"Since everyone's so curious, I'll..."
Under everyone's expectant gazes, Shinichi deliberately drew out his words before suddenly saying, "Refuse to tell you!"
Thud!
Everyone toppled over on the spot.
"Ahem!"
The usually stern and rigid Hiashi hurriedly coughed to hide his embarrassment.
Kakashi rolled his eyes. His big brother really was mischievous enough to toy with his own little brother.
Throughout the rest of their conversation, no matter how Hiashi and the Ino-Shika-Cho trio probed him, Shinichi refused to reveal a thing.
In the end, the group left the Hyuga Clan compound.
After saying goodbye to the Ino-Shika-Cho trio and Kurenai, Kakashi thought Shinichi would finally settle down and head home.
Who would have expected him to beam at Kurenai and say, "Kurenai, come visit us whenever you have time! Kakashi's rather introverted. He keeps so much bottled up inside, and it really worries me as his big brother..."
At this point, Asuma hadn't started dating Kurenai yet. It was the perfect chance to steal a march on him!
Since Kakashi was so hopeless, Shinichi naturally had to help him seize the opportunity.
"Oh, sure... I'll visit sometime."
Kurenai was rather confused, but she politely agreed anyway.
"Since you've agreed, let's make it tomorrow!"
Shinichi's eyes lit up, and he immediately said, "I'll prepare a whole table of dishes tomorrow to welcome you! I'll have Kakashi pick you up. It's settled, then. We'll be off!"
Before he had even finished speaking, Shinichi dragged Kakashi and Naruto away at a run.
As long as I don't give you a chance to refuse, you can't refuse!
Watching the three Hatake brothers leave, Kurenai stood alone in the wind, utterly bewildered.
She had only been making a polite reply. How had that counted as agreeing?
Kakashi's big brother certainly has a unique way of doing things...
Kurenai didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"Big brother, what exactly are you up to?"
On their way back, Kakashi couldn't help asking, "What are you planning to do to Kurenai? Why do you insist on inviting her over?"
"You don't know a damn thing!"
Shinichi knocked him on the head twice and sighed. "Other people are big brothers, and so am I. Look at Hiashi. He already has a nephew. Where's mine?"
"My foolish little brother, if I don't give you a push, you'll probably stay single your whole life!"
After that scolding, Kakashi's face darkened.
Yet he had no way to argue back. He was the younger brother, after all.
"Big brother, you don't know this, but Asuma actually likes Kurenai. Isn't it a little inappropriate to force me into this...?"
Kakashi was puzzled.
He couldn't shake the feeling that his big brother was forcing him to steal someone else's love.
"What damn good does liking her do? They aren't dating, and they aren't married. Why shouldn't you compete for her?"
Shinichi scolded him in exasperation. "Just answer one question. Is Kurenai a good girl or not? Do you hate her?"
"Of course Kurenai's a good girl, but I..."
Kakashi answered instinctively.
Kurenai was his friend. Of course he knew her character, and she absolutely deserved to be called a good girl.
But he had never thought of her as a romantic partner! Wasn't his big brother just playing matchmaker at random?
Besides, ever since Obito and Rin had died, much of his heart had gone cold. He had no desire to pursue romance at all.
"You don't have a choice!"
Instead, Shinichi gave him an outright ultimatum. "Either you do as I say and try getting closer to Kurenai, whether it works out or not, or you can forget you ever had me as a big brother. Understood?"
Kakashi was startled.
He had never imagined Shinichi would be so stubborn about this that he would even threaten to sever their brotherly bond.
"Even if you want me to find someone to date, why does it have to be Kurenai?"
Kakashi protested.
If he really did that, how could he face Asuma afterward?
"I know what you're worried about, but let me tell you, some people are never going to be your friends."
Shinichi said calmly, "Why am I insisting on Kurenai? I don't mind telling you. It's because the person who likes her is Asuma, and Asuma's surname is Sarutobi! That's why you have to win Kurenai over!"
Since Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi had indirectly caused their father Hatake Sakumo's death, what was wrong with stealing his future daughter-in-law?
"Big brother, you..."
Kakashi was stunned.
Shinichi's words were practically an open declaration that he was targeting the Third Hokage. If word got out, it would be no small matter.
Fortunately, only the three brothers were there, and Naruto was still too young to understand.
Even when Naruto grew up, with his oblivious nature, he probably wouldn't take Shinichi's words to heart.
"Stop asking. There are things you're not ready to know yet. All you need to know is that I won't hurt you."
Shinichi cut him off and declared, "That's settled. Take Naruto home first. I still need to see the Third Hokage. The Sharingan will be exposed sooner or later, so I need to act first before certain people start scheming against me."
In the end, despite his tangled emotions, Kakashi obediently took Naruto home.
The scene shifted.
"Lord Hokage."
Shinichi had arrived at the Hokage Building, where the Third Hokage sat reviewing documents.
"Oh, Shinichi. Did you need something?"
The Third Hokage asked without lifting his head.
He looked busy, perhaps because the Kumogakure Envoy Group was due to arrive within the next couple of days, leaving him with plenty to handle.
"Here's what happened..."
Shinichi told the Third Hokage every detail of how he had taken Naruto to challenge the Hyuga Clan that day, even leaving nothing out about using his Sharingan while fighting Hizashi.
ANBU personnel were stationed throughout Konoha, and so many people had witnessed what happened that there was no way to hide it from the Third Hokage.
He therefore needed to come clean before anyone else reported it, dispelling the Third Hokage's suspicions.
Snap.
The pen in the Third Hokage's hand snapped. "Shinichi, you have a Sharingan too?"
"Lord Hokage, please take a look."
Shinichi revealed his Three-Tomoe Sharingan.
Only after examining it carefully did the Third Hokage finally confirm that Shinichi wasn't lying. His expression grew grave. "Shinichi, you've been very honest, and that's good. But this is a serious matter. The Uchiha Clan won't let it go easily. You must tell me exactly where those eyes came from."
Compared with the Sharingan, Shinichi's troublemaking at the Hyuga Clan that day was child's play. The Third Hokage no longer even bothered dwelling on it.
After all, a kekkei genkai was the most important secret of every major clan in the Shinobi World, and they would never allow it to be carelessly leaked.
Especially for longstanding clans like the Hyuga Clan and the Uchiha Clan, they would rather destroy their eyes than let outsiders take them.
As for Kakashi's Sharingan, if it hadn't been confirmed that Obito had willingly given it to him, and if the Hokage's faction hadn't intervened, the Uchiha Clan would never have left him alone either.
"Lord Hokage, these eyes weren't taken from an Uchiha. They've belonged to me, Hatake Shinichi, since birth."
Shinichi looked composed as he said earnestly, "I'm sure you know that, unlike Kakashi, I was an orphan my father found outside the village and brought home. It also seems that I suffered a serious head injury as a child, so I can't remember much from before I was seven. I don't know who my parents were..."
With the Talk no Jutsu King boost, there's no way I can't fool an old man like you!
Look how sincere my expression is. Could you really bring yourself not to believe me?
"I see."
After a moment's thought, the Third Hokage sighed. "Shinichi, it seems you had Uchiha blood all along. That would make you half an Uchiha."
The Shinobi World had endured several major wars, and countless shinobi from major clans had been displaced.
It wasn't impossible for an orphan to have the blood of both the Hatake Clan and the Uchiha Clan.
[Talk no Jutsu King] really is useful. Next time I have points, I should prioritize upgrading this talent trait.
Shinichi thought to himself.
This purple talent trait didn't seem to boost his strength at all.
Yet ever since Shinichi had obtained it, [Talk no Jutsu King] had proven far more useful than any of his other talent traits. Otherwise, with his own speaking skills alone, how could he have successfully fooled these shinobi?
Before you continue