Chapter 259 – Naruto, You've Truly Disappointed Me
"Stop right there, kid from Kumogakure."
A cold voice cut through the air.
"Uncle…"
Naruto's bruised and swollen face looked like a pig's head after taking those hits.
Yusuke didn't answer. A bluish-green flame flickered in his hand as he pressed it against Naruto's body. Before long, the wounds covering Naruto began to heal.
"Stand up." Yusuke's voice was icy.
Naruto looked up at his uncle's furious expression, then slowly rose to his feet with his head lowered.
"You brats from Kumogakure… did the Raikage order you to come here?" Yusuke's tone remained cold.
"Who the hell are you, bastard?" the dark-skinned woman snapped.
"Yeah, this is our personal business."
The dark-skinned boy beside her tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword.
"Oh? That's your answer?"
Yusuke's voice dropped to a freezing calm, and in the next instant, a faint killing intent flashed in his eyes.
"Uncle, this is my own problem."
The Kumogakure shinobi looked bewildered. The man in front of them didn't look that old, his features somewhat obscured—yet Naruto called him uncle?
And despite sensing almost no imposing chakra from Yusuke, as if he were just some regular villager, the situation felt strangely wrong.
"Shut your mouth. I'll deal with you later, you brat," Yusuke said flatly.
"Apologize."
A woman's voice suddenly rang out, carrying suppressed fury.
"Boss…"
Omoi immediately panicked.
"I told you to apologize. Didn't you hear me?"
Samui's voice sharpened, her calm demeanor cracking.
"Why should we apologize to him? He's the one who said he wanted to vent his anger about Uchiha Sasuke on us!" Karui retorted with disdain.
"Are you two planning to disobey me?"
Samui stared coldly at them.
Meanwhile, Yusuke simply watched their exchange without commenting.
"Hmph, fine. I'll apologize if we absolutely have to."
Karui glared at Naruto's swollen face—bloated like a pig's head—and muttered:
"…Sorry."
"No need," Yusuke said before Naruto could respond.
"I won't accept your apology. If apologies actually fixed things, then none of this would've happened in the first place."
Yusuke's voice was chilling.
"What's your problem? What the hell do you want then? I didn't even want to apologize in the first place!" Karui barked back.
"Quiet."
"But Boss, Uchiha Sasuke kidnapped Killer Bee-sensei. We weren't wrong about that, right?" Omoi argued weakly.
"Don't change the subject, kid."
Yusuke's gaze hardened.
"Whether Killer Bee is alive or dead, whether someone from Konoha kidnapped him or not, that doesn't matter here. What matters is… you struck my nephew. So tell me—have you prepared your final words yet?"
"Dammit…" Samui's heart trembled.
"Hmph! How dare you insult our teacher like that!"
Karui and Omoi lunged forward, swinging their weapons.
But right before their blades touched Yusuke, they froze mid-air—unable to move any closer.
"What—?" Karui's eyes widened.
"That…"
A painful memory flickered across Samui's eyes.
"Stop, both of you!" Samui yelled, panic breaking through her usual calm.
"If you keep attacking, you'll be treated as traitors!"
"It's not that serious, is it?"
Karui groaned.
But the moment she finished speaking, a crushing pressure slammed down on both of them, forcing their bodies onto the ground.
"Go on," Yusuke said quietly.
"W–what?"
Omoi stared at him in shock. Clearly, they had underestimated him.
"Your final words. Speak them."
Yusuke's tone was utterly emotionless.
"What did you just say?! We're shinobi of Kumogakure!"
"Hatake-sama, this is indeed my subordinates' fault," Samui said, her face pale, "but this offense does not warrant death. Please… show some mercy."
"You?"
Yusuke's eyes turned even colder.
"And why should I? Who do you think you are?"
Samui's face drained completely.
He was right. Who was she, in front of this man?
Even if the Raikage himself were here, his title likely wouldn't matter.
She had never imagined Yusuke—someone known for never boasting, someone gentle even to civilians—could look so terrifyingly cold.
It felt as if she were staring at a completely different person.
"Boss… we should beg him…" Omoi whispered, barely breathing.
"Uncle, please don't! This is all my fault!"
Naruto stumbled forward and stood protectively in front of Yusuke, panic written all over his face.
"Naruto? I've already told you so many things. Did you actually listen to any of them?"
Yusuke's voice carried deep disappointment.
"I… I did listen," Naruto murmured.
"You listened? Then why did you make such a foolish decision? Or… did you think your own idea was the only one that mattered?"
Yusuke's tone sharpened.
Naruto's face turned pale.
Yusuke had taught him many things.
He had listened.
But he also believed in his own way.
He wanted to use himself as a vessel to absorb hatred.
"Uncle, I just—"
"Naruto, you've truly disappointed me."
Yusuke's words hit him harder than any punch Karui had thrown.
"Neither Jiraiya nor you… I, Hatake Yusuke, owe neither of you anything. I treated you kindly because of my friendship with your father… and because you've always been a good kid."
Yusuke's voice was cold, almost bitter.
"Yusuke, isn't that a bit too harsh?"
A tall figure with long white hair suddenly stepped forward—it was Jiraiya.
"This is the student you raised, Jiraiya?" Yusuke asked.
"…Haah."
Jiraiya let out a long sigh.
No matter what had happened between them in the past, Yusuke—who once lovingly called him Jiraiya-nii—was truly angry this time.
"Letting others vent their hatred on you? That is stupidity beyond belief."
Yusuke's tone felt like sharp steel.
"Don't be so arrogant, Naruto. Did you really think that by getting punched, they'd suddenly decide to let Sasuke go? To them, you were nothing more than a sandbag to unload their anger on. In the end, the only one moved by your actions… will be yourself."
Naruto lowered his head.
Even Jiraiya looked down.
He had watched everything happen—his heart hurt seeing Naruto take that beating, but he had also been somewhat proud of Naruto's approach.
But after hearing Yusuke's words… he realized he might have been wrong.
"If Sasuke still considers you a friend, and he saw you doing something like this… what do you think he'd feel? Other than guilt, what else could be in his heart? Worse yet—knowing his pride, he'd probably think you were pitying him. Isn't that far more painful to him than death?"
Yusuke's voice was calm but devastating.
"Speak, Naruto. You like talking, don't you?"
Yusuke's gaze sharpened again.
"Do you truly understand Sasuke? Do you really consider things from his perspective? Or… are you just standing on your moral high ground, forcing your ideals on others, measuring everything with your own peaceful worldview?"
His voice grew harsh.
"Then tell me—how is that any different from what Nagato did back then?"
Naruto flinched.
Jiraiya looked even more ashamed.
"Or maybe… the peace you seek is nothing more than peace inside your own heart. And everyone else must be judged by your version of justice."
Yusuke's voice echoed coldly.
"…I was wrong."
Naruto bowed deeply.
His face twisted with regret—regret and disgust at himself.
Hearing Yusuke's words made him nauseous with self-loathing.
Nauseous at how self-righteous he had been.
He tried imagining—
If one of his seniors killed his teacher, would he be able to accept it?
He didn't understand the pain of losing a mentor.
He didn't even have the qualifications to try to change others.
Jiraiya's expression twisted with heartache as he listened.
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