It's All Because I'm Too Handsome

Fang Xu asked, "Why?"

Asuma pointed at him.

"Quit playing dumb! After you lose, stay away from Kurenai!"

Kurenai Yuhi's face immediately flushed red.

Not from embarrassment, but anger.

"Asuma!"

She stood up, her voice much louder than usual.

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

Asuma stiffened his neck.

"I'm not talking nonsense! He's obviously trying to cozy up to you on purpose!"

Kurenai Yuhi grew even angrier.

"Who I talk to is my own business. What does it have to do with you?"

Rin Nohara also tried to persuade him. "Asuma, this isn't right. Kurenai isn't a wager."

Those words made Asuma's expression turn even uglier.

But he had already said it, and with so many people watching, he could not bring himself to back down.

He could only keep glaring at Fang Xu.

"Just tell me, do you dare or not?"

Fang Xu looked at Asuma without much reaction.

Given his current situation, if he really fought without revealing the Rumble-Rumble Fruit or Lightning Release, it was hard to say who would win.

After all, Asuma came from the Sarutobi Clan, so his fundamentals would not be poor.

But the problem was not winning or losing.

The problem was that this duel itself was stupid.

Fang Xu did not stand up. He merely said calmly, "I won't fight."

Asuma froze.

"You're scared?"

Fang Xu shook his head.

"It's not fear. It's unnecessary."

Asuma sneered.

"That sounds nice."

Fang Xu looked at him and said, word by word, "A duel can be training or a spar, but you can't use people as wagers."

Asuma's expression stiffened.

Fang Xu continued, "Kurenai isn't yours, and she isn't mine. Who she wants to talk to and be friends with is her own choice."

Kurenai Yuhi was taken aback.

She had still been angry.

But upon hearing that, much of the fire in her chest suddenly faded.

Rin Nohara nodded as well, looking at Fang Xu with a little more approval.

Fang Xu did not stop.

"You like Kurenai. That's your business. But if you really like her, then you should respect her instead of slamming tables and forcing others to stay away from her."

The nearby students looked at one another.

Those words were too blunt.

So blunt that Asuma could barely save face.

Fang Xu finished, "Grow up, Asuma."

The moment the words "grow up" fell, Asuma's expression completely changed.

He hated hearing that phrase most of all.

Because the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, often said the same thing to him.

Whenever he argued with his father, whenever he did not want to be crushed beneath the identity of "the Third Hokage's son," Hiruzen Sarutobi would always tell him in that elder's tone—

Asuma, it's time for you to grow up too.

And now, Fang Xu was using that exact same tone on him.

Asuma only felt his chest tighten unbearably.

It was like throwing a punch, only for it to land in cotton, and then getting lectured by the other person.

Worst of all, he could not refute that reasoning for the moment.

Kurenai Yuhi glared at him.

"Asuma, apologize to Fang Xu."

Asuma's face reddened further.

"Why should I apologize?"

Kurenai Yuhi said, "Because what you said just now was very rude."

Rin Nohara also said softly, "Asuma, you really shouldn't have said that."

Asuma gritted his teeth, his gaze sweeping across Fang Xu, Kurenai Yuhi, and Rin Nohara.

The other students were watching him too.

Some wanted to laugh but did not dare.

That made him feel even worse.

Finally, he yanked back the hand he had been pressing against the desk.

"Fang Xu, just you wait!"

Fang Xu looked at him.

"Wait for what?"

Asuma snorted coldly.

"At the next assessment, I'll show you that talking big is useless. A ninja is judged by strength!"

With that, he turned and returned to his seat.

When he sat down, he dragged his chair hard enough to make an ear-piercing screech.

Fang Xu ignored him after that.

Asuma at this age was rebellious, impulsive, and obsessed with saving face.

He liked Kurenai Yuhi but did not know how to express it properly, so he could only use this childish method to make himself noticed.

Fang Xu could not exactly say he disliked him.

He just found him troublesome.

Kurenai Yuhi sat back down and said in a low voice, "Sorry, Asuma, he..."

Fang Xu waved a hand.

"It has nothing to do with you."

Kurenai Yuhi glanced at him.

"Thank you for earlier."

Fang Xu smiled. "What are you thanking me for? I was only telling the truth."

Rin Nohara turned around as well and said quietly, "Still, you were really calm just now. If it had been Obito, he probably would've slammed the desk and started arguing already."

Fang Xu imagined that scene and nodded.

"That does sound like something he'd do."

Kurenai Yuhi could not help laughing.

"If Obito heard that, he definitely wouldn't accept it."

Rin Nohara laughed too.

"He's always like that. He says he won't accept it, then ends up finding excuses for himself."

Just as the three of them were talking, hurried footsteps sounded outside the classroom.

The next second, a goggle-wearing boy burst through the doorway.

"Rin! Morning!"

Obito Uchiha braced one hand against the doorframe and panted twice. Before he had even steadied himself, he flashed Rin Nohara a huge smile.

But his smile lasted only an instant.

Because he saw that Rin Nohara had turned around and was talking with Fang Xu and Kurenai Yuhi.

And Rin had been smiling just moments ago.

Smiling very happily.

Obito's expression instantly froze.

He looked at Rin, then at Fang Xu.

The string in his mind called vigilance instantly tightened.

"Fang Xu!"

Obito rushed over in a few strides, his voice suddenly rising.

"You bastard, what did you say to Rin? Why was she smiling so happily?"

The smile on Rin Nohara's face vanished.

She turned to look at Obito.

She only gave him one glance.

Obito instantly shrank his neck.

The imposing air he had just had deflated by half on the spot, like a balloon pricked by a needle.

"Uh..."

He scratched the back of his head and gave two awkward laughs.

"I was just asking, that's all. Rin, don't be mad."

Rin Nohara said helplessly, "Obito, don't make such a fuss every time."

Obito immediately nodded.

"Yes, yes, yes. I'll be careful next time."

Kurenai Yuhi was standing nearby, practically dying to laugh.

Fang Xu was even more helpless.

One Asuma, one Obito.

He had only just sat down today, yet two boys had already treated him as a hypothetical enemy.

What was this?

A Ninja Academy battlefield of romance?

Fang Xu rubbed his brow and said, "I think I understand now."

Obito asked warily, "Understand what?"

Fang Xu sighed. "It's all because this face of mine is too handsome. That's what caused all this trouble."

The classroom fell silent for a moment.

Kurenai Yuhi was the first to lose it, snorting with laughter.

Rin Nohara covered her mouth and laughed as well.

Obito's eyes widened, as though the words had choked him.

"You... you're way too narcissistic!"

Fang Xu spread his hands.

"The facts are right there. Asuma just left, and then you came along. Isn't it because I'm too handsome, making you feel pressured?"

Obito immediately retorted, "Who feels pressured?! Not me!"

Kurenai Yuhi said with a smile, "But you really were nervous just now."

Obito's face turned red.

"I was... I was worried Rin would get bullied!"

Rin Nohara sighed.

"Fang Xu didn't bully me."

"But you still can't let your guard down!"

Obito stubbornly said, "Some people rely on being good-looking to make others lower their guard!"

Fang Xu raised an eyebrow.

"So you admit I'm good-looking?"