Chapter 38: The Mask of the Shinigami
Three years later.
"Sensei, is my monkey mask cute?"
Masahiko looked blankly at Yiko-chan, who was gesturing at the monkey mask on her face.
Perhaps because the clan had been too peaceful in recent years, the number of children in the clan had grown. And for some reason, masks had become increasingly popular among the children. Just today, the clan was holding its very first Mask Festival.
"Sensei..." Seeing Masahiko's mind wandering, Yiko called out in dissatisfaction.
"Oh, it looks good, very good... Where are the other two?" Masahiko snapped back to reality and asked about the whereabouts of his other two students.
"Kento-kun is still training. He wouldn't come even when I called him." Yiko pouted. "Nanako-neechan is also picking out a mask..."
Masahiko nodded to show he understood.
Over the past three years, Kento-kun had been the student Masahiko was most satisfied with. Perhaps the "Self-Imposed Constraint" training method really worked, or maybe his talent for Taijutsu was truly that high, but at just 11 years old, Kento had reached the level of a Jonin in Taijutsu. Sometimes, when Masahiko sparred with him, he might even embarrass himself if he didn't take it seriously.
It made Masahiko want to use the "Self-Imposed Constraint" method himself sometimes, but he ultimately gave up on the idea. He felt Kento was developing in the direction of Might Guy and Rock Lee...
As for Yiko, the now 9-year-old girl didn't feel much different from three years ago. She still looked like she hadn't grown up much. Occasionally acting spoiled, she made Masahiko feel like he was raising a daughter. However, her talent for learning ninjutsu was terrifyingly high. Not only had her hand seal speed caught up to Masahiko's, but she had also learned every Wind and Fire Release jutsu below B-rank that he had taught her. Masahiko planned to teach her the Rasengan series in a while. Once she grew up a bit more and her chakra reserves increased, she would become a true ninjutsu turret.
As for the last student...
"Sensei! I'm here! Does my mask look cool?" Just as Masahiko was thinking about her, Nanako's shout reached his ears.
Masahiko looked up helplessly. Over the past few years, after getting completely familiar with the three of them, Nanako had revealed her true nature. Usually, she acted like a polite, gentle, and refined young lady, but occasionally she would reveal a carefree, or rather, a fiery side of her personality. Masahiko suspected she had an "Inner Personality" just like Sakura.
Just look at the mask she chose. What kind of girl chooses a Shinigami mask?
Wait... a Shinigami mask?
Masahiko's expression changed. He scrutinized Nanako's mask carefully and said, "Nanako, that's a nice mask. Let me see it."
"Sensei, you didn't even look at my mask..." Yiko complained from the side.
Masahiko ignored her and took the mask Nanako handed over. After examining it closely, he breathed a slight sigh of relief.
"Is it just a similar design?" Masahiko muttered. He didn't detect the presence of any actual Shinigami in the mask. "But why Nanako?"
Masahiko was still a bit concerned because Nanako's progress in learning Fuinjutsu had been rapid over the past three years. If she were to develop the Dead Demon Consuming Seal one day in the future, Masahiko wouldn't be surprised at all.
"I'd better keep an eye on this..." Masahiko handed the mask back to Nanako and turned to look at Yiko, whose pout was distinct enough to hang a bottle of oil on.
"Yiko, let me see that monkey mask."
Taking the monkey mask from Yiko, Masahiko examined it and then put it on his own face.
"Sensei, you look just like a monkey!" Yiko said happily.
Masahiko's face darkened behind the mask as he handed it back.
"I guess... I'm just a goofball sent by a monkey..."
Ignoring the fact that his two students didn't understand the reference, Masahiko continued, "Let's go. Let's walk around the Mask Festival together."
He led his two students to the clan market. The usual variety of goods had been completely replaced by masks for the day.
Animal masks, character masks, and Shinigami masks...
Masahiko had no interest in animal masks; those were for little kids. As for character masks...
"What the hell? Why is there a mask designed after me? And why is it in such a ridiculous style?"
Masahiko's eyes widened. He looked at the stall owner, and his face went black.
"Isn't this the former Second Elder of our Uzumaki clan? I thought you went home to retire. Why are you selling masks?" The stall owner was none other than Uzumaki Masahiro, the clan's former Second Elder.
"Ah, Masahiko," Uzumaki Masahiro glanced at him with a smile. "I've had nothing to do these past few years, so I made a few masks. My grandson didn't like them, so I had to bring them out to sell."
"How old is your grandson? To not like masks... all the kids love them," Masahiko asked, confused.
"My grandson is 11... but all he cares about is training," Uzumaki Masahiro said with a smile after a pause.
Masahiko's face went dark. "Your grandson... it wouldn't happen to be Kento, would it?" Seeing Masahiro nod, Masahiko continued, "You actually dared to let me teach your grandson? We had some grudges in the past, you know..."
"It's been nearly 50 years. I stopped caring about those old grudges long ago, and I trust you have too. Besides, after the battle with the Kaguya, I believe you are the most suitable person to be Kento's teacher," Masahiro said.
"I let go of the past grudges long ago," Masahiko said. "But now we have a new grudge. You've violated my portrait rights."
"Your what rights?"
"Portrait rights!" Masahiko pointed at the mask. He didn't explain further and turned to leave with his two students.
"Sensei, wait a moment!" Nanako interrupted.
Ten minutes later, Masahiko watched helplessly as Nanako put on the "Masahiko Mask."
"Sigh... the legal awareness of these clansmen is too weak. When Hashirama founds Konoha later, I'll have to remind him to strengthen the legal education of the villagers!" Masahiko shook his head, muttering words no one else could understand.
"Sensei, the place where I bought my mask is just ahead!" Nanako's voice interrupted Masahiko's thoughts. He looked up and saw various styles of Shinigami masks coming into view.
They walked up to the stall. The owner greeted them enthusiastically, "Welcome, Lord Masahiko! Do you need anything?" Then, seeing Nanako behind Masahiko, he paused. "Does the young lady want another style of Shinigami mask? You have a good eye; you already bought the only unique one I had..."
Hearing the praise, Nanako excitedly stepped forward, but Masahiko stopped her.
"Unique? Why was only one made?" Masahiko asked, puzzled.
"Er, actually, I didn't make that mask," the stall owner said sheepishly. "I made all the others myself, but that one... I found it while rummaging through some junk at home. It looked new, so I put it out for sale. Who knows, it might have been handed down from my ancestors. If that's the case, I might have sold it too cheap..."
"Speaking of my ancestors, they were big shots in the Land of Fire back in the day..."
"Alright, I get it," Masahiko interrupted the owner's rambling. "Yiko, Nanako, let's go back."
"Who knows... maybe that mask really was left behind by a 'big shot'..."
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