Chapter 301: Hearing the News
In Masahiko's room.
Little Kimimaro lay on his stomach on Masahiko's bed, his upper body bare.
Masahiko's right hand, enveloped in a soft, transparent light, pressed against his back.
"Why are you blushing!" Masahiko scolded with a laugh. This was exactly why he wasn't comfortable letting Kimimaro and Haku form a team just the two of them.
Haku, however, was fine. He stood quietly to the side, watching with no emotional fluctuation whatsoever.
"Too skinny, malnourished..." Masahiko muttered, focusing his mind on the examination.
"No problem." After a long while, Masahiko frowned, having found nothing.
"Kimimaro, use your Shikotsumyaku for me to see."
"Mm."
A bone spur protruded from Kimimaro's spine, and Masahiko grabbed it directly with his hand.
He gradually increased his grip strength. Only when he used 80% of his power did the bone emit a crisp crack and show a slight fracture.
"Does it hurt?"
Kimimaro shook his head, indicating he felt nothing.
"The hardness is very strong; aside from me, no one can break it using physical strength. Once it protrudes from the body, it's no longer connected to the nerves, so no pain is felt."
Although Masahiko knew the All-Killing Ash Bones, those two were entirely different things.
Applying more force, Masahiko broke off the piece of bone and stored it in a sealing scroll. He hadn't found anything on Kimimaro's body, so he wanted to study the bone produced by Shikotsumyaku to see what exactly the Kaguya clan's Kekkei Genkai disease was about.
"Before that... dispel the curse!" Masahiko pressed his right hand down, and black patterns surged, flashing briefly across Kimimaro's body before vanishing.
"So it really isn't a curse?" Masahiko shook his head. A Kekkei Genkai disease that Kabuto could temporarily suppress with medical ninjutsu in the original story was unlikely to be a curse to begin with.
"It's fine now, get up."
"Mm."
"Ah!" Just as Kimimaro stood up, his face red, a little girl's scream rang out.
At the door of Masahiko's bedroom, little Karin covered her eyes with both hands. The gaps between her fingers were big enough to fit a pigeon egg, and she peeked continuously at Kimimaro.
Kimimaro's flushed little face, however, gradually returned to its normal color as he expressionlessly put on his clothes.
Masahiko smiled bitterly. This child blushes in front of me, but has zero reaction to being seen completely bare by a little girl... This is truly worrying.
He naturally knew of Karin and Kushina's arrival; he just hadn't said anything out of mischievousness.
"Great-Grandpa, what are you doing?"
"Nothing. This child is from the Kaguya clan. I was examining his Kekkei Genkai disease... Haven't found anything for now. We'll talk about it after he trains for a while."
Kushina nodded. "I've handled things with Karin's school and family, and brought her over to you. Karin, come here."
"Great Elder." Seeing Kimimaro fully dressed, the regret on Karin's face flashed by, replaced by a reserved expression when she turned to Masahiko.
Masahiko shook his head. This child seemed a bit nervous facing him. A thought crossed his mind, and he smiled. "You came just in time. Kimimaro and Haku's physical examinations are complete. It's your turn. Take off your clothes!"
"T-t-take off my clothes?!"
Karin's face instantly turned bright red. She glanced at Kimimaro and Haku, gritted her teeth, and was about to... when Kushina hurriedly grabbed her.
Masahiko rolled his eyes. This child...
"No need to take everything off, just roll up your sleeves."
"Oh." Karin sounded a bit disappointed.
Masahiko inspected her arm. "Not a single bite mark. Has she not discovered this ability of hers?"
"W-what ability..." Karin grew slightly nervous.
Masahiko was startled. "It seems she does know. At least one of her parents has this ability and told her not to expose it?"
Kushina also realized. "Great-Grandpa, you mean..."
"Mm, the same one I used to heal Minato," Masahiko replied.
Seeing Karin still looking nervous, Masahiko shook his head helplessly.
"Under the correct leadership of Masahiko Uzumaki, the Land of Whirlpools is a prosperous, democratic, harmonious, and law-abiding... ahem, well, that kind of country. It doesn't matter if this ability of yours is exposed. Your parents overthought it."
Karin tentatively looked at Masahiko. "Great Elder, do you have this ability too? Being bitten hurts a lot, right?"
Masahiko shook his head and chuckled. "No one dares to force you to be bitten. But as for whether it hurts or not, think about it: if Kimimaro got hurt..."
Karin was stunned. It was unknown what scene she imagined, but two red hearts almost popped out of her eyes.
Masahiko cast a smiling glance at Kushina, meaning: Even seeing this, you still want to introduce her to Naruto?
Kushina glared right back, meaning: Naruto is also very handsome.
Masahiko expressed that he had nothing to say.
The idle chatter time ended, and Masahiko got serious...
"Karin, starting today, you will join them. The three of you will form a special squad and receive my special training for about a month and a half.
You must train hard and strive to become a Genin within this month and a half. After the New Year, Kushina will lead the team, taking you on missions and further advanced training."
Karin, already prepared, happily walked between Kimimaro and Haku, separating the two of them. She even gave Haku a slight glare, while Haku looked very innocent.
"Ahem, you guys need to get along well," Masahiko added upon seeing this.
"Understood!" Karin shouted loudly, glancing at Kimimaro.
"Yes." The other two children replied softly.
Masahiko checked the sky; it was just noon. "Let's go. It's the first day of the squad's assembly. I'll treat you to lunch first, and we'll officially begin training in the afternoon!"
"Yes!"
...
Three days passed in a flash.
Masahiko had just finished instructing the three on basic general ninja knowledge and was preparing to guide them individually based on their specialties, but he had to temporarily interrupt.
Land of Whirlpools Hospital.
Haku was looking after the heavily injured Zabuza with a downcast expression. Standing by the head of Zabuza's bed was the Executioner's Blade.
"Was it really necessary to go that far? If you failed this time, just train hard and snatch it back later. You almost lost your life."
"Tch!" Zabuza remained proud.
Masahiko felt very helpless. Seeing Haku's look of refusing to leave until Zabuza recovered, he could only personally treat him.
He looked back at Karin and Kimimaro. "Training is paused for today. Go back and consolidate your basics, we'll continue tomorrow."
Karin's little eyes sparkled. She sidled up to Kimimaro and whispered, "Kimimaro-kun, a new dango shop opened in the west side of the village..."
"Not interested."
Masahiko shook his head and sighed. "Karin, training!"
"Yes!"
After carefully treating Zabuza's injuries, Masahiko hadn't even stepped out of the hospital when a Land of Whirlpools patrol member Body Flickered to his side.
"Great Elder, intelligence from the Land of Rain."
"Land of Rain?" Masahiko frowned. "Speak!"
"Three days ago, a fierce battle occurred in the central area of the Land of Rain. One side was Hanzo of the Salamander, the other side is unknown. After the battle, the salamander died, and Hanzo went missing, having not appeared for three days."
"Hanzo missing." Masahiko paused. "The other side is unknown... it could only be Akatsuki."
This was the consequence of poor information flow...
"Understood. It seems I must make a trip personally!"
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