Masahiko looked careworn.
Just after he asked him that question, he himself looked puzzled by the question, and at the same time, he held his fingers and started counting.
"Let's see, the people who want me dead are… the leader of the row of course is, Madara, wait, that's not necessarily, Hagoromo won't miss me too if I'm dead… Then the guy who stole the Rinnegan, and Orochimaru, does he want me to die too? I doubt that he never thought about it… There is also the Fourth Raiakge, um…."
Masahiko fell into deep thought, sitting on Sasori's left shoulder.
Sasori titled his head to look at him, then he sighed and put away the four Optimus Prime puppets.
"With your strength now, you should probably be ranked 10th or so. Come on, look so sad." Masahiko finally came back to his senses and patted Sasori's shoulder several times.
"Boring." Sasori didn't know what to say, but this word was, as always, his first choice. After saying that, his huge body slowly shrank and disappeared with a "bang."
Masahiko floated to the ground to find that Sasori has changed back to his original model.
"Oh, you've given up already? Don't you want to add me to your collection? If you succeed, I will be both the newest and the oldest ones in your collection. Isn't that tempting?"
Sasori didn't talk back to him, "Grandma, don't waste any more time."
Chiyo has been silent the whole time. Hearing Sasori saying that, she finally let out a long sigh, "Sorry, Elder, I've troubled you."
Masahiko was taken aback for a moment, "What, you're giving up too, Chiyo? If you need my help, I can knock him out easily, then we can think about a way to get his real body back."
Sasori snorted, then said, "Boring."
But the way he said it and his quick departure proved that he was panicked. Although he can transform back, the process is quite painful…
Chiyo smiled bitterly, "No, Elder. I will find a way to make him do it willingly."
"Boring." Sasori's voice emitted from afar.
Masahiko smiled, "Your grandson is really awkward. He can only use this word to cover up his true feelings. Well, you can still try, Chiyo. If it doesn't work, just come to me. I'm very willing to help you."
Sasori increased the pace…
Watching Sasori and Chiyo walk away, Masahiko turned around and walked to the side of the four kids.
Deidara was unexpectedly calm, didn't try to prove that his explosions are true art, and just watched silently the entire time. He seemed to have understood that there is a big gap between him and Sasori.
Seeing Masahiko returning at this time, he imitated Sasori's statement, "One day, I will prove to him… and you that only momentary explosions are real art!"
"I'll be waiting." Masahiko yawned, "The show is over. I will go back to sleep, then we will gather tomorrow. I have something to tell you."
"I'm so energetic now. How can I sleep?" Karin whispered.
"That's good, then practice till dawn!"
After saying that, Masahiko left Karin dumbfounded.
…
The next day, early morning.
Kurotsuchi and Akatsuchi came together when they heard the bad news.
"Huh?! Elder, are you leaving now?" Kurotsuchi looked disappointed.
Kimimaro and the other two also looked blank since they just heard the news.
"It's time to go. If I don't, Onoki's granddaughter will turn into a big fat girl. He will probably be angry with me after that." Masahiko joked.
"The old man, won't…" Kurotsuchi pouted her lips, then quickly smiled and said, "Elder, can you leave in the afternoon? Don't be in such a hurry."
Masahiko was speechless, "No, we're going right now, find another one to serve you lunch."
Karin was also a little bit lost by the side. She and Kurotsuchi get along really well now, and they became friends. After all, the two girls are more outgoing… careless.
Deidara rolled his eyes. Masahiko was taking care of him during this period. He never had the opportunity to leave the village and pursue his path of art, yet he still didn't give up on this idea in his heart. This time, the moment Masahiko said he wanted to leave, the idea came up to him again.
Kimimaro was a little unwilling. He hadn't beaten Deidara and Akatsuchi yet, but he couldn't object since God ordered him to leave.
Haku showed a faintly curious look, "Elder, where are we going next?"
Karin quickly said, "It's time to go to the Land of Wind to see the desert this time."
Masahiko glanced at her, smiled, and shook his head, "We're not going to see the sand. We're going to see the snow."
Karin pursed her lips, "What's so good about snow? Winter is coming, and we can see it when we return to the Land of Whirlpools."
"You call those little snowflakes snow?" Masahiko glanced at the children in front of him, then finally looked at Kurotsuchi, "Little black-haired girl, I hope that when we meet again, you will be strong enough to drive Onoki from his position as the Tsuchikage."
Kurotsuchi clenched her small fists and smiled bitterly, "Yeah!"
"Then until I see you again."
Masahiko waved his hand, and Kurotsuchi watched him walk away with others and said, "The Elder left. I have to go and talk to the old man."
Deidara turned around, "You two go. I don't want to see that old man!"
When Kurotsuchi and Akatsuchi returned, Deidara walked back to his home quickly, "This is a good opportunity, since that guy is gone, and the guards are not here, I will… eh?"
"Asshole! Where's my clay?!"
…
Masahiko took the three kids and gradually moved away from Iwagakure.
Karin suddenly remembered something, "Elder, because we left in a hurry, I forgot to bring some clay. Would be there any in the Land of Snow?"
Masahiko shook his head and laughed, "I was prepared for that a long time ago. You won't need to think about buying more for an entire year."
Karin was taken aback for a moment but didn't think too much, "Great Elder, where are we going now?"
Masahiko turned his head and noticed how the other two also looked curious, "We're going to the country of the legendary Samurai, Wano!"
"Wano…?"
"Well, it would be a great environment for Haku to practice his Ice Release, and we cal also ask someone to teach Kimimaro some sword skills. You're only using your instinct while fighting with your bone blades. If you learn some swordsmanship, you will be the next Oden."
In fact, when it comes to swordsmanship, he can go back to Konoha and ask Sakumo to help. But the sword skills of the Hatake Clan are more focused on fusing the Lighting Release with the blade, which isn't suitable for Kimimaro.
Masahiko feels that it will be more suitable if Kimimaro inherits the Land of Iron Samurai's sword style, Laido, commonly known as sword drawing.
(N/T: Laido: increases the speed at which they draw and sheath their swords, allowing them to attack before opposing shinobi can perform the hand seals required to use ninjutsu.)
Samurai only have one sword, and if they want to use Laido again, they must sheath it. Kimimaro is different. He can draw bones unlimitedly.
Masahiko squinted slightly, imagining the scene.