After he stepped down, Kurenai Yuhi was the first to approach. She looked at Fang Xu, her red eyes shining.
"Fang Xu, you were amazing just now."
Rin Nohara smiled too. "Yes, you moved so fast I almost couldn't follow you."
Obito squeezed over, looking defiant yet unable to hide his curiosity.
"Fang Xu, what exactly was that move? You were crackling all over, and suddenly you got faster."
Fang Xu said casually, "A little application of Lightning Release Chakra."
Ebisu couldn't help saying, "A little application could take Asuma out in an instant?"
Fang Xu glanced at him.
"Maybe I'm just pretty good at using it."
The surrounding classmates' mouths twitched. Those words were infuriating, but the facts were right before their eyes. Asuma really had been defeated in an instant.
Kurenai Yuhi watched Fang Xu surrounded by everyone, an indescribable feeling in her heart.
She was happy, but she felt pressure too. Fang Xu was getting stronger far too quickly.
If she kept progressing step by step as before, soon all she would be able to do was watch his back.
Asuma stood a short distance away, watching the scene too.
Kurenai Yuhi, Rin Nohara, Obito, and quite a few other classmates were all gathered around Fang Xu.
Meanwhile, he, the loser, seemed to have been left on the sidelines.
Was he bitter? Of course he was.
Especially when he saw the shine in Kurenai Yuhi's eyes, Asuma felt even more stifled.
But this time, he didn't rush over to say anything childish.
A loss was a loss. However unwilling he was to accept it, he couldn't change the fact that he had just been defeated in an instant.
Asuma clenched his fists.
"Next time..."
"I'll catch up to him for sure."
The Hokage Office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood before the Crystal Ball, having watched the entire match clearly.
From Asuma taking the offensive, to Fang Xu defending steadily, to his instantaneous counterattack with Lightning Mode.
None of it had escaped his eyes.
Hiruzen Sarutobi exhaled a puff of smoke, a measure of satisfaction on his face.
"You're improving quickly, Fang Xu."
He had only given him the Incomplete Cloud Lightning Body Tempering Technique last night.
He hadn't expected the boy to already be using Lightning Activation with greater finesse.
Of course, Fang Xu wasn't the only one who truly pleased Hiruzen Sarutobi.
There was Asuma too.
After losing just now, Asuma had been upset, but he hadn't made a scene.
Instead, the defeat had ignited his fighting spirit. That was precisely what Hiruzen Sarutobi wanted to see.
Asuma had been rebellious these past few years, verbally resisting discipline while always feeling conflicted inside.
No matter how much he said as his father, Asuma wouldn't listen. But provocation from a peer was different.
Especially when someone like Fang Xu, who had originally been weaker than him, suddenly caught up and defeated him in public.
That hurt enough. Only when it hurt would he want to grow stronger.
Watching Asuma clench his fists in the Crystal Ball, Hiruzen Sarutobi finally felt a little more at ease.
"Whether it's competition..."
"Or being provoked..."
"As long as you're willing to move forward, it's not a bad thing."
That evening, at the Sarutobi Clan Grounds.
Asuma stood before the Third Hokage, the usual awkwardness and carelessness gone from his face.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had just put down his documents when he saw his son come to him of his own accord, leaving him somewhat surprised.
"Asuma, it's late. Is something wrong?"
Asuma was silent for a moment before raising his head. "Old man, I want to get stronger."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's hand paused around his pipe. He almost thought he had misheard.
Over the years, Asuma had rarely yielded to him willingly, let alone taken the initiative to ask for training.
Hiruzen Sarutobi suppressed his wild joy, trying to keep his voice steady.
"Why do you suddenly feel this way?"
Asuma gritted his teeth.
"I lost to Fang Xu today."
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded.
"I heard."
Asuma clenched his fists tighter.
"It wasn't an ordinary loss."
"He beat me in an instant."
"Kurenai saw it too. The whole class saw it."
His face grew a little red as he reached this point.
"I don't want to embarrass myself like that again next time."
"I want to get stronger fast."
"Next time, I'm going to beat Fang Xu and make Kurenai see me in a new light."
Looking at his son, Hiruzen Sarutobi almost couldn't hold back a laugh.
So Kurenai Yuhi was part of the reason too.
But whatever the reason, Asuma's willingness to take the initiative to improve was a good thing.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood up.
"All right."
Asuma froze.
"You're agreeing?"
"Of course."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice was gentle.
"If you're willing to work hard, of course I'll teach you as your father."
"From now on, when I have time, I'll guide you personally."
"If I'm busy, I'll arrange for the clan's Elite Jonin to teach you the fundamentals, ninjutsu, and practical combat."
Asuma's eyes lit up at once.
"Then let's start now!"
This time, Hiruzen Sarutobi really was a little surprised.
"Now?"
"Yes, now."
Asuma sounded very impatient.
"I don't want to wait any longer."
Hiruzen Sarutobi watched him for a few seconds, his smile growing more pronounced.
"All right."
"Since you're in such a hurry, we'll start with the fundamentals."
"Come with me to the training ground in the backyard."
Asuma immediately followed.
The two headed toward the backyard, one behind the other.
Inside, Biwako Sarutobi stood by the door, watching the father and son's retreating figures with a little more relief on her face.
Over the years, Asuma and Hiruzen had always started arguing after barely exchanging a few words.
One thought his father interfered too much; the other thought his son wasn't mature enough.
Caught between them, she had found it quite a headache too.
But tonight was different. Asuma had taken the initiative to ask for instruction, and Hiruzen was willing to teach him patiently.
Whatever had caused it, at least father and son could finally get along properly.
Elsewhere.
After Kurenai Yuhi returned home, she didn't rest first as she usually did.
She went straight to her father, Shinku Yuhi.
Shinku Yuhi had just sat down to drink tea when he saw his daughter standing before him, looking utterly serious.
"Father, please teach me how to get stronger."
Shinku Yuhi put down his teacup, a little surprised.
"Why are you suddenly so serious?"
Kurenai Yuhi pressed her lips together.
"I don't want to fall behind."
Shinku Yuhi looked at his daughter and smiled.
"Who don't you want to fall behind?"
Kurenai Yuhi's expression stiffened slightly.
"Just my classmates."
"Your classmates?"
Shinku Yuhi drew out the words.
"Why do I feel like it's not your classmates, but one particular classmate?"
Kurenai Yuhi's cheeks instantly flushed.
"Father!"
Seeing her reaction, Shinku Yuhi immediately understood.
He deliberately sighed.
"It looks like my Kurenai has grown up and found someone she likes."
Kurenai Yuhi blushed even harder.
"N-no, I haven't!"
Shinku Yuhi nodded.
"You haven't? Then never mind."
"I was going to see which boy could make my daughter care so much."
Kurenai Yuhi bit her lip, but finally said quietly, "It's Fang Xu."
Shinku Yuhi raised an eyebrow.
"Fang Xu?"
Kurenai Yuhi nodded. Though her voice was quiet, it was very serious.
"He's my deskmate."
"Both his parents died on missions, and he lives alone now."
"His grades weren't particularly outstanding in our class before, but he's improved incredibly quickly these past two weeks."
"He awakened his lightning affinity and can use very powerful Lightning Nintaijutsu."
"Lord White Fang even took him as a disciple and teaches him Kendo."
As she spoke, Kurenai Yuhi's eyes lit up.
"He even defeated Asuma in an instant during combat class today."