Chapter 61 – White Shura
"Still upset about what happened to your father, the White Fang?" Tsunade asked softly.
"Wouldn't you be?" Yusuke replied coldly. "My father gave up half his life for this village. And look how they repaid him."
"Yusuke… they're just ordinary villagers," she said, trying to calm him.
"Ordinary villagers?" Yusuke scoffed. "What does that have to do with anything? Tsunade, do you have any idea what kind of damage they caused him? Just because they were ignorant, I'm supposed to forgive them? They weren't mindless. Every action has consequences."
Tsunade fell silent. She truly didn't know how deep Sakumo's wounds went.
"I saw it, the first time I returned to the village," Yusuke continued. "His eyes… they had lost their light. He looked hollow. Confused. Do you understand what that means for a swordsman?"
Tsunade lowered her head. She wasn't a swordsman. She couldn't fully grasp what he meant.
"A swordsman is not like a ninja," Yusuke said, fixing his sharp gaze on her. "That day, my father's Sword Spirit was nearly broken. He wanted to end his life. When a swordsman's blade loses its edge, the only way to repay its honor is to die by it. That's how deeply a true swordsman respects his sword."
His voice echoed through the room—loud, clear, burning with emotion. It was the first time Tsunade had ever seen him this furious.
"White Fang…" she whispered, turning to look at Sakumo.
"It's true," Sakumo said calmly. "Back then, I did consider taking my own life. What Yusuke said isn't wrong. A swordsman without his Sword Spirit has disgraced the way of the sword… and the weapon he wields."
(Just the author's signature dramatic touch—no need to panic.)
"I'm sorry…" Tsunade murmured, her voice low with guilt. She hadn't realized just how real it all was. And to think… she had tried to defend those villagers.
"Even if they were manipulated, I still can't forgive them," Yusuke said firmly. "But Tsunade, you don't need to apologize. None of this is your fault." This time, his voice was gentler—as if comforting her instead.
"But—"
"It's fine. You don't need to carry that guilt," Sakumo interrupted, glancing toward the kitchen. "Yusuke, help me with dinner. Tsunade, you'll be joining us tonight."
"Hah? Why me? Isn't that your job, Dad?" Yusuke grumbled.
"When I say go cook, you cook," Sakumo said bluntly, flashing a subtle glance toward Tsunade.
"Yeah, yeah…" Yusuke sighed and walked to the kitchen.
"Tsunade, don't be mad at the boy," Sakumo said with a resigned sigh. "He's always been bad at reading the room."
"Haha, it's okay. I understand," Tsunade smiled. "He just really cares about you."
"And he cares about you, too," Sakumo added with a faint smile.
Tsunade's cheeks turned pink. Seeing her flustered like that made Sakumo even more pleased—he really liked her as a future daughter-in-law.
"Don't tease me like that, Sakumo-senpai…" Tsunade muttered, awkwardly looking away.
Sakumo just chuckled. It was rare to see Tsunade—the bold and brash woman—act this shy. When it came to love, it seemed his son had surpassed him.
A little later, Yusuke returned with several plates of delicious dishes and laid them out on the table.
Just then, two visitors arrived.
"Sakumo! Looks like there's quite the feast tonight," came a booming voice.
"Shinku! I didn't expect you here. And it's been a while since I last saw Kurenai," Sakumo greeted warmly.
"Sakumo-ojisan, sorry to intrude," Kurenai said politely.
"Of course I had to come in a time like this. You're lucky to have a son like Yusuke," Shinku said admiringly.
"Shinku-ojisan! You made it," Yusuke said, poking his head out from the kitchen. "One more dish coming up."
"In that case, we won't hold back," Shinku said, taking a seat.
"Kurenai, come on in," Yusuke said kindly.
"Who's that?" Tsunade asked, stepping out of the kitchen.
"Tsunade-sama!" Shinku greeted with a wide smile.
"Shinku-senpai… you're here too?"
"Tsunade-sama, it's an honor," Kurenai said with a slight bow.
"Oh, Kurenai! Come sit down," Tsunade said, instinctively taking on the role of the host.
She realized she'd slipped into that role without meaning to—but no one said a thing. Everyone just smiled in understanding.
"Alright, everyone grab a seat. I'll go wake up Kakashi," Yusuke said.
"Kakashi! Wake up! Dinner's ready!"
"Mmm…" came a sleepy groan as Kakashi shuffled in.
"Shinku-sensei, Tsunade-sama… you're all here?" he said, still half-asleep.
"Come on, everyone. Eat up. Make yourselves at home," Yusuke offered.
"Yusuke, you've really grown into someone amazing," Shinku praised. He still remembered when Yusuke was just a lazy, indifferent kid. And now… he carried himself with the maturity of a veteran.
"Thank you, Shinku-ojisan," Yusuke replied humbly.
"Don't be too modest," Shinku chuckled. "Defeating Hanzo the Salamander—forcing him to retreat—that's no small feat. The White Shura of Konoha… that title's not just for show."
"Of course he's amazing. He's my son," Sakumo said proudly.
"I'm sure you're celebrating deep down," Shinku teased.
The dinner continued, full of lighthearted chatter—most of it revolving around Yusuke. Which made him a little embarrassed, honestly.
Later, as they walked home, Shinku gave his daughter a little nudge.
"Kurenai… if you really like him, you should act before it's too late. He's the kind of guy who'll be surrounded by women before long."
"Dad, don't bring that up out of nowhere…" Kurenai's face turned crimson.
"I'm just saying—don't miss your chance. And I know there's something going on between him and Tsunade too…" Shinku smirked like a sly fox.
"…I understand," Kurenai murmured, cheeks still flushed.
— — —
Meanwhile, somewhere in Amegakure…
"That boy… is terrifying," Hanzo muttered in a dark, silent chamber.
"Hanzo-sama, is he really that powerful?"
"Unfathomable…" Hanzo's tone was heavy. "Even Hiruzen Sarutobi never gave me this kind of dread. What's truly frightening about him is the unknown power he wields—something unlike anything this shinobi world has ever seen."
"Then… what about our plan?"
"Relax. As strong as he is, defeating me still won't be easy. Do you think I leaked that news for no reason?" Hanzo asked, a wicked grin forming.
"You're trying to bait the other nations?"
"Exactly. The Four Great Nations won't just sit and watch Konoha raise another Hashirama or Madara Uchiha," Hanzo said. Even someone dubbed the Half-God of Shinobi like him still trembled when recalling those names. He had seen their power with his own eyes—and it was beyond human.
They were gods.
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