The Basics Are My Ninja Way

After comforting Ebisu, Asuma Sarutobi fixed his eyes on Uchiha Ling:

"I thought I'd already imagined you at your worst. I never expected your Shadow Clone Technique to reveal what you're really like inside.

"Skinny Pole, you're even worse than I thought!"

Uchiha Ling ignored Asuma Sarutobi's taunt and walked over to Kurenai. "Kurenai Yuhi, don't listen to the nonsense my shadow clone spouted. How could I be a peeping Tom? I'm not that kind of person."

Kurenai recalled what Uchiha Ling's shadow clone had said about putting on sunglasses and peeping to his heart's content once he was old enough. Her face reddened. She turned away to whisper with Rin Nohara, refusing to pay Uchiha Ling any attention.

Rin Nohara said, "Uchiha Ling, stop bothering Kurenai. She'll never like you."

Then Rin froze, and her face turned red too.

"Oh? Then who might like me? You, Rin?"

Obito Uchiha charged forward to punch Uchiha Ling, but Might Guy hooked an arm around Obito's shoulders from behind and looked pleadingly at Teacher Yamano.

"Keep order in class!" Yamano called. "Next pair!"

Seeing how awful Asuma Sarutobi and Obito looked, Uchiha Ling felt much better.

He surveyed his thirty-odd classmates. Who should he get a rise out of next? It was tough. These little brats had nothing but butterflies and grasshoppers in their heads. Pressure didn't work on them.

After school, Ebisu waited outside the Teachers' Office for his father to finish work, his head hanging low.

Huìdài saw Ebisu's downcast expression, patted his head, and led him to the end of the corridor.

"Son, I saw how you performed in sparring class today.

"Normally, I wouldn't tell you this so soon. But since you're feeling low, I'll say it now.

"Fundamentals matter to every ninja.

"For geniuses like Kakashi Hatake and Uchiha Ling, fundamentals are a foundation. Before long, their attention will turn to advanced Ninjutsu.

"But for you, son, fundamentals are everything.

"Not everyone is a genius. Ordinary ninja like you and me have a place in this world too.

"I spent more than ten years making my fundamentals my calling card. They're what kept me from becoming cannon fodder.

"If you inherit my fundamentals and the way I train them, you'll be able to make a living teaching ninja with specialized skills.

"Master the fundamentals, and one day you may have the chance to teach the children of Konoha's most distinguished families, just as I do.

"I don't know what talents you have as a ninja. But training your fundamentals produces results you can see and feel. At the very least, it gives you a solid baseline.

"How many geniuses have you met? I've seen countless in my lifetime. Geniuses have their Ninja Way, and we have ours.

"Keep your chin up, Ebisu! Fundamentals are our Ninja Way! They're how we survive!"

"My Ninja Way?" Ebisu looked up, his eyes shifting between confusion and resolve.

He had never thought about why he practiced the fundamentals. He had simply listened to his father and worked hard like an obedient son.

Could fundamentals really become my Ninja Way?

"Go on home."

Ebisu saw Teacher Yamano coming their way and left first.

Tonight, he would train extra hard, drilling the fundamentals of his punches, palm strikes, footwork, and kicks.

Yamano approached Huìdài. "Team Leader Huìdài, is Ebisu feeling better?"

"He's a child. His unhappiness comes and goes quickly. You didn't come all this way to apologize, did you? There's no need."

"No, that's not it," Yamano said. "Team Leader Huìdài, I came to report something I've noticed in class."

Huìdài headed the Foundation Teaching and Research Office and was Yamano's superior. Important matters had to be reported to him.

"What have you noticed?"

Yamano said, "My teaching used to center on Kakashi.

"As the top student in the class and Top of the Grade, Kakashi set the pace and inspired the other students to improve.

"It worked well. After Kakashi graduated, I was worried about who could take his place.

"As you know, there's a gap between young master Asuma's talent and Kakashi's.

"Then Uchiha Ling suddenly came into his own.

"He gives every classmate a hard time equally, putting pressure on all of them.

"So far, that pressure doesn't seem like a bad thing. A lot of them are working harder because of him."

Huìdài said, "The Catfish Effect. The pressure Uchiha Ling creates keeps the others from slacking off.

"Children their age can't pull so far ahead of everyone else the way Kakashi did. Uchiha Ling's way of stirring them up may suit them better."

"He'll be fine. Ebisu isn't that fragile."

The best thing Ebisu gained today was young master Asuma's friendship, Huìdài thought. He might come to the Sarutobi Clan's attention early, unlike me. I didn't make contact with them until I was over twenty.

When Huìdài returned home, he saw his son's small figure practicing fundamentals in the backyard.

Straight punches, hooks, front kicks, side kicks, snap kicks, knee strikes, quick steps, sliding steps...

Huìdài nodded repeatedly. His son had the right temperament and was patiently training his Taijutsu fundamentals.

At the next day's sparring class, Uchiha Ling was eager to begin. Who should he spar with this time? Who should he put under pressure?

He looked at Asuma Sarutobi. Come on. Let me become the nightmare of your childhood!

"Teacher! I want to challenge Uchiha Ling!"

Uchiha Ling recognized the voice, and his face fell.

You're not done yet?

Ebisu. Again!

Yamano knew Team Leader Huìdài must have spoken to Ebisu, so of course he had no reason to refuse.

"First match: Uchiha Ling versus Ebisu!"

Uchiha Ling dragged himself into the sparring area and stared at Ebisu, speechless.

"Ebisu, using a shadow clone against you was too gentle. I won't hold back today. I'll help you understand where you stand. Who do you think you are? How strong do you think you are? And you're challenging me again?"

"Cut the crap, Uchiha Ling! Fundamentals are my Ninja Way! I'll show you what fundamentals can do!"

Ebisu charged. Half a second later, a kick sent him flying backward, and he rolled across the ground several times.

Even as he rolled, Ebisu raised a hand to signal the teacher not to stop the match. He could keep going.

He scrambled up and charged at Uchiha Ling again.

This time, a punch sent him flying.

Ebisu got up, rubbed his chest, and charged once more.

Uchiha Ling was at a loss. Keep getting up like that, and you're making me look like some evil overlord!

He had already used two explosive bursts of White Fang Style Taijutsu, but Ebisu still refused to concede.

Uchiha Ling pulled out his Steel Wire and Shuriken and swiftly bound the charging Ebisu up like a parcel.

Ebisu still refused to concede.

"What's so impressive about using the Uchiha Clan's Secret Technique? If you've got the guts, beat me with fundamentals!"

Uchiha Ling looked at Ebisu's stubborn face. Brats this age really are insufferable.

"Ebisu, you go on about fundamentals every day. You even call them your Ninja Way. You're barely out of diapers. What do you know about a Ninja Way?

"Don't tell me you think your fundamentals are good.

"Get up. I'll beat you with fundamentals and show you what despair feels like, you piece of trash!"

A minute later, Uchiha Ling had used his three remaining bursts of explosive Taijutsu and knocked Ebisu down three more times. Ebisu still believed his fundamentals were better than Uchiha Ling's.

Uchiha Ling committed all of Ebisu's so-called fundamental moves to memory. He would spend some time practicing them. He was going to beat this annoying brat until he finally admitted defeat.