Chapter 275: I, Hu Hansan, Have Returned
Hearing Sara mention Tsunade and Nagato, Masahiko subconsciously tried to contact Katsuyu, only to find that he couldn't connect at all.
Masahiko suddenly realized that the "wrongness" he felt during his "evolution" was likely the contract with Katsuyu being "washed away."
"No wonder... Tsunade must have seen the contract between Katsuyu and me disappear and assumed I was dead."
Having solved the mystery of his own "death," Masahiko let out a long sigh. This whole ordeal was really quite uncomfortable.
"Then what is the deal with this little guy?" Masahiko pointed at Naruto.
Naruto stopped hiding and trotted over. "Uncle, are you Big Sister Sara's father?"
Masahiko was startled. The term "Uncle" wasn't exactly fitting.
However, forms of address could be corrected slowly. Besides the time of his birth, this was Masahiko's first time seeing Naruto.
After carefully observing him for a long moment, Naruto's appearance gradually overlapped with the memories from his previous life, and Masahiko revealed a faint smile... which ended up thoroughly creeping Naruto out.
"Big Sister Sara, is this weird uncle your father?" Naruto asked in a hushed voice.
Masahiko's face darkened. Although Naruto had lowered his voice, how could he possibly not hear it?
"Sara is indeed my daughter, genuine and non-replaceable!"
"Father, the phrase is 'genuine and guaranteed'," Sara whispered.
Masahiko forced a smile. Thinking back to how Sara had tearfully thrown herself into his arms earlier, his expression turned complex. "It is genuine and non-replaceable..."
Little Naruto looked around in confusion and tugged at Sara's sleeve. "I'm hungry, Big Sister Sara."
Sara smiled. "Alright, alright, Young Master Naruto who ran away from home, I will go make you some ramen."
Masahiko was taken aback. It seemed some interesting things had happened during his years of training... His stomach full of questions, he followed Sara into the kitchen.
As Sara skillfully prepared the ramen, she explained the events of the past few years to Masahiko.
"The news of your passing arrived three years ago. Initially, only a few of us knew, but half a year later, for some reason, it became known to the entire ninja world..."
"The entire ninja world?" Masahiko's heart sank. "Who spread it... Danzo, I am putting this on your tab."
He immediately assigned the blame to Danzo.
"Later, I heard that in the 51st year of Konoha, the annual supplies paid to us by the Land of Lightning did not arrive on time."
Masahiko paused. "What year of Konoha is it now?"
"Where exactly have you been these past few years?" Sara smiled bitterly. "It is now August 20th, Konoha Year 53."
"August of Konoha Year 53..." Masahiko breathed a sigh of relief. This time was much earlier than he had imagined.
"Continue. With the news of my death out, the Land of Lightning must have grown a lot bolder," Masahiko noted mentally.
"Then, after some time passed... around February of Konoha Year 52, your disciple Hitomi passed away..."
"Has Hitomi been gone for a year and a half?" Masahiko fell silent for a moment.
Sara looked at Masahiko's expression and spoke softly, "Father, please don't be too sad."
"I am fine. I already knew about this. What happened next?"
"Next... the Hidden Cloud Village assembled a ninja force and arrived at the border of our Land of Whirlpools."
Masahiko narrowed his eyes, thinking of the new tombstones in the cemetery. "The Cloud Village recovered a bit of vitality and wanted me to pay them another visit."
Sara shook her head. "The Cloud Village didn't take action. After a two-month standoff with us, the Hidden Mist Village made their move."
Masahiko was surprised. Sara continued, "I am not very clear on the details after that. I only know that over in Konoha, Minato-kun resigned from the Hokage position and came to support us along with Kushina and a portion of the Senju clansmen."
"Is that so? Only they came, and Minato even resigned from the Hokage position." Masahiko sighed.
"It seems things over in Konoha... need to be dealt with!" Masahiko made up his mind.
Sara shook her head. "You will definitely never guess what happened next. The Cloud Village actually withdrew and turned to attack Konoha instead. The Sand Village and Rock Village also struck at the same time, and just like that, the Fourth Great Ninja War broke out."
"Huh?" Masahiko was stunned. He truly hadn't expected this. "Is it karma?"
Sara shook her head. "I don't know the exact process. I only know that Minato and Kushina stayed behind to help us fight off the Mist Village, while the other Senju clansmen returned to Konoha."
"I see." Masahiko fell silent for a moment. Sara's noodles were now ready.
"What is the story with Naruto outside?"
Sara smiled bitterly and shook her head. "I heard that the war with the Mist Village is drawing to a close, and Kushina and Minato will be returning soon. Naruto sneaked out; he wants to go to Konoha, but Kushina ordered the clansmen not to let him go."
"Konoha has also sent people over many times, wanting Minato and Kushina to return and have Minato continue serving as Hokage, but Kushina rejected them all."
Masahiko frowned. He figured some very unpleasant things must have happened when they left Konoha.
"Was it Hiruzen? Or Danzo? Regardless of who it was, they need to be strung up and beaten..."
Sara served two bowls of noodles, and she and Masahiko carried them out.
"So slow, Big Sister Sara," Naruto complained.
Masahiko smiled. "Little brat, do you even have money? All you think about is eating noodles."
Naruto froze, hurriedly patted his pockets, and his face fell.
Sara smiled and comforted him, "I will treat you this time, but next time you eat noodles, you have to pay."
The two of them worked together seamlessly to teach little Naruto a lesson.
"Got it."
Masahiko sat down with a smile, pulled the other bowl of noodles toward him, and took a deep breath. "It has been so long since I had the ramen you make, Sara."
The shop then fell into silence, leaving only the sound of Masahiko and Naruto slurping noodles.
After a long while, Masahiko contentedly lifted his face from the noodle bowl, only to find Naruto beside him wearing the exact same expression.
"Father, you two look very alike."
Masahiko smiled bitterly, glanced at Naruto, and shook his head slightly.
Turning to Sara, Masahiko spoke, "They shouldn't need me for the Mist Village situation. I need to make a trip to Konoha."
With Minato and Kushina, along with Nagato and Konan, a mere Hidden Mist Village wouldn't even be taken seriously by the current Land of Whirlpools.
"Weird Uncle, if you are going to Konoha, can you take me with you?" Naruto chimed in opportunistically.
"You had better wait for your parents. It is not convenient for me to bring you along on this trip."
This time, Masahiko wanted to see exactly what had gone wrong in Konoha. He decided he wouldn't hold back anymore.
If Hiruzen was the problem, he would force him into retirement. If Danzo was the problem, he would string him up from the tip of the Hokage Building... That seemed like a bit of differential treatment.
Masahiko never intended to hide the fact that he was still alive. "It is time to let the ninja world know that I, Hu Hansan, have returned!"
"Weird Uncle, is your name Hu Hansan? That's a really weird name."
Masahiko sighed. "This child definitely needs a proper education... Naruto absolutely cannot be raised into a Boruto."
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