Leave, I'm Afraid Ling Will Misunderstand

Asuma Sarutobi had been traumatized by the final exam. He moped around at home for over a week before his older brother urged him to pull himself together.

The first thing he did when he went out was look for Kurenai Yuhi to see what she was doing.

He had heard that Kurenai Yuhi often trained at a certain training ground, so he hurried over.

From afar, he heard a familiar, loathsome voice.

"Yes, Kurenai, just like that. Strength, strength, nothing but strength!"

"Good, you've improved!"

"Believe in your strength. Hit me in the chest with everything you've got..."

Asuma Sarutobi actually saw Kurenai Yuhi sparring with Uchiha Ling!

What was with that affectionate look in Uchiha Ling's eyes?

And what was with that tense, sharp look in Kurenai Yuhi's eyes?

They had not seen each other for over a week. What had Uchiha Ling trained Kurenai into? Where was his soft, sweet Kurenai? Why did her gaze look so fierce now?

Asuma Sarutobi hid behind a large tree, hoping this was just a coincidence.

Maybe they had run into each other by chance? Why couldn't it be a chance encounter?

After the sparring ended, Kurenai Yuhi took out a handkerchief and wiped away her sweat.

Asuma Sarutobi saw Kurenai Yuhi actually offer her handkerchief to Uchiha Ling!

Huh?

The next instant, Kurenai Yuhi pulled the handkerchief back because she realized Uchiha Ling had not sweated at all.

But Uchiha Ling's hands were so fast. Before Kurenai Yuhi had even pulled it halfway back, he snatched the handkerchief and wiped the nonexistent sweat from his face.

Asuma Sarutobi watched helplessly as sweat appeared on Uchiha Ling's face out of nowhere, growing more abundant the more he wiped.

His fists clenched, and he felt as though he had been struck by lightning.

Shameless! Uchiha Ling, you shameless bastard! Do you even have sweat? What are you wiping for?!

The second young master of the Sarutobi Clan, the Second Hokage's son, had always gotten whatever he wanted since childhood. Other than being unable to beat Kakashi, when had he ever suffered such a blow?

He watched helplessly as the two, after finishing their spar, began discussing where to eat dango.

Uchiha Ling and Kurenai Yuhi had already left the training ground when a faint cry drifted out from the woods behind them.

"No! No~"

Kurenai Yuhi turned toward the woods. "What was that?"

"Nothing.

True love is as vast as the grasslands,

Cold ice and snow cannot drown it,

Someone has been hurt,

And has a little green on his head."

Uchiha Ling had spotted Asuma Sarutobi hiding in the woods long ago. He figured Asuma was currently cursing the unfair heavens in misery, waiting for snowflakes to fall.

That night, Asuma Sarutobi tossed and turned.

At dawn the next day, he arrived at the training ground. He waited for several hours before Kurenai Yuhi finally appeared.

"Kurenai, I heard you've been sparring with Uchiha Ling lately? For several days already?"

"Yes. Sparring with Ling has been very effective. Like Ebisu, I can feel myself improving."

"Don't you know what kind of person Uchiha Ling is? He spent the entire semester cursing this person and that person. How can you spar with him?"

"But I asked Ebisu. Ebisu said he suffered terribly, but improved quite a bit."

Kurenai Yuhi was still young and did not understand Asuma Sarutobi's feelings for her. She simply said:

"Asuma, you should leave first. I'm afraid Ling will misunderstand."

Asuma's pupils shrank. He then forced himself to remain calm and left the training ground. The moment he did, his entire body collapsed.

The wind crumpled his features into a knot. He cried so ugly.

She... what did she say?

She said she was afraid Uchiha Ling would misunderstand? And she only called him by his name, Ling?

[There is a ninja nearby whose defenses have been broken. The Defense-Breaking System is activating...]

Uchiha Ling was walking toward the training ground when he suddenly heard the system notification.

I've behaved myself today. I haven't done anything!

The system is slandering me! Who did I pressure today?

[Asuma Sarutobi's defenses have been broken. Extracting an ability related to Asuma Sarutobi. Host may choose one of three options.

Option One: Wind-nature chakra;

Option Two: Shuriken throwing technique;

Option Three: Basic kunai throwing technique.]

It was not until Uchiha Ling saw Asuma Sarutobi run out of the training ground with his head lowered that he understood. Asuma Sarutobi had suffered a heartbreak.

Poor guy.

Uchiha Ling chose Wind-nature chakra. From then on, he possessed both Fire- and Wind-nature chakra.

Asuma Sarutobi did not even know how he got home. He lay on his bed and sank into depression once more.

Even after another week had passed and the New Year was over, he remained dazed and listless.

After the New Year, Nara Saku, Akimichi Takashi, and Yamanaka Mei came to visit Asuma Sarutobi.

Nara Saku said, "Asuma, I heard Uchiha Ling was still running around Hidden Leaf Village at high speed with Might Guy on the first day of the New Year. We can't slack off."

His voice grew quieter and quieter when he saw how dejected Asuma Sarutobi looked, his eyes empty.

Nara Saku knew what was troubling Asuma Sarutobi, so he said:

"Young Master Asuma, the ninja path is long. We're only six years old now. Don't lose heart just because we're inferior to Uchiha Ling at this stage.

How many geniuses in Hidden Leaf Village dazzled people in their youth, only to amount to nothing as adults? Besides, are there few geniuses in Hidden Leaf Village who died young?

Even someone as strong as the White Fang of the Leaf committed suicide early, didn't he?

Pull yourself together. One day, we'll surpass Uchiha Ling!"

Hearing this, Asuma Sarutobi thought that perhaps Kurenai Yuhi had only been temporarily deceived by Uchiha Ling. Perhaps she would soon see Uchiha Ling's true colors.

Nara Saku continued, "Next semester, I intend to systematically target Uchiha Ling. His presence has disrupted our rhythm. The whole class is restless, and that isn't right."

The moment Uchiha Ling was mentioned as a target, Asuma Sarutobi was no longer sleepy.

"But ninjas must still speak through their strength. We can't slack off this holiday. We must become stronger than Uchiha Ling!"

Asuma Sarutobi nodded. Yes, he had to become stronger than Uchiha Ling!

The four of them headed out of the Sarutobi Clan grounds together, their fighting spirit soaring.

On the way, they ran into Nara Shikaku and greeted him together.

"Young Clan Head Shikaku!"

Nara Shikaku watched their retreating backs with great satisfaction.

The Ino-Shika-Cho clans were vassal ninja clans of the Sarutobi Clan and had always maintained good relations with them.

Nara Saku and the other two had a good relationship with Young Master Asuma, preserving the tradition.

Nara Shikaku continued deeper into the clan grounds. He was going to meet Lady Sarutobi Biwako.

Since Princess Tsunade had left, Advisor Koharu Utatane and Lady Biwako had become Hidden Leaf Village's strongest medical ninjas.

Nara Shikaku wanted to discuss the medicinal herbs cultivated in Nara Deer Forest with Lady Biwako.

The intensity of the Third Shinobi World War had suddenly escalated, and medicinal herbs were becoming scarce.

He wanted Lady Biwako to approve a substantial allocation for the Nara Clan so they could expand their medicinal herb cultivation.

Minato Namikaze, who had been in the same class as him, was gaining more and more renown. He had reportedly completed many A-rank missions on the front lines, and Nara Shikaku could not fall behind.

Asuma Sarutobi, Nara Saku, and the others arrived at the training ground and saw Uchiha Ling and Kurenai Yuhi walking together toward another training ground.

Asuma Sarutobi, who had been focused on training, immediately darkened.

Nara Saku seemed thoughtful. He whispered to Asuma:

"Young Master Asuma, we have many countermeasures.

This year, I'll have Akimichi Takashi tie up Uchiha Ling's attention, so you won't need to worry about Uchiha Ling interfering.

Akimichi Takashi is broad-minded and stout. I'll give him special training so Uchiha Ling's skill at insulting people has nowhere to go.

More importantly, we have one final move. It can definitely deal with Uchiha Ling."

Asuma Sarutobi asked weakly, "What move?"

Nara Saku whispered, "Isn't the academy selecting people for early graduation? If we use a few small methods, we can send him away and have him head to the battlefield early..."

Asuma Sarutobi's heart leaped with joy, but after a moment, he said, "Unless absolutely necessary, we shouldn't use that final move. Uchiha Ling may be annoying, but he's far weaker than Kakashi. He doesn't deserve to die on the battlefield so early."