Deceiving the Ninja

Asuma faced Yashui's fierce attack and blocked it completely with one hand.

"You really are an elite among the Jonin," Yashui couldn't help admiring. Asuma's Taijutsu was no joke.

Unable to gain any advantage in Taijutsu, Yashui switched to long-range attacks with Shuriken.

Yashui's Shurikenjutsu was no slouch either, and his accuracy was nothing to dismiss. That was thanks to his previous training in throwing techniques.

But Asuma used the Substitution Technique to dispel the attack with ease.

"Now it's my turn." Asuma had somehow made his way to a tree in the yard.

"Summoning Technique: Enma!" Asuma actually used a Summoning Technique against a child like Yashui. It seemed he wanted to test every aspect of Yashui's abilities under varied battle conditions.

"Asuma, why'd you summon me?" Enma wore a Konoha Headband and looked no different from a human.

"Nothing much. Just testing my nephew." Asuma made a hand signal.

"Honestly, why are you Sarutobi Clan members all such a pain?" Seeing Asuma's signal, Enma transformed into a Golden Cudgel with a poof.

"Sarutobi Style Taijutsu: Hundred Club Strikes!" Asuma leaped down from the tree and attacked Yashui with Taijutsu.

What the heck was Sarutobi Style Taijutsu? It had never been mentioned in the original story!

Asuma's Sarutobi Style Taijutsu was a fighting style that relied heavily on Enma transforming into a Golden Cudgel. With the ability to freely change its length and even bend to a certain extent, Asuma wielded it with consummate skill. Yashui felt as if he were fighting two people at once.

Outnumbering the opponent—that was the essence of Sarutobi Style Taijutsu.

Watching Asuma's lightning-fast movements, Yashui immediately countered with the fighting and disarming skills he had learned before. But unfamiliar with Sarutobi Style Taijutsu, he was badly outmatched and stumbled when his guard slipped. The Golden Cudgel in Asuma's hands took the opportunity to extend, its tip sharpening to a point. A hit from that would leave him seriously injured.

Bang! The long staff pierced through "Yashui," who turned into a log. It was the Substitution Technique.

Asuma's eyes lit up. He clearly hadn't expected a Ninja Academy student to use the Substitution Technique so deftly.

"Uncle, where are you hitting? I'm over here~" Yashui stepped out from behind a tree in the yard.

"Nice Substitution Technique, but that alone won't get you through graduation." Asuma turned around and pointed the Golden Cudgel at Yashui. It shot forward at incredible speed, like a bullet, and pierced Yashui once more.

Bang! Yashui turned into a log again.

"?" Asuma noticed that the log had two holes in it. It was one he had already used!

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

What had happened was that Yashui had used the Substitution Technique on the same log twice in a row, taking advantage of its ability to switch positions. That let him move around the small yard over a considerable distance.

Suppose the spot where Asuma first pierced Yashui was point A, and the spot where Yashui appeared after using the Substitution Technique was also point A. When Asuma had nearly pierced Yashui with Sarutobi Style Taijutsu just now, Yashui used the Substitution Technique to move from A to A, leaving the log at point A.

Then Yashui formed the hand seal for the Substitution Technique and moved from A, entering Asuma's line of sight before stopping at point B. He taunted Asuma verbally. When Asuma nearly pierced him again with the Konoha Style Taijutsu, Yashui once more used the Substitution Technique to switch places with the log at point A, moving from B back to the original point A.

And so he had not only avoided the attack but also returned to his original position.

After a brief moment of confusion, Asuma and the Third Hokage immediately understood what Yashui had just done. Konohamaru, on the other hand, watched for a long time without understanding.

"Yashui did well. He figured out how to counter Sarutobi Style Taijutsu's numbers advantage so quickly. If he could also become 'two people'—one to take the hit and one to attack—he could fare much better against Sarutobi Style Taijutsu." The Third Hokage gave Yashui an approving look. This strategy was already approaching the minimum standard for becoming a Chunin.

Asuma ordered Enma, still transformed into the Golden Cudgel, to smash all the logs used for the Substitution Technique. He also smashed the log Asuma had used to dodge the Shuriken earlier.

By now, Yashui had finished forming his final hand seal. It was the Tiger seal—Fire Release techniques usually ended with the Tiger seal!

"The Tiger seal—that's Fire Release!" Konohamaru anxiously tugged at the Third Hokage. "At this range, 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 both hands straight forward.

"...?" Konohamaru was dumbfounded.

"...?" The Third Hokage was dumbfounded.

"..." Asuma's expression was indescribable as he was poked.

Bang! The "Asuma" who had taken the One Thousand Years of Death reverted to his original form—it turned out to be Enma, whom Asuma had summoned.

The long staff in "Asuma's" hands, meanwhile, turned back into the real Asuma.

The real Asuma gripped a Chakra Blade in both hands and struck Yashui in the chest. Then he followed through, pressing the blade against Yashui's throat.

The match was over.

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

Although Yashui had lost, his tactics and his skilled use of basic ninjutsu had left a deep impression on the Third Hokage and Asuma.

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

This was a true battle between ninjas. Every moment of it had demonstrated that "the essence of a ninja is deception." Ninjas needed more than great strength—they also needed intelligence and a devious heart.

Yashui, who had often fought people hand-to-hand in his former world, felt something different: this was what a real fight was!

The winner was clearly decided, but some people didn't seem willing to accept it. Enma, for instance.

Enma's face flushed red. After reverting to his original form, he ignored Asuma and the Third Hokage and charged forward, shouting, "You little brat! I'm gonna kill you! Kill you!"

The Third Hokage and Asuma strained with all their might to hold Enma back. The Third Hokage even used Earth Release.

Asuma had no choice but to forcibly cancel the Summoning Technique.

The test had mainly been a contest of Taijutsu and basic ninjutsu. Neither side had used any advanced techniques, so both still had plenty of Chakra left.

"Uncle Asuma, how did I do?" Yashui asked nervously.

It felt even more agonizing than waiting for his college entrance exam results—more painful than finding out he'd failed. Yashui was on edge.