Hikawa is a Good Child

The sudden end to the battle left everyone both stunned and puzzled.

Hikawa's genjutsu had targeted only Sarutobi Asuma.

From their perspective, the fight seemed utterly inexplicable.

Sarutobi Asuma had stopped in his tracks and stood motionless.

Hikawa walked up to him with a kunai and won with ease.

They had imagined two possible outcomes.

One was Sarutobi Asuma winning decisively.

The other was Hikawa hiding his true strength, with the two locked in a fierce stalemate.

But no one had expected this result.

"So strong!"

Rin Nohara exclaimed in admiration.

Among all ninjutsu, aside from Kekkei Genkai, Medical Ninjutsu and genjutsu were the most difficult.

For Hikawa to have mastered genjutsu made him a genius among geniuses.

Hatake Kakashi nodded slightly at her words.

He was genuinely interested now.

Before this, after defeating Sarutobi Asuma, he had found no worthy opponents and was already preparing to graduate early.

Now, he had a new goal.

To defeat Hikawa before graduating.

"Just some cheap genjutsu!"

Obito Uchiha, seeing Rin's expression, immediately retorted, "No genjutsu means anything against the Sharingan!"

"Talk to me when you've awakened it,"

Hatake Kakashi said casually.

"I will awaken it!"

Obito Uchiha's face flushed red with anger.

Unlike the Byakugan, awakening the Sharingan required a certain level of talent.

And so far, he had shown no signs of awakening.

"I believe in you, Obito."

Rin Nohara quickly stepped in to smooth things over. "Your talent is no less than theirs."

"Hehe!"

Obito Uchiha immediately pulled off a hero's face-switch, breaking into a goofy grin.

"Let's go."

Hatake Kakashi looked away and said, "I'll treat you to a meal, Rin."

Obito Uchiha instantly turned to stone.

He had forgotten about the bet.

Damn!

Obito Uchiha's heart ached.

This was his most thorough loss yet.

"Obito."

Rin Nohara turned back and said gently, "Come with us."

"I don't mind."

Hatake Kakashi said indifferently.

"Rin!"

Obito Uchiha was moved to tears.

As the fight ended, the students who had been watching dispersed.

Only Yuhi Kurenai excitedly rushed over.

Who said genjutsu users were useless? Genjutsu users were amazing!

"Hikawa!"

Yuhi Kurenai's little face was flushed red, like an apple.

Hikawa snapped back to reality and smiled.

He had just been looking at the newly triggered entry.

[E-Rank Talent Entry: Shippuden.]

[Trigger Condition: Defeat the young Sarutobi Asuma.]

[Effect: Wind Release talent increases by 10% on the original base.]

A new entry, beyond Hikawa's expectations.

He hadn't thought he could trigger entries this way.

Though only 10%, it gave him plenty of inspiration.

If he defeated Hatake Kakashi, would he gain Lightning Release talent?

If he beat a stronger form of Sarutobi Asuma, would the Wind Release talent boost be higher?

"Asuma."

Hikawa said with a sincere face, "You're very strong. If you'd held on a little longer, I would have lost the match from running out of chakra."

This was a lie.

He needed Sarutobi Asuma to keep challenging him, to trigger more entries.

The best way was to give him hope.

Make him feel that with just a bit more effort, he could win.

Sarutobi Asuma froze.

What did this mean?

An active gesture of goodwill?

But... he couldn't accept it!

"I'll be back!"

Sarutobi Asuma glanced at Yuhi Kurenai, then turned and left.

Only he had been hurt in this world.

Today, my hands tremble. Today, my heart aches.

Sarutobi Asuma walked home in silence the whole way.

He pushed open the door, changed his shoes, and headed straight for his room without a care.

"Asuma."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice rang out. "Why no greeting?"

Sarutobi Asuma didn't even lift his head, directly ignoring him.

"..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's face stiffened instantly.

It was one thing to disregard his face usually, but today there was a guest.

Right now, he wanted to reward him with a leather belt.

"Old Man, it's rare to see you get shut down like this. Quite a treat."

A somewhat gleeful laugh sounded.

"Don't laugh at me, Tsunade."

Sarutobi Hiruzen said with some embarrassment.

As the God of Shinobi, when had he ever lost face like this in front of his students?

"It's nothing. Kids are all like that."

Tsunade changed the subject and said, "But I think Asuma seems to have run into something."

Sarutobi Hiruzen recalled Asuma's behavior just now—it was indeed very off.

He thought for a moment and ordered, "Haru, go investigate."

Tsunade was his student, and since it had already come to this, there was no point in hiding anything.

"How is Minato's injury?"

While waiting, Sarutobi Hiruzen asked.

"No longer a concern."

Tsunade smiled confidently and said, "With me on the case, you don't need to worry."

"That's true."

Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned and said, "But I never expected Minato to be hurt this badly."

"When a Nine-Tails Jinchuriki goes berserk, any injury is possible."

Tsunade shook her head and said, "Thank goodness for the Flying Thunder God Technique, or the losses would have been greater."

Hearing this, Sarutobi Hiruzen's face showed a lingering fear.

If Kushina Uzumaki ran into Konoha, the scene would definitely spiral out of control.

"Lord Hokage."

A knock sounded.

Anbu ninja Haru pushed the door open and walked in, presenting a scroll with both hands.

Without a doubt, it was the investigation report on Sarutobi Asuma.

Sarutobi Hiruzen opened the scroll with some curiosity.

Let me see what's going on here.

Given Sarutobi Asuma's status and strength, he logically shouldn't be bullied at the academy.

Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't help but let out a soft exclamation.

He actually lost to Hikawa?

This is absurd!

Sarutobi Asuma's talent wasn't top-tier, but it wasn't bad either.

And most importantly, he had started learning half a year earlier.

Before even enrolling, Sarutobi Asuma was already receiving guidance from a Special Jōnin.

And Hikawa?

He'd only studied for a week.

The only explanation was that he was indeed a rare illusionary genius.

Beyond that, his character was also decent.

After defeating Sarutobi Asuma, he didn't get smug—instead, he comforted him.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's heart stirred.

This was an opportunity.

An opportunity to mend his relationship with Sarutobi Asuma.

"Old Man, done reading?"

Tsunade reached out a hand and asked.

Sarutobi Hiruzen casually handed the scroll to her.

"Learned illusionary arts in the first year?"

Tsunade scanned it and said with some surprise, "Looks like another genius."

"Indeed."

Sarutobi Hiruzen stood up and said, "I'll go see Asuma."

"Mm."

Tsunade set down the scroll and said, "I'll head to the kitchen and see how the mistress's cooking is coming along."

She was referring to Sarutobi Hiruzen's wife, Sarutobi Biwako.

"Asuma."

Sarutobi Hiruzen arrived at Sarutobi Asuma's room and knocked.

"Not here!"

Sarutobi Asuma was still in a depressed state.

"Don't you want to defeat Hikawa?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen paused, then said, "I can teach you how to break illusionary arts."

Silence hung in the air.

After a moment, the door slid open.

Sarutobi Asuma scowled: "Spit it out!"

Seeing this, the corners of Sarutobi Hiruzen's mouth curved into a smile.

Hikawa is a good kid.

Kushina Uzumaki going berserk, injuring Namikaze Minato, and then asking Tsunade to treat him comes from the official side-story manga Minato's Story. PS: Today is Tuesday—whether we make it onto the first round of recommendations depends on today's read-through rate. Senpais, remember to scroll to the very end. There's another chapter at noon.