From Now On, We're Rivals

With chakra particles coating his palm, Miya felt no resistance at all when he used his hand to slice through the big bear's head.

Never mind a big bear-even a steel plate could be cut through just as easily.

That destructive power was top-notch.

"So much bear blood. What a waste!"

"If I collected it, I'd have a whole plateful."

"Then I could make bear-blood congee. Delicious."

Just imagining the silky texture of bear-blood congee made Miya's mouth water. Unfortunately, he had no container to hold it, so all that blood could only go to waste.

Still, with such a big bear, Miya was quite satisfied with his hunting haul for the day.

He easily hoisted the thousand-pound bear onto his shoulders and carried it to the stream. He skinned it, cut off the meat, and took apart the bones in one complete operation. Miya was highly skilled at the work, taking care of everything with his bare hands and no tools at all.

Before long, Miya had finished preparing the whole bear. Then he cut off its four paws and two legs and set them over the fire to roast.

Miya took various seasonings from the shoulder bag he carried and rubbed them onto the bear paws as they roasted.

It was obvious he was a professional, thoroughly prepared.

The aroma was tantalizing!

As for the greater part of the bear that remained, Miya prepared it to take home and deal with there.

Rin Nohara and Kurenai Yuhi shared the bento and, after eating until they were half full, fell silent for a while.

"Rin, you..."

At last, Kurenai couldn't hold back.

She gazed at Rin Nohara with complicated emotions in her red eyes and spoke softly.

Before Kurenai could finish, Rin answered:

"That's right. I like Miya. I've liked him since we were little."

Rin looked into Kurenai's red eyes and spoke with complete seriousness.

Come to think of it, Miya and Rin had known each other since they were toddlers. Their homes weren't far apart, and they lived on the same street.

Before they entered the Ninja Academy, Rin had been Miya's little shadow.

Though Miya had deliberately brought that about, there was no need to fuss over the details.

These days, finding a wife wasn't easy.

Looking at the serious Rin, Kurenai could see the admiration in her eyes.

Although Miya was a big eater and was considered a bad student at school, that couldn't erase the deeply etched image he had left in Rin's heart since childhood.

Of all her peers, Rin admired Miya most.

Kurenai's gaze was complicated, but a moment later it turned resolute.

"I won't give Miya up to you so easily."

Kurenai's gaze was just as resolute at that moment.

"Hmph, Miya will definitely be mine."

Rin pouted and spoke to Kurenai, looking both adorably charming and fierce.

At that sight, never mind a boy-even Kurenai, a girl herself, almost wanted to make a move on Rin.

"Enough talk."

"For Miya's sake, we're rivals from now on."

Kurenai's pretty face suddenly turned red as she declared this to Rin.

Hearing Kurenai's declaration, Rin showed no sign of backing down as she said:

"Hmph!"

"No matter what, I won't give Miya to you."

Rin clenched her little fists, seemingly cheering herself on.

Sparks flew as their gazes met.

The supreme leader of Konohagakure.

The home of Hiruzen Sarutobi, who now sat firmly in the position of Third Hokage.

"Is Asuma hiding in his room, refusing to come out?"

Having taken off his Hokage robe, Hiruzen Sarutobi, whose strength was still at its peak and who didn't look like the old man he would be at the start of the story, took a puff of his pipe and asked calmly.

As the Hokage's son, Asuma's every action would undoubtedly be magnified.

What had happened to Asuma at the Ninja Academy that morning, as well as how he had fled home during lunch break and shut himself in his room.

All of it had long since landed on Hiruzen's desk.

That was also why Hiruzen had come home at midday.

Hiruzen's wife, Biwako Sarutobi, took the Hokage robe he had removed and said helplessly:

"I don't know what got into this child today. He came home at noon!"

"And he shut himself in his room."

"He won't eat, hardly answers when I call him, and refuses to come out."

Hiruzen had been busy with a great deal of official business every day lately. On top of that, he was getting older and no longer had the energy he had in his youth, yet he still had to worry about the turbulent situation in the Shinobi World and plan for Konoha's future. His face was always weary as he nodded slightly.

Still, he cared a great deal about his own child.

"Is that so?"

"I'll go check on him first."

Though he was the Hokage, he was also a father.

In Asuma's room.

"Damn it, damn that Miya."

"How could it be? How could I...?"

Asuma had buried himself entirely under the covers. Whenever he recalled facing Miya today, his body trembled uncontrollably, and his eyes were filled with fear.

The image of Miya, like an evil demon, refused to leave his mind.

Whenever he saw Miya's eyes, he felt as though an evil demon had locked onto him.

Despair. Death.

Nowhere to run.

The scene replaying over and over made Asuma shudder all over.

"Bang, bang, bang."

A heavy knock sounded at the door. Asuma jolted, and cold sweat broke out at once.

"Who is it?"

At that moment, Asuma was like a startled bird; even his voice had turned shrill.

"Open the door. It's me."

When Hiruzen's steady voice sounded from outside, Asuma's emotions gradually settled down.

"Click, clack."

"D-Dad."

The moment he opened the door and saw Hiruzen's face right in front of him, Asuma first felt reassured. Then shame followed, and he couldn't help lowering his head.

Asuma, who had already begun to show signs of rebellion, now felt ashamed to face Hiruzen.

The Third Hokage's son.

To tell the truth, Asuma didn't like people looking at him in light of that identity.

But it was also that identity that made the eight-year-old Asuma very proud.

Thus, the spear and the shield were born.

That was also the source of his rebellious nature.

"Asuma, come out and eat!"

Hiruzen had always raised Asuma Sarutobi strictly and harshly, never showing him any concern.

At that moment, seeing the terror in Asuma's eyes, Hiruzen's heart suddenly softened.

No matter what, this was still his own child.

At that moment, Hiruzen wondered whether his previous way of raising Asuma had been wrong.

At that moment, Asuma sensed an emotion called concern from Hiruzen.

"D-Dad, I..."

Asuma stammered, unable to get even a complete sentence out.