Chapter 35: Oniichan (Big Brother!)
"Hey, old man, who even are you?"
Naruto glared at Asuma while munching on his grilled meat, clearly annoyed.
"Yeah, seriously! We're just eating—what's it got to do with some old guy like you?"
"Woof!"
Kiba, who was just as feisty as Naruto, stood his ground too. With so many of them on their side and only three on the other, the odds were clearly in their favor!
Old man???
A vein popped on Asuma's forehead in the shape of a pound sign.
He was only twenty-five, damn it!
Sure, maybe he looked a bit mature for his age, but calling him an old man was just uncalled for!
"Eh? Kakashi-senpai?"
Sakura suddenly noticed someone familiar among the trio—with one eye lazily half-open and a masked face, there was no mistaking it.
Kakashi Hatake.
Now that was a relief…
Asuma, who was feeling a bit awkward just a moment ago, visibly relaxed.
"Hahaha, Sakura, didn't think I'd run into you here…"
If he could help it, Kakashi would've preferred to keep a good distance from this pink-haired girl. Something told him that getting involved with her always brought trouble.
He scratched his head and gave her a wry smile in greeting.
"Naruto, apologize. Seriously, can't you even behave when eating?"
Sakura shot a sharp glare at the blond boy.
"Tch. Fine, whatever."
Naruto glanced at her, then turned toward Asuma and offered a begrudging apology.
"Sorry…"
Though, frankly, it sounded about as sincere as a ninja saying "Oops" after setting off a trap on purpose.
"It's all good, it's all good. Kids will be kids," Asuma replied, still ruffling Kiba's head since he was standing the closest.
"But you should know—I'm only twenty-five, not some old man."
"You should be calling me big bro!"
"Eh?"
"No way, you really don't look it."
Ino stared at him, genuinely surprised.
"Yeah, I mean… if anything, the lady over there looks like she's just twenty."
Choji mumbled through a mouthful of grilled meat.
The moment those words left his mouth, Kurenai Yuhi's lips curled ever so slightly into a smile.
She was the same age as Asuma and Kakashi, but what woman didn't like to be told she looked young?
This little chubby kid is clearly honest and well-raised.
"Asuma, you're a grown man. Why are you bickering with kids?" Kurenai interjected with a sigh, figuring it was time she stepped in.
Asuma gave her a conflicted look, then turned back to the kids with an almost fatherly smile.
"Well, tell you what… If you all call me 'big bro,' I'll cover the tab for your meal."
Kurenai gave him a side-eye. Seriously? Bribing kids to lie?
But the moment hung in the air—and then something strange happened.
The kids exchanged glances.
In perfect sync, their minds aligned in a glorious moment of childlike genius.
They all shouted together:
"Oniichan!!"
That one loud, unified "big brother!" made Asuma feel like his heart was melting.
This… this is the future of Konoha…
These are the precious gems he wanted to protect.
He couldn't help but grin so wide that laugh lines formed around his eyes.
But just as he was basking in the glow of being called Oniichan, Kiba sprang into action, throwing open the private room's door and yelling down the hall:
"Waitress lady!"
"Another fifty plates of grilled meat!"
"The big bro over there's paying!"
…
By the time Asuma emptied his wallet, his soul felt equally drained.
He turned to Kakashi with a pleading look in his eyes.
Kakashi let out a long sigh and reluctantly pulled a few bills from his own wallet to help cover the last bit of the check.
"These little brats can really eat…"
Asuma muttered as he walked out of the restaurant alongside Kakashi. Kurenai had left earlier due to other obligations, so it was just the two of them now.
The sun had dipped low in the sky.
Asuma pulled a cigarette from his pocket, clamped it between his lips, and lit it with a soft flick of his lighter.
The flame danced momentarily in the dim evening light.
He took a deep drag and exhaled slowly, the smoke curling in the air like mist.
The nicotine numbed the edge of his frustration and let him enjoy the quiet moment.
"That pink-haired girl from earlier," Kakashi spoke suddenly.
"Huh? What about her?"
Asuma recalled the group of kids—there had been a pink-haired girl. Seemed quiet and composed.
"In the past two years, the reforms in our country… they were basically all spearheaded by that girl."
Kakashi's calm words hit Asuma like a cold gust of wind.
That girl… couldn't have been more than ten, right?
"She's already a Chunin."
Kakashi added matter-of-factly.
A ten-year-old… Chunin?
A smirk tugged at Asuma's lips.
"So she's a genius, huh?"
"Not exactly. She's a genius who works extremely hard."
Kakashi corrected him, his voice steady.
Even though he didn't exactly want to hang around Sakura, he couldn't deny the sheer amount of effort she had put in.
Over the past two years, he had frequently served as her bodyguard when they had to deal with corrupt merchants trying to profit from inflated food prices. He'd seen firsthand how seriously she took her duties.
Sometimes he'd even serve as her sparring partner.
"I see…"
Asuma took another deep drag of his cigarette and exhaled, the smoke trailing into the night sky.
"Today, it felt like she was the center of that whole group of kids…"
Kakashi didn't answer. He just stood there, staring into the fading sunlight, lost in thought.
No one could guess what was going on in his mind.
---
"I'm home, Mom!"
After parting ways with Naruto and Ino, Sakura returned home. The first thing she did was kick off her shoes and call out like usual.
"Put your shoes away properly!"
Her mother, Haruno Mebuki, didn't even need to show her face. She could just tell from the thump that Sakura had tossed her shoes carelessly.
"Yeah, yeah…"
Sakura glanced at the shoes she'd left lopsided near the door and picked them up to put them neatly in the shoe cabinet.
"Don't make dinner for me, okay? I already ate out!"
Hearing that, Mebuki's forehead twitched visibly.
"You could've told me earlier—I already made your dinner."
Wearing an apron and wielding a spatula, Mebuki stepped out of the kitchen.
"Just save it for later, Mom. I'll eat it as a midnight snack!"
Sakura waved her off and sprinted like the wind up the stairs to her room.
"This girl…"
Mebuki shook her head in exasperation as she watched Sakura disappear.
Must be hitting puberty or something…
She was such a cute little thing when she was younger…
Back in her room, Sakura turned on the light and opened her drawer, pulling out a scroll on medical ninjutsu.
Other than the Yin Seal, she had basically finished absorbing all the knowledge from the "War Arc Sakura" of the future.
All she had to do now was wait—once she hit around age twelve and her chakra matured a bit more, she'd be able to fully master everything the War Arc version of herself knew.
Except she wouldn't just reach that level—she'd surpass it.
She had Enma, the Monkey King.
She had full support and nurturing from Hiruzen Sarutobi in all aspects.
The scroll in her hand now held one of the most versatile medical techniques—essential for surgery, combat, or healing:
The Chakra Scalpel.
As she pulled the scroll out, a yellowed ramen coupon caught her eye from the corner of the drawer.
She blinked.
It was the first gift Naruto had ever given her—four years ago.
A coupon for a free bowl at Ichiraku Ramen.
Her lips quirked upward as she picked it up gently and looked at it for a moment.
Then she carefully tucked it back inside.
(End of Chapter)
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