Don't Come Over Here

Chapter 37: Don't Come Any Closer

Hikawa was thoroughly satisfied.

The effect of the D-Rank Entry 'Ninja Tool Mastery' was indeed overwhelming in the first year.

Although Obito Uchiha wasn't the dead last, aside from his Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique, his fundamentals were too poor.

Coupled with the lack of a Sharingan, he couldn't evade a full-power kunai thrown with a 30% arm strength boost.

Just then, three lines of text appeared before his eyes.

[E-Rank Talent Entry: Fire-Breathing Kid.]

[Trigger Condition: Defeat young Obito Uchiha.]

[Effect: Fire Release talent increases by 10% on top of the original.]

Double the joy!

Just like Sarutobi Asuma, Obito Uchiha had triggered a new entry.

The difference was that his was Fire Release.

"Asuma."

Hikawa beckoned him over.

Come here.

He was now looking forward to Sarutobi Asuma dropping another gold coin.

"..."

Sarutobi Asuma had already lost his earlier arrogance.

He wasn't stupid.

Those two kunai just now had given him a strong sense of crisis.

At the same time, he felt a bit speechless—you're an illusion ninja, how are your kunai getting stronger and stronger?

But things had reached this point; he couldn't back down.

Sarutobi Asuma walked over to face him with a grave expression.

The Opposing Hand Seal ended, and he quickly formed hand seals.

Wind Release: Violent Wind Palm!

Chakra turned into wind. He clapped his hands, and the compressed wind burst out wildly.

He went on the offensive.

But the next second, Hikawa sidestepped left, dodging his Violent Wind as if he had anticipated it.

"What?"

Sarutobi Asuma's eyes widened.

Was I caught in a genjutsu again?

When?

Sarutobi Asuma instinctively formed hand seals.

Genjutsu Release!

His chakra flow became slightly disordered, but it had no effect—he wasn't under a genjutsu.

Sarutobi Asuma breathed a sigh of relief, then suddenly saw Hikawa's face right in front of him.

His heart stopped. Damn it, don't come any closer!

Fox Mind Technique!

Caught off guard, Sarutobi Asuma had no room to dodge and froze on the spot.

"..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't help but slap his forehead.

A mess, a complete mess! The whole fight had turned into a chaotic stew.

Sarutobi Asuma had fallen entirely into Hikawa's rhythm.

He even suspected that defeating Obito Uchiha was part of the plan, all to provoke him into a quick attack.

Impossible to guard against.

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Hikawa and noticed he was frowning.

Was he dissatisfied?

The pride of a genius.

Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed inwardly. Sarutobi Asuma's talent was ultimately a bit lacking.

But as Hokage, he was glad that Konoha had produced another genius—and one he had snatched up himself.

"Damn it!"

Sarutobi Asuma, in his extreme fury, could only be furious for a moment.

He broke free of the Fox Mind Technique, but it took him three seconds.

If it had been a life-or-death battle, three seconds would have been enough for him to die over and over.

"I'll be back!"

Sarutobi Asuma spat out the threat, turned, and left.

"Asuma!"

Hikawa suddenly called out to him.

"What?"

Sarutobi Asuma asked with a look of impatience.

"Your Wind Release is strong."

Hikawa said with a serious expression.

"Of course it is!"

Sarutobi Asuma paused, then shouted, "Next time, you'll see an even stronger Wind Release! And when that happens, I'll be the one to win!"

The bait was taken!

Hikawa couldn't help but smile.

He had just defeated Sarutobi Asuma, but no new entry had triggered, which was why he had frowned in dissatisfaction.

He guessed it was because the intensity wasn't enough.

After all, since the last upgrade, 'Shippuden' had become a D-Rank Entry.

To upgrade it again, he'd probably need Asuma to reach Genin or Chunin level.

"This is the Will of Fire!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen watched the scene and couldn't help but show a look of relief.

In his eyes, children wouldn't lie—this had to be a genuine outpouring of emotion.

Konoha had many geniuses. One more wouldn't make much difference, but a genius who possessed the Will of Fire—that was something else entirely.

Perhaps he could persuade Tsunade to take him into the Hokage's lineage.

"My turn!"

Hatake Kakashi walked onto the field expressionlessly, then drew the short sword from his back.

Hikawa's genjutsu and ninja tools were both stronger than his. His only advantage was the Hatake clan's swordsmanship.

"How much of your skill does Kakashi's swordsmanship have?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen asked curiously.

"Lord Hokage."

Hatake Sakumo smiled and said, "He's just a child. At most, one percent."

"Even one percent of your strength already surpasses most Genin."

Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head and said.

"You flatter me, Lord Hokage."

Hatake Sakumo replied modestly.

"You, you're always so..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly stopped, because Hikawa had drawn a samurai sword.

"Interesting."

Hatake Sakumo perked up at the sight and said, "It seems Hikawa still had something hidden."

What's going on?

Sarutobi Asuma, standing at the edge of the field, instinctively showed an expression of disbelief.

Could it be that he hadn't forced Hikawa to go all out just now?

Wait, bro, were you just playing with me the whole time?

Sarutobi Asuma clutched his neck, feeling like he was suffocating.

"Hey, is he crazy? Using a sword against Kakashi?"

Obito Uchiha was stunned.

The Uchiha Clan was famous for using kunai, but only with the Sharingan.

He didn't have one, so losing was acceptable.

The Hatake clan's swordsmanship, on the other hand, had no such restrictions.

In terms of fame, he was no less than the Uchiha Clan.

"Obito."

Rin Nohara shook her head and said, "Don't underestimate Hikawa. He's very strong."

"It's not about whether he's strong or not."

Obito Uchiha couldn't help but argue, "He's the kind of—"

"Go Hikawa!"

Before he could finish, Yuhi Kurenai cut him off.

Then came a chorus of cheers.

Obito Uchiha was stunned.

Since when did Hikawa have this much popularity?

You deserve to die!

You're even more arrogant than Hatake Kakashi!

Obito Uchiha instinctively looked at Rin Nohara. There was light in her eyes, and a sudden, intense sense of crisis hit him.

"You use a sword?"

Hatake Kakashi looked at the samurai sword, paused briefly, and asked.

"A little."

Hikawa smiled and replied.

Against Hatake Kakashi, he had no certainty of victory.

But with the 30% arm strength boost from 'Ninja Tool Mastery' and the 10% sword technique bonus from 'Swordsmanship Ninja', his odds were still good.

After all, Hatake Kakashi was only five years old.

"Careful."

Hatake Kakashi gave a single warning and said no more.

He bent his body slightly, pushed off with his legs, and burst forward with incredible speed, his short sword thrusting out like a flash of light.

Hikawa raised his right hand and held the samurai sword horizontally in front of him.

But Hatake Kakashi reacted quickly. The short sword halted abruptly, then slashed horizontally.

If it connected, Hikawa would be cut in half, becoming a 2.5-Gojo.

That was the hallmark of Hatake Sakumo's Sword Style.

Fast, precise, ruthless—like an assassin, every strike lethal.

Against ninjas with high offense and low defense, it was nearly unstoppable.

But a longer weapon had the advantage.

Hikawa twisted his arm, and the samurai sword struck toward Hatake Kakashi first.

Clang!

Hatake Kakashi swiftly pulled his blade back, blocking the samurai sword.

The moment they made contact, his expression shifted.

A tremendous force slammed into him, forcing him back several steps.