A Fun Spar with Sasuke

Yashui had had this knowledge etched deep into his mind back in his nine years of compulsory education, so it naturally wasn't a problem.

Looks like I'll be fine with written tests and the like at the Ninja Academy, Yashui thought, secretly delighted.

But Yashui struggled with the practical subjects. He flipped through the textbooks: the first few, Complete Guide to Muscle Training, Taijutsu for Beginners, Intermediate Taijutsu, and Hand Seal Theory and Practice, all covered how to train the body, improve physical fitness, and learn the basics of Taijutsu. Yashui could handle all of that, but there was another section: practicing Hand Seals. That was where he ran into trouble.

Going from knowing nothing about Hand Seals to mastering them would take at least half a year. And unless he learned the Hand Seal exercises in the earlier books, he wouldn't be able to study Basic Ninjutsu, Chakra Application Basics, Basic Genjutsu: Use and Dispel, or Basic Tactics in the later ones.

Yashui slung his backpack over his shoulder, pondering how to learn Hand Seals quickly, then left the school.

"Hey, Sarutobi. You're not challenging me today? I thought you'd come at me with the intent to kill me again." Yashui had reached the school gates when Sasuke Uchiha, wearing a blue short-sleeved shirt, stopped him.

Sasuke stood with his hands in his pockets, looking at Yashui with disdain.

Come to think of it, the previous owner of this body had apparently said something like, "The traitor Itachi Uchiha's little brother doesn't deserve to live."

Wasn't that ridiculous? Their goals were exactly the same! And judging by the later events in the story, Sasuke seemed to have fulfilled almost all of Yashui's wishes, too.

Rationally speaking, there was no reason for them to challenge each other at all!

But to keep Yashui's life from changing too much, he nodded. "I was just about to challenge you."

From Sasuke's tone, Yashui seemed to have always been the one who lost. He could just lose like he had before.

"Then let's go to the Uchiha Clan training ground." Sasuke started walking. "Don't blame your new sunglasses when you lose to me."

"I won't..." Yashui followed Sasuke all the way to the Uchiha Clan compound.

With Sasuke Uchiha still alive, and as a gesture of the village's regret over the Uchiha Clan's destruction and respect for the Uchiha, Konoha had left the compound untouched. Members of other clans weren't allowed to enter freely.

Once they reached the Uchiha Clan training ground, Sasuke eagerly prepared to fight.

"Come on." Sasuke still had his hands in his pockets. Was he about to activate his "Talk no Jutsu"?

"Here I come." Yashui charged at Sasuke.

Sasuke waited until Yashui was only two meters away before leisurely pulling his hands from his pockets.

"Ugh..." Sasuke was knocked to the ground by a single punch from Yashui.

"..." Yashui stared at him, dumbfounded.

What had just happened? How could Sasuke be this weak? He was one of the strongest shinobi in the Shinobi World!

Yashui hadn't even activated his Sharingan. He'd simply thrown an ordinary punch on instinct, and Sasuke had gone down. Maybe his muscles were still sore, and he hadn't been able to control his strength?

"You've gotten a lot stronger today..." Sasuke was definitely Sasuke. Even after getting knocked flat, he still acted as if he'd expected it.

"Let's keep going." This time, Sasuke didn't put his hands back in his pockets.

Was this really all the strength Sasuke had right now? Had they just been two weaklings trading blows before? How weak had the previous owner of this body been to lose to someone like this?

With the last exchange as a lesson, Yashui figured out what to do. He slowed down both his strength and his speed, then threw a lazy punch.

"Looks like you were just lucky that time. But there won't be a next time." Sasuke abruptly jumped back. "Fire Release: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!"

One small fireball after another shot from Sasuke's mouth, sweeping toward Yashui like machine-gun fire. They looked powerful, and their range and duration were impressive. Sasuke clearly had a decent amount of chakra.

Sasuke's weakness showed, too. His aim was extremely straightforward, and he didn't predict where Yashui would move. As a result, the entire Phoenix Flower Jutsu simply attacked along the path Yashui had already taken.

Was this really the Sasuke Yashui remembered? Sasuke shouldn't have been stupid in the story, so why did he seem like an idiot now that Yashui had actually met him?

When the flames from the Phoenix Flower Jutsu faded, Yashui discovered that each small fireball had concealed a Shuriken.

"Got you!" Thin metal wires glinted in Sasuke's hands. "Shuriken Manipulation Technique!"

Sasuke pulled on the wires with both hands, sending the Shuriken, glowing red from the heat, flying toward Yashui.

Seeing Sasuke like this, Yashui finally relaxed. Now this was more like Sasuke's proper level. Even so, Yashui didn't want to get hit. If those wires tangled around him, the fight would be over.

Even if he planned to lose in the end, Yashui didn't want to lose without any dignity. Sasuke's full combo would get his clothes dirty even if it didn't hurt him. And if Sasuke really got him under control, who knew what he might do to Yashui?

Without thinking, Yashui formed the "Ram" Hand Seal and drew out a little chakra. His Sharingan activated instinctively, and by observing the chakra Sasuke had attached to the wires, Yashui dodged every last one.

After his signature move was evaded, Sasuke's expression darkened. He had no idea why Yashui's reaction speed had suddenly improved so much. Nor could he see the Sharingan Yashui had awakened just yesterday through his sunglasses.

Sasuke looked flustered and furious. In desperation, he charged in barehanded and punched Yashui.

After Sasuke "hit" him, Yashui staggered backward and fell to the ground.

"Stop, I give up!" Yashui hurriedly stopped Sasuke from attacking again.

"Really?" Sasuke panted. The range and power of his Ninjutsu just now had been on par with that of the Konoha Anbu member Yashui had encountered yesterday. In other words, Sasuke's Ninjutsu was already at Chunin level.

What Sasuke probably lacked in Ninjutsu was chakra.

"This isn't like you. Usually, you keep going with murderous intent until you can't move at all." As he spoke, Sasuke's breathing finally steadied.

"..." Faced with Sasuke's question, Yashui didn't know what to say.

"Today, I used a move against you that I've never shown anyone else." Sasuke actually smiled. "Because this is our last spar."

With the setting sun reflected behind him, Sasuke's smile had an indescribably eerie quality.

"You knew that, too, didn't you? That's why you gave up," Sasuke asked.