Everyone knows to keep their tails tucked when they see him

Time passed quickly for adults and slowly for children.

For Uchiha Ling, a single vacation flew by, while for the other children, it was a long summer break.

The autumn term of their sixth year began.

A tall female teacher walked into the classroom.

"Hello, students. I'm Xia Cha, your theory teacher for this term.

This term, you'll have sparring classes on odd-numbered afternoons and kunai throwing classes on even-numbered afternoons.

To supplement the kunai throwing classes, theory lessons will be added.

Today, we'll study parabolic trajectories."

Teacher Xia Cha wore a tight short skirt, her legs firm, full, and fair. In his previous life, such an outfit would definitely have drawn complaints from parents for being too revealing.

But this was Konoha Village. Lives were cheap here, and values were vastly different.

A child ninja's life consisted of kunai, sparring, laughter and play, and at most bullying everyone they could within their ability.

An adult ninja's life consisted of murder, arson, bloodshed, and cold darkness. After returning to the village, they had to find ways to treat severe mental illness.

Compared with the psychological trauma left behind by constant killing, revealing clothing was the smallest problem.

By comparison, the pressure Uchiha Ling put on his classmates was insignificant.

"First, I'll explain the simplest kind of projectile motion: horizontal throws. Without considering air resistance, the horizontal speed of a kunai thrown by a ninja depends on the force used to throw it, while its vertical movement is free fall..."

Uchiha Ling had learned this knowledge in his previous life.

In ninja combat, one had to constantly estimate the lead.

To make a kunai hit an enemy precisely, one had to predict its parabolic trajectory in advance.

The same applied to ninjutsu. One had to leave time for hand seals and calculate the lead, like seeing through an attack's wind-up; ninjutsu had a startup.

Uchiha Ling opened his ninja tool pouch and took out a kunai.

A standard kunai was like a short sword to a child. The academy did not insist on using blunt kunai either; bleeding and wounds were considered necessary costs by the school.

During the afternoon kunai throwing class, Sarutobi Asuma saw Uchiha Ling standing in the front row, all three of his kunai striking the bullseye. He secretly thought that he had been clever after all.

Even if he had spent the vacation practicing kunai, he would only have hit the bullseye too. He would not have been able to widen the gap with Uchiha Ling.

He could hardly wait for tomorrow's sparring class. His ninjutsu would definitely make a stunning debut.

When it was his turn, all three of his kunai also struck the red center of the target.

Anyone knowledgeable could tell that Uchiha Ling's kunai were faster than Asuma Sarutobi's.

The next day's sparring class arrived.

"I challenge Uchiha Ling!"

"I challenge Uchiha Ling!"

The two spoke at the same time. Sarutobi Asuma looked strangely at Ibiki Morino.

Why did this usually quiet classmate want to challenge Uchiha Ling?

When Ibiki Morino saw Sarutobi Asuma raise his hand as well, his expression became resolute.

This was great! He had to challenge Uchiha Ling!

Nara Saku hurriedly pulled Ibiki Morino's hand down. Young Master Asuma had trained hard for an entire vacation; this was the time for him to show off. How could he be interrupted?

Ibiki Morino stubbornly kept his arm raised, lifting Nara Saku's entire body off the ground.

Teacher Yamano directly announced, "Uchiha Ling versus Sarutobi Asuma!"

Sarutobi Asuma's lips twitched. He was barely able to hold back his smile.

As he passed by Kurenai Yuhi, he looked straight ahead, but the corner of his eye remained fixed on her.

Yet Kurenai Yuhi did not look at him. Her gaze stayed on Uchiha Ling.

Just wait, Kurenai. I'll prove that your judgment is wrong. After Kakashi left, I, Sarutobi Asuma, am the strongest person in the class.

Taijutsu was the foundation of a ninja, but ninjutsu was what truly tested a ninja's level.

On the battlefield, taijutsu-type ninjas had the highest casualty rate. They were commonly known as cannon fodder, while ninjutsu-type ninjas were the core firepower of the battlefield.

Taijutsu-type ninjas were meant to protect ninjutsu-type ninjas. Their priority was only below that of medical ninjas and sensory ninjas.

And I am a genius who learned ninjutsu at the age of six!

Once they entered the field, Sarutobi Asuma glanced at Uchiha Ling's legs. Uchiha Ling was too fast. He had to seize the initiative.

Uchiha Ling said, "Asuma Sarutobi, who gave you such false courage during the vacation that you dared to challenge me again?"

Sarutobi Asuma knew Uchiha Ling's tongue was venomous. He frowned and did not want to answer.

"How pitiful. Just thinking about how dejected you'll look again in a moment makes me feel sorry for you.

"Asuma Sarutobi, have you ever seen those starving, skin-and-bones dogs by the roadside? Those dogs can't beat anyone. They tuck their tails whenever they see anybody. If you're like one of those roadside dogs, then your Sarutobi Clan crest is really unlucky to be following you."

Sarutobi Asuma could not hold back anymore. "Uchiha Ling! You're like the dog by the roadside that barks the fiercest and runs the fastest! Just wait and see who'll be tucking their tail in a moment!"

Teacher Yamano was so angry that he laughed.

The Second Young Master of the Hokage's family and the genius of the Uchiha Clan were actually hurling such crude insults at each other.

He had long said that the academy should increase its cultural education, but those useless principals and vice principals at the school would not listen.

"Form the Opposing Hands Seal!"

After Sarutobi Asuma raised his hands and formed the Opposing Hands Seal, he swiftly jumped backward.

When Yamano saw Asuma forming hand seals, his eyes widened abruptly.

No way. Had Young Master Asuma learned ninjutsu during the vacation?

As expected of Young Master Asuma. His talent for ninjutsu was truly impressive, perhaps second only to Kakashi.

Kakashi had already displayed ninjutsu last year, and it had even been multi-elemental. For Asuma Sarutobi to learn ninjutsu at this age was enough to call him a genius.

"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"

A powerful gust burst from Sarutobi Asuma's mouth.

The wind was incredibly fast and carried enormous pressure. Uchiha Ling hurriedly dodged to the side.

The Multiple Body Flicker Technique activated, allowing him to evade Asuma Sarutobi's Wind Release.

The woods behind them suffered instead. The shrubs beneath the trees were uprooted by the Wind Release, the canopies swayed violently in the gale, and countless leaves were blown away, making the dense crowns look as though they had been thinned out.

Waves of astonished cries rose from the sidelines!

"How did Asuma Sarutobi suddenly become so strong?"

"As expected of Young Master Asuma!"

Kakashi had used Earth Release ninjutsu in a sparring match last year. Kakashi was publicly recognized as a once-in-a-decade genius, yet no one had expected Asuma Sarutobi to know ninjutsu as well.

Sarutobi Asuma glanced at Kurenai Yuhi. Kurenai was looking at Uchiha Ling with concern.

Go on, worry. Keep worrying, and you'll realize just how far Uchiha Ling falls short of me.

Sarutobi Asuma watched Uchiha Ling roll once across the ground to disperse the force.

Now that he had learned ninjutsu, even Uchiha Ling had to avoid his edge.

"Skinny stick, what are you dodging for? You only have a bit of talent in taijutsu, so you're merely taking advantage during the early stages of being a ninja.

"Just like no one thinks Might Guy will become an outstanding ninja, you, Uchiha Ling, aren't much stronger than Might Guy!"

Might Guy froze. Wait, was he talking about me just now? What did I ever do to anyone?

Uchiha Ling patted the dirt from his body and said,

"Sarutobi Asuma, you've gone too far. Did you brush your teeth at noon before using a Wind Release that comes out of your mouth on me?

"I didn't dodge because I was afraid of your weak, limp Wind Release. I was afraid of your bad breath. What you're doing is disgusting.

"Since you're being so arrogant, I won't dodge this time. I'll make you pay for not brushing your teeth at noon!"