Chapter 206 – Too Late
After everything was finally settled, Hatake Yusuke let out a long, relieved sigh.
"This time, your mission is to serve as the Jōnin Instructor for Naruto's team," Tsunade said in a firm, commanding tone.
"What? You're kidding, right? Me? A teacher? Tsuna-chan, that's supposed to be Kakashi's job!" Yusuke protested immediately, his face twisting with disbelief.
"Kakashi is currently on another mission," Tsunade replied, her voice calm but resolute. "Even though he's already capable enough to become Hokage, his record of completed missions is still too few. He needs more field experience. So, I've given him a special task. For now, you'll take his place as the instructor."
"And by the way," she continued, "Team Kurenai is also without a Jōnin instructor at the moment. So I'd like you to guide both teams."
"What? No way. Don't you have that ANBU member named Tenzo? He seems like the perfect choice to me," Yusuke quickly countered.
"Oh, that's right," Tsunade said thoughtfully. "Tenzo could do it. Fine then, you'll just handle Naruto's team."
"I can't use Wood Release. How am I supposed to suppress the Nine-Tails' chakra? No, I refuse. I'll take Kurenai's team instead," Yusuke said quickly, trying to dodge the assignment.
After all, Naruto was the protagonist—and as everyone knew, a protagonist's life was nothing but trouble. Too much drama, too many surprises. Yusuke wanted no part in that mess.
Besides, he already knew Naruto's entire life story. Teaching him was pointless. Even without proper training, Naruto would find a way—because that's how protagonists worked.
There were two kinds of people in this world: geniuses and those who made geniuses despair. The latter were the cheaters.
Look at Kakashi, Itachi, Nagato—praised as prodigies, brilliant from a young age. Yet in the end? When the final battle came, anyone without the blood of the Sage of Six Paths was practically irrelevant.
Naruto, on the other hand, was a direct descendant—a walking miracle with a divine cheat code. He inherited Six Paths power, fought the Ten-Tails Jinchūriki, and turned Madara's lifelong plan into a joke. In the end, the so-called mastermind was taken down… and stabbed by Black Zetsu.
"What did you just say?" Tsunade's tone grew cold.
"I said I can't use Wood Release. How am I supposed to suppress the Nine-Tails? I can't help Naruto train if that's the case," Yusuke replied flatly.
Tsunade let out a mocking laugh. "Suppress the Kyūbi? Don't make me laugh. Even without Wood Release, that beast wouldn't dare show itself in your presence. What's the point of suppression?"
"I can suppress it," Yusuke said seriously, "but that's not the issue. Naruto has to learn to control the Nine-Tails' power on his own. If we just keep sealing him up, he'll never grow. Are we going to keep him locked inside the village forever?"
"There's really no other way for you to restrain the Kyūbi's chakra?" Tsunade pressed, clearly unconvinced. With all his abilities, she found it hard to believe he had no solution.
"There is," Yusuke admitted, "but the side effects on Naruto's body would be too severe."
"In that case, forget it," Tsunade decided. "You'll continue guiding your old team. Tenzo will handle Naruto. Oh, and go fetch him here for me."
"Fine, fine. I'll head over now," Yusuke said quickly before vanishing with a flicker of chakra.
If he stayed any longer, Tsunade might pile on another mission.
"Hahaha! As expected, Tsunade-neechan always knows how to win," Kurenai, who had been watching the scene, laughed softly.
She was clearly amused that Yusuke had finally been cornered for once. That man was far too used to having his way.
"Hmph. He's still too young to try and outsmart me," Tsunade said proudly, lifting her chin.
— — —
Meanwhile, Yusuke arrived at the ANBU headquarters.
"Lord Hatake, welcome. Please, come in," one of the guards greeted respectfully.
"If I'm not mistaken, you're Uzuki Yugao, right?" Yusuke asked with a polite nod.
"That's correct. It's an honor that you still remember my name," Yugao said happily.
"Of course. During the Third Shinobi World War, you and Kurenai were both assigned to the logistics division, weren't you?"
"You even remember that?" Yugao looked genuinely surprised and delighted.
Naturally, Yusuke remembered—he knew everything. After all, Yugao was Gekko Hayate's lover, and who didn't know that part of the story?
"You're here to see Tenzo, right?" she asked.
"Oh? You knew?"
"Of course. The Hokage already sent word ahead. Tenzo-san will be taking over Kakashi-senpai's duties," Yugao explained.
"That makes things easier, then," Yusuke said calmly.
Though inside, he sighed. I can't believe I walked right into that trap…
It was the first time he'd truly felt deceived—and the worst part? He'd fallen for it willingly.
Fine, he thought grimly. Since it's come to this, the three of you… I'll make sure you learn what it really means to be "trained" by me, in place of your dear Kurenai-sensei.
— — —
Meanwhile, elsewhere…
"Shino, do you sense anything weird?" Kiba asked, frowning.
"There's something… off. My insects aren't reacting, but I have a bad feeling," Shino replied.
"I feel it too," Hinata said softly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Anyway, why did Kurenai-sensei call us here? She's pregnant, isn't she? How could she still be leading missions?" Kiba grumbled, scratching Akamaru's head.
"Just wait. She should be here any minute now," Shino said calmly.
— — —
Guided by Yugao, Yusuke found Tenzo and relayed Tsunade's message. Once that was done, he disappeared from the headquarters.
— — —
"Argh! What's going on?! Kurenai-sensei's three hours late already! Why hasn't she shown up yet?" Kiba complained, pacing back and forth.
"You're right. Kurenai-sensei's never late," Hinata said softly.
"She's always punctual. Something must've come up," Shino added.
"Now I get what Team Naruto feels like. Kakashi-sensei's always late too—but at least he shows up within half an hour. This is four hours! What could she possibly be doing?" Kiba groaned.
Moments later, a relaxed, teasing voice drifted toward them.
"Still early, huh? Good. I like that."
"Yusuke-sensei?"
"Yusuke-sama?"
The three turned around in shock. Out of habit and family tradition, Hinata always addressed him respectfully as "sama" instead of "sensei."
"Yusuke-sensei? Why are you here? Where's Kurenai-sensei?" Kiba asked, bewildered.
"Oh, you didn't hear? From now on, I'll be your Jōnin instructor," Yusuke said casually.
"What?! Seriously?! That's awesome!" Kiba's eyes sparkled with excitement—he'd always admired Yusuke's strength.
"That's right," Yusuke said with a faint smile.
"Yusuke-sensei, then I have one question," Shino said, adjusting his glasses.
"Go ahead."
"If you're our new instructor, did Kurenai-sensei tell you what time to meet here?"
"Oh, hahaha, yeah… she did," Yusuke said with a laugh. "But… I kinda forgot. My bad."
There wasn't even a hint of remorse on his face.
Kiba's mouth twitched. You forgot? At a time like this?
"I don't think you forgot," Shino said quietly.
"Oh? Then tell me why," Yusuke replied, genuinely curious. In truth, he hadn't forgotten—he'd simply been distracted by something far more important.
"First, you're over four hours late. If you truly forgot, it's unlikely you'd arrive now, right at this moment. Second, the package you're carrying is still warm, meaning you just bought it. And finally, my insects confirm that it's a sweet. A rare one," Shino said in his usual calm tone.
"Woof, woof!" Akamaru barked twice.
"Akamaru says it doesn't smell like anything from our village," Kiba added.
"That's not enough evidence," Yusuke said with a calm smile.
"Special candy from Kumogakure," Shino continued without hesitation. "Only sold on the fifteenth of every month. One per person. The newest flavor must be eaten warm—or it loses its taste. That's the secret, isn't it?"
Yusuke clapped slowly. Clap, clap, clap.
"Impressive. Your deduction skills are sharp. Don't tell me… you like these sweets too?" he said with a grin. "What a shame. This one came straight from the Raikage himself."
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