Ninja Equals Deception

Asuma easily deflected Yashui's fierce assault with a single hand.

"Truly worthy of an elite Jonin," Yashui couldn't help but exclaim; Asuma's taijutsu was no mere boast.

Finding no advantage in close-quarters combat, Yashui switched to long-range attacks using shuriken.

Yashui's shurikenjutsu was no simple matter, and its precision was not to be underestimated, a result of the throwing techniques he had studied in the past.

However, Asuma neutralized the attack with ease by using the Substitution Technique.

"Now it's my turn." Asuma had appeared on a tree in the courtyard before anyone noticed.

"Summoning Jutsu: Enma!" Asuma had actually used a summoning technique against a child like Yashui. It seemed he wanted to test every aspect of Yashui's capabilities by creating a more dynamic combat environment.

"Asuma, why have you summoned me?" Enma, wearing a Konoha forehead protector, looked no different from a human.

"Nothing much, just testing my nephew." Asuma gestured.

"Good grief, why are you Sarutobi Clan members always so troublesome?" Seeing Asuma's gesture, Enma transformed into a Golden Cudgel with a bang.

"Sarutobi Style Taijutsu: Hundred-Strike Staff." Asuma leaped from the tree and launched an attack on Yashui using taijutsu.

What on earth was Sarutobi Style Taijutsu? The original work never mentioned such a thing!

Asuma's "Sarutobi Style Taijutsu" was a school of combat that relied heavily on the Golden Cudgel form of Enma. By utilizing a staff that could freely control its length and even bend to a certain degree, Asuma wielded this style with masterful perfection, making Yashui feel as though he were fighting two opponents at once.

Fighting a lone opponent with superior numbers—this was the very essence of Sarutobi Style Taijutsu.

Watching Asuma's lightning-fast movements, Yashui immediately countered with the grappling and disarming skills he had learned previously. However, unfamiliar with Sarutobi Style Taijutsu, he suffered a major setback and stumbled after a moment of carelessness. The Golden Cudgel in Asuma's hand took the opportunity to extend, its tip sharpening into a point. Taking that hit would result in a serious injury.

"Poof!" The long staff pierced through "Yashui," but the figure transformed into a log. It was the Substitution Technique.

Asuma's eyes lit up; clearly, he hadn't expected a student from the Ninja Academy to use the Substitution Technique with such fluidity.

"Uncle, where are you aiming? I'm right here~" Yashui emerged from behind a tree in the courtyard.

"A decent Substitution Technique, but this level isn't enough to graduate." Asuma turned, pointing the Golden Cudgel at Yashui. The staff shot forward like a bullet, piercing Yashui once again.

"Poof!" Yashui turned into a log once more.

"?" Asuma noticed that the log had two holes in it. This was a log that had already been used!

Yashui appeared behind Asuma—the very spot where he had first used the Substitution Technique.

It turned out that Yashui had used the Substitution Technique on the same log twice in rapid succession, utilizing the technique's ability to swap positions to maneuver extensively within the small courtyard.

Assuming the spot where Yashui was first pierced by Asuma was point A, his position after using the substitution was point A. When Yashui was nearly pierced by Asuma's Sarutobi Style Taijutsu the first time, he used the Substitution Technique to move from A to A, leaving the log at point A.

Then, Yashui performed the hand seals for the Substitution Technique again, moved from A, entered Asuma's line of sight, stopped at point B, and provoked him verbally. When Asuma nearly pierced him again with the Konoha-style taijutsu, he used the Substitution Technique once more to swap himself with the log left at point A, moving from point B back to the original point A.

This completed a strategy that not only dodged the attack but also returned him to his original position.

After a brief moment of bewilderment, Asuma and the Third Hokage immediately understood the maneuver Yashui had just performed; only Konohamaru stared blankly, unable to comprehend what had happened.

"Yashui's performance is excellent. He figured out how to counter the numerical advantage of Sarutobi Style Taijutsu so quickly. As long as he acts as 'two people'—one to take the damage and one to launch the attack—he can handle the pressure of Sarutobi Style Taijutsu much better." The Third Hokage looked at Yashui with approval; this kind of tactical thinking was enough to touch upon the minimum standards for becoming a Chunin.

Asuma, meanwhile, ordered the Enma-transformed Golden Cudgel to smash all the logs used for the substitution, including the one he had used to dodge the shuriken earlier.

At this moment, Yashui had finished his final hand seal. It was the "Tiger" seal—usually, any technique ending with the Tiger seal was Fire Style!

"The Tiger seal, that's Fire Style!" Konohamaru, watching from the sidelines, tugged at the Third Hokage anxiously: "At this distance, Uncle Asuma will get hurt!"

"Don't worry, Asuma isn't that fragile." The Third Hokage patted Konohamaru's head.

"Konoha Taijutsu Secret Technique: One Thousand Years of Death!" Yashui lowered his body and thrust his hands straight forward.

"..." Konohamaru was dumbfounded.

"..." The Third Hokage was dumbfounded.

"..." Asuma, who had been poked, wore a very subtle expression.

"Poof!" The "Asuma" who had taken the One Thousand Years of Death reverted to his original form—it turned out to be the Enma-transformed staff summoned by Asuma.

Meanwhile, the long staff in "Asuma's" hand transformed back into the real Asuma.

The real Asuma held his Chakra Blade in both hands, striking Yashui in the chest before following up by pressing the blade against Yashui's throat.

The outcome was decided.

Yashui had been completely defeated by Asuma, who hadn't even used his full strength.

This time, although Yashui lost, the strategy, tactics, and proficient basic ninjutsu he displayed during the battle left a deep impression on the Third Hokage and Asuma.

At the same time, Yashui felt the thrill of fighting against a real ninja.

This was a true battle between ninjas; the entire process illustrated the point that "the essence of a ninja is deception." A ninja needs not only powerful strength but also wisdom and a cunning heart.

Having frequently fought people in his previous world, Yashui felt something different: this was a real fight!

The outcome was clearly decided, but some seemed unwilling to accept it. Enma, for instance.

Enma's face was beet red. After reverting to his original form, he ignored Asuma and the Third Hokage, shouting as he charged forward: "This brat! I'm going to kill him! Kill him!"

The Third Hokage and Asuma had to use all their might to hold Enma back; the Third Hokage even resorted to using Earth Style.

Asuma had no choice but to forcibly cancel the summoning technique.

This test was primarily a competition of taijutsu and basic ninjutsu, and since neither side had used high-level ninjutsu, both still had a relatively high amount of chakra remaining.

"Uncle Asuma, how was the result?" Yashui asked nervously.

It felt like waiting for college entrance exam results—even more painful than seeing a rejection letter. Yashui was currently extremely anxious.