Chapter 199: Birth, Aging, Sickness, and Death
Beneath the wooden bridge, by the stream.
The three children were simply washing the dust off their faces.
Because the cave had been "blasted" by Masahiko, the three of them were dirty from head to toe. However, out in this wilderness, a simple rinse was all they could manage.
"Alright, that's about enough. Let's pack up and return to Konoha. You can have a proper wash when we get back."
Masahiko was practically "spotless," which earned him a series of eye-rolls from Kushina. He was finding it a bit hard to bear her gaze.
Konan hesitated for a moment. "Sensei, it seems we haven't collected enough herbs yet."
Masahiko smiled and pulled out two sealing scrolls. "If I relied on you guys, who knows how long we'd be gathering? This is already enough."
Although his Pharmacy skill was only Level 1, it was sufficient to identify these simple herbs. Without realizing it, he had already filled two sealing scrolls to the brim.
"Then let's go back, Great-Great-Grandpa," Kushina said. As the little princess of the Land of Whirlpools, although she wasn't exactly spoiled, the layer of dust on her body was becoming unbearable.
Masahiko nodded and took the three children into the air again, heading towards Konoha. On the way up, he glanced with a smile at the jungle not far away.
The four Merchant Ninjas were there. They had picked up the four skateboards that Masahiko's group had discarded.
"Big Brother, they left. They didn't come back for the abacus."
"I saw. We made hundreds of thousands of ryo for nothing. Who cares if they leave or not?"
...
In the air, Masahiko snickered as he touched the banknotes in his chest pocket. He wouldn't actually use money to buy those things; he had just used a little Genjutsu interference. Tomorrow, they would probably discover that the banknotes had turned into leaves and wouldn't know who to complain to...
Having traveled the route once, the return journey was smoother. However, since Masahiko was carrying the "Salamander Ancestor," his speed was actually a bit slower.
"Sensei, is that thing in your hand really a giant salamander?" Konan hesitated but asked anyway.
Masahiko paused, a bit uncertain. "It should be. It doesn't matter if it isn't; let's just say it's to give the Soldier Pills a new flavor..."
This statement was terribly irresponsible, but he didn't use Soldier Pills anyway.
At the entrance of Konoha Village, Masahiko didn't descend. Carrying such a huge thing, he couldn't exactly drag it through the village entrance, so he flew directly to the front of the Hokage Building. The two-and-a-half-day "long-term mission" was declared over.
"Hiruzen, come out and receive the goods! It's a giant salamander!" Masahiko shouted with a smile.
Hiruzen walked out, his expression relatively serious, even grave. "Elder Masahiko, you're back."
Masahiko was startled. "What's wrong? Did the Third Great Ninja War start?"
Hiruzen shook his head. "It's news from the Land of Whirlpools. The Whirlpool Daimyo is critically ill..."
"Who?"
"Grandfather?"
Masahiko and Kushina exclaimed in surprise simultaneously.
Hiruzen nodded with a solemn face, confirming Masahiko hadn't heard wrong.
"Great-Great-Grandpa..." Kushina instantly became anxious.
Masahiko waved his hand and looked at Hiruzen. "Has Nanako gone back?"
"She has returned."
Masahiko nodded, pulled the sealing scrolls from his chest, threw them over, and took the three children into the air again, heading straight for the Land of Whirlpools.
"It's been less than a year since we last met. Gensuke is only 65. How could he... is he already 65?" In the air, Masahiko constantly accelerated, sighing with emotion in his heart.
The three children were rendered speechless by the wind pressure and had no mood to talk anyway.
The three of them were still covered in dust, but even Kushina had no mind to clean herself up now.
In just under half an hour, thanks to Masahiko's constant acceleration, they returned to the Land of Whirlpools.
"Nagato, Konan, you two go back and clean up first. I'll take Kushina over."
Masahiko flew directly with Kushina to the entrance of the Daimyo's palace. Ignoring the greetings from the guards, he entered the palace directly.
"Sensei, you're back." Izuko was the first to welcome them.
"How is Gensuke?" Masahiko had actually sensed that his chakra was already extremely weak, but he still asked in disbelief.
As expected, Izuko shook her head gently. Kushina immediately rushed inside.
Masahiko sighed and didn't rush in.
"What happened?"
"Gensuke might have been too tired..." Izuko sighed. Although she and Gensuke hadn't always seen eye to eye, she was also somewhat sad at this moment.
"Too tired..." Masahiko had actually never thought highly of Gensuke. He had ambition but lacked the matching intellect, and he didn't have the tenacious heart a ninja should have.
But for so many years, Masahiko had mostly been a hands-off leader. It was truly thanks to Gensuke that the Land of Whirlpools could develop steadily.
"How is Nanako holding up?"
"She's okay, Sensei."
Just as Masahiko asked, Nanako walked out from inside. She didn't look as grief-stricken as Masahiko had imagined.
"You..." Masahiko hesitated. The words of comfort stuck in his throat; he really didn't know how to comfort her. Should he say "Birth, aging, sickness, and death are the ways of life"?
"It's okay, Sensei. I was actually prepared for this day long ago." Nanako shook her head.
"Before I went to Konoha, I noticed his health wasn't very good. I advised him to rest, but he didn't agree. I knew then that this day would come; I just didn't expect it to come so soon."
"Is that so?" Masahiko nodded. "Let's go in."
Having not seen Gensuke for just one year, it was as if he had become a different person. He had aged beyond recognition and was already on his deathbed.
Inside the room, Gensuke and Nanako's son and daughter-in-law stood to the side, and Kushina was sobbing softly.
Gensuke saw Masahiko too. A smile actually squeezed out onto his aged face, and he nodded to him.
Masahiko fell silent for a moment, then smiled back at him. Gensuke closed his eyes with a look of gratification.
The others quickly gathered around. Masahiko shook his head helplessly. "Getting my approval only right before dying... what's so gratifying about that?"
Masahiko didn't know which time this was that a white-haired person was sending off... no, a black-haired person sending off a white-haired person (referring to the tragedy of parents burying children vs children burying parents), but his heart still felt heavy.
"Sensei, birth, aging, sickness, and death are the ways of life. You don't need to be too sad." Masahiko never expected that Nanako would be the one comforting him at this time; the roles were completely reversed.
"Birth, aging, sickness, and death..." Masahiko nodded and walked out.
He understood in his heart that Nanako wasn't just comforting him for the present moment. She knew that the day she, Kento, and Izuko would grow old and pass wasn't far off either. Maybe five years? Ten years? When that time came, Masahiko might have to send them off one by one.
"This is the one bad thing about living too long." Masahiko sighed with emotion. He had already sent off too many juniors. If he weren't naturally optimistic, and if there weren't "acquaintances" being born one after another, he might have lived enough long ago...
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