Chapter 258: Taking the Initiative to Attack
"Michiyama, this Hana Inuzuka is a talented girl from the Inuzuka clan, don't you fancy her either?" Aika held a photograph and gestured for Michiyama to look at it.
Seeing Michiyama shake his head, Masahiko sighed helplessly. "How did this turn into a farce?"
It had been two days since Kenji's funeral. Masahiko had carefully examined the physical conditions of the Senju clansmen but found nothing special.
With Nawaki's precedent, Masahiko wanted to see if it was the influence of their physique or the influence of uniting with the Uchiha.
There were only two suitable candidates for the experiment: one was Tsunade, and the other was Michiyama.
And so, it turned into this farce.
Fortunately, Masahiko didn't need to worry about this personally; Aika took the task upon herself. In terms of seniority, Michiyama was of the same generation as Aika, but he wasn't even as old as Tsunade, and Aika had practically watched him grow up. Right now, she was acting as an "elder sister-in-law who is like a mother," picking out eligible girls from various clans for him.
However...
Masahiko frowned as he took the photograph from Aika's hand. "This looks like Kiba's mom... Where did Aika get this photo? She's acting like they can become a couple just by Michiyama nodding his head."
"Michiyama, you're already thirty years old; it's time to take a wife." Aika sighed slightly. She was a full 22 years older than Michiyama, so calling him a child wasn't entirely out of place.
Michiyama didn't speak; he just kept shaking his head.
Aika then turned to the other person in the room. "Tsunade, and you. You're 34 this year; it's time you got married too. I think that Jiraiya boy is quite nice."
Aika had already heard about the situation on the battlefield. Although Jiraiya failed to save Kenji, he had at least done his best, which gave her a very good impression of him.
"Mother, why are we talking about me again?"
"Can I not talk about you? Look at your younger brother, nine years your junior, and he already has a child. Then look at yourself..."
Masahiko listened with a smile. As Aika got older, she had also become more long-winded.
Tsunade cast a pleading look at Masahiko. Masahiko smiled and shook his head. "Jiraiya is indeed quite nice; you should marry him if it's time. You've mastered the Yin Seal and can maintain your youth, but in another couple of years, Jiraiya will turn into an old man."
"See, Great-Great-Grandpa Masahiko says so too."
Tsunade stomped her foot, making the ground tremble. "I'm going back to the Land of Rain battlefield. Without me, they can't handle that old hag Chiyo's poison."
Masahiko was startled, then smiled.
Tsunade rushed out of the room like a whirlwind and ran straight into Hiruzen.
"Teacher... You're back?" The question was asked with some hesitation, because right now on the Land of Rain battlefield, if Hiruzen wasn't there, they would likely be at a disadvantage.
"The Sand Village has retreated." Hiruzen replied and walked into the room.
Masahiko suddenly stood up—not out of surprise that the Sand Village had retreated, but because Hiruzen was holding the Fat Cat in his arms.
The Fat Cat had lost a whole size. Masahiko hurriedly took it, feeling a bit distressed.
"Come here, Fat Cat, eat some dried fish..."
Hiruzen found a place to sit down, and Tsunade also returned to the room.
"The Sand Village already retreated yesterday. I stayed there to confirm it, and then returned. Orochimaru told me this was your cat and that it refused to eat, so I brought it back for you."
Masahiko looked at the Fat Cat wolfing down the food; it was clearly starving. The corner of his mouth twitched. "Orochimaru fed the cat... did he feed it snakes?"
Hiruzen smiled bitterly, scanned the room, and asked, "What are you all doing?"
Aika immediately spoke up. "Lord Hokage, are there any women of marriageable age in the Sarutobi clan who would be a good match for Michiyama?"
Hiruzen: "..."
Masahiko smiled. "The Senju population hasn't been thriving in recent years, so we're trying to play matchmaker for Michiyama. You don't need to worry about it."
"Let's talk about the battlefield. Even if the Sand Village retreated from the Land of Rain, Konoha suffered significant losses this time. Jiraiya and Sakumo temporarily can't participate in the war. Why didn't you stay there?"
Hiruzen shook his head. "There are still many things in Konoha that need my attention."
Masahiko muttered inwardly: You're just worried about your good buddy (Danzo), aren't you?
But seeing through it without pointing it out, after so many years of being Hokage, Hiruzen should have also discovered some of Danzo's little schemes.
"Danzo... could this situation with the Senju be his doing?"
"No, impossible. If it were drugs or something, Tsunade and I couldn't possibly fail to notice." Masahiko fell deep into thought again, until the Fat Cat, having eaten its fill, let out another meow.
Hefting the Fat Cat in his arms slightly, Masahiko sighed.
"This guy lost at least a pound."
It should be noted that even the original Fat Cat was only a little over ten pounds. This sudden weight loss was a tenth of its body weight.
"Go back to the space and rest." Masahiko didn't avoid the people in the room and turned to throw the Fat Cat back into the space, only to slam on the emergency brakes...
"Damn it, I completely forgot! There are still three people in the space!"
Masahiko looked at Hiruzen and noticed he had an expression of wanting to speak but hesitating.
"If there's anything else, spit it out quickly. It's a matter of life and death on my end." If he didn't check on the situation in the space soon, those three would probably starve to death. Masahiko wasn't that cruel of a person.
Hiruzen looked bewildered, clearly not understanding, but he still spoke in a low voice, "Kushina has been back with the Uzumaki for a while now. When do you plan on having her return?"
"What? Does Konoha need a Jinchuriki to go to the battlefield now?"
"No, no..." Hiruzen smiled awkwardly.
He was actually a bit worried inside, fearing that Masahiko making Kushina a Jinchuriki was in order to run off with Konoha's Nine-Tails.
Masahiko saw right through it and laughed. "Minato isn't even here, what's the use of her returning to Konoha?"
Hiruzen gritted his teeth. "Minato will be back soon. Another Chunin Exam is coming up, and he'll be hosting it."
Masahiko smiled cryptically. "Alright, when Minato returns, I'll have Kushina return."
"That's good." Hiruzen blurted out, then smiled sheepishly. "Then I'll take my leave, Elder Masahiko."
As Hiruzen left, Masahiko glanced at the three people in the room. "Aika, you keep persuading those two. I'm going out for a bit."
Without waiting for a reply, Masahiko hurriedly vanished from the room, holding the Fat Cat, and returned to the space.
The sight that greeted him made him pause slightly. The two male ninjas had become a pair of charred corpses, while Ameyuri Ringo lay on the ground on the other side. If not for her rising and falling chest, Masahiko would have thought she was dead too.
Looking around, Masahiko's face darkened slightly. "Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!"
The two corpses, along with some "filth," were erased by him all at once.
"Truly dirtying my space... they didn't eat but still..." Masahiko muttered inwardly. He also understood why they were two charred corpses; it was definitely Ameyuri Ringo's doing.
Masahiko took a few steps closer and looked at the unconscious Ameyuri Ringo, pretending to be distressed. "This guy fainted from hunger. Should I just kill her directly?"
A sudden change occurred. The female ninja lying on the ground instantly leaped up, and the Lightning Blades hidden beneath her slashed viciously at Masahiko.
Masahiko parried it with a smile. Before he could speak, the other party let go of the Lightning Blades and sat on the ground.
"It really is you, Great Elder Uzumaki. Why did you capture me?!"
Seeing the other party give up resisting, Masahiko pondered for a moment. "Ameyuri Ringo, are you interested in joining an organization called Akatsuki?"
All these years, Akatsuki hiding in the dark had been too annoying. Masahiko decided to take the initiative and attack!
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