Chapter 199 Rebellious Love and Silent Love
After finishing his training, Sarutobi Asuma had only walked a few steps when he saw Haruko and Kurenai standing side by side in the distance, waving at him.
"What are you doing standing here?" Sarutobi Asuma asked, approaching them with a puzzled look.
Kurenai carefully observed his facial expression and confirmed, "Asuma isn't angry or secretly sad!"
"It seems Asuma is different from Obito; he's a mature kid!"
After Haruko finished speaking with relief, she subconsciously looked around and breathed a sigh of relief when she didn't see Obito Uchiha suddenly jump out.
Lately, she keeps getting caught talking bad about Obito, which has put her on high alert, but she still can't stop talking about him.
Upon hearing their explanation, Sarutobi Asuma's previously hidden frustration resurfaced on his face. "What exactly are you here for?"
Haruko's expression turned serious, and she bowed deeply to him. "I'm sorry, Asuma, I upset you last time!"
Sarutobi Asuma was stunned. He hadn't expected her to come specifically to apologize to him. He waved his hand awkwardly and helplessly, "You didn't do anything wrong, why are you apologizing to me?"
"But I mentioned Asuma's father, which made Asuma leave in anger..."
Sarutobi Asuma interrupted her, "That kind of person doesn't deserve to be called my father!"
His roar stunned Haruko and Kurenai Yuhi, who were unaware that Sarutobi Asuma's resentment towards the Third Hokage had reached such a level.
Just as Kurenai was at a loss, Haruko stepped forward and patted Asuma Sarutobi on the shoulder.
"But I'm not wrong, I am Asuma's aunt."
Her sudden change of topic puzzled Sarutobi Asuma, who asked, "What are you talking about...?"
Haruko looked him straight in the eye. "Because she's Asuma's aunt, you can tell me anything that's bothering you! Aren't we family?"
"family?"
Sarutobi Asuma seemed unfamiliar with the two words, uttering them on his lips for a moment, but still finding it difficult to truly understand the meaning of family.
As the son of the Third Hokage, more than pride and honor, he felt the pressure and loneliness that this fame brought him.
His father was always busy with official duties and it was difficult for him to find specific time to spend with him. His desire to pursue his dreams gradually cooled with each disappointment, and shattered and scattered after his approval was broken.
His mother was also forced to bear the responsibilities and duties of being the "Hokage's wife." When Sarutobi Asuma was still young, he could still catch glimpses of his mother's unconscious gentleness, but now, his increasingly rebellious personality has brought his mother even stricter discipline.
Loneliness, being misunderstood, the frustration of being disciplined...
What exactly is family?
Aren't true family members supposed to support each other and provide the care and understanding that children need to grow up?
But why... why are his family members so indifferent and harsh...?
Sarutobi Asuma once wondered what his relationship with his parents would be like if everything related to Hokage were removed.
His father would personally train him, accompany him through the joys and pains of growing up, and lead him toward his own Will of Fire; his mother, though strict with him, would also give him the gentlest comfort in the world when he was frustrated and vulnerable.
When he was searching for his father, he no longer received "I'm busy, let's talk about it next time"; when he was being naughty, he no longer received "You need to understand that you are the son of the Hokage"; when he was complacent about his progress, he no longer received "You have never truly understood the meaning of 'Jade'".
Unfortunately, "if" is just wishful thinking for every frustrated and unfulfilled person.
Sarutobi Asuma lowered his head, letting dejection and depression completely engulf him.
"Asuma, you're sad but you don't tell your family. That's what will break their hearts," Haruko said, waking him from his own world.
Sarutobi Asuma said calmly, "They won't feel sorry for me at all."
"But I can! I already said, I'm Asuma's aunt!"
Haruko spoke with conviction, but seeing that he still didn't believe her, she simply told them her magical story all at once, which amazed the two of them so much that they almost thought it was a paid story she had made up.
"This is simply too absurd..." Sarutobi Asuma frowned, unable to understand the logic behind it.
Haruko, however, told him not to dwell on these trivial matters, adopting the mature demeanor of an elder, "So don't be shy, just confide in your aunt, Asuma!"
However, considering that she was about the same age as Sarutobi Asuma, her exaggerated performance made Sarutobi Asuma purse his lips and stop his sarcastic remarks.
"Oh! My poor Asma~"
"You've really gone too far..."
Perhaps it was Haruko's witty banter that lightened his mood, or perhaps he secretly thought that if they really had such an interesting aunt, their family would be much more lively. After struggling with his feelings, Sarutobi Asuma chose to tell the two of them about his inner turmoil.
“But Asuma was also proud that Hiruzen was Hokage, wasn’t he?” Haruko tilted her head.
Having been touched upon a secret within himself, Sarutobi Asuma turned his face away in embarrassment, "I didn't..."
Kurenai shook her head helplessly. "Asuma really isn't being honest."
Haruko looked up at the few clouds drifting lazily across the sky and couldn't help but think of Fugaku Uchiha, the head of the Uchiha clan.
When she was young, her frail health caused Fugaku Uchiha a lot of trouble. He not only had to learn how to raise a child, but also had to guard against her serious illness that could harm her health at any time.
But she still grew up, growing up under the not-so-meticulous but caring attention of Uchiha Fugaku.
Perhaps believing that she had developed the ability to protect herself, Fugaku Uchiha gradually shifted his focus to the Uchiha clan, spending most of his time dealing with the clan's trivial matters and the affairs of the police department, leaving the house almost entirely a quiet scene of her alone.
She must have felt lonely like Sarutobi Asuma, but she always understood and was proud of Uchiha Fugaku's "busyness with affairs," because it was his belief and the ambition and future he was willing to work hard for.
“Every time I think about how Fugaku was doing the work he loved and was loved by his people, I feel warm inside. I think Fugaku felt the same way.”
"Isn't this the support and protection from family?"
"Asuma probably thinks the same way, right? Although there's some resentment, there's mostly admiration, looking up at him who shines so brightly. Even from behind, he's incredibly handsome!"
Under Haruko's bright, sparkling gaze, Sarutobi Asuma felt utterly exposed.
They are very similar; both are children sitting alone in empty rooms, longing for love from their families. It is precisely because they are so similar that it makes his rebellious behavior all the more unreasonable.
He was ashamed to express his admiration for his father and his love for his mother; he was always rebellious and defiant, like a heartless fellow.
Haruko continued, "But Asuma didn't do anything wrong either."
"Huh?" Sarutobi Asuma paused, not understanding her words.
Haruko gave him a sly smile. "After all, our guardians are very busy. If we don't act naughty and willful, how can we get them to pay more attention to us?"
Her words made it sound as if Sarutobi Asuma's rebellious behavior was solely to attract his parents' attention.
This realization made Sarutobi Asuma blush with embarrassment.
“So…” Haruko patted her bottom and stood up from the grass.
"Asma should love them with both rebellion and understanding, just as they love us silently and deeply."
******
The list of those who have received thanks as of March 30, 2024:
grateful--
K, the one who sent the update reminder charm
Drunken Longing. The boba milk tea they sent.
Lin Laoji, a love letter sent by Line 1209
Thumbs up for the yam cake with jujube paste filling!
Yuan Kun who loves potato shortbread, Jin Xiula from Nanning, Tang Xiaoyu from the North, Xiang Yi Sai Gao in red, Ran Xia Q, Sprite-flavored pig, performance before parting, Rabbit Xi Beibei, Night Owl Patita from Shidu, Asiba, purple sweet potato porridge, Cang Yuecao, I didn't eat mango, the smoky Gu Xiong, Yue...., Mo Wentian who loves red bean jelly, Yun Cheyun from Gu Mo Island, early summer starry sky, green mountains and burning flowers, yyim, Xuan Chun, why did I get Xiao's gift of "Powering for Love" in the big pity draw?
Thank you for the gifts! The author is so touched! Asuma, the rebellious cool guy, wall-slams (￣︶￣)y
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