Chapter 35: Clever Asma (Seeking follow-up reading)

“No, even if the money wasn’t given to me, it’s still our family’s own. How can that be considered earning money?!” Asuma clarified his thoughts, then retorted.

“Then you are truly brilliant.” Muzuki praised with a smile.

Although he was praised, Asuma felt a strange, inexpressible feeling.

“Anyway, go resign with the old man. I don’t need a tutor.” Asuma leaned against the tree, giving up completely.

“Since you don’t want me to teach you, why don’t you just not follow me, or tell the Sandaime and the others?” Muzuki suggested.

“Do you think I’m stupid? If I do that, wouldn’t all the responsibility fall on me?” Asuma said with a slight tilt of his head, looking proud.

The Sandaime’s side was fine, but Asuma was more afraid of his mother Biwako getting angry.

Muzuki nodded inwardly. He was indeed quite foolish. If he resigned using Asuma’s lack of cooperation as a reason, Asuma would still have to take the blame.

However, he had no reason to do so, as it was too easy to manipulate a nine-year-old kid like Asuma.

“Why are you so resistant to having a tutor?” Muzuki didn’t rush Asuma into training, but continued chatting with him.

“You wouldn’t understand even if I told you.” Asuma shook his head, looking as if to say, ‘You won’t understand until you’re my age.’

“Why wouldn’t I understand? It’s nothing more than you not liking your father’s arrangements.” Muzuki said directly.

Based on Asuma’s identity and his personality, it was easy to deduce the reason for his rebelliousness.

Asuma himself was talented. Not comparing him to those who cheated, he was considered a genius. He probably hadn’t been negligent in his training either; Muzuki could see that Asuma had a good foundation.

But because of his identity as the Sandaime’s son, his own efforts might ultimately be dismissed with a casual remark: ‘As expected of the Sandaime’s child.’

Effort would be considered expected, and lack of effort would be criticized by many.

If it continued like this, it would be strange if Asuma and the Sandaime’s father-son relationship was good.

After graduating and becoming a Ninja, he felt he had grown up, yet the Sandaime still hired a tutor. This clearly made Asuma feel completely underestimated.

“You can only see the surface like that.” Asuma still had that ‘you wouldn’t understand’ expression until Muzuki spoke his next sentence.

“Isn’t it because after all your hard training, you only get the remark, ‘As expected of the Sandaime’s child’?” Muzuki said with a chuckle.

Asuma’s face instantly changed drastically, and his gaze towards Muzuki was somewhat terrified. This was something he had never told anyone, and Muzuki suddenly pointing it out gave him a feeling of being forcibly torn open and having his inner self exposed.

“I don’t understand what you’re saying.” Asuma was still stubborn.

But his restless hands already betrayed his inner panic.

“If you want to prove yourself, you should accept a tutor even more, strengthen your own power, and prove yourself with power.” Muzuki continued.

“After all, the current you can hardly be called excellent.” Muzuki directly denied Asuma’s power.

First, his inner thoughts were exposed, and then his entire being was denied. Asuma immediately became anxious and retorted:

“I was often first in my grade at the Ninja Academy, so how could I not be considered excellent?”

Muzuki smiled and said, “Do you believe that if I randomly pick a student who just started Ninja Academy right now, you wouldn’t be able to defeat them?”

Asuma was so angry he laughed. If it were a graduate, that would be one thing, but someone who just started Ninja Academy? Even if it was Kakashi who just started Ninja Academy, he wasn’t afraid.

“You have the guts to find one. If I lose, I’ll listen to whatever you say from now on.” Asuma directly laid down a harsh challenge.

“Of course, if I win, you’ll go resign.” Asuma added.

“Then it’s a deal.” Muzuki smiled.

Immediately after, Muzuki sent a Shadow Clone to bring Uchiha Shisui over.

Asuma observed Uchiha Shisui for a few moments and felt that Muzuki probably hadn’t lied; he was indeed the kind of child who had just started Ninja Academy.

“His name is Uchiha Shisui, he’s a student in my class, six years old, and just started first grade this year.”

“His name is Asuma Sarutobi, and he’s a Genin who just graduated this year.”

Muzuki introduced them to each other.

“Uchiha Shisui, right? I’ll just tell you this: if you can’t handle it later, surrender quickly to avoid injury. I won’t hold back.” Asuma said.

“Sarutobi-senpai, I will be careful.” Uchiha Shisui said earnestly.

“Begin!” Muzuki wasted no time, announcing the start as soon as the two had assumed their stances.

As soon as Muzuki finished speaking, Asuma instantly charged out, rapidly swinging his fists towards Uchiha Shisui.

Uchiha Shisui met him with a calm expression, engaging Asuma in close-quarters combat.

The two exchanged blows continuously, but Asuma, despite his relatively larger physique, couldn’t gain an advantage.

Asuma’s expression changed. After two exchanges, he realized Uchiha Shisui was not simple, but he hadn’t expected him to be so troublesome.

Not only did he fail to gain an advantage, but Asuma, due to his eagerness to gain the upper hand, was even caught by Uchiha Shisui with a Leaf Whirlwind kick, sending him stumbling back three meters.

However, Uchiha Shisui did not pursue the attack, because when Muzuki brought him over, he had told him to try and defeat Asuma in all aspects.

A graduated Genin being kicked back three meters in a Taijutsu battle by a student who had just entered Ninja Academy—even with only Muzuki watching—Asuma felt he couldn’t save face, and his cheeks flushed.

Ignoring why Uchiha Shisui didn’t pursue, Asuma’s mind was now filled with only one thought: defeat Uchiha Shisui, regain his dignity, and prove himself.

“Fire Release: Secret Technique: Great Fire Technique!” Asuma quickly formed hand signs, his Chakra erupted, and he exhaled a large amount of flames.

“Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!” Uchiha Shisui also began forming hand signs, concentrating a large amount of Chakra in his mouth, then exhaling it all at once and transforming it into flames.

The two Fire Release Ninjutsu collided. Uchiha Shisui, with more flames and greater intensity, quickly overwhelmed Asuma’s Fire Release, then continued to rush towards Asuma.

Asuma was dumbfounded by the Ninjutsu clash, standing still and watching the fireball steadily approach him, making no move.

He was wondering why, why he would lose to a student who had just entered Ninja Academy, and such a crushing defeat at that.

He was kicked back three meters in a Taijutsu clash, and completely suppressed in a Ninjutsu clash.

Was he really useless except for his identity as the Sandaime’s son? Asuma felt a deep self-doubt.

The fireball gradually approached. Feeling the heat emanating from the flames, Asuma finally came to his senses and moved to dodge, but at his speed, he couldn’t avoid being affected by the fireball.

At this moment, Muzuki took action, his Chakra erupting as he quickly formed hand signs.

“Water Release: Water Formation Wall!”

A thick wall of water appeared in front of Asuma, blocking the incoming giant fireball.

“Teacher…”

Please keep reading, it’s being promoted…