"You..."
Asuma was utterly dumbfounded.
He had seen arrogant people before, but never anyone this arrogant.
"Big brother, isn't this a bit inappropriate?"
Kakashi said with a wry smile.
Although Shinichi stepping forward to protect him had moved him deeply, showing favoritism so openly was a little too... much.
"Shut your mouth and get back to work."
Shinichi rolled his eyes at him, called the adorably clueless Nami over, and hauled Asuma away.
Only Kurenai and Kakashi remained, standing there in bewilderment.
Given Asuma's special status, taking him straight back to the Konoha Military Police Force was clearly inappropriate. Even if Shinichi dared to take him in, Fugaku would not want to invite that kind of trouble.
So Shinichi very considerately dragged him to the Hokage's Office.
"Asuma?"
Seeing Asuma trussed up in Shinichi's rope, the Third Hokage was startled. "Shinichi, what on earth happened?"
"Dad, hurry up and make him let me go!"
Now that he was in front of the Third Hokage, Asuma thought he had someone to back him up. He immediately shouted, "This damned bastard abused his authority and deliberately sided with Kakashi! Dad, hurry up and punish him!"
"Lord Hokage, as you can see."
Shinichi smiled. "This brat violated the village's public security regulations. He tried to start a fight and hurt someone, stirring up internal conflict in Konoha. As a member of the Konoha Military Police Force, I obviously couldn't stand idly by, so I dutifully arrested him and brought him here for you to deal with!"
"Whatever happened, just let him go first!"
The Third Hokage said helplessly, his head throbbing.
There was little he could do about his rebellious youngest son.
But recalling Asuma's usual behavior, he instinctively believed Shinichi's account and assumed Asuma must have been in the wrong.
"Since you've given the order, Lord Hokage, of course that's no problem."
Shinichi nodded, though his expression looked rather mocking.
As he undid Asuma's bonds, a certain someone maliciously whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, "You poor little brat. I'll let you in on something: I was the one who arranged for Kakashi and Kurenai to date. No need to thank me!"
"You!"
How could Asuma possibly endure that? Rage immediately shot to his head, and his eyes turned red!
The instant the rope fell away, Asuma drew his kunai and viciously stabbed at Shinichi's heart!
Young people were especially prone to impulse, and when romance was involved, keeping a clear head was all but impossible.
The killing blow Asuma unleashed in his fury unquestionably turned his behavior into a serious case of infighting within the village. He had even done it in front of the Third Hokage himself; the severity was obvious.
"Asuma, stop right now!"
The Third Hokage roared, his eyes wide with fury.
"Tsk, tsk!"
How could Asuma's paltry tricks possibly hurt Shinichi, who had been ready all along?
Shinichi merely shifted sideways, kicked the kunai out of his hand, and subdued him with a clean, efficient grappling hold.
"You bastard! I'll kill you!"
Completely immobilized, Asuma grew even angrier, like a rabid dog chained up and desperate to bite anyone who came near.
"Lord Hokage, you saw that, didn't you?"
Looking at the Third Hokage's dark expression, Shinichi feigned helplessness. "It's not that I wanted to keep him tied up. This brat just has too much of a temper. He tries to kill people at the drop of a hat-he's downright dangerous. Unless he's kept under strict supervision, I'm afraid he'll threaten the peace of the village!"
"Asuma..."
Unimaginable anger and disappointment surged in the Third Hokage's eyes. "Why would you do this? Don't you know that fighting other ninja in the village without authorization is against the rules?"
"I don't care! I'm going to kill this bastard, and that despicable Kakashi too! There's not a single decent person in the Hatake Clan! Dad, you have to avenge me!"
Asuma had long since lost all reason. Only hatred and rage remained in his eyes.
"Shinichi, tell me what happened from the beginning."
The Third Hokage shook his head and turned to Shinichi beside him.
And so, with all the washing machine's embellishments, Asuma became a lunatic driven mad by unrequited love. A girl didn't like him and rejected him to his face, so he hurled insults at her and even tried to beat up a fellow village ninja.
Leaving aside whether there was any right or wrong to speak of here, Asuma had thoroughly lost both his dignity as a man and his professional integrity as a ninja.
"Asuma, you've disappointed me terribly!"
The Third Hokage's gaze was complicated, and he sighed inwardly.
Then he waved a hand somewhat weakly. "Leave him here. I'll deal with this. Rest assured, I promise I won't let Asuma wander around the village anymore."
In other words, he intended to put Asuma under full confinement, keeping him locked up at home instead of letting him go out whenever he pleased.
"Why? Dad, why are you doing this? What did I do wrong?"
"You're the Hokage, and I'm your son! One word from you, and everyone in the Hatake Clan would die! Why are you helping them instead of your own son? You obviously have that power!"
After one provocation after another, Asuma had completely lost his mind and blurted out whatever came into his head.
Sure, your father was the Hokage. You could enjoy plenty of special privileges, and even have all sorts of charges pinned on someone simply because they displeased you.
But you absolutely could not say those things out loud, especially right in front of the people involved!
"Shut your mouth!"
The Third Hokage's expression changed drastically. In his alarm, he could not stop himself from slapping Asuma across the face.
Smack!
The slap was anything but gentle. Asuma was stunned on the spot, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
"Shinichi, I'm sorry."
The Third Hokage said apologetically, "I've spoiled this child since he was little. Please don't take his words to heart."
"Don't worry about it, don't worry!"
Shinichi looked utterly unconcerned and chuckled. "He's just a brat! If he won't behave, give him a good beating! Someone as magnanimous as me would never take such a little thing to heart."
The Third Hokage nodded with a wry smile.
With that, Shinichi turned and left the Hokage's Office.
Knowing the Third Hokage as he did, Asuma probably had some rough days ahead of him.
And so the farce came to an end.
The Hatake household.
"Big brother, is Asuma all right?"
Kakashi, who had returned home after his date, looked somewhat guilty.
"Have you got nothing better to do than worry about him?"
Shinichi snapped, "That brat brought it on himself. Do you think he would've had any chance with Kurenai even if you hadn't stepped in? So stop overthinking it and cherish the person by your side."
Kakashi had long since grown accustomed to his big brother's twisted arguments. He had no expectation of persuading him, so he let the matter drop.
"But speaking of which..."
Perhaps on a whim, Shinichi recalled what Nami had said earlier that day and couldn't help asking, "Kakashi, why have you never urged me to find a wife?"
I'd like to! But I'd need the guts first!
I'm already thanking my lucky stars that you aren't pressuring me. How would I dare pressure you?
Kakashi couldn't help grumbling inwardly.
He had long since figured out this family's food chain. Shinichi was the undisputed boss, while his own status as the second brother sometimes fell below even Naruto and Karin's.
After living under these conditions for years, would Kakashi really dare nag Shinichi?
"Big brother, you're incredibly smart. Everything is a piece of cake for you."
Watching the changes in Shinichi's expression, Kakashi said cautiously, "I always thought you had your own plans, and anyone nagging you would just be meddling. That's why I never brought it up. But I do hope you'll bring home a sister-in-law soon."
"So that's it."
Understanding dawned on Shinichi's face.
Seeing that his answer had not angered Shinichi, Kakashi breathed a sigh of relief, thinking he had escaped disaster.
Smack!
Yet Shinichi still casually punched him and scolded, "You ungrateful brat! After all these years of working so hard to look after you, you won't even say a word to show you care! What's wrong with meddling? I'm your big brother! Even if you were meddling, I'd still be touched!"
Kakashi: "???"
My answer was that perfect, and you still hit me?
I suspect you're just looking for any excuse to hit me!
If I was going to get beaten either way, I should've insulted you first!
What a huge loss!
Before you continue