"I told them not to do it this way. Since a month passed peacefully, I thought they had given up." Masahiko looked slightly helpless. "Why did they co up with an enhanced version? Didn't they say an accidental injury during sparring? Shisui actually played the 'missing' card; doing it this way makes things more troubleso."
The three boys' plan was simple and crude. The first step was to trigger a dispute through an accidental injury during a spar between Itachi and Shisui. The second step was for the Senju to offer compensation—of course, it couldn't be compensating them with Sasuke, but rather compensation in other areas. The third step was to reveal the truth; the Uchiha, having gained an advantage, wouldn't be able to act self-righteous anymore, while the Senju, having suffered a loss but due to their Young Clan Head being a 'traitor', wouldn't be able to pursue the matter further.
This way, the matter concerning Sasuke would basically blow over. But Masahiko always felt this was too idealistic. Moreover, the three boys implenting the plan would end up alienating both sides, so he rejected it right then. He absolutely never expected them to 'intensify their efforts'.
"Missing... Sigh, missing." Masahiko sighed, looking at Mikoto who was being held and comforted by Kushina. "These children really don't let one have any peace of mind."
"Naruto, training is suspended for tonight." Seeing the corners of Naruto's mouth curl up, Masahiko added, "Rest well, the training volu will be doubled tomorrow!"
"D-doubled?!" Naruto finally felt fear, but verbally refused to admit defeat. "Doubled it is, bring it on! Great Ancestor!"
Masahiko smiled. "Mikoto, since the Uchiha people have arrived, stay at Kushina's house for now. Don't worry, I'll go take a look."
Mikoto nodded hurriedly, adding, "And Sasuke, he refused to co out with ..."
"Don't worry." Masahiko waved his hand.
...
The night grew deeper, but the Senju clan compound beca bustling after a long ti of peace.
In front of the Clan Head's Hall, Kagami, leading a group of Uchiha clansn, and Hiruzen, leading two elders, had Itachi surrounded in the middle, questioning him one sentence at a ti. A crowd of Senju clansn surrounded them, ensuring their Young Clan Head wouldn't be 'bullied'.
Masahiko chose to quietly enter the village without drawing attention. He found Sasuke hiding and peeking from a distance and rubbed his hair.
Sasuke's body stiffened slightly. Turning back and seeing it was Masahiko, he casually turned back around, greeting him indifferently, "Hello, Great Ancestor."
Masahiko raised his eyebrows. This child seed to dislike him a bit. It seed he hadn't grasped the 'Eight Great Eagle Guiding Principles and Four Eaglet Goals' he had ntioned when forming Team Hawk.
But now wasn't the ti to pour chicken soup. Masahiko pricked up his ears, listening to the conversation of the people in the distance. They had just gotten to the main topic.
"We went to the border of the Land of Fire and the Land of Rivers to investigate signs of unknown ninja activity, but found nothing. Last night, we returned and stayed in the wilderness. Shisui took the night watch, and after dawn, he disappeared..."
"No signs of battle, and Itachi wasn't even awakened?" Masahiko murmured these words lightly, relaying them to Sasuke in front of him.
Looking at Itachi's anxious appearance in the distance, Masahiko sighed softly. The next Best Actor is you, Itachi.
The Uchiha crowd obviously couldn't accept this explanation. Shisui was an owner of the Mangekyou Sharingan. For him to disappear inexplicably while Itachi returned completely unscathed...
"Silence!" Kagami's voice echoed throughout the Senju clan compound. "Itachi, think carefully again. Is there anything you missed?"
Itachi shook his head. "I've searched everywhere nearby, and there are no signs of battle at all. If a battle had occurred, I would definitely know."
Kagami paused and turned around. "Hiruzen, could you tell the specific details of the mission given to the two children?"
Hiruzen nodded gravely and handed over the prepared mission logbook.
In the distance, Masahiko frowned slightly. "I almost overlooked this. Kagami is already 64 years old. He can't handle his only grandson Shisui playing missing. These wretched children really don't give anyone peace of mind."
Just then, Obito started making a fuss over there, demanding that Itachi take him to find his junior. Masahiko no longer hesitated and flickered into appearance.
A variety of greetings ca his way. Masahiko nodded in response to each one. His gaze lingered slightly on Itachi's face before turning to Obito. "Obito, don't worry, I will personally go look for him shortly."
Obito looked anxious. "Master!"
"Master?" Suppressed exclamations sounded. Very few people knew about the master-disciple relationship between Masahiko and Obito.
Masahiko smiled and turned to Kagami. "Don't worry, nothing will happen to Shisui. With his strength, suddenly disappearing... unless it was a sneak attack by Madara. Given Madara's personality, it would be a ghost story if he sneak attacked a junior!"
Kagami's expression eased slightly. "Senior, then I will have to trouble you to make a trip."
"Great Ancestor, I left a Wood Clone at the border of the Land of Fire and the Land of Rivers. If you head in that direction, you'll be able to find it!" Itachi spoke rapidly, pointing towards the northeast.
Masahiko was startled and tilted his head. Is this acting like life, and life like a play? Isn't he a bit too dedicated to his role?
Glaring at him imperceptibly, Masahiko turned his head to give the surrounding crowd, especially Nawaki, a reassuring look, and flickered away.
...
Northeast of the Land of Fire, at the border with the Land of Rivers.
Masahiko, having flickered continuously for over ten minutes, arrived here. Sensing the chakra fluctuation of Itachi's Wood Clone, he flashed and appeared in front of it.
"Great Ancestor!" Itachi's Wood Clone spoke imdiately, its face also full of anxiety. "Shisui and I stayed here temporarily last night. First thing this morning, he disappeared."
Masahiko was stunned. "Is this a clone you made last year? What are you acting out in front of for?"
The Wood Clone was taken aback and shook its head repeatedly. "Great Ancestor, after you rejected our plan last ti, Shisui did indeed want to execute it, but I stopped him..."
Masahiko's eyes widened slightly. "So you're saying, he really went missing?! Delaying things!"
He imdiately flew high into the sky, taking in everything nearby while activating the Mind's Eye of the Kagura. A mont later, Masahiko landed with a frown.
"There are no signs of battle in the surroundings. Shisui disappeared... Insta-killed? Could it be that I was sleepwalking last night? Or did soone use a genjutsu to take Shisui away? Itachi! You are also a brat, daring to deceive even !"
Itachi's Wood Clone smiled bitterly. "I really didn't lie to you. It couldn't be a genjutsu; Shisui is the strongest genjutsu ninja in the history of the Uchiha clan. I'm thinking, could he have left on his own? That would be sowhat troubleso..."
Masahiko shook his head and spoke. "The strongest genjutsu ninja in Uchiha history? Every generation brings forth new talent; don't underestimate your predecessors. There were two stunningly brilliant genjutsu ninjas in the history of the Uchiha clan. One lived two hundred years ago and developed that disgusting genjutsu, Izanagi..."
"The other..." Masahiko paused, his expression becoming slightly complicated.
"Great Ancestor?"
Masahiko sighed. "The other is a female Uchiha ninja from my generation, Naori Uchiha. She developed the counter to Izanagi, Izanami. I even fought her when I was a teenager. Back then... Sigh, if she hadn't died young, she would be the only one worthy of the title of the strongest genjutsu ninja in the history of the Uchiha clan. What a pity, she... died in such a ridiculous way!"
Having said this, Masahiko snapped out of his reminiscence, turned his head, and glared at Itachi. "Tell the truth, are you trying to act Great Ancestor into your play as well?!"
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