Those who possessed strange external powers were often said to have fatal weaknesses—fear of seawater or special suppressive substances. While this world had no such thing as Sea-Prism Stone, being afraid of water at all would still be a massive inconvenience.
Thinking of this, Yuya decided to test it immediately.
He returned home and brought out a wooden tub—the same simple one he used for bathing.
As an outsider, it was already generous of Konoha to give him a place to live. Naturally, both the room and the furnishings were crude. Yuya, however, didn't mind in the slightest.
After filling the tub with water, he stripped and stepped inside, crouching down until his entire body was submerged.
If his power truly carried some hidden flaw, then even ordinary water might weaken him. After all, similar abilities in other legends caused full-body weakness when immersed.
One second…
Two seconds…
A full minute passed.
Yuya felt no weakness at all.
He suddenly stood up, joy flashing across his face.
"So ordinary water has no side effects at all?"
Despite his excitement, doubt lingered in his mind.
Was it because this wasn't seawater?
Or perhaps—
He recalled stories where certain powers were said to be cursed by the sea, rendering their wielders helpless in water.
But those curses belonged to another world.
This was the ninja world.
No matter how that strange ability had manifested, there was no reason for any "curse of the sea" to exist here.
Which meant—
This power was no longer some external anomaly.
It was truly his own.
A Vibration Release Kekkei Genkai.
"That's perfect."
Yuya smiled in relief.
Relaxing at last, he finished bathing, washing away the sweat and grime from training. Today had brought far too many surprises—he needed time to calm himself.
Just as he stepped out of the tub and reached for his clothes—
Creak—
The door to his house suddenly swung open.
A small head of vivid red hair peeked inside, looking around curiously.
It was a familiar face.
Kushina Uzumaki.
"Yuya, are you ho—eh?!"
Her voice cut off abruptly.
Eight- or nine-year-old Kushina froze on the spot, her expression blank.
"Uh…"
Yuya froze as well.
He hadn't locked the door since he was only testing water resistance—but that wasn't even the main issue.
The real problem was—
Why would Kushina suddenly come over at night?!
"WAAAAAH!!"
Finally snapping out of it, Kushina let out a shrill scream and slammed the door shut.
"Yuya, you idiot! Pervert! Remember this! Tomorrow at the Academy you're dead!"
Her furious, embarrassed shouting echoed so loudly it felt like the entire street shook.
Yuya stared blankly.
…How was this his fault?!
And did she really have to yell that out loud?!
"Great… looks like I'm not going to the Academy tomorrow."
Wearing a deeply pained expression, Yuya finished dressing and opened the door.
Sure enough, Kushina was still standing outside, cheeks puffed up, her face burning red with embarrassment and anger.
"Ahem—so… what did you come here for?"
Yuya coughed lightly, hurriedly changing the subject.
Showing up at night meant there had to be a reason.
Both Yuya and Kushina were outsiders who had come to Konoha around the same time. Once Yuya realized she was Uzumaki Kushina, his instinctive goodwill toward her led him to approach her, and the two quickly became friends.
But their treatment in the village couldn't have been more different.
Kushina had come to Konoha as the next Nine-Tails jinchūriki, backed by the allied Uzumaki clan.
The previous Nine-Tails jinchūriki had been Uzumaki Mito, the wife of the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama.
As a fellow Uzumaki, Kushina naturally received Mito's protection and care. With that level of backing, Kushina could even get away with setting the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi's beard on fire.
Yuya, on the other hand, had no background at all.
He came from a minor village that no longer even existed, and despite it being destroyed, Konoha's ninja still didn't trust him. At best, he was ignored; at worst, openly disliked.
When Kushina first arrived in Konoha, she too had been alone and without family. Yuya stayed close to her back then, often helping and looking after her.
But as her true identity became known, the roles gradually reversed.
The one being protected slowly became Yuya.
Even so, Kushina never looked down on him.
Because when she had been at her loneliest, it was Yuya who helped her escape that loneliness—who gave her warmth and helped her smile again.
So even if others saw Yuya as a failure who couldn't even use ninjutsu, Kushina never discriminated against him.
"I was worried you'd get beaten half to death tomorrow, so I brought you something in advance."
Her cheeks were still faintly red as she glared at him fiercely and shoved a small bundle into his hands.
Only then did Yuya remember—there was a practical combat assessment at the Ninja Academy the next day.
Normally, one-on-one sparring wasn't a big deal. With a chūnin instructor supervising, no student would get seriously hurt.
But Yuya was different.
The chūnin instructor openly disliked this foreign student. As long as Yuya didn't die, anything else was apparently acceptable—so injuries were common for him.
"Thank you."
Rubbing his nose awkwardly, Yuya accepted the bundle. Inside were medicinal ointments and bandages.
Gratitude welled up in his chest.
Yet his mouth twitched slightly.
Why did this feel… kind of weird?
"Tch, like I care! I just did it because I felt like it!"
Still flustered from earlier, Kushina pouted, her face adorably red.
Watching her, Yuya nearly laughed. He suddenly thought—
If he had been the one who walked in on her, she probably would've chased him all over Konoha by now.
"Anyway," Kushina said, raising a small fist proudly,
"even if you can't use ninjutsu, I'll protect you! If you can't win tomorrow, don't force it—just surrender!"
With a smug grin, she turned and ran off, her figure disappearing into the night.
"..."
Yuya stared at her retreating back, then suddenly realized what she'd said.
Just surrender?
She'll protect me?
…Damn it.
Isn't that basically telling me to live off her?!