Combat Training Class

"Hanfu, what are you planning to do for this afternoon's training?"

Iruka asked as he ate his lunch.

"I'm taking on ten."

Hanfu popped sushi into his mouth one piece at a time, occasionally reaching over to snag some vegetables from Anko and Inuzuka Sa's Bento Boxes.

As for Iruka, Kotetsu Hagane, and Izumo Kamizuki's lunches?

Sorry, Hanfu wanted no part of those.

"Hanfu, why don't you pair up with Ito Nipan? You've got an advantage over him." Kotetsu Hagane squatted on his stool, wolfing down his food. As he spoke, a few grains of rice flew from his mouth and landed in the fur of little Shiromaru.

"Kotetsu!"

Inuzuka Sa saw what happened and instantly blew up.

She was gentle and easygoing, but if anyone picked on her dog, she'd explode in seconds.

"Ah, sorry, sorry."

Kotetsu hurriedly cleaned the rice off Shiromaru.

"Yip, yip..."

Shiromaru sat on the table, wagging his tail as he gazed up at his little owner with big, watery eyes. Every now and then, he glanced at Hanfu, Iruka, and the others, too.

Shiromaru was very clever. Though he was hungry, he sat quietly and waited for his little owner to feed him.

So Inuzuka Sa took a piece of sushi from Hanfu's Bento Box and fed it to Shiromaru.

"Yip, yip~"

The puppy snapped it up and chewed with his eyes half-closed, looking like he was enjoying every bite.

Watching him, Hanfu suddenly remembered something and couldn't help asking, "Sasha, quick question... Do dogs have a sense of taste?"

"Of course they do."

Inuzuka Sa answered without hesitation.

"Then how can dogs eat... poop?" Hanfu asked curiously.

"Hanfu, you jerk! Don't ask disgusting questions while we're eating!" Anko snapped.

Inuzuka Sa replied, "Dogs do have a sense of taste, but it's not very sensitive. They're especially insensitive to sour and foul flavors, which is why they can..."

"I see!"

Hanfu understood. No wonder dogs could endure what people couldn't. Impressive!

"Hanfu, aren't you worried about this afternoon's Combat Training Class?"

Seeing how 'relaxed' Hanfu seemed, Kotetsu Hagane was a little concerned for him.

Hanfu stuffed the last piece of sushi into his mouth and grinned. "I'm not picking on anyone in particular, but every one of you here who passed around notes is trash."

Hanfu's bold declaration spread through the class in less than half an hour. Ito Nipan and the others who'd passed around notes were furious, all itching for the Combat Training Class to begin.

At one in the afternoon, in a corner of the Ninja Academy's training ground.

The Stubborn Bronze students of Class 8 had arrived early to warm up, and the air was thick with pre-battle tension.

Hanfu lazily flexed his fingers and wrists, showing no sign of nerves.

At some point, Anko, Inuzuka Sa, Iruka, and the other two had moved far away from him. Each wore a mournful expression that seemed to say, "Good luck." Hanfu found it deeply irritating.

Half an hour later, their Combat Training teacher, the Homeroom Teacher of Class 1, Hiramatsu Daishi, finally arrived.

"Hello, everyone!"

Hiramatsu Daishi was a middle-aged man with a sturdy build, a close-cropped haircut, thick eyebrows, and large eyes. But when he spoke, he revealed a mouthful of yellow teeth. He seemed like a heavy smoker.

"Hello, Teacher Daishi!"

The Bronze students greeted him.

Hiramatsu Daishi looked around and confirmed within seconds that everyone was present. Without wasting time on small talk, he took out a Sealing Scroll and set it on the ground, then formed Hand Seals.

Poof!

Amid a cloud of white smoke, Ninja Tool Pouches appeared on top of the scroll—thirty of them, no more and no less.

"Take one each and strap it to your leg!" Hiramatsu Daishi called.

"Yes, sir!"

Ito Nipan was fired up. Using his broad, heavy build to shove past everyone else, he grabbed one first and quickly strapped it to his thigh.

Hanfu unhurriedly waited at the back of the line. Suddenly, as if he'd sensed something, he turned and saw Aburame Yui standing silently behind him in her high-collared coat.

Hanfu jumped.

"Yui, you... you're here too."

He wanted to complain, but they weren't close. He wanted to greet her, but her cool expression left him at a loss for words.

Aburame Yui glanced at Hanfu and nodded in greeting.

Hanfu gave a Forced Laugh. Things felt a little awkward.

Luckily, the others grabbed their Ninja Tool Pouches quickly, and soon it was Hanfu's turn.

Hanfu picked up a pouch and checked its contents. It held ten Shuriken, ten Kunai, and twenty Senbon. He felt them over and found they were all made of solid wood, with their edges already filed smooth.

Meanwhile, Hiramatsu Daishi called out, "Teacher Kashima told me he taught you the techniques for Ninja Tool Throwing yesterday, and you each wrote a paper about what you'd learned. So let's build on that while it's fresh. Today's Combat Training will focus on Ninja Tool Throwing! Split yourselves into Groups A and B, fifteen to a group, and compete in throwing practice!"

The students who'd passed around notes gathered together with remarkable coordination. Fourteen of them in all!

One more was needed!

Hanfu had an idea and started walking toward them.

"Gekko Hayate, stop right there!"

Ito Nipan shouted furiously. "Don't come over! You're not allowed to come over!"

"Gekko Hayate, are you a man or not? If you are, come fight me!"

"We're Group A, you're Group B. You're in Group B! Go away!"

"Yui, Yui, come join our group!"

They were panicking. They'd gathered together to teach Hanfu a lesson. If he joined their group, what was the point?

Hanfu hadn't really planned to join them anyway. He'd only meant to rile them up. Now that he'd achieved his goal, he cheerfully took a couple of steps back. Then he realized something was wrong and looked around. Anko, Iruka, and the others in Group B had already moved far away.

Hanfu could feel the malice in his friends' hearts.

Meanwhile, Aburame Yui responded by joining Group A.

"Good, the groups are set!" Hiramatsu Daishi announced. "Begin the match!"

Hey, hey, how were the groups set?

Hanfu stood alone at the side, feeling awkward.

But he didn't have time to complain. Group A had already launched a merciless attack.

Ito Nipan howled as he threw two Kunai, then scattered five Senbon. The other students rained Ninja Tools down on Hanfu, too. Even Aburame Yui followed the crowd almost unconsciously, throwing two Shuriken at his lower legs.

Watching from the sidelines, Hiramatsu Daishi raised an eyebrow. What was going on?

Group A was attacking one person all at once?

Could it be...

Hiramatsu Daishi's eyes lit up. Group A was smart—they planned to combine their strength and eliminate one opponent first!

Hanfu watched all the Ninja Tools flying toward him, and the fire of confidence in his chest promptly went out.

There really was such a thing as strength in numbers!

Hanfu already had two Shuriken in hand, but there were too many Kunai, Shuriken, and Senbon coming at him. Even if he were amazing, he couldn't knock them all away.

Of the thirty-six strategies, retreat was the best!

Without a word, Hanfu rolled twice and ducked behind the rest of Group B.

The next instant, Group A's second wave of Ninja Tools came pouring down like a storm.

"Run!"

Anko shrieked and bolted.

Kotetsu Hagane, Izumo Kamizuki, and the others yelled and followed suit, though they didn't forget to throw a couple of Kunai at Group A as they ran.

"Gekko Hayate, don't come this way!"

"Yeah, go over there and draw their fire! Then Group B will definitely win!"

"Hanfu, we'll remember your sacrifice!"

"Woof! Woof!"

As they dodged the incoming attacks, Group B's Bronze students shouted for Hanfu to serve as a human target. Every last one of them had clearly let the puppy Shiromaru chew through their conscience.

Thank you to book friends O Xiao Bai Mian Bao O and Zhu Tingfeng for the generous support!