Malphegor
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HSU: Ch. 122
🕑 Added 2025-01-07 15:38:31 +0000 UTCAs Masashi exited the Hokage Building, only Hikari and Haku remained by his side.
Everything related to Yagura from Kiri would be arranged by Fugaku, who would accompany them throughout.
If anyone wanted to ask about the recent events in Kiri...
Honestly, it was Shisui who was the official envoy; any inquiries should go to him. Masashi was off the clock.
Before leaving, he would first settle Hikari and Haku.
Minato was a straightforward man. With a broad gesture in the Hokage's office, he told Masashi to handle things as he saw fit, whatever was convenient.
Since that was the case, he decided not to hold back.
Haku was a prodigy, and prodigies needed to be nurtured under close supervision.
Although he hadn't managed to recruit Kimimaro this time, it didn't matter. Every success counted. Collecting talented individuals required patience, not haste.
First, he would arrange accommodations for the siblings, then present a grand gift to the clan head, and finally have a celebratory drink with Tetsuka and the others.
That was his perfect plan for the day.
"I'll take you to meet a kind old grandpa," Masashi said to the siblings, keeping his voice gentle.
Hikari and Haku, unfamiliar with their surroundings, still seemed a little dazed. Just moments ago, in front of Minato, both had been too nervous to even breathe properly. Haku had kept glancing at the floor, while Hikari's shoulders had remained stiff throughout the meeting.
Although Minato was approachable and cheerful with the villagers in the village, outside the village, his nickname, "Yellow Flash," was earned through countless battles.
It represented a reputation forged in blood.
Thus, despite his warm demeanor, they remained tense. Haku's nervousness stemmed from following Hikari's cues, but Hikari was genuinely afraid.
The only Konoha ninja she wasn't scared of now was Masashi. Her feelings toward him were purely of gratitude.
"Here, hold my hand," Masashi said, extending his hands to them.
Hikari grasped it without hesitation.
Seeing his sister's response, Haku also reached out and held Masashi's other hand.
The scene around them blurred, and the street vanished, replaced by a house. Traditional Uchiha architecture stood before them, modest yet dignified.
Realizing they had arrived somewhere else, Masashi let go of their hands and stepped forward to knock on the door.
This was the home of Setsuna.
Since Fugaku would undoubtedly return home late tonight, arrangements for accommodations had to go through Setsuna.
Technically, with Masashi's current status within the Uchiha clan, he could have made the arrangements himself, but he preferred not to bypass protocol in matters involving clan operations.
After knocking, footsteps were soon heard from within.
"Who is it?" The door opened, and Setsuna appeared.
Despite his status as an elder, he lived simply. His household consisted of his wife; his daughter had already married and left.
Physically fit and independent, he had never employed any servants.
"Oh, it's you, kid," Setsuna greeted loudly. "WIFE! Make some tea; we have guests!"
"You old coot, always shouting. I'm not deaf, you know," an older woman grumbled as she appeared, breaking into a smile when she saw Masashi. "If it isn't little Masashi! What brings you here today?"
"You're as energetic as ever," Masashi replied with a grin. "I'm here to report to Setsuna-sama."
"Sama? My foot. Just an old man," she teased.
"What's wrong with calling me 'sama'? I am an elder," Setsuna huffed before turning to Hikari and Haku, who quickly bowed nervously.
Recognizing their bow as a traditional Kiri courtesy, Setsuna raised an eyebrow. "Our ways are different from Kiri's, but kindness speaks all languages," he mused, studying the siblings.
"First it was Suna, and now it's Kiri?" he remarked, eyeing Masashi. "I know what you're up to."
"Fugaku-sama is too busy," Masashi said with a sheepish laugh. And you're more amenable to my requests, old man.
"Fine. You young folks handle your business. Come in, all of you."
"Setsuna-sama, Haku is a boy," Masashi clarified, noting Setsuna's confused glance at the child.
"What? Well, Tetsuka's still ugly…"
What does Tetsuka's looks have to do with this? Is this still about that time he accidentally ruined the flowers you were growing?
Still holding grudges, eh? Compared to this old man, Fugaku seems so magnanimous.
Still, Tetsuka was a good friend. Every time Masashi flaunted Fugaku's calligraphy, Tetsuka laughed the loudest and even showed it to others. When caught by Fugaku, he never betrayed Masashi, even taking the blame himself.
That was brotherhood.
Bringing Hikari and Haku into Setsuna's home, sipping tea brewed by the kind old lady, Masashi felt that nowhere compared to Konoha. The familiar scent of green tea filled the room as they sat around the low table, the siblings gradually relaxing in the warm atmosphere.
Outside, he was a ninja. Here, he was just a kid.
"The market district has changed quite a bit," Setsuna's wife said, refilling Haku's tea cup. "You'll find everything you need there. The fish seller, old Tanaka, he gets fresh catch from the Land of Waves every morning."
Hikari perked up slightly at the mention of the country. "We passed through Wave on our way here."
"Did you now?" Setsuna leaned forward, his stern expression softening. "Good people there. They've been trading with us since the First Hokage's time." He glanced at Masashi. "Speaking of old ties, I suppose you'll need proper accommodations for these two?"
"If it's not too much trouble, Setsuna-sama."
"Trouble?" Setsuna snorted. "The empty house next to Fugaku's has been gathering dust. Might as well put it to use." He pulled out a scroll and brush. "Besides, can't have him saying I'm not doing my part for the clan's future."
"The garden there is quite nice," Setsuna's wife added, smiling at Hikari. "I'm sure you'll make good use of it."
Haku, who had been quietly sipping his tea with perfect manners, looked up with interest at the mention of a garden.
"They're adapting well to our customs," Masashi noted, watching Haku carefully handle his tea cup.
"Just like you did with the Suna refugee," Setsuna replied with a knowing look as he finished writing the note. "The location will help them integrate faster." He handed the paper to Masashi. "Here. This should give you everything you need."
Masashi accepted the key to the new home with flattery that had the old couple beaming. Then, he took Hikari and Haku to inspect their new living quarters.
A team of clanspeople had already arrived to clean, arrange furniture, and organize the place.
By evening, Hikari and Haku could move in, without lifting a finger.
The luxurious treatment left the siblings uneasy.
Hikari found herself at a loss for what to do with her hands.
The Uchiha clan was nothing like she had imagined. Everything about them contrasted sharply with Kiri.
In Kiri, the Uchiha were seen as powerful, aloof, and cold—a clan famed for their Sharingan and unparalleled abilities in battle, described as elegant yet merciless.
When she had been sent to serve the White Ghost, she had assumed Masashi fit this description. She couldn't have been more wrong. Initially, she thought he was an exception.
But even an elder of the clan treated her and Haku warmly.
After today's experience, it seemed the entire Uchiha clan wasn't so different.
They were kind and approachable.
Feeling dazed, she followed Masashi into the house as he explained the layout, where to shop, and the monthly living allowance.
"Don't overthink it," he reassured her, noticing her unease. "The allowance is provided by the village. You're both considered valuable talents, so this is standard treatment."
"But I haven't done anything…" Hikari said hesitantly, her fingers twisting in her sleeve.
"Life works that way sometimes," Masashi shrugged. "It's not about what you've done, but what your ancestors did. The Yuki Clan deserves this recognition."
Seeing that Hikari was relaxing, he nodded in satisfaction.
"Just focus on living well and raising Haku. In a couple of years, he'll be ready for the Ninja Academy."
Haku tugged at Masashi's sleeve and asked seriously, "But my parents weren't ninjas."
"That doesn't matter. My parents weren't ninjas either," Masashi said, crouching down to tweak Haku's nose. "We all have hidden potential. Some can tap into it, and some can't. Your parents may not have had the chance to try fully in Kiri."
Haku seemed to grasp the idea somewhat and nodded.
"Alright, get settled. Later, I'll take you both out for dinner and show you around the neighborhood." Masashi said.
"Masashi-sama, where are you going?" Hikari asked instinctively, then immediately regretted it. Why had she questioned him?
"Just call me Masashi," he said. "Fugaku-sama invited me over. I'll be right back."
As he stepped out of his room, he immediately spotted the house of Fugaku next door.
He glanced at the sky. The sun was shining brightly.
Visiting Fugaku's house in broad daylight, instead of sneaking around at night, felt a bit unusual.
But it didn't matter; after all, Fugaku wasn't home.
Masashi couldn't quite recall when it all started, but he had developed a peculiar habit of finding Fugaku's prized calligraphy pieces—hidden like treasures—and hiding them elsewhere.
Things only got complicated later when Tetsuka became an unplanned participant, causing some of Fugaku's calligraphy works to scatter throughout the village. The chaos had an unexpected benefit—it added another layer to their training.
It wasn't intentional. Masashi usually joked about it casually.
Honestly, Tetsuka didn't get wrongly accused when he was scolded; he was always the one caught in the act, and he really did lose the calligraphy pieces.
Every single piece that went missing had passed through Tetsuka's hands.
Standing at Fugaku's door, Masashi knocked.
After knocking for a while, no one answered.
"No one's home…" Masashi sighed. "Mikoto sure knows us well." She's probably tired of finding calligraphy in strange places.
With that, he casually climbed over the wall and entered.
Not a soul in sight.
Since that was the case, the game was on.
The first stop was the study. This was Fugaku's favorite place, where he spent most of his time and handled some clan-related documents. It required a careful search.
Entering the study, he activated his Sharingan and scanned the room meticulously, not sparing a single tatami mat.
He didn't find any calligraphy pieces but did discover a new hidden compartment. Unfortunately, it was empty.
Noted for next time, he thought, resuming his Sharingan-powered "search."
This had become an unspoken game between him and Fugaku since they became familiar with each other. What started as a simple challenge had evolved into a complex training exercise for both of them.
Whenever Masashi searched for the calligraphy, he would only use his Sharingan. If he couldn't find anything without touching, it meant he lost.
On the other hand, Fugaku would only hide his calligraphy in shared spaces like the tea room, study, living room, or training room. Hiding them in private areas would count as his loss.
One practiced using the Sharingan, and the other perfected the art of hiding. So far, Masashi was the undefeated champion.
It was far more effective than regular training—it honed both the eyes and the mind.
The only downside was Fugaku's calligraphy skills seemed to be locked at their current level. Despite all these years, there had been no improvement in his artistry, only in his hiding techniques. Masashi even felt anxious on his behalf.
Was this what they called developing the wrong skill set?
A little secret Fugaku didn't know—Tetsuka also practiced calligraphy and was actually better than him!
Otherwise, why would he always laugh so heartily every time? He genuinely understood calligraphy!
Masashi had only discovered this secret last year and was utterly shocked.
With the thought, "This might actually be challenging today," Masashi continued exploring.
Fugaku's house was truly large; otherwise, this game wouldn't have lasted for years without a change of venue.
Before he knew it, Masashi realized it was almost five in the afternoon.
Had he been searching this long? And he still hadn't found it?
Impossible! This wasn't like Fugaku at all!
As daylight began to fade, Masashi, though reluctant, had to face the truth.
He had lost today. Not only lost—he had even run out of time.
Admitting defeat, he returned to the courtyard.
As expected, Fugaku was already there, leisurely sipping tea.
Seeing Masashi step out, Fugaku's face lit up with a slightly smug smile. The victory clearly pleased him.
"Fugaku-sama, where's Mikoto?"
"She's at the Namikaze household. They're eating there tonight," Fugaku replied, glancing at Masashi. "Went to Kiri and your skills deteriorated this much?"
Wow. One win, and he's already showing off?
Masashi now understood where Sasuke's "I think I'm good again" personality in the original timeline came from.
"What are you talking about? I just saw your house empty during the day and worried about spies sneaking in, so I came to inspect."
"A loss is a loss. Nothing shameful about it," Fugaku said, finding the tea particularly delightful.
He put down the teacup and stood up, his expression shifting to something more serious.
"Come with me. I need to ask you something."
"Alright."
Following Fugaku into the study, Masashi watched as he stopped in front of a landscape painting on the wall.
The expression on Fugaku's face was filled with emotion.
Masashi took a glance.
It wasn't anything special, just a cheap piece of decor. What was there to be emotional about?
The next moment, his jaw dropped.
Fugaku touched the painting, and with a "whoosh," a pile of scrolls spilled out.
Time-space ninjutsu?
That couldn't be right. Masashi had scanned the area with his Sharingan earlier; there were no traces of time-space techniques.
Then it dawned on him.
Turning to Fugaku, he saw the clan leader's eyes transform into the Mangekyō Sharingan, with its distinct pattern beyond the three tomoe.
Masashi stared in disbelief.
Was this necessary? Was it really necessary to go this far!?
"Amenominaka," Fugaku said. "That's what I named it. What do you think of this technique?"
"Fantastic!" Masashi gave a thumbs-up. "Isn't this a bit overkill?"
"What do you think?" Fugaku's expression darkened. "Finding them is one thing, but why show them to that fool Tetsuka?"
"That was just a coincidence…"
"And this was just a coincidence too," Fugaku said coolly. "By coincidence, I developed this dōjutsu and decided to put it to use."
You're the clan leader. Whatever you say goes.
"Use it sparingly, Fugaku-sama," Masashi advised, deciding he'd have to take it easy in future games. Using Mangekyō Sharingan to hide calligraphy was simply too extreme. "Overuse could lead to blindness."
"Don't worry. This level of usage won't cause permanent damage." Fugaku nodded, feeling validated by Masashi's concern. "I know the Mangekyō better than you do."
"Yes, yes, you're absolutely right." Masashi nodded like a pecking chick. "Just try not to overdo it."
"Hmm…" Fugaku didn't dwell on the topic. He had more serious matters to discuss.
"Today, I had a lengthy discussion with the Fourth Mizukage. Did you use Susanoo in Kiri?"
Hearing this, Fugaku's expression grew serious. The atmosphere in the room shifted.
"I did," Masashi admitted. There was no reason to hide it.
"Still with three tomoe?"
"Yes."
Fugaku fell silent for a long time.
He had to admit that Masashi's ability to use Susanoo had opened a new path of training for the Uchiha clan.
Previously, the absence of Mangekyō meant this path couldn't compare to traditional methods.
But now that Susanoo had been unlocked, things were different.
The greatest value of the Mangekyō Sharingan lay in Susanoo.
The Uchiha clan's three legendary dōjutsu, also forbidden techniques, were Susanoo, Izanagi, and Izanami. Each with its own price to pay.
"The clan faces new challenges even though times are less dire than before. Your ability to use Susanoo is a blessing," Fugaku said, nodding. "After using it, did you experience any discomfort in your eyes?"
The Mangekyō Sharingan's overuse could lead to blindness—a basic principle every Uchiha aware of its existence understood.
But only those with significant experience knew that as long as one used only their unique Mangekyō techniques, blindness would take much longer.
Rapid blindness typically occurred from frequent use of Susanoo.
The closer Susanoo came to its complete form, the faster the Mangekyō deteriorated.
In short, Susanoo was the Mangekyō's ultimate strength—and its greatest curse.
"I didn't feel anything unusual. Everything's fine," Masashi replied, especially pleased with this aspect.
"Really?" Fugaku wasn't entirely convinced.
It wasn't about mistrusting Masashi but rather considering that side effects might not manifest immediately.
Still, Fugaku thought it might be time to teach Masashi a certain technique.
He was curious how far Masashi could go.
"Are that pair of siblings settled in the house next door?"
"Yes, Fugaku-sama. The Yuki clan's Ice Release is quite impressive. Be nice to them."
"You don't need to remind me. Go get them, and let's have dinner at Minato's house."
"That's all you wanted to ask me?"
"Of course not. Let's eat first. We'll talk afterward."
