As Long as You Teach Me, I'll Acknowledge You as My Big Brother

Shinki: "Nope. ┐(´-｀)┌"

Konohamaru froze for a moment.

This guy had clearly been wary of him because he was the Hokage's grandson.

So why was he refusing to teach him now?

"Why?"

Konohamaru asked, puzzled.

"Because you're a troublesome kid, and I don't want to teach you."

Shinki spread his hands.

He wasn't the least bit afraid of turning down the Hokage's grandson.

Lord Hokage wasn't the sort to abuse his position for personal gain. He certainly wouldn't take his anger out on Shinki over something so trivial.

Besides, this kid really was annoying!

But when Konohamaru heard Shinki's answer, his eyes lit up.

He'd finally found one!

Someone who wasn't afraid of his status!

Konohamaru's attitude did a complete one-eighty. He bowed deeply to Shinki and pleaded earnestly, "Please, you have to teach me! I have to defeat Grandpa and prove myself. I'm going to become Konoha's Fifth Hokage!"

Shinki was curious too. Why had this kid suddenly become so well-behaved? So he asked, "Why do you have to defeat the Hokage?"

Konohamaru began telling his story.

"Grandpa gave me the name Konohamaru. It comes from the name of this village."

"But when people talk to me, they never call me by that familiar name. They only see me as the Hokage's grandson. Nobody acknowledges me for who I am."

"That's why I'm going to defeat Grandpa and claim the title of Hokage!"

After listening, Shinki thought it over briefly.

"Kid, you're frighteningly naive."

But then Shinki remembered that Konohamaru was probably only six or seven, and it made sense.

That was more like it.

"So, are you willing to teach me a Ninjutsu that can beat Grandpa now?"

Konohamaru changed the subject and looked at Shinki expectantly.

"Nope. ┐(´-｀)┌"

Shinki refused.

He didn't know how to defeat the Hokage either.

Besides, kids were the biggest hassle of all!

"As long as you teach me, I'll acknowledge you as my big brother!"

Konohamaru said through gritted teeth.

Shinki: "Ooh..."

Taking on a little brother was... pretty tempting for an elementary schooler like him!

Who wouldn't want the Hokage's grandson as their little brother?

Seeing Shinki waver, Konohamaru pressed his advantage. "As long as you're willing to teach me, I'll give you all my snacks from now on!"

Shinki: "Deal! My little bro, what do you want to learn? ❛‿˂̵✧"

"Awesome!"

Konohamaru pumped his little fist, thrilled.

He'd successfully found himself a big brother. Learning a super-powerful Ninjutsu and defeating Grandpa were only a matter of time!

A clearing outside the village.

Shinki used the Body Flicker Technique to bring Konohamaru there.

"Big Brother Shinki, how did you do that Ninjutsu that went 'whoosh' and brought me here just now? I want to learn it!"

After appearing in the clearing with Shinki, Konohamaru was bursting with excitement.

"Don't you want to defeat the Hokage? The Body Flicker Technique alone won't cut it. You need a powerful Ninjutsu!"

Shinki lectured him.

Konohamaru thought Big Brother Shinki was right and nodded in wholehearted agreement.

"Then what Ninjutsu should I learn?"

Shinki looked thoughtful.

Should he teach Konohamaru Wood Release?

But Teacher Yamato had warned him not to tell anyone about Wood Release.

Besides, Wood Release had a special bloodline restriction.

Then... he'd teach Konohamaru Wind Release: Shuriken!

The idea suddenly came to Shinki.

Wind Release: Shuriken could deal considerable damage. If Konohamaru caught the Third off guard with it from behind, it might just work!

At that moment, the old Third Hokage shivered in the Hokage's Office!

Kneeling before the desk in the office, Ebisu said respectfully, "Lord Hokage, it's getting cold. You should put on another layer."

The Third waved a hand and replied, "It's nothing. My back just suddenly felt a little chilly."

Ebisu, Konohamaru's personal tutor, continued, "Lord Hokage, I've just looked everywhere, but I couldn't find young master Konohamaru. He's supposed to study his lessons today."

"I haven't seen the little guy in a while either. Don't worry, I'll check..."

As he spoke, the Third looked at the crystal ball beside his desk.

His crystal ball was connected to all of Konoha. He could use it to see anything happening in the village!

After searching around, the Third finally found the two youngsters on the outskirts of the village.

"Found him. What's Konohamaru doing with Shinki?"

The Third stared in surprise at the scene in the crystal ball.

In the image, Shinki seemed to be teaching Konohamaru something.

But after seeing the two whispering together, the Third felt an even deeper chill down his back.

"Shinki? That dead-last war orphan, the red-haired boy who's always hanging around the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox?" Ebisu asked.

"Yes."

The Third Hokage nodded and said irritably, "Didn't I tell you not to bring up the Nine-Tails' rampage back then again?"

"And they're children, Konoha's future. Those cold, disgusted looks of yours will hurt them."

The Third admonished him.

Realizing that Lord Hokage was truly angry, Ebisu apologized on his knees. "I will heed your words, Lord Hokage!"

"As a teacher, you mustn't look at your students through prejudiced eyes."

The Third Hokage continued, "All right, you may leave."

Ebisu repeatedly nodded his assent and withdrew from the Hokage's conference room.

After leaving the Hokage's conference room, Ebisu wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, still shaken.

The Hokage was the Hokage, all right. The pressure he gave off was stronger than anyone else's!

Then anger appeared in Ebisu's eyes beneath his sunglasses. "Damn it, it's all that dead-last little brat's fault! Taking Lord Konohamaru so far away!"

"I can't let Lord Konohamaru stay with him. He'll be a bad influence."

Ebisu muttered to himself. Then he quickly ran in the direction of Shinki and Konohamaru.

Outside the village.

Shinki easily formed a Rasengan with his Chakra and showed it to Konohamaru.

"Big Brother, are you trying to fool me? It's just an ordinary Chakra ball. It doesn't look like it can do much damage."

Clearly not taking the Rasengan seriously, Konohamaru spoke with a pout.

Shinki said nothing and silently infused the Rasengan with the power of Wind Release...

As the Wind Release Chakra combined with the Rasengan, Wind Release: Shuriken was born!

Konohamaru stared at the enormous Wind Release: Shuriken in Shinki's hand. The fluctuations coming off the huge Shuriken alone made it feel incredibly powerful!

"That looks much stronger than the one just now!"

An expectant expression appeared on Konohamaru's face as he continued, "Big Brother! Can you show me how powerful it is?"

Shinki nodded, satisfying the little guy's curiosity.

"Whoosh!"

The Wind Release: Shuriken flew from Shinki's hand!

The enormous Wind Release Chakra Shuriken flew toward a patch of woods outside Konoha.

Having learned his lesson last time, Shinki threw the Wind Release: Shuriken a long way this time.

The next moment...

The Wind Release: Shuriken, flying at tremendous speed, struck the ground!

"Boom!!!"

The immense Wind Release Chakra exploded in an instant!!

The Wind Release: Shuriken's explosion left a massive crater two to three hundred meters across!

Every strand of Wind Release Chakra was like a miniature Kunai, destroying everything it hit!

Konohamaru: (´◊ω◊｀)

Holy shit!!

That's amazing!

What terrifying destructive power!!