Hanekawa didn’t linger and directly left the Konoha Archives Bookstore.
He didn’t need to worry about the rest; Dobashi would handle it.
He just didn’t know which author he would find to ghostwrite it.
He thought of Jiraiya, but it was highly unlikely.
Word getting out about ghostwriting wouldn’t sound very good, after all.
Hanekawa arrived at the Fourth Training Ground, picked up his wooden sword, and began practicing Konoha-Style Kenjutsu.
An hour later, he finished his training and headed toward the Ninja Academy.
Soon, Hanekawa saw Asuma Sarutobi.
He was leaning against a tree, hands in his pockets, staring up at the sky at a forty-five-degree angle, looking as if he were an invincible master who had defeated everyone in the world.
“You’re here.” Asuma Sarutobi turned his head to look at him and said.
Hanekawa’s mouth twitched.
What was he supposed to answer?
You shouldn’t have come?
Did he think they were acting in a Wuxia drama?
“I came to remind you, don’t forget about the combat training class this afternoon.” Eagerness and anticipation appeared in Asuma’s eyes.
He couldn’t wait to defeat Hanekawa and win back Kurenai Yuhi’s heart.
“I know.” Hanekawa gave a slight nod.
“Good.” Asuma suddenly turned his back to him and said, “I hope you can make it entertaining for me later.” He flipped his head with a cool flair and walked away.
Hanekawa didn’t pay any mind to this little interlude.
He arrived at the classroom, greeted Shizune, and started studying.
“Class, please take out your copy of The Will of Fire.” Eiichiro stood at the podium and asked with a smile, “Do any of you know what the Will of Fire refers to?” Quite a few students excitedly raised their small hands.
“Obito, you answer.” Eiichiro scanned the room and called his name.
“Wherever tree leaves dance, one shall find flames.
The fire’s shadow will illuminate the village, and once again, tree leaves shall bud anew!” Obito Uchiha rattled it off in one breath.
“Not bad.” Eiichiro opened his book and said, “Today we will be talking about the budding tree leaves, which means all of you, the future of Konohagakure.” Hanekawa turned a deaf ear to this, continuing to work on his math problems.
The workbook practically groaned under his frantic pen strokes; by the time the morning passed, it was completely stuffed with answers.
The afternoon was combat training class.
The combat class for first-year students was very much a case of rookies pecking at each other.
Because they hadn’t even been taught the Three Academy Jutsu yet, they could only spar using taijutsu and weapon tool throwing.
As for the Three Academy Jutsu, that wouldn’t be taught until the second semester.
Even though the Three Academy Jutsu were the most basic ninjutsu, many people had to spend six years just to master them.
“Kakashi, I challenge you!” As soon as class started, Obito Uchiha couldn’t wait to jump out.
Whether or not they could spar normally depended entirely on Kakashi Hatake’s mood.
Most of the time, it didn’t happen, leaving him in a state of incompetent fury.
But during combat training class, Kakashi had no good excuse to refuse.
“…” Asuma Sarutobi was a step too late.
He swallowed his own words of challenge, feeling incredibly stifled.
It felt even worse, especially when he watched Hanekawa and Kurenai Yuhi chatting and laughing together.
“Kakashi.” Eiichiro said with a smile, “How about you give the class a demonstration?” Kakashi Hatake calmly walked to the center of the training field.
“Obito, be careful,” Rin Nohara said, somewhat helplessly.
“Don’t worry!” Obito Uchiha patted his chest and said, “I’ll go easy on him!” Rin suddenly didn’t know what to say.
He had clearly lost every single time they fought; who exactly gave him the courage to act so brave?
Obito Uchiha walked over to stand opposite Kakashi and formed the Seal of Confrontation.
Seal formed, he charged forward.
Seeing this, Kakashi stood in place and threw a punch.
Obito ducked his body and launched a sliding tackle, aiming for Kakashi’s legs.
But Kakashi was faster than him.
Body Flicker Jutsu!
He immediately launched himself, appearing behind Obito, and kicked out directly.
With a bang.
Obito Uchiha rolled away like a whipped spinning top and collapsed on the ground, unable to get up.
“Winner, Kakashi Hatake.” Eiichiro announced the result without any surprise.
Cheers erupted from all around.
Due to his strength and cool style, Kakashi was quite popular in the class and had a huge following.
Although Hanekawa was showing a trend of catching up, he was ultimately still in second place; he was still missing that crucial final step.
After all, no one remembers the guy in second place, unless his name is…
cough cough.
“Obito, are you okay?” Rin Nohara hurriedly rushed forward and asked.
“I’m fine!” Obito clambered to his feet and said, “I’m just not in good shape today.
We’ll fight again another day!” “…” Rin instantly swallowed back her words of comfort.
Why don’t you just blame the grass while you’re at it?
“Does anyone else wish to issue a challenge?
If not, we will begin the lesson.” Eiichiro asked.
“I challenge Hanekawa.” Asuma Sarutobi raised his hand and declared.
Everyone’s gaze instantly shifted away from Kakashi Hatake.
Asuma Sarutobi was the Hokage’s son, and he had previously lost to Hanekawa once before.
This was a grudge match.
The flames of gossip suddenly roared to life in the students’ hearts.
“Hanekawa.” Asuma walked to the center of the field, gave a soft hmph, and said, “The same genjutsu won’t work on me!” Hanekawa ignored his words and casually formed the Seal of Confrontation.
Seal formed, the spar began.
Asuma immediately shifted his gaze, staring at the ground.
Most genjutsu targeted the sense of sight.
The simplest way to deal with it was to avoid looking into the opponent’s eyes.
Relying on his peripheral vision and pinpointing locations by sound would affect his combat ability, but not by that much.
Especially since Asuma had undergone special training over the past half-month.
The sound of wind being pierced rang out.
It was a kunai.
Asuma twisted his body and dodged it perfectly.
Two kunai embedded themselves into the ground, one on his left and one on his right.
He glanced at them and couldn’t help but reveal a look of smugness.
His sweat and hard work over the past two weeks had not been in vain.
The tables had turned!
Asuma’s hands rapidly formed hand signs.
He stared at Hanekawa’s feet and brought his hands together slightly.
Wind Style: Gale Palm!
A gust of whirlwind blasted out from his palms.
However, in the very next moment, the kunai on the ground flew straight up like a carp leaping from the water.
What was going on?
Had the kunai gained sentience?
Asuma subconsciously turned his head, and his eyes suddenly widened like brass bells.
He saw the faint, almost imperceptible wire strings attached to the kunai.
Under Hanekawa’s control, the wires crossed and wrapped securely around him.
Asuma stumbled and fell face-first into the dirt.
No!
If he fell here, his life would be over!
Asuma reacted quickly.
Enduring the pain, he hurriedly scrambled to his feet.
But what welcomed him was a kunai pointed right at him.
“I…” Asuma was flushed red with anger.
Why don’t you play by the rules?!
A genjutsu shinobi not using genjutsu, and instead copying the Uchiha’s kunai tactics…
it was utterly detestable!
But a loss was a loss.
In front of so many classmates, he couldn’t bring himself to be thick-skinned enough to make excuses like Obito Uchiha.
“Winner, Hanekawa.” Just as he was hesitating, Eiichiro spoke the result on his behalf.
Asuma secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but that was quickly followed by a sense of extreme unwillingness.
He had done special training for half a month, only for absolutely none of it to be put to use.
Who could accept that?
[E-Rank Talent Trait ‘Shippuden’ effect upgraded.] [Wind Style Talent has increased by 30% from its original foundation.] Looking at the two lines of text that suddenly appeared, Hanekawa couldn’t help but feel delighted.