Naruto, are you all so good at self-seduction

"Hey, I didn't know you didn't like sweets," Asuma said, glancing at the dango on the table, which remained untouched by Oboro.

"Do you want to switch to a different shop?" he offered sheepishly.

"It's fine," Oboro replied evenly, looking at Asuma.

"I'll just order something lighter," he added.

"I thought this place was nice, and I often come here with friends," Asuma chuckled awkwardly. "Since I'm treating you to a meal, I should have asked about your preferences beforehand. I really didn't consider it properly."

Oboro said nothing, simply picking up his teacup to take a sip.

The dango shop didn't have much in the way of light food either; Oboro ordered a few items casually and waited for them to arrive.

"Do you mind if I smoke?" Asuma asked, pulling out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter from his pocket.

"Sure."

As the smoke wafted into the air, it drifted toward Oboro. The smell of cigarettes made him wrinkle his nose slightly but he didn't say anything.

"What's wrong?" Asuma noticed Oboro looking at him, chuckling.

"You remind me a lot of the Third Hokage," Oboro said.

"Uh… smoking, you mean?" Asuma paused, looking momentarily stunned before chuckling again.

"It's a habit I picked up a few years back, and I have to admit, my dad influenced me some. I just hope Konohamaru doesn't pick it up too," Asuma added, a hint of concern creeping into his voice.

"Konohamaru?"

"Yeah, he's my nephew, just two years old this year. My dad has high hopes for him, which is why he chose that name," Asuma explained.

When their food arrived, Oboro's order came to the table—a variety of dishes including fern cake, pumpkin dango, and red bean soup, all of which were sweet but somewhat acceptable.

"That's definitely a name born of great expectations," Oboro nodded.

"Kids are adorable, and I'd love to take you to meet him sometime."

"Sure, today would work," Oboro replied.

Asuma's eating momentarily froze, and he couldn't help but chuckle, "You really catch me off guard every time you speak."

The last time he had casually suggested a meal, Oboro had taken him at his word, and now he was suggesting meeting Konohamaru?

Oboro inquired, "Is that not okay?"

"Of course, it's no problem at all!" Asuma laughed at the absurdity of their exchanges.

"Good," Oboro nodded and resumed sipping his red bean soup.

"…"

Asuma felt a mixture of exasperation and admiration as he watched Oboro, who was casually dressed but still managed to exude an air of calm detachment that was strikingly attractive.

"Besides your quirky personality, a handsome guy like you should be quite popular with the girls," Asuma commented casually.

"Used to be a little," Oboro replied neutrally.

Asuma laughed, "Girls tend to swoon over guys like you. Kakashi was pretty popular back in the day, similar to me."

Oboro didn't engage further. In his school days, he hadn't considered himself "cool" at all; his demeanor was merely average, and he had not attracted as many girls—as most were enamored with Shisui instead.

Throughout his time at the Ninja Academy and as a young ninja, Shisui had always been the charming one, with friends aplenty. Oboro had always been more of a lone figure.

"Have any girls confessed to you?" Asuma asked, intrigued.

Oboro paused mid-bite, then answered flatly, "Yeah."

"What did you do?" Asuma leaned forward, eager to know.

"I turned them down," Oboro stated matter-of-factly.

"Eh, why's that?" Asuma was genuinely perplexed.

Oboro fixed a steady gaze on Asuma, raising an eyebrow. "Aren't you aware? You're pretty popular too, so this dilemma shouldn't be foreign to you."

"Uh…" Asuma froze for a moment, then broke into a sheepish laugh.

"Right, it's definitely a hassle, huh? Declining was a smart move; you definitely should."

He popped a dango into his mouth, chewing thoroughly as though it were a matter of grave importance.

Being handsome is great, isn't it?!

"Hey, mister, mister." Just then, Asuma felt a light tap on his shoulder.

Turning, he saw a girl around twelve or thirteen standing there, looking at him with a shy expression.

"Mister, my cup rolled under your table. Could you help me get it?"

"M-Mister?!" Asuma gasped, stunned and slightly embarrassed, making the girl flinch.

Oboro glanced beneath the table and indeed saw a cup resting near his feet. He quickly bent down and picked it up.

"Uh… I'm only twenty, so calling me 'mister' feels a bit…" Asuma tried to explain with a forced smile.

Oboro handed the cup to the girl, resting it gently at the edge of the table.

"Thank you… big brother," the girl said, taking the cup and turning a shade of bright red before leaving.

Asuma looked at Oboro, face pale. "What just happened?"

"What's wrong?" Oboro raised an eyebrow.

Maybe it was because he was starting to grow facial hair, but Asuma now looked a good ten years older than he actually was.

"Nothing!" Asuma replied, embarrassed.

When they finished their meals, Asuma bore an expression of impending doom as he settled the bill.

"Alright, let's go to your place," Oboro said once they were out of the dango shop.

Asuma momentarily froze, then recalled the intent behind their visit—to see Konohamaru.

"Okay."

He had no objections to bringing Oboro to see his nephew.

The Hokage residence was an old-fashioned building with a vintage feel, but the courtyard was neat and tidy, with all clutter organized to one side and leaves swept into a pile.

"Ah, young Asuma, you're back!" A middle-aged woman dressed plainly emerged from the living room, smiling at Asuma.

"Yeah, this is my friend, Kanzuki Oboro," Asuma introduced.

"This is my family's housekeeper, Ashida Miho."

"Hello," Miho bowed slightly toward Oboro.

"Is Konohamaru around?" Asuma asked.

"He's playing in the living room."

Oboro followed Asuma to the living room, where a young boy sat on the floor surrounded by toys.

"Uncle!" The little boy exclaimed excitedly as he spotted Asuma, struggling to stand and running over with all his might.

"It's Uncle Asuma," Asuma corrected with a smile, ruffling Konohamaru's hair.

"This is Konohamaru," he told Oboro.

Konohamaru took hold of Asuma's leg, glancing up at Oboro with wide, curious eyes.

After a moment's thought, Oboro stretched out a hand toward Konohamaru. The boy looked at him curiously, then placed a wooden shuriken into Oboro's palm.

"It seems he doesn't dislike you," Asuma remarked.

"Yeah."

"Why don't you play with him for a bit?"

Konohamaru happily scurried back to his toy pile, settling down among the wooden tools.

Oboro slipped off his shoes, stepping onto the wooden floor, and sat down in front of Konohamaru.

"Looks like you've brought back a playmate for little Konohamaru," Miho said, watching from the doorway.

"Yeah, Oboro mentioned he wanted to come and see Konohamaru."

"Feel free to play; I'll go about my chores."

Most of Konohamaru's toys were wooden versions of shinobi tools—kunai, shuriken, and short blades, all safe without sharp edges.

These items didn't exactly excite Oboro, who quietly watched as Konohamaru played with them energetically, swinging the kunai around while providing his own sound effects.

"Is the Hokage not home?" Oboro asked, glancing at Asuma.

Asuma paused, looking thoughtful. "Around this time, Dad is usually in the office handling paperwork."

"Working on a weekend must be tiring," Oboro remarked, twirling a wooden kunai in his hand, which seemed to dazzle Konohamaru.

"Being Hokage comes with the territory; it can't be helped," Asuma chuckled. "Occasionally, he does get a break."

"Still, considering his age, I think he should retire," Asuma added, sighing.

"No one does the job better than the Third Hokage," Oboro countered.

Asuma merely smiled. "If only Lord Fourth were still alive."

Oboro paused for a moment. "Yeah, if Lord Fourth were still around, there probably wouldn't be so many problems."

"What's that?" Asuma asked curiously.

"Nothing," Oboro shook his head.

"Have you ever considered taking your father's position?"

Asuma blinked in surprise, a wry smile crossing his face. "I hardly have that capability; there are so many more qualified individuals in the village."

That didn't even account for his father's two other disciples; even among the younger generation, he realized he didn't measure up as a formidable ninja.

"But I think the Hokage hopes you'll grow into someone great."

In the original story, Asuma would eventually become the teacher for a new generation of Ino-Shika-Cho, thanks to the Third Hokage's judgment.

"I'm not interested in being Hokage," Asuma shook his head.

"Leadership of an entire village isn't something I'm cut out for; I'm more of a pawn protecting the Jade Guardian."

"Jade Guardian…" Oboro looked at Asuma inquisitively.

"Ah, it just means protecting the Hokage," Asuma clarified.

"…I see."

It appeared his ambitions were rather limited…

Oboro mused.

Konohamaru handed Oboro another wooden kunai, and seeing him perform tricks made the little boy beam with excitement.

As the sun shifted in the sky, the golden rays began turning to a warm yellow hue.

Asuma was a bit in awe of Oboro's patience, able to sit there and entertain a child with toys that seemed rather dull.

At that moment, he noticed a figure entering through the front door.

"Dad, you're back!" he greeted casually without standing up.

Oboro, noticing the cue, set the wooden kunai down and stood, taking a step forward.

"Hokage-sama."

As the Third Hokage stepped into the living room, he recognized the familiar face of the young man before him.

"Oboro?" he exclaimed, surprised.

"Oboro is who I brought back; he said he wanted to see Konohamaru, so he spent the afternoon playing with him," Asuma explained, stretching and feeling more relaxed.

"He really shows some remarkable patience."

"Come with me to the study."

"Sure."

Asuma watched Oboro get called by his father, puzzled, but then hurried over to appease Konohamaru, who looked like he might cry.

In the Study.

Hiruzen casually stripped off his robe and hung it up before sitting down in his chair.

"What do you need? And why did you spend the time playing with a little kid?" he asked.

"Couldn't hide it from you," Oboro lifted his gaze calmly, meeting the Hokage's eyes.

———— 🌟🌟 ————

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