At the Konoha Ninja Academy...
Asuma was hiding in a corner smoking.
Now nearing graduation, Asuma had entered his rebellious phase, stuck in a spiral of doubt and confusion.
As the youngest son of the Third Hokage, he understood Konoha far better than his classmates did.
He'd accidentally overheard conversations between Hiruzen Sarutobi and his older brother, and discovered the dark secrets hidden beneath Konoha's thriving surface.
For example, the experiments conducted to create Wood Release ninjas through Hashirama cell transplants.
Many people were involved in these experiments.
Among them were members from both the Senju and Sarutobi clans.
Yet without exception, none of those participants were ever seen again.
Although it was said that they'd volunteered willingly...
This revelation deeply shook Asuma.
He began doubting the "Will of Fire."
He no longer trusted his own father either.
Often, he even thought his father wasn't a worthy Hokage.
But he couldn't share these thoughts with anyone—not even dared to.
Since then, he picked up smoking.
And since then, he kept sneaking smokes from his dad, only to get caught and end up with a sore ass after another beating.
If given a choice, Asuma truly wouldn't want to grow up.
But fate seemed to play a cruel joke on him, exposing him to many of the ninja world's brutal truths earlier than his peers, making him mature far beyond his years.
So much stayed buried within, finding no one to talk to—Asuma felt so exhausted.
Smoking became his only way to release that loneliness and isolation.
His classmates didn't understand him at all.
They simply walked away when they saw him smoking.
That bastard Obito would even run to report him to the teacher.
And the teacher would then tattle to his father, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
His father didn't need to do that.
His father just beat him with a belt.
Who would believe that the kind-hearted Third Hokage, respected by everyone, beat his own son as if he were a bandit?
"Heh, lonely indeed!"
Asuma instinctively rubbed his still-sore butt.
There should be several bruises there,
All left by his father's leather belt.
That thing really hurt like hell when used.
Asuma suspected that Konoha's interrogation department must have plenty of belts just like it.
The thrashing he took last night haunted him in his dreams.
In his nightmare, he ran as hard as he could to escape home, but no matter where he went, a belt would always appear, lashing him until he begged for mercy.
What kind of messed-up situation was this?
Asuma glanced at a group of laughing students nearby and exhaled a few smoke rings.
Kids who'd never been beaten would soon graduate too,
And once graduated, they'd become real ninja.
But what was so great about being a ninja?
They hadn't even tasted a beating yet, yet already dreamed of charging onto the battlefield.
They'd probably be better off being ramen sellers.
You wouldn't believe just how dark the ninja world can get.
You have no clue how brutal the ninja world really is.
Just then, Kakashi approached.
He couldn't help but persuade, "Try to smoke less. You already get beaten up by Third Hokage-sama regularly—why keep smoking?"
Before Asuma could respond, Yoncher suddenly emerged from behind and said, "Kakashi, you're wrong. Do you really think Asuma is just smoking?"
"This isn't just tobacco. It's the spark that lights up a dark life, the antidote for surrendered souls, the bitter sigh of unwilling hearts, and the ash left when childhood dreams burn away."
Kakashi: "..."
Asuma nodded seriously at Yoncher, feeling like Yoncher was truly his soulmate.
He repeated those words Yoncher had just spoken in his mind, already planning to jot them down in a small notebook.
[Profoundly Moved by Asuma Sarutobi, Emotional Value +5]
Yoncher sighed, "Kakashi, you don't understand Asuma at all. Is he really just smoking? No, he's puffing on loneliness itself. He smokes while waiting for the woman who'll finally convince him to give it up."
"Yoncher," Asuma gazed deeply at him, feeling that only Yoncher truly understood him in this world.
When Yoncher turned his head, he indeed saw a faint blush appear on Yuhi Kurenai's face nearby.
Yuhi Kurenai walked over and took the cigarette from Asuma's mouth, "Smoke less!"
Asuma nodded coolly.
What an odd pair! Kakashi muttered under his breath.
Asuma glanced at Yoncher with concern. "Yoncher-san, are you alright after meeting Lady Tsunade?"
"Oh, I'm fine." Yoncher replied. "She punched me once—nearly broke my bones."
Kakashi and Asuma: "..."
"You were actually hit by Lady Tsunade?" Obito came running over quickly.
Though he was frustrated about losing money earlier and even hoped Yoncher would get hurt, right now Shinji hadn't turned dark yet—he remained the bright, cheerful young man he'd always been.
Genma Shiranui, Ebisu, and others also gathered around.
Some showed genuine concern, some secretly enjoyed the misfortune, while others watched like rubberneckers at a show.
"Although I got hit, I saw it coming, so I put an iron plate over my chest."
Yoncher pulled out the metal plate from inside his clothes and tapped it lightly.
Clang, clang!
Everyone saw a dent shaped like a fist imprint right in the center of that plate.
"" Everyone stared, stunned into silence.
Rin Nohara: "..."
From not far away, Momiji Uchiha also opened her eyes wide in disbelief.
That guy definitely has something wrong upstairs, Kakashi muttered silently as he looked at the plate.
Kakashi simply couldn't understand why Yoncher would risk taking one punch from Lady Tsunade just for 500 ryo from Obito.
Would that even come close to covering the medical bills?
Doesn't he fear getting killed?
Just then, homeroom teacher Ikkaku Umino arrived with Inabi Uchiha.
Inabi Uchiha, a teenager barely four years older than Yoncher, glared at him with undisguised disgust.
Standing directly before Yoncher, he coldly announced, "Uchiha Yoncher, our Clan Head and Elder Fukasaku have gone to the Hokage Building to meet with Third Hokage-sama."
"Elder Hattai asked me to take you there."
"What the heck happened?" All the students nearby immediately exclaimed in shock.
Our clan leader and Elder Fukasaku both went to the Hokage Building?
"Could this matter possibly be related to Uchiha Yoncher?"
"Fine."
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Uchiha Yoncher casually stuffed the iron plate into his clothes.
Inabi Uchiha fell silent. Ikkaku Umino stared blankly. Kakashi and the others just stood there.
Uchiha Yoncher turned his head toward Kakashi and spoke, "Kakashi, you graduated from the Ninja Academy years ago. You became a Chunin at six. Why do you keep coming back here for no reason at all?"
Everyone was momentarily stunned.
Uchiha Yoncher continued, "Because... that's bonds."
"Because... you're lonely too."
Everyone fell silent.
As Uchiha Yoncher and Inabi Uchiha walked away, the students immediately burst into excited chatter.
"Is the whole thing about Uchiha Yoncher flirting with Tsunade really such a huge deal? Even the Hokage and the Uchiha clan leader got involved!"
"It probably isn't just about that, right?"
"Could it have something to do with him disappearing recently?"
"But Teacher Ikkaku said he was on a mission."
"What kind of mission? What mission could a dead-last student who hasn't even graduated yet possibly be sent on?"
Just as he was going to leave, Ikkaku walked back in. "What did you say? Uchiha Yoncher flirted with Tsunade-sama?!"
"Obito, don't run away!"
"Explain everything clearly!"
Meanwhile, Kakashi lowered his head, still pondering what Uchiha Yoncher had said.
Indeed...
It had been many years since he left the Ninja Academy.
But why did he always find himself returning?
Kakashi fell into a daze.
Back then, because of his extraordinary talent, he looked down on others—on Obito, Guy, and the rest—and considered fooling around with them a waste of time.
Yet now, for some unknown reason, his heart no longer rejected those comrades.
On the contrary, whenever free time appeared, he unconsciously returned to the school.
Intentionally or not, he had been drawing closer to these people.
After his father's passing, only by being together with these companions could he feel the slightest warmth.
Not far away, Rin Nohara silently looked at Kakashi before turning her gaze toward the direction Uchiha Yoncher had left.
Uchiha Yoncher followed Inabi Uchiha towards the Hokage Building.
Being summoned by both the Uchiha clan and the Third Hokage didn't surprise him in the least.
After all, human experiments were involved—sixty lives lost.
Among them, was also his own small self—a mere Uchiha child.
Yet obviously, neither the Hokage administration nor the Uchiha clan truly cared about those already deceased, nor about him, an insignificant little brat without much presence.
The Hokage administration parroted the Will of Fire endlessly while wearing their holier-than-thou masks.
The Uchiha clan claimed to cherish bonds above all—but deep down, they were nothing but selfish and extremists.
How could they possibly treat such a matter seriously?
Unless it happened directly to their own selves.
This was nothing more than performative politics—fake concern shown to each other.
The Hokage administration would tell the Uchiha clan: Look how much we care about your missing children!
The Uchiha clan wishes to inform the Hokage administration: we've seen everything, and we're deeply moved!
At this moment, Yoncher, who should have been the center of attention, stood in the middle, supposedly overwhelmed with gratitude for being valued by both sides.
Suddenly
Inabi Uchiha, who was walking ahead, stopped moving and turned around.
"Hmm?"
Yoncher slightly furrowed his brows and glanced around.
This was a relatively open area. Aside from a few large trees and some dilapidated houses, there wasn't a soul in sight.
A faint smirk appeared on Inabi Uchiha's lips as he coldly said, "Kid, today I'm going to teach you a lesson."
Yoncher: "Be my guest."
Inabi Uchiha clenched his teeth, speaking ominously, "[Power] is everything in the ninja world! Strength represents all!"
"You disrespected Elder Hattai yesterday and ran your mouth off in front of the Anbu. That kind of behavior cannot be tolerated!"
"So what?" Yoncher tilted his head.
Stepping back a few paces, Inabi Uchiha calmly said, "Therefore, you need to pay the price and understand your place, realizing the gap between yourself and chunin or jonin!"
Yoncher sighed, "Do you want to fight? Aren't you afraid the clan head and Hokage-sama will get impatient waiting?"
"Fight with you? Please don't misunderstand. I just purely want to give you a beating to teach you a lesson," Inabi Uchiha replied indifferently. "The clan head and Hokage-sama are mainly here to discuss matters regarding the Hell's Valley in the Land of Hot Springs. Your matter is just an extra task, so there's no rush."
"Moreover, giving you a beating won't take much time at all."
Yoncher didn't respond.
Vaguely recalling the original story, after Shisui Uchiha's death, Inabi Uchiha had once accompanied Hattai Uchiha to harass Itachi Uchiha.
Back then, three guys with [Triple Tomoe Sharingan] were instantly defeated by Itachi Uchiha.
But that was about nine years later.
Currently, Inabi Uchiha was still just a chunin without the [Triple Tomoe Sharingan].
"What? Are you scared now?"
Inabi Uchiha spoke, "Everyone must pay the price for their words and attitude!"
"A dead-last who hasn't even graduated from the Ninja Academy yet should know his place!"
"You're really annoying, running your mouth off." Yoncher rubbed his head. "If you're going to beat me up, just hurry up. I'm in a hurry!"
Inabi Uchiha's eye twitched repeatedly, and a vein bulged on his forehead.
He sneered again and again, "Kid, judging by your attitude, you clearly don't understand what a chunin truly is!"
"You also don't realize how powerful the [Double Tomoe Sharingan] can be!"
"Of course—"
"Beating someone like you doesn't even require me to activate my Sharingan!"
With that, Inabi Uchiha proudly straightened his chest and fixed his gaze on Yoncher's eyes.
He wanted to see envy, jealousy, hatred, and unspeakable fear in this kid's eyes—especially from Uchiha Yoncher.
However
Yoncher Uchiha's expression remained unchanged, calm as still water.
What's going on?
Inabi Uchiha was taken aback.
This kid showed no fear toward a chunin, and not even the [Double Tomoe Sharingan] intimidated him?
These kids these days—so clueless it's unbelievable!
Then let me, Inabi Uchiha, show you the might of a Chuunin!
Inabi Uchiha snorted coldly, stepping back several meters and rapidly forming hand seals—the ninja spell-casting gestures!
"Katon: Gōka Messhitsu?" [Great Fireball Jutsu]
Yoncher's eyes narrowed slightly.
Just as a massive fireball erupted from Inabi Uchiha's mouth,
Yoncher slightly raised his right hand, index finger and thumb shaped like a "gun," unleashing a Water Bullet straight at the giant fireball!
"Shhh!"
"Boom!"
The enormous fireball had barely appeared when it exploded with a deafening bang!
Flames exploded outward in every direction.
Several embers splashed onto Inabi Uchiha himself, instantly igniting his clothes!
"What just happened?! How did this occur? I didn't even see him make any seals!"
Panic flickered across Inabi Uchiha's face as he staggered backward, frantically slapping at the flames devouring his clothing.
At that very moment,
Yoncher's figure closed in like a ghost!
He stepped forward with his right foot, pulled his left arm back, and drew his right elbow sharply forward—a rising elbow strike squarely into Inabi Uchiha's chest!
"Thud!"
Inabi Uchiha screamed in pain, flying backward like a cut loose kite, crashing heavily onto the ground!
The impact hit so hard that stars danced before his eyes, his chest and gut convulsing as he gasped for air. He struggled several times but couldn't get up.
[Pain from Inabi Uchiha, Emotional Value 11]
<><><><><><><><>
Thank you for reading, Your support will keep me updating!
~ **4 bonus chapters** this weekend if I get kind comments.