Initially, Asuma couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief when he saw that Kurenai was merely discussing ninjutsu with Naraku.
He tried to console himself, to not think too deeply.
It's just a discussion between peers. Yes… just peers.
But!
If he hadn't shown up just now, Kurenai might have been on her way to Naraku's house!
And worse—her expression when talking to Naraku wasn't one he liked seeing. Especially when the man she was talking to wasn't him.
"Kurenai, you should stay away from him. Yesterday, he caused a huge incident!" Asuma exaggerated his words.
"Naraku? What happened yesterday?" Kurenai avoided Asuma's eyes and looked at Naraku with concern.
Her burgundy eyes were filled with worry.
She remembered that Naraku had warned her to be careful earlier. Was it connected?
"!" Asuma's expression turned green with jealousy.
Kurenai had never looked at him with such a worried gaze!
"Kurenai, you don't know? Yesterday, he killed the leader of the Cloud Shinobi diplomatic team. Now, Kumogakure is demanding the village hand over the killer."
"It's impossible. Naraku wouldn't kill someone without reason," Kurenai said, shaking her head. She turned toward Naraku again, her eyes searching for answers.
"Last night," Naraku began calmly, "the leader of the Cloud team tried to kidnap Hinata Hyuga, the heiress of the clan. I stopped him, but he committed suicide before interrogation."
"So what?" Naraku asked Asuma with a faint smile.
Kurenai whispered softly, "Naraku…"
"Kurenai, you won't have a future with him. Kumogakure is pressuring the council, and he's just a member of the Hyuga branch family. No one will protect him. In the end, the village will hand him over!"
Clap clap clap.
Naraku mockingly applauded.
Unfortunately, only the three of them could hear Asuma's words. If he'd dared say that in front of the council last night, the Third Hokage would've been so embarrassed he might have died on the spot from shame!
Pity. Those "wonderful words" would never be heard by others.
Asuma ignored the sarcasm and continued, "Kurenai, even if nothing happened yesterday, he's just a branch member. He'll be nothing more than a servant for life. But me? I will become the next Hokage!"
Servant.
Kurenai's expression twitched. She turned to look at Naraku instinctively.
From what she knew of the Hyuga clan, being called a servant was the gravest insult one could hurl at a branch member.
But to her surprise, Naraku's expression didn't change.
It was as if he had accepted the truth—branch members are mere guard dogs, loyal only to the main house.
Then Naraku smiled and said, "Asuma, let me ask you a question."
"…What?"
"Why do you think I'm in serious trouble?"
Asuma blinked, confused at first, but quickly regained his stance. "Isn't it obvious? You killed the Cloud envoy. Kumogakure won't stay quiet about this!"
"So you're saying I'm in trouble because I killed a Cloud shinobi?" Naraku asked again.
"Of course!"
"But isn't Konoha the strongest shinobi village in the world?" Naraku asked casually. "I didn't make a single mistake. The Cloud shinobi violated our laws first. Why should we treat this as a disaster?"
"..." Asuma's expression stiffened.
He realized Naraku had a point.
Yes… wasn't Konoha the victor of all three Shinobi Wars?
Why were they acting like they needed to apologize?
"From my perspective," Naraku continued, "it's because of your environment. You've been conditioned to think this way."
Though he didn't name anyone, both Asuma and Kurenai understood who he was talking about.
The Third Hokage.
It was like a child being bullied in the streets, only to be slapped by his own parents when he returned home—then forced to apologize even when he wasn't at fault. A logic that cared more about appearances than justice.
"And Asuma," Naraku added, "you can't become Hokage."
Asuma's eyes narrowed.
"Your brother, Sarutobi Shinnosuke, was the commander of the Anbu for years. You can't compare to him."
"Even he doesn't have the prestige or qualifications to be Hokage."
Yes, the title of Hokage can be passed on, but only if the heir has enough strength and reputation.
The Fourth Raikage is the son of the Third, but he's strong enough to stand on his own.
The Sarutobi brothers? One commands respect. The other... complains to women.
"If the next war doesn't start, you'll never escape your brother's shadow," Naraku continued coldly.
Asuma's lips parted to agree, but then Naraku asked,
"By the way… Asuma, did you even participate in the Third Great Ninja War?"
"YOU—!" Asuma's eyes turned red with rage. That was his sore spot.
He never fought on the battlefield—but he believed his strength matched any other Jonin!
"Naraku, I challenge you! Winner stays with Kurenai. Loser backs off!"
Naraku blinked. Was this guy serious?
"A child," he murmured.
He's seventeen… and still acting like this?
"You—!" Asuma pulled out his chakra blade and rushed forward—