Hokage Building — corridor.
Asuma Sarutobi strolled along with one hand in his pocket and a cigarette dangling from his mouth, leading Team 10 toward the Hokage's office. He saw Hyūga Ayato stepping out and called with a grin.
"Ayato?"
"Asuma." Ayato answered with little enthusiasm, glancing over Asuma and the members of Team 10.
All he wanted right now was to find that stupid cat, take the reward, and spend the evening drinking with some attractive company.
"You actually took on a lead-instructor role. I didn't expect that," Asuma said, drawing on his cigarette and exhaling. He looked toward Team Seven with genuine curiosity. "I heard you took over Team Seven. What have you been doing these days? I heard they haven't taken any missions."
Asuma had been puzzled from the start — Ayato, willful and unpredictable, agreeing to lead Team Seven? It didn't fit. And then to hear Team Seven hadn't accepted a single D-rank mission yet... he worried for the kids. Finishing D-rank jobs mattered when it came time to test and rank as chūnin — Team Ten had already completed five D-rank tasks.
Still — with Ayato's temperament, who'd expect him to bother with missing-pet missions?
Ayato smirked and deliberately mentioned Yūhi Kurenai, lifting one finger as if making a point. The smile carried a teasing edge.
"Mostly just teasing little Kurenai and holding her while we drink. That's about it."
He said it on purpose. Kurenai often resisted; Ayato tended to ignore the resistance. He'd wrap his arm around her and keep drinking. Asuma had loved Kurenai for a long time — though of course he'd never given up — and Ayato knew it. To call it loyal devotion might be poetic; to call it a simp's persistence was more accurate.
Asuma's smile stiffened. He scratched his head awkwardly and laughed weakly. "Ah… I see. That's... good, I guess."
What kind of answer was that? Good for what!? Asuma had always treated Ayato as a romantic rival in his own head — a one-sided assumption that Ayato wasn't taking seriously in the slightest. The man simply moved first and asked questions later; resistance didn't matter when the power gap was that large.
Asuma's mood soured. He'd been bringing Kurenai lunches and small gifts every day, only to have Ayato swoop in and eat the food himself. It was infuriating. He felt the urge to draw steel and have a proper duel — and then remembered how badly he'd lose.
Shikamaru leaned back, hand behind his head, bored and unconcerned. "What a pain."
In Team Ten, Ino crossed a hip and cocked a smug grin at Sakura. "We've already done five D-rank missions, you know." She shot a sideways look at Sasuke — cute and proud — and then at Ayato. Was that the rival Asuma kept mentioning? He was indeed handsome, maybe even more so than Sasuke. No wonder Asuma looked so rattled.
Sakura banged her forehead against Ino's in mock irritation. "Ino-pig! Team Seven's been training hard. We've been doing the tree-climb practice Ayato gave us."
"Big forehead!" Ino fired back, delighted and competitive. The two of them immediately started mock-grappling like schoolkids.
Chōji munched on chips, amused at the bickering. "You two get along so well," he said with his mouth full.
"Shut up," both girls snapped at once.
Shikamaru twitched his ear and muttered, "Women are such a hassle."
"Hey Asuma, what's this tree-climb training?" Chōji asked, curious.
"It's chakra control practice — essential for genin," Asuma answered, inhaling smoke. He flicked his gaze to Ayato. "I didn't expect Team Seven to pick up tree-climbing so quickly. Looks like you're actually teaching them properly."
Asuma had assumed Ayato would dodge mundane training and refuse D-rank work just to be rebellious. Instead, Ayato was guiding Team Seven's fundamentals first — building a solid base so they could do any task cleanly later. It was classic Ayato: capricious in behavior, meticulous in execution; if he committed, he did it thoroughly.
Asuma let out a resigned sigh. Of course — it had to be him. No wonder the woman he liked found him appealing. Strong, clever, and decisive — who wouldn't be drawn to that?
Ayato clapped Asuma on the shoulder in a mock-earnest way. "That lunch you brought to Kurenai last time? Pretty tasty. Next time, add more peppercorns — I like that spice."
Asuma's jaw tightened. Ayato had eaten the meals he'd spent time preparing for Kurenai? Of course he had. Furious, helpless, and defeated all at once, Asuma tried to swallow his irritation.
"Of course you're a genius," Asuma muttered, half to himself.
Ayato shrugged with a smug half-smile. "What can I say? I was born this way."
"Anyway — we'll catch up later. I have to go round up that stupid cat," Ayato said with a yawn, scooping Sakura up by the arm as if she were a plush toy.
"Please, don't be so lovey-dovey in public," Sakura scolded, face red.
"Who said we were lovey-dovey?" Ayato smirked as Naruto bounded after him. "Don't be gross. Just—keep the public displays to a minimum, okay?"
Sakura and Ino both made rude faces at each other and then laughed.
"Wait for me, Sakura-chan!" Naruto sprinted after them.
"Hmph," Sasuke muttered, hands in pockets, but he followed Ayato's retreating silhouette as well.
Asuma watched them go, sighing bitterly. "He really is everything she wants."
Shikamaru sighed and said, "What a pain. After the mission, let's get barbecue."
Ino clapped her hands delightedly. "Asuma's treating? Yes!"
Asuma opened his wallet, peeking at the dwindling contents and blurted, "I can pay, but don't eat too much—watch the—"
He cut off when Choji's murderous glare landed on him. In Choji's book, the word "fat" was strictly taboo.
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