For the next month, Ebisu challenged Ren at every opportunity.
Anyone important enough to have a name in the original story had to possess something special.
History books worked the same way—a person might be mentioned in a single sentence, yet during their lifetime, they could have held the fate of tens of thousands in their hands.
Since Ren could not escape Ebisu, he decided he might as well make the most of it.
During every sparring lesson, he practiced the fundamentals with him seriously.
Ren limited the amount of chakra he used, molding only half his usual amount and channeling it into his muscles so they could fight using pure taijutsu.
Straight punches, hooks, front kicks, side kicks, snapping kicks, knee strikes, quick steps, sliding footwork…
Before long, Ren discovered something interesting.
Taijutsu began with the feet.
Whenever he changed his footwork properly, he could suppress Ebisu even while using very little chakra.
Forward and backward slides, lateral steps, lunges, retreats, circling steps, cross-steps, triangular movement, feints, stance switches…
Ren found an entirely new source of enjoyment.
Instead of relying on White Fang–Style Taijutsu, he began using these matches to drill his ordinary footwork.
His mouth, unfortunately, received no such training restraint.
“Ebisu!
Why are your legs already shaking?
You’re five years old—what kind of dirty secret did you discover?” “Your family must be loaded.
That’s the seventh pair of glasses I’ve broken this month, right?
Is Instructor Eishirō about to get fired, so you’re preparing to open an eyewear shop?” “If he managed to raise a failure like you, your father probably should be fired!” “Ebisu, do me a favor and check whether I stepped in dog shit this morning.” Ren planted one foot squarely in Ebisu’s face and sent him flying.
Ebisu climbed back to his feet with a perfect shoeprint across his cheek.
“Hold still.
Let me take a closer look at that mark…” Ren narrowed his eyes.
“Damn.
I think I stepped on chewing gum.” Ebisu said nothing.
He wiped his face and charged at Ren again.
The rest of the class soon found themselves watching a bizarre spectacle.
Even after Instructor Yamano called an end to the official match, Ren and Ebisu would move to the side and continue sparring.
The two of them seemed tireless, studying and countering every movement the other made.
This continued until the final week of the semester.
…
“Instructor!
I challenge Uchiha Ren!” Ren stepped into the center of the field and looked at the boy who simply refused to stay down.
“Ebisu, I’ve been using you as a training dummy this entire time, and you’ve finally outlived your usefulness.
“I’ve learned every one of those precious fundamentals you’re so proud of, and now I’m better at them than you are.” He paused.
“This will be our final match.
Are you ready?” The words were as harsh as ever, but for once, there was a trace of warmth in Ren’s eyes.
After so many weeks of sparring, nearly all his progress in the basics had come from training with Ebisu.
Ebisu adjusted his new sunglasses.
“I know, Beanpole.
This will be the last time I challenge you.” Ren and Asuma had made a wager.
Asuma had promised to defeat him during the final exam.
Ebisu had completed the task his father had given him.
He had kept Ren occupied until the end of the semester, giving Asuma all the time he needed to train.
Ren had still thrown insults at Asuma whenever they crossed paths, but he had never managed to disrupt his training schedule.
Ebisu could do no more than that.
His lips moved slightly as he noticed the unusual emotion in Ren’s eyes.
‘Was that…
affection?’ ‘No.
Surely not.’ This match was no longer for Asuma.
It was for Ebisu himself!
“Ren, I know you’ve been limiting your chakra whenever we fight.
This time, don’t hold back.
I want to see the true distance between us.” “Oh?” Ren raised an eyebrow.
“You’d better not end up crying in the dirt like you did when my shadow clone beat you.” “You still underestimate me.
You can defeat me, but you’ll never make me cry!” Just as he had countless times before, Ebisu charged.
Ren still had several techniques he intended to save for his final-exam match against Asuma.
“I don’t need my full strength to beat you, Ebisu!” Ren repeatedly used lateral steps to evade every attack.
Ebisu’s fist skimmed past his shoulder.
His foot brushed the hem of Ren’s clothes.
Every strike missed by the narrowest margin, leaving Ebisu with the maddening sensation that he was pouring all his strength into empty air.
At first, Ebisu had hated being forced to protect Asuma from Ren.
After so many weeks of training, however, he had grown accustomed to Ren’s relentless pressure.
He might even have begun to enjoy it.
The improvement was undeniable.
And this time, he was fighting for himself.
His determination burned more fiercely than ever.
“Ren!
Show me at least a little respect!
Fight me seriously!” Ren slid aside from Ebisu’s palm strike and even had enough time to stamp the dust from his sandal.
“Oh?
You think you deserve my full strength?” Ebisu had thought he had grown immune to Ren’s insults.
That single sentence still struck him directly in the chest.
“This is our last match!
Do you seriously not care at all?
Don’t you understand how important this is to me?” “You’re asking whether I care?” For the first time, Ren used a retreating step and opened a two-meter gap between them.
“The entire class hates me.
Why would I need feelings?
Who exactly am I supposed to share them with?” Ebisu stepped forward and threw another punch.
“Even someone gets attached to a punching bag after hitting it for months!
Why do you always look down on me?
“This is our last match, and you still can’t stop treating me like I’m worthless?” Ren’s eyes widened slightly.
That punch had been noticeably faster.
Several students rubbed their eyes.
Ebisu’s arm had moved so quickly that it had almost become a blur!
He had clearly grown stronger—strong enough that some of his classmates could no longer follow his movements properly.
Asuma turned toward Kurenai.
“Ebisu has suffered a lot at Ren’s hands, but it’s clearly paid off.” Kurenai looked puzzled.
“If Ebisu knows he can’t beat Ren, why does he keep challenging him?” Asuma fell silent.
He certainly could not admit that Ebisu had been taking Ren’s attacks in his place.
Instructor Yamano glanced toward the Academy building.
Eishirō stood beside one of the pillars along the second-floor corridor, watching the match.
He must have noticed it as well.
By using the strongest student in the class as his training partner, Ebisu had clearly improved.
In that single moment, months of relentless training had finally produced a breakthrough.
His taijutsu had crossed a threshold and risen to another level.
Shinobi often encountered plateaus during training—the temporary limit of their talent or physical condition.
Sometimes, after the body was pushed past its limits and allowed to recover, it rebuilt itself stronger than before.
Ebisu’s latest punches showed the results of that breakthrough.
Ren evaded three consecutive strikes, each one closer than the last.
‘Looks like half of my chakra isn’t enough anymore.’ He quietly molded more chakra and began dodging with ease again.
“Ebisu, did you honestly think you were worth my full strength?
Why would I ever go all out against someone weaker than me?
“You’re hilarious.
Go home and practice your precious fundamentals some more.” Ren smiled cruelly.
“If you ever meet a real enemy, maybe you can perform your entire training routine like some ridiculous dance and bore them to death.” Then he lowered his voice, delivering the words straight into Ebisu’s heart.
“Ebisu…
you’re not worthy of my full strength.” Ebisu’s face turned crimson.
He had endured Ren’s torment for so long that he had begun to believe they had developed some kind of bond!
He had thought that, after all those matches, Ren might finally see him as a worthy opponent.
But Ren still…
Still…
[A nearby shinobi has suffered severe emotional damage.
The Emotional Damage System is now activating…] Ren’s heart leaped with delight.
Ebisu had surprised him yet again!