How could Fugaku not know what Minato and Hizashi were thinking right next to him?
He felt utterly ashamed by his own behavior.
But was that something he could control?
Besides, back when he bragged, wasn't it because he was pushed into a corner?
Minato would constantly show off Kushina, casually dropping humblebrags over and over.
Hizashi would say things like, "Don't tell me at your age you've never even held a girl's hand?"
Add in the influence of alcohol, and he went straight to cloud nine, bragging without restraint.
Later, Minato and Hizashi would often use that to tease him, but instead of feeling ashamed, he wore it like a badge of honor, going further and further down the road of boasting.
Until Mikoto's single word "Fugaku-nii" instantly reduced him back to his original self.
"What's wrong? Are you not feeling well?" Mikoto, seeing Fugaku's flushed face and stiff posture, asked with concern.
"Pff~ hahaha!" Hizashi finally couldn't hold it in anymore, covering his mouth and laughing wildly. "He's fine, he just got his soul snatched away."
Minato wasn't as exaggerated, and didn't say anything, just scratched his head and grinned foolishly.
After all, he had to keep up his image.
But to Fugaku, who knew him well, that innocent face was absolutely brimming with meaning.
"Ah! This is it! I'm going to finish you both!"
He instantly flashed in front of the two, swinging both huge fists straight at them.
Of course, Minato and Hizashi weren't going to let him succeed, they quickly dodged.
The three of them chased each other around, having a grand old time.
"They're not hurt, right?" Tsuki asked in confusion from the side.
"I don't know either. Let's just watch for now," Mikoto replied, just as bewildered. What else could she say?
After a while of chaos, the three finally stopped.
Looking at Fugaku's glare, Minato and Hizashi still wanted to laugh, but they forced themselves to hold it in.
After all, in front of Mikoto, they still had to give him a shred of dignity. But this was something they were going to laugh about for the rest of their lives.
"Um... Fugaku-nii, are you all okay?" Mikoto asked again, seeing that things had calmed down.
Thanks to those two troublemakers, Fugaku was feeling more normal now. He waved his hand. "It's nothing. But what brings you here?"
Minato couldn't help but be speechless, if he could be here, why couldn't she?
"I came to find you," Mikoto explained.
The moment she said that, Fugaku tensed up all over again.
"F-find me?"
"Uh... It's like this." Though Mikoto could see that something was off with him, she still went on to explain, "Actually... I want to ask you for a favor."
Cough.
Fugaku let out a small breath of relief and immediately patted his chest. "Just say the word. If it's something I can help with, I'll never refuse."
"It's just..." At this point Mikoto grew nervous, glancing at Fugaku, then at Minato and Hizashi. It took her a while to gather the courage to say, "Our squad was just formed, and we haven't had time to work together yet... I was hoping your squad could... give us some help."
Saying that had taken every ounce of courage she had.
Right now, Minato's squad was the number-one team in Konoha, nothing could stop them. To this day, they had never failed a mission.
Many ninjas from other villages would tremble just at the mention of "Mad Squad."
The Kage of several villages had even issued direct orders: if you encounter Mad Squad during a mission, you're allowed to abandon the mission and retreat immediately, and you will not be punished afterward.
They had no choice, everyone was terrified of them.
Countless people had wanted to get guidance from this squad, but without exception, all were refused.
Minato's stated reason was: When there's too much of a gap in strength, it's hard to give effective guidance.
And ironically, everyone found that reason convincing.
What Mikoto meant by "help" wasn't training guidance in the usual sense, she wanted to have a simulated combat exercise against the Mad Squad.
Ever since the ten simulation training grounds in the southeast corner were completed, many ninjas had been using them for their daily practice, working in squads, choosing a terrain, specifying a mode of combat, and running simulated battles.
When Fugaku heard this, he immediately looked a bit troubled and glanced at Minato.
For other favors, he could agree without hesitation.
But the squad captain was Minato, so naturally it was for him to decide.
"No problem," Minato met Fugaku's gaze and answered without the slightest hesitation.
Normally, they could mess with each other, tease, or banter as they liked, but at key moments, he couldn't embarrass Fugaku, especially in front of Mikoto.
"Really?" Mikoto's face lit up with joy, and beside her, Tsuki also became excited.
"Of course!" Fugaku straightened his back proudly. "Time, place, and type of combat are all up to you. Once you decide, just let me know."
"Mm!" Mikoto immediately pulled Tsuki away, leaving happily.
Seeing this, Fugaku finally breathed a sigh of relief, reluctantly watching her leave.
But the next second, Minato and Hizashi sidled up to him from the left and right, grinning like foxes.
"What's wrong with our great Casanova? How come just talking to a girl makes you blush?" Minato said, now that there was no one else around, fully revealing his true colors and needling him hard.
"Why didn't you show off your legendary charm this time? I was hoping to pick up a trick or two today!" Hizashi also mocked.
"What do you know?" Without anyone else around, Fugaku instantly recovered his usual arrogance. "This is called retreating in order to advance."
Minato: "Ah, right, right."
Hizashi: "Ah, right, right."
Fugaku: "Ah, go to hell!"
---
Konoha Academy.
At that moment, a group of students was gathered around Konan and Yahiko.
"Konan, do you think Yahiko's just making stuff up?" an older boy asked. "How could he possibly be Minato's student?"
Konan shot Yahiko an exasperated glare. Seeing his confused expression, she sighed and explained, "Not exactly a student... it's just that Minato often guides us in our training."
"My goodness, it's actually true!" one child exclaimed.
The others also showed expressions of shock and envy.
Yahiko, however, was feeling deeply wounded.
Why was it that when he said it, no one believed him, but when Konan said it, they didn't even question it?
So it's true then, good looks really are justice?