Chapter 83 — The Wounded Tsunade
"Kakashi… are you ready to stop pretending?"
Hatake Yusuke's voice carried a quiet weight as he stood beside his younger brother at the edge of a rocky cliff. His expression was calm but worn, like a man carrying a burden that had long gone unspoken.
"What do you mean, big brother?" Kakashi asked, looking at him with a puzzled gaze.
Yusuke stepped forward, placing a hand on his brother's silver hair and ruffling it gently. Despite the scratches and bruises littering Kakashi's body, his eyes remained sharp and unwavering.
Embarrassed, Kakashi pulled away. "C'mon, I'm not a kid anymore."
"I'm giving you two paths to choose from. You decide which one to walk," Yusuke said, his tone calm, but filled with deeper meaning.
"Two paths?" Kakashi's voice grew serious. "What kind of paths?"
"The first one," Yusuke began, "I will take care of everything for you. I'll eliminate all enemies, stop the war, and make sure you never lose anyone."
"And the second path… is full of thorns. You'll carve your own destiny with your blade. You'll suffer, you'll bleed, and you might lose people you care about—friends… even those closest to you."
Kakashi clenched his fists tightly. His gaze sharpened. "I'll take the second one. But I won't let anyone fall without a fight. I'll protect them—with my sword, with everything I've got. I'll walk the path I choose."
Yusuke paused, then let out a hearty laugh. "Hahaha! Now that's the spirit! A true son of the Hatake Clan!"
He patted Kakashi's shoulder firmly. "Go now. Head to the battlefield and carve your name into history with blade and blood. Father and I… we'll be watching your back."
"I will, big bro!" Kakashi responded, his voice filled with conviction.
"Then go on. You've made your brother proud."
As Kakashi turned to leave, he glanced back. "What about you, brother?"
"I've still got business to handle. You go on ahead. Keep training hard. Just remember—weakness is a sin in this world. Those who are weak don't deserve to hope for bonds."
"…Understood."
With that, Kakashi left, heading back toward the camp.
Yusuke stood alone on the cliff, the wind gently brushing his cloak as he gazed out over the vast terrain below.
"You can come out now, Minato-nii," he said flatly.
From the shadows, a golden-haired figure emerged, stepping up to stand beside him. The two silhouettes—silver and gold—stood tall against the sky like streaks of light cutting across the horizon.
"So… you believe weakness is a sin?" Minato's voice was soft.
"I do," Yusuke replied. "This war happened because Konoha wasn't strong enough. That's why we're a target."
"You're wrong," Minato said, shaking his head.
"Oh?" Yusuke turned his eyes slightly toward him.
"Konoha isn't weak. As long as you're here… this village will never be weak. I know you won't let it fall—not completely. You've got too many ties here."
"…True," Yusuke admitted. "As long as Kakashi, Tsunade, and the others aren't in danger, I'll stay out of it."
"This is all to temper Kakashi, isn't it?" Minato asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Heh. As expected of you, genius. Spot on." Yusuke chuckled. "This war is the whetstone that will sharpen Kakashi's blade. That's why I won't bring it to an end myself."
Minato went silent for a moment, then sighed. "I still can't read you. But fine."
Yusuke grinned. "Weren't you hoping I'd step in to help Konoha, Minato-nii?"
"If it's for Kakashi, then yes. But even without you, I believe Konoha won't lose."
Yusuke's smile deepened. If Minato hadn't chosen to die for Kushina in the future… no force in the shinobi world could've ever stopped him. Even a Mangekyō-controlled Nine-Tails is nothing more than a joke to him.
"This war doesn't need me. In the end, Konoha will come out on top anyway," Yusuke said calmly.
"By the way, Minato-nii… do you know what my dream is?"
"Huh? That's rare… I don't think I've ever heard you talk about your dream," Minato replied, tilting his head curiously.
"I don't dream of saving the world. I just want to protect the people I care about. That's it. I'm just a wanderer in this world. The one who'll truly change the course of the shinobi world… it won't be me."
"…That's a good dream." Minato smiled warmly. He, too, simply wanted to protect something bigger—his entire village.
"You're still aiming to become Hokage, right?" Yusuke asked.
"I am," Minato said, eyes glowing with that familiar spark.
"Then I'll support you all the way. I hope you become the Hokage who lights up Konoha from the darkness. And when that day comes… maybe I'll stand beside you, helping you protect this village."
"Haha! I'll definitely become Hokage!" Minato laughed confidently.
"Then go. The battlefield needs you," Yusuke said, gesturing slightly.
"You're not coming with me?"
"No… I haven't seen Tsunade in a while. I'm going to check on her."
Minato raised an eyebrow at the subtle warmth in Yusuke's voice as he spoke her name.
"…Understood. But word is, Sunagakure is on the move again."
"Rasa… I hope she's not being stubborn," Yusuke muttered under his breath.
Minato hesitated. He wanted Yusuke's help, but part of him feared the consequences. If Yusuke truly unleashed himself… the other nations might join forces just to stop him. And could Konoha survive that?
"I'm heading off. Be careful," Minato said before vanishing with his Flying Thunder God Technique.
Yusuke stepped forward and opened the Air Door, vanishing into the rift without another word.
— — —
Meanwhile…
"That damn Rasa!!" Jiraiya slammed the table, fury in his voice. Reports confirmed that Rasa had deployed Sunagakure's full might to surround Konoha's frontline, ignoring all other fronts entirely.
"Jiraiya-sama, Lady Tsunade is still unconscious. We need to send word to the village. We must request reinforcements," said a ninja from the Nara Clan, his voice urgent.
"Do it. But listen carefully…" Jiraiya narrowed his eyes. "Don't let Hatake Yusuke find out about this."
A chill ran through the room.
Jiraiya could still recall the sight of that man in rage. If Yusuke got involved… no one in the shinobi world would be able to stop him.
But what haunted Jiraiya even more was the prophecy—the one given by the Great Toad Sage, Gamamaru. He spoke of a "Demon Child," one who would one day stand above all. One who could bring either eternal peace… or absolute destruction.
And worst of all…
Gamamaru claimed this child would even surpass the Sage of Six Paths himself.
At first, Jiraiya had brushed it off as senile rambling. But the unwavering certainty in the old toad's eyes had shaken him to the core.
"Understood, Jiraiya-sama," the Nara ninja replied firmly.
Just then, Jiraiya froze.
He felt a familiar chakra rapidly approaching the camp.
"…Damn it. The one person I didn't want showing up is already here."
He let out a bitter smile.
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