Chapter 218 – The Battle Against Toneri
"What do you mean?" Toneri furrowed his brows, deep in thought, but no matter how long he tried to understand, the meaning still slipped past him. At best, he caught only fragments of Yusuke's words.
"Idiot," Yusuke muttered, tapping his student's head lightly with a finger.
"Human life is filled with things we chase after," Yusuke said, his tone calm and distant. "But what's already passed is nothing more than a shadow that fades like clouds. The past only lives on in your memory. If the past were to truly change, then you wouldn't be you anymore. The future, however—" his eyes softened slightly, "—is a realm of infinite possibilities. Within certain limits, you can choose your own direction. That's what we call a dream."
Toneri blinked, surprised by the uncharacteristically philosophical tone.
"Does that mean… Sensei also has something he's chasing?" he asked.
In his mind, his master always seemed to exist beyond mortal desires—someone whose strength grew effortlessly, without the need to train or struggle like others.
"Of course," Yusuke said simply. "I'm still a living being among billions. The only difference—" he smirked faintly, "—is that I'm the most extraordinary one."
"Sensei truly is extraordinary," Toneri said earnestly.
He had met countless powerful figures in Konoha, yet none shone as impossibly bright as Hatake Yusuke. Even his uncle Kakashi, Yusuke's younger brother, shared only the faintest shadow of that brilliance. The difference between them was like heaven and earth.
"You're mistaken," Yusuke replied. "In my life, I am the most special. And in your life, you are the most special."
"I understand, Sensei… but what does that have to do with what you said earlier?" Toneri asked, still clearly confused.
Yusuke sighed softly. "Ah, you really are hopeless. Even if I carve the truth into stone, you still wouldn't get it."
"I already told you—the past cannot be changed. Haven't you realized it yet, Toneri? Even if you were to travel back in time, how can you be sure that isn't already part of your future? If your future self already exists, then no one could ever find your trace in the past."
Toneri frowned harder, his confusion deepening. "Sensei… I still don't understand."
"Alright, let me simplify it for your thick head," Yusuke said, smiling faintly. "Let's say I go back in time and kill you when you were still a child. But here you are—alive, grown up, having met Naruto and the others. That means I failed, doesn't it? If I had succeeded, you wouldn't be standing here today."
Toneri's eyes widened slightly as the logic began to take shape.
"The same applies to Urashiki," Yusuke continued. "He went to the past to kill Naruto. But since Naruto grew up to become the Seventh Hokage, Urashiki's attempt was already doomed to fail."
"So… it's truly impossible to succeed?" Toneri asked hesitantly.
"It's possible," Yusuke admitted. "But only by creating a branch in time—a parallel reality. In that case, if I went back and killed you as a child, then returned here, the world I came back to wouldn't be the same one I left. You'd still be alive in this version of reality."
"I… I understand, Sensei," Toneri said quickly, unwilling to risk sounding ignorant again.
"Good." Yusuke's tone softened as his gaze shifted toward his student's eyes. "It seems your Tenseigan has nearly completed its fusion. Its energy feels far more stable than before."
Toneri nodded. "Lately, the chakra vibrations have been calmer. It feels… balanced."
"I see. It's been a while since our last duel, hasn't it?" Yusuke said, smiling faintly. "Let's see how much you've grown over the years."
"Understood, Sensei," Toneri said seriously, then added quickly, "But please… don't use Infinity this time."
"Hah," Yusuke chuckled, deactivating the barrier of his Infinity field. "Fine."
At once, Toneri's body flared with brilliant light. The Tenseigan Chakra Mode surged to life, wrapping him in a radiant cloak of bluish-violet energy that made the lunar air tremble.
Without hesitation, he launched the first strike.
"Fire Release: Fire Fist!"
His fist blazed with roaring flames as he hurled it forward. In this state, Toneri no longer needed hand seals—his chakra obeyed his will directly.
"Interesting," Yusuke said, amused. "But still far too weak."
He raised a hand casually. "Giant Fire Fist."
A massive sphere of flame exploded outward from his palm, its heat distorting space itself. It collided with Toneri's attack, completely overwhelming it in an instant.
Toneri countered immediately. "Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"
A roaring dragon of water burst forth, coiling toward the inferno. Simultaneously, a black Truth-Seeking Orb materialized in his hand—not a true one like Kaguya's, but a replica formed through Yin-Yang Release, similar to the black rods once used by Pain.
"One Sword Style Secret Technique: Asura!" Toneri shouted. The orb extended and transformed into a long black blade, slicing through the air toward Yusuke.
"Your swordsmanship's still pathetic," Yusuke said dryly. "Seems you've been neglecting practice."
Toneri gave a strained smile. He couldn't deny it—he'd been focusing too much on his Tenseigan lately and had let his sword skills dull.
"Then allow me to remind you what a real sword looks like," Yusuke said.
A pitch-black blade materialized in his hand, its aura humming with annihilating power. He swung it once—calmly.
The slash that followed towered like a mountain, cleaving through Toneri's technique effortlessly. The shockwave alone made the lunar dust erupt in violent storms.
Toneri reacted instantly, merging several of his orbs into a single massive golden blade.
"One Sword Style: Golden Wheel Reincarnation Explosion!"
A crescent of divine light cut through the void, its brilliance rivaling the sun. The two strikes met—Yusuke's dark slash versus Toneri's golden wave—creating an explosion that shook the surface of the moon.
The collision didn't last long. Yusuke's slash shattered, and the golden sword came crashing down toward him like a falling star.
"Not bad," Yusuke murmured, smiling faintly. He extended his hand, and a new blade formed—this one wreathed in frost. "Ice Age."
The temperature plummeted instantly. Frost spread across the ground in all directions, freezing Toneri's massive attack midair. The golden sword crackled as thin fractures spread along its surface, though it didn't completely stop—the repulsive power infused in it still resisted the freeze.
"Now it's my turn," Yusuke said, his eyes glinting. "Magma Burial."
A tidal wave of molten lava erupted from the ground, surging toward Toneri like a fiery tsunami.
"Silver Wheel Reincarnation Explosion!" Toneri roared, spinning his Truth-Seeking Orb into a massive silver vortex. The resulting tornado clashed against the magma, splitting it apart—only for the lava to surge back together moments later.
"It's useless," Yusuke said with a cold grin. The magma fused once more, reforming into a raging inferno that swallowed Toneri's field of vision.
Toneri shot into the sky, his body wrapped in a protective layer of Truth-Seeking Orbs. When he finally escaped the inferno, he dispelled the shield and gasped. The heat below was beyond comprehension. Even the orbs had started to soften and deform.
"This temperature… it's terrifying. And Sensei's not even using his full power," Toneri whispered, his breath uneven. "Thankfully, magma can't fly."
Yusuke smiled faintly from below. "You think I made all this magma just for show?"
He raised a hand. "Lion Might: Magma Ground Spiral!"
The lava churned violently, spiraling together into the form of a colossal lion. Its molten mane roared with energy as it leaped upward, attacking Toneri from every direction.
"Oh no—!" Toneri's face went pale.
He unleashed a massive shockwave of repulsive force, trying to blow the molten beast apart. It worked—but only partially. The lion's body scattered, and the resulting rain of lava splashed across him, burning through his chakra cloak. Pain flared across his arms and chest.
"Still want to keep fighting, Toneri?" Yusuke asked, smiling thinly, his voice both playful and dangerous.
"Sensei… you're too strong," Toneri said, wincing. "But I still want to try. I want to see how far I've come."
"…Wakatta," Yusuke replied. His voice lowered, carrying a quiet, lethal weight.
"Then, Toneri…" He raised his sword again. "Don't die. I've been wanting to test something new."
A mysterious grin tugged at his lips.
And in that instant, Toneri's instincts screamed.
He's serious.
His master wouldn't kill him—but hearing words like that still sent chills down his spine.
Kakashi's voice echoed in his mind:
"Never try to understand Nii-san with normal logic… it'll only get you killed."
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Join my Patreon here:
🔗 patreon.com/FaaanzKun
✅ Enjoy 110+ chapters ahead of WebNovel
✅ 2 new chapters every day (Monday–Saturday), exclusive on Patreon
🌙 Note: Sunday is a rest day, so there will be no updates tomorrow. Regular uploads resume as usual on Monday.
Join now and dive deeper into the story—weeks ahead of public release!
Thank you for your amazing support 💖
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —