Dizziness Is Normal

In the blink of an eye, school was over.

Normally, the classroom would empty the instant the bell rang, but today, a third of the students remained.

They had heard that Sarutobi Asuma and Hikawa were dueling, so they had deliberately stayed to watch.

Quite a few people were curious about this match.

Because it was a hot topic.

Sarutobi Asuma was the Hokage's son, one of the recognized geniuses.

Though he could not compare to Hatake Kakashi, he was quite well-known in the class.

Hikawa was a transfer student. Most people's impression of him was that they had no impression at all.

Since enrolling, he had seemed entirely ordinary. He caused no trouble and did not stand out.

"Kakashi, who do you think will win?"

Rin Nohara looked at Sarutobi Asuma and Hikawa on the field and asked curiously.

"I don't know."

Hatake Kakashi shook his head.

"Asuma will definitely win!"

Obito Uchiha cut in. "He's Lord Hokage's son!"

"Not necessarily."

Hatake Kakashi felt that Hikawa was too calm, as if victory was already in his grasp.

"Then shall we make a bet?"

Obito Uchiha's eyes shifted as he asked.

"What kind of bet?"

Hatake Kakashi paused before saying, "If it's another duel, forget it."

"Hmph, it isn't."

Obito Uchiha glanced at Rin Nohara. "Whoever wins treats Rin to a meal."

"Why am I the one being treated to a meal?"

Rin Nohara blinked and asked.

"Well..."

Under her gaze, Obito Uchiha's face reddened. For a moment, he did not know what to say.

"I accept."

Hatake Kakashi said indifferently.

"Great!"

Obito Uchiha immediately perked up.

Was the long-awaited world for just the two of them finally coming?

"Honestly, I don't know what to do with you two."

Rin Nohara smiled helplessly.

She was already used to her two friends competing against each other.

Although it usually ended in Obito Uchiha's defeat, perhaps he might win this time.

She also felt that Sarutobi Asuma had better odds.

As a ninja from a civilian background, Rin Nohara understood the advantages of ninja clans very well.

Sarutobi Asuma frowned slightly on the field.

What he hated most was being called the Hokage's son.

No matter how great that man was, what did it have to do with him?

"Remember this: Sarutobi Asuma will defeat you!"

Sarutobi Asuma looked at Hikawa and shouted.

"..."

Hikawa's mouth twitched slightly.

His old habit of feeling embarrassed on behalf of others was acting up again.

What kind of cringe declaration was that?

But for five- or six-year-old children, it was just right.

The watching students grew excited, all staring intently at them.

"Come on!"

Sarutobi Asuma raised both hands, thoroughly enjoying the attention focused on him.

Hikawa formed the Opposing Hand Seal without expression.

This was an essential step in a ninja spar.

Sarutobi Asuma did the same.

The moment they completed the Opposing Hand Seal, he remained where he was and flicked out two shuriken.

One after the other, at tricky angles, they shot straight toward Hikawa's vital points.

It was worth mentioning that since this was a spar, they were using wooden ninja tools.

The sound of air being torn rang out.

Hikawa responded with two shuriken as well.

The shuriken collided in pairs.

Sarutobi Asuma's two shuriken were knocked to the ground.

But the remaining two shuriken did not lose momentum and continued along their paths.

"How is that possible?"

Sarutobi Asuma could not believe it.

He clearly remembered that a week ago, Hikawa had not even been able to hit the center of the target during Ninja Tool Throwing class.

And now he could knock aside his shuriken?

That meant Hikawa surpassed him in both skill and strength.

What kind of improvement speed was that?

Though shocked, Sarutobi Asuma's hands did not slow as he rapidly formed Hand Seals.

Substitution Technique!

Smoke spread through the air.

His body shifted to the left.

The two shuriken plunged into the smoke.

Only two dull thuds were heard.

A wooden log remained in place, blocking the shuriken for Sarutobi Asuma.

The essence of the Substitution Technique was misdirection.

If one's proficiency was high enough, it could look somewhat like Time-Space Ninjutsu.

"Your shuriken are pretty good, but this is as far as you go, Hikawa."

Sarutobi Asuma glanced toward Yuhi Kurenai at the edge of the field and said in a low voice.

His plan was to win in a single strike.

He had already wasted time. If this dragged on too long, there would be no pride in winning.

It would be embarrassing if someone who had enrolled for two months fought to a standstill with someone who had enrolled for one week.

Body Flicker Technique!

Chakra rose around Sarutobi Asuma's feet, and his speed abruptly increased.

He leaned forward and charged at Hikawa, gripping a kunai in his right hand.

The distance between them rapidly shrank.

"Move, Hikawa!"

Yuhi Kurenai watched Hikawa remain motionless, her little face filled with worry.

"He must be scared stiff!"

Obito Uchiha shook his head. "He hasn't learned the Three Body Technique. The winner has already been decided."

At that moment, Hikawa rapidly formed Hand Seals.

Yet once he finished, nothing happened, as if the technique had failed to activate.

Just as Obito Uchiha was about to speak, confusion appeared on his face.

Because Sarutobi Asuma had stopped moving.

"It's genjutsu."

Hatake Kakashi's eyes brightened slightly. "The winner really has been decided."

"Genjutsu?"

Obito Uchiha could not help but freeze.

The other students did not possess Hatake Kakashi's insight. They looked at one another, unable to understand what had happened.

Switching to Sarutobi Asuma's perspective.

He saw Hikawa form Hand Seals and prepared himself to defend.

But when nothing happened, he could not help but laugh.

Failing to cast a ninjutsu was something beginners often encountered.

Clearly, Hikawa was not proficient enough.

"You lost!"

Sarutobi Asuma arrived before him and thrust out his kunai.

But in the next second, it suddenly struck empty air.

"What happened?"

Sarutobi Asuma instinctively turned his head and saw Hikawa behind him.

How had he dodged just now?

He could not help but frown.

"You absolutely won't be able to dodge this technique!"

Sarutobi Asuma simply put away his kunai and brought his hands together.

Wind Style: Violent Wind Palm!

Chakra transformed into a violent gale that swept toward Hikawa at tremendous speed.

"Impossible!"

Sarutobi Asuma's pupils contracted sharply.

Hikawa dodged again.

Wind Style was famous for its speed and sharpness. Forget ninja academy students—even genin would struggle to react in time.

"I don't believe it!"

Sarutobi Asuma immediately formed Hand Seals.

Wind Style: Violent Wind Palm appeared once again.

But it was still useless.

Sarutobi Asuma instinctively gritted his teeth as a wave of dizziness struck him.

Using Wind Style continuously had rapidly drained his Chakra.

He looked at Hikawa, who stood quietly some distance away, unable to understand anything.

It was as though he had fallen under genjutsu.

Hm?

Genjutsu?

Sarutobi Asuma suddenly realized it.

But he did not know how to dispel genjutsu.

They had not taught that yet!

Even his tutors had never expected him to encounter a genjutsu ninja in his first year.

For a moment, Sarutobi Asuma stood there awkwardly.

Hikawa slowly walked forward.

He had used the Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique.

It could make people see the things they feared most in their hearts.

And what Sarutobi Asuma feared most right now was losing to him.

The genjutsu was released.

When Sarutobi Asuma opened his eyes, he saw a kunai at his neck.

"Are you all right?"

Hikawa put away the kunai and asked.

"..."

Sarutobi Asuma immediately choked with anger, his chest heaving as though he were about to faint.

"Take a deep breath. Dizziness is normal."

Hikawa spoke with a calm expression. "You used too much ninjutsu."

"You!"

Sarutobi Asuma raised a trembling hand and pointed at him.

They were clearly words of concern, but for some reason, all he felt was his blood boiling.