaru nodded and didn't deny it. "I know, Senior."
After that, Orochimaru began his disciple selection. Completely unlike Tsunade, there was no examination, and he didn't even go to look at those candidates in person.
Arriving at Hiruzen's place, he briefly flipped through a few pages of the roster, and Orochimaru's gaze focused on a single na.
"Just her, Teacher."
Hiruzen felt a slight headache. "Are you sure you don't want to hold an exam?"
"No."
"Alright then, we'll settle on this child nad Anko Mitarashi."
Masahiko obtained another ten Witness Points from this disciple selection, but he always felt a sense of incongruity in his heart.
"Tsunade's disciple selection is fine, after all, there were layers of selection. But Orochimaru's, why did it seem like he was just playing around... However, this actually fits his personality quite well."
☆☆☆
-> 30 Advanced chapters Now Available on Patreon!!
-> spat-reon.co-m/c/Hollowborn
(Just remove the hyphen (-) to access patreon normally)
If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that's help the story a lot Thank you
User Comments
0 comments from readers