Reaper Mask

Three years later.

"Sensei, do you think my Monkey Mask is cute?"

Masahiko stared blankly as Iko gestured at the Monkey Mask on her face.

Perhaps because the clan had been too peaceful in recent years, there were more and more children in the clan. For some reason, masks had become increasingly popular among them, and today, the clan held its first Mask Festival.

"Sensei..." Seeing Masahiko lost in thought, Iko called out unhappily.

"Oh, it looks good, looks good... Where are the other two?" Masahiko came back to his senses and asked about his other two students.

"Hitomi is still training. He refused to come even when I called him." Iko pouted. "Nanako is picking out a mask too..."

Masahiko nodded in understanding.

Over the past three years, Hitomi had been the student who satisfied him most. Perhaps the Self-Imposed Limitation training method really worked, or perhaps his taijutsu talent was simply exceptional. At just eleven years old, Hitomi had already reached Jonin level in taijutsu. Sometimes, when Masahiko sparred with him, he might embarrass himself if he did not take it seriously.

It had even made Masahiko want to train with Self-Imposed Limitation at times, but he ultimately gave up on the idea. He felt that Hitomi was heading in the direction of Might Guy and Rock Lee...

As for Iko, at nine years old, she did not seem much different from three years ago. She still looked like a child who would never grow up. Whenever she acted spoiled, Masahiko felt as though he were raising a daughter. Her talent for learning ninjutsu was terrifyingly high. Not only had her hand seal speed caught up with Masahiko's, but she had already mastered every Wind Release and Fire Release technique below B-rank that he had taught her. Masahiko planned to teach her the Rasengan Series after some time. Once she grew a little older and her Chakra reserves became greater, she would become a true ninjutsu artillery platform.

His last student...

"Sensei, I'm here! Look, isn't my mask cool?" Just as Masahiko thought of her, Nanako's shout came from nearby.

Masahiko raised his head helplessly. Over the past few years, after Nanako had become completely familiar with Masahiko and the other two, she had revealed her true nature. Usually, she acted polite, gentle, and refined, but every now and then, she showed a carefree—or rather, fiery—side of her personality. Masahiko even suspected that, like Sakura, she had another personality inside her.

One could tell just from the mask she had chosen. What girl would choose a Reaper Mask?

Wait... a Reaper Mask?

Masahiko's expression changed. He carefully examined Nanako's mask and said, "Nanako, that's a nice mask. Let me take a look."

"Sensei, you haven't even looked at my mask..." Iko complained from the side.

Masahiko ignored her. He took the mask Nanako handed over and examined it carefully, then relaxed slightly.

"Only the design is similar?" Masahiko muttered. He did not find any Shinigami within the mask. "But why Nanako?"

Masahiko was still somewhat concerned. Nanako's progress in learning Sealing Jutsu over the past three years had been rapid. If one day in the future she developed the Reaper Death Seal, Masahiko would not be surprised in the slightest.

"I should keep an eye on her..." Masahiko returned the mask to Nanako, then turned toward Iko, whose pout was so deep she could have hung an oil bottle from it.

"Iko, give me that Monkey Mask for a look."

Taking the Monkey Mask Iko handed him, Masahiko examined it before putting it on his face.

"Sensei, you really look like a monkey!" Iko said happily.

Masahiko's face darkened as he handed the mask back.

"I guess I'm a fool sent by the monkeys..."

Without caring that his two students did not understand the joke, Masahiko continued, "Come on, let's walk around the Mask Festival together."

He brought the two students to the clan marketplace. The many usual goods had all been replaced with masks today.

Animal masks, character masks, and Reaper Masks...

Masahiko had no interest in animal masks. They were better suited for children. As for character masks...

"Damn it, why are there masks designed after me? And in such a ridiculous style?"

Masahiko's eyes widened. He looked at the stall owner, and his face darkened.

"Isn't this the former Second Elder of our Uzumaki Clan? Didn't you say you went home to retire? Why are you selling masks now?" The stall owner was none other than Uzumaki Masahiro, the former Second Elder of the Uzumaki Clan.

"Masahiko," Uzumaki Masahiro said with a smile, glancing at him, "I had nothing to do these past few years, so I made a few masks. My grandson didn't like them much, so I had no choice but to bring them out to sell."

"How old is your grandson? He actually doesn't like masks? All the children love them..." Masahiko asked in confusion.

"My grandson is eleven... but all he knows is training all day." Uzumaki Masahiro paused, then smiled.

Masahiko's face darkened. "Your grandson isn't Hitomi, is he?" Seeing Uzumaki Masahiro nod, he continued, "You really had the nerve to let me teach your grandson. We had some grudges in the past, didn't we..."

"Nearly fifty years have passed. I stopped caring about those old grudges long ago, and I believe you have too. Besides, after the battle against Kaguya, I believe you are the most suitable teacher for Hitomi," Uzumaki Masahiro said.

"I let go of our old grudges long ago," Masahiko said. "But now we have a new grievance. You violated my portrait rights."

"What rights?"

"Portrait rights!" Masahiko pointed at the mask, said no more, and turned to leave with his two students.

"Sensei, wait!" Nanako interrupted.

Ten minutes later, Masahiko watched helplessly as Nanako put on a "Masahiko Mask."

"Sigh, these clansmen have far too little legal awareness. Once Hashirama establishes Konoha, I'll have to remind him to strengthen the villagers' legal education!" Masahiko shook his head and muttered words no one understood.

"Sensei, that's where I bought my mask!" Nanako's words interrupted Masahiko's thoughts. He looked up and saw all kinds of Reaper Masks before him.

As he approached the stall, the owner greeted him warmly. "Welcome, Lord Masahiko! Is there anything you need?" Seeing Nanako behind Masahiko, he froze for a moment. "Does this young lady want another style of Reaper Mask? You had such good taste before. You bought the only unique Reaper Mask we had..."

Hearing the praise, Nanako excitedly wanted to step forward, but Masahiko stopped her.

"The only one? Unique? Why was there only one of that mask?" Masahiko asked curiously.

"Uh, actually, I didn't make that mask," the stall owner said awkwardly. "I made all the other masks myself, but that one was something I dug out from the clutter at home. It still looked new, so I brought it out to sell. It might even have been passed down by my ancestors. If that's the case, I really suffered a huge loss..."

"Speaking of my ancestors, they were important figures in the Land of Fire back then..."

"Alright, I understand." Masahiko cut off the stall owner's endless chatter. "Iko, Nanako, let's go back."

"Maybe that mask really was left behind by an important figure..."