Chapter 123: A Strong Love for Beautiful Things
At first, Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't understand what Kamishiro meant by customizing a Puppet. But after Kamishiro mentioned that Lord Jiraiya was quite satisfied, Hiruzen instantly got the gist.
Hiruzen knew exactly what kind of person Jiraiya was.
After all, like Jiraiya, he had a strong love for beautiful things.
In short, they were 'lecherous'.
If he could customize one... Hiruzen wanted to customize a younger version of Biwako...
Hey, since it could be customized, why still choose Biwako?
Well, of course, it was to customize something...
Just as Hiruzen was indulging in wild thoughts, Kushina Uzumaki asked in confusion, "Kamishiro, Third Hokage, what are you talking about? What customization? What does Lord Jiraiya like too?"
Hiruzen and Kamishiro both coughed dryly at the same time and said in unison, "It's nothing!"
Kushina found the strange behavior of Kamishiro and Hiruzen very strange.
Hiruzen said with relief, "Kamishiro, let's talk about this later. After this war is over, you can explain it to me in detail."
Kamishiro showed an expression as if he understood and said, "Hokage, you can trust me completely. I guarantee you'll feel like you're back in your youth!"
Hiruzen's previous psychological discomfort upon seeing Kamishiro vanished without a trace.
This was clearly an outstanding ninja who wholeheartedly thought about Konoha!
Hiruzen asked, "So, Kamishiro, are you planning to join up with Kakashi and the others?"
Kamishiro matter - of - factly said, "Of course. After all, I'm their teammate."
Hiruzen frowned slightly and said to Kamishiro, "Kamishiro, this might not be very convenient. How about... I'll arrange another team for you. You can temporarily go on a mission with another team. After Kakashi and the others finish their mission, I'll arrange for you to join them."
Kamishiro shook his head rapidly, "No, no. I don't want to team up with strangers. I can wait. I'll join them after their mission is over!"
Kushina asked Hiruzen, "Third Hokage, are Kakashi and the others on some top - secret mission, so it's not very convenient?"
After taking a puff from his pipe, Hiruzen replied, "It's not that it's inconvenient for Kakashi and the others. It's that it's inconvenient for Kamishiro."
Kamishiro was a bit confused. "Huh? It's inconvenient for me? What's inconvenient about me? I'm a guy. I don't have those 'that time of the month' inconveniences."
Kushina slapped Kamishiro on the head and said, "What nonsense are you talking about!"
Kamishiro covered his head and looked at Hiruzen, asking, "Hokage, just tell me straight. Maybe it's quite convenient for me?"
After Hiruzen Sarutobi exhaled a puff of smoke, he said, "Kakashi and the others are on the border of The Land of Fire. However, their opponents are Sunagakure Village ninjas. You were also a Sunagakure Village ninja before, so..."
Kamishiro and Kushina Uzumaki suddenly realized that was the reason.
They were worried Kamishiro, a former Sunagakure Village ninja, might have reservations about fighting Sunagakure Village ninjas.
Hiruzen Sarutobi continued, "Moreover, you're currently wanted by Sunagakure Village. Your Magnet Ninja Art and Puppet Technique are quite recognizable. If they spot you, they'll definitely come after you. So, The Battle where Kakashi and the others are is very dangerous for you."
Kamishiro thought Hiruzen Sarutobi's words made a lot of sense. However, he really didn't want to team up with strangers. It would be better for him to stay in Konoha temporarily.
Just when Kamishiro was about to ask Hiruzen Sarutobi if he could do logistics in Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi said another thing.
"I also heard that the person in command of the Sunagakure Village ninjas in this The Battle is Chiyo, the advisor of Sunagakure Village..."
Before Hiruzen Sarutobi could finish his sentence, Kamishiro immediately said, "Hokage, I'll go!"
"Ah?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Kamishiro in confusion. According to Minato Namikaze and Jiraiya's descriptions of Kamishiro, when faced with great danger, shouldn't Kamishiro avoid it at all costs?
Kamishiro gritted his teeth and said angrily, "That old hag Chiyo! I'm gonna punch that shameless old hag's face in! How dare she frame me! I've never been so wronged in my life!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi and Kushina Uzumaki glanced at each other, then both looked at the angry Kamishiro with subtle expressions.
They didn't expect that Kamishiro would be willing to go and fight against the Sunagakure Village ninjas just because Chiyo was there.
Hiruzen Sarutobi reminded Kamishiro, "Kakashi is a special jounin now, and Obito and Rin are chunin. Their mission involves The Battle, so they'll likely fight Sunagakure Village ninjas. You're a former Sunagakure Village ninja. If you go, you can't leave halfway."
Kamishiro said resentfully, "They started it by not playing fair. I was forced into this from the very beginning, and no one ever asked if I was willing. In the end, when I was no longer useful, they just dumped all the blame on me and made me look like a bad guy. You can't just dump someone after using them like that!
Hokage, you don't need to say more. I'm a Konoha ninjas now. I won't show mercy just because we were from the same village before. Anyway, I wasn't even familiar with them!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the angry Kamishiro, paused for a moment, and then said, "Since you've made up your mind, then... I understand. Kamishiro, as the Hokage, I'm giving you an order now. Go to the border of The Land of Fire immediately and meet up with Kakashi, Obito, and Rin. The four of you will carry out a mission together from now on!"
...
Kamishiro went back home and packed all the necessary things into his backpack.
After getting things in order, Kushina Uzumaki helped Kamishiro straighten his Konoha ninja combat uniform. Then she ruffled Kamishiro's hair and admonished him, "You must be careful on The Battle and watch out for yourself. Got it?"
Kamishiro bid farewell to Kushina Uzumaki, "Got it! Sister Kushina, then I'm off."
After watching Kamishiro leave, Kushina Uzumaki sighed.
Another one off~
Now, Kamishiro, who had left Konoha, was extremely excited.
He was about to go after Chiyo and take her on. How could he not be excited?
Since he couldn't find Sasori, Chiyo's grandson, for now, he'd test Kanna's strength against Chiyo first. After all, Chiyo was a top-notch puppet master.
Moreover...
Kamishiro hated Chiyo even more than Rasa.
When the Third Kazekage disappeared, Sasori also vanished that day.
Wasn't Ebizo, Chiyo's younger brother, supposed to be smart? Couldn't he figure out that Sasori was the prime suspect?
Kamishiro simply didn't believe that Ebizo and Chiyo couldn't figure out that Sasori was the culprit. They must have just been reluctant to believe it or were making excuses for Sasori.
After all, Sasori was Chiyo's grandson and Ebizo's grandson through his daughter.
As for him, he was just an ordinary Sunagakure Village ninja with the Magnet Release Kekkei Genkai.
He had no status and no background. That's why they simply gave up on him and made him take the blame for the disappearance of the Third Kazekage, hoping that Sasori might return to Sunagakure Village someday.