Chapter 456: Obito's Son, Uchiha Akira
Masahiko's training, which had lasted over three months, drew to a close after the completion of the Sky Island.
He had left Konoha on July 8, and now it was... he couldn't remember the exact date. Ahem, one loses track of time during training...
Masahiko placed a concealing barrier around the Sky Island, hiding it completely for now, waiting until he had some leisure time to properly furnish it.
The food stockpiled in his Eight Trigrams space was nearly exhausted, and since this location was very close to the Land of Whirlpools, Masahiko prepared to head back first to check on things.
The Land of Whirlpools, Uzukage Office.
"Yo, Teacher, you really shrunk? When Sister Kushina sent word back, Konan and I still didn't believe it." Nagato walked around Masahiko, sizing him up from front to back.
"That loud-mouthed Kushina, she just can't keep a single secret hidden!" Masahiko pursed his lips. He had originally wanted to tease Nagato—for instance, by masquerading as his own illegitimate son. But that seemed a bit too foolish...
"Teacher, you've returned right on cue. There's a matter that requires you to make a decision."
Masahiko was startled. Why did it feel like every single time he saw Nagato, there was always something that required his decision?
"You're already the Uzukage, what else could possibly need my input?"
"Yo, this matter is a bit exceptional!" Nagato scratched his head. "Over on Konoha's side, Shisui Uchiha has officially joined the Akatsuki organization on behalf of Konoha Village..."
"Oh?" Masahiko paused in surprise.
Nagato nodded to confirm: "Now, our Land of Whirlpools is the only one that hasn't dispatched a permanent resident ninja yet."
Masahiko nodded thoughtfully, and a sudden stroke of inspiration hit him: "We can't act special. Have Kisame go!"
"Yo!"
Masahiko pondered for a brief moment: "That medicine... have you been taking it consistently every day?"
Nagato gave a bitter smile: "Yo!"
"Don't put on that face. After the New Year, the two of you will be thirty-two. Married for over three years, yet still no child..."
"I know you mean well for us."
"It's good that you know. I'll grant you one more year. If it still doesn't work out... I'll prescribe another batch of medicine for Konan."
Nagato could only nod with a bitter smile.
Masahiko was also very helpless, dealing with these vexing family matters all the time: "Send someone to track down Kisame then."
Kisame joining the Akatsuki brought Masahiko 20 Witness Points, which was a nice little bonus.
Masahiko knew that if he let Nagato or Konan join the Akatsuki, he would harvest significantly more points, but he absolutely could not do that.
Getting those two disciples to take that kind of tonic medicine was already embarrassing enough for Masahiko... On this trip back to the Land of Whirlpools, he didn't even have the face to meet Konan.
He stopped by Sara's place to have lunch and chat about recent events, before flickering back to Konoha. He learned from Nagato that today was already November 10, meaning his training hadn't lasted over three months, but a full four months.
"If I don't go back now, the money the Great Ancestor won is going to be completely squandered by Kushina... Why on earth was I possessed by a ghost back then to let Kushina keep it safe for me?"
Konoha Village, Kushina's House.
Looking at the tightly locked front doors, Masahiko instantly had an ominous premonition.
In the middle of the afternoon, where could their whole family have gone? Naruto was out on a mission, so were Kushina and Minato guiding Tsukika's training together?
"They couldn't have used the Great Ancestor's money to buy a... brand new mansion, right?"
Unable to find Kushina for the moment, Masahiko helplessly flickered over to the Hokage Office, intending to greet Obito and tell him he was back. As it turned out, the one sitting in the Hokage Office was still Hiruzen...
"Why is it you again? Did Obito go on strike?"
Hiruzen rose with a bitter smile: "Rin Uchiha's due date is fast approaching, so Obito has been staying home to take care of her these past few days. I have to shoulder this for another ten days to half a month. Sigh!"
Masahiko paused: "Oh, right, Rin... I didn't even count the days. Is Kushina over at her place?"
Hiruzen nodded: "She's been there the past few days."
Masahiko raised his eyebrows: "Did you give her my money? How much was it?"
"I recall it was over 460 million Ryo. Back then, the Konoha civilians were..."
Hiruzen began to endlessly pour out his grievances, while Masahiko listened with a beaming smile, nodding along as he listened. He even spoke with a face full of profound sentiment: "460 million, huh..."
Hiruzen: "..."
"Excellent, carry on with your work." Masahiko waved his hand. Seemingly remembering something, he added a final note: "Pay attention to your health. You're not like you used to be; after all, you're getting up there in age. There's no need to be so thoroughly dedicated to your duties as Hokage..."
"How can I do that..."
"Mmm, an excellent attitude. Keep up the hard work! Strive! Fighting! Add oil!" Masahiko vanished via teleportation.
Leaving Hiruzen sitting frozen in a daze, trying to parse out exactly what Masahiko meant. Was he trying to tell him to take a break, or was he trying to...
The Uchiha Clan Compound.
Kushina was currently holding Rin's hand and chatting, when Rin suddenly revealed an expression of surprise: "Master Kushina, look out behind you!"
Kushina snapped her head around, only to see a fist-sized black vortex manifest in the space behind her. A hand extended from within, seemingly trying to pat her shoulder, but having been discovered by Rin, it froze right in mid-air.
"This hand is... Great-grandfather?"
The black vortex expanded, and Masahiko stepped out from within with a face full of helplessness: "Rin, does Obito constantly play this kind of game with you? How are you so razor-sharp?"
Rin's belly was already heavily swollen, but she hadn't gained much weight on her face. When she smiled, those two adorable little dimples still showed.
"Teacher, you really turned small! Your current appearance is so adorable!"
Masahiko pursed his lips. This was the effect of someone about to become a mother; her maternal instincts were completely overflowing, actually calling him adorable?
"Handsome, handsome," Masahiko chuckled. "Where is Obito? Didn't they say he was taking care of you?"
Rin let out an imperceptible sigh: "He's currently preparing dinner for me."
"Yo, he actually learned how to cook?" Masahiko had a face full of smiles. Looking at Rin's expression, he knew the taste was probably anything but pleasant, but it was the thought that counted from Obito...
Glancing over at the dark-cuisine master Kushina, Masahiko felt that Rin hadn't had it easy over this past period...
"Your teacher was too busy a while back, but now that I'm done, leave the cooking duties to me! How much longer until your due date?"
Rin spoke with a trace of nervousness: "It's actually tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?" Masahiko paused. "Who's delivering the baby?"
"Am I not standing right here, Great-grandfather!" Kushina chimed in. "I know Medical Ninjutsu too, and having given birth to Naruto and Tsukika, I have plenty of experience!"
"...As your teacher, I really haven't shown enough concern for you." Masahiko shook his head with a bitter smile. "After you give birth, your teacher will handle all your meals for the entire month!"
Rin flashed a sweet smile, failing to decline: "Thank you for the trouble, Teacher!"
Masahiko smiled, turning his focus to Kushina: "Are you carrying my money on you?"
Kushina froze, her face full of profound reluctance, but she still slowly reached her hand toward her vest.
"You're actually willing to hand it over?" Masahiko displayed a hint of surprise. "Seeing how reluctant you look, just give me the pocket change first. Keep the rest with you, just don't spend it recklessly!"
"You got it!"
The next day, November 11, Konoha Year 60.
Amidst the constant streams of comforting words offered to Obito by Masahiko and Minato, Rin successfully gave birth to a plump baby boy weighing over eight pounds.
After a brief discussion among the group, Masahiko made the final call, settling on the boy's name—Uchiha Akira.
They all assumed Masahiko was offering a blessing for the child's future to be bright (Akira can mean bright/clear), but that wasn't the case.
Masahiko was simply feeling a wave of profound sentiment because Obito didn't have to wear that hatred-filled mask, nor did he have to conceal his identity to wreak havoc upon the shinobi world... He was merely reflecting on what a truly remarkable grand old predecessor he was.
Akira, meaning to manifest, to reveal, or to bring to light.
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