Today was registration day, so there were no classes, only the opening ceremony.
Hikawa saw the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, again.
Compared to the last graduation ceremony, he seemed even more long-winded this time, speaking for a full three hours.
At first, thanks to Sarutobi Hiruzen's immense prestige, the elementary school students listened fairly attentively.
But by the end, all of them had vacant eyes, no longer knowing what heaven and earth were.
Hikawa regretted it now.
If he had known, he would have brought Tsunade along so he could have slipped away halfway through.
After the opening ceremony ended, it was time to pay tuition and collect textbooks.
"Want to get lunch together?"
Rin Nohara took the initiative to ask.
"Of course!"
Obito Uchiha said excitedly.
He even gave Hatake Kakashi a look, telling him not to be a third wheel.
"I'm going to train."
Though Hatake Kakashi had suffered a major blow, he still had not given up on defeating Hikawa.
"Hikawa and the others are going too,"
Rin Nohara added.
"..."
Hatake Kakashi could not help but pause.
"Why invite them?"
Obito Uchiha asked unhappily.
"Obito, everyone is friends."
Rin Nohara explained, "Besides, Hikawa has helped me a lot."
"Rin!"
Yuhi Kurenai waved at her as she skipped over while holding Hikawa's hand.
Obito Uchiha instinctively glanced at her, then looked back at Rin Nohara.
If he could hold Rin's hand, he would die happy.
"What do you all want to eat?"
Rin Nohara asked gently.
"What do you want to eat?"
Yuhi Kurenai looked at Hikawa and asked.
"What's the most famous ramen shop in the village?"
Hikawa thought for a moment before asking.
He had wanted to say Ichiraku Ramen, but he did not know whether it had opened yet.
"The one at the village entrance, Ichiran Ramen."
Rin Nohara answered.
Looks like it had not opened yet.
Hikawa nodded and said, "Let's go there."
"Wait!"
Sarutobi Asuma caught up with them, blocked their path, and said, "Hikawa, fight me."
"Lunch first."
Hikawa smiled. "Come with us."
"I..."
Sarutobi Asuma was momentarily speechless.
But then he realized this was an opportunity.
They definitely were not as rich as he was.
"I don't want to owe anyone anything."
Sarutobi Asuma glanced at Yuhi Kurenai and said grandly, "I'll treat!"
"Sure."
Hikawa agreed without hesitation.
Yuhi Kurenai curled her lips.
She had no favorable impression of Sarutobi Asuma. He was always picking fights with Hikawa and constantly interrupting their time together. He was far too rude.
The group soon arrived at Ichiran Ramen by the village entrance.
"Tonkotsu Ramen."
Hikawa looked at the menu and said.
"Me too."
Yuhi Kurenai said with a grin.
"Me too."
Sarutobi Asuma echoed like a parrot.
Yuhi Kurenai immediately stopped grinning.
This guy was so annoying!
"Hikawa."
Hatake Kakashi hesitated before asking, "How did you get so strong?"
He had spent the entire morning reviewing the fight and found that the key lay in that inhuman strength.
"Do you know who my teacher is?"
Hikawa asked in return.
Naturally, he could not say it was because of a cheat, so he could only make Tsunade take the blame.
Hatake Kakashi froze for a moment before finally finding the reason.
Besides being a Medical Ninja, Tsunade was also a taijutsu ninja.
In particular, her move, Super Strength, was famous throughout the Ninja World.
"What do you mean, strong?"
Sarutobi Asuma was utterly confused and could not help asking.
"Hikawa defeated Kakashi in one move this morning."
Yuhi Kurenai spoke with an expression of shared pride.
Sarutobi Asuma instinctively looked at Hatake Kakashi.
"..."
Hatake Kakashi silently nodded.
Sarutobi Asuma suddenly felt like grabbing a bucket and running away.
Though he had learned two more Wind Style Ninjutsu, Hikawa's progress had clearly surpassed his expectations.
But he was unwilling to give up just like that.
After lunch, Hikawa said goodbye to them and headed toward Tsunade's house.
But he soon noticed Sarutobi Asuma sneaking around behind him.
"Come out."
Hikawa stopped walking.
"How did you find me?"
Sarutobi Asuma stepped out and asked.
"With my eyes."
Hikawa answered casually.
"Hmph, do you have eyes on the back of your head?"
Sarutobi Asuma did not believe him.
"Looking to spar?"
Hikawa changed the subject.
"Yes!"
Sarutobi Asuma played a little trick.
Originally, he had wanted to defeat Hikawa in front of Yuhi Kurenai, but Hatake Kakashi being instantly defeated made him decide to play it safe.
"Why should I spar with you?"
Hikawa asked in return.
"...?"
Sarutobi Asuma froze for a moment and said, "I challenged you, so of course you have to accept!"
Since when was that a rule?
Hikawa shook his head. "This isn't a practical combat class."
"No, you..."
Sarutobi Asuma hurriedly said, "You have to spar with me!"
"How about this?"
Seeing that the timing was right, Hikawa said, "If you lose, let me take a look at the Wind Style Ninjutsu scrolls you learned."
"You want to learn Wind Style?"
Sarutobi Asuma's eyes widened.
You had learned genjutsu, swordsmanship, and Medical Ninjutsu, and now you wanted to learn Wind Style too? What kind of monster were you?
"Not to learn them. To save time."
Hikawa made up an excuse. "After looking at them, I'll be able to defeat you faster."
"Bastard! Don't look down on me!"
Sarutobi Asuma's blood surged to his head, and he immediately formed Hand Seals with both hands.
He leaned back slightly and suddenly spat out a mass of Chakra.
Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!
The Chakra swelled with the wind, instantly forming a small storm before him.
Hikawa raised his hand and threw a Kunai.
The immense force made the Kunai tear through the storm like a bullet, flying past Sarutobi Asuma.
Boom!
Sarutobi Asuma instinctively turned around and saw the Kunai buried in a tree trunk, where it had blasted out a deep crater.
He could not help swallowing.
If it had hit him, his head would have burst like a watermelon.
"Still want to fight?"
Hikawa walked up to him and asked.
"..."
Sarutobi Asuma gritted his teeth and took out a scroll.
It contained three Wind Style Ninjutsu: Wind Release: Great Breakthrough, Wind Release: Violent Wind Palm, and Wind Style: Airflow Dance.
Hikawa studied it for a while before returning it to him.
The E-Rank Entry, 'Hero,' gave him a 10% boost to his memory. Coupled with the memories from two lifetimes, he had memorized everything.
"Thanks."
Hikawa smiled and asked, "Want to train with me?"
"Huh?"
Sarutobi Asuma stared at him with disbelief written all over his face.
"Only by helping each other can we improve, right?"
Hikawa asked casually.
He could farm Entries while letting Sarutobi Hiruzen see his Will of Fire. Why not?
This was the way to survive in Konoha.
Sarutobi Asuma froze on the spot.
For a moment, he felt somewhat ashamed.
He was not bad by nature. He had only opposed Hikawa because of Yuhi Kurenai.
But now, he realized that he truly could not compare to him, no matter the area.
Hikawa was slightly startled. He had triggered a new Entry again.
E-Rank Talent Entry: Hentai Mouth. Trigger Condition: Successfully convince Sarutobi Asuma. Effect: Hand Seal speed increases by 10% on its original basis.
That worked too?
But why did it increase hand speed? Why not speaking speed or tongue speed?
Before you continue