Chapter 159: The Honey Trap
In the crystal ball, the golden-haired youth finally caught up to the "Cloud Village" ninja. After a struggle, he successfully defeated the opponent and won the beauty's heart... or so Masahiko thought to himself.
In reality, the difference wasn't huge, but Minato didn't kill the opponent. He only beat him until he fled in panic, and Minato ultimately failed to catch him.
"It would be weird if he could catch him. That's a Jonin, and how old is Minato..." Masahiko's mouth twitched as he watched the brilliant performance in the crystal ball, followed by Minato's affectionate confession after saving Kushina-kun.
"Although Kushina and Minato finally got together, why do I feel like hitting someone?" Masahiko, hiding inside the wall, sighed. Watching Hiruzen and Danzo exchange knowing looks, he shook his head helplessly.
"So they realized Kushina is suitable to be the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and want to keep her here using this method?"
Hiruzen and Danzo began to discuss, and the content wasn't far from Masahiko's guess; he heard every word.
After a while, Hiruzen sighed. "Danzo, let's think about how to explain this to Elder Masahiko. I feel like we can't hide it from him."
Danzo frowned. "Hide it for now. Once their feelings deepen, Elder Masahiko surely won't break them up, right?"
"What if we can't hide it?"
"I'll think of a way..." Danzo stopped halfway through his sentence, realizing something was wrong. Seeing Hiruzen's exaggerated expression, he turned his head stiffly.
Masahiko had asked the question just now.
"Go on, tell me how you plan to hide it from me?" Masahiko gave a fake smile.
Danzo straightened his expression. "Elder Masahiko, you came just in time. Just now, a Cloud Village ninja tried to kidnap Kushina Uzumaki, but was successfully rescued by her classmate, Minato Namikaze."
"Oh, is that so?" Masahiko nodded, looking at Danzo with a smile. He didn't expect Danzo to have such talent for lying through his teeth.
"What about that Cloud Village ninja? Was he caught?" Masahiko continued.
Danzo frowned and shook his head. "Unfortunately, he got away."
Masahiko glanced at Hiruzen and sighed. "Konoha's security needs strengthening, Hiruzen."
Hiruzen nodded repeatedly.
Masahiko didn't say anything more and turned to leave. After such a staged performance, he didn't even know if he should pursue the matter.
However, at the door, Masahiko turned back and said one thing. "Whether Kushina becomes the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki or not must be voluntary!"
Leaving this sentence behind, regardless of the two "schemers" looking at each other with bitter smiles, Masahiko left directly to check on Kushina-kun and Minato.
The location in the crystal ball earlier looked familiar; it should be a forest southwest of Konoha. Sure enough, Masahiko found their chakra signatures there.
Without hiding his presence, Masahiko walked straight out. Kushina-kun looked delighted upon seeing him, but Minato reacted faster than her. "Old Fraud?"
Masahiko's face darkened. What the hell?
"Great-Grandpa!" Kushina-kun shouted and ran over, snapping Masahiko back to reality.
After listening to Kushina-kun complain a bit, Masahiko shifted his attention to Minato. Ever since Kushina-kun called him "Great-Grandpa," Minato's expression had become even stranger.
"You are Kushina's Great-Grandpa? So, you are Elder Masahiko Uzumaki?"
Masahiko nodded, and Minato's expression became complicated.
"Back then, the exchange student program..." Minato stopped, looking like he wanted to say something but held back.
Masahiko instantly felt awkward, cursing Hiruzen in his heart. Couldn't he see it was just a random excuse? He actually told Minato the reason for the "Ugly. Rejected" verdict.
Masahiko could only shift the blame. "What's wrong? The exchange student matter was handled by my disciple, Izuko Uzumaki. Is there a problem?"
Minato was stunned, then nodded. "Oh, I see..." But in his heart, he definitely didn't believe it.
Kushina-kun looked back and forth between them, then gently nudged Masahiko. "Great-Grandpa, are you bullying Minato?"
Masahiko covered his forehead helplessly, cursing Hiruzen's "Honey Trap" (Handsome Man Trap) for being too effective too quickly. However, deep down, he was happy to see it succeed.
"How is that possible?" Masahiko decisively denied it.
Then he turned to Minato and asked a question he cared about more.
"How did you discover Kushina was being kidnapped earlier?"
Thinking about it, the one who kidnapped Kushina-kun this time was likely a member of the Anbu, with strength at least that of a standard Jonin. It couldn't possibly be a trash Chunin from the Cloud Village like in the original story, giving Kushina-kun a chance to leave behind strands of hair.
Minato paused, then said, "I happened to be training over there earlier, and that person passed by me carrying Kushina..." As Minato spoke, he frowned, evidently realizing something was amiss.
seeing Minato in deep thought, Masahiko breathed a sigh of relief instead. At least Minato didn't know about this Honey Trap beforehand; that was good.
"Truly premeditated for a long time. Hiruzen, Danzo... interesting..." Masahiko shook his head. "Let's go. To thank you for saving our Kushina, I'll treat you to BBQ."
The two children followed, and Masahiko took them to the thirty-year-old establishment, the Akimichi BBQ Restaurant.
Unexpectedly, he ran into a few acquaintances here. The Sannin were also dining together.
"Old Monster!" Jiraiya shouted first. Masahiko actually felt this address was somewhat endearing now.
Ignoring him, Masahiko looked at Tsunade, whose eyes were chaotic. "What's wrong? Why such an expression upon seeing me?"
Before Tsunade could speak, Masahiko shivered all over. Orochimaru was staring at him intensely, his eyes practically glowing green.
"Damn it, Orochimaru's parents died anyway. I guess he's even more obsessed with research..."
Masahiko glared at him. Orochimaru withdrew his gaze and spoke in a raspy voice, "Senior, that idiot Jiraiya just confessed his love to Tsunade for the seventh time..."
Masahiko paused, then laughed, pointing at Jiraiya. "With your looks..."
Stopping halfway, Masahiko closed his eyes and shook his head, making Jiraiya feel even worse.
"Old Monster, you..."
"Alright, alright," Masahiko waved his hand. "This BBQ meal is on me. I'll treat you guys too."
Only then did the three notice the two children behind Masahiko. Tsunade was naturally familiar with Kushina-kun and smiled, beckoning her over. As for Minato, he looked at Jiraiya and Orochimaru... neither looked like good people, so he sat down closely next to Masahiko.
"Old Monster, watch me eat you into poverty!"
Masahiko shook his head helplessly. Jiraiya was twenty-five but still acted like he hadn't grown up.
"Wait, twenty-five?" Masahiko was startled. "Isn't Tsunade twenty-five too? What about Dan Kato? Is he dead?"
Since Jiraiya was still confessing to Tsunade, at least Tsunade didn't have a boyfriend yet. But since she was already twenty-five, she should have had one in the original story...
"Is it because the progress of the war is different?" Masahiko couldn't recall exactly why Tsunade fell in love with Dan Kato.
"In that case, Jiraiya should have a chance... Should I help him?" Masahiko snickered inwardly. But looking at Jiraiya shouting stupidly about eating him poor, he shook his head.
"You don't have the capital to pull off a Honey Trap..."
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