Chapter 247: The Promise
Not long after Masahiko walked out of the Hyuga clan, the two brothers, Hiashi and Hizashi, assembled their clansmen. After communicating with Hiruzen, under Hizashi's leadership, they headed straight for the Land of Rain battlefield.
As for Hiashi, he was likely researching how to restore the clan's heritage alongside the other Hyuga elders. Masahiko wasn't in a hurry either; he familiarized himself with his Space Ninjutsu while waiting for their results.
Masahiko didn't try out those sixty-four spatial nodes for the time being. Flying back and forth was far too troublesome, so he set them aside for now; there would be plenty of time for that later.
Improving his chakra control had become his top priority. Not being able to release even the lowest-level Dust Release truly annoyed him.
The time spent training passed quickly. In the blink of an eye, half a month went by. Masahiko looked at the small white crystal in the palm of his hand and smiled in satisfaction.
"Can a mere Space Ninjutsu really interfere with me?"
Masahiko took a deep breath and slowly retracted the crystal in his hand. If he accidentally fired off a Dust Release inside the shop, it would cost him his old life.
"Father, you are still training."
Sara's voice suddenly came over. Masahiko was startled, and the Dust Release in his hand nearly lost control, prompting his entire body to instantly retreat into his space.
"Meow!" The fat cat's scream rang out. Masahiko took a look, his mouth twitching, while also feeling a pang of lingering fear.
A patch of the fat cat's fur had been sliced off; the small Dust Release from just now had brushed right past it.
Picking up the fat cat, Masahiko flashed out of the space and saw a bewildered Sara.
"Father, where did you just go? What happened to Shiro-kun?"
"Shiro-kun?" Masahiko's mouth twitched, looking down at the fat cat. Such a petite and delicate name really felt out of place for it.
"I just went to shave some fur off the fat cat, it is nothing. What time is it, why are you back so early?"
The fat cat was truly terrified this time. It shrank tightly into Masahiko's embrace, turning into a shivering meow-kun... fat meow.
Sara smiled. "Due to the war's impact, business in the shop is slow right now. Master and I discussed working half a day each, so we can both get a bit more rest."
"I see." Masahiko nodded in understanding. Konoha was nearly half empty now, so it was completely normal for business to be slow.
"Even when you have time to rest, do not forget to practice your ninjutsu for a while. You cannot neglect your training."
Sara smiled, hesitated for a moment, and ran behind Masahiko. "Father has worked hard training, let me massage your shoulders for you."
Masahiko completely froze. He had truly never enjoyed this kind of treatment before.
"Sigh, having a daughter is quite nice. It would be even better if she did not have a favor to ask after massaging my shoulders."
Sara's movements paused, and she ran in front of Masahiko again. "Father, let me massage your legs too."
Masahiko paused. "Spit it out, which young man have you set your eyes on? I will go play matchmaker for you."
Sara's face turned completely red. "Father, what are you talking about, it is Master..."
"What?!" Masahiko jumped up entirely. "That damn Teuchi, he really harbored bad intentions. I am going to obliterate him."
Sara hurriedly grabbed Masahiko. "No! Master wants to open a branch in the Land of Whirlpools and wants me to go there and be the manager."
Masahiko was startled; he did not expect it to be this.
Teuchi had mentioned his idea of opening a branch in the Land of Whirlpools a long time ago, but Masahiko just never expected him to ask Sara to go.
"Do you want to go?" Masahiko sighed. In his heart, he was reluctant to let Sara run off to the Land of Whirlpools. He would be staying in Konoha for a long time moving forward.
Sara shook her head. "I do not want to go. Although that is your country, Father, I am already familiar with Konoha..."
Masahiko smiled. "That is even better, just reject him outright and let Teuchi go himself."
Sara did not know whether to laugh or cry. "Father, how could I be left in charge of Ichiraku Ramen in Konoha?"
"Then let him figure it out himself."
Sara was helpless. She had wanted Masahiko to give her an idea on how to reasonably refuse her master, only to find that Masahiko was indeed unreliable.
The fat cat finally recovered its senses. Without being picky about the spot, it directly started biting the nearest thing, its two hind legs still kicking about against him.
Masahiko sighed, put the fat cat down, took out some dried fish, and started feeding it.
"Sara, I will not put this little ancestor back into the space; let us just keep it at home." Masahiko still felt some lingering fear about what happened earlier. Before he completely mastered the space, it wasn't suitable for keeping living creatures.
Looking at the uneven fur on the fat cat, Masahiko pulled out a carving knife. In the next instant, the fat cat's fur became perfectly neat.
"If I had this kind of hand speed in my past life, I could have become wealthy just by opening a barbershop." Masahiko was simply that unambitious.
"Father, Obito seems to be heading this way."
"I know. I have no idea where this kid went to train; I have been back for over half a month and he has only just noticed."
Sure enough, the moment Obito entered through the door, he shouted loudly, "Master, when did you get back? Did you come back from the battlefield?"
"Ah, Big Sister Sara is here too?"
The shy boy's voice turned soft and delicate in the very next second.
Masahiko smiled in exasperation; this was truly two completely different attitudes.
"I have been back for over half a month. Where have you been hiding to train?"
Obito had a look of longing on his face. "Master, did you really go to the battlefield?"
Masahiko was startled. Why did they treat the battlefield like it was some great place? Nawaki was like this back then, and now Obito was like this too. They really thought that by going to the battlefield, their strength would soar and they would take big strides toward the Hokage throne.
"So what if I went, and so what if I did not?" Masahiko put on a profound look, leaving Obito staring blankly.
"Then... did you go or not?"
Masahiko smiled. "I went, but it was not of any use, so I came back."
Seeing Obito's curious expression, Masahiko continued, "Kids these days are way too impressive, especially Kakashi Hatake. He is the youngest Konoha member participating in the war, but he is much stronger than many adults..."
As Masahiko narrated Kakashi's glorious performance on the battlefield, the face of Obito opposite him grew redder and redder.
"Father, you are bullying Obito again," Sara said with a smile from the side.
Obito was dumbfounded for a moment before realizing that his Master was teasing him again.
"Father, Obito, I will go next door and make two bowls of ramen for you. I will be back in a bit," Sara continued.
Masahiko checked the time; it was unknowingly approaching noon. "Go ahead."
Once Sara left, Obito asked again, "Master, what exactly is the battlefield like?"
Masahiko did not fool him this time and sighed. "The battlefield is not a good place. Deadly crises are everywhere, and if you are not careful for even a moment, you could die there. What do you think Kakashi can accomplish on the battlefield? He is just following Minato or Sakumo to grind some experience, he is still far from enough."
"That guy Kakashi..." Obito muttered, his face still full of envy.
Masahiko paused and smiled helplessly. "Just focus on your training for now. If the war lasts long enough, I will take you there for a spin in half a year."
Obito rejoiced. "It is a promise, Master!"
Masahiko nodded. "Do not be in a rush now. You should go help your Big Sister Sara carry the ramen."
"Oh!"
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