Chapter 155 – The Legacy of Hatake Sakumo
"Damn it, what about Naruto and the others?" Kakashi's expression suddenly turned grim.
"They're still fighting that kid with the panda eyes. Oh, and by the way—don't forget, the big tanuki's about to come out," Hatake Yusuke said casually, glancing at his younger brother.
"That's not good!" Kakashi immediately turned and sprinted toward Naruto's location.
But after a few steps, he paused and looked back—only to realize Yusuke was already gone.
"Tsunade-nee, where's Nii-san?" Kakashi asked in frustration.
"Who knows? Maybe he's on his way to the kids… or maybe he went to buy sweets," Tsunade replied nonchalantly. "Either way, you'd better get going. Their safety matters more."
Kakashi's face darkened. He should've known. Yusuke always disappeared like this. Always—because this wasn't the first time.
— — —
Meanwhile, Hatake Yusuke had already arrived at Kumogakure.
"The usual, boss," he said, leaning on the counter.
"Got it—just a moment," the shopkeeper replied briskly, expertly wrapping up the familiar order.
"All done. Thanks, boss! See you next time!" Yusuke waved lightly, then vanished before the man could even blink.
Moments later, a shinobi burst into the Raikage's office.
"Report, Raikage-sama! Hatake Yusuke has just left Kumogakure."
"Understood. You can return to duty. Don't bother tracking him," Raikage A said flatly without looking up from his paperwork.
It was a routine occurrence. If the white-haired man didn't show up at least seven or eight times a month, that would've been strange.
"Raikage-sama… this isn't sustainable," C said with a worried tone. "If a war breaks out, what will we do? This village is practically his playground."
"You think I don't know that?" A muttered, clenching his fist.
But what could he do? The boy's power was simply too much. Even he couldn't stop him.
Samui stood silently, her icy expression betraying nothing—but there was a faint flicker of emotion in her eyes.
Mabui, on the other hand, looked toward the horizon with quiet admiration.
Hatake Yusuke-sama came again… Someday, I'll work up the courage to speak to him.
— — —
Of course, Yusuke knew he'd been spotted the moment he stepped into Kumogakure's territory.
After picking up his snacks, he teleported straight to Naruto's location.
By then, Gaara had already lost control—his body half-transformed into a miniature version of Shukaku.
Sakura was trapped against a tree, Sasuke lay exhausted after overusing his Cursed Seal, and Naruto stood alone, facing Gaara.
"Sand Shuriken!"
"Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Dozens of clones rushed in, but none managed to land a single hit.
Naruto gritted his teeth, summoned even more clones, and tried again.
Gaara swept through them effortlessly with a gust of Wind Release.
Yusuke folded his arms, watching quietly. "Hmm? Not bad. He's starting to think ahead."
Naruto and one of his clones slipped behind Gaara, moving in sync.
"Secret Leaf Technique: One Thousand Years of Death!"
Naruto jabbed a kunai at Gaara's weak point from behind—complete with an explosive tag attached.
BOOM!
The explosion sent shockwaves through the forest.
"Uzumaki Naruto Barrage!"
Naruto's relentless punches followed one after another, sending Gaara flying, sand scattering everywhere.
"Hahaha! That's it! Well done, Naruto!" Yusuke laughed loudly from a distance. "You've finally mastered your father's technique!"
"Yusuke-sensei?" Sakura turned, eyes widening in surprise.
Yusuke smiled softly. With a wave of his hand, the sand bindings around her snapped apart. Then, in one smooth motion, he lifted Sasuke and placed him safely atop a nearby tree branch.
When Sakura tried to run toward Naruto, Yusuke stopped her.
"Wait. This is his fight. We just watch. You can't help him here," he said calmly.
Sakura froze, biting her lip. She looked frustrated, but she obeyed.
Sasuke, now regaining consciousness, stared down at Naruto.
Shock, disbelief, and a tinge of jealousy flickered in his eyes.
Anyone can surpass me… but not Naruto, he thought bitterly.
"Don't feel too bad," Yusuke said with a small smirk. "Naruto's in his best form right now. Once this is over, I've got a special training plan ready for you all."
"Really, Sensei?" Sakura asked hopefully.
"Of course. But first, have a snack. Brought these from Kumogakure—brand new flavor," Yusuke said cheerfully, pulling out a bag of treats.
Sasuke blinked. "Seriously? He… went shopping before saving us?"
"That's not a souvenir," Yusuke corrected, opening the bag. "It's for watching the fight."
He popped one into his mouth.
"…He's even less reliable than Kakashi-sensei," Sakura muttered, completely dumbfounded.
— — —
Meanwhile, Naruto was still locked in battle, unaware that everyone was now safe.
Across the field, Gaara began losing control completely. The sand around him spiraled upward as a monstrous aura erupted from within.
"Damn it… this has to work!" Naruto shouted, forming a hand seal.
His chakra flared wildly.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
A massive cloud of smoke billowed out—then cleared, revealing a toad the size of a mountain. A pipe dangled from its mouth, and a massive tantō rested at its side.
"You again, brat?" Gamabunta grumbled, looking annoyed.
"Boss! The enemy's way too strong this time. I need your help!" Naruto said, pointing toward Gaara's enormous sand beast.
"Shukaku from Sunagakure, huh…" Gamabunta frowned. "That's a pain."
Even for him, Shukaku's raw power was overwhelming—though the beast wasn't fully awakened yet.
"And why should I help you?" Gamabunta asked dryly, glancing down at Naruto.
"Boss, you already accepted me as your underling, didn't you? Aren't you supposed to help your own men?"
"Bunta! That's Minato's kid!" Yusuke shouted from the sidelines, his voice echoing across the field as he continued munching on snacks.
"Huh? Uncle Yusuke?!" Naruto called out.
"'Uncle'?" Gamabunta turned his head.
The moment his eyes landed on Yusuke—sitting lazily in the distance—his expression froze.
Gamabunta, the mighty boss of Mount Myoboku, wasn't afraid of anyone… except that man.
The memory of nearly being killed once by Yusuke's temper was something he'd never forgotten.
"…If he's Minato's kid, fine. I'll help," Gamabunta said quickly, trying to sound composed.
"Seriously, Boss?!" Naruto's face lit up.
"Yeah. From now on, you're officially one of my subordinates!"
Gamabunta drew his tantō and swung it down in a massive arc, slicing straight through Shukaku's left arm.
The giant tanuki roared in fury as its severed limb crashed into the forest.
Realizing he was at a disadvantage, Gaara made a hand seal.
"Feigned Sleep Jutsu!"
His body slumped, and Shukaku's eyes snapped open—its consciousness now fully awakened.
"Careful, brat," Gamabunta warned grimly. "That's Shukaku's true form. We have to wake the kid up, or we're dead."
"Got it, Boss!" Naruto shouted back, his eyes burning with determination as he prepared for the decisive strike.
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