Asuma, Who Couldn't Cry Even If He Wanted To

Upon hearing Asuma's words, the group erupted into cheers, jumping for joy.

"As expected of Big Beard Teacher, he really keeps his word, haha."

"Now that I think about it, Lu Yu was right. The teacher just looks a bit fierce, but he's actually a pretty good guy."

The group had assumed there would be more training after the combat drill, so they never expected to be heading to a barbecue restaurant now. Their perception of Asuma shifted drastically.

Choji's eyes lit up, and he couldn't help but wipe away some drool.

"Wow, today is a great day! I've never been full from eating barbecue before, but this time, I'm definitely going to eat my fill."

Seeing the look in Choji's eyes, Naruto was equally fired up.

"Choji, I won't lose to you this time."

"Hmph, dead last. I'll show you that even when it comes to appetite, you're a loser."

"Damn it, you jerk Sasuke, I'll show you what I'm made of in a minute."

Ino and Shikamaru watched the competitive group and couldn't help but look at Asuma with a bit of sympathy; the teacher probably didn't know what he was about to face.

Watching the children celebrate, Asuma took a deep drag of his cigarette, looking quite satisfied.

He pressed his hands down, and once everyone had calmed down, Asuma said with a smile:

"No time like the present, let's head out now!"

The group nodded and followed behind Asuma. Ino quietly moved to Lu Yu's side and asked curiously:

"By the way, Lu Yu, what about that Masked Teacher?"

Hearing this question, the others turned to look with curiosity.

Lu Yu sighed helplessly and glanced at Shikamaru, who was eavesdropping a few meters away.

"I had no choice. Since my own brother set me up, I had to make a move in that situation."

Shikamaru scratched his head in embarrassment and said weakly to Lu Yu:

"I thought it over and decided that was the best chance for victory. Anyway, big brother, you aren't mad, are you?"

"Haha, what silly talk. I'm actually quite pleased that you could come up with that."

Asuma watched the group gather around Lu Yu with curiosity. It was clear that Lu Yu held a lot of influence, though he wondered just how strong the kid really was.

Asuma hadn't paid much attention when he saw Lu Yu holding the three bells from Kakashi earlier.

Now, the more he thought about it, the stranger it felt. That was Kakashi, the strongest Jonin in Konoha right now—how had this kid managed to take them solo?

Soon, Asuma spotted Kakashi in the distance and was surprised to see him standing there motionless.

Asuma walked over to Kakashi, looking suspicious.

"Kakashi, what's wrong with you?"

"Huh?"

Kakashi gave a bitter smile.

"Nothing, I'm just not feeling very well. Did you lose on your end too?"

"Yeah, I did. That Uchiha Clan kid is quite skilled, and besides—"

Asuma stopped mid-sentence, suddenly realizing the implication, and looked at Kakashi with shock.

"Also? Does that mean you lost to Lu Yu from my class?"

Just as Kakashi was about to speak, he saw Lu Yu, not far away, casting a threatening and warning glance his way. He laughed it off.

"It's embarrassing to say, but I was careless and fell into the kid's trap... Anyway, Asuma, you go ahead and take the kids to get some barbecue. Let me know the bill when you're done, and we'll split it."

"No worries, I can afford one meal of barbecue. Alright, I'm heading off."

Asuma declined Kakashi's offer and turned to lead the little ones toward the barbecue restaurant.

Since Kakashi had put it that way, Asuma didn't want to press the issue.

After all, a Jonin being outplayed by a newly graduated Genin wasn't exactly something worth talking about.

Still, when Asuma looked back at Lu Yu, his eyes were full of curiosity.

Watching Asuma walk away with the children, Kakashi let out a sigh of relief, as if a heavy burden had been lifted. He sat down on the ground and then lay back in the grass, gazing comfortably at the sky.

At that moment, Kakashi felt a sense of relief, as if he had survived a catastrophe.

As he watched the clouds, the events from earlier flashed through his mind. He still couldn't fathom how a student who had just graduated from the Ninja Academy could possess such terrifying presence.

A monster?

Then, Kakashi frowned, feeling a headache coming on.

"This is a disaster. How am I supposed to report this to the Third Hokage? Should I just say I was careless and didn't get to test them properly? Hmm, that's going to be troublesome..."

While Kakashi was struggling with his dilemma, Asuma wasn't having a much better time on the other side.

With Sasuke, Naruto, Lu Yu, and Choji going full throttle, the stack of plates had already reached over a meter high, and by the looks of it, this was only the beginning.

Asuma's eye twitched as he watched the group of bottomless pits wolfing down the food, his eyes nearly popping out of his head.

Choji being able to eat a bit was one thing; after all, he was from the Akimichi Clan, which was known for its massive appetite.

But for the other three to have a combat capacity that was on par with Choji? What was going on? Had they not eaten in a month?

In the end, when Asuma looked at the three-and-a-half-meter-long bill, his face turned deathly pale.

A minute later, Asuma stared at his flattened wallet, on the verge of tears, thinking with a hint of regret:

If I had known, I would have split the bill with Kakashi...

By evening, inside the Hokage's Office.

Kakashi, Yūhi Kurenai, and the Third Hokage were all present.

Before long, Asuma knocked on the door and walked in.

"Lord Hokage."

Upon entering, Asuma nodded to Kakashi and Yūhi Kurenai before turning to face the Third Hokage.

Taking a puff of his pipe, the Third Hokage looked at Asuma and asked:

"Asuma, what are your thoughts regarding today's field exercise?"