DON'T ASK ABOUT MY PAST

“You listened, right?” Kazuma’s voice was steady, but his eyes searched Hisagi’s face carefully.

Hisagi swallowed, fingers twisting nervously. “I-I…?”

Kazuma gave a small nod, understanding his fear. “Okay, I think you listened to the full conversation. I can’t do anything now. And where is Sakura? Why didn’t you go with her and listen beside the wall?”

Hisagi bit his lip, recalling the exchange clearly. “When I said I didn’t want to go, she arrogantly said—
**
“Okay, I am going. You just listen to boring conversation. Uncle is only tolerating my dad because of his friend, and I don’t understand why he didn’t eat just because one person died.”

“Hey, do you know the value of one person’s life? When someone close to you disappears, then you will understand.”

She said sadly, “I know that feeling. I’m just saying it’s not Dad’s fault. Why does he suffer himself?” Then she left...
**
Hisagi’s voice softened, eyes distant. “That happened, Uncle.”

Kazuma frowned, folding his arms. ‘I don’t understand what she’s thinking. Even when I teach her, the way she talks—sometimes like she loves her dad, sometimes like she hates him.’

“Uhum…” Kazuma coughed lightly. “Okay, I understand. Well, she’s been like that from the start.”

As Kazuma began turning away, Hisagi called out with innocent hesitation, “Uncle, is it really that you won’t teach Sakura now? And you said you would convince the Master? But in the room, you said you lost to the Master.”

Kazuma smirked, glancing back. “Who said he didn’t come?”

He sighed, voice calm. “He’ll come, he just needs some time. I know him better than you do. Don’t underestimate me, okay?”

Hisagi’s eyes sparkled with curiosity. “Then Master will come with us, right?”

“Probably.”

“You’re just teasing me, right, Uncle? Okay, can you please teach me one ninja art, Uncle? I want to look cool.”

Kazuma’s expression softened as he recalled, [“I want to look cool. When I learn ninja arts, I’ll show my power.”]

With a gentle smile, he asked, “Okay, which art do you want me to teach you?”

“Really? Anything? ...Okay, can you teach me the de-aging art Master used?”

Kazuma’s eyes narrowed with mock anger. “You punk! I asked out of pity, and you ask for my own art? Only a few members can do it, and few can detect it… How dare you—wait, what use is it to you to learn that art?”

Hisagi hesitated, quiet.

Kazuma scoffed with a sarcastic grin. “Tch, I don’t want to say it, but you’re so cute and innocent—girls will just fall for you. Why are you even asking?”

Hisagi shifted uncomfortably. “That—that’s the only art I knew because the Master used it. I haven’t seen him use any other art, just seen him use kata… oops.”

Kazuma grinned. “So you saw him practicing.”

Hisagi’s voice grew sad. “I know I can’t keep secrets well… Well, I already said that.” He sighed, then continued, “I saw Master one day and felt a powerful aura coming from him. From that day, I decided he was my master. I thought, ‘Why is the Master behaving like that in front of his daughter?’ I knew you also knew the Master's past, Uncle… Well, I won’t ask anything about that. You both have your own reasons. But I’m curious about one thing. Can I ask?”