Konoha's Mission Master

"I don't blame you."

Before Nohara Rin could finish speaking, Obito Uchiha interrupted her, his eyes fixed on her with affection.

And...scorching temperature.

No, the surrounding temperature is actually rising.

Obito Uchiha's hands had been transformed into deep red magma radiating high temperatures, resembling two dim light bulbs, occasionally bubbling out golden bubbles.

Obito subconsciously moved away from the others and began to close his eyes to feel the changes in his body. Nohara Rin's face showed worry.

The power of hope appeared, traveled through Obito Uchiha's body, and directly resolved the side effects of the Magma-Magma Fruit.

"Rin, this is a normal fusion reaction of the fruit, especially the fruit that Obito used, which is the strongest Logia-type fruit," Mori Masako said to Nohara Rin to comfort her.

Yakumo waved his hand, creating a large number of water spheres that floated quietly in the space around Obito, reducing the temperature that was constantly rising due to Obito.

Waves of heat swept over them, and the temperature inside the secret base continued to rise. The wood-based creations that made up the base gradually began to awaken, and the blood-red vines above their heads twisted restlessly.

Plants are naturally averse to...fire.

Nohara Rin nodded, but still looked at Obito with some worry.

In the blink of an eye, more than ten minutes had passed.

Obito Uchiha reopened his eyes and gave Rin Nohara a rather confident smile. However, because his face was also covered in lava, the smile looked particularly ferocious, like a demon crawling out of the depths of hell.

A few seconds later, the temperature spreading outward slowly subsided, and the lava rolling in Obito's fists also gradually cooled down until it turned back into normal hands, and the lava on his face gradually returned to normal.

"The boost this fruit provides is truly terrifying."

After experiencing the changes in his body, Obito Uchiha exclaimed with some fear that this was a result he had never expected. He had only needed to eat a terrible-tasting fruit... to gain such a boost in strength.

Especially... this improvement exceeded his original strength.

"This fruit is one of Yakumo's most treasured possessions."

Masako Mori still felt a pang of heartache, but it was Yakumo's decision after all, so she could only silently choose to support him.

"Thanks...brother."

Obito Uchiha stood up and walked to Yakumo, spreading his arms... and hugged Yakumo tightly, temporarily shifting his gaze away from Rin Nohara.

At this moment, he was filled with emotion for Yakumo, and many things that had happened in the past flashed before his eyes.

Obito Uchiha knew very well that everything he had today was thanks to Yakumo's help.

All he could do was give Yakumo a simple hug; he could hardly offer any help with anything else.

"We don't need to be so polite between us."

Yakumo pushed Obito aside and smiled.

In fact, he knew that his friendship with Obito surpassed that of others. Perhaps it was initially because of the bond mission that rewarded him with the Dao Transformation Scroll, but later it was because... Obito stepped forward countless times when he was unaware of his own strength.

"After a while, Yakumo and I will leave Konoha again. At that time, the task of protecting Konoha will be entrusted to you," Mori Masako said with a smile from the side.

"Are you planning to leave?"

Obito asked with some surprise. In his opinion, since the two of them were already married, they should live a more peaceful life together instead of continuing to adventure and be busy.

“That’s right,” Masako Mori replied.

"Don't worry, after you leave... I'll protect Konoha!"

"After all, Konoha is too small for the two of us."

Masako Mori spoke again, adding in her mind, "The ninja world isn't big enough either."

Having witnessed those wondrous and colorful worlds, she was no longer content to live in the ninja world, especially since... in Mori Masako's mind, the many powerful figures in the ninja world were... nothing special.

Even without using her exclusive weapons and Devil Fruits, her Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan was enough to sweep across the entire ninja world, which made her even less inclined to stay in the ninja world for long.

Once you get used to the rapid increase in your strength, you naturally can't get used to the fact that you are now slowly getting stronger.

"Can I come with you on this adventure?" Kakashi suddenly asked.

Whether it's the fruits that have grown several times larger, the three fruits with special abilities in front of them, or the speed at which the three of them are improving their strength, all of these prove that the place the three of them are going to for their adventure is... not simple.

Perhaps his next adventure will also lead to a significant leap in his strength.

Perhaps then I will be able to defeat You Gu Qianxue and fulfill my long-cherished wish. My father will surely be proud of me.

"Well..." Yakumo thought for a moment.

"of course can."

Since Kakashi had this plan, Yakumo naturally did not refuse.

After all, he had planned to bring Kakashi with him on the last expedition, but at that time he chose to fight alongside Sakumo Hatake.

"What do I need to prepare?" Kakashi asked.

"Prepare some clean clothes and food," Masako Mori replied.

"You guys should form a team and familiarize yourselves with the Devil Fruit abilities first. The specific adventure plan should be finalized after the New Year..."

Yakumo thought for a moment and said that he had decided to go to the world of One Piece. He could bring Kakashi with him and let him experience the strength of many great swordsmen in the One Piece world.

"Yakumo, how did this fruit taste when you ate it back then?"

Obito Uchiha's eyes darted around rapidly. He believed that even Yakumo had experienced that nightmarish taste when he ate this fruit. Now, he was asking this question... hoping to make Yakumo recall that nightmare.

"Well... actually I can temporarily cut off my taste buds, in other words, when I eat this fruit, I don't taste any flavor at all."

Yakumo answered seriously. He could have helped his friend temporarily cut off his taste buds, but he didn't, otherwise he would have missed a lot of good shows.

"Ah...this...you!!!"

Obito Uchiha let out a wail of anger, Yakumo had deliberately made him experience what felt like eating shit.

This is absolutely intolerable! We must get revenge.

But then he suddenly realized that he couldn't beat Yakumo, so he thought, "Never mind, it's fine."

"By the way... Obito, what does that fruit taste like?"

Suddenly, Yakumo asked Obito Uchiha in a serious tone.

"Like shit."

Obito Uchiha replied irritably, and then continued.

"Rin and I will leave first. We'll meet at Kakashi's house."

Obito grabbed Nohara Rin's wrist and then channeled chakra into the key in his hand; he was too ashamed to stay there any longer.

With a whoosh, the two disappeared.

"Then I'll be leaving now."

Kakashi, a smile still lingering in his eyes, disappeared into the secret base.

Now that only Yakumo and Mori Masako remain on the platform, they can talk freely without having to avoid certain words. Just then, Yakumo had a question on her mind.

"Mori Masako, I have a question."

Yakumo hesitated for a moment before speaking to Mori Masako.

"Really? You still have doubts?"

Masako asked with some surprise, then got up and sat on Yakumo's lap. In her opinion, Yakumo did things according to plan... proceeding slowly and without any hesitation.

Yakumo recounts the events in the pirate world in a way that Masako Mori can understand, mainly mentioning the chaos of pirates, the Red-Haired Pirates breaking their promises, and the Celestial Dragons who carry out assassinations everywhere.

Finally, I will add some further details.

"The Celestial Dragons are enemies, so I can understand their destruction everywhere."

"Why would Shanks break his promise? I can't understand it. In my memory, he wouldn't be a person who breaks his word."

"Red's breaking of his promise was, in my opinion, an inevitable outcome."

"He was an ambitious person to begin with. He longed for the final island, the position of Pirate King. Since he was originally supposed to become Pirate King, he naturally lost his goal. Choosing to disband the pirate crew can be considered a graceful retirement after achieving his goal..." Masako Mori analyzed.

Yakumo's eyes lit up, and he immediately realized the problem.

"But now the title of Pirate King belongs to Luffy. He didn't get the position that he wanted, so naturally he won't be willing to accept it... and naturally he won't disband the pirate crew unless one day he defeats Luffy."

“That’s right.” Masako Mori nodded.

"In the ninja world, among pirates, and in a world teeming with monsters, no matter the situation, even if they are on the verge of extinction, humanity will still wage endless civil wars, scheming against each other and fighting against one another," Masako Mori continued.

"Unless you're like a tornado, sweeping away all opponents and becoming a king who controls everything alone."

"But her path was destined to be incredibly lonely."

Yakumo's face showed a thoughtful expression.

“Loneliness is the price of a king,” Masako Mori replied.

In the world of One-Punch Man, Tatsumaki understood the shortcomings of humanity. She realized that yielding would only embolden the enemy, and that only by eliminating all opponents could humanity unite with one will and overcome the crisis of extinction.

Masako Mori changed the subject and continued to explain her understanding.

"There is no true freedom and peace, only systems and rules that are as close to freedom and peace as possible. Dragon just wants to establish a system that is friendly to most people, but there will still be a small number of people who oppose this system, such as the Red-Haired Pirates and the Whitebeard Pirates."

In Masako Mori's understanding, Yakumo understood everything. Under the influence of Yahiko and Ryu, his ideas became too idealistic. He believed that as long as the Celestial Dragons were defeated, a completely new system of rules could be created. But in reality, the Celestial Dragons were just the strongest enemy, and the establishment of new rules would be much more difficult.

But what he didn't expect was that... no system can be accepted by everyone; it can only benefit the majority as much as possible, allowing the vast majority to live a life close to or better than ideal.

"Actually, Shanks was destined to be an enemy; we should have struck back then."

Masako Mori revealed a chilling killing intent towards the red-haired man as she spoke.

"So... I shouldn't have let Shanks go back then because I admired his character. After all, he doesn't accept... the system created by the Revolutionary Army, which will inevitably become a cause of chaos in the world in the future," Yakumo said.

“Everything outside the rules is unpredictable, and the strong are rarely bound by the rules. When a person has the strength to stand above the rules, whether or not to abide by them... is simply a personal choice,” Masako Mori said after thinking for a moment.

She didn't like thinking about such things, but since Yakumo had a question in her mind, she might as well express her thoughts.

Taking Konoha as an example, Yakumo's strength far surpasses that of the core leadership of Konoha, so he becomes the one who sets the rules. Sakumo Hatake became Hokage because of his support.

So, will the person who intends to set the rules willingly submit to the rules set by others?

Masako Mori thought...no.

Therefore... Yakumo has begun to try to establish his own rules.