Two Unlucky Guys?

Foolish? Or wise?

Humans are complex animals, and it is difficult to define them with a single concept. The most obvious characteristic of humankind is their complexity and their uncertainty.

"Damn it!"

Katsuki cursed; this was truly unlucky.

"A black market bounty on Kakashi's head? Who did that? Do they really think we're dead?"

Black market bounties are nothing new, and the black market itself has existed for a very long time, having been destroyed more than once.

But what's that saying again...? Demand determines supply.

The existence of the black market cannot be eradicated as long as there is a need. It can be suppressed and weakened, but it can never be completely eliminated, because it was born here and has grown here.

After many twists and turns, the existence of the black market was tacitly acknowledged, but it was also put in a bridle. As long as the black market did not affect the interests of the Five Great Ninja Villages, it was generally difficult to deal with it.

The black market offers bounties on top ninja masters from various ninja villages because ninja corpses are very valuable; selling them to rival forces can yield tens or even hundreds of times the profit. However, there has never been a bounty on a child, a kid who hasn't even graduated from the Ninja Academy.

Generally speaking, the targets of bounties are renowned masters from various ninja villages, or at the very least, Jonin.

"We've already sent people to investigate. As you know, Konoha isn't deeply involved with the black market, so when Kakashi's bounty appeared on the black market, we didn't get the news immediately... Fortunately, things didn't have irreversible consequences."

Minato answered softly.

"... You guys really know how to play games, letting these bastards run rampant in the Ninja Academy. Aren't you afraid something might happen? To be honest... this isn't like you." Katsuki glanced sideways at Minato.

"Haha, this was Orochimaru- senpai's suggestion, and of course I expressed my support... When the three of them infiltrated the village, I already left marks on them, so... there won't be any accidents."

Minato smiled slightly, everything was under control.

"Tsk tsk! The Flying Thunder God Technique... I'm so envious!"

Katsuki clicked his tongue in admiration. Instant teleportation—such a cool and powerful ability—was something many people dreamed of, but unfortunately, his talent in this area was despairingly ordinary...

"What are your plans next?"

"What's next? I'm not sure... This matter might need some serious discussion, after all, Kakashi's bounty is no small matter." Minato stared at Katsuki, his expression quite meaningful. "Katsuki, would you like to join the discussion?"

"Me? I think I'll pass." Katsuki waved her hand. "I'm just a junior teacher, you can worry about this."

"Is that so!"

"Kuyue, today's attackers were terrifying! Kakashi said they seem to be missing-nin from Iwagakure... Kuyue, hey?"

"What? Lin."

"... I just asked if you wanted to go eat ramen?" Lin stared at Kuyue.

"Uh... never mind, I don't want ramen today..." Kuyue started to say, but then noticed Lin's unmoved expression with a blank face, and immediately realized the problem. "Ah! You lied to me?"

"Lie to you? Hmph, who was daydreaming on the way here? Hmm?"

"I'm sorry! I was wrong." Facing the incredibly good-natured Lin, Kuyue honestly admitted her mistake.

"Seeing how honestly you admitted your mistake, I'll forgive you this time." Lin smiled and patted Kuyue's head, then asked, "Tell me honestly, what were you thinking just now?"

"I wonder what kind of homework Teacher Katsuki will assign!"

"Huh--!! This is it?" Lin's eyes widened, her face filled with disbelief.

"This..." Kuyue was a little frightened by Lin and responded weakly.

"Kuyue, you're too honest! You can just do this kind of homework casually. Teacher Katsuki may be fierce, but at most she'll just make you stand as punishment."

Lin pouted and shook her head.

"At most, it'll be standing as punishment? Didn't you just say this morning that you hate being punished by standing?" Kuyue glared.

"That depends on what you're comparing it to. The homework assigned by Teacher Katsuki is the most difficult of all the teachers. Every time, it makes everyone's head spin and they still don't understand it," Lin grumbled.

Kuyue remained silent, choosing to be a quiet listener.

The two slowly walked home along the long street.

Meanwhile, Asuma and Kakashi, these two unfortunate brothers, sat with long faces in the teachers' office.

This place was far from the damaged classrooms, so it was unaffected and relatively well-preserved. While the other students went home after school to find their mothers, the two boys were left here to wait for someone to pick them up.

Kakashi stayed here to wait for Sakumo to take him home because he might be targeted by those crazy people who coveted the bounty. With the protection of the dignified Konoha's White Fang Konoha, he was naturally safe.

Asuma's situation was different. The fact that he carried a large number of Explosive Tag with him during school hours could not be hidden. This behavior seriously violated the rules of the Ninja Academy, so he was also detained and had to wait for his parents to pick him up. This was an order from the Principal.

"Kakashi, why are we so unlucky? We haven't done anything wrong, yet we're being treated like prisoners and stuck here?"

Are you kidding me?

Kakashi glared at Asuma.

"I'm the innocent one, being inexplicably targeted and forced to stay here waiting for my father to pick me up... As for you, you brought it on yourself."

"What did you say? Kakashi, say it again, you bastard?"

"Snort!"

Kakashi snorted dismissively.

"You bastard..."

"Both of you shut up! If either of you makes another sound, you'll be standing outside as punishment, with a bucket of water on your head."

It was only when the Principal, who remained in the compound, exerted his authority that these two habitual troublemakers were finally subdued.

Soon after receiving the news, Sakumo rushed over.

"Father."

Kakashi was taken away by Sakumo, along with a Shadow Clone of Katsuki, who explained the background of the matter along the way.

As for Asuma...

"Big brother, you're so slow!"

Hiruzen's eldest son smiled wryly, glared at his overly mischievous younger brother, and kept apologizing to the Principal, clearly already knowing what Asuma had done when he arrived.

"Alright, enough with the nonsense. Take him back and let Hiruzen keep a close eye on him. It's admirable that he's devoted to the village, but we can't neglect the education of his children." The Principal waved his hand, letting Asuma off the hook.

Hiruzen's eldest son, the eldest son of the Third Hokage, breathed a sigh of relief, thanked the Principal, and quickly dragged Asuma away. The real test was still at home!

Asuma clearly understood that returning home was the biggest challenge, so she left with her older brother without a word, racking her brains to figure out how to deal with her stubborn and inflexible father.