Just Go. I Don't Want Ling to Misunderstand

Asuma Sarutobi had been crushed by the Final Exams. He spent more than a week moping at home before his 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 heard she often trained at a certain Training Ground, so he hurried over.

Before he reached it, he heard a familiar voice he couldn't stand.

"Yes, Kurenai, that's it! Power, power, and more power!"

"Good! You're improving!"

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

Asuma Sarutobi saw Kurenai Yuhi sparring with Uchiha Ling!

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

And why did Kurenai look so tense and fierce?

They haven't seen each other for just over a week. What has Uchiha Ling turned Kurenai into? Where's my sweet, gentle Kurenai? Why does she look so fierce now?

Asuma Sarutobi hid behind a large tree, hoping this was a chance encounter.

Maybe they just happened to run into each other. Why couldn't that be it?

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

Asuma Sarutobi watched Kurenai offer her handkerchief to Uchiha Ling!

What?

The next instant, Kurenai pulled it back when she realized Uchiha Ling wasn't even sweating.

But Uchiha Ling's hand was fast. Before Kurenai could fully withdraw it, he snatched the handkerchief and wiped nonexistent sweat from his face.

Asuma Sarutobi stared as sweat appeared on Uchiha Ling's face out of nowhere. The more he wiped, the more there was.

Asuma's fists clenched. He stood there as if struck by lightning.

Shameless! Uchiha Ling, you're shameless! You're not sweating, so what are you wiping?

As the Second Young Master of the Sarutobi Clan and the Hokage's second son, Asuma had always gotten whatever he wanted. Aside from losing to Kakashi, when had he ever suffered a blow like this?

He could only watch as the two finished sparring and started discussing where to get dumplings.

Uchiha Ling and Kurenai Yuhi had gone some distance from the Training Ground when a faint cry came from the woods behind them.

"No! Nooo..."

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

"Nothing.

True love stretches wide as the grasslands,

No bitter snow can bury it,

Someone's been hurt,

And there's a hint of green above his head."

Uchiha Ling had spotted Asuma Sarutobi hiding in the woods long ago. By now, Asuma was probably lamenting the unfairness of heaven and waiting for the snow to fall.

That night, Asuma Sarutobi tossed and turned.

At dawn the next day, he went to the Training Ground. He waited hours before Kurenai Yuhi arrived.

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

"Yeah. Sparring with Ling really works. Like Ebisu, I can feel myself improving."

"You know what Uchiha Ling is like! He spent the whole semester insulting everyone. How can you spar with him?"

"But I asked Ebisu. He said it was grueling, but he improved a lot."

Kurenai Yuhi was still young and had no idea how Asuma Sarutobi felt about her. She simply said:

"Asuma, you should go. I don't want Ling to misunderstand."

Asuma's pupils contracted. He forced himself to remain calm and left the Training Ground, but the moment he was outside, he crumpled.

His face twisted as he cried, and it wasn't a pretty sight.

What... what did she say?

She doesn't want Uchiha Ling to misunderstand? And she called him Ling?

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

Uchiha Ling was on his way to the Training Ground when he suddenly heard the system.

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

The system's slandering me. Who did I get to today?

[Asuma Sarutobi has suffered a mental breakdown. Drawing abilities associated with Asuma Sarutobi. The host may choose one of three options.

Option one: Wind Release Chakra;

Option two: Shuriken-Throwing Technique;

Option three: Basic Kunai-Throwing Technique.]

Only when Uchiha Ling saw Asuma Sarutobi run out of the Training Ground with his head down did he understand. Asuma had been rejected.

Uchiha Ling chose Wind Release Chakra. From then on, he had both Fire and Wind Release Chakra.

Asuma Sarutobi didn't even know how he got home. He lay in bed and sank into gloom again.

More than a week passed, and even after New Year, he remained dazed and listless.

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

"Asuma," Nara Saku said, "I heard Uchiha Ling was doing high-speed laps around the Hidden Leaf Village with Might Guy on New Year's Day. We can't slack off."

His voice trailed away when he saw Asuma Sarutobi's vacant eyes and how low his spirits were.

Nara Saku knew what was troubling Asuma Sarutobi. He said:

"Young Master Asuma, the road of a ninja is long. We're only six. Don't lose heart just because we can't match Uchiha Ling yet.

How many prodigies in the Hidden Leaf Village shone as children but failed to live up to their promise? And how many died young?

Even someone as powerful as the White Fang of the Leaf took his own life early on.

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

Asuma Sarutobi thought that perhaps Kurenai Yuhi had only been taken in by Uchiha Ling for now. Perhaps she would soon see his true nature.

Nara Saku continued, "Next semester, I plan to deal with Uchiha Ling systematically. His presence has thrown off our rhythm. The whole class is restless, and that isn't right."

The mention of taking on Uchiha Ling instantly caught Asuma Sarutobi's attention.

"But ninja still have to prove themselves through strength. We can't let up during this break. We have to become stronger than Uchiha Ling!"

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

The four headed out of the Sarutobi Clan's grounds together, fired up.

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

"Young Clan Head Shikaku!"

Nara Shikaku watched the four walk away, thoroughly pleased.

As retainers of the Sarutobi Clan, the Ino-Shika-Cho Clans had always been on good terms with them.

Nara Saku and the other two were close to Young Master Asuma. They were upholding that tradition.

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

Since Princess Tsunade had left, Advisor Utatane Koharu and Lady Biwako had been the Hidden Leaf Village's finest Medical Ninja.

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

The Third Shinobi World War had suddenly intensified, and the supply of herbs was struggling to keep up.

He hoped Lady Biwako would approve a substantial grant for the Nara Clan to expand its herb fields.

Minato Namikaze, who had been in the same graduating class as him, was growing more famous by the day. He had reportedly completed many A-Rank missions at the front. Shikaku couldn't afford to 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 had been focused on training, but his face immediately darkened.

Nara Saku looked thoughtful. He spoke quietly to Asuma:

"Young Master Asuma, we have plenty of ways to handle this.

This year, I'll have Akimichi Takashi keep Uchiha Ling occupied. You won't have to worry about him interfering.

Takashi's easygoing and thick-skinned. I'll give him special training too, so Uchiha Ling's insults won't get him anywhere.

More importantly, we have one final move. It'll definitely work against Uchiha Ling."

Asuma Sarutobi asked weakly, "What move?"

Nara Saku lowered his voice. "Isn't the school selecting students for Early Graduation? With a little maneuvering, we can get him sent off to the battlefield early..."

Asuma Sarutobi's heart leaped, but a moment later, he said, "Let's not use that last move unless we have no choice. Uchiha Ling is annoying, but he's nowhere near as strong as Kakashi. He doesn't deserve to die on the battlefield so young."