Protected by Makoto's Water Release, Asuma suddenly felt that he had truly behaved terribly before.
Because of his dissatisfaction with the Third Hokage, he had taken out his frustration on Makoto, treating him with a bad attitude the whole time.
Yet Makoto, as a teacher, had been extremely responsible. Even when Asuma refused to cooperate and resisted training, Makoto still cleverly managed to make him complete the training he was supposed to do.
Although the process had been somewhat irritating, it was ultimately for his own good—to make sure he actually trained.
"Shisui, you can go back now," Makoto said.
Seeing Asuma's low spirits, Makoto knew it was his turn.
Shisui nodded silently and returned to continue his training.
Makoto walked up to Asuma, dusted off the dirt on his clothes, and straightened his slightly messy outfit.
Then he crouched down so that he was roughly at the same height as Asuma and looked directly into his eyes.
The two locked gazes.
Asuma quickly lowered his head and spoke in a quiet voice.
"Teacher… I'm sorry."
"What exactly are you apologizing for?" Makoto asked with a gentle smile.
"I shouldn't have taken out my anger toward other people on you… and I shouldn't have kept opposing you and refusing to cooperate."
Asuma didn't dare to look at him.
"You didn't wrong me," Makoto said, his expression gradually turning serious.
"You wronged yourself."
Makoto asked:
"Does it affect me if you don't train?"
Before Asuma could answer, Makoto continued:
"No. Even if you refuse to train and just waste time with me, I'll still earn 2,000 ryō per hour."
"But you're different. If you miss one hour of training, that hour disappears forever—and you gain nothing from it."
For rebellious teenagers like Asuma, the key was to make them feel that everything you did was for their benefit—that you stood on their side, and that they were the ones making mistakes.
"I…"
Asuma hesitated.
The more Makoto spoke, the more regret he felt.
The more regret he felt, the more he realized how badly he had treated him.
The person he had disliked the most before was now rapidly becoming the person he respected the most.
It wasn't an exaggeration to say that Asuma felt Makoto—who had only taught him for a few days—was far better than his Hokage father.
When he half-heartedly followed Makoto's training instructions, Makoto didn't scold him.
Instead, he even praised him for having strong limbs.
If it had been Hiruzen Sarutobi, he probably would have blown his beard and glared in anger while scolding him.
Before even lecturing him, Makoto had first brushed the dust off his clothes and helped tidy them.
He had even crouched down to speak with him at eye level.
Thinking about this, Asuma's eyes gradually reddened.
Why was it that a tutor he had known for only a few days could praise him so freely—
Yet when he excitedly ran home after getting first place, he could never receive praise from his parents?
Did Asuma's first place somehow count less than everyone else's?
The more he thought about it, the more wronged he felt.
Then he remembered how he had just been defeated today by a student who had only recently entered the Ninja Academy.
All those emotions piled together—
And finally burst out.
Even though Asuma tried his best to control himself, tears still began to fall one drop at a time.
He turned his head away, not wanting Makoto to see.
But how could that escape Makoto's notice?
Makoto didn't act immediately.
Instead, he waited a moment, allowing Asuma to release some of his emotions through crying.
Only then did he stand up, pat Asuma's shoulder, and hand him a handkerchief.
"Teacher Hosokawa … you're really kind."
Asuma wiped his tears as he spoke in a choked voice.
"Unlike my parents… they would never do something like this…"
"That's because you only remember the things they did wrong," Makoto said earnestly.
"And you've forgotten the good things they've done for you."
"Think carefully. When you were little, who patiently coaxed you to sleep? Who taught you step by step how to walk and run? Who came in the middle of the night to check if your blanket had fallen off? Who—"
Makoto spoke slowly and meaningfully.
After all, the Third Hokage might be watching.
He couldn't just farm goodwill for himself; he also had to smooth over the father–son relationship a little.
Asuma couldn't reply.
When Makoto said those things, memories like that did appear in his mind.
"You can think about it when you have free time," Makoto continued when he saw Asuma's conflicted expression.
"But for now, we should start training. You didn't forget what you said earlier, did you?"
"Of course I didn't."
Asuma wiped his face clean with the handkerchief.
"From now on, Teacher Makoto, whatever you say to train—I'll train."
In Asuma's mind, Makoto's image had completely transformed.
From a cunning and annoying adult…
Into a perfect teacher who sincerely cared about him.
"For this week, continue practicing Chakra Control. Next week we'll start practicing ninjutsu," Makoto said briefly about the training plan.
Of course, Makoto would never teach Asuma the same way he taught students like Shisui.
There were two reasons.
First, Asuma's identity was sensitive. The Third Hokage might be watching personally—or might have someone watching.
That could expose Makoto's true strength, and for now he didn't want to reveal power beyond a chūnin level.
The second reason was much simpler.
Asuma was only a student, not a disciple.
He wasn't worth investing too much effort into.
Just as Makoto expected—
Inside the Hokage Office, Hiruzen Sarutobi was currently observing their training through the Telescope Technique.
"When it comes to teaching children, Hosokawa really is excellent," Hiruzen said.
Watching Asuma go from resistance to respect, he acknowledged Makoto's ability as a teacher.
He wasn't surprised that Makoto had brought Shisui.
After all, Shisui was a student in Makoto's class.
Even students from other classes liked Makoto so much—there was no reason his own students wouldn't.
"However… to possess this level of ability right after entering the Academy… his talent may even surpass Kagami's."
Hiruzen thought of his former teammate, Uchiha Kagami.
He had been an Uchiha who possessed the Will of Fire and was acknowledged by the Second Hokage.
"It seems I'll have to pay closer attention."
Hiruzen took a puff from his pipe.
Shisui was Kagami's grandson and had outstanding talent. Hiruzen had already been aware of him.
He hoped Shisui could become an Uchiha like Kagami.
Seeing that Asuma had started training again, Hiruzen cancelled the Telescope Technique and continued dealing with official work.
That evening, he used the technique once more to observe Konohagakure, then left the Hokage's Office to go home for dinner.
At the dinner table, Hiruzen asked with a cheerful smile:
"Asuma, are you satisfied with your tutor? I personally selected that teacher for you."
Asuma's chopsticks paused mid-bite.
He couldn't help recalling everything that had happened today.
Before today, his answer would have been:
Makoto is a terrible teacher who tricks his students.
But now—
"Teacher Hosokawa is great," Asuma said. "He's much better at teaching than you."
Even while praising Makoto, he didn't forget to step on his father a little.
Although Makoto had guided him earlier, Asuma's resentment toward Hiruzen wasn't something that could disappear in half a day.
"You little brat, what do you know?" Hiruzen snorted angrily. "I trained the Sannin myself!"
"Clearly Aunt Tsunade and the others were talented to begin with," Asuma shot back.
Although the Legendary Sannin were famous, each of them had walked their own path.
"Sometimes," Asuma continued, imitating Makoto's tone,
"being able to admit your shortcomings is also a sign of wisdom."
Hiruzen was instantly speechless.
If he admitted it, that meant he wasn't as good as Makoto.
If he denied it, that meant he lacked wisdom.
Looking at his father's speechless expression, Asuma felt extremely satisfied.
Even his dinner tasted better.
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