"Take a break."
Hatake Sakumo sheathed his blade and stepped back.
Hatake Kakashi dropped onto the ground without a shred of decorum, gasping for breath.
Every exchange was hell-level difficulty for him.
Even though he was a genius among geniuses, he was facing the Konoha White Fang, whose name struck fear throughout the Ninja World.
"Is that your classmate?"
Hatake Sakumo looked at Hikawa, who was running, and asked.
"Yeah."
Hatake Kakashi let out a breath and said, "His name is Hikawa. His genjutsu talent is decent."
"Only genjutsu?"
Hatake Sakumo asked in return.
"What did you see?"
Hatake Kakashi paused slightly before asking.
He knew Hatake Sakumo possessed vision beyond that of ordinary people and was an excellent judge of character.
"His Body Energy is quite good."
Hatake Sakumo stroked his chin and said, "He has the same confidence as you."
"He defeated Asuma before. It's normal for him to be confident."
Hatake Kakashi was not surprised in the slightest.
"I see."
Hatake Sakumo smiled and said, "Perhaps he'll become a formidable opponent for you."
"He won't."
Hatake Kakashi retorted.
He wasn't Sarutobi Asuma. How could he fall for genjutsu so easily?
Hatake Sakumo said nothing more.
Geniuses were always proud.
And his son was practically invincible among his peers.
After an unknown amount of time, Hikawa finally stopped running.
He wiped the sweat from his forehead and calculated the time.
With the 'Strong Physique' Entry, he had lasted half an hour longer than before.
Hatake Kakashi and Hatake Sakumo had left at some point.
Hikawa did not linger either and turned to head home.
Time passed bit by bit.
Another week was drawing to a close.
Over those seven days, Hikawa had done only two things.
He ran at the Fourth Training Ground and practiced Ninja Tool Throwing in the small woods outside his house.
Sunday morning.
Hikawa got up early and jogged to the Fourth Training Ground.
He suppressed the anticipation in his heart, adjusted his breathing, and began running laps.
More than ten minutes later, the white-haired father and son, one large and one small, appeared.
Hatake Kakashi and Hatake Sakumo had both gotten used to Hikawa.
The two sides tacitly trained on their own.
"Hmm?"
Hatake Sakumo gave a soft sound of surprise.
He noticed that Hikawa had suddenly accelerated, becoming about one-tenth faster than before.
Was he sprinting?
No, that wasn't right.
Hatake Sakumo's gaze sharpened.
Had he broken through?
His basis for judgment was Hikawa's breathing.
Even after increasing his speed, Hikawa's rhythm remained as steady as before.
"Kakashi."
Hatake Sakumo said in surprise, "It seems I was right. He really will become a formidable opponent for you."
Hikawa's speed was already comparable to that of an ordinary genin.
But that was not the key. His rate of improvement was simply too fast.
"The Final Exam is coming up soon. I'll defeat Hikawa and apply for Early Graduation."
Hatake Kakashi had not noticed Hikawa's change, but Hatake Sakumo's repeated remarks had stirred his competitive spirit.
"I'm looking forward to it."
Hatake Sakumo said with interest, "I'll definitely be there to watch."
"I won't disappoint you."
Hatake Kakashi took out a short sword.
He did not think he would lose.
The father and son's clash officially began.
An hour later, Hikawa let out a breath.
E-Rank Talent Entry: Nimble Steps (Acquired). Trigger condition: Speed reaches the highest level of an ordinary genin. Effect: Increases leg power by 10% on the original basis.
He had just verified the effect of the new Entry. So-called leg power was not merely strength; it also increased speed.
Although the increase was only 10%, it was still a major boost in strength for him.
Hikawa's heart stirred, and he opened the system.
He currently had three Entries in progress.
The E-Rank Entry 'Scholar' required him to place first in the theory portion of the Final Exam.
For the E-Rank Entry 'Seven Ninja Tools,' he had already mastered four: Shuriken, kunai, Senbon, and Fuma Shuriken.
Compared with the first two Entries, the D-Rank Entry 'Medical Ninja' had not even gotten started yet.
Hikawa's head hurt whenever he looked at that pile of medical texts.
He finally understood why Medical Ninja were so rare. It was simply too difficult to learn.
Though difficulties always outnumbered solutions, he still did not give up.
After all, Tsunade was a great motivation.
Today's physical training was enough, so Hikawa closed the system and turned to go home.
He reached out and opened the door. Yuhi Kurenai was the first thing he saw.
With a click.
The cabinet began to move.
Genjutsu Release!
Hikawa disrupted the flow of Chakra within his body, breaking the genjutsu.
"How did this happen?"
Yuhi Kurenai said with an unwilling expression.
"A sneak attack is useless."
Hikawa reached out and rubbed her head.
"How did you notice?"
Yuhi Kurenai did not mind him rubbing her head and asked in confusion.
"The genjutsu world you constructed lacked enough detail."
Hikawa gave a casual explanation.
Genjutsu ninja were somewhat like game modelers from his previous life. The more refined their work was, the less likely it was to arouse suspicion.
Of course, the Uchiha Clan's ninja were exceptions.
As long as their ocular power was strong enough, even if you knew you were under genjutsu, there was no way to break it.
For example, Uchiha Itachi's Tsukuyomi.
"I'm going to take a bath."
Hikawa took off his shoes and said, "I'll teach you genjutsu later."
"Mm."
Yuhi Kurenai responded casually.
She was still thinking about which part of her genjutsu had lacked detail.
Steam rose from the hot water.
Hikawa let out a comfortable sigh.
Taking a bath after exercising was truly wonderful.
"Hikawa, you smell so nice."
Yuhi Kurenai sniffed and said it unconsciously.
Hikawa, who had just left the bathroom, nearly lost it.
You'd better mean Whirlwind Weasel, not Uncle Hannibal.
"Hair dryer."
Hikawa sat on the sofa and said.
"Why don't you get it yourself?"
Yuhi Kurenai put her hands on her hips and asked.
At this rate, forget becoming the boss lady—she was about to become a little maid.
How could Yuhi Kurenai remain forever beneath someone else?!
"This is the price of me teaching you genjutsu."
Hikawa said with a smile.
After becoming familiar with Yuhi Kurenai, this level of bickering had become commonplace.
"..."
Yuhi Kurenai started to speak, stopped, then started again.
She unhappily picked up the hair dryer and shoved it into Hikawa's hand.
"Don't think I'll dry your hair for you!"
Yuhi Kurenai took a step back, raised her little head, and declared haughtily.
"I didn't have that idea, actually."
Hikawa turned on the hair dryer and said with a smile.
"Damn it!"
Yuhi Kurenai glared at him with ruby-like eyes.
Hikawa slowly dried his hair.
He put down the hair dryer, casually took out a lollipop, and said, "This is for you."
Yuhi Kurenai's gaze unconsciously fixed on the lollipop.
But then she remembered Hikawa's earlier behavior. She immediately gave a soft snort and stubbornly said, "I don't want it!"
"You really don't?"
Hikawa unwrapped the lollipop and brought it toward his own mouth.
"Hey!"
Yuhi Kurenai panicked and hurriedly shouted.
The next second, sweetness filled her mouth. The lollipop was already between her lips.
"Let's go."
Hikawa stood and said, "I'll teach you genjutsu."
The corners of Yuhi Kurenai's lips lifted slightly. With light steps, she followed after him.
Before you continue