I'll Strike with Monster Strength

"All right, that's enough for today. Now you need to reflect on what you've learned."

"I think I can keep going a little longer."

Genjutsu and Ninjutsu were both unreliable like that. When Uchiha Itachi returned to Konoha, he cast Tsukuyomi with a glance, then immediately clutched his eye. "I'm out of Chakra. Time to leave."

But Kazan thought Shinku Yuhi could hold out a little longer.

"You need to learn when to work and when to rest, Kazan! That's part of training too."

"Come over for dinner later. I'm heading home first."

Shinku Yuhi vanished in a flash, fleeing the Training Ground with a whoosh.

The Third Hokage's assignment is way too hard!

He screamed inwardly. If he hadn't seen it himself, he never would have believed it.

After just one morning, Kazan could already put him under pressure in a real fight.

It was as if the boy had been born to battle!

The new technique Kazan had created made his senses unbelievably sharp.

In the morning, Shinku could still use Genjutsu to hold him back and give him trouble.

By afternoon, the moment Shinku cast a Genjutsu, astonishing Chakra erupted from Kazan's body. He could break free in a second.

What was more,

Shinku Yuhi could tell that Kazan's technique was nearly complete.

Once it was, Shinku would have to bring out his last-resort techniques, or Kazan really would have him on the run.

But those techniques might damage Kazan's mind and spirit. He absolutely could not use them.

And so the next day came.

Shinku Yuhi felt it even more strongly.

He didn't even last the morning before cutting training short, telling Kazan to "figure it out on his own" and heading home.

"Why are you back so early today?"

"Well... I got a little carried away while coaching Kazan and hurt him."

"What? Is Kazan all right?"

"Don't worry. I kept my Chakra output under control. It's just a minor injury. Compared to what I suffered on the battlefield back in the day, Kazan's barely scratched."

"That's my Shinku!"

His wife gazed at him admiringly. She approached, her cheeks flushing, then took his hand and led him toward their room.

"Wait... what are you doing?"

"Oh, don't make me say it out loud. Come on."

Nooo!

Shinku Yuhi had escaped the dragon's den only to enter the tiger's lair.

"Being a man is exhausting, being a man is exhausting~"

"Everyone on Earth knows I'm barely getting by~"

That afternoon.

At the Training Ground.

Kazan was in a good mood, and he broke into song.

Then his keen senses picked up Shinku Yuhi's arrival.

He turned and found the man looking thoroughly grim.

Is this little brat making fun of me?

What's that song supposed to mean?

Shinku was annoyed and still worn out from the "battle" afterward.

He wanted an excuse to skip the afternoon's training, but then Kazan yanked off his shirt, revealing a body covered in scars.

"Let's get started, old man! I can feel it. My Observation Haki is just about to awaken."

How the hell am I supposed to say no now?

Shinku Yuhi steeled himself and went ahead.

That evening.

After returning home, Shinku Yuhi suddenly began to sing.

"Being a man is exhausting, being a man is exhausting~"

"Everyone on Earth knows I'm barely getting by~"

He sat in the backyard, looking at the potted plants he had tended so carefully.

The scene was peaceful, but he looked utterly haggard.

"Dad, what are you singing?"

"Oh, Kurenai. You're home."

Shinku Yuhi immediately changed his expression, giving himself a hard pinch to perk up.

"Nothing. Just singing to myself. You know your dad's a Konoha Jonin and a master of Genjutsu. There's nothing I can't handle."

"Really?"

Kurenai found that odd. She hadn't asked about any of that.

Her dad was acting a little silly today.

"Of course!" Shinku Yuhi declared shamelessly.

"Then... how's Kazan's training going?"

Can you please stop bringing up that brat?

Just hearing his name makes me sick!

"Not bad. He's very determined. No matter how many times I knock him down, he gets back up."

He felt a little guilty saying it, yet his face showed genuine admiration.

The brat might be infuriating, but he truly worked hard.

"That's good." Kurenai Yuhi patted her little chest in relief. "I was worried Kazan might accidentally hurt you. He goes to the Forest of Death every day to fight those ferocious beasts, and you're definitely not as sturdy as they are."

What? What kind of thing is that to say?

"Hahahahaha..." Shinku Yuhi threw back his head and laughed, his eyes full of disdain. "How could mere beasts from the Forest of Death compare to your dad?"

"Do I look hurt to you? I even had enough energy this afternoon to put on a concert with your mother!"

He spread his arms with regal flair, looking as arrogant as the ancestor of the Uchiha clan.

"A concert?"

"Ahem... you don't need to know about that just yet."

Kurenai tilted her head and blinked at him, making her father feel terribly guilty.

At home, Shinku Yuhi was the equal of the God of Shinobi.

But the next morning,

he hurried to the Hokage Building first thing, hoping Hiruzen Sarutobi would withdraw his order.

He couldn't do this job for another day.

His body had to endure three, sometimes even four rounds of torment every day.

After all his boasting last night, his wife had challenged him to another "duel" at bedtime.

He woke up aching all over, feeling like he'd eaten a bowl of noodles with rancid pickled cabbage.

The thought of training with Kazan again that morning made him want to puke!

"Old Man Third, can you... Huh? Uncle Shinku, what are you doing here?"

Shinku Yuhi whipped around at the sound.

He saw Kazan jump through the window into the Hokage's Office.

"K-Kazan?!"

The Konoha Genjutsu master jolted and took a step back.

Hiruzen Sarutobi noticed, his eyelids twitching.

What on earth had Kazan done to Shinku Yuhi to make a Konoha Jonin so afraid of him?

"Why are you here?"

"Me? I've been staying nearby lately."

Kazan pointed toward Back Mountain.

"Perfect timing, Kazan. Shinku was just—"

"Third Hokage!"

"Wh-what is it?"

Shinku Yuhi gave a sudden shout, his old vigor returning. He caught Hiruzen Sarutobi completely off guard.

"I believe Kazan has grown strong enough. To give him a better training experience, I request permission to fight at full strength!"

"..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi was speechless. He didn't remember placing any restrictions on Shinku Yuhi.

Am I getting old and forgetful?

"So that's why. I was wondering why you were so weak, Uncle Shinku."

Kazan, mischief brewing in his mind, spoke with the same solemnity.

"Old man, please go all out today. I'll give it everything I've got and learn all I can from you."

"Uh, well..."

"I'll strike with Monster Strength Fist!"

Pfft~

Shinku Yuhi wanted to slap himself. Why the hell had he shown off like that?

Hiruzen Sarutobi rolled his eyes.

No wonder everyone in the village called Kazan a little devil. The boy was full of wicked ideas.