088: You Are Your Sister's Pride!

"Obliterate!"

"Netherworld Demon Slayer!"

Natsuki roared, his Mystic Eyes of Death Perception blazing brilliantly. 

Wielding his massive sword, he fiercely severed the conceptual line of Blazing Evil Beast's self-destruction. 

The apocalyptic energy shattered completely, vanishing before everyone's eyes.

A terrifying shockwave, centered on Natsuki, swept out in all directions.

Thud! Thud!

Several Chunin and Genin who were too close were flung to the ground by the force.

In the next moment, everything fell silent.

The dense crowd, even the villagers watching from the outskirts, involuntarily gazed at the young man who had pulled chestnuts from the fire, averting Konoha's destruction.

Silence!

A sense of oppression hung in the air!

For a time, no one could believe it. 

Was the impending explosion, which looked like it couls swallow the whole of Konoha, truly averted just like that? 

With a strange, bizarrely shaped giant sword, a shout, and a swing, he erased the already exploding energy?

If not for the surrounding ruins and the massive, bottomless pit at the epicenter of the red explosion, everyone might have thought they were experiencing a mass genjutsu.

"We're alive?"

"We're not dead?"

"It seems we were saved by the boy beside the Hokage."

"Waaah, yes, if he had been even a second slower, we would have been sent to heaven."

"Punch me, see if I'm dreaming."

Natsuki ignored the gradually recovering survivors and quickly rushed into the smoke and dust. On the ground, a large swathe of sparkling objects had appeared.

They were the cores left behind after the demonic beast was destroyed, valuable treasures that could increase one's Chakra capacity and other energy limits.

Taking advantage of the disoriented crowd and the smoke obscuring their vision, Natsuki quickly collected all the cores into his sealing scroll. 

If these things were exposed to the outside world, it would only invite unwanted trouble. It was better to keep them for his own people. 

His Congregation had many members; a little here, a little there, and soon it would all be gone. 

One would't know the value of gas, rice, oil, and salt until one runs a household. 

Where else could they find such a good, considerate and capable leader?

"Meow!"

At that moment, Natsuki heard a familiar meow nearby.

Natsuki turned to see the fat orange cat.

Good heavens, it hadn't died.

And, now that the evil energy it had absorbed was purged, it posed no threat. It was just an ordinary ginger cat at the moment.

"Natsuki!"

At this moment, Kurenai finally recovered from her shock and called out, sprinting towards Natsuki.

"Natsuki!"

Hinata followed closely behind.

Then came Kiba.

Further away were Ino, Choji, and Shikamaru.

"So, his name is Natsuki."

Suddenly, the crowd surged forward.

Everyone rushed towards where the smoke was gradually dissipating, towards the young man.

"Natsuki! How could you be so reckless?"

"Do you know how dangerous that was?"

Natsuki had just put away the scroll when his sister's voice reached him.

The next moment, he was enveloped in a warm embrace.

"Uh, Sister, I'm fine, aren't I?" Natsuki scratched his head.

"You have the gall to talk back to me right now?! You…

"Next time, you absolutely are not allowed to do this."

Kurenai wanted to scold her brother, but her arms were already wrapped around him, unwilling to let go.

She bit hard on Natsuki's shoulder, venting her frustration.

"Ouch! That hurts. Are you related to Akamaru?"

Just as he was about to retaliate, he felt water droplets fall on his shoulder. 

He looked up to see Kurenai, her face already streaked with tears.

"Sis... I'm sorry. I won't do it again."

Natsuki's voice softened instantly as he raised his hands and embraced his sister.

Moments later, the crowd surged in.

Natsuki was lifted high into the air and then caught again.

"Hero of Konoha!"

"Hero of Konoha!"

The crowd formed circle after circle.

Cheers rose and fell, relieving the fear of death and celebrating the joy of survival.

On the outer edge of the crowd, the hairless Third Hokage was helped up by several ANBU members. 

He felt the empty chakra in his body, pressed his aching waist, and touched his bald head.

Looking at Natsuki, surrounded by the dense crowd and basking in their adoration, Hiruzen's gaze instinctively sharpened. He had this inexplicable feeling that something was wrong.

But remembering how he had exhausted his strength, twisted his back, and fallen to the ground, and how only this quick-witted young man had disregarded the danger to save him, save Konoha, his gaze softened.

Forget it. 

Fortunately, there weren't many casualties, and the biggest crisis was resolved. 

It was just that his current appearance. He had to face the dignitaries from other countries during the upcoming Chunin Exams shortly, wasn't he looking a bit too shabby?

Should he let his old comrade, Danzo, act as Hokage for a while?

Being Hokage was becoming more and more challenging as days passed.

After all... he was old!

Right, he also wondered how Natsuki's photos turned out?

..

Some time later, several photos were added to the Academy's Hall of Fame. Unlike the previous simple portraits, these were pictures of battle scenes.

The first was titled "Will of Fire": an old man with burned whiskers and a face covered in soot, but with eyes full of fighting spirit. It was the Third Hokage.

The second was titled "The Strongest Hokage": The Third Hokage stood tall, dragging his injured body, using powerful Dragon Fire Jutsu, leading the Konoha ninjas in attacking the terrifyingly huge Blazing Evil Beast!

The third was titled "Inheritance": A young man and an old man stood together, using Fire Style Jutsu to attack the Blazing Evil Beast. The difference between their techniques was as vast as a watermelon compared to a sesame seed. And the previously awe-inspiring Third Hokage's was the sesame seed.

The fourth was titled "Hero of Konoha": Under the destructive red light, surrounded by Konoha ninjas with expressions of utter terror, lay a despairing, bald old man on the ground. Everyone's shocked gaze was focused towards the sky, focusing on the young man, Natsuki, who raised his giant sword to charge toward death!

The glorious deeds depicted in the painting were passed down by word of mouth among the Academy teachers, inspiring generations of new students.

Even those who didn't study at the Academy would come to admire it. 

Among them was Hanabi, who idolized Natsuki from that moment on.

As for how the photos were taken, who took them, and who added the titles to the paintings, the teachers had no idea.

It was said that the last two paintings were only put up when the Fifth Hokage took office.

Moreover, after the Fifth Hokage's inauguration, the titles of the third and second paintings were swapped. 

Moreover, the third painting's title was changed several times – "New Life and Decay," "Watermelon and Sesame Seed," "Youth and Old Age" – but because it was to be displayed in the Academy, it was finally settled as "Inheritance!"

..

Back home, Kurenai was in high spirits.

Today had been too exciting.

Her brother had faced certain death head-on but emerged unscathed, slain the Evil beast, prevented its self-destruction from annihilating Konoha, and became a great hero. 

This was a great honour. She was even happier than if she herself had become a hero of Konoha.

So, she prepared a delicious feast.

"Cheers!" Kurenai raised her glass, calling out to her brother.

"I suspect you're just looking for an excuse to drink," Natsuki said, his face darkening.

"What are you talking about? You became Konoha's hero today. It would be sacrilege to not celebrate properly?

"Look, no one else is celebrating for you. Only your sister is this thoughtful."

Kurenai pouted, tilting her glass. 

As long as there was alcohol, she would become like a little girl: lively, cute, acting spoiled, and a bit of a slyboots.

"You have the nerve to say that. My friends all wanted to celebrate surviving this with me,

"But you refused them all." Natsuki shook his head. 

Though he was teasing his sister right now, he didn't want to spoil her mood this time.

Clink!

They drained their glasses in one gulp. 

This world's sake was quite strong; no wonder even someone as powerful as Jiraiya couldn't handle too much. 

Of course, that was also because he didn't want to use Chakra to dispel the effects.

"To everyone being safe and sound today, cheers!"

Clink!

"To Natsuki becoming a great hero of Konoha, cheers!"

Clink!

"Oh, and we haven't celebrated you becoming a qualified Genin yet, cheers!"

Clink!

"And also, your successful graduation! Cheers!"

"Stop, stop, stop! Can you get any further off track? Do you want to celebrate the first time I learned to walk as a toddler, too?" Natsuki quickly stopped his sister, whose words were becoming increasingly incoherent.

"Oh yeah, Natsuki, you're so smart. Then, to you changing diapers on your own..." Kurenai's eyes lit up as she raised her glass again.

Knock!

"Stop. Let's eat. And I have something good to show you." Natsuki firmly bonked his sister's forehead, stopping her from drinking any further. 

Then, he took out a sparkling object from his sealing scroll.

It was the core dropped by the Blazing Evil Beast.

"What is this?

"A gem for your sister? I don't really like these flashy things, you know. You might as well have a couple more drinks with me." Kurenai looked at the object in Natsuki's hand with confusion.

"No, this is something that can increase your total Chakra capacity." Natsuki placed a core in his sister's hand. "Crush it!"

Kurenai stared at the core in her hand, dumbfounded for a moment, then exerted force.

Crack!

A stream of light instantly spilt out, then seeped into her skin.

Kurenai felt a cool energy spreading from her palm to her arm, then throughout her entire body.

Her Chakra instantly increased by more than half of its total volume.

"This... This is..." Kurenai was stunned. There were actually such amazing things in the ninja world?

"Hehe, this is what the Blazing Evil Beast dropped. Don't worry, there's more." Natsuki placed another one in her hand.

However, the effect of the second core was far less than the first. In the end, it turned out that each person could only use five. After the sixth, there was no effect whatsoever.

But these five were enough to double a person's total Chakra, instantly multiplying their strength.

It was some good stuff. 

He would use five himself, and the remaining dozens would be given to his Congregation members as rewards.

"Natsuki, you're amazing." Feeling the increase in her power, Kurenai happily picked up her glass and leaned closer. "So, cheers?"

Natsuki tilted his head slightly, his eyes flickering. 

His sister's exquisitely beautiful face was close at hand, her breath carrying a strong scent of alcohol.

"Hmph! You're just throwing empty praises around? I don't substantial reward?" Natsuki deliberately spoke in a disapproving tone, but his glass still clinked against his sister's. 

Then he drank it all down.

That was enough. 

He had to stay alert as a ninja.

"Hee hee, Natsuki, you're this sister's pride." Seeing her brother's expression, Kurenai giggled and downed her drink in one gulp.

The next moment, Natsuki felt something soft brush against his cheek. 

He instinctively turned his head. 

Then, the siblings, both orphans of the Yuhi Clan from the night of the Nine-Tails' attack and who grew up together by relying on each other widened their eyes.

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