Chapter 72 – The Rubber Devil Fruit
"It seems your hatred toward Konoha runs pretty deep," Sarutobi Hiruzen muttered, his voice heavy with weariness.
"Hatred?" Yusuke let out a faint smile. "Not quite. I just believe that people need to take responsibility for their actions. If mistakes go unpunished, the world will never stop waging war. And maybe, just maybe, that's when the world Jiraiya-nii always dreamed of could finally begin to take shape."
Hiruzen sighed deeply. "Without your strength, Konoha would be in serious trouble."
"Relax, Lord Hokage," Yusuke replied coolly. "No matter what happens, I'm still part of Konoha. Even if I walked a thousand steps away from it, I would return the moment Tsunade or someone else was in danger."
Those words brought a measure of relief to Hiruzen. Though Sakumo—the famed White Fang—had stepped back from the front lines, his son's strength far surpassed his own.
"I wonder…" Hiruzen hesitated for a moment. "Just how strong are you now?"
"That's a hard question to answer," Yusuke said with a calm voice. Even his own father, known across the shinobi world as the White Fang of Konoha, couldn't force Yusuke to reveal his full power. Still, he knew all too well—there was a massive gap between him and legends like Uchiha Madara or Senju Hashirama.
"How about a little sparring session?" Hiruzen offered, a glint of interest in his eyes.
"Maybe some other time. It's already late," Yusuke declined with a shrug. The battle with Nagato and the long journey had taken its toll.
"Very well," Hiruzen nodded. "But remember, the future of Konoha rests on your generation."
"You're mistaken, Lord Hokage," Yusuke said flatly. "Konoha's future lies not with us, but with the village leaders."
"Oh? What do you mean?" Hiruzen asked, clearly curious.
"Shimura Danzo." Yusuke didn't hesitate. "You know full well what he's done. He's a parasite feeding off the village."
Hiruzen's expression hardened, his forehead wrinkling. He was well aware of Danzo's actions—and how close he himself had come to death by Danzo's hand.
"Danzo... can be a bit extreme, but he acts for Konoha's sake," Hiruzen said, though his voice lacked conviction.
"Do you know," Yusuke said, locking eyes with him, "which of the Sannin I respect the most?" He didn't elaborate—it wasn't an explanation, but a challenge.
"Tsunade?" Hiruzen guessed, though deep down, he already knew that wasn't the answer.
"No. It's Orochimaru. And it's not because of his talent."
"Oh?" That caught Hiruzen off guard.
"I respect him for how decisively he kills. He doesn't hesitate. And yet, when it comes to those he values, he treats them with genuine care. Unlike Jiraiya-nii—and you—who are far too soft-hearted."
Yusuke's gaze sharpened. "In this world, kindness to your enemies is cruelty to yourself. Maybe Danzo once did things for Konoha. But now? He's just a man blinded by power."
"I... will take it into consideration," Hiruzen sighed deeply. "Then... what about the Uchiha Clan? What are your thoughts on them?"
"Let's not sugarcoat things, Hokage-sama. I know exactly how the higher-ups feel about the Uchiha. If they dare cross me, I won't hold back."
"Haah…" Hiruzen exhaled again, his face etched with worry.
"There's no need to look so troubled, Lord Hokage," Yusuke said.
"Yusuke, tell me what you truly think. Every time we talk, it feels like my burden becomes a little lighter."
"I've said it before. Without Uchiha Madara, the Uchiha Clan wouldn't be treated as a threat."
"But the Uchiha have always been... volatile," Hiruzen admitted honestly.
"You're wrong." Yusuke's eyes narrowed. "That belief is rooted in Tobirama's fear of Madara's power. Past or present, no one—aside from Hashirama—could match Uchiha Madara. Not even if all five Kage fought together."
Hiruzen had no words.
"And one more thing," Yusuke continued, "if the Second Hokage was truly the genius everyone claims he was, yet still chose not to wipe out the Uchiha… doesn't that say something? Maybe he knew they were a necessary force. If he really wanted to eliminate them, he could have figured out a way."
"…I see," Hiruzen finally murmured. For the first time, he realized that Tobirama hadn't spared the Uchiha out of weakness, but because he saw their potential value.
"Well then, that's all I had to say. I'll be taking my leave," Yusuke said with a small smile.
"Very well."
As Yusuke left, Hiruzen lit his pipe and took a deep puff, letting the smoke curl into the air.
"If only I had stopped Danzo back then… maybe things wouldn't have come to this," he whispered. Despite everything, he couldn't help but admire Yusuke. His strength, insight, and clarity of vision were unmatched—even compared to Namikaze Minato, whom he had once seen as the ideal successor. Truthfully, Yusuke's talents might even surpass those of Hashirama himself.
— — —
Yusuke strolled down the moonlit streets of Konoha until he arrived home.
"You're back," his father, Hatake Sakumo, greeted him from the porch.
"You're still awake? What about Kakashi?" Yusuke asked calmly.
"He's already asleep," Sakumo replied, then eyed his son carefully. "You saw Hanzo again, didn't you?"
"Yeah. But I didn't kill him," Yusuke said casually.
"Oh? Why not?" Sakumo raised an eyebrow. He knew how strong his son was.
"It'd be meaningless now. On the battlefield, taking his life would make more sense."
"Hmm, you're right. If he died now, it'd cause more trouble for Konoha," Sakumo nodded.
"Well then, I'm heading to bed. Today was exhausting. You should sleep too, Dad." Yusuke waved and headed into his room.
— — —
"System, open the Mall."
[Ding!]
[Mall is now open.]
A panel appeared before him, displaying eight items.
"The first two... swords. One's Yuki-Zō. The other... the Kusanagi no Tsurugi—Sky Blade."
"System, purchase Kusanagi."
[Purchase successful. 50 Coins have been deducted from Host's balance.]
"I've still got 150 coins left. System, when will the Mall refresh?"
[Ding!]
[The Mall will only refresh after all current items have been purchased.]
Yusuke's gaze shifted toward one particularly eye-catching item—a Devil Fruit.
"Only 150 coins away… This fruit is… the Gomu Gomu no Mi—the Rubber Devil Fruit!"
His eyes widened.
"Luffy's Fruit?!" he blurted, memories of his previous life flooding back. The days he spent watching One Piece, the excitement of every episode. Though this fruit seemed weak at first glance, it had become one of his most nostalgic symbols of youth.
And more than that, the fruit's power could reshape a body in a way unlike any other. Its potential was limitless—but irreversible. Yet that didn't concern Yusuke.
"System, isn't this fruit technically a Mythical Zoan? Why is it so cheap?" he asked, skeptical.
[Ding!]
[Because its early stages are underwhelming. And more importantly, the fruit itself is unique. To reach Awakening, it must recognize the Host as worthy. Without its approval, Awakening is impossible.]
"Is there a way to get a Devil Fruit randomly?" he asked again.
[Yes. But only during the Third Great Ninja War.]
"The Third Ninja War…" Yusuke's grin spread wide, his eyes gleaming with a near-manic glint. What he craved wasn't just new power—it was the thrill of fighting the strongest.
He remembered his old, powerless life. Just another ordinary human in a world of laws and limits. But when he first saw Uchiha Madara's legendary battle, something deep inside him awakened. A desire to fight. To stand above all.
"System, is there any other way to earn Coins?" he asked, eyes narrowing.
[Ding!]
[Yes. You may earn Coins through the following methods:
Kill Chūnin: 1 Coin
Kill Jōnin: 10 Coins
Kill Kage-level ninja: 100 Coins
Kill Super-Kage: 1,000 Coins
Defeating a Six Paths-level: 10,000 Coins]
"Is killing the only option?" Yusuke frowned. He wasn't afraid to kill—but he didn't do so without cause.
[Ding!]
[Alternate methods available:
S-rank mission: 100 Coins
A-rank mission: 10 Coins
B-rank mission: 1 Coin
(Note: C-rank missions do not qualify.)]*
A smirk tugged at Yusuke's lips.
"Looks like I've got my work cut out for me."
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