Konohamaru nodded without a second thought.
"No problem! We agreed this was a challenge. Maybe I'll completely crush you, but Kakashi said so. You can decide the rules and the location. Or, if you really think it's too much trouble, we can compete right here! But this is the entrance to the Ninja Academy. If you lose and make a complete fool of yourself, too many people will see it."
Ye Lan sneered. This brat really fears nothing. Still, he liked that kind of personality. No wonder Naruto had grown fonder of Konohamaru and become good brothers with him.
Ye Lan smiled and said, "All right, Konohamaru. Since this is a challenge between the two of us, I'll lay it out. The place I have in mind is the forest outside the school. Kakashi will serve as the witness for our match. No matter who wins or loses, we have to follow the rules. What do you think?"
Konohamaru tilted his little head and thought for a moment. Then he wrinkled his nose and said, "No problem. We'll do it your way."
Kakashi smiled and asked, "Ye Lan, since Konohamaru is interested too, if you have no objections, let's go to the forest together. Iruka isn't in that much of a hurry anyway. We can talk after you finish your match."
"Okay!"
The three of them immediately agreed and headed together to the large forest outside the village, where Naruto often trained.
Once they arrived, Konohamaru stood before Ye Lan and said, "Pretty boy, go ahead. How do you want to compete? And what are your conditions? Say whatever you want."
Ye Lan chuckled. "A competition is nothing more than deciding who wins and who loses."
"How about this? Since you said you wanted to compete and challenge me, let's not fight today. Let's compare something else instead. What do you think?"
Naturally, Konohamaru had no objections.
He raised an eyebrow and finally said, "Go on, then. How do you want to compete?"
"So that means you agree?"
Konohamaru laughed disdainfully. "What's there to be afraid of? Do I need to play any tricks just to compete with you?"
That was exactly what Ye Lan had been waiting to hear. He immediately said, "Good! Then we'll compete in Ninjutsu!"
"There's nothing particularly special about me. I just like secretly learning other people's Ninjutsu. Go ahead and show me whatever Ninjutsu you're best at. If I can learn all of it within the time limit you set, then you lose to me!"
"If I still haven't learned all of that Ninjutsu within the time limit you set, then I lose to you. How about it? That doesn't count as breaking the rules, does it?"
Konohamaru thought for a moment, but ultimately shook his head.
Ye Lan smiled. "What's wrong, brat? Don't tell me you're scared?"
Konohamaru chuckled. "You think you can fool me with that little scheme?"
Ye Lan asked in confusion, "Huh? How am I fooling you? Didn't we agree to compete?"
Konohamaru continued, "Tch, you think I don't understand your little scheme? You just want to secretly learn my Ninjutsu, yet you make it sound so righteous."
Ye Lan was displeased when he heard that and said, "Heh! You little brat, you're so much younger than me. How many kinds of Ninjutsu could you possibly know? Besides, the Ninjutsu you know are probably all C-rank or some low-grade stuff that can't even be shown off. You'd lose before you could even use them in a fight. Unlike me—I've learned all kinds of powerful Ninjutsu. I could pull out any one of them and completely crush you."
Before you continue