Sarutobi Asuma.
As Amane had said, he did not really dislike the man.
He did think Asuma was irresponsible.
Leaving Yūhi Kurenai pregnant before wedlock, then dying to Hidan, turning her into a young widow at home never sat right.
Amane had no interest in policing private lives.
He cared about one thing. From the anime records in his past life, it was clear that before leaving Konoha, Asuma had been a classic punk, rebellious, always butting heads with the Third.
He left the village because he clashed with his father.
Watching the man smoking on the field, Amane rubbed his chin, walked over, and hopped to pat his shoulder from behind.
Huh?
Asuma glanced down mid-drag and met a pair of clear, innocent eyes.
What a refined kid.
Admiration flickered, then died when he saw the Uchiha fan on Amane's shirt.
Anyone not a fool knew the clash between Uchiha and Konoha had begun.
As the Hokage's blood, even if he and his father did not get along, Asuma would never feel warm toward the Uchiha.
As Amane said, they would part ways sooner or later.
Asuma knew it too.
Saving an Uchiha would not earn his goodwill. He had learned that thoroughly from the Third.
Knowing this, Amane did not bother with politeness.
Ignoring the cold sliver in Asuma's gaze, he smiled pure as snow.
"Got a light, friend?"
COUGH! COUGH COUGH!
Asuma staggered.
A six-year-old asking him for a light?
Uh.
Lend it or not?
After a moment's struggle, Asuma fished out his lighter and tossed it over.
This had nothing to do with clan or status.
As a lifelong smoker, you did not refuse a light.
Amane weighed the lighter.
If he was right, this was the one Shikamaru would inherit.
Under Asuma's baffled stare, he lit up with practiced ease, tucked the lighter into his pocket, and looked up again.
"As the taijutsu instructor, you would not ask a student to return a lighter you gifted him, right?"
When did I say gifted?
Asuma's mouth twitched. He could not bicker with a child here.
He knew a bit of his father's plan too. Now was the time to show presence and win points for being approachable.
He cleared his throat and stroked his beard with a mild nod.
"Of course. Just a lighter."
If it had been any other kid, he would have added that he did not recommend children smoke.
Too bad.
This one was an Uchiha.
He would be happy if every Uchiha kid picked up Amane's bad habit.
So on the field, while Iruka marshaled students and gear, the sight of one big and one small smoking became its own line of scenery.
"By the way."
With the Hua-zi burning low, Amane arched a brow as if something occurred to him.
"Have you found out what the jewel is?"
Jewel?
Asuma frowned.
He wondered how this Uchiha kid knew to ask that.
What the jewel was, that was why he had left Konoha.
Once he thought the jewel meant the most precious person in the village - the Hokage.
The old man had denied it countless times.
It made Asuma think his father stubborn and hard.
Now he understood.
He had gone through a lot to find that answer.
But.
It was only an Uchiha brat.
Telling him would not matter.
It was not a village secret, only a question of understanding. To be Hokage, you needed resolve to protect the jewel.
Such a lofty ideal - how could an Uchiha grasp it?
He sneered and narrowed his eyes.
"The jewel? I found it. It is the village's saplings, new life, the future."
Heh.
The future.
Yes.
The Uchiha's future - no, the Sarutobi's future.
Amane's lips curled. He blew a smoke ring at Asuma's face and gave a cold laugh.
"So you rushed back to make babies?"
Pfft.
What did this brat just say?
Face reddening, Asuma started to deny it.
"I mean, I would, but there is no chance..."
He caught himself halfway and clamped his mouth shut.
"I see. When there is a chance, make them. I get it. Making the future."
Amane waved breezily. "We are both men. I understand."
He did conclude one thing. Kurenai was not entertaining him yet.
At least she was not giving him the chance to manufacture the future.
Good.
He could rescue an ignorant maiden.
"Uchiha Amane!"
"Where is he?"
Iruka's voice rang from afar, flustered. He did not want the first exam to go off the rails. Shuriken throwing had just begun, and by order, Uchiha Amane was next.
Shuriken throwing, huh.
Pinching the butt, Amane let the last ember burn out and adjusted his glasses.
In the next instant, a streak of fire flashed past Iruka, and the smoldering stub slammed dead center into the shuriken target under every stunned eye.
RUMBLE!
Not done. The soft butt did not go limp at impact like a shy man. It drove in firm and then erupted like an exploding tag.
The field fell silent.
One cigarette butt, equal to a long-range explosive tag.
What kind of technique was that?
Even Asuma was dumbstruck.
His own jutsu involved smoking, but he had never seen this trick.
"Uh..."
After a long moment, Iruka swallowed and fumbled for his little book.
"Uchiha Amane."
"Full marks."
Amane strolled forward. In passing he tilted his head toward the stunned Asuma.
"Thanks for the lighter."
We Uchiha.
Have more than one genius.
...