The Basics Are My Ninja Way

After consoling Ebisu, Asuma Sarutobi stared at Uchiha Ling:

"I thought I'd already imagined you to be pretty awful, but I never expected your Shadow Clone to expose what you were really like.

You scrawny little bastard, you're even worse than I imagined!"

Uchiha Ling ignored Asuma's mockery and walked over to Kurenai. "Kurenai Yuhi, don't listen to my Shadow Clone's nonsense. How could I possibly be a peeping tom? I'm not that kind of person."

Kurenai remembered Uchiha Ling's Shadow Clone saying that once she had grown all her hair in, she could put on sunglasses and peep to her heart's content. Her face flushed, and she turned away to whisper to Rin Nohara, unwilling to pay Uchiha Ling any attention.

Rin Nohara said, "Uchiha Ling, stop harassing Kurenai. Kurenai could never like you."

Rin Nohara froze, then her face turned red as well.

"Oh? Then who could possibly like me? Don't tell me it's you, Rin?"

Obito Uchiha rushed forward, ready to beat Uchiha Ling up, but Might Guy hooked an arm over Obito's shoulder from behind and looked to Teacher Yamano as if asking for help.

Yamano shouted, "Maintain classroom order! Next sparring pair!"

Seeing the ugly looks on Asuma and Obito's faces, Uchiha Ling felt much better.

He looked over his thirty-odd classmates. Who should he make break down next? This was hard. These little brats had nothing but butterflies and grasshoppers in their heads; they couldn't handle pressure at all.

After school, Ebisu stood dejectedly outside the teachers' office, waiting for his father to get off work.

Seeing Ebisu with his head lowered, Huìdài patted his head and led him to the end of the corridor.

"Son, I saw everything that happened in sparring class today.

Strictly speaking, I shouldn't be telling you this so early, but seeing how down you are, I'll tell you ahead of time.

For any ninja, the basics are extremely important.

For geniuses like Kakashi Hatake and Uchiha Ling, the basics are merely a foundation. Their attention will soon be drawn to advanced ninjutsu.

But for you, son, the basics are everything.

Not everyone is a genius. Ordinary ninjas like you and me have our own purpose too.

The basics are the calling card I spent over a decade building, the ultimate skill that kept me from becoming cannon fodder.

If you inherit my fundamentals and my training methods, you'll be able to make a living as someone who teaches specialized ninja.

Polish your fundamentals well, and one day you may have the chance to teach those children of high status in Konoha Village, just as I do.

I don't know what talent you have as a ninja, but honing your basics is something tangible. At the very least, it can guarantee your lower limit.

How many geniuses have you even met? Over half my life, I've seen countless geniuses. Geniuses have their own ninja way, and we have ours.

Cheer up, Ebisu. The basics are our ninja way! They are our way of survival!"

"Ninja way?" Ebisu raised his head, his eyes constantly shifting between confusion and determination.

He had never thought before about why he practiced the basics. He had merely followed his father's teachings and worked hard obediently.

So the basics could become his own ninja way too?

"Go home first."

When Ebisu saw Teacher Yamano approaching, he left first.

Tonight, he would put in extra training on the basics and continue working hard on the fundamentals of fists, palms, waist, and legs.

Yamano came up to Huìdài and said, "Chief Huìdài, is Ebisu feeling better?"

"He's a child. His unhappiness comes quickly and goes quickly. Don't tell me you came all this way just to apologize? There's no need for that."

"That's not it," Yamano said. "Chief Huìdài, I came to report an educational phenomenon."

Huìdài was the chief of the Basic Education Research Office and Yamano's superior, so important matters had to be reported to him.

"What phenomenon?"

Yamano said, "In the past, my class was taught with Kakashi as the focus.

As the top student in both the class and the grade, Kakashi served as the leader, motivating the other students to improve.

The results were quite good. After Kakashi graduated, I was worrying about who could become the next leader.

You know that young master Asuma's talent is somewhat behind Kakashi's.

Then Uchiha Ling suddenly seemed to awaken.

He insults every classmate equally, putting pressure on every one of them.

Now that I look at it, that pressure isn't necessarily a bad thing. Many of them have been working harder because of Uchiha Ling's provocation."

Huìdài said, "The catfish effect. Uchiha Ling's pressure keeps the others from slacking off.

At their age, the other children can't pull far ahead of everyone else like Kakashi can. This catfish approach of Uchiha Ling's is rather suitable."

"Yes, it's perfectly suited. Today, Uchiha Ling put pressure on Ebisu. I hope Ebisu can work even harder."

"He will. Ebisu isn't that fragile."

Huìdài thought that Ebisu's greatest gain today had been earning young master Asuma's friendship. Perhaps he would enter the Sarutobi Clan's notice at an early age, unlike himself, who had only made contact with the Sarutobi Clan after turning twenty.

When Huìdài returned home, he saw Ebisu's small figure practicing the basics in the backyard.

Straight punches, hook punches, front kicks, side kicks, snap kicks, knee strikes, shuffle steps, sliding steps...

Huìdài nodded repeatedly. His son had good temperament and was patiently training his taijutsu fundamentals.

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

He looked at Asuma Sarutobi. Come on, let me become your childhood trauma!

"Teacher! I want to challenge Uchiha Ling!"

Hearing that familiar voice, Uchiha Ling's expression darkened.

This again?

Ebisu, you again!

Yamano knew that Chief Huìdài must have counseled Ebisu, so naturally he would not refuse Ebisu's request.

"First group, Uchiha Ling versus Ebisu!"

Uchiha Ling dragged his feet into the ring and looked at Ebisu speechlessly.

"Ebisu, having my Shadow Clone deal with you was already too gentle. Today, I won't hold back at all. I'll help you find your place. Who do you think you are? What kind of strength do you have, challenging me again?"

"Cut the crap! Uchiha Ling! The basics are my ninja way! I'll show you how powerful the basics are!"

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

Even while Ebisu was still rolling, he raised a hand to signal the teacher not to stop the match. He could keep going.

After getting back up, Ebisu charged at Uchiha Ling again.

This time, a punch sent him flying.

Ebisu got up, rubbed his chest, and charged again.

Uchiha Ling was helpless. With you being this unyielding, I look like some demon king villain!

He had already used White Fang Style explosive taijutsu twice, yet Ebisu still refused to accept it.

He took out a wire shuriken and swiftly bound the charging Ebisu into a rice dumpling.

Ebisu still refused to accept it.

"What kind of ability is it to use your Uchiha Clan's secret techniques? If you've got the guts, defeat me with the basics!"

Looking at Ebisu's stubborn expression, Uchiha Ling thought that kids this age really were unbearably annoying.

"Ebisu, you keep shouting about the basics and saying the basics are your ninja way. You've barely grown any hair. What do you know about a ninja way?

You don't seriously think your basics are that strong, do you?

Get up. I'll defeat you with the basics and show you what despair is! Trash!"

One minute later, Uchiha Ling had used up the remaining three uses of explosive taijutsu and knocked Ebisu down three times, yet Ebisu still believed that his fundamentals were better than Uchiha Ling's.

Uchiha Ling memorized those so-called basic moves of Ebisu's. He planned to spend some time practicing them and make sure to thoroughly beat some sense into that annoying brat.