Chapter 12 – Just Another Day
"Eh? What are you guys doing here?" Obito shouted, eyes wide as he spotted two familiar figures at the academy gate.
"Obito, can you keep it down a bit?" Hatake Yusuke sighed softly, noticing the parents turning their heads at the sudden outburst.
"Idiot," Kakashi muttered bluntly, as indifferent as ever.
"What was that?! You bastard, Kakashi! You wanna fight?!" Obito barked, face flushing with frustration.
Kakashi didn't even bother replying. He just walked past them and headed straight to class.
"One day, when I awaken my Sharingan, I swear I'll beat you to a pulp! Remember that!" Obito yelled with burning determination.
"Calm down, Obito. Let's just head inside," Yusuke said gently. "Kakashi and I are only here to check on you guys, not to start a fight."
"Seriously... how can two brothers be this different?" Obito grumbled, glaring at Kakashi's retreating back.
"Haha, try not to stress over it too much," Yusuke replied with a tired smile. These two were the definition of natural-born rivals.
"Hey, everyone! Look who's back!" Obito called out, waving toward the classroom.
"Ugh, loud as always. Pipe down, last place loser," Inuzuka Fuji scoffed.
"Long time no see, everyone," Yusuke greeted with a warm smile.
The moment Yusuke stepped out from behind Obito, the class froze—then suddenly burst into motion, rushing to greet him.
They bombarded him with questions—what was it like being a real ninja, going on missions, how exciting it must be. Yusuke answered each one patiently.
"Yusuke, when did you get back? Rin and I dropped by your house a few times, but only Kakashi was there," a girl said softly—Kurenai Yūhi had just arrived.
"Ah, Kurenai... I just got back from a mission a few days ago. I haven't been home much," Yusuke replied, scratching his head awkwardly.
"Then... can I treat you to a meal after school today?" she asked, cheeks slightly red.
"Treat me? Why?" Yusuke looked confused.
Wasn't it supposed to be the guy who treats the girl? (—A sincere and straightforward man with zero sense for romance. As straight as a katana.)
"I asked if you want to or not!" Kurenai huffed, clearly annoyed.
All she wanted was to spend some time alone with him. But this guy was hopelessly dense.
"Ah, no need to trouble yourself. I'm training with Kakashi tonight anyway. But if you don't mind, how about coming to my place? You can try my cooking," Yusuke offered casually.
He knew Kurenai liked him, but honestly had no idea how to handle that kind of thing.
"Really!?" Her eyes sparkled with joy.
She was briefly disappointed, but her spirits bounced right back at the unexpected invitation.
"Of course," Yusuke nodded.
"You... can cook?" Kurenai blinked.
"Yeah. When Dad's out on missions, it can take him ten days to half a month to come back. If I didn't learn how to cook, Kakashi and I would've starved."
Well—technically, they wouldn't. Sakumo always left more than enough money to eat gourmet every day for years.
Still, Yusuke had learned to cook early on. Eating out wasn't always fun.
"Hatake Yusuke! I challenge you to a duel!" someone suddenly roared.
"Ignore him, Yusuke! Don't mind him!" Kurenai quickly snapped, visibly irritated.
Hearing her side with Yusuke only fueled the fire.
"Hatake Yusuke! If you're a real man, accept my challenge!" Asuma Sarutobi barked, his temper flaring.
His father constantly praised Yusuke as a rare genius, and now the girl he liked was clearly close with him too. There was no way he could just let it go.
"...Fine, I accept," Yusuke replied flatly, almost like sighing.
Kurenai let out a deep sigh. She knew all too well that Yusuke's strength far surpassed even Kakashi's.
"Begin!" a classmate shouted, instantly turning into a self-appointed referee.
Asuma quickly threw two kunai, sharp and fast. He was cautious—his father's praise of Yusuke wasn't just lip service—but he still believed that if he stayed alert, he had a chance.
Yusuke dodged with ease, but Asuma had already flung another pair to block his retreat, then formed hand seals rapidly.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
The class gasped.
"Whoa, Asuma's amazing! The Hokage's son is really on another level. That's a C-rank Ninjutsu! Only Kakashi can match that! If he hadn't been held back, he'd be a Genin already!"
The massive fireball barreled toward Yusuke—but just before it hit, a faint pop echoed, and in its place was a charred log.
'A Substitution Technique…? But I didn't even see him form a seal!' Asuma's eyes darted around.
"Let's wrap this up. I've got stuff to do," came Yusuke's voice from above, hidden in the thick trees.
"Lightning Release: Multi-Lightning Sphere!"
He had learned the technique from a Kumogakure ninja he recently fought. It was just a C-rank jutsu, but when combined with high-speed movement, it was highly effective.
"Damn it...! Earth Release: Earth Wall!" Asuma rushed to form hand seals.
"Shave."
A flash of light zipped past.
"Asuma, you've lost." A kunai pressed against his throat.
"Asuma was too slow..." several classmates whispered in awe.
"I lost..." Asuma grit his teeth, then exhaled in defeat.
— — —
That little scuffle was just a minor twist in an otherwise ordinary day.
After school, Yusuke picked up some groceries from the market before heading home to train his little brother.
"That's enough training. Just keep repeating and improving on your own now. Oh, Kakashi—want to learn a new technique I just came up with? It's really cool."
"What kind of technique?" Kakashi asked, intrigued.
Yusuke said nothing. He drew three swords—two in his hands, one clenched in his mouth.
"Three-Sword Style: Demon Slash."
A boulder, nearly two meters wide, was split cleanly in half in a blink.
"Want to learn?"
"No thanks. I'll stick to the Six Styles. That... doesn't suit me," Kakashi said, shaking his head.
It was tempting. The technique was powerful, and swordsmanship ran in the Hatake bloodline.
But just the thought of biting a sword turned him off. Not because it was awkward—but because he wore a mask. That was reason enough.
"Fair enough. No pressure. I'll start cooking. Kurenai's coming over for dinner tonight," Yusuke said, understanding.
He knew not everyone could do everything. Even if Kakashi copied a thousand jutsu one day, he'd only become an elite Jōnin in the end.
Sakumo Hatake, on the other hand—just with his sword alone, was feared even by the Sannin.
"Oh..." Kakashi mumbled.
— — —
That night, Kurenai and Rin came over.
"Excuse us... Thanks for having us," Rin said shyly.
"No problem. I cooked extra today," Yusuke replied casually.
"Dinner's almost ready. Rin, could you call Kakashi? He's still training out back."
"I'll do it!" Kurenai offered quickly.
"No need. I'll get him," Yusuke replied politely.
Soon, the table was filled with delicious dishes.
"Wow! What is this? It's amazing!" Kurenai's eyes sparkled.
"That's Braised Lion's Head. My own creation," Yusuke said without a hint of modesty.
"This one too—everything's delicious!"
Kurenai and Rin were completely blown away by the taste. Even if it was only the surface of true culinary mastery, it was more than enough to win their hearts.
"I'm... so full..." Rin said, rubbing her belly, a little embarrassed.
"Can I come again next time?" Kurenai asked, blushing.
"Of course you can," Yusuke chuckled.
"All right, I'll walk you both home. Kakashi, take Rin."
"...Yeah," Kakashi replied flatly.
"Okay then, Kurenai, I'll walk you back," Yusuke said.
They strolled quietly together until they reached her house.
"Um... Want to come up for a bit? Maybe have a drink?" Kurenai asked, cheeks glowing red.
"Sorry. Kakashi's still waiting for me at home."
"I see..." Kurenai mumbled—then suddenly leaned up on her toes and planted a quick kiss on his cheek before darting into her house.
"...This girl," Yusuke muttered, stunned, gently touching the spot where she kissed him.
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