Devil Fruit users have a significant weakness: they fear seawater and Sea-Prism Stone. Although this world lacks Sea-Prism Stone, fearing water is still a troublesome issue.
With this in mind, Yuyoru decided to test things out.
Returning to his home, Yuyoru pulled out a wooden tub, a simple tool typically used for bathing.
Since he was an outsider, Konoha was generous enough to provide him with a place to stay, so everything in his room was quite basic, but Yuyoru didn't mind.
After filling the tub with water, he stripped off his clothes and jumped in, crouching down to immerse his entire body.
While ordinary water doesn't have the same restrictions as seawater, in the original story, Devil Fruit users would still feel weak and powerless when soaking in water.
One second, two seconds...
A full minute passed, and Yuyoru felt no signs of weakness at all!
Suddenly standing up, a hint of surprise crossed his face.
"Ordinary water has no side effects at all?"
While he was delighted, Yuyoru still felt a bit puzzled and curious.
After all, he wasn't using seawater, right?
Or could it be...
Recalling the memories, those who eat a Devil Fruit are cursed by the sea, becoming landlocked.
But that curse is specific to the world of One Piece.
Yet this is the world of Naruto!
Although he didn't know how that Devil Fruit appeared, there shouldn't be any curse of the sea in this world. So even if he feared water, it should only be the seawater from the One Piece world.
In other words, the power of this Tremor-Tremor Fruit is no longer considered a Devil Fruit in this world.
Instead, it is... the Bloodline Limit of Tremor Release!
"This is great."
A smile of joy appeared on his face.
With that, Yuyoru decided to take a proper bath, washing away the sweat from his training.
Today had brought too many surprises and unexpected events; he needed to relax and calm down.
Just as Yuyoru finished washing up and was about to get dressed,
Creak!
A light sound echoed as the door to his home suddenly swung open.
A small red-haired head peeked in, glancing around.
It was a familiar face—Uzumaki Kushina.
"Yuyoru, are you home... uh?!"
Her voice abruptly cut off.
At that moment, the eight or nine-year-old Kushina's face froze in shock.
"Uh…"
Yuyoru was equally stunned.
He hadn't locked the door, thinking it was just a test to see if he was afraid of water.
Of course, that wasn't the main issue. The real problem was... it was already dark outside, and he hadn't expected Kushina to suddenly come to his house!
"Wahhh!!"
Finally, after regaining her senses, Kushina let out a shriek and slammed the door shut.
"Yuyoru, you pervert! Just you wait! You're dead tomorrow at school!"
Her voice, filled with embarrassment and anger, echoed down the street.
Yuyoru stood there, expressionless.
What the hell!
This had nothing to do with him!
And did she really have to shout it out loud at night?
"Great, I guess I won't be going to school tomorrow…"
With a pained expression, Yuyoru got dressed and opened the door.
Sure enough, he found Kushina still standing outside, looking furious and embarrassed.
"Cough! Um... what brings you here?"
Clearing his throat awkwardly, Yuyoru quickly changed the subject.
She must have come to see him for a reason, right?
Both Yuyoru and Kushina were kids from outside villages, and they had arrived in Konoha around the same time. After realizing she was the Kushina from the original story, Yuyoru felt an innate fondness for her and made an effort to get closer. They quickly became good friends.
However, their circumstances were worlds apart.
Kushina was practically brought to Konoha as the next Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails, hailing from the Uzumaki clan, which had an alliance with Konoha.
The previous Jinchuriki was Mito Uzumaki, the wife of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju.
Being a member of the Uzumaki clan, Mito naturally took good care of Kushina, and with all those connections, Kushina even dared to mess with the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi!
On the other hand, Yuyoru was in a more tragic situation, having no background and coming from a small, untrustworthy ninja village. Although that village had been destroyed, Yuyoru still wasn't trusted or welcomed by the ninjas of Konoha.
When Kushina first arrived in Konoha, she was alone, without parents. After Yuyoru got closer to her, he often helped and took care of her.
However, due to Kushina's identity, she was more than just an ordinary girl from another village, so their relationship gradually shifted.
The one being helped slowly changed from Kushina to Yuyoru.
Even so, Kushina never disliked Yuyoru and willingly helped him.
Because when she first came to Konoha, feeling the most lonely, it was Yuyoru who helped her escape that loneliness, giving her warmth and helping her become cheerful again.
So even if others saw Yuyoru as a useless person who couldn't even practice ninjutsu, Kushina never discriminated against him.
"I brought you something because I was afraid you'd get beaten up tomorrow."
Kushina's small face was still slightly flushed, and she glared at Yuyoru with a fierce expression, handing him a small package.
Hearing her say that, Yuyoru suddenly remembered there was a practical exam at the ninja school tomorrow.
Normally, a one-on-one practical exam wouldn't be a big deal. With Chunin teachers supervising, students wouldn't get seriously hurt.
But Yuyoru was different.
The Chunin teachers didn't care for him as an outsider. Their attitude was that as long as he didn't get killed, anything else was fine, so Yuyoru often ended up getting hurt.
"Thank you."
Rubbing his nose, Yuyoru gratefully accepted the package. Looking inside, he found it contained some healing ointments and similar items.
While he was grateful, he couldn't help but feel a strange twitch at the corner of his mouth.
Why did it feel a bit off?!
"Who said you could thank me? I couldn't care less about you!"
Kushina was still upset about what had just happened, her cute little face still flushed as she pouted at Yuyoru.
Seeing her so flustered, Yuyoru couldn't help but smile. He suddenly thought that if it had been Kushina who had been exposed instead of him, he would probably be facing a village-wide manhunt right now!
"Anyway, that's how it is. Even if you can't practice ninjutsu, I can always protect you... If you can't win tomorrow, just give up, okay?"
Kushina extended her small fist toward Yuyoru, proudly showing off before giggling and turning to run away, her figure gradually disappearing into the darkness.
"…"
Yuyoru stared blankly at Kushina's retreating back, then suddenly came to his senses.
Give up? Always protect him?!
What the hell!
Wasn't this just asking him to live off her?!