By the time they left the Ninja Academy, it was already noon.
Umino Ikkaku had not said much, but they had remained seated in the classroom for quite a while.
"Are you all still going to train today?" Sarutobi Asuma asked, looking at the others.
Kakashi Hatake glanced discreetly at Uchiha Obito before saying, "I'll go train after I eat."
"Want to come along?"
Hearing that, Sarutobi Asuma hesitated for a moment before shaking his head. "No, I'm going home."
"That old man at home said he wants me to form a contract with a summon beast."
"Even though I don't really like that old man, the Enma Clan is still very powerful." Sarutobi Asuma sounded somewhat melancholy as he spoke.
"If I could, I'd actually want to contract a cooler-looking summon beast."
"But Enma isn't bad either."
At first, he had never intended to contract with the Enma Clan at all.
There was no way he wanted to use the same summon beast as that old man!
But after spending time with Yuki Yuichi and the others these past days, his desire to completely distance himself from that old man had faded somewhat.
Only somewhat, though. If he could, he still wanted to piss that old man off to death.
As Sarutobi Asuma thought this, he clenched his fists tightly.
The practical combat portion of the final examination had made him realize something.
If he did not grow stronger, the gap between him and the others would only get wider and wider!
He did not want to become that old man's shadow, but neither did he want to fall far behind them.
Although he often talked down about Uchiha Obito, he understood in his heart that if they truly fought, he would not be able to beat him.
Within