Chapter 20: I Ended Up Investigating Myself
A detective is a professional who investigates cases.
A private detective, on the other hand, accepts private commissions involving matters such as infidelity, missing persons, or confidential information.
Asuka belonged to the latter.
As a member of the Uchiha Clan, money had never been a problem for him. The reason he became a private detective wasn't for profit.
It was simply a convenient cover.
His real hobby was uncovering the little secrets hidden throughout Konoha.
After transmigrating into the shinobi world, how could he not be curious about the people living in it?
The manga had never revealed who cheated on whom...
Who was secretly having an affair...
Or who had become someone else's mistress.
Whenever something was too embarrassing to be posted as an official mission, Asuka was the one people sought out.
Before the Third Shinobi World War officially began, he spent his days investigating village gossip, deciphering treasure maps, and occasionally searching for hidden treasures.
As time passed, people gradually gave him a new nickname.
The Great Detective.
Had the Third Shinobi World War not suddenly erupted, he probably would've continued living that peaceful life for several more years.
---
"...Sorry."
Asuka finally came back to his senses. Leaning against the wall, he shook his head.
"I've been busy training students lately, so I'll probably need to take a break for a while."
"If you really need someone... I can recommend a few equally gos—"
"...Ahem."
"...Equally outstanding private detectives."
"Asuka-kun."
"I'm afraid this commission... would be difficult for anyone else."
Hearing that, Asuka's expression immediately stiffened.
He didn't like difficult jobs either.
Years ago, he'd once accepted a particularly troublesome commission.
«Investigate why hundreds of donkeys on a farm outside the village scream every night for no apparent reason.»
His first thought was simple.
Someone's messing with them.
Probably some pervert.
After investigating, he discovered he was right.
There really was a culprit.
And that culprit happened to be one of Konoha's most famous shinobi.
Orochimaru.
One of the Legendary Sannin.
At the time, Orochimaru frequently escorted groups of slow-moving humanoid creatures through that area late at night.
Every now and then, those creatures would let out eerie roars, scaring every donkey in the vicinity half to death.
Later, Asuka secretly laid a few traps along their route.
Only then did he realize those creatures were incomplete products of the Impure World Reincarnation Technique.
The very next day, an anonymous report exposing Orochimaru mysteriously appeared on the Hokage's desk.
---
Yoshino quietly observed Asuka.
Although he hadn't rejected her outright, his prolonged silence already made his answer clear.
He simply didn't want to accept the commission.
...What a pity.
The war might have officially ended, but conflicts still continued behind the scenes.
The village's sensory jōnin were either deployed on important missions or stationed along the borders.
She had searched everywhere and couldn't find anyone available.
Otherwise, she would've never sought help from the Uchiha.
After a brief silence, she looked toward Mikoto and silently mouthed,
"Mikoto."
"It's up to you."
"Leave it to me."
Mikoto gave her a reassuring smile before standing.
As she walked over to Asuka, she couldn't help reflecting that, after living among the Uchiha for more than twenty years, she understood her clansmen very well.
Against an Uchiha...
Provocation usually worked wonders.
---
"Asuka-kun."
Mikoto smiled gently.
For some inexplicable reason, simply looking at his face made the fingers she'd cut while cooking ache faintly.
If not for this troublesome identity...
Or if this had happened a few years earlier...
I probably would've marched over here already...
How dare he keep encouraging my husband to divorce...
Taking several deep breaths, she suppressed the urge to strangle him.
Then she gestured politely toward the courtyard.
"Come outside for a moment."
Once they were alone, she rested both hands atop her stomach.
Looking at Asuka thoughtfully, she asked,
"I remember that during the clan meeting, you proposed winning over the Senju and uniting with the other clans."
"That's right."
"Then why aren't you seizing such a perfect opportunity today?"
"Or..."
"Do you believe that, with your current abilities... you simply can't complete this commission?"
"So you're planning to leave every opportunity to build relationships with other clans... to the Clan Head instead?"
Asuka looked at Mikoto with a faint smile.
You say I can't.
I think I can.
I just don't feel like proving it to you.
An ordinary Uchiha might have fallen for such obvious provocation.
He wasn't ordinary.
Besides, if anyone should be building relationships with other clans, it ought to be the Clan Head.
For the glory of the Uchiha...
Fugaku should be prepared to sacrifice everything.
Including his own body.
---
After waiting for quite a while, Asuka realized Mikoto wasn't saying anything else.
Looking at her curiously, he found her quietly staring back at him.
Her eyes, dark enough to resemble polished black gemstones beneath the sunlight, carried an unexpectedly pure brilliance.
His gaze unconsciously drifted downward.
Toward her slightly rounded stomach.
The corner of his mouth twitched.
He immediately looked away.
I don't like either of those brothers.
---
"Asuka-kun."
Mikoto suddenly raised her injured finger before his eyes.
After successfully drawing his attention, she smiled softly.
"Before becoming Clan Head, Fugaku was nowhere near as talented as you are now."
"He was never called a genius."
"He certainly never had time to master medical ninjutsu."
"Compared to him... you're far more outstanding."
"The future of the Uchiha needs people like you."
"If you truly wish to change the clan's future, why not start with this commission?"
"Opportunities to build goodwill with other clans don't come often."
"They'll greatly help the ideals you proposed."
"Young Uchiha..."
"Even though your suggestions are often infuriating..."
"I'm genuinely optimistic about your future."
"Of course, you can refuse."
"No one will force you."
Seeing the smile slowly disappear from Asuka's face, Mikoto casually twirled a lock of hair around her finger before continuing,
"'Taking a break?'"
"What kind of answer is that?"
"Yes means yes."
"No means no."
"If you answer like that, Lady Yoshino will naturally assume you simply don't want to help."
"More importantly, that contradicts your own proposal to unite with the Senju and the other clans."
"Or..."
"Were those words nothing more than empty talk?"
"If that's the case..."
"...it's rather disappointing."
"A single detail reveals the whole picture."
"So..."
"Your proposal that my husband should divorce... was also just empty talk, wasn't it?"
"I knew it."
"How could someone I thought so highly of actually do something so utterly shameless..."
"So devoid of conscience..."
"So deserving of heavenly punishment..."
"May lightning strike you five times..."
"May you die a miserable death..."
"May your lifespan be shortened..."
"May your reputation be ruined—"
"Mmph!"
Asuka hurriedly covered her mouth.
Looking at the smiling wife of the Clan Head, the corner of his mouth twitched.
What a poisonous tongue...
If I'd let her continue... she'd probably have cursed me to die childless too.
And another thing...
Why was she comparing me to Fugaku?
Why compare me to Fugaku?
...Could that troublesome little brat actually inherit my genes instead?
---
After a long silence, Asuka turned around and walked back into the house.
He wasn't the type to fall for such clumsy provocation.
However...
He suddenly remembered something.
The system seemed to have issued a mission involving befriending Shikamaru.
---
After seeing the five pregnant women off, Asuka weighed the envelope thoughtfully in his hand.
Recalling everything Yoshino had described, he sank into deep thought once more.
According to her, she suspected her cousin had secretly taken a lover.
She wanted Asuka to uncover that man's identity.
The rest would be handled by the Nara Clan themselves.
Combining all the information...
Especially the timeline Yoshino had provided...
Asuka suddenly slapped his right fist into his left palm.
A look of realization spread across his face.
...Wait.
If I remember correctly...
I spent that entire night in Ryōko's room.
Which meant...
The man she was investigating...
...was him.
"..."
But I'm not Ryōko's lover!
So...
How exactly was he supposed to investigate himself...
Without ruining his own reputation?