I'll Strike with Monster Strength Fist

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

"I think we could keep going a little longer."

Genjutsu and Ninjutsu could be pretty unreliable. When Uchiha Itachi returned to Konoha, he used Tsukuyomi with a single glance, then quickly covered his eyes. "I'm out of Chakra. Better get out of here."

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

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

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

Shinku Yuhi flickered away, fleeing the Training Ground with another whoosh.

This assignment from the Third Hokage 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 some pressure on him in a real fight.

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

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

That morning, Shinku Yuhi could still use Genjutsu to hold him back and give him trouble.

By afternoon, the moment his Genjutsu took hold, astonishing Chakra burst from Kazan's body. He could break free in a second.

What was more—

Shinku Yuhi could tell Kazan's technique was almost complete.

When that happened, unless he pulled out his strongest moves, Kazan would really be chasing him around the Training Ground.

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

And so, the next day arrived.

Shinku Yuhi felt it even more strongly.

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

"Why are you back so early today?"

"Well... when I was coaching Kazan just now, I accidentally used too much force and hurt him."

"What? Is Kazan all right?"

"Don't worry. I was limiting my Chakra output the whole time. It's just a minor injury. Compared with what I suffered on the battlefield back in the day, Kazan barely got a scratch."

"That's my Shinku!"

Admiration shone in his wife's eyes. She walked over, cheeks flushed, took Shinku Yuhi by the hand, and led him toward their room.

"Wh-what are you doing?"

"Oh, stop it. How am I supposed to say it out loud? Come on."

No, please!

Shinku Yuhi had escaped one peril only to fall into another.

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

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

That afternoon.

At the Training Ground.

Kazan was in a good mood, singing to himself.

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

He turned and found the man's face dark as thunder.

Is that little bastard making fun of me?

What's with those lyrics?

Shinku Yuhi was thoroughly displeased, and still exhausted from his "battle."

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

"Let's get started, old man! I can feel it. My Observation Haki is just a hair away from awakening."

How the hell am I supposed to refuse now?

Shinku Yuhi gritted his teeth and went in.

That evening.

After returning home, Shinku Yuhi suddenly started singing.

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

"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 put on a different face and pinched himself hard to perk up.

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

"Really?"

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

Her dad seemed a little silly today.

"Of course!" Shinku Yuhi declared shamelessly.

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

Could you please not mention 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, but genuine admiration still showed on his face.

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

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

What was that supposed to mean?

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

"Do I look like anything's wrong with me? I even had the energy to put on a concert with your mother this afternoon!"

He spread his hands with regal flair, looking as cocky as an Uchiha ancestor.

"A concert?"

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

Kurenai tilted her head and blinked, making her father squirm.

At home, Shinku Yuhi was the very image of the God of Shinobi.

But the next day—

He ran to the Hokage Building first thing in the morning, hoping Hiruzen Sarutobi would take back his orders.

He couldn't keep doing this for another day.

Every day, his body had to endure three, sometimes even four rounds of torment.

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

He woke up aching all over, feeling as awful as if he'd eaten noodles with pickled greens and old phlegm.

Just thinking about training with Kazan that morning made his stomach turn!

"Hey, old man Third, could you... Huh? Uncle Shinku, what are you doing here?"

Shinku Yuhi whipped his head around at the voice.

Then he saw Kazan leap through the window into the Hokage's Office.

"Ka... Kazan?!"

The Konoha Genjutsu master stiffened and took a step back.

Hiruzen Sarutobi noticed, his eyelid twitching.

What on earth had Kazan done to Shinku Yuhi to make a Konoha Jonin this afraid?

"Why are you here?"

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

Kazan pointed toward Back Mountain.

"Good timing, Kazan. Shinku was just—"

"Third Hokage!"

"Wh-what is it?"

Shinku Yuhi's shout rang out. He suddenly seemed to regain his fighting spirit, startling Hiruzen Sarutobi.

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

"..."

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

Am I getting old and forgetful?

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

Kazan was up to no good, but he sounded just as serious.

"Old man, please give it everything you've got today. I'll use all my strength to learn from you, too."

"Ah, well..."

"I'll strike with Monster Strength Fist!"

Pfft—

Shinku Yuhi wanted to slap himself. Why had he opened his big mouth just to show off?

Hiruzen Sarutobi rolled his eyes.

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