Dizziness is Normal

Before they knew it, school was over.

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

They had heard about the duel between Sarutobi Asuma and Hikawa and deliberately stayed to watch.

Quite a few people were curious about this match.

Because it had buzz.

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

Though he couldn't match Hatake Kakashi, he still had a decent reputation in class.

Hikawa, the transfer student—most people's impression of him was that they had no impression.

Since enrolling, he'd been utterly unremarkable, neither causing trouble nor standing out.

"Kakashi, who do you think will win?"

Rin Nohara looked at Sarutobi Asuma and Hikawa in the arena and asked curiously.

"I don't know."

Hatake Kakashi shook his head and said.

"Asuma's definitely winning!"

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

"Not necessarily."

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

"Then how about a bet?"

Obito Uchiha's eyes darted as he asked.

"What bet?"

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

"Hmph, it's not."

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

"Why treat me to a meal?"

Rin Nohara blinked and asked.

"Well..."

Obito Uchiha's face flushed slightly under her gaze, and for a moment, he didn't know what to say.

"I accept."

Hatake Kakashi said with an indifferent look.

"Great!"

Obito Uchiha couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement.

Was his long-dreamed-of alone time finally coming?

"You two are hopeless."

Rin Nohara smiled helplessly.

She was used to her two friends butting heads.

It usually ended with Obito's defeat, but maybe this time he'd win.

She also thought Sarutobi Asuma had the better odds.

As a ninja from a civilian background, Rin Nohara knew very well the advantages of the Ninja Clans.

Sarutobi Asuma frowned slightly in the arena.

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, the one who beats you is Sarutobi Asuma!"

Sarutobi Asuma looked at Hikawa and said loudly.

"..."

The corner of Hikawa's mouth twitched.

His old habit of feeling secondhand embarrassment for others was acting up again.

What kind of chuunibyou declaration was that?

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

The watching classmates all got excited, their eyes fixed on the two of them.

"Come on!"

Sarutobi Asuma raised both hands, thoroughly enjoying the attention of being the center of the crowd.

Hikawa expressionlessly formed the Opposing Hand Seal.

This was an essential part of any spar between ninjas.

Sarutobi Asuma did the same.

When the Opposing Hand Seal was completed, he stood still and directly flung two shuriken from both hands.

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

It was worth noting that since this was a spar, they were using Wooden Ninja Tools.

The sound of cutting air rang out.

Hikawa's response was also two shuriken.

The shuriken collided in pairs.

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

But the remaining two shuriken, undiminished in momentum, continued along their trajectory.

"How is that possible?"

Sarutobi Asuma couldn't believe it.

He clearly remembered that a week ago, Hikawa couldn't even hit the target in Ninja Tool Throwing class.

Now he could actually knock down his shuriken?

This meant Hikawa's skill and strength were both above his.

What kind of improvement speed was this?

Though Sarutobi Asuma was shocked, his hands were not slow as he quickly formed Hand Seals.

Substitution Technique!

Smoke filled the air.

His body shifted to the left.

The two shuriken sank into the smoke.

Only the sound of two dull thuds was heard.

A wooden log remained in place, helping Sarutobi Asuma block the shuriken.

The essence of the Substitution Technique was a sleight of hand.

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

"Your shuriken are decent, but this is where it ends, Hikawa."

Sarutobi Asuma glanced at Yuhi Kurenai on the sidelines and said in a low voice.

His plan was to win in one decisive strike.

He had already wasted time now; if he dragged it out too long, winning wouldn't bring any face.

A student two months into the academy fighting a deadlock with one who'd been there a week—that would be embarrassing to even mention.

Body Flicker Technique!

Chakra gathered around Sarutobi Asuma's feet, and his speed suddenly increased.

He leaned forward, charging at Hikawa, while his right hand gripped a kunai tightly.

The distance between the two rapidly shrank.

"Move! Hikawa!"

Yuhi Kurenai watched Hikawa standing still, her small face full of worry.

"He's definitely scared stiff!"

Obito Uchiha shook his head and said, "He hasn't learned the Three Body Technique. The outcome is decided."

Just then, Hikawa quickly formed Hand Seals.

But when the seals were completed, nothing happened at all, as if the technique had failed.

Obito Uchiha was about to speak when a look of confusion suddenly appeared on his face.

Because Sarutobi Asuma had stopped in his tracks.

"It's genjutsu."

Hatake Kakashi's eyes lit up slightly as he said, "Indeed, the outcome is decided."

"Genjutsu?"

Obito Uchiha couldn't help but freeze.

The other students, lacking Kakashi's insight, exchanged glances, not knowing what had happened.

Switch to Sarutobi Asuma's perspective.

He saw Hikawa forming hand seals and readied his defenses.

But when nothing happened, he couldn't help but laugh.

Failing to execute a ninjutsu was a common occurrence for beginners.

Clearly, Hikawa's proficiency wasn't up to par.

"You lose!"

Sarutobi Asuma reached him and thrust out the kunai in his hand.

But the next second, it struck empty air.

"What's going on?"

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

How had he dodged that?

He couldn't help but frown.

"You absolutely cannot evade this technique!"

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

Wind Style: Violent Wind Palm!

Chakra transformed into a violent gale, rushing toward Hikawa at incredible speed.

"Impossible!"

Sarutobi Asuma's pupils contracted sharply.

Hikawa dodged again.

Wind Style was famed for its speed and sharpness—not even genin could react in time, let alone academy students.

"I don't believe it!"

Sarutobi Asuma immediately formed hand seals.

Wind Style: Violent Wind Palm appeared once more.

But it was still useless.

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

Using Wind Style repeatedly drained his chakra quickly.

He stared at Hikawa standing quietly not far away, utterly unable to understand.

It was as if he had fallen under a genjutsu.

Huh?

Genjutsu?

Sarutobi Asuma suddenly realized.

But he didn't know how to dispel a genjutsu.

He hadn't been taught!

His tutors had never anticipated that he'd encounter a genjutsu user in the first year.

For a moment, Sarutobi Asuma stood frozen in place.

Hikawa slowly walked forward.

What he had cast was the Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique.

It made the target see the scene they feared most.

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

The genjutsu was canceled.

Sarutobi Asuma opened his eyes and saw the kunai at his throat.

"Are you alright?"

Hikawa withdrew the kunai and asked.

"..."

Sarutobi Asuma was left speechless, his chest heaving as if he might faint.

"Take a deep breath. Dizziness is normal."

Hikawa said calmly, "You used too many ninjutsu."

"You!"

Sarutobi Asuma raised his hand, trembling as he pointed at him.

Though the words were caring, for some reason, he only felt his blood boil.