A Complete Rout!

Whoosh! Whoosh!

At Futaki Ryusei's command, Shita Genichi and Sarutobi Asuma leaped backward almost simultaneously. While still airborne, they each flung a shuriken.

Clang!

The shuriken struck each other and clattered to the ground.

The instant Sarutobi Asuma landed, he pushed off and charged—but not in a straight line. He came in on a curve.

Shita Genichi met him head-on.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Their fists and palms collided as they darted past each other. Shita Genichi swept a leg toward Sarutobi Asuma's head.

Sarutobi Asuma raised an arm to shield the side of his head while preparing to attack Shita Genichi's legs.

But the next moment, his body stumbled despite himself, and his expression changed. "This guy's got incredible strength!"

Shita Genichi pressed his advantage, forcing Sarutobi Asuma back again and again.

The pair exchanged one attack after another, leaving their classmates watching with wide eyes. Not a single person cheered them on.

Shizune clasped her hands together, her gaze fixed on Shita Genichi as her heart raced. "Amazing!"

Nearby, Might Guy was thrilled. "No wonder Genichi was able to beat Kakashi and me!"

And yet,

Shita Genichi still hadn't gone all out.

Suddenly, Sarutobi Asuma leaped far back, evading Shita Genichi's relentless attacks. He formed Hand Seals and created a clone.

Then the two of them charged Shita Genichi again, one from the left and one from the right.

Shita Genichi stood his ground.

He could use a shuriken to tell which one was the clone and which was the real one.

But this wasn't the place to casually throw shuriken, in case he hit one of their classmates watching nearby—even with a teacher standing guard.

Of course, Sarutobi Asuma's ordinary Clone Technique couldn't fool him, either.

So Shita Genichi punched the Sarutobi Asuma charging straight at him and blew him apart.

The real Sarutobi Asuma took the opportunity to circle around behind him.

Shita Genichi ducked to avoid Sarutobi Asuma's sweeping kick and attacked his legs at the same time.

Sarutobi Asuma leaped up and brought his leg down in a powerful chop.

The move carried tremendous force, but Shita Genichi didn't dodge backward. Instead, he stepped forward, precisely braced Sarutobi Asuma's thigh with his shoulder, grabbed the front of his shirt with his right hand, and hurled him away.

Before Sarutobi Asuma could get up, Shita Genichi had already placed a kunai beside his neck.

"Shita Genichi wins!"

Futaki Ryusei announced the result, then told them, "Form the Seal of Reconciliation!"

The two formed the seal. Sarutobi Asuma said, "Next time, I'll beat you!"

Shita Genichi smiled warmly. "Asuma, I believe you can. Besides, it's more fun when we keep chasing each other."

Sarutobi Asuma couldn't help but pause.

"Keep it up!"

With that, Shita Genichi returned to Shizune's side.

Shizune whispered, "Genichi, you're amazing. Asuma's the Third's son, after all."

She didn't mean the Third's son had to be strong, but at least he'd had early training, unlike Shita Genichi.

He'd gotten this strong in just a few months. Shizune's eyes were full of admiration.

She'd watched Shita Genichi improve by leaps and bounds.

She couldn't explain how it felt, but it was truly amazing.

The practical combat class continued.

One by one, the students took the field.

Most of the matches weren't all that interesting, nothing like Shita Genichi and Sarutobi Asuma's.

Shita Genichi was starting to get bored when he heard the names Hatake Kakashi and Uchiha Obito. His spirits lifted.

Here they come!

The pair of rivals, Kakashi and Uchiha Obito, stepped onto the field.

After forming the Seal of Confrontation, they began trading attacks.

"Obito's close-quarters skills are no joke."

Watching Uchiha Obito go toe-to-toe with Kakashi, Shita Genichi thought to himself.

The turning point came when Kakashi used the Substitution Technique to bait his opponent, then secured his victory with a kunai from behind.

Uchiha Obito was stunned. He clearly hadn't expected Kakashi to use the Transformation Technique and Substitution Technique so smoothly in such a short time.

Watching, Shita Genichi thought with a sigh, No wonder it's Kakashi. He's already so good at the Three Body Technique.

If Sarutobi Asuma had used the Clone Technique that subtly, taking advantage of the other's line of sight, he might've had a chance to win.

Of course, using the Shadow Clone Technique instead of a non-physical Clone Technique would've been even better.

The ordinary Substitution Technique is such a hassle. You have to prepare a substitute object. Use a clone as the substitute, then add the Transformation Technique to make it harder to tell them apart.

Too bad I can't learn the Shadow Clone Technique or the Water Clone yet...

Shita Genichi sighed to himself.

He had no access to ninjutsu resources whatsoever.

I can't rush things or stray from the plan.

I'll get them. I'll get them all...

Shita Genichi consoled himself, calming his impatience.

After school that afternoon,

as they left the school gates, Kakashi suddenly said, "Genichi, want to spar with our swords?"

Shita Genichi's eyes lit up. "Sure. I'll go get my sword. Meet me by the cliff!"

With that, he was gone in a flash of the Body Flicker Technique.

By the time Shita Genichi arrived at the foot of a cliff with his short sword, Kakashi and Might Guy were almost at the top.

With his sword strapped to his back, Shita Genichi climbed quickly, using both hands.

This was training, too.

He could only use his hands to climb, not his feet, so it wasn't quite like the rock climbing he'd known in his previous life.

It put his hands and arms to a serious test.

When Shita Genichi reached the top, Kakashi and Might Guy were sitting and resting, facing a sky full of red clouds.

After resting beside Kakashi for a while, Shita Genichi sprang to his feet. "Kakashi, let's go!"

Kakashi and Might Guy both stood up.

Once they were ready, Might Guy shouted from the side, "Begin!"

Clang!

Their short swords clashed, sparks flying.

A continuous clang of metal rang out as Kakashi's sword flashed rapidly. He attacked Shita Genichi from every angle, chopping, thrusting, slashing, and cutting.

His movements were so fast they blurred together.

Shita Genichi did his best to swing his short sword and block, sweat appearing on his brow almost at once.

Fast—too fast!

And it wasn't just his speed. His attack angles were just as daunting.

Without his combat experience to rely on, Shita Genichi was sure he would've lost in no time.

After the first exchange, he forgot all about the basic kenjutsu forms. He used his sword just like a kunai, and it actually felt more natural.

Kakashi, meanwhile, breathed a sigh of relief.

He'd been afraid Shita Genichi's kenjutsu would be as good as his Water Release.

A minute later, Shita Genichi conceded.

There was no contest.

Kakashi had completely crushed him.

But Kakashi instead tried to console him. "You've never had anyone teach you, Genichi. You're already doing great."

Shita Genichi nodded, not discouraged in the least.

But he'd made up his mind.

From now on, he wouldn't practice any other moves. He'd focus on just one: the Draw-Sword Strike!

Until he found someone to teach him kenjutsu, he'd practice only the Draw-Sword Strike.