Mind's Eye of the Kagura

"Great-Grandfather!" Kenji's shout snapped Masahiko out of his daze.

Masahiko smiled. "Little Kenji, five years without seeing you, and you've grown so much. You look like Mito—thankfully, you take after Mito..."

"Second Grandfather, Hashirama's looks aren't that bad either..." Mito interjected from the side.

"Oh?" Masahiko teased. "Looks like you and Hashirama have gotten along quite well these past few years."

Masahiko looked around the room, his face filled with reminiscence.

"What a familiar room. This is the Senju Clan's guest room, isn't it? Fourteen years ago, when I escorted you here for your marriage, I stayed here too."

Mito smiled lightly as well. "That's right. You even mastered the Yin Seal here..."

Masahiko looked embarrassed, finally understanding why Mito had been waiting here.

The three disciples, Hashirama, and Tobirama had all thought Masahiko had fallen unconscious from excessive life-force depletion. But Mito knew that this was supposed to be Masahiko's true appearance, so his sudden collapse must have worried her greatly.

After his embarrassment passed, Masahiko smiled approvingly. "At least you're filial..."

Mito nodded. "I'll take Kenji to the training ground. He hasn't trained at all today."

Masahiko nodded. "Go on."

After Mito and Kenji left the room, Masahiko shook his head in slight confusion. Ever since opening his eyes, he had noticed subtle changes throughout the world.

"Is it because of Yin Release Chakra?" Masahiko muttered as he looked at his Attribute Panel.

"Mind's Eye of the Kagura?"

Masahiko noticed that the Perception Ability in his special talents had vanished, replaced by an ability called Mind's Eye of the Kagura.

With a thought, Masahiko formed the Tiger hand seal with his right hand. Mind's Eye of the Kagura, activate!

In an instant, all Chakra fluctuations throughout the Senju Clan Compound entered Masahiko's senses. When he pushed its range outward with all his strength, he could actually sense everything within dozens of li.

"Mind's Eye of the Kagura... So this is Karin's ability?" Masahiko had always thought his Perception Ability was the same kind as Karin's, and that its smaller range was simply due to his inferior talent...

"Is this an advanced version of Perception Ability? It must be because my soul power has grown stronger." Masahiko murmured, "It seems Karin's talent in the future was truly extraordinary. If Orochimaru hadn't captured her for research, she might have become a kunoichi no less capable than Kushina."

Masahiko used the ability to carefully scan the entire Senju Clan.

"That's the location of the Clan Head's Main Hall. Tobirama is there, but Hashirama isn't... Senju Tenyu isn't there either. Looks like they went to demand an explanation from the Kurama Clan."

Masahiko was about to study his newly acquired ability in detail when he discovered that three familiar Chakra signatures had already arrived outside the door.

"Come in!" Masahiko called out before they could knock.

"Teacher!" The ones who entered were Masahiko's three disciples.

"We heard from Sister Mito—Aunt Mito—that you woke up." The three disciples spoke in unison.

Masahiko scratched his head slightly. "Iko, why do you call Mito Auntie? Just call her Sister."

"But my mother calls Aunt Mito 'Sister' too..." Iko said timidly.

"It's fine. Everyone can address her differently. By my reckoning, you should still call her your niece..."

"Alright..."

After that little incident over how to address Mito, the three disciples finally remembered to ask after Masahiko's health.

Masahiko repeatedly explained that this time, he had not overdrawn his life force, but had merely used a special jutsu. However... no one believed him.

In the end, utterly helpless, Masahiko drove the three disciples out and said he needed rest.

After the three disciples left, Masahiko lay back down on the bed. Of course, it was not to recuperate, but to think about what he should do next.

"Looks like it'll be hard to explain this unless I actually lose some life force." Masahiko muttered, striking his fist into his palm. "Then this is what I'll do!"

"Use the Transformation Technique every day to age myself by one year, until I'm fifty? Losing two years of lifespan every time I use my youthful appearance seems a little too little."

"Then fifty-three it is!"

"Each use will cost me five years of life. I can still use it openly three or four times in the future..."

Masahiko finally found a reasonable way to explain the changes in his appearance. Over the next few days, his three disciples discovered in horror that Masahiko was growing older day by day.

This time, Masahiko was in no hurry to explain. Instead, he observed how his three disciples reacted.

To his satisfaction, Nanako had become noticeably more serious in her training, gradually displaying an exceptional talent for Sealing Jutsu. After everything that had happened recently, Iko had gradually matured as well. She was no longer so timid and cowardly, and had beaten Hitomi soundly several times.

As for Hitomi, his diligence was beyond reproach, and his progress was growing faster and faster. Thus, the following conversation often took place at the Second Training Ground.

"Hitomi, come on. Let your teacher use this youthful body to teach you a lesson!"

"Teacher..." With tears in his eyes, Hitomi charged forward.

"Ah!" With a scream, Hitomi flew back.

Masahiko was helpless too. He always felt that if he did not take this chance to teach Hitomi a few more lessons in taijutsu, then in two or three years, barring any accidents, he would probably be the one getting beaten soundly by Hitomi.

Masahiko was sometimes puzzled as well. Even without his guidance, Hitomi's talent should not have gone unnoticed. Yet Hitomi had never been mentioned in the original story. Something must have happened, and Masahiko had always been on guard against Hitomi meeting with misfortune.

"Could he have died when the Uzumaki Clan was destroyed?"

Such days continued for a week, until Hashirama returned, followed by a shame-faced Senju Tenyu.

"What? Brother, you're just letting the Kurama Clan off like that?" Tobirama's shout rang throughout the Main Hall.

I'm not surprised at all... Masahiko thought at the side, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly.

"Tobirama, let's not discuss this for now..." Hashirama smiled awkwardly, signaling to Senju Tenyu with his eyes.

Senju Tenyu stepped forward and stopped before Masahiko. He bowed deeply. "Thank you for the sacrifice you made this time. Otherwise, I would have become a sinner of the Senju Clan!"

Masahiko rolled his eyes. The sacrifice I made was enormous. I used to maintain the appearance of a forty-eight-year-old, but now I have to become fifty-three. My handsome looks are gradually slipping away...

But he replied aloud, "No need to be polite. You were under genjutsu as well."

Senju Tenyu slowly raised his head and looked toward Hashirama. "Clan Head, I made such a grave mistake this time. I am willing to relinquish my position as First Elder. In future wars, I will charge at the very front!"

Hashirama shook his head. "There may not be many wars in the future. The reason I spared the Kurama Clan this time was to show the other Small Clans our Senju sincerity. After some time, I want to visit them one by one, end this chaos of war, and establish a peaceful village!"

"Brother, you're still clinging to that unrealistic fantasy?" Tobirama said flatly.

"It isn't a fantasy. I will persuade them! As for the Uchiha, I'll go find Madara last. He shares the same dream as I do. He'll agree."

Hashirama's eyes were full of longing.

Tobirama hesitated for a moment, then shook his head. "Brother, during this battle, my sword struck Uchiha Izuna in a vital spot. He... will probably die."

Hashirama: "..."