After school, Yamano wrote a report on Ebisu’s progress and submitted it to Department Head Eishirō.
“Sir, Ebisu has improved remarkably under the ‘Rival Catalyst Program’.
I believe this teaching method has real potential.
It’s unconventional, but the results speak for themselves.” Eishirō read through the scroll and nodded with satisfaction.
“You’ve done good work, Yamano.” That evening, Eishirō brought the report to the Sarutobi clan compound.
He wanted to explain to the clan’s senior members that the wager between Asuma and Ren was not necessarily a bad thing.
If handled properly, Ren could serve as the rival who pushed Asuma to improve, just as he had done for the rest of the class.
Unfortunately, Eishirō did not meet a single senior member of the Sarutobi clan all evening.
He spent the entire time supervising Asuma’s training instead.
At least Asuma was diligent.
Every night, he trained until his shirt was soaked through with sweat.
Just as Eishirō was preparing to leave, Black Ape appeared in the courtyard with the Body Flicker Technique.
“Young lord,” Eishirō greeted him, “I would like you to look over this report on the Rival Catalyst Program.
If everything goes well, Asuma-kun progress could be considerable.” He held out the scroll.
“Uchiha Ren has become the driving force behind the entire class.
His presence keeps every student alert and pushes them to work harder.” “Oh?
Let me see.” Black Ape read through the report before nodding approvingly.
“This is good.
Very good!
I’ll speak with my father about Asuma’s training plan.” Eishirō was delighted.
Once again, his work had brought him to the Hokage’s attention.
“I’ll also try to persuade Father to watch Asuma’s final match against Ren,” Black Ape continued.
“He should pay more attention to Asuma.” He glanced back at the scroll.
“This Uchiha Ren was practically invisible before.
Was Kakashi simply overshadowing him?
Why has his strength suddenly improved so much?” “He is an Uchiha, after all,” Eishirō replied.
“Both of Ren’s parents were jōnin.
He comes from a strong bloodline.” Black Ape nodded.
Give an Uchiha the right opportunity and enough emotional pressure, and they might suddenly awaken a fully matured three-tomoe Sharingan.
It was not difficult to understand why Danzō, Homura, and the others remained so wary of the clan.
He left the compound and headed toward the Hokage Building.
It was already midnight, which meant his father was almost certainly still working.
…
The Hokage’s office was thick with smoke.
The pouch of tobacco Hiruzen had brought that morning could not possibly have lasted through the day.
Black Ape could only wonder how many times an assistant had been sent to fetch more.
His mother had repeatedly tried to make Hiruzen cut back, but with a new shinobi war beginning, controlling his smoking had become hopeless.
A pyramid of scrolls nearly a meter high stood to the left of his desk.
Five thick stacks of documents occupied the right.
Hiruzen sat between them with a deep frown, smoking his pipe while studying another scroll.
Since they were at work, Black Ape addressed him formally.
“Lord Hokage, I have something to report.” “Go on.” “The Academy’s final examinations will be held in five days.
After Asuma lost to his classmate Uchiha Ren, the two of them made a wager to settle things during the final sparring exam.” Black Ape paused.
“Lord Hokage, perhaps you could visit the Academy tomorrow and observe the examination.
I believe Asuma would—” “Black Ape.” Hiruzen cut him off.
“Iwagakure and Kirigakure have both declared war on Konoha.
Kumogakure is still deciding whether to strike Iwagakure first or attack us.” He exhaled a stream of smoke.
“And you expect me to visit the Academy to watch two children fight?” His expression sharpened.
“If I remember correctly, you said Uchiha Ren is an orphan.
What exactly am I supposed to do if Asuma loses?
Use my authority as Hokage to intimidate a parentless kid?” “Of course not,” Black Ape said quickly.
“I wasn’t suggesting that you attend on Asuma’s behalf.” He chose his next words carefully.
“With the war beginning, the Academy has submitted a list of older students being considered for early graduation.
You could inspect their abilities personally.” Then he added, “And while you’re there, perhaps you could also see how much progress Asuma has made this semester.” Hiruzen’s expression softened.
Black Ape had made a valid point.
Once the semester ended, a group of students would be graduating ahead of schedule.
The matter was extremely important, and somehow, Hiruzen had nearly forgotten about it beneath the mountain of wartime paperwork.
He accepted the scroll Black Ape offered him.
It contained an Academy instructor’s summary of a new classroom-management method: using one disruptive but talented student as a competitive catalyst to raise the class’s overall performance.
Hiruzen read the report with growing interest.
It was an excellent idea.
“Very well.
I’ll attend the Academy’s final examinations in five days, though my priority will be evaluating the students being considered for early graduation.” His voice became solemn.
“Those assessments must be stricter than usual.
Sending an unprepared child to the battlefield would only get them killed.” Hiruzen closed the scroll and sighed.
“Konoha was founded so children would no longer have to fight wars.
Yet the pressure from the other villages keeps forcing us to send them out before they’re ready.” His expression darkened.
“Sakumo took his own life just before the war began.
Konoha lost an elite battlefield commander and a Kage-level shinobi at the worst possible time.
The consequences have been enormous.” He tapped his pipe against the ashtray.
“Even Homura has begun suggesting that we deploy the Uchiha clan to the front lines.” The mention of the White Fang left Black Ape with mixed feelings.
How could someone have been so stubborn?
So fragile?
Sakumo possessed power worthy of a Kage, yet his mind had simply collapsed under public condemnation.
…
When Black Ape returned to the Sarutobi compound, Asuma was still training.
He was performing handstand push-ups to strengthen his arms, sweat dripping steadily from his face.
At the same time, Ren was training just as hard inside the Uchiha compound.
His breakthrough through supercompensation had increased his physical strength considerably.
The improvement had come all at once, however, and his body had not fully adjusted.
He occasionally used too much force or moved farther than intended.
He needed to master his new strength before the final examination.
…
For several consecutive sparring lessons, no one challenged him.
Without Ren involved, the rest of the class seemed noticeably less enthusiastic about their own matches.
Instructor Yamano did not force the issue.
He allowed the students to train freely and prepare for the final sparring exam however they wished.
Most of them gathered around Asuma.
Obito could barely hide his excitement.
“Asuma, your special training has been working, right?
Guy had a really hard time against you during your last match.” He clenched his fist.
“You have to crush Ren’s ego this time!
I’m so sick of looking at his smug face!” Ebisu looked as though he wanted to say something, but ultimately kept quiet.
Nara Saku, meanwhile, felt relieved.
Ren had behaved himself over the past few days, which meant Saku would not need to step forward and draw the lunatic’s attention before the semester ended.
Kurenai was also watching Ren.
‘If only I had more chakra, I could start learning genjutsu from Father.
My taijutsu is too weak.
I’m not strong enough to spar with Ren yet.’ Asuma, on the other hand, was brimming with confidence.
Instructor Eishirō had taught him about breaking through physical plateaus through supercompensation, and Asuma had already experienced a breakthrough of his own.
He was no longer the same boy Ren had defeated before!
…
The days passed quickly.
On the morning of the final examination, the students saw the Third Hokage enter the Academy with several Anbu.
The headmaster personally escorted him to the rooftop on the fourth floor.
The training grounds had been divided into separate examination areas, and every student who looked up could see Hiruzen’s Hokage hat and ceremonial haori above them.
The Third Hokage had come to observe their final sparring exams in person.
The students were nervous enough, but even the instructors seemed to forget how to speak properly.
Yamano stood in front of his class with a severe frown.
“Form two…
or three rows!” One student cautiously raised a hand.
“Instructor, do you want two rows or three?” “Yes!” Asuma stared toward the rooftop.
His father stood there, with his older brother wearing the Black Ape mask beside him.
Excitement surged through Asuma’s chest.
‘Uchiha Ren!
My father came to watch me.
There’s no way I’m losing to you today!’