This was indeed a Devil Fruit — a Mythical Zoan-type: the Inu Inu no Mi, Model: Kyūbi no Kitsune (Nine-Tailed Fox).
It had been forged through an alchemical process that consumed a massive chakra entity — the Nine-Tails. The result was a unique Devil Fruit that now rested in Kurenai Yuhi's hands. For someone like her, whose spiritual strength far outweighed her physical endurance, this was the perfect compensatory gift.
"This fruit tastes awful," Kawaki Aoba warned. "But just take one bite — make sure you swallow it. Don't spit it out, no matter how bad it is."
Before he even finished speaking, Kurenai bit deeply into the Devil Fruit.
"Urgh—!"
Her eyes widened, her expression contorted, and her face flushed red. The chunk she took was large — reckless, even.
She forced the bitter mass down her throat, then reached for a glass of water, gulping desperately. After a long pause, she muttered, trembling:
"How can a fruit taste so disgusting? It's like... rotten sewage mixed with death."
Kawaki Aoba didn't reply. He, like many Devil Fruit users before, was mystified by a common phenomenon — everyone claimed it tasted like hell.
Asuma said it. Even his old teacher said it. And now Kurenai too.
Were they all exaggerating? Or had they... no, no, best not to follow that train of thought.
He cleared his throat. "Ahem. Kurenai, forget the taste — what matters now are the changes in your body. How do you feel?"
Kurenai closed her eyes for a moment, centering herself. "I feel... lighter. The mental pressure I've always carried — it's gone. For the first time in years, my mind and body are balanced. And there's something else — an ability I've never felt before.
My instincts tell me this power can... enhance my beauty. My presence."
She sounded almost embarrassed — but she wasn't wrong. Her aura was shifting.
Kurenai Yuhi hadn't undergone a massive transformation on the outside, but Aoba, with his maxed-out Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki), could perceive the internal restructuring clearly. Her vitality, her resilience — all amplified.
Zoan-type Devil Fruits, especially Mythical-class ones, are known to enhance the user's base physiology beyond human limits. Even a standard Zoan could make a civilian comparable to a seasoned ninja in terms of durability.
But Kurenai had consumed a Mythical Zoan — a being tied to ancient legend.
"Abilities aside," Aoba said seriously, "the most important thing is that your body has stabilized. From now on, you can focus entirely on enhancing your genjutsu and spiritual strength. I look forward to seeing you become the greatest genjutsu master in the shinobi world."
"The greatest?" Kurenai blinked. "You really think that's possible?"
Aoba smiled. "You have the blood of the Kurama clan — a bloodline that rivals even the Uchiha in illusionary prowess. Some would say it's stronger, especially when it comes to manipulating the five senses directly into reality."
The Mythical Zoan's form also amplified her latent abilities. The Nine-Tailed Fox form wasn't just about physical enhancement — it carried with it a charm-based aura, one that subtly influenced those nearby.
Kurenai didn't seem to notice it herself, but Aoba could sense it clearly with his Observation Haki. A faint, alluring pulse emanated from her constantly — low frequency, subconscious. If he had ordinary eyes, he doubted he could have looked away from her now.
And this was just the beginning. As she trained and awakened the fruit's full potential, her aura would likely grow exponentially stronger. Eventually, she might have to rely on genjutsu to suppress it — lest it cause chaos whenever she appeared in public.
He briefly wondered what Katari D. Beauty, the One Piece world's famed illusionist from the West Blue, had looked like before consuming this same fruit. With the fruit, her beauty had become the stuff of legends. Without it... who knows?
While Kurenai trained and explored her new powers, Aoba stayed close. His shadow clones managed his many responsibilities.
For constructing advanced puppets, Aoba relied on an old technique he had once borrowed from another world — the Four Witches Technique, inspired by Tien Shinhan of the Dragon Ball universe. It wasn't a true clone technique, but rather a form of bodily division: the user splits into four physically real bodies, each with a fraction of the original's strength.
However, this technique came with a severe drawback — the user's total power was evenly split among the four. A technique of desperation in most cases.
But for someone like Aoba, even a quarter of his power still placed him well into Kage-level territory. With his mastery of Instant Transmission, he could merge or recall the clones at will.
So the clones focused on puppet refinement, while his original body sparred with Kurenai.
And she improved at a startling pace.
Her taijutsu, long plateaued, saw rapid evolution. Her speed and fluidity even surpassed the time she trained with the Eight Inner Gates.
But it was genjutsu where the real transformation occurred. When she activated her new powers, even Aoba — with his advanced sensory abilities and divided strength — occasionally faltered. Her illusions bypassed traditional detection methods and twisted the five senses at a fundamental level.
Without his maxed-out Observation Haki, Aoba was certain he would've made a fool of himself more than once.
Kurenai Yuhi's current strength was no longer what it used to be.
Even the Kage of the Five Great Nations would likely suffer heavy losses if they faced her now.
No wonder—after all, it was Kawaki Aoba who provided her with the most advanced enhancements.
Of course, his own wife deserved the best configuration.
"But based on the timeline... it's almost time to make a move," Kawaki Aoba muttered.
With a thought, he contacted the Underworld Organization and issued a new set of orders.
---
Inside the aerial fortress of the Underworld Organization, Third Raikage A, who had just received the mission, slammed his hand down with such force that the table beneath him shattered.
"What? He actually wants us to assassinate the Fire Daimyo? Has he lost his mind? That's the Daimyo of the Land of Fire!"
A's face twisted in fury. Although he had cooperated on a few missions with the Underworld Organization, he had refrained from truly betraying his principles.
To him, he was still the Third Raikage of Kumogakure—rebellion was unacceptable. If word ever got out, Cloud would be endangered.
He had always assumed he wasn't fully on the same side as the rest of these rogues.
But Kawaki Aoba's order shattered that illusion.
"Heh, the great Third Raikage sure likes to slam tables," came a mocking voice.
Kisame Hoshigaki leaned forward with a sneer. "Still think you're high and mighty? You're already dead. And now you want to defy the leader's will? Be honest with yourself—do you think you're still worthy?"
Provoked like this, A's temper exploded. He lunged forward—but froze mid-motion.
His body refused to move.
Kisame was right. The Raikage had long since become a resurrected corpse under the leader's control. Resistance was no longer an option.
---
Footsteps echoed through the chamber as a tall figure cloaked in blue armor entered the room. Susanoo—the enforcer of the Underworld Organization's will.
"First, let me remind you all—the leader's will is absolute," he said calmly.
He glanced at A and continued, "And second, this isn't just an assassination—it's retaliation. The leader detests their arrogance. He wants you all to send a message."
"If they survive, consider it a warning. If not... then the Land of Fire will be wiped from the map."
He turned to face the others. "Also, to those of you harboring hidden agendas—the leader sees through everything. You may think your thoughts are clever, but to him, they're meaningless."
"But know this: disobedience is the one thing he will not tolerate."
Susanoo's gaze settled on a certain taijutsu user.
"And you, Might Guy. The leader is very interested in your Eight Gates Release technique. He wants to witness the blooming of your youth."
"Of course, considering your Konoha origins, the leader offers you a choice: ignite your youth with your own will—or let him control your body and bloom even brighter."
---
Sarutobi Hiruzen had never imagined that Might Guy, the sleeper agent he once planted in Akatsuki, might one day be ordered to strike down the Fire Daimyo.
But even if he knew, he likely would not bring Guy back to Konoha.
A man capable of opening all Eight Gates and already under another's influence was far too dangerous.
As Hokage, Hiruzen wouldn't take that risk.
---
Susanoo now scanned the room, his gaze pausing on the only child present: Nohara Rin.
After a moment of silence, he sighed.
"You? Forget it. The leader ordered a warning, not humiliation."
It was clear he looked down on her as too weak to matter.
Rin let out a quiet breath of relief—but her eyes drifted toward Guy, filled with worry.
Despite being a traitor to the village, Guy had treated her kindly. And... wasn't he the father of her classmate?
That mysterious leader... he was too cruel.
---
"The operation begins tomorrow. Until then, go to the Land of Rice Fields and relax," Susanoo said, before waving his hand and activating Dimensional Formation: Shangri-La, teleporting the group.
---
"Wait, Lord Susanoo," Rin called out nervously before he left.
"We're running low on vegetables... I need to go out and buy some."
Susanoo paused, then casually tossed her a teleportation talisman.
"There are two coordinates set. Channel chakra into the front side to exit, the back to return. Take money from the vault."
By the time Rin looked up, Susanoo was already gone.
Staring at the talisman, her heart pounded in disbelief.
Could it really be this easy to escape?
She steadied her breath, and rather than flee immediately, she went to the kitchen and carefully noted what actually needed to be restocked.
Only after finishing her task did she activate the talisman.
---
In the outskirts of a small, quiet town, Rin materialized in a puff of light.
The village was ordinary. Rolling fields stretched behind her. She was free.
"I'm really out... I actually made it."
Without hesitation, Rin bit her thumb and began forming hand seals.
Summoning Technique!
A burst of smoke, and a small pug appeared: Pakkun, one of Kakashi Hatake's ninja hounds.
"Huh? Kakashi, what's—wait, Rin?! You're—how are you alive?! No, I mean, what the heck is going on?!"
Pakkun leapt back in shock.
Rin smiled faintly. "Long story. But I need to get a message to Kakashi and... and Minato-sensei. Is he really the Hokage now?"
"Yeah," Pakkun said, tail wagging slowly. "And you have no idea how long they've been searching for you and Obito... Wait, where's Obito?!"
Rin's face darkened slightly.
"I'll explain everything... but first, we need to warn the Leaf. Something big is coming."
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