Defeating Asuma Was All Acting

A few days later.

Ninja Academy.

"Haven't you noticed that Asuma has become much more cheerful these past few days?"

"It does seem that way."

Ebisu, Shiranui Genma, Namiashi Raidō, and several other familiar faces gathered together.

They discussed Asuma.

"Taijutsu class, aaaoooh~~~!!"

In the middle of the training ground, inside a white circle.

After letting out a howl, Asuma took off his shirt, revealing a body... packed with solid muscle.

On the surface.

Asuma looked quite skinny and trim, like a pretty boy who lived off his family's influence.

But in truth.

Once he took off his clothes, he became...

"Asuma Gorilla."

Hyuga Sho sighed.

Asuma was much taller than Kakashi.

But shorter than Morino Ibiki.

In terms of physical strength, none of the little kids Hyuga Sho had beaten up could compare to him.

In an instant, Asuma transformed into a musclebound gorilla and lunged forward with a grapple—

He seized his opponent in a bear hug.

Then, with a fling!

Bang!!

Asuma fell to the ground and pinned his opponent beneath his armpit.

"Kid, do you give up, huh?"

Slap! Slap! Slap!

His nearly suffocated opponent kept slapping the floor to signal surrender.

"The winner... Asuma!"

Funano Daihoku recorded Asuma's taijutsu sparring score without expression.

"In terms of strength... probably only Morino Ibiki in the whole class can compare with him."

Funano Daihoku quickly judged Asuma's true strength.

"Next, Hyuga Sho."

Funano Daihoku arranged for Hyuga Sho to face Asuma.

Hyuga Sho felt that.

His homeroom teacher was persecuting him.

"How did I offend him..."

As he passed by, Funano Daihoku placed a large hand on Hyuga Sho's shoulder.

He said, "Hyuga Sho, good luck."

"..."

Hyuga Sho did not quite understand, but he still nodded.

As he watched his student's retreating back, the corner of Funano Daihoku's mouth lifted in a barely noticeable curve.

"Although Hyuga Sho's innate talent is inferior to that of Hyuga Mami and Kakashi, he has considerable combat talent... as well as diligence far beyond ordinary people. His future achievements may not be lacking at all."

What Hyuga Sho did not know was...

His homeroom teacher, Funano Daihoku, looked utterly ordinary, giving off the air of a background extra.

But in fact.

Funano Daihoku possessed a special talent.

An eye for talent.

He had eyes skilled at discovering the shining qualities in his students.

If not for that.

It would probably have been difficult for him to enter this class filled with young elites.

At first.

Based on the enrollment materials provided by the other teachers.

Funano Daihoku had mistaken Hyuga Sho for the kind of Dead Last who held everyone back.

But after personally witnessing Hyuga Sho's performance over the past four-plus months.

He gradually came to recognize Hyuga Sho's efforts.

And discovered Hyuga Sho's talent for combat.

Funano Daihoku had already acknowledged this student in his heart.

"Letting Hyuga Sho spar more often with other outstanding students will become valuable learning experience for him."

Funano Daihoku was not persecuting Hyuga Sho.

He was helping this student in the way he believed was right.

"Hyuga Sho."

Inside the white chalk circle.

Asuma stared directly at Hyuga Sho.

"Although you are a man I, Asuma, acknowledge, don't forget that ninjas are also competitors."

Asuma started putting on airs again.

Or perhaps his mouth said one thing while his body did another.

"Today, let me see your true strength!"

"Sure."

Hyuga Sho smiled.

—But that was impossible.

Why would he risk his life without any benefit?

Especially against the son of Konohagakure's strongest man.

At that moment, Yūhi Kurenai coughed from the side. "Ahem..."

Hyuga Sho immediately wiped the smile from his face, his expression becoming incomparably serious. "Asuma! I will defeat you with all my strength!"

Hyuga Mami: "..."

Yūhi Kurenai's commissioned task was still ongoing.

Life could not be smooth sailing all the time.

There also had to be setbacks.

As long as Hyuga Sho agreed to blunt Asuma's edge and let him experience the taste of defeat.

Yūhi Kurenai would teach Hyuga Mami the "D-Rank Genjutsu: Hell Viewing Technique."

That previous E-Rank Genjutsu.

Honestly, was not enough to offset the Sixteen Trigrams Palms Hyuga Mami had taught.

"Begin!"

At Funano Daihoku's command.

The spar... began.

Hyuga Sho and Asuma each took a few steps back and formed hand seals.

This hand seal was the "Opposition Seal."

It represented the ritual of beginning a battle.

The next moment.

The two lowered their arms and charged at each other.

Hyuga Sho and Asuma grabbed each other's arms.

Asuma's strength far surpassed that of everyone Hyuga Sho had challenged before.

However.

"Still a little lacking."

Compared to the Iwagakure Female Ninja, Kōseki, Asuma was slightly inferior.

Still, being able to rival an adult at such a young age.

Asuma truly did possess extraordinary natural strength.

"Ha~~~~!!"

As Hyuga Sho "strained" with all his might.

The veins on his forehead bulged, and his cheeks turned red from exertion.

Step by step, Hyuga Sho pushed Asuma backward.

"Damn it!"

Asuma abruptly braked and stopped his feet.

Seeing that he was about to leave the circle, Asuma was extremely shocked!

So...

"Are you two playing sumo?"

Kakashi, the white-haired, masked boy with an unbearably cocky expression, spoke in utter disbelief.

From his perspective.

Asuma and Hyuga Sho both had brute strength.

But so what?

Ninjas had never settled victory or defeat through strength alone.

Probably...

This was just two weaklings pecking at each other.

"Yaahhh~~~!"

Asuma had no time to listen to Kakashi's mockery.

His face flushed red as he shoved Hyuga Sho with all his might.

"Aaahhh~~~!!"

Hyuga Sho also displayed Facial Art no less impressive than Asuma's.

After all...

It was all acting.

An inch.

Then another inch.

With great "difficulty," Hyuga Sho made Asuma slowly move toward the edge of the circle.

In the end.

The winner was Hyuga Sho.

"Huff, huff, huff..."

The two sat on the ground, panting heavily.

Of course.

Asuma was genuinely out of breath, while Hyuga Sho was only pretending.

[Doka Degree: 14%]

Seeing the Doka Degree increase.

Hyuga Sho felt very gratified.

Yūhi Kurenai's Genjutsu resistance training was highly effective.

Together with the "Konoha Senpu" he had learned from Namiashi Raidō earlier.

His Doka Degree had reached this value.

Now that Hyuga Sho had become stronger again, he naturally defeated Asuma with ease.

"Who would have thought..."

"Hyuga Sho actually beat Asuma!"

The surroundings fell silent for a moment before discussions erupted one after another.

Although the students all flattered and fawned over Asuma.

They all knew that Asuma's strength was genuinely great; that could not be faked.

Therefore.

Every gaze turned toward Hyuga Sho, all filled with unconcealed astonishment.