Chapter 121 – Slaying Hiruko, Tsunade's Wrath
"There's no such thing as a real weakness… So let's end this now," Hatake Yusuke said with a faint smile.
"You brat… DIE! Storm Release: Thunder Dragon Roar!"
Dark clouds churned above, shaping into the massive head of a roaring dragon made entirely of lightning.
At the same time, a blazing swirl of heat formed around Yusuke. Flames condensed into a brilliant sphere—shining as bright as the sun.
"This heat... it's insane. Even from here, I can feel it," Jiraiya muttered, wide-eyed.
"It's far beyond the upper limit of any normal Fire Release," Orochimaru added with a calm nod.
The thunder dragon surged downward with a deafening rumble. But Yusuke simply raised his hand and hurled the blazing sphere upward.
With a thunderous impact, the fireball collided with the dragon's maw—and easily overpowered it, shattering the lightning into sparks.
"You think something like that can take me down?" Hiruko snarled.
He raised his cursed-marked arm and shouted, "Dark Release: Suction Hole!"
A swirling black vortex appeared in his palm, pulling in the remnants of the massive fireball. But the intense heat still seared his skin, scorching his arm.
"Your body can't handle it anymore?" Yusuke asked coldly, hovering midair.
"Then how about you burn by your own flames—Dark Release: Evil Reflection Wave!"
Hiruko reversed the absorbed fireball and launched it back toward Yusuke.
But with a simple, focused glance, Yusuke activated Repulsion Force. A pulse of invisible energy rippled outward, crushing the fireball into nothingness.
The very next moment, Yusuke vanished—and reappeared beside Hiruko, grabbing him by the throat with one hand and lifting him off the ground like a ragdoll.
"So fast…" Hiruko wheezed.
"You're too weak. That's why… you die here. But first—"
Yusuke pulled down the black cloth covering his eyes, revealing his glowing Rinnegan.
"T-Those eyes…?" Hiruko gasped, trembling. He had seen them once before—but hadn't paid attention.
Now, staring into them directly, fear gripped his entire being.
"Human Path."
Without hesitation, Yusuke reached into Hiruko's soul. The jutsu extracted his essence and memories, flooding Yusuke's mind with everything.
Then, he tossed the lifeless body to the ground.
"Burn to ashes."
With a snap of his fingers, flames ignited and consumed Hiruko's corpse, reducing it to dust.
Yusuke calmly pulled his blindfold back down and turned toward the others.
"Alright, I'll send you all back to Konoha," he said plainly.
"Understood," Jiraiya nodded.
Orochimaru gave a silent nod as well.
Yusuke reached out, and with his space-warping ability, they were instantly teleported back to the Hidden Leaf.
— — —
Moments later—
"Ojisan Snake, I'd like to have a word," Yusuke said quietly.
"Of course, Yusuke-kun," Orochimaru replied with a faint smile.
The two walked away from the others.
"Tch… I guess I'll just report to Minato," Jiraiya mumbled and strolled off.
Tsunade, meanwhile, went to file her mission report.
— — —
"You're after the Chimera Technique, aren't you?" Yusuke asked bluntly.
"You really do know everything," Orochimaru said, slightly amused.
"A promise is a promise. But, Snake-ojisan…"
"Is there something else?"
"You've been researching Edo Tensei lately, haven't you?" Yusuke said, his eyes locked on Orochimaru.
The Sannin paused. His expression didn't change, but his gaze sharpened.
Was this Danzo's intel? No—Danzo still needed him. Then who…?
"I don't know what you're talking about, Yusuke-kun," Orochimaru said calmly.
"You think I'd bring it up without being sure?"
"…Then whose side are you on?" Orochimaru asked, his voice low.
"I side only with the natural order of things. I'm not interested in politics. But there's one thing—I need Edo Tensei. Once your research is complete, hand it over to me. In exchange, I'll keep your secret… and I'll give you the Ghost Bud Technique you wanted."
"…Deal. Yusuke-kun, you're truly unlike anyone else," Orochimaru replied, still smiling.
"Here," Yusuke said, handing him a scroll.
"But I'd advise against studying the Chimera Technique. It has a fatal flaw. You really think Hiruko was immortal? Don't be naive. Even chakra can't defy time."
"…How much do you know?" Orochimaru asked cautiously.
"Let's just say… there's hardly anything in this world that can stay hidden from me," Yusuke answered with a thin smile.
"Thank you for the warning. But remember this: No matter how powerful, eyes that don't belong to you are still just borrowed tools," Orochimaru said quietly.
Yusuke paused for a moment, then chuckled.
"Haha, of course. I'm only using them temporarily. They're not mine to begin with. But your words, Snake-ojisan… they're as sharp as ever."
"You're not denying it anymore, huh? Those are Rinnegan eyes, aren't they?"
"I never said I was hiding it."
Yusuke walked past him, gently patting Orochimaru's shoulder.
"You're clever, Snake-ojisan. But too much cleverness tends to make people… unpopular."
With that, Yusuke walked off, leaving Orochimaru in silence.
Only after the sound of footsteps vanished did Orochimaru finally exhale.
"…Yusuke-kun. Just how terrifying are you…?"
Even with that gentle smile, only Orochimaru could sense it—that overwhelming killing intent hidden beneath the surface.
His instincts as a snake were never wrong. He had just brushed against death itself.
— — —
Yusuke reappeared inside the Hokage's office.
Minato blinked. "Can you not teleport randomly into my office?"
"Don't mind it, Minato-nii. I'm just here to take Tsunade on a little vacation to Kumogakure. That alright?"
"Er… That's difficult. The official mission report didn't include Tsunade-senpai…" Minato said, scratching his cheek.
"Don't worry. Raikage will approve it."
"Alright then. Safe travels."
Without waiting, Yusuke took Tsunade's hand and vanished from the office.
From afar, Jiraiya watched and sighed.
"Minato, can you teleport me too? I need to do… research. For my book. New material, you know?"
Minato groaned. "Jiraiya-sensei… if both of us show up, Raikage might think we're planning an invasion."
Honestly, these people were more trouble than help.
— — —
At a cozy inn in Kumogakure—
"You brat, I never agreed to come! I just finished a mission—I need rest! And sake! Lots of sake!" Tsunade grumbled.
"Come on~ I'll treat you to something delicious. This place has an amazing dessert shop!" Yusuke said with a grin.
"I don't care! I want sake, not sweets!" she snapped, shooting him a glare.
"C'mon, c'mon, just come with me, Tsuna-chan~" Yusuke pulled her by the hand like a spoiled kid.
"Fine! I'll walk on my own, don't pull me! Jeez… grown men shouldn't be obsessed with desserts…"
Tsunade suddenly stopped and stared at him.
"By the way… What's with your eyes? Why do you always keep them covered? It looks terrible."
Yusuke didn't respond. He simply removed the cloth.
His Rinnegan, layered with tomoe, shimmered softly in the light.
"That's… the Rinnegan?! You brat…!"
"How is it? Cool, right?" Yusuke smirked proudly.
"YOU LITTLE BASTARD!" Tsunade exploded in rage.
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