Chapter 16: A Family Visit
Masahiko informed the Clan Head of his progress in Fuinjutsu over the past few years. The Clan Head was overjoyed.
"In that case, your strength..." the Clan Head began to ask.
"Ah, yes. I've made some progress," Masahiko said flatly, though the smile he couldn't suppress betrayed his true feelings.
"Then... have you considered becoming an Elder of the Uzumaki clan?"
Just as the Clan Head said this, and Masahiko was about to refuse, a guard knocked and entered the room.
"Lord Clan Head, Lord Masahiko, a message just arrived from the Senju clan. Tomorrow, the Senju Clan Head and his wife will be returning to the Uzumaki clan to visit family."
"Mito is coming back? Wonderful! That's wonderful!" The Clan Head instantly forgot all about the Elder position, his mind completely filled with the thought of Mito's visit.
"My Lord Clan Head," Masahiko interrupted, exasperated. "Are you sure Hashirama bringing Mito here is really just a family visit and not a request for aid? Don't you go agreeing to everything the moment you see her."
"Don't worry," the Clan Head replied distractedly.
"How can I not worry when you're like this..." Masahiko muttered, walking out of the hall.
"Forget it. I'll deal with this tomorrow. I'd better go and figure out how to use these leftover Witness Points. Maybe I'll get a chance to break through to the 'Clan Head level'," Masahiko thought.
The next day, Masahiko joined the Clan Head at the compound gate to welcome Hashirama, his wife, and the "Captain of the Guard" (a title Tobirama had given himself).
After five years, Masahiko was seeing the three of them again. Hashirama and Tobirama had both matured. Mito, however, looked exactly the same, only now she had a diamond-shaped mark on her forehead.
"Mito, it looks like your Yin Seal training was a success," Masahiko said with a smile, while frantically signaling her with his eyes to cover for him.
"Oh, right, the Yin Seal!" Hashirama suddenly blurted out. "Great-Uncle! I remember you mastered that jutsu, too! So how come...?" He finally realized why the mark on Mito's forehead looked so familiar.
"What is this child saying! That's a jutsu only women can learn," Masahiko said, glaring and signaling Mito again.
"That's right, Hashirama. When did Great-Uncle ever practice that?" Mito said, looking at Masahiko's "48-year-old" face with a perfect smile.
Seeing Mito say this, Hashirama scratched his head, embarrassed. "Ah, then I must have misremembered."
"Whew..." Masahiko let out a breath. He'd fooled him. It was a good thing Tobirama wasn't present for that original lie; he wasn't nearly as gullible as his older brother.
The three of them began to chat, leaving Tobirama and the Uzumaki Clan Head standing there awkwardly.
The other two, however, huddled together and began whispering about something.
A moment later, the Uzumaki Clan Head gasped, "Really?! Mito is pregnant!"
His voice was so loud it immediately drew the attention of the chatting trio.
Hashirama scratched his head again, saying shyly, "Yes. That's why I came back with her, so she could visit."
"Then why didn't you say so!" the Uzumaki Clan Head glared at Hashirama. "Quickly! Inside, you need to sit down!"
Masahiko rolled his eyes from the side. Judging by Mito's figure, she clearly wasn't even three months along. Besides, she was a Jonin. She wasn't that fragile.
'But speaking of which... Mito is pregnant... with Tsunade's father?' Masahiko thought.
In his past life, Tsunade's father had been a complete mystery, with all sorts of theories. Before Obito's identity was revealed, some people even guessed the man in the mask was Tsunade's father. Now, Masahiko would actually get to see him...
Faced with a Clan Head in full-blown "overprotective father" mode, Masahiko and Hashirama were helpless, and even Mito couldn't do anything.
The five of them went to the main hall and sat down. Masahiko, Hashirama, and Tobirama just watched awkwardly as the other two put on a show of "father-daughter affection."
After a long while, the Clan Head finally returned to normal.
"Hashirama, thank you for taking the time to bring my daughter back to see me, even after becoming the Senju Clan Head," the Uzumaki Clan Head said slowly. "How are things... are you still holding the advantage on the battlefield?"
Masahiko's face darkened. He'd lost all hope for his nephew's intelligence the moment he heard the word "pregnant."
Unexpectedly, Hashirama didn't take the opening to ask for aid. Instead, he said, "The situation on the battlefield is good. We've been maintaining the advantage."
"But..." Hashirama hesitated.
'Here it comes! It is a request for aid!' Masahiko screamed internally.
"We've run into some trouble in the southwest corner of the Land of Fire. A small clan attacked us, and we've lost quite a few clansmen," Hashirama continued.
"A small clan?" the Uzumaki Clan Head asked, confused. "There's a small clan that can stand up to the Senju? Which one?"
"A small clan called 'Tenbin' (Scales)," Tobirama explained. "They aren't particularly strong, but many of them have a special transformation. When they use it, they lose their minds, become fearless, and have caused us no small amount of trouble."
'This is sounding more and more familiar. Tenbin? Transformation? Wasn't Jugo's name 'Jugo of the Scales'?' Masahiko thought. It had been over fifty years since he'd arrived; he was a bit fuzzy on the details.
Hearing this, the Clan Head's expression turned ugly. "Lose their minds... fearless... then our Uzumaki clansmen..."
"That's not what I mean," Hashirama interrupted. "I just came to ask for a senior from the Uzumaki clan who is skilled in Fuinjutsu to come with me. We want to see if it's possible to seal this transformation ability."
"Oh, I see. That's no problem," the Clan Head said, relieved. "In that case, I'll have our clan's First Elder go with you."
Hashirama's face lit up. "The First Elder? That's excellent! Where is he?"
Masahiko looked confused. 'Didn't the Clan Head say yesterday that the First Elder had retired?' For some reason, he had a very bad feeling.
Sure enough, the Clan Head continued: "Our original First Elder is retired due to old age. Our current First Elder is right in front of you. It's my Second Uncle, Masahiko."
Masahiko's face darkened. He'd been tricked by his grand-nephew. He never wanted to be an Elder, being used to his freedom. But... he did want to go with Hashirama to see this Tenbin clan. He might be able to get some Witness Points. Now it was going to be very hard to refuse the position...
"Great-Uncle?" Hashirama asked, looking confused. "Is he... skilled in Fuinjutsu?"
"Don't worry, Hashirama," the Clan Head replied. "These past few years, Masahiko has been researching Fuinjutsu. He's now the strongest in our clan at it."
"In that case, I'm relieved," Hashirama continued. "As thanks for asking Great-Uncle to come, we've brought a gift for the Uzumaki clan. Tobirama, bring out the item."
Tobirama reluctantly pulled out a scroll and handed it to the Uzumaki Clan Head.
"It's a new jutsu Tobirama developed," Hashirama explained. "It's called the 'Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu.' It's perfectly suited for the Uzumaki clan, with your large chakra reserves."
The Clan Head's face lit up with joy after reading the scroll. After that, the group chatted happily.
Only Masahiko's face grew even darker...
"Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu?"
"Damn you, Tobirama! You owe me Witness Points!"