He Went Up, He Went Down

Hikawa did not linger and left the Konoha Knowledge Bookstore directly.

He did not need to worry about the rest. Tsuchihashi would handle it; the only question was which author he would hire as a ghostwriter.

He thought of Jiraiya, but that was probably impossible. After all, being a ghostwriter was not exactly something to boast about.

Hikawa arrived at the Fourth Training Ground, picked up a wooden sword, and began practicing Konoha-Style Swordsmanship.

An hour later, he finished training and headed toward the Ninja Academy.

Before long, Hikawa spotted Sarutobi Asuma.

He leaned against a tree with both hands in his pockets, gazing up at the sky at a forty-five-degree angle, looking like he had conquered the world.

"You're here."

Sarutobi Asuma turned to look at him and spoke.

Hikawa twitched the corner of his mouth.

What was he supposed to say? You should never have come? Did Asuma think they were acting in some martial arts drama?

"I came to remind you not to forget this afternoon's practical combat class."

Eagerness flickered in Sarutobi Asuma's eyes.

He could no longer wait to defeat Hikawa and win back Yuhi Kurenai's heart.

"I know."

Hikawa nodded slightly.

"Good."

Sarutobi Asuma suddenly turned his back to him and said, "I hope you can give me a satisfying fight when the time comes."

With a toss of his head, he strode away in style.

Hikawa paid no attention to the brief interruption. He went to the classroom, greeted Shizune, and began studying.

"Students, please take out your copies of Will of Fire."

Eiichirō stood before the podium and asked with a smile, "Who knows what the Will of Fire means?"

Quite a few students excitedly raised their little hands.

"Obito, you answer."

Eiichirō swept his gaze around the room before calling on him.

"Where leaves dance, fire burns on without end. Its light will continue illuminating the village and let newly born leaves sprout!"

Obito Uchiha finished in one breath.

"Not bad."

Eiichirō opened the book and said, "Today, we will discuss the newly born leaves. That means you—the future of Konoha."

Hikawa turned a deaf ear and continued working on his math problems.

The workbook cried out coquettishly beneath his pen. By the time the morning passed, it had been stuffed full of answers.

The afternoon was practical combat class.

For first-year students, practical combat class was basically a pathetic squabble between rookies.

They had not even been taught the Three Body Technique yet, so they could only practice taijutsu and Ninja Tool Throwing.

As for the Three Body Technique, they would not learn it until the second semester.

Although the Three Body Technique was the most basic ninjutsu, many people needed six years to master it.

"Kakashi, I challenge you!"

The moment class began, Obito Uchiha impatiently jumped out.

Whether their usual sparring matches happened depended on Hatake Kakashi's mood.

Most of the time, they did not happen, leaving him to rage helplessly.

But during practical combat class, Hatake Kakashi could not easily refuse.

"..."

Sarutobi Asuma had been a step too slow. He swallowed his challenge, and the restraint left him miserable.

It became even worse when he saw Hikawa and Yuhi Kurenai chatting and laughing together.

"Kakashi."

Eiichirō said with a smile, "Why don't you give the other students a demonstration?"

Hatake Kakashi calmly walked to the center of the training field.

"Obito, be careful."

Rin Nohara spoke with some helplessness.

"Don't worry!"

Obito Uchiha patted his chest and said, "I'll go easy on him!"

Rin Nohara suddenly did not know what to say.

You lost every battle. Where did that courage come from? Why were you so bold?

Obito Uchiha walked before Hatake Kakashi and formed the Opposing Hand Seal.

The seal was formed, and he charged forward.

Seeing this, Hatake Kakashi remained where he was and threw a punch.

Obito Uchiha lowered his body and slid forward, attacking his legs.

But Hatake Kakashi was faster than him.

Body Flicker Technique!

He instantly shot forward, circled behind Obito Uchiha, and kicked out directly.

Bang!

Obito Uchiha rolled away like a top that had been whipped, then collapsed to the ground and could not rise.

"The winner is Hatake Kakashi."

Eiichirō announced the result without surprise.

Cheers rang out all around them.

Because of his strength and cool style, Hatake Kakashi was quite popular in class.

Though Hikawa was showing signs of catching up, he was still ultimately in second place, one crucial step behind.

After all, no one remembered second place unless he was called... ahem.

"Obito, are you okay?"

Rin Nohara hurried forward and asked.

"I'm fine!"

Obito Uchiha climbed to his feet and said, "I wasn't in good condition today. We'll fight again another day!"

"..."

Rin Nohara immediately swallowed the words of comfort she had been about to offer.

Why not blame the grass, too?

"Does anyone else want to challenge someone? If not, we'll begin class."

Eiichirō asked.

"I challenge Hikawa."

Sarutobi Asuma raised his hand and said.

Everyone's attention immediately shifted away from Hatake Kakashi.

Sarutobi Asuma was the Hokage's Son, and he had lost to Hikawa once before.

This was a grudge match.

Their hunger for gossip instantly burned bright.

"Hikawa."

Sarutobi Asuma walked to the center of the training field, gave a disdainful snort, and said, "The same genjutsu won't work on me!"

Hikawa ignored him and casually formed the Opposing Hand Seal.

The seal was formed, and the spar began.

Sarutobi Asuma immediately shifted his gaze away and stared at the ground.

Most genjutsu targeted vision.

The simplest way to deal with them was not to look into his opponent's eyes.

Using the corner of his vision and locating positions by sound would have some effect on him, but not too much.

Especially since Sarutobi Asuma had undergone special training for the past half month.

The sound of something cutting through the air rang out.

It was a kunai.

Sarutobi Asuma twisted his body and dodged it perfectly.

Two kunai embedded themselves into the ground, one on his left and one on his right.

He glanced at them and could not help revealing a pleased expression.

The sweat he had shed over the past half month had not been wasted.

The tides had turned!

Sarutobi Asuma rapidly formed Hand Seals with both hands.

He watched Hikawa's feet as his hands came together.

Wind Style: Violent Wind Palm!

A whirlwind flew from between his palms.

Yet the next moment, the kunai on the ground sprang into the air like carp flipping upright.

What was going on?

Had the kunai become sentient?

Sarutobi Asuma instinctively turned his head, and his eyes suddenly widened like bells.

He saw faint threads attached to the kunai.

Under Hikawa's control, the threads crossed and wrapped around him.

Sarutobi Asuma staggered and fell flat on his face.

No!

If he fell here, his life would be over!

Sarutobi Asuma reacted quickly. Enduring the pain, he hurriedly scrambled back to his feet.

But a kunai was waiting for him.

"I..."

Sarutobi Asuma's face flushed crimson with anger.

Why weren't you following the script?

A genjutsu ninja was not using genjutsu and had instead learned from the Uchiha to use kunai. It was utterly infuriating!

But a loss was a loss.

In front of so many classmates, he could not shamelessly make excuses like Obito Uchiha.

"The winner is Hikawa."

As he hesitated, Eiichirō announced the result for him.

Sarutobi Asuma secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but unwillingness quickly followed.

He had undergone special training for half a month, yet none of it had even been put to use. Who could accept that?

E-Rank Talent Entry 'Shippuden' effect upgraded.

Wind Style talent increased by 30% from its original foundation.

Hikawa looked at the two lines that had suddenly appeared, unable to keep his mood from lifting.