Chapter 175: The Shadow Clone Takes the Blame
Teuchi, who had been pitted into prison by Masahiko, was released in less than two hours, completely unharmed. Masahiko wasn't surprised. He had observed Teuchi up close for nearly a month and hadn't found anything amiss about him. Konoha's Anbu certainly wouldn't make things difficult for a civilian, especially an Anbu squad led by Sakumo.
Masahiko even went next door to comfort Teuchi, earning the man's gratitude in return.
"Is it a bit excessive for me to treat an ordinary person like this?" Masahiko muttered, though his hands didn't stop moving. He discovered that carving figures was also a way to entrust one's longing. Over the past few days, Masahiko had carved lifelike figures of Hashirama, Tobirama, and Madara in various postures, finding a new joy in it.
"Huh?" Masahiko looked up and smiled. "Welcome!"
Ever since Masahiko put out the sign saying "Items in store: One million ryo each," his reputation had spread far and wide, resulting in zero customers. Masahiko didn't lack money, so he was happy with the quiet.
But today, someone actually came to the door: Sakumo Hatake.
Sakumo nodded in response to Masahiko's greeting, walked into the shop, and looked around.
After a long while, Sakumo turned his head and probed tentatively, "Elder Masahiko?"
Masahiko's face stiffened, then he quickly put on a blank look. "Who?" He wanted to continue hiding his identity, unaware that Tsunade and Orochimaru had already guessed it.
"It was you who drugged the noodle bowl, and it was also you who stirred up that gust of wind, right?"
Masahiko looked at Sakumo, who spoke with such certainty, and cursed inwardly: You aren't Sakumo Hatake, you're actually Detective Conan, aren't you?
"This Ninja-sama must be joking." Masahiko was still putting up a final struggle.
Sakumo glanced at Masahiko again and smiled. "Besides you and Lady Mito, who else is so familiar with Lord First and the others now?"
Masahiko frowned. It seemed he needed to put away some of the figures. After hesitating, he sighed. "If you figured it out, you figured it out. It's boring if you say it out loud."
Sakumo smiled bitterly. "An S-rank missing-nin from the Land of Water got food poisoning in this vicinity. How could I not come to investigate?"
Masahiko glared. "So, what are the results of your investigation?"
Sakumo paused. "Well, it might be that he wasn't acclimated to the local climate."
"That's more like it," Masahiko muttered, pointing to a chair in the shop. "Sit down and tell me about the guy who was caught. What's the situation?"
Sakumo sat down and explained, "That man is Jūzō Biwa, an S-rank missing-nin from the Land of Water and one of the former Seven Ninja Swordsmen..."
Masahiko waved his hand, interrupting him.
"I know all that. Tell me his objective."
Sakumo hesitated slightly before speaking. "He seems to be a member of that Akatsuki organization. He received a mission to sabotage the marriage alliance between the Senju and the Uchiha..."
Masahiko frowned and sighed inwardly. As expected, it is the Akatsuki. The fact that Jūzō Biwa was captured so easily had made him think the guy wasn't an Akatsuki member.
"The current Akatsuki is comprised of such idiots? They are a disgrace to the name 'Akatsuki'. No wonder Kakuzu left."
Masahiko's expression suddenly became grave, causing Sakumo to become serious as well, thinking Masahiko had discovered something important.
"There is something even more important right now," Masahiko said, emphasizing every word. "How about changing your son's name?"
"Huh?"
...
Half a month flew by. Ichiraku Ramen finally saw some improvement. Business had been sluggish for a while due to rumors that someone had died eating there, but thanks to the high quality and low prices, life gradually returned to the shop.
Masahiko's shop, however, showed no signs of improvement. During this period, aside from selling to the Sannin, only Sakumo bought a figure of himself, essentially to support Masahiko's business.
Masahiko's shop had become a "Rip-off Acquaintances" store; everything was sold to people he knew.
"At this price, only people in Konoha capable of doing S-rank missions can afford it. Naturally, they are all acquaintances," Masahiko muttered. "It's getting a bit boring."
Although Masahiko was prepared to stay quietly until Year 38 of Konoha, the unchanging life was indeed hard to accept, especially since he hadn't made any "interesting" discoveries about Teuchi.
Just as he was getting restless, new amusement arrived.
"It's a familiar chakra fluctuation again. Sakumo is accompanying them, so they aren't Akatsuki members. They should be envoys or something."
Masahiko's shop was located right in the center of Konoha Village, on the inevitable path from the main gate to the Hokage Building, so visitors would pass right by his door.
"I remember he should be called Mangetsu Hozuki, plus a few ninjas I don't recognize." Masahiko frowned, recalling carefully.
"They must have come to Konoha for their S-rank missing-nin and that ninja sword." Masahiko's heart stirred, and he had a new idea.
"If they redeem the Executioner's Blade (Kubikiribōchō), and then I take it, that would be even better." He was hesitant to "take" it directly from Konoha, but he had zero psychological burden taking it from the hands of Hidden Mist ninjas.
Masahiko wasn't in a hurry. Mangetsu Hozuki and his party would definitely pass his shop again when they returned. He could decide what to do then based on the situation.
Sure enough, more than an hour later, Sakumo accompanied the Land of Water ninjas back. Mangetsu Hozuki now carried a large sword on his shoulder, and the others were escorting the unconscious Jūzō Biwa. Who knew how much money or resources they had used to trade for them back.
"Closing time." Masahiko looked left and right, locked the shop door securely, and entered Kaguya's Will Mode.
Sakumo escorted the envoys from the Land of Water to the village entrance and turned back. Masahiko followed them closely. He wasn't in a rush; if he acted too close to Konoha Village, it might be misunderstood as Konoha double-crossing them.
"This distance should be about right. If they go any further, the blame will shift to the Land of Whirlpools," Masahiko muttered, preparing to strike.
Suddenly, a gust of wind struck. Masahiko's face darkened. The scene felt inexplicably familiar, but he wasn't the one doing it.
"It might also be 'me' doing it." Masahiko muttered. He detected the chakra fluctuation of his own Shadow Clone, arriving from the Land of Whirlpools to snatch the sword.
"It really is my Shadow Clone. His thoughts are the same as mine. I guess I made a wasted trip."
Masahiko's main body watched as the Shadow Clone knocked out the group from the Land of Whirlpools (Mist) in a few moves, grabbed the sword, and left. He sighed.
"Boring. Let's go back." He had finally found some fun, only to have it snatched away by his own Shadow Clone. It was truly dull.
Returning to Konoha Village, in front of Masahiko's shop, Sakumo Hatake was already waiting there.
"Elder Masahiko, you didn't go to rob the sword, did you?" Sakumo sighed, understanding Masahiko's personality quite well.
Masahiko shook his head in denial. "How is that possible? I just went out for a stroll."
Sakumo obviously didn't believe him. Masahiko continued, "If I had robbed them, I would definitely admit it. I really didn't."
At the same time, he muttered in his heart: That was the Shadow Clone who robbed them. It has nothing to do with me.
☆☆☆
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