Might Duy folded the green bodysuit again and carefully put it back in his bag.
His movements were even more solemn than before, as though he were putting away a weighty legacy.
"Young Fang Xu, I understand!"
"I'll keep this specially made training suit safe for you for now!"
"When you feel you're worthy, I'll personally place it in your hands!"
Fang Xu nodded at once.
"Thank you for understanding, Duy."
Guy gave him an emphatic thumbs-up.
"Fang Xu! Keep at it! I know you'll reach that standard!"
Looking at Guy's face, practically glowing with fervor, Fang Xu nodded with mixed feelings.
"I'll do my best."
Several dozen meters away.
Up in a large tree, Kakashi crouched among the branches, watching in utter silence.
He had only meant to observe Fang Xu's training. That Lightning Fist yesterday had sparked his interest in Fang Xu.
Yet not long after he arrived, he saw Might Duy produce a green bodysuit. For an instant, Kakashi nearly thought Fang Xu was done for.
If Fang Xu actually accepted it, the Ninja Academy would probably have another green figure roaming its grounds.
A very handsome green figure, at that. The image was too horrifying.
But he hadn't expected Fang Xu not only to refuse, but to do so in such an outrageous way.
By the time he finished speaking, Might Duy was crying, and so was Guy.
Most importantly, the father and son actually believed him.
A very odd look came into Kakashi's exposed eye.
"This guy... he's even smoother with words than I thought."
He clearly just didn't want to wear it, yet he managed to frame it as respect for its glory.
He was clearly refusing a gift, yet he moved the gift-givers to floods of tears.
Looking at Fang Xu's back, Kakashi revised his assessment once again.
He hid his strength well, thought on his feet, and really did have the looks. This guy definitely wasn't the ordinary student he used to be.
In the Hokage Office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood before the crystal ball, pipe in hand, with a similarly peculiar expression.
Through the Telescope Technique, he had watched the entire conversation between Fang Xu and Might Duy and his son with perfect clarity.
His brow had twitched the moment he saw Might Duy take out the green bodysuit.
One Might Duy, plus one Might Guy, already stood out enough in Konoha.
If Fang Xu put on that bright green training suit too, and the three of them lined up for their morning run through the village...
Just imagining it took all the pleasure out of Hiruzen Sarutobi's pipe.
But Fang Xu's next performance nearly made him laugh aloud.
"This child certainly has a way with words, too."
Hiruzen Sarutobi exhaled a puff of smoke, a touch of wistfulness in his eyes.
During their discussion of the Will of Fire last night, he had already thought Fang Xu was a good talker.
Watching him today, that was an understatement.
Looking at the green bodysuit being put away again in the crystal ball, Hiruzen Sarutobi silently breathed a sigh of relief.
Fortunately, he had refused. Otherwise, the village would probably have gained another green eccentric, throwing off even Konoha's image and style.
After finishing his morning training, Fang Xu went home to wash as usual, ate breakfast, and only then headed to the Ninja Academy.
He was in a good mood today. The green bodysuit crisis was temporarily averted.
Might Duy and Might Guy hadn't gotten angry. Instead, his words had reduced the father and son to torrents of tears, and they had solemnly put away that supposed battle garb of youth.
Fang Xu was very satisfied. He could train in Taijutsu, and his youth could burn bright, but that outfit was something he really couldn't wear.
Quite a few people were already in the classroom when he walked in.
Kurenai Yuhi was at her seat, organizing her textbooks. When she saw Fang Xu come in, she looked up, then smiled faintly.
"Morning."
"Morning."
Fang Xu had just put down his schoolbag and had barely settled into his seat when footsteps came from the classroom doorway.
Asuma Sarutobi had arrived.
Unlike yesterday, when he had slammed a desk and demanded a duel, Asuma looked a little awkward today.
Rather than going straight to his seat, he walked toward Fang Xu.
Several nearby classmates immediately pricked up their ears.
Everyone still remembered how Asuma had publicly picked a fight with Fang Xu yesterday, only for a few words from Fang Xu to leave him unable to back down gracefully.
Seeing Asuma approach him again, the classroom grew considerably quieter.
Kurenai Yuhi frowned slightly.
"Asuma, what do you want now?"
Asuma paused, his expression turning even more awkward.
He glanced at Kurenai Yuhi, then looked at Fang Xu and snorted.
"Fang Xu, don't think beating a few small fry gives you the right to act smug in front of me."
Fang Xu pulled out his chair and sat down.
"I haven't acted smug."
Asuma gritted his teeth.
"Anyway, I won't lose to you."
Fang Xu looked at him.
"You came over first thing in the morning just to say that?"
Asuma's face reddened a little.
He seemed at a loss for words. After two seconds of silence, he said stiffly, "There's also what happened yesterday."
At those words, Kurenai Yuhi's expression changed immediately.
"What happened yesterday?"
She turned to Fang Xu.
"Fang Xu, did someone cause trouble for you yesterday?"
Rin Nohara turned around too, concern on her face.
"You weren't hurt, were you?"
Before Fang Xu could speak, Kurenai Yuhi was already glaring at Asuma.
"Asuma!"
Under her glare, half the defiance Asuma had shown moments ago instantly evaporated.
He hurriedly said, "I didn't put them up to it!"
Then, feeling he had sounded too anxious, he grew even more embarrassed.
"I really didn't send those three guys. I'm not that petty."
Fang Xu looked at him without answering.
Asuma took a deep breath and lowered his voice.
"But they do have ties to me."
Several nearby classmates immediately took on peculiar expressions.
Obito had just entered the classroom when he caught those words, and he instantly perked up.
"What? Asuma, you sent people to corner Fang Xu?"
Asuma whipped his head around.
"I already said I didn't put them up to it!"
Obito curled his lip.
"So it still had something to do with you, didn't it?"
A vein throbbed at Asuma's temple.
Normally, he would have started arguing with Obito already, but not today.
Last night, the Third Hokage had summoned him and given him a severe scolding.
The Anbu had already investigated those guys who usually hovered around him and threw their weight around under his name.
Although he hadn't given the order himself, those people had only dared to cause trouble for Fang Xu because they thought he, the Third Hokage's son, would back them up.
That left Asuma feeling both aggrieved and humiliated.
What hurt most was his father's remark, "Don't let others use your status to bully your classmates." It stung more than ten insults would have.
Asuma turned back to Fang Xu and forced himself to say, "Last night, the old man gave me a scolding."
Fang Xu raised his eyebrows.
"The old man?"
Asuma turned his face away.
"My father."
The classroom grew even quieter.
The Third Hokage had personally reprimanded Asuma. That was no small matter.