Chapter 140 — Kid, Who Gave You the Courage?
"Uncle, why do you look like that?" Naruto asked, scratching his head in confusion.
"Well, this is my house. I don't need to act so stiff here. Anyway, come on—let's see how you like my cooking," Yusuke replied casually, strolling toward the kitchen.
"Wait a minute! You brat, what's with your eyes?" Sakumo asked, narrowing his gaze sharply.
"Oh, these? They awakened along with one of my unique abilities. I call them… the Six Eyes," Yusuke said without hesitation.
"Hmph, you shameless brat. Quit showing off and get cooking already!" Sakumo grumbled.
If Yusuke hadn't been his own son, Sakumo would have suspected he wasn't even a Hatake—no one in their clan had ever awakened something so strange.
"Yes, sir," Yusuke said cheerfully and disappeared into the kitchen to prove his skill.
"Can Uncle Yusuke really cook, Lord Sakumo?" Naruto asked, skeptical.
"Of course! That brat's cooking skills are top-tier. You'll see," Sakumo replied with reluctant pride.
When the dishes were finally served, everyone fell silent. The aroma alone was enough to make them stare in awe. Once they tasted it, words failed them—every bite melted perfectly on the tongue.
"Uncle Yusuke! This is amazing! It's even better than Ichiraku Ramen!" Naruto exclaimed, his eyes sparkling.
"Hahaha! Naturally! For me, things like this are child's play," Yusuke said proudly, though his expression remained calm, as if greatness came easily to him.
"Kakashi, you're signing them up for the Chūnin Exams, right?" Yusuke asked, glancing toward his brother.
"Yeah. I'm planning to have Naruto and his team participate this year," Kakashi replied.
"What?! The Chūnin Exams?!" Kiba shouted in disbelief.
"That's right," Kurenai added. "Kakashi and I already discussed it—we're registering all of you."
"Are… are we really ready for that?" Hinata asked softly, uncertainty in her voice.
"Don't worry. You've got Toneri with you. For the first stage at least, you'll be fine. He's quite strong," Yusuke said, praising his disciple with absolute confidence.
"What?! But Toneri's supposed to be on our team!" Naruto complained.
"Hahaha, silly brat. You think it's that easy? Toneri's officially part of Team 8 now," Yusuke replied with a light laugh.
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Elsewhere in the village...
"You little punk! Who the hell are you?!" shouted a young man with war paint on his face, dragging Konohamaru by the collar.
"Stop it! You'll get us in trouble again!" warned a kunoichi with a large iron fan strapped to her back.
"Let go of Konohamaru!" Naruto yelled, charging forward—but before he could get close, the painted boy flicked a single finger, and Naruto was instantly slammed to the ground.
"What the—?! What just happened?!" Naruto groaned, dazed.
"Hmph. So this is the best that Konoha's next generation can offer? Pathetic," the boy sneered, raising his fist to strike Konohamaru.
Before he could move, a rock whistled through the air and cut across his hand, leaving a deep gash.
"You think you can do whatever you want here?" a cold voice said from above.
Sasuke sat casually on a tree branch, his eyes locked on the intruder.
"Sasuke! So cool!" Sakura gasped, clasping her hands.
"Cool indeed…" Temari murmured, unable to hide her admiration.
Naruto narrowed his eyes. "Tch. Show-off."
"Talking about someone handsome, are we?"
A deep, confident voice echoed from behind them. Everyone turned—and froze.
A tall man, nearly two meters in height, stood there. His silver-white hair was neatly combed back, and his crisp white shirt hugged his lean, muscular frame. Even with dark sunglasses concealing his eyes, his refined features were impossible to miss.
"W-Who are you?! Which village are you from?" Sakura stammered, blushing furiously.
"No way… I already have Sasuke, but he's—he's too handsome! I've never seen a man like this before… Wait, that voice sounds familiar…"
"That's Uncle Yusuke," Naruto whispered.
"What?! Yusuke-sensei?!" Sakura shouted, her jaw dropping.
"Of course. I'm your amazing instructor—Hatake Yusuke," he said smoothly, sliding his sunglasses down to reveal shimmering blue eyes framed by pale lashes.
The entire group of genin fell silent, completely mesmerized.
"Does… someone like this really exist?" Temari muttered under her breath, her face paling from disbelief.
Yusuke chuckled softly. "Alright, children of Sunagakure. You're guests here in Konoha. Behave yourselves. Don't cause trouble—or the handsome man standing before you might get angry, understand?"
His tone was gentle, yet carried a pressure that made their hearts tighten.
"And you—the little panda hiding behind that tree. Come out. Your chakra reeks of malice," Yusuke said calmly.
A cold, emotionless voice answered, "Who are you?"
Sasuke flinched. He hadn't even sensed the person's presence until now.
"If you embarrass our village again, Kankurō… I'll kill you."
A red-haired boy dropped down from a tree branch, standing upside-down with unblinking teal eyes. The kanji for "love" was carved into his forehead.
"Hahaha. Easy there, little panda. No need for all that bloodlust," Yusuke said lightly.
"Who exactly are you?" Gaara asked, his tone flat but dangerous.
Temari's heart raced—half from fear, half from disbelief. If someone this handsome dies here, what a waste…
"I'm a Jōnin from Konohagakure," Yusuke replied casually.
"A Jōnin, huh… You're strong. I can feel it. If I kill you… I'll prove I exist as the ultimate killer," Gaara muttered. His chakra surged violently, sand swirling around his feet.
"Gaara, stop!" Temari cried.
"You said you'll kill me?" Yusuke raised his head slightly, his expression calm yet terrifying. "Tell me, kid—who gave you that courage? Your father, the Third Kazekage? Or that monster inside you?"
His voice dropped an octave, and an overwhelming wave of pressure burst outward.
The air twisted. Leaves scattered. Every nearby shinobi froze in place.
It wasn't chakra—it was willpower. A crushing, invisible force that made the ground tremble.
In an instant, Gaara was forced down onto one knee, struggling to breathe.
"If you don't want to die… keep that chakra of yours under control, little demon," Yusuke said coldly.
The dark energy around Gaara vanished as quickly as it had risen—snuffed out like a candle before a storm. Even Shukaku, the One-Tail sealed inside him, recoiled in fear.
"Gaara! What are you doing?! Didn't I tell you not to cause trouble?!"
A stern, commanding voice rang out.
"Sorry, Pakura-sensei," Temari said quickly.
A graceful woman with fiery orange hair and piercing green eyes approached. Her aura was sharp and cold, like steel.
"Oh? Miss Pakura. It's been a while," Yusuke greeted with an easy smile.
"You… who are you?" she asked cautiously, though her composure faltered slightly the moment their eyes met.
"Forgotten me already? I'm Hatake Yusuke," he said with a faint grin.
"Hatake Jōnin… It really has been a long time," Pakura said, regaining her professional tone. "I apologize for my students' behavior. Sunagakure will offer compensation for any disturbance caused."
Inside, however, her thoughts were in turmoil. This bastard… I thought he disappeared years ago. And now he's back in Konoha, looking even more absurdly perfect than before.
"Haha, it's fine. But next time, Pakura-san, please discipline them better. I'd hate to accidentally erase Sunagakure from the map," Yusuke said with a teasing laugh.
"Jōnin Hatake… you certainly have a sense of humor," she replied dryly. "But for the record, not everyone in Sunagakure welcomes your return."
With that, Pakura turned to leave, guiding her students away.
Gaara paused, glancing over his shoulder. "Your name?" he asked Sasuke.
"Uchiha Sasuke," came the calm reply.
"And you?" Gaara's gaze shifted toward the quiet boy standing behind Yusuke.
"Toneri."
"…I'll remember you, Toneri," Gaara said coldly before following Pakura.
As they walked back toward their camp, Pakura spoke in a low, firm voice.
"I don't know what Hatake Yusuke did to you three, but listen carefully—don't provoke him again. Especially you, Gaara. No strange behavior while we're in Konoha. Understand?"
"Yes, Sensei," Gaara replied flatly.
In his hollow green eyes, Pakura's reflection looked almost… human.
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