I'll Pressure You Even If It Kills Me!

I had trained too hard last night, and by the time I headed to school that morning, I was already late.

Uchiha Ling hurried toward the Konoha Ninja Academy.

The moment he rushed out of the clan compound gates, he saw Obito Uchiha carrying a large bag of eggs for an old woman, escorting her back to the compound.

Since he was late anyway, Uchiha Ling waited for Obito, ready to put some pressure on him.

Obito Uchiha hurried out of the compound. When he saw Uchiha Ling, he shot him a disdainful glance and kept running toward the academy.

Uchiha Ling caught up and ran beside him, asking as they ran, "Obito, are you acting? Your acting is way too good—you practically look like a good person!"

"You skinny stick! You're not a good person, so everyone looks bad to you! Eggs are expensive. I just didn't want the old lady to break them."

"Are you planning to keep doing good deeds until your reputation reaches Rin Nohara's ears, so you can improve your image?"

Obito Uchiha fell silent.

"Are you also hoping that someday, while you're doing a good deed, Rin Nohara will happen to see it and witness it for herself?"

"Give it up, Obito. Being a good person won't attract girls. Rin Nohara will praise you for being a good person, then turn around and throw herself into Kakashi's arms."

"Even I can tell Rin Nohara likes Kakashi. Don't tell me you can't?"

"You can't even see something that obvious? Is your eye technique talent really that bad? How can you face the Uchiha fan crest on your clothes like that?"

Uchiha Ling's mouth was dry from talking, yet there was still no sign of the system's voice.

Did Obito Uchiha have no heart? Why wasn't he upset?

When they reached the academy gates, Obito Uchiha finally responded:

"I help people on the road simply because they need help.

"I like Rin Nohara simply because Rin Nohara is worth liking. It has nothing to do with Kakashi.

"And you, Uchiha Ling—you're the kind of Uchiha people traditionally find repulsive. You'll never understand what I'm thinking."

Uchiha Ling felt a little helpless.

At this point, Obito Uchiha's only personal desire was his love for Rin Nohara. Most of the time, he was simply someone with a childlike heart, innately pure.

It was too hard to break through his defenses. Probably only making Rin Nohara fall for him, or killing Rin Nohara, would do it.

Otherwise, how could Obito Uchiha have been chosen by Madara Uchiha? Both devoted in love and full of great love—once he lost everything later, awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan would come naturally.

That was talent.

Uchiha Ling didn't think he was likely to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan. He just wasn't made for it.

They entered the ninja academy together, and since they had arrived late together, Obito Uchiha was extremely annoyed.

"Coming in with you makes it look like we're close. It's seriously irritating."

Uchiha Ling didn't care about Obito's disdain and sat down in the back row on his own.

The teacher scolded them a few times. Obito apologized frantically, while Uchiha Ling felt nothing at all.

Asuma Sarutobi turned his head and stared provocatively at Uchiha Ling, who was standing in the back row listening to the lesson.

During their sparring class last time, he had carelessly let Uchiha Ling get away with far too much.

He had reviewed it again and again after returning home. He would personally reclaim the face he had lost!

During the afternoon sparring class, Asuma Sarutobi eagerly raised his hand.

"Teacher! I want to challenge Uchiha Ling!"

Teacher Yamano was in a bad mood because his niece had no talent for ninjutsu. Forgetting that the two had engaged in an extremely intense spar yesterday, he casually agreed.

Uchiha Ling stepped into the field and mocked him. "Oh! Isn't this Asuma Sarutobi, whose father doesn't love him? What, are you still mad that I exposed the truth that you're a useless second-generation?"

So what if he was the Hokage's son?

I'll pressure you even if it kills me!

Tell me, am I brave or what?

In the Hidden Leaf Village, no one was beyond being pressured.

Asuma Sarutobi adjusted his breathing, closed his eyes, then opened them again and said:

"Uchiha Ling, I'm not a useless second-generation. I'll hold myself to higher standards. As for whether my father loves me, that has nothing to do with you.

"I only lost control for a moment yesterday. Today, I'll prove that I'm not useless."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. How pitiful. You tossed and turned all night, didn't you? Denying yourself over and over, then denying those denials over and over again?" Uchiha Ling began putting pressure on Asuma Sarutobi.

"You don't think your father will love you after one night's sleep, do you?

"You don't think you can beat me after one night's sleep, do you?

"A useless second-generation is still a useless second-generation. Today, I'll prove that it wasn't a momentary slip that made you lose to me—it was my momentary slip that made your loss look less embarrassing.

"Asuma Sarutobi!

"Follow the Senju Clan's example and give up your surname voluntarily. All you'll ever do is bring shame to the Sarutobi name!"

"Teacher!" Asuma Sarutobi didn't want to listen any longer. Turning his head, he said, "Please give the order to form the Seal of Confrontation!"

After the two formed the Seal of Confrontation, Asuma Sarutobi impatiently charged at Uchiha Ling.

Uchiha Ling smiled. Chakra erupted instantly from the acupoints in his left leg, allowing him to dart sideways to the right and evade Asuma Sarutobi's straight punch.

There was no exchange at all. Uchiha Ling's arm suddenly tensed, and his fist smashed into Asuma Sarutobi's abdomen.

Asuma Sarutobi doubled over in pain and fell forward.

That punch had been far too heavy. Uchiha Ling had shown absolutely no restraint.

Facing the back of Asuma Sarutobi's head, Uchiha Ling said:

"Admit it. You're a useless second-generation, the most useless young master among all of the Hidden Leaf Village's second-generations.

"And compared to the other geniuses of the Hidden Leaf Village, you should be ashamed that you even appeared in their sight.

"You really stepped in dog shit, getting to be Kakashi's friend for a while.

"Cherish those memories. They'll be the highest point of your entire life.

"You're so useless that you'll never make any powerful friends again."

Asuma Sarutobi turned his head, glaring furiously up at Uchiha Ling.

Why hasn't this brat broken through his defenses yet?

Judging by Asuma Sarutobi's expression, his competitive spirit seemed to have been stirred by shame.

Making someone break through their defenses was not that easy.

Uchiha Ling didn't mind taking a long time to completely crush Asuma Sarutobi's competitive spirit and make him thoroughly break through his defenses.

"What kind of look is that? Don't tell me you think that because you came to your senses late, you can catch up to me just by training hard?

"Asuma Sarutobi, how about we make a bet? I'll give you one semester. I'll prove that the gap between us will only grow wider and wider.

"As time passes, and as you get older, you'll only become an overaged piece of trash. Understand?"

"Uchiha Ling! I'll definitely defeat you in the final exam! Don't be so arrogant!"

Uchiha Ling scratched his ear and said:

"Why are you yelling so loudly? If whoever shouted louder was stronger, then your father should give his Hokage position to a tenor in a theater.

"I accept your challenge. We'll meet at the final exam, and I'll show you what true despair is—despair that chills you to the bone!"

"Fine! The final exam! I'll definitely defeat you!"