Chapter 60 – I Don't Need Your Respect
"I call it Fire Fist. It's my own Fire Release technique," Yusuke said calmly.
"You can use it… without hand seals?" Sakumo asked, visibly surprised. In the world of shinobi, techniques that bypass hand seals were exceedingly rare. The fact that this attack could neutralize his sword slash was astonishing. Even though kenjutsu didn't rely on seals, how many could manifest a swordsman's killing intent so purely?
"As expected of my son… Hatake Yusuke," Sakumo muttered with quiet pride.
"Come on, Dad," Yusuke replied with a faint smirk. This was the first time he'd ever received such direct praise from his father.
"In that case… I'll go all out," Sakumo said, sheathing then resummoning his chakra blade. He could no longer treat his eldest son as a junior—Yusuke's power now stood nearly equal to his own.
"That's what I've been waiting for." Yusuke's grin deepened, and a fighting spirit flared in his eyes. He was more serious now than when he faced Hanzo. After all, Hanzo was no longer the legend he once was—his conviction had faded, his blade dulled with age. He couldn't compare to White Fang in his prime.
Yes, Hanzo had mastered countless powerful Ninjutsu. But against someone like Yusuke—who wielded the powers of the Glint-Glint Fruit—he hadn't even been able to form a single hand seal. A swordsman, in contrast, didn't need flash or flare. Their path was direct: to cut everything in their way.
"Hatake Sword Style: Chaos Blade – Lotus Slash!"
Multiple slashes, each infused with destructive chakra, tore through the air toward Yusuke.
"Airquake."
Yusuke raised his right hand, sending out powerful shockwaves. The sword slashes were shattered midair. This time, he pushed his power further—cracks spread through the earth beneath them, trees toppled, and the very air around them shimmered and fractured like shattered glass. It was like the end of the world had arrived.
"What insane force…" Sakumo muttered as he disappeared and reappeared at a distance using the Body Flicker Technique.
"Trying to run from me, old man?" Yusuke grinned.
"This is bad…" Sakumo muttered with narrowed eyes.
Light-Speed Kick.
In a blur, Yusuke appeared in front of him and launched a blazing kick. Sakumo blocked, slashing in return—but his blade passed through Yusuke's body without resistance.
"…What?!"
"Physical attacks won't work on me, Dad," Yusuke said smugly.
Sakumo quickly retreated, his mind racing. "Is this… like the Hōzuki clan's Hydrification Technique?"
"Something like that," Yusuke admitted. "But unlike them, I have no lightning weakness. So far, I've found no element that fully counters it."
Sakumo gritted his teeth. "Troublesome ability…"
"I'll disable my elemental form then. Let's keep this fair," Yusuke offered.
Fire Fist!
Three massive flaming fists erupted from his hand, barreling toward Sakumo.
"Hatake Sword Style: Blade of Lightning and Flame!"
Steel clashed with fire again and again. Despite the intensity, neither side gained the upper hand.
"Dad… this next move will end it."
"I'm ready!"
Great Flame Commandment: Flame Emperor.
The temperature surged. A massive fireball, easily ten meters wide, ignited in the air. Yusuke raised both hands—and hurled it downward.
Sakumo stood his ground. He slowly closed his eyes, focusing inward. His aura, his chakra, everything was condensed into his blade.
Just as the blazing sun-like orb descended upon him—he opened his eyes.
His blade surged with light.
One slash.
The fireball was cut in half, splitting the sky. A blinding explosion followed, leveling trees and tearing through the forest. The sheer force rivaled Yusuke's earlier Airquake, even though this attack hadn't used the full power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit.
As the dust settled, a tense silence fell.
Yusuke hovered in the air, watching.
Sakumo looked up at him, panting.
Inside, he finally admitted it.
His son… had surpassed him.
"Yusuke… you've become incredible. As your father, I can finally rest easy," he said with a proud smile.
"Of course. I'm the son of Konoha's White Fang," Yusuke replied confidently.
Sakumo chuckled. Though he had blocked the final attack, his stamina was nearly depleted. Yusuke, having just finished fusing with the Mera Mera no Mi, still had plenty of chakra left in the tank.
"If Kakashi eventually surpasses me too… the Hatake clan might just become the strongest in Konoha," Sakumo mused.
"Wow, so you still have dreams like that, huh?" Yusuke teased.
"Even old men can dream! And I believe in you both," Sakumo laughed.
"Hey… what the hell happened here?" came a familiar voice.
Kakashi stood nearby, eyes wide at the utter destruction around them.
"That's what happens when your dad goes wild with his sword techniques," Yusuke shrugged and deflected the blame.
Sakumo shot him a glare. Truthfully, most of the devastation was caused by Yusuke's Devil Fruit abilities, not his own sword.
"I was sparring with your brother. He's stronger than me now," Sakumo said honestly.
"…What?" Kakashi froze, stunned.
"You need to catch up too, Kakashi. Surpass me next," Sakumo encouraged.
Kakashi rolled his eyes.
'My brother's a damn monster… I just barely hit Tokubetsu Jonin level—and probably the lowest tier at that,' he thought, sighing in resignation.
"Don't worry," Yusuke grinned. "There's only one me in the world."
With a frustrated sigh, Kakashi turned and started training on his own. Yusuke and Sakumo offered pointers, guiding him until he collapsed from exhaustion. Yusuke carried him back home on his back.
But when they returned, they found a small crowd waiting at their front gate.
Yusuke frowned. "…What's going on here?"
"Yusuke-sama, Sakumo-sama, welcome back," a ninja greeted respectfully.
"…Yusuke-sama?" he muttered. They addressed him before his father?
"You're famous now. 'The White Shura of Konoha,' remember?" came a familiar voice.
"…That's the title Hanzo gave me," Yusuke said quietly, eyes narrowing at Tsunade.
She nodded.
The fight against Hanzo had already spread. No one would fabricate such a story—and Hanzo himself hadn't denied it. That was enough to make the name stick.
"Alright, disperse," Yusuke told the gathered villagers.
"Yusuke-sama…"
"I said that's enough," he interrupted coldly. "Don't call me that. Listen closely—being a ninja is my duty. I don't need your respect."
"Yusuke—" Tsunade tried to speak.
"I, Hatake Yusuke… don't want your respect," he repeated, voice flat and gaze sharp.
With that, he adjusted his grip on the sleeping Kakashi and stepped past the crowd into the house.
The villagers said nothing more.
Because deep down… they knew he was right.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Join my Patreon here:
🔗 patreon.com/FaaanzKun
✅ Enjoy 55+ chapters ahead of WebNovel
✅ Get 2 new chapters every day exclusively on Patreon
Join now and dive deeper into the story—weeks ahead of public release!
Thank you for your amazing support 💖
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —