Punching the Asura

During the day at the Ninja Academy, Yamanaka Ino stared at the empty seat next to Akimichi Denji, listening to Iruka's lecture with half a mind.

"What is going on? He didn't even say a word and didn't show up for school today. Even Akimichi Choji didn't come." She sighed; with Denji absent, she found it hard to focus on Iruka's theory lesson.

Everything had been perfectly fine before Denji arrived.

It is easy to go from frugality to luxury, but difficult to go from luxury back to frugality!

"I asked Iruka-sensei, but he didn't know either. He just said that both Akimichi Choji and Akimichi Denji had taken leave."

Hyuga Hinata's white eyes couldn't help but drift toward that empty seat as well; she was feeling a bit worried.

During the break, the Konoha Twelve of Class 1-A gathered together. Yamanaka Ino greeted Hyuga Hinata and asked, "Do you know where Akimichi Denji went?"

"I... I don't know."

Hyuga Hinata answered shyly.

"I thought you might know." Yamanaka Ino slumped over her desk, feeling as though she had lost her soul now that Denji was gone.

"What's the deal? Aren't you the one from the Yamanaka Clan? If there's something going on with the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, shouldn't the 'Ino' family be the first to know?" Inuzuka Kiba chimed in, always eager to join the fray.

Nara Shikamaru replied, "I have no idea, and I didn't hear Choji say anything."

"It's obvious that Akimichi Denji cares a lot about Hinata, so I thought he might have told her," Yamanaka Ino said, glancing at Hinata.

Hinata blushed, especially since these words were coming from Ino.

Uzumaki Naruto said, "It's fine, right? After school, we can just go to the Akimichi Clan and find out."

"That's the only option, then."

Hyuga Hinata subconsciously looked at Denji's empty seat; she wanted to go along too, but her father had grounded her yesterday.

However, that afternoon, during the Transformation Technique lesson, Akimichi Denji returned to school.

This was Denji's own decision; his given reason was that he missed his classmates, though in reality, missing a day meant potentially missing out on accumulating Wish Points.

Tsunade had no objections. In her view, attending the Ninja Academy was necessary, partly to build a solid foundation in the Three Body Technique.

Although the Ninja Academy only taught the basic Three Body Technique and Ninja Tool Throwing, mastering them was essential.

On the other hand, she also approved of Denji's appreciation for his companions.

Friendships forged in the Ninja Academy were the most precious, often untainted by ulterior motives. Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru had also been classmates at the Ninja Academy; aside from Tsunade, the other two were commoner ninjas, yet they had formed a deep bond.

It was just that now, of the other two, Jiraiya was wandering the world, searching for the "Child of Prophecy" spoken of by the Great Toad Sage. As for Orochimaru...

"Denji-kun!" As soon as Yamanaka Ino saw Denji, she greeted him enthusiastically.

Seeing Hinata hesitate to speak, Ino felt a sense of triumph: I've taken the lead again.

Akimichi Choji followed behind, and seeing everyone ignore him, he angrily popped a potato chip into his mouth.

Uzumaki Naruto said boisterously, "You finally showed up! I thought I was just too strong and was putting pressure on you. Hahaha!"

Akimichi Denji squinted and smiled, not minding Naruto's teasing.

He knew Naruto was naturally thick-skinned and often sounded like he was being sarcastic when he actually meant to show concern.

Yamanaka Ino said indignantly, "How could Denji possibly feel pressure because of you?"

Uchiha Sasuke nodded in agreement.

"Why not?" Naruto seemed a bit dissatisfied, puffing out his cheeks.

"What was Denji-kun busy with?" Yamanaka Ino asked curiously.

"We held an apprenticeship ceremony at home this morning, that's why we didn't come," Akimichi Choji answered.

"An apprenticeship ceremony? For whom?" Yamanaka Ino inquired.

"For Lady Tsunade," Denji replied with a smile, his mood currently excellent.

"Lady Tsunade?" Uzumaki Naruto asked, "Who is that?"

Nara Shikamaru, who hadn't been interested before, was shocked upon hearing this and joined the conversation: "Lady Tsunade?"

Uzumaki Naruto might not have known, but as the heir to the Nara Clan, Shikamaru certainly knew who Tsunade was.

Uchiha Sasuke's brow twitched slightly.

Lady Tsunade, who is that?

But he didn't say it out loud, maintaining his cold expression, though he seemed quite surprised as well.

Nara Shikamaru rolled his eyes, pondering: "Choji, I didn't expect you to be playing the 'pig eating the tiger' all this time. No, wait, you don't need to play the pig with your build."

"That's not right either, Ino is the 'pig'."

He subconsciously assumed that Akimichi Choji had been taken on as an apprentice by Tsunade.

From Shikamaru's perspective, Denji had just returned from outside the village and had only been learning ninjutsu for a couple of days; there was absolutely no reason for Lady Tsunade to take him as an apprentice. It had to be Choji.

Although in his eyes this little fatty only knew how to eat, eat, and eat, he hadn't disappointed him when it counted.

Yamanaka Ino angrily punched Nara Shikamaru and roared, "Who are you calling a pig!"

She had no doubts about Choji being taken as an apprentice.

It was a bit surprising, but upon closer reflection, it was perfectly understandable.

Even Yamanaka Ino subconsciously assumed that Lady Tsunade's apprentice would be Akimichi Choji; following Konoha tradition, the Ino-Shika-Cho clans formed a team, and having known Shikamaru and Choji since childhood, she knew Choji had a slight talent for taijutsu.

If nothing else, one look at that physique told you he was a tank.

Shikamaru wrapped an arm around Akimichi Choji with some excitement; seeing his partner in the Ino-Shika-Cho trio taken as an apprentice by Tsunade made him feel a sense of reflected glory.

Akimichi Choji waved his hands, clarifying, "It's not me, it's my brother! He's the one Tsunade took as an apprentice."

Everyone turned their questioning gazes toward Akimichi Denji.

Akimichi Denji nodded, confirming Choji's statement.

Uzumaki Naruto looked at Denji: "Are you really that strong?"

He felt a bit unconvinced; it was the same feeling as when a roommate you'd agreed to slack off and fail exams with, someone you'd spent all night gaming with, suddenly ends up top of the class in the finals. You aren't exactly angry, but you're definitely annoyed.

Akimichi Denji didn't bother with false modesty, smiling instead: "I've always been this strong."

A line of text appeared above Uzumaki Naruto's head: [We agreed to be the dead-last together, so why did you go and get a head start?]

Akimichi Denji smiled, roughly understanding how to fulfill this wish, and said: "Why don't we have a spar?"

Uzumaki Naruto replied: "Then let's spar."

After obtaining Iruka's permission, the two began their match.

Iruka did not oppose the spar; among children, competition could actually stimulate their fighting spirit.

Akimichi Denji looked at his panel, which had changed significantly compared to yesterday.

[Naruto Wish Achievement System]

[Name: Akimichi Denji]

[Fulfilled Wish: I Too Can Go]

[Physique: 7]

[Spirit: 20]

[Chakra: 0.6 Kaka]

[Ninjutsu: Chakra Refinement Technique (Transcendental), Taotie Technique (Grandmaster), Strength of a Hundred (Grandmaster)]

[Skills: Ninja Tool Throwing (Proficient)]

[Energy: 75] (25 energy per day)

[Wish Point: 3]