Desperate Asuma

As the Seal of Confrontation was cast, Sarutobi Asuma seized the initiative.

He threw a punch straight forward.

As the son of the Third Hokage, he had lived a life of luxury, and his physique was naturally far stronger than that of his peers.

This single punch caused many of the students watching to gasp in surprise.

"Sarutobi Asuma is so fast!"

"With a fist that heavy, I bet Gong Yi will be down on the ground if he takes even one hit!"

The chatter from the sidelines did not affect Gong Yi in the slightest; he extended his palm to block Sarutobi Asuma, deflected the momentum, and delivered a sharp kick with his left leg.

Sarutobi Asuma was stunned—how could this scrawny classmate possess strength equal to his own?

He did not know that Gong Yi had held back thirty percent of his power.

In today's duel, Gong Yi needed to show Ishii Kawa how he utilized the Three Body Technique and chakra in combat.

If he defeated his opponent using only taijutsu, Ishii Kawa would certainly not be inclined to teach him Ninjutsu.

Therefore, Gong Yi had to hold back, allowing himself room to perform during the later stages of the fight.

It could be said that from the very beginning, the control of this duel had already fallen into Gong Yi's hands.

After his initial shock, Sarutobi Asuma extended a leg to block Gong Yi, then spun around for a side kick.

Gong Yi met him blow for blow, and for a time, fists and kicks flew in a lively display of combat.

"Sarutobi Asuma is performing well; his taijutsu proficiency is nearing that of a genin."

Up on the teaching building, a chunin teacher offered some flattery.

The Third Hokage nodded, then added with appreciation, "The child sparring with Sarutobi Asuma is also quite good—calm and composed. By the way, what is his name?"

"Uh, I'm not quite sure. My apologies."

"Do not blame yourself; there are so many students in the academy, you cannot be expected to know them all. However, what the school teaches is more than just physical application. Let us continue watching."

Seeing that he could not take Gong Yi down after a prolonged exchange, Sarutobi Asuma grew anxious and pulled a kunai from his pouch, firing it toward his opponent.

Of course, these were wooden kunai; after all, it would be improper for lower-grade students to suffer injuries during a sparring match.

However, even if they were made of wood, if one struck a vital area, the teacher would still declare the outcome.

Puff!

The kunai struck Gong Yi's body—right in the thigh!

"Sarutobi Asuma wins!"

"Gong Yi's thigh was hit, he has no mobility left; Sarutobi Asuma definitely won!"

"Wait, no!"

Bang!

With a sudden sound, the Gong Yi who had just been struck transformed into a log, leaving everyone around them in utter shock.

"That's the Substitution Technique?"

"Gong Yi actually cultivated chakra!"

"What's the big deal? I cultivated chakra a few days ago, too."

"But he also learned the Substitution Technique!"

Ishii Kawa watched this scene and nodded; using the Substitution Technique quickly the moment one is about to take damage—Gong Yi's combat reflexes were sharp, and his use of Ninjutsu was quite logical.

He had already decided that regardless of who won this duel, he would guide Gong Yi in learning C-rank Ninjutsu.

After all, this was a genius—a genius who could trade blows back and forth with the son of the Hokage!

Sarutobi Asuma was stunned for a moment, then his eyes darted around, preparing to locate Gong Yi's true form.

"I'm over here!"

With a soft shout, Gong Yi suddenly appeared behind Sarutobi Asuma and threw a punch.

But upon impact, Sarutobi Asuma also turned into a log.

"You know the Substitution Technique, and so do I!"

Sarutobi Asuma appeared to the side with a smug smile, then grabbed his kunai and rushed forward to continue the fight with Gong Yi.

For the lower-grade students, this duel between Gong Yi and Sarutobi Asuma was quite spectacular.

It was a back-and-forth affair, and even the chunin teacher Ishii Kawa thought so.

But from the perspective of the Third Hokage in the distance, it was not so.

"Sarutobi Asuma has lost."

The person beside him looked confused: "How has he lost? Isn't Sarutobi Asuma holding the upper hand? Hey, look, Lord Hokage, Sarutobi Asuma just landed another punch on that boy. I think Teacher Ishii could call it now."

The Third Hokage shook his head in silence, his eyes filled with a hint of doubt.

"Shadow Clone Technique? Where did this child learn that? No, that's not the Shadow Clone Technique either; he's channeling chakra into it."

Gong Yi lay on a branch of a large tree in the training yard, completely obscured by the dense foliage, watching the sparring match below with keen interest.

Asuma was trading blows back and forth with his clone, and in terms of the current situation, he was actually suppressing his own clone.

Yes, that's right!

Just as the Third Hokage had guessed, after Gong Yi used the Substitution Technique for the first time, he had followed up with the Clone Technique.

However, unlike the standard Clone Technique used to confuse enemies, his version was a Shadow Clone Technique capable of sharing a quarter of his own chakra.

Although it couldn't compare to the Multi-Shadow Clone Technique and he could only create one, it could inherit his combat experience.

This came about when Gong Yi was practicing the Three Body Technique during his daily training; he had a sudden inspiration: why not try to evolve the Clone Technique into a Shadow Clone?

The gap between the Clone Technique and the Shadow Clone Technique was actually not that large.

One is destroyed by a single light blow and serves only as a distraction.

But the other can fight alongside the user, allowing them to handle other tasks with ease.

The key lies in the fact that the clones from the Clone Technique cannot sustain chakra, whereas shadow clones can.

Relying on the low-level Scholar Skill Recovery Technique, Gong Yi expended a massive amount of chakra, constantly experimenting and deducing.

Finally, he stumbled upon a method.

He would first create a clone using the Clone Technique, then channel chakra into it to maintain its existence and allow it to perform actions.

Compared to the genuine Shadow Clone Technique—which can be cast instantly and siphons off half the user's chakra—Gong Yi's version was merely a knock-off. Furthermore, it could only hold a maximum of a quarter of his chakra, and the process itself wasted another quarter of his reserves.

Not to mention the time lost during the channeling process.

Through extensive practice, Gong Yi had significantly reduced the time required, but it still took a moment.

On a real battlefield, Gong Yi wouldn't dare use it; an experienced enemy would never give him that opening.

But against a child like Asuma, he had no such concerns.

Right after using the Substitution Technique, Gong Yi had jumped into the tree and sent down a chakra-infused clone to fight in his stead.

Asuma looked at the teetering Gong Yi and a smug smile appeared on his face.

"So what if you've cultivated chakra? You don't have as much as me!"

"So what if you can use the Substitution Technique? I can too!"

"Your taijutsu is inferior to mine as well. Take this next punch and stay down!"

Asuma muttered to himself, then let out a roar and threw a punch, striking Gong Yi, who immediately collapsed.

Cheers erupted from the surrounding crowd!

"Asuma is amazing!"

"He truly is the Hokage's son!"

Ishii Kawa frowned as he watched the scene, feeling a pang of sympathy for Gong Yi; he had already performed brilliantly.

If he had faced any other opponent—a civilian ninja or even a child from a minor clan—Gong Yi would have secured the victory.

Shaking his head, Ishii Kawa sighed. This was a blow, but also a trial; he hoped Gong Yi would recognize reality and not aim too high.

"I declare Asuma the winner!"

"Wait!"

Amidst the shock, Gong Yi jumped down from the tree, smiling lazily.

"I haven't lost yet. Asuma, let's continue!"

Asuma's mouth hung open as he looked at Gong Yi, then down at his feet.

Poof!

The Gong Yi that had just been knocked down turned into a puff of white smoke and vanished.

"A clone?"

Gong Yi laughed, "You're not bad, being able to take down a clone with a quarter of my strength. Now, I accept your challenge again!"

You've got to be kidding me!

Asuma panted heavily, drenched in sweat, his limbs beginning to tremble.

The opponent he had exhausted himself to defeat was just a clone?

And only one with a quarter of his strength at that?

This was absolutely despair-inducing!