Malphegor
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HSU: Ch. 132
🕑 Added 2025-01-11 15:51:04 +0000 UTCIn the Hokage's office, after listening to Masashi's report, the five Konoha officials had a unanimous reaction—"How can you be so devious? We love it!"
Masashi felt utterly drained, bombarded with yet another barrage of questions.
He had even prepared teaching materials for Fugaku in advance.
This lot must have slacked off and spent their time scribbling nonsense instead.
"I have one last question," Minato asked. "Be honest with me—what are your thoughts on the Land of Wind and the Land of Lightning? You're not planning to integrate them into our fold, are you?"
The other four pairs of eyes shifted toward him as well.
That was what they all wanted to know.
Leaving the Land of Lightning aside for now, the Land of Wind—Suna, specifically—was still Konoha's nominal ally, and its first official ally at that.
"Of course not. If we let anyone in, what would that turn into?" Masashi replied bluntly.
"Why not?" Koharu argued. "If we did, it might truly bring about peace."
"That's impossible. When one party benefits, someone else has to lose. The system can't make everyone prosper—there will always be a group left at the bottom, bearing the greatest losses."
"So, the Land of Wind and the Land of Lightning are sacrifices? The Land of Wind is already very poor," Koharu said.
"Poverty is relative," Masashi explained. "As a source of raw materials, the Land of Wind is a treasure trove, but it lacks manpower and funding. They don't have the capacity to develop it themselves."
"What about the Land of Lightning?"
"The Land of Lightning has plenty of manpower, technology, and funding, but they lack raw materials. It's perfect for us to profit from as middlemen."
"They could cooperate with the Land of Wind."
"Behind the Association are three villages. Even if two of them cooperated, what difference would it make?" Masashi replied. "Everyone has needs, but if the Land of Wind causes us losses in the Land of Lightning, the Land of Wind would have to bear those losses. Would they be willing?"
He made his position crystal clear.
The Land of Lightning had to bleed the most.
Kumo frequently started wars to bolster the Land of Lightning's image as a powerful and stable nation, attracting wealth from across the continent.
In the original timeline, they succeeded brilliantly. The Land of Lightning's financial strength grew, enabling it to sustain and develop Kumo.
To weaken Kumo fundamentally, the Land of Lightning had to be weakened.
The most straightforward way to undermine a nation was, of course, to target its finances first.
The Association had already begun its efforts, with the first propaganda campaigns in the Land of Earth underway. Policies for subsequent stages were already being drafted.
The goal was to diminish the Land of Lightning's ability to attract investors from across the continent. The first major milestone set by Masashi was to make sure no one dared to invest south of the fortress.
Nobles, accustomed to the Association as their investment channel, had developed a high degree of trust in its policies. To some extent, the Association's policies had become the "opinion leader" for the aristocracy in their pursuit of wealth.
As the Association grew more powerful, especially with Konoha, Kiri, and Iwa joining, it could now execute such nation-level strategies.
There was no rush—it had to be done gradually, step by step.
"Masashi, you…" Minato was torn between laughing and sighing. He truly didn't understand why Masashi disliked Kumo so much.
He was starting to worry. If Kumo sent negotiators to Konoha, would they get beaten up?
"Hokage-sama, Kumo is not like Iwa. We can resolve our conflicts with Iwa through dialogue, but peace with Kumo will only come if our strength far surpasses theirs," Masashi explained.
Minato nodded. He agreed with that assessment.
Deep down, Kumo was also his number-one hypothetical enemy. On this point, no one in the office disagreed.
Konoha had been provoked by Kumo more times than anyone cared to count.
If Hiruzen hadn't been the Hokage back then, and instead just a jonin, he'd have probably clobbered every Kumo ninja he met.
He could never forget how the Second Hokage had died.
"Masashi," Hiruzen cautioned, "emotionally, I support your approach, but you must be cautious. Your decisions affect countless lives."
"I'm fully aware of that, Sandaime-sama," Masashi replied. "I won't make it too obvious. We won't take any actions explicitly targeting the Land of Lightning. We're simply redirecting attention toward the Land of Earth."
"In that case, there's no problem," Hiruzen said, thoroughly satisfied. "When it comes to pulling off devious plans, we trust your ability."
Masashi looked to Fugaku, hoping his clan leader would clarify things on his behalf. Instead, Fugaku looked back at him with an expression of complete agreement.
"Can I go home now?" Masashi asked, no longer wanting to argue with them. He just wanted to go home.
"Yes, yes, go ahead," Minato said cheerfully. "Now that you're back, can I count on you to keep helping with Naruto?"
"Don't worry, Hokage-sama," Masashi sighed. "I need to check the kids' progress anyway. I'll start tomorrow."
"Hahaha, that's great! Thank you!" Minato laughed heartily, clearly pleased.
"Also, take care of Sasuke properly—after all, you're his older 'brother'," Fugaku added.
Hiruzen fiddled with his pipe. He figured he could handle Konohamaru himself before the boy started school—he had plenty of free time now.
But once his grandson graduated…
Ignoring the freeloaders, Masashi left.
---
Back home, he enjoyed a refreshing bath, met up with Tetsuka and the others at the Police Force to plan their evening, and then went back to rest.
That evening, he woke up feeling fantastic, dressed, and headed out.
As he arrived in the most bustling part of the commercial district, all eyes turned to him.
There was no helping it—this master hadn't come by for an inspection in ages.
Everyone was anxious, questioning their own abilities. Over the past couple of years, constant wars had hurt business, and competition was fiercer than ever.
Every day brought some new gimmick.
Masashi, however, wasn't thinking about any of that. He simply wanted to enjoy some sake and relax. With so many responsibilities, he was exhausted.
He hadn't practiced Yin Release in countless nights.
That wouldn't do.
One couldn't grow complacent. His current strength might seem impressive, but that was only because the "gods" hadn't made their move yet.
Whenever he thought of Kaguya on the moon, his motivation for training surged.
At the entrance of a cozy bar, Masashi heard the familiar voices before he saw them.
"You can't just dump sugar in quality green tea!" Tetsuka shouted. "It completely ruins the natural—"
"Oh, spare me the lecture." Inoka rolled his eyes, leaning against the doorframe. "Not everyone wants to taste grass water, you know."
"Grass water?" Tetsuka's face reddened. "That just proves you've never had properly brewed—"
"Now, now," Yaku cut in, sharing an amused glance with Yatsushiro. "Let's get inside before you two wake up the whole district."
They entered the teahouse.
"Look who finally decided to join us," Inoka called out, spotting Masashi. He gestured to an empty cushion at their low table. "Done with all your important political meetings?"
Tetsuka was already reaching for the teapot, his earlier irritation forgotten. His movements were precise—each gesture part of a ritual he'd performed countless times.
The ceramic clinked softly as he arranged the cups.
"You're just in time," he said. "I've been saving this particular blend. It's from a small farm in the eastern valleys..."
A gentle breeze carried the sweet notes of a shamisen from somewhere deeper in the teahouse, and through the open screens, Masashi could see the beautiful night sky.
Tonight, the full moon shone bright.
"Some things never change," Yatsushiro chuckled, watching Tetsuka's careful preparation.
This, Masashi thought, accepting the warm cup, this is what peace feels like. The familiar bickering of his friends, the timeless ceremony of tea preparation, the music floating on the night air...
"To coming home," Yaku raised his cup in a small salute, the moonlight reflecting off the surface of the tea.
"Speaking of home," Tetsuka's brow furrowed slightly, "have any of you noticed anything odd? My koi have been acting strange."
"Here we go again with the fish prophecies," Inoka snorted into his tea. "What is it this time? Are your precious koi predicting another war?"
"Mock all you want," Tetsuka said, his voice unusually serious. "But they've been staying at the bottom of the pond for days now, barely coming up to feed. Last time they did this was right before that storm hit."
"The weather's been perfectly clear," Yatsushiro pointed out.
"Not all storms come with rain," Tetsuka muttered, his eyes drifting to the full moon above.
"Oh please," Inoka threw a sugar cube at him, which he caught reflexively. "Next you'll tell us your koi are secret summons reporting directly to the Hokage."
The group laughed, but Masashi noticed Tetsuka's gaze hadn't left the night sky. He'd known the man long enough to recognize when his usual tea-obsessed demeanor gave way to genuine concern.
The night stretched before them, perfect in its simplicity, but somewhere in the back of Masashi's mind, Tetsuka's words echoed uncomfortably.
Not all storms come with rain.
---
Boom!
Early in the morning, the usual loud explosion echoed across the Uchiha training ground.
The Uchiha clan members living nearby, unbothered as always, began their morning routine of washing up and getting ready.
This familiarity was oddly comforting.
No joke, after ten years of this, everyone had come to find it more effective than an alarm clock.
Masashi's training schedule was as punctual as a clock: it always started on time and ended on time. And being incredibly considerate, he ended with a bang—quite literally—at exactly 7:30 a.m., just in time for everyone to get up for work.
Ever since the Third Great Ninja War broke out and he started traveling frequently, the clan had reluctantly returned to using traditional alarm clocks, but they never measured up.
The "Masashi-brand alarm clock" was reliable and effective. Hearing it reassured the clan of their prosperous future, and it gave everyone a great boost of energy to start their day.
When Masashi was home, nobody in the area was ever late for work.
As he walked out of the training ground, some clan members had already left their homes. After exchanging a few greetings, Masashi headed back to his house for a shower before making his way to Hikari's home.
Today, he brought Chakra Induction Paper with him.
Normally, ninjas didn't test their innate chakra nature until they reach the chunin rank. However, these kids weren't ordinary, so doing it a bit earlier wouldn't hurt.
Arriving at Hikari's door, he knocked and soon heard hurried footsteps inside.
The door opened quickly, revealing Hikari, still in her pajamas, her cheeks flushed and breathing slightly labored.
It was clear she'd been busy all morning.
She was practically filling the role of a mom for her younger sibling.
"Haku, you haven't been overdoing it these past few days, have you?" Masashi crouched down, teasing the slightly evasive-looking boy.
This kid was a little grinder — give him an inch, and he'd take a mile.
If Masashi hadn't strictly regulated his training schedule, the boy would probably train 20 out of 24 hours a day.
Most people slack off during training; Haku, on the other hand, slacked off during his breaks by sneaking in extra practice.
Masashi wasn't surprised. During his recent absence, the boy had surely been training non-stop again.
As a teacher, he could understand. After all, he'd once trained with the same urgency, driven by an intense sense of crisis.
Nowadays, though, he'd relaxed a bit, keeping his training to just eight hours a day.
But Haku lacked his experience and couldn't manage his limits yet, which is why Masashi always kept a close eye on him.
"What to do with you," Masashi said with a chuckle, ruffling Haku's hair. Then he stood up and turned to Hikari. "Don't worry too much about him. I'll take care of it. But you need to take care of yourself and get enough rest."
"Alright..." Hikari, extremely flustered, replied in a soft voice. She had rushed out in her slightly sheer pajamas, which made her innerwear faintly visible.
She shouldn't have answered the door like that.
It was risky — what if someone other than Masashi had been there?
Hikari was traditional. At home, she had no problem wearing nothing at all, but outside, she always dressed modestly.
She couldn't help sneaking a glance at Masashi's pants...
Feeling a bit disappointed, she pouted.
Back in Kiri, he had been much more spirited. This outfit wasn't working; she wouldn't wear it again!
"Alright, head back inside. You'll catch a cold dressed like that," Masashi said, pulling Haku along.
He stood in the doorway to shield her, mindful that someone might walk by.
Even a gentleman like him was tempted by such a sight. Practicing Yang Release diligently had its downsides—he was too full of vitality. Fortunately, his control over his energy was excellent, so he didn't embarrass himself.
After all, he was a man with a "true unbreakable spear."
One day, Hikari's teasing would push him too far, and she'd end up scratching his back till she couldn't anymore!
But not yet. Transitioning from teacher to brother-in-law was a delicate maneuver. As a technical expert, he wouldn't leave any loose ends.
Especially with Pakura living across the street.
As an experienced man, he understood that rushing things physically often led to disaster.
Back in his first lifetime, he had always focused on emotional connection first.
No matter the hidden agenda, once the heart was touched, every sweet temptation became harmless candy.
After ushering Hikari back inside and closing the door, Masashi pinched Haku's cheek affectionately.
"Alright, kiddo. Today, your I'm going to teach you a new move!"
Haku nodded excitedly, his happiness evident.
Masashi then went through the usual process: gathering Sasuke, Naruto, and Karin before leading them all to the Uchiha training ground.
The weather was getting colder, so they didn't go to the Valley of the End. Besides, there was no need for them to run around today.
Bringing the kids into the chakra training room, Masashi handed each of them a piece of testing paper.
"Recently, you've all built a solid foundation in chakra molding and control. This little piece of paper will test your chakra nature. First, adjust your state, then try channeling your chakra into the paper."
"Teacher, what is chakra nature?" Naruto raised his hand to ask.
"I'll explain everything today. For now, just do as I said."
"Okay!"
The four kids followed his instructions, adjusting themselves and then carefully channeling their chakra into the paper.
After a while, they all raised their hands to signal they were done.
Each of their testing papers had changed, showing unique results.
Masashi collected the papers and examined them one by one.
As expected, the results were mostly within his predictions. Only Karin's was slightly different from what he'd anticipated.
"Alright, come here, everyone," Masashi said.
The four little heads huddled around him, their faces full of eager curiosity.
"Let's start with Karin, ladies first."
Masashi held up her paper for everyone to see.
At first glance, it looked unchanged.
"The five basic chakra natures are water, fire, wind, earth, and lightning. The names of the Five Great Nations are derived from them. For example, most people in the Land of Fire have fire as their innate chakra nature. Similarly, those with bloodline limit usually have two chakra natures, but these are limited to the five elemental styles."
The kids nodded, partly understanding. Thanks to Masashi's prior teachings, they already had some idea about bloodline limit and their ancestral legacies.
For instance, Naruto and Karin inherited special chakra and strong life force from their ancestors. This life force granted them exceptional stamina and an ability to refine more chakra than normal people.
However, they still didn't understand chakra natures fully, so their comprehension was limited.
"Everyone has at least one innate chakra nature, which manifests differently on the testing paper. Karin has two—water and fire. But her water nature is stronger, so the paper was first dampened, then dried."
