Fury!

Asuma froze in place, his eyes wide as saucers.

He had just returned from the Land of Fire Daimyo's residence and thought he would stop for a bowl of ramen. But when he lifted the curtain, he saw a sight that nearly burned his eyes:

A young Uchiha sat sprawled in the middle seat with Ayame of Ichiraku Ramen in his arms. Where he had his hands made Asuma so jealous he could only think, Why isn't that me?

Asuma's first reaction was embarrassment. In broad daylight? Wasn't this a little too... bold?

His second reaction was admiration.

The kid had guts. Serious damn guts!

Asuma was the Hokage's son, after all. He was known for being rebellious and had seen plenty!

Yet in all his years in Konoha, he had never seen anyone dare to fool around so brazenly inside a shop.

Then Teuchi rushed out and shouted, "Help!"

Asuma's smile froze.

So they weren't... into each other?

The kid was... forcing himself on her?

And Asuma had just admired his guts? Wanted to learn from him?

This was outrageous!

Anger surged from the soles of Asuma's feet straight to his head. His face turned dark red.

"You Uchiha bastard!" Asuma roared, his voice shaking the ramen shop's sign. "Come out and die!"

Seeing Asuma fly into a rage and stand up for them, Teuchi finally felt his heart settle.

The Hokage's son, one of Konoha's elite jonin, Lord Asuma of the Twelve Guardian Ninja—he was here. They were saved!

Yongye did not get up.

He slowly turned his head and fixed Teuchi, who stood beside the stove, with the blunt stare of a man looking at a corpse.

Teuchi's legs gave way. He dropped to his knees with a thud and curled into himself, trembling uncontrollably. His forehead pressed against the cold floor tiles; he no longer dared to look up.

Only then did Yongye turn his gaze to Asuma.

He raised his chin slightly. A mocking half-smile tugged at his lips, and his voice was lazy.

"You didn't even ask what happened before you started threatening to kill me? What gave you the nerve?"

Asuma swept a hand across his waist, drawing a pair of distinctively shaped Chakra Blades.

A pale blue Chakra glow coated their edges. So sharp were they that they cut through the air with a faint hum.

They were the Flying Swallow, signature weapons his father, Hiruzen Sarutobi, had specially made for him. Combined with Wind Release Chakra, they could cut through iron like mud!

He gripped both blades and pointed them straight at Yongye, barely holding back the fury in his voice.

"No need to ask!"

"They aren't even ninja. You're clearly bullying people weaker than you!"

He stepped forward, making the wooden floorboards creak beneath his foot.

"I know you Uchiha have a new powerhouse named Uchiha Yongye!"

His voice grew louder, as though he were delivering a rousing speech on justice.

"But even with Uchiha Yongye backing you up, you can't do whatever you want in Konoha!

Konoha has rules!

Bullying civilians, preying on a defenseless woman—the world won't stand for it!"

Yongye's expression turned peculiar.

He raised an eyebrow, and the mockery in his half-smile deepened, as though he were watching a spectacular farce.

He was Uchiha Yongye!

Ayame's face was full of panic. The words rose to her lips again and again, nearly bursting out. But at the last moment, she forced them back down.

Because she suddenly realized what Lord Asuma had said: "Even with Uchiha Yongye backing you up"!

He had all but confirmed those terrifying rumors from last night! The stories they had dismissed as wild exaggerations might all be true!

Her face went from deathly pale to ashen. All her strength seemed to drain away, and she leaned against the wall, barely able to stand.

She looked at her father, kneeling and trembling on the floor. Teuchi looked back at her. The same despair filled both their eyes.

According to last night's rumors, Root operatives had been killed when they faced Uchiha Yongye, and Danzo had been beaten! Even Lord Hokage... had been forced to compromise!

Yongye paid them no attention.

His gaze stayed on Asuma, but his eyes grew distant.

It was as though he looked past Asuma's angry, bearded face to somewhere far, far away—to the home he could never return to.

In a daze, he murmured softly.

"Being weak doesn't make you innocent."

"Wrong is wrong!"

"If you make a mistake, own up to it. If you're going to take a beating, take it standing straight!"

Asuma blinked. He had no idea what Yongye meant.

Being weak didn't make you innocent? Wrong was wrong?

How could a ninja from the distinguished Uchiha clan claim to be in the right while bullying a civilian father and daughter?

"I'm not playing word games with you!"

Asuma shook his head and swept a Chakra Blade through the air in a vicious arc.

"Come out! Fight me!"

He drew a deep breath, brimming with fighting spirit and murderous intent.

"Beat me, or I'll beat you!"

Yongye watched him in silence for a moment, then slowly nodded.

"Fine. Let's settle this!"

Asuma immediately took a fighting stance, crossing his Flying Swallow blades before him. Chakra spread along their edges with a low hum.

Every muscle in his body tensed. His eyes locked on Yongye's every movement, ready to spring at any moment.

Despite agreeing to fight, Yongye did not stand.

He lounged in his chair with one arm draped over the back and his legs crossed, as relaxed as if he were watching a show in his own living room.

Only one thing changed—his eyes.

Three tomoe flared in his crimson Sharingan and slowly began to turn.

Asuma's pupils contracted instinctively.

An Uchiha so young had awakened the Sharingan?

And a Three-Tomoe Sharingan at that!

Even Uchiha Yongye, the Taijutsu powerhouse who had just made a name for himself, had only a Two-Tomoe Sharingan!

No wonder the famous clan produced so many geniuses! Which Uchiha was this guy?

Asuma was shocked, but he had no time to dwell on it.

The instant those three tomoe appeared, Yongye vanished from his seat.

No—not vanished. He was charging straight at him!

He was so fast that Asuma could only make out an afterimage.

Asuma slashed on instinct. The Flying Swallow's Chakra Blade traced a blue arc and struck the afterimage squarely in the neck.

Got him!

No—the impact felt wrong!

The blade met none of the resistance of flesh. It felt as though he had cut through a wad of cotton. The afterimage twisted and dissolved before him, while the real Yongye had disappeared.

Asuma gave a cold snort and spun around. Yongye stood at the shop entrance, the sun at his back and contempt plain on his face.

"So what if you have a Three-Tomoe Sharingan? I'm not afraid of you Uchiha!"

With a shout, Asuma charged, both blades striking at once.

His attacks were fierce and precise. Wind Release Chakra sharpened every cut, making the air hiss around his blades.

But his opponent was unexpectedly formidable!

The young Uchiha's footwork was unnervingly strange. Time and again, Asuma thought he had landed a sure hit, only for Yongye to slip away somehow.

They battled outside the ramen shop, neither gaining the upper hand. Every attack and defense came so fast that afterimages scattered in their wake!