You! Are! Still! What, Exactly?

"First match! Asuma Sarutobi versus Uchiha Ling!"

The training ground had been divided by low barriers into many small squares: ten meters on each side for the lower grades, twenty for the upper grades.

Asuma Sarutobi was the first to enter one of the small squares at the edge of the training ground.

He deliberately chose the side facing the school building. That way, he could see his father on the roof.

He couldn't make out his father's face. His father was looking down at the upper-grade students closer to the building.

He had heard that some of the upper-grade students might graduate early. His father paid more attention to them.

I have to put on a spectacular fight. Make enough of a scene, and Father will notice me...

"Stop looking, Asuma Sarutobi. The Hokage's here to assess the students up for early graduation. You don't think he came just to watch you, do you?"

Asuma Sarutobi lowered his head and drew back his gaze. He frowned at Uchiha Ling, who smiled at him.

For some reason, Uchiha Ling's smile struck him as cruel.

Uchiha Ling said, "Let me guess, Asuma Sarutobi. Have you been racking your brains for a way to catch the Hokage's eye?

"This is quite the stage...

"Look at your classmates. Every one of them is staring at you. They want you to win more than they want me to.

"Look at the upper-grade students glancing over. They're all curious what the school's number-one Hokage's son can do.

"And look at that crowd behind the Hokage on the roof. Who knows how many of them are watching you, the Hokage's second son?

"Wow. I'm getting nervous for you, Asuma Sarutobi..."

"Enough talk, Uchiha Ling! Come on! I've improved a lot. I'm not weaker than you!"

"Heh. Don't rush, Asuma Sarutobi," Uchiha Ling said.

"Wake up. This is the highlight of your life. Savor every second you can.

"As long as you don't make a move, no one will realize you're useless.

"But the moment you do, it's over. You won't be able to hide it anymore. Everyone will laugh when they see you're nothing but a useless brat with a famous father.

"Your very existence proves the Hokage abused his position to benefit his own, and that pouring resources into the Sarutobi Clan was a complete failure!"

"Shut up! My father hasn't abused his position! You're slandering us!"

"People can judge for themselves. The Senju Clan fell while the Sarutobi Clan rose. Tell me that isn't what happened!"

"You little—"

Asuma Sarutobi nearly spat out a curse. He was so furious his fists shook, his knuckles white from the force of his grip.

"Aren't you afraid I'll tell my father what you said and bring disaster down on the Uchiha Clan?"

"Haha! Going to tell your dad?" Uchiha Ling said with a laugh.

"There are plenty of reasons people hate the Uchiha Clan. Whether I say a few honest words or not, things won't end well for us.

"The Senju Clan has declined so far that they've all abandoned the name. Even Princess Tsunade, proud as she is of being the Hidden Leaf Village's greatest kunoichi, no longer calls herself Tsunade Senju. What does the Uchiha Clan have that they didn't? How could we fare any better?

"Hasn't the Sarutobi Clan wanted to wipe out the Uchiha Clan for ages, so it can claim the title of the Land of Fire's strongest Fire Release clan in Konoha for itself?

"Go ahead. Take it. But you, Asuma Sarutobi, won't be the one to do it.

"A useless brat like you poses no threat to the Uchiha Clan. Even sparing you another glance would be a waste of effort."

Blood vessels showed in Asuma Sarutobi's eyes as he glared at Uchiha Ling.

Just then, Rin Nohara suddenly shouted, "Kakashi! It's Kakashi!"

Everyone in the class, even Yamano, looked up. Kakashi stood on the wall opposite them, watching.

His shoulders slumped, his eyelids drooped, and he looked utterly lifeless.

Uchiha Ling said, "Oh, Kakashi's here too.

"Asuma Sarutobi, don't tell me you actually think you and Kakashi Hatake are two once-in-a-generation talents?

"No one else thinks that. Stop making yourself out to be more important than you are.

"Here's the truth: your dad doesn't love you, your dad doesn't value you, and once your classmates see that you're about as capable a ninja as a baby chick, they won't respect you either.

"So tell me. Without the title of the Hokage's second son, what have you got?"

Uchiha Ling raised a hand and pointed at Asuma Sarutobi, jabbing the air with each word as he asked slowly:

"What! Are! You! Then?!"

"Ah! Ah! Ah!" Young Asuma Sarutobi couldn't bear another word.

He screamed three times and charged at Uchiha Ling.

A flicker passed through Uchiha Ling's eyes. Every move I prepared is going to land on you.

By the time Asuma Sarutobi reached him, Uchiha Ling could make out the blood vessels in his eyes.

Poor Asuma. That barrage of insults must have done a number on him. Look, his eyes are bloodshot.

Uchiha Ling's gaze turned cold. Chakra erupted from the points in his right leg.

Asuma Sarutobi's vision blurred. Uchiha Ling appeared at his right side, and his swinging punch struck empty air.

Fast! So fast! How is he that fast?

It's a combination move, Uchiha Ling thought.

After sliding sideways, he unleashed the Chakra in the points along his waist and back. His spine drove his shoulder forward, and his shoulder drove his right arm into a punch.

Chakra burst from the points in his right arm a moment later, propelling a deadly, lightning-fast fist straight ahead.

Swaying Body Crushing Fist!

Asuma Sarutobi saw a dark shape flicker to his right. Then a tremendous blow struck his abdomen.

He lost his footing and was about to be sent flying.

Despair flooded Asuma Sarutobi. The crushing sense of defeat hurt worse than the sharp pain in his stomach.

Was the gap between them really this vast?

His feet left the ground. Curled like a shrimp, he flew backward.

Not done yet, Uchiha Ling thought.

He had just used the Chakra in the points of his right leg, waist, back, and right arm. He couldn't let his left leg and arm go to waste.

Chakra erupted from the points in his left arm. Uchiha Ling reached out at top speed and caught Asuma Sarutobi by the ankle.

Asuma was still flying backward when a powerful force jerked him to a halt. The flesh of his face kept moving, bunching around his eyes.

Uchiha Ling leaped and twisted. Chakra burst from the points in his left leg, and he brought his heel down in a spinning strike that smashed into Asuma Sarutobi's chest.

Bang!

Asuma Sarutobi's back slammed hard into the ground.

Uchiha Ling had unleashed all five bursts of his Taijutsu in one short combination. Broken down, it sounded complicated, but only a few seconds had passed.

In other words, after months of grueling practice, Asuma Sarutobi had fallen to Uchiha Ling's short combination without even getting a chance to fight back.

Asuma Sarutobi lay on his back, his eyes hollow with despair.

I wanted a brilliant sparring match to catch Father's attention... How did it end in such a crushing defeat?

Uchiha Ling planted a foot on Asuma Sarutobi's chest and was about to let loose another dozen insults. Then he saw the devastation in Asuma's eyes and forced the words back down.

That's enough. Any more would be going too far.

I'm determined to be a merciful Uchiha.

[A ninja near the host has suffered a mental breakdown. The Defense-Breaking System is activating...]