"Sensei. Not that I care about him or anything," Ino started, trailing behind Asuma alongside Shikamaru and Choji, "but wasn't that a bit harsh? It's not like he was a burden or anything."
Asuma stayed silent.
"Sabuko's okay," Choji added with a shrug, "but if he's not ninja material, there's nothing you can do about it." He pulled out a chip... then hesitated, holding it in front of his mouth for a second.
"On the contrary," Asuma cut in. "He's fit to be a ninja."
Ino blinked. "Then why...?"
"Just not today. His abilities are lacking." Asuma stopped and rubbed his chin. "I'm confident in my decision."
Then he glanced at Ino's expression.
"Hmm. Seeing as he even got you asking about him, maybe I was wrong after all," he added slyly.
"S-SENSEI! I TOLD YOU I DON'T CARE ABOUT THAT GUY!" she shrieked. "Besides, whatever he is, Sasuke-kun's way better."
"Sasuke again, I swear..." Shikamaru muttered, rubbing his ear with a frown.
'That aside,' Asuma thought, 'those three are awfully considerate of Sabuko. Shikamaru keeping quiet, I expected. But Choji and Ino both chose not to mock him, even knowing the truth.'
'Which is... surprising, honestly. As far as I know, they've barely interacted with him.'
His face went flat.
'I made the right decision... right?'
---------- FIVE DAYS AGO ----------
"I'll change the result, miss! I'm training with Guy-sensei," Sabuko said. "I'll make genin, no matter what!"
She sighed, pressing a hand to her forehead.
"I believe Takos already told you. But just to be sure," she said, folding her arms as she stood over him.
Takos' mom.
"If you can't make genin, you'll have to leave."
She looked out the window.
"It's not so bad. You could just apologize to your parents for what happened."
Sabuko raised a brow. "They adopted... miss."
"I heard," she replied. "So you'll live with an adopted brother. You'll still have a place if you go back. They're well off, and you won't have to risk your life like us ninja do."
Silence.
"I know your mother would be thrilled." She gave him a sidelong look.
"Shame she doesn't tell me that herself... miss," Sabuko replied.
She exhaled.
"Just like a kid. You don't know her at all." She looked away again. "Well. Anyway, after this week, I'm afraid I can't let you stay."
---------- PRESENT. Right after Asuma rejected Sabuko ----------
'...She's not wrong,' Sabuko sighed as he walked through the village. 'I snapped at Sabuko's old man for no reason.'
His fists clenched.
Then released.
'Sure, they adopted. But it's not like I wanted to be a ninja in the first place.'
He looked up at the Konoha sky as he walked.
'I just want my clone harem and to not be homeless.'
Step. Step. Step.
'I'll pack my stuff at the Brugers', then head back to the Kanto house.' He exhaled. 'The old man may be a bastard, but he's got a reputation to uphold. It'll look extra nice on his résumé that his son came crawling back home. He'll probably take me in.'
Sabuko shrugged.
'Guess that's it, then.'
He stopped at the Bruger doorway. Images flashed through his mind: Team 10. Naruto.
Hiruzen placing the Konoha headband in front of him.
'...Was kinda fun, though. Pretending to be some dumb ninja from a kids' show.'
Ichiraku's ramen.
'Naruto's gonna eat ramen with his team.'
His hand hovered over the doorknob.
But didn't land.
Instead, a sigh slipped out as he lowered it.
'Giving up's starting to get a little old, actually.'
He chuckled.
'I'm still fucked, though. At least ninja-wise. Nothing I do is gonna change anything, since Asuma's a hard-headed prick.'
Sabuko smirked.
'Guess that means I've got nothing to lose if I actually do... that, right?'
---------- 7 DAYS AGO (Chapter 21) ----------
"You taught me jōnin can be wrong," Bolo said.
Sabuko narrowed his eyes.
"Thanks? But Asuma-sensei's still my superior." He raised an eyebrow.
"What, should I challenge him to a duel too?"
-------------------------------------------------
'I already beat one jōnin with less than a day of prep,' Sabuko thought. 'So why shouldn't I? Why shouldn't I beat him up too?'
"Guess it's time to fuck up yet another jōnin." His fist clenched. "That bastard Asuma. I'll pummel him, fancy taijutsu or not."
Then a familiar voice bellowed behind him.
"HMMM!!! SUCH A YOUTHFUL SPIRIT! WITH WORDS LIKE THESE, I HAVE NO REASON TO HESITATE!"
'WHAT?!'
Before Sabuko could whip around, he was hoisted up by the waist.
"Ah! What the—!?"
Knock knock knock.
Guy knocked on the door, carrying Sabuko under his arm like a sack.
"Who is it—"
"HELLO, MA'AM!!" Guy shouted, bowing.
"Ah!!" She jumped. "Guy-sensei, what are you—"
"MISS BRUGER," he cut her off, "I DON'T KNOW YOUR ARRANGEMENTS, BUT PLEASE GIVE YOUNG SABUKO ONE MORE MONTH IN YOUR HOME!"
'...!!!' Sabuko gasped.
"I PROMISE!"
Guy raised his head.
"I'LL MAKE SURE HE'S A GENIN BY THEN!"
'!!!' Sabuko's eyes widened.
"A-ah..." She stuttered, "b-but—"
Guy thumped his chest with a fist. "YOU HAVE MY WORD OF HONOR! I WILL NOT ABANDON HIM UNTIL HE'S A GENIN!"
"U-um..." She looked away. "I-if you say so, Guy-sen—"
Guy bowed again. "THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MISS!!"
Then he leapt off, Sabuko still in hand.
Before long, they landed back in the forest. Guy set Sabuko down on his feet.
'Where do I even start...?' Sabuko thought, facing him across the clearing as the wind brushed between them.
'He just snatched me up and bought me another month... I...'
"...Guy-sensei—"
"AHH!! I FORGOT I HAVE A MISSION WITH MY TEAM!" Guy suddenly shouted, spinning around and sprinting the other way.
"I'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW MORNING FOR THE BEATING, YOUNG SABUKO!!!"
'...Huh?' Sabuko blinked. 'He's not even pretending it's anything but a beating...'
Sabuko smiled.
'Seriously.'
His eyes softened.
'...Gonna make me want to get beat up, that Bruce Lee knockoff.'
------ ELSEWHERE ------
"I'm sorry. I couldn't get him to leave..." she said, eyes lowered before the man.
"...Mr. Kanto."
Meatball, Sabuko's father, stood before her.
"Hmph. Useless," he growled.
"I'm— I'm sorry. Guy-sensei is a jōnin. He came out of nowhere and vouched for him personally. I couldn't refuse—"
"Save it," he cut her off. "There's nothing I hate more than excuses."
She gripped the fabric of her pants.
"I could just kick him out, sir," she said. "Right now."
"Don't bother. The point is to make Sabuko realize how foolish he's been, and how pointless this... nonsense struggle to become some futile ninja is."
She flinched.
"If he's kicked out for no good reason, it defeats the whole purpose of teaching him the lesson he deserves."
He glared at her.
"Clearly, I wasted my money on you."
"I'll... I'll return it."
"No need." He shook his head with a sigh. "You clearly need it more than I do, being the... ninja you're all so proud of." He turned and waved her off.
'Besides,'
'I have another, more surefire plan.'
'You'll see just how foolish you've been, Sabuko. When that... filth snatches you away, only to deliver you to me.'
'You'll live in your adopted brother's shadow until you realize what a grave mistake you've made.'