Chapter 217: I Have Money
"I'm done for. I feel like Minato has figured out my identity too." Watching Team Minato leave to hand in their mission, Masahiko looked miserable.
"If Minato knows, Kushina will know, and then... the whole world will know."
"I hope Minato hasn't confirmed it yet."
Masahiko felt helpless. Perhaps it was his maverick and casual personality... but the identity of "Hagoromo" was becoming known to more and more people.
Fortunately, whether Minato was unsure or simply keeping Masahiko's secret, Kushina never came looking for him.
As the days passed, Mikoto Uchiha's belly grew larger bit by bit. Masahiko placed great importance on this child. Aside from being born from the union of Senju and Uchiha, there were other reasons.
In the Naruto world, Masahiko's biggest changes were the Land of Whirlpools and the child of Nawaki and Mikoto. At the same time, this was the first child separated from Masahiko by five generations. With six generations under one roof (figuratively), Masahiko didn't even know what the child should call him.
"Great-great-great-grandfather?" Masahiko frowned.
Because he attached such importance to it, Masahiko had calculated Mikoto's due date... roughly around June. It was now February, meaning there were about four months left.
As the day approached, Masahiko began to let his imagination run wild.
"The child won't be born with a pair of Rinnegan, will it?" The image of the Sage of Six Paths appeared in his mind... an infant version, which made him shudder.
"As a great-great-great-grandfather, shouldn't I give him (or her) a gift? For the 100-day celebration or the first birthday banquet? I can't keep using Katsuyu repeatedly."
Masahiko took a piece of wood and gestured with his carving knife. After a long while, he smiled bitterly: "I'm becoming obsessed..."
"Father, what's wrong?" Outside, Sara pushed the door open and walked in. This was the first time in so many days that Masahiko hadn't picked her up from work, even though it was just next door.
Masahiko's eyes lit up. "Daughter, what kind of small gift do you think I should give a newborn child?"
"A child? Boy or girl? My younger brother or sister?"
Masahiko smiled bitterly. "It should be your great-great-grandson or great-great-granddaughter."
Sara froze for a moment before realizing that her father's seniority was incredibly high.
"In Roran (Loulan), boys liked puppet soldiers, the tall and big kind. As for girls, like me, we preferred musical instruments."
"Puppets, instruments..." Masahiko nodded, then shook his head. "Even if it's a girl, she has to walk the path of a ninja. Such a good bloodline can't be wasted on musical instruments."
He had forgotten that when he founded the Konoha School, he specifically built a music room to cultivate the children's sentiments.
"However, a puppet is actually a pretty good idea. How about making a Transformer..." Taking the hint, Masahiko came up with this idea.
"Then conversely, should I give a Barbie doll if it's a girl? Neither of these things will be easy to make."
Although Masahiko had Level 10 carving skills, carving alone couldn't make a Transformer; that kind of thing had high requirements for joint assembly. As for Barbie dolls, he might find doll shops in the Fire Capital, but a Barbie doll specifically might be difficult...
After pondering for a long time, Masahiko frowned and looked at Sara.
"I'm going out tomorrow. It will probably take some time before I return. Take care of yourself. If there are small matters, go to Teuchi; if there are big matters, go to the Senju clan grounds and find Mito."
Sara paused, then nodded. "Don't worry, Father."
...
The next day, Masahiko embarked on a journey to the Land of Wind. After thinking it over, for something like a puppet, he still had to find a puppeteer from the Sand Village (Sunagakure). If that didn't work, he could find a way to learn a bit of puppetry himself to activate the skill; maxing it out probably wouldn't cost too many Witness Points.
"What identity should I use?" On the road, Masahiko fell into a dilemma of choice.
Going as Masahiko Uzumaki would ensure a smooth journey without obstruction, which would be convenient. But...
"I, the dignified Masahiko Uzumaki, a senior of the ninja world, going to the Sand Village to beg a puppeteer to make a toy? Isn't that a bit unreliable and too embarrassing?"
Going as Hagoromo, no one would recognize him, but it wouldn't be much different from going in any other disguise. He would probably have to issue it as a mission...
In the end, Masahiko went to a city in the Land of Wind first, bought a robe and a headscarf, and used the Transformation Jutsu to dress himself up as a middle-aged "Arab"...
Equipped with his gear, Masahiko walked towards the Sand Village.
The Sand Village's terrain was the most unique among the Five Great Villages. It was surrounded by steep cliffs. Except for the air, there was only one path through the cliffs, making it easy to defend and hard to attack. During the Second Great Ninja War, Konoha had fought to the outskirts of the Sand Village, but even with all their advantages, once the Sand chose to defend, Konoha couldn't do anything and eventually had to accept peace talks.
Masahiko slipped in easily. His Sealing Jutsu was a full Level 9; by simply applying a seal on himself to mask his chakra fluctuations, the Sand Village couldn't sense him. And as a civilian coming to issue a mission, they naturally welcomed him.
Just like the information his Shadow Clone had brought back before, the Sand Village was very barren—or rather, the entire Land of Wind was like this. Deserts occupied most of the land, and people could only establish settlements in oases.
"No wonder they always want to attack Konoha. Compared to the Sand Village, Konoha is simply heaven." Standing on the streets of the Sand Village, Masahiko sighed with emotion.
"Uncle, this way." The speaker was a young man from the Sand Village, one of the guards at the village entrance responsible for guiding those who came to issue missions.
Masahiko nodded and followed.
The path was unimpeded. He was only checked by two Sand Anbu in front of the Kazekage Building, but since he had already been checked at the village entrance, they let him in easily.
"I got in so easily. I'm going to assassinate the Kazekage." Masahiko muttered.
The young man leading the way stiffened. "Uncle, don't joke like that."
"Mm, okay." Masahiko smiled faintly.
Masahiko talked about assassinating the Kazekage, but he didn't expect to actually see the Third Kazekage. The Sand Village didn't have as many missions as Konoha, so all missions were personally reviewed by the Kazekage.
The young guide stopped in front of the Kazekage's office, and Masahiko walked in by himself.
"Issuing a mission?" The Third Kazekage spoke indifferently.
"Yes, I want to have a puppet toy made for my soon-to-be-born grandson." Masahiko replied.
"Puppet... toy?"
"I understand. Mission rank D, commission fee 1,000 ryo."
Masahiko's expression stiffened. I came all this way, and you want to fob me off with some kid puppeteer who just graduated?
"I have money." Masahiko took out ten banknotes worth one million ryo each. "I want to make a high-quality toy. The materials and everything must be the best."
The Third Kazekage was dumbfounded.
"Should I make the village's puppeteers switch careers to toy making?"
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