Fruit Awakening?

"Are you the String-String Fruit?"

Yūsuke blurted out.

"Kehehehe!"

"If you want to learn it, then I'll teach you."

Demon did not answer Yūsuke's question directly. Instead, he casually waved his hand, and the scroll floated straight over to Yūsuke.

Then, the scroll slowly unfurled. The words within drifted out like wisps of smoke, accompanied by vague humanoid outlines, and burrowed directly into his mind.

"Th-this... I learned it just like that?"

After a wave of dizziness passed, Yūsuke was astonished to find a great deal of information in his mind. He quickly skimmed through it. It appeared to be a detailed introduction to the Eight Inner Gates, along with the taijutsu that could be used after opening each gate.

Gate of Opening: Removes the brain's limitations, allowing one to exert 100% of the body's abilities. It increases attack power and speed by excessively consuming bodily energy. After opening the Gate of Opening, one can also use the Front Lotus.

Gate of Healing: Removes the limits of physical fatigue, restoring stamina by excessively draining bodily energy and offsetting the fatigue caused by the Gate of Opening's energy consumption.

In addition, the information included the specific taijutsu that could be used after opening each gate.

"Alright, time's up. I should be going." Demon stood up. Though he made no movement at all, Yūsuke felt the distance between them growing wider and wider.

He's leaving just like that? Could it be that he came here specifically to teach me the Eight Inner Gates? Yūsuke watched him in confusion.

"Wait! You're so powerful—can you help awaken my fruit ability too?" Suddenly remembering there was still something he had not clarified, Yūsuke could not help shouting.

"If you want your ability to awaken, you must become one with your own ability. In other words, you..."

"Master! Can't you walk a little slower?"

As Demon's voice grew fainter and fainter, Yūsuke shouted anxiously. He wished he could catch up immediately and ask how to awaken his fruit ability.

However, Demon's figure gradually vanished before his eyes, leaving Yūsuke standing there lost in thought.

Then, the strange scene disappeared, and Yūsuke was pulled back into reality.

"Was that a dream?"

Yūsuke slowly opened his eyes and discovered that he was lying on the ground, surrounded by a pile of white objects.

He quickly got to his feet and stared around in disbelief. They were strings—there were strings everywhere!

Could the fruit really have awakened? He raised his hand and tried to control the strings. Soon, the thin threads slowly contracted, and the ground gradually returned to grass. Before long, a burst of dazzling sunlight stabbed into his eyes.

It was already daytime outside.

Beyond the white strings stood a crowd of worried people. Upon seeing Yūsuke, the members of the Seventh Patrol Squad, Tsunade, Hatake Sakumo, and the others all looked at him with delighted expressions.

"Yūsuke, what exactly happened?" Tsunade was the first to rush over, carefully checking his condition.

Yūsuke stretched his body and felt that his strength seemed to have changed. However, he did not know how to explain his bizarre experience from the previous night.

"I'm fine. I just suddenly entered some strange state last night..." Yūsuke tried to explain.

However, Tsunade did not give him the chance to continue. "No. Yūsuke, come with me to the Medical Department right now. You need a full examination." With that, Tsunade hoisted Yūsuke over her shoulder and sprinted toward the camp.

"Put me down, put me down..." Yūsuke's protests were drowned out by Tsunade's determination.

Seeing that Yūsuke appeared to be unharmed, everyone finally relaxed. Hatake Sakumo then dismissed the crowd and told them to return to their duties with peace of mind.

Medical Department.

"Is there something wrong with me or not?"

Tsunade had already examined him three times. Yūsuke felt as though his innocence had been "violated" again and again.

"I already told you I'm fine, but you still don't believe me." Yūsuke protested. Tsunade flicked his forehead with a finger, then carefully examined him from head to toe once more.

After Yūsuke complained again and again, Tsunade finally let him go.

"Whew." Yūsuke let out a breath and looked at Tsunade resentfully. "Tsunade, if you have so much free time, why haven't you gone and figured out how to counter Chiyo's poison?"

"Hmph, I've already solved Chiyo's poison. The Medical Department has successfully produced an antidote."

Tsunade looked at Yūsuke smugly as she spoke.

"Now can you tell me what happened to you last night?"

After confirming that there really was nothing wrong with Yūsuke's body, Tsunade asked curiously.

"I don't really know how to explain it. It was like I unconsciously entered some sort of realm, then someone guided me in training. I realized I've become stronger now."

Yūsuke spoke half-truthfully. To be honest, he did not know how to explain it either—and honestly, who would believe him?

"If you don't want to say it, then don't. Don't make up some story for me."

Tsunade crossed her arms and looked at Yūsuke with disdain. She had worried about him all morning, and he was actually lying to her. Endure for a moment and all will be calm; take a step back and the more she thought about it, the angrier she became.

"Didn't you say you've gotten stronger?" Tsunade looked at Yūsuke provocatively. "Let me test you, then."

"Let's go!"

To be honest, Yūsuke had been thinking the same thing. He had too many things he wanted to test.

After explaining the situation to Hatake Sakumo, Yūsuke and Tsunade left the camp.

The two arrived at an open clearing. Yūske stood still and tried to resonate with Demon, but he received no response.

Left with no choice, he crouched down and reached out to touch the ground, attempting to awaken that power.

A light breeze passed by. Watching Yūske's strange movements, Tsunade asked in confusion, "What's wrong with you?"

Yūske rose awkwardly to his feet. Looking at the unchanged ground, he let out a dejected sigh.

"Nothing. Maybe I haven't fully mastered this power yet," he replied helplessly.

Next, he released a great number of threads, confirming that his ability had not disappeared—it simply might not have reached the awakened state yet.

"So, are you fighting or not?" Tsunade asked provocatively as she watched Yūske's odd behavior.

"I am!"