Chapter 242 — The Year I Walked With Both Hands in My Pockets
"But… I don't have Wood Release like Grandpa did…" Nawaki muttered gloomily.
"Wood Release, hm? In truth, it's simply a fusion of Water Release and Earth Release. Just like how Ice Release is formed," Yusuke replied calmly. "What made it terrifying wasn't the kekkei genkai itself, but the man who used it—your grandfather."
"R-Really?" Nawaki lifted his head a little.
"Of course. Your grandfather, Senju Hashirama, possessed chakra reserves comparable to the Nine-Tails—or even more. Even without Wood Release, every basic elemental jutsu he touched turned into something monstrous in his hands."
Yusuke continued eating casually as he explained.
"So… how do I become strong then, Brother-in-law? Can Taijutsu really be that powerful? If not, maybe I should learn Kenjutsu from Uncle Sakumo… because swords look cool!" Nawaki said enthusiastically.
"Oh? Then try this," Yusuke said, removing the sword at his waist. "Hold my sword—Enma."
But before Nawaki reached out, Yusuke added a warning, "Remember—don't channel chakra into it."
Nawaki nodded and gripped the blade that was nearly taller than he was.
The moment his fingers wrapped around the hilt, his entire body stiffened. A terrifying killing aura burst forth from the sword. Startled, Nawaki immediately flung the weapon away, trembling.
"…Forget it," Yusuke said flatly. "You have no talent for Kenjutsu. If merely holding a sword scares you this much, then the sword isn't your path. Besides, your personality doesn't suit it."
"S-Scary… It felt alive…" Nawaki whispered in shock as he stared at Enma, now stuck in the ground.
But then he shouted in frustration, "But why though?!"
"Because you rejected its existence," Yusuke replied calmly.
"Enma… that's its name?" Nawaki asked.
He had felt uneasy the moment he touched it—his instincts rejecting it instinctively.
"That's right," Yusuke said. "Enma is a killing blade. In truth, all swords are born for the same purpose—to kill. If your heart rejects taking lives, the sword will lose its edge. And a dull blade… is no longer a blade. When that happens, Kenjutsu loses its meaning entirely."
"But—not everyone who uses a sword has to kill, right?" Nawaki asked nervously.
"You're not wrong. Anyone can hold a simple sword. There are many ninja in Konoha who use swords as weapons—but their strength… hm?"
Yusuke paused, looking directly at him.
"Even an ordinary civilian could reach their level with enough training. Basic slashes, basic parries—anyone can learn them. With talent or without it."
Yusuke's tone turned cold.
"People like that are just ordinary. And when ordinary people die… aside from their family and friends, no one remembers them."
Nawaki clenched his fists. "I don't want to be ordinary! I want to become Hokage! I want to be a real man!"
Yusuke looked at him for a moment, then smirked faintly.
"Bold words. But remember, kid… every Academy student says the same thing before they face the true cruelty of the shinobi world. In your generation, many probably dream of becoming Hokage. But in the end—there will only be one Hokage. The rest will be forgotten. And if you die one day, if not for your sister or the Senju name, no one would remember you. They'll only know you as 'Tsunade's younger brother.'"
Nawaki fell silent.
Then, after a moment, he looked up again.
"Then… Brother-in-law, what's your dream?"
"My dream, huh?" Yusuke gazed up at the sky. "Something like that… I suppose I've already achieved it."
When he first arrived in this world, his only desire was to become the strongest—so he wouldn't die pitifully like in his previous life. Yet, he had achieved that without much difficulty.
For Yusuke, being the strongest was as natural as breathing.
"So, what exactly was your dream?" Nawaki pressed on.
"You're too young to understand things like that," Yusuke replied with a gentle, teasing smile.
Then he continued, "Listen carefully, kid. Within your body flows an immense amount of Yang Release chakra. This nature transforms your physical body, enhancing it tremendously. If you don't want to die as a forgettable nobody… focus on Taijutsu. That is your best path. Swords don't suit you."
"I understand! I'll become as strong as you someday!" Nawaki declared with shining eyes.
"Taijutsu is tough, you know?" Yusuke warned.
"I'll endure it! As a man of the Senju clan, I must uphold the honor of our ancestors!" Nawaki said firmly.
"…Hmm."
A faint smile tugged at Yusuke's lips.
"Those words… I'm beginning to think more highly of you, brat."
"Hehehe…" Nawaki laughed shyly, scratching his cheek.
"Brother-in-law, you really are super strong, aren't you?" he added.
"I've told you many times—I'm the strongest," Yusuke replied in slight annoyance.
"If you're that strong, then why don't you become Hokage?"
"Hokage? That's your generation's dream, not mine. Once you become strong enough, titles like that stop having meaning. And even if I wasn't this strong, I still wouldn't care about that position," Yusuke said, shrugging.
"Then… when you were my age, just how strong were you?" Nawaki asked curiously.
"When I was your age?"
Yusuke rose slowly, crossing his arms with a confident smirk.
"Back then… even if I barely moved, I was already standing at the pinnacle of the shinobi world. Like I always say—those years, I walked with both hands in my pockets… because I didn't even know what a 'worthy opponent' was."
Nawaki's eyes sparkled. "Brother-in-law… that's so cool!"
"Lord Yusuke is just too handsome…" Mabui whispered from nearby, her eyes sparkling with admiration—apparently, she had been listening the whole time.
"Be humble, be humble. A man should always stay humble," Yusuke said seriously.
But the wide grin on his face said otherwise.
Every Kumogakure shinobi nearby—Mabui, Samui, and even the Raikage who had just arrived—could only stare at him with dark expressions.
If they had the strength, the Raikage would've already punched him through the nearest mountain.
"His words are too magnificent… I must record them," Mabui muttered sincerely.
As Raikage's secretary, she promptly took out her notebook and wrote:
"Those years, I walked with both hands in my pockets—because I didn't know what an opponent was."
"…Oi, Mabui. What exactly are you writing?"
Raikage's deep voice came from behind her as he caught her admiring Yusuke like a fan meeting her idol.
He grumbled internally:
Of all the people in this world… why do you admire THIS one?!
If there was one person Raikage hated more than anyone—not even Ōnoki, the man who killed his father—it was Hatake Yusuke.
Not only because he was absurdly strong, but because his personality was infuriating beyond belief.
If other people liked to "rub salt in the wound," then Yusuke rubbed salt, pepper, chili, poured boiling water over it—
and then laughed at you afterwards.
"Raikage-sama, good afternoon. I was just accompanying Lord Yusuke… for lunch," Mabui said hurriedly, straightening herself.
Raikage growled, then glared at Yusuke—
who waved happily.
"Oh, you finally came, A! Hurry over here! This flavor is incredible, you've GOT to try it!"
Without hesitation, Yusuke slid the plate in front of Raikage toward himself—clearly having no intention of letting Raikage eat any of it.
Watching the scene, Nawaki whispered nervously, "Brother-in-law… who's that big scary guy?"
"Him? Oh, that's the Raikage," Yusuke replied casually. "And yeah—just look at that face. Definitely doesn't look like a good person, right?"
Nawaki instantly turned pale.
That's… the Raikage?!
He had heard Kumogakure was full of muscle-headed warriors who only respected strength.
Don't tell me… I'm going to die here because Brother-in-law keeps picking fights…?!
Nawaki panicked internally.
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