A friend's success is more heartbreaking

Kakashi Hatake was sent flying, his body slamming heavily into the ground.

Yuki Yuichi stood in the center of the training ground, looking spirited and full of vigor as he glanced toward Kakashi Hatake.

The battle between the two looked intense, but in reality, it was far from safe.

Kakashi Hatake stood up, feeling pain radiating from every part of his body.

However, he viewed this pain as a form of tempering for himself.

Since he was small, his father had told him that a ninja must endure what ordinary people cannot.

Just then, Yuhi Kurenai walked over carrying a medical kit.

Minato Namikaze probably never expected that this medical kit would be put to use in such a short amount of time.

After Yuki Yuichi and Kakashi Hatake applied their medicine, the group sat inside a pavilion.

Looking at Yuki Yuichi, who was bare-chested with a bruised fist mark on his chest, Kakashi Hatake, who was carefully applying medicine to himself, and the ambitious Uchiha Obito.

Sarutobi Asuma swallowed hard, but soon, an excited look appeared in his eyes.

This kind of battle was what made his blood boil!

Watching Kakashi Hatake apply his medicine, Yuki Yuichi touched the injury on his chest, then stood up and said, "Everyone, let's start our training."

"We shouldn't let battles like this happen too often."

"Hm?" Sarutobi Asuma was stunned, then looked at him.

Kakashi Hatake nodded, "It really delays our training."

Yuki Yuichi had actually intended to practice tree-climbing today.

But he hadn't expected to get carried away and end up fighting a match with Kakashi Hatake.

It seemed training was off the table for today.

Just then, Yuhi Kurenai looked at the group and suggested in a low voice, "Then, should we take a look around the area?"

"Hm?" Yuki Yuichi was taken aback by her words, then looked at Kakashi Hatake and asked, "Do you know what's around here?"

Kakashi Hatake shook his head, "I don't know."

"I don't actually come here very often."

"I usually train at home or at the Konoha training grounds."

"Although I discovered this place before, I don't have much need for it."

He had only suddenly thought of this place yesterday; he hadn't been here more than a few times before.

He needed a secluded place to train to skip class, which was why he remembered this spot existed.

"Let's just forget it; we can look around the area another time." Yuki Yuichi ruffled Yuhi Kurenai's small head, then lay back on the bench.

Yuhi Kurenai looked at Yuki Yuichi lying on her lap, pondered for a moment, nodded, and then moved his head down.

"Since that's the case, I'm going to train seriously too!" Yuhi Kurenai said, clenching her hands into fists with a determined look.

"I have people I want to protect, too!"

With that, Yuhi Kurenai ran onto the training ground to practice the Fire Style: Dragon Fire Technique that Yuhi Shinku had taught her yesterday.

Seeing this, Sarutobi Asuma and Uchiha Obito exchanged a glance and ran out as well.

If Yuhi Kurenai could be this disciplined and serious, how could they lose!

Two days ago, after Uchiha Obito enrolled, the Uchiha Clan had given him the Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique.

This could be considered the Uchiha Clan's investment in their kin.

Later, when Uchiha Obito became a genin and then a chunin, he would be provided with more ninjutsu.

Sarutobi Asuma was much the same.

When he enrolled, he had also received the Fire Style: Great Flame Technique.

This was a secret fire ninjutsu passed down through the generations of the Sarutobi Clan; it released fierce flames from the mouth, and the fire was so intense that anyone hit by it would be reduced to ashes in an instant.

This was what it meant to be a child of a ninja clan.

Even a clan member like Uchiha Obito, who didn't show much promise, still had access to ninjutsu resources.

Watching the three of them go off to practice their ninjutsu, Yuki Yuichi lay on the bench and turned his head to look.

There were five of them here, and they couldn't even scrape together a single Water Style ninjutsu... it was all Fire Style...

Kakashi Hatake wasn't training; his entire body was still in intense pain.

Kakashi Hatake sat on the bench, looking helplessly at Yuki Yuichi lying beside him.

"I'm telling you, are you really not going to train?"

"Your injuries shouldn't be that big of a problem, right?"

Yuki Yuichi heard this, closed his eyes, and said lazily, "You gave me internal injuries."

"I can't train today."

Kakashi Hatake's mouth twitched upon hearing this.

Having known Yuki Yuichi for some time, he had come to realize that this guy possessed a physique far beyond that of an ordinary person.

He was well aware that the injuries he had inflicted upon Yuki Yuichi would not affect his ability to train normally in the slightest.

However, looking at the lazily reclining Yuki Yuichi on the bench, Kakashi Hatake still kept those thoughts to himself.

On the training ground, Yuhi Kurenai formed her hand seals with focus, simultaneously exerting full control over the chakra within her body.

Succeed, I must succeed! Yuhi Kurenai prayed silently in her heart.

Although she had spent the entire time worrying about Yuki Yuichi during his spar with Kakashi Hatake, it would be impossible to say she felt nothing at all.

Yuichi is so amazing; I can't be the one holding him back!

I want to protect Yuichi, too!

With a determined expression on her small face, Yuhi Kurenai finished her hand seals.

The next moment, a fire pillar, neither long nor large, erupted from her mouth, scorching the wooden stake four or five meters ahead until its surface was pitch black.

Nearby, Uchiha Obito, who had just gathered chakra in his throat in preparation to exhale, coughed abruptly, hunching over as he spat out sparks and black smoke.

"This! This! This!"

Uchiha Obito was stunned, staring at Yuhi Kurenai in disbelief.

He had never imagined that he would actually lose to Yuhi Kurenai when it came to ninjutsu.

Sarutobi Asuma, standing to the side, was equally dumbfounded by the scene.

"You've got to be... kidding me?!"

Ignoring their expressions, Yuhi Kurenai jumped for joy at the sight.

"Yay!"

"I managed to perform a Fire Release technique too!"

Hearing the commotion, Yuki Yuichi opened his eyes, looked at Yuhi Kurenai, then glanced at the scorched wooden stake before turning to Kakashi Hatake with a puzzled look.

"Kurenai did this?"

Kakashi Hatake looked at him upon hearing the question and gave a slight nod. "Mn."

Receiving the confirmation, Yuki Yuichi stood up instantly and walked toward Yuhi Kurenai.

"Yuichi, I managed to perform the Dragon Fire Technique too!"

Yuhi Kurenai looked delighted, standing before Yuki Yuichi with an expression that practically begged for praise.

Yuki Yuichi naturally didn't hold back, patting her small head. "Kurenai is truly amazing!"

"Hehe..." Yuhi Kurenai gave a silly grin. "I'll protect Yuichi, too!"

She paused for a moment, then added, "And Dad."

"Mn!" Yuki Yuichi nodded. "Kurenai will definitely become a powerful ninja."

Seriously, guys, who gets this?

Not only did someone else learn the ninjutsu first, but as if that weren't enough, they had to flaunt their affection right in front of them.

Uchiha Obito and Sarutobi Asuma exchanged a look, both seeing the misery in the other's eyes.

Compared to one's own failure, a friend's success was even more heartbreaking.

Especially when that success was followed by a display of public affection; it was more painful than killing them both.