You Need to Keep Quiet

Back home, Keiko lived up to expectations. The moment she saw Hanfu's face, her expression turned stern.

"Feng-chan, how many times have I told you? You absolutely mustn't fight at school!"

Keiko scolded him seriously.

Ninjas possessed tremendous power. If every ninja acted on their personal likes and dislikes and picked fights with others at the drop of a hat, that power would become a threat. At best, they could destroy a street; at worst, a village—or even an entire country!

That was why the great hidden villages kept a tight rein on their ninjas, even if they appeared relaxed about it. The moment you did something out of line, they would take you into custody. If you resisted, they would put you down and send you to prison to reflect on your actions. If you ran, you'd become a Missing-nin. They would issue a Bounty Wanted notice and send the Anbu after you. They wouldn't stop until you were dead!

Keiko worried about Hanfu fighting at school because she was afraid he'd turn out badly and start settling every unhappy matter with his fists. It was true that at school, this was the simplest and quickest way to resolve any dispute, and if you got caught, at most the teacher would reprimand you and lecture you. But outside school, you were a ninja. If you still went around picking fights at the drop of a hat, sooner or later you'd end up locked in prison!

Keiko remembered how, years ago, Lady Tsunade, one of the Sannin, had subdued a pair of brothers called Fujin and Raijin. The two had immense strength, but when they couldn't get enough to eat, they caused trouble and used their terrifying Strength of a Hundred Technique to wreak havoc. In the end, Lady Tsunade personally sent them to prison, and Keiko had never seen the brothers again!

So Keiko absolutely couldn't let her own son follow in Fujin and Raijin's footsteps!

"Mrs. Keiko."

Just then, Gekko Hayate spoke up. "My brother didn't get into a fight. He fell down the stairs while trying to save someone."

Hanfu wore a rueful expression, as if to say, I did a good deed without seeking recognition, and you're making it sound like I did something wrong.

But he couldn't keep the expression up for long.

"Is that so?" Keiko looked at Hanfu as if he were beyond saving. "I'm a medical professional. I deal with all kinds of injured people every day. Feng-chan, do you think I can't tell whether the injuries on your face came from falling down the stairs or from someone beating you up?"

Hanfu's mouth twitched. Right, he'd forgotten about that.

In that case, it was time to show his real skill: sacrifice the rook to save the king!

Hanfu immediately changed his tune. "Hayate, how could you do this? I know you're trying to help me, but you can't lie! I'm so disappointed in you! You need to keep quiet. I don't want to hear you talk right now. Shut your mouth. I won't listen, I won't listen, I won't listen..."

"I..."

You were the one who told me to say that, big brother.

(﹏)

Gekko Hayate looked at Hanfu with a pitiful expression, completely at a loss.

"Feng-chan!!" Keiko had saved more people than Hanfu had beaten up, so she could see right through him. She was so furious she couldn't even speak.

Seeing that his mother really seemed angry, Hanfu had no choice but to tell the truth. "Mom, I didn't get into a fight. I just... got caught in someone else's fight."

Then he explained what had happened.

When Keiko heard that her son had been mobbed by an angry crowd because he reminded the Homeroom Teacher to assign homework, her expression finally softened.

"Feng-chan, you did nothing wrong!" Keiko said. "You're students, and teachers assign homework after class for your own good! If they hit you again, go tell your teacher, Kashima Isamu. Got it?"

Hanfu nodded.

Keiko added, "Mom's proud of you for this."

"Thanks, Mom." Hanfu let out a sigh of relief, but the next moment, his scalp prickled.

"Feng~chan! Am I that old?" Keiko narrowed her eyes.

"..."

It was just a way of addressing her. Did she really have to be so particular?

Hanfu couldn't understand it at all, so he put on his most innocent face and said, "You're the youngest and prettiest, Mom!"

"Big brother, you just lied to me!"

Gekko Hayate stepped forward, determined to get an explanation for what had just happened. "Apologize, big brother! Apologize!"

Keiko turned around with a smile and went to cook. As for Hayate's grievance, children could sort out their own problems.

Hanfu glanced sideways at Gekko Hayate. The little guy was getting cocky, wasn't he? He actually expected Hanfu to apologize?

Did he even know what the word "little brother" meant?

"Big brother, apologize. Big brother, apologize..." Gekko Hayate tugged at Hanfu's clothes, refusing to let it go.

Hanfu sighed and patted Gekko Hayate on the shoulder. "I lied to you for your own good. Do you know what a kind lie is?"

The little guy shook his head in confusion. "No."

"It means I was doing it for your own good. Everything I do is for your sake."

Hanfu said ruefully, "I practice swordsmanship with you because I want you to get stronger. I encourage you because I want you to overcome setbacks and hold on to your dreams. I lie to you because I don't want all those messy things to affect you. Everything I do, big brother does for your sake. And you still haven't understood how much I care about you. I'm so disappointed in you. You need to keep quiet. I'm not finished!"

Gekko Hayate hurriedly shut his mouth. He didn't quite dare look into Hanfu's shining eyes, and his gaze darted nervously toward the floor.

"I was planning to practice swordsmanship with you after dinner and help you achieve your dream. But after what you've done, I'm heartbroken. I can't happily practice with you anymore. Not ever again." Hanfu sighed and turned away. "Go on, you're a mature little brother now. You can practice swordsmanship by yourself from now on."

Hanfu's words left the little guy in turmoil. One moment, he felt that his big brother made a lot of sense and that he'd really accused him unfairly. The next, he wondered if his big brother was making up another story to trick him. Should he believe him or not?

By the time the little guy came to his senses, Hanfu had already run into the kitchen.

The kitchen in Hanfu's home wasn't very big. It could barely fit two adults, but Hanfu was still small, so he didn't feel cramped.

"Mom, how about we don't make rice balls for tomorrow's lunch? Okay?" Hanfu asked tactfully.

"Hm?"

Keiko looked down at Hanfu in surprise. "Feng-chan, aren't rice balls your favorite?"

Hanfu said earnestly, "I'm tired of them. I don't want to eat rice balls anymore."

Keiko said, "Feng-chan, being a picky eater isn't good."

Hanfu gave a forced laugh.

Being a picky eater? Give me a break.

Adults only bought food they liked. If kids didn't eat it, they were called picky!

Hanfu had learned this truth in his previous life.

So he spoke with righteous conviction. "Mom, you're right. Rice balls are what I've eaten the most all this time. That's not right at all. There are so many other foods in this world, but I gave them up because of rice balls. I was wrong. I shouldn't be a picky eater. I've decided I'll never eat rice balls again. I'll eat other foods. I can't keep being picky!"

Keiko was taken aback, a little tangled up in Hanfu's words.

After a while, she came around and smiled at him. "All right. Since that's what Feng-chan wants, I'll make something else for your lunch tomorrow."

Success!

Hanfu breathed a sigh of relief. At last, he could say goodbye to those wretched Nori Sesame Rice Balls!

Thanks to reader №兵荒马乱ˇ for the generous gift!

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