"Who's next?"
Instructor Suzuki pushed aside the strange thoughts in his mind and continued with the initial sparring assessment.
"I'll go."
Asuma stepped forward confidently, stopping in the center of the field.
He scanned the group, searching for anyone brave enough to face him.
He doubted anyone could defeat him.
"Who wants to spar with Asuma?"
When no one stepped up immediately, Instructor Suzuki called out.
"Why don't you step in? Show that guy what a cocky jerk he is."
For reasons unknown, Gai had taken a disliking to Asuma and was quietly encouraging Kurenai from the sidelines.
"You're always coming up with terrible ideas."
"That guy seems pretty strong."
"Kurenai, don't fall for his provocations."
Kakashi shot Gai a glare. Privately, he didn't want Kurenai stepping into a fight with Asuma.
What if she got hurt? He would be heartbroken.
Although he acknowledged Kurenai's considerable skill.
Although she hadn't yet mastered her father's Genjutsu, under Kakashi and Gai's training, her Taijutsu had become quite refined.
"I think this might be a great idea."
Kurenai had her own opinion, not necessarily opposing Kakashi.
After all, she was still young and eager to prove herself too.
She couldn't let those two hog all the attention.
Otherwise, people might mistake her for just their sidekick!
"Great idea? This is terrible."
Kakashi got a bit anxious. He knew once Kurenai made up her mind, he couldn't stop her.
"Terrible idea? I say Kurenai gives that guy a black eye or two."
Gai said, angrily throwing a mock punch, as if he had a personal vendetta against Asuma.
"In that case, I'll be generous and grant your wish."
Grinning confidently, Kurenai stepped forward.
"I'll do it."
Before Kakashi could prepare his arguments, Kurenai had already accepted the challenge.
"Excellent. What courage!"
Instructor Suzuki's eyes sparkled with admiration. For a young girl to step up was quite unexpected.
"You?"
Asuma frowned slightly.
"What? Do you think girls are weaker?"
Kurenai stood a short distance opposite Asuma.
"You should step down. I don't hit girls."
Asuma didn't want to get labeled as bullying girls on the first day of school.
Even if it was just practice, it wouldn't sound good.
Plus, he looked down on Kurenai.
He'd already lost to those two boys standing beside her, so how could he lose to a girl?
"You can talk like that only after beating me."
Being spoiled by Kakashi, Kurenai had no intention of tolerating that kind of arrogance.
She even agreed with Gai—he definitely needed to be taken down a peg.
"On the battlefield, there are no gender distinctions."
"If you don't want to fight, step down."
Instructor Suzuki didn't show any favoritism just because Asuma was the son of Hiruzen Sarutobi. He bluntly scolded him a bit.
Would you really hold back against a female opponent in actual combat?
"I…"
Asuma opened his mouth but found himself speechless. There was no way he was stepping down.
"Then begin, Instructor."
Kurenai was practically vibrating with excitement as she waited for Instructor Suzuki to begin.
"If you're not coming down, then I'll just start the match!"
Suzuki gave Asuma a few seconds to think before beginning his countdown.
As the number "1" left his lips, Kurenai dashed forward in a flash.
Watching Kurenai charge fiercely toward him, Asuma's eyes narrowed.
He realized he had underestimated her—this girl was no easy opponent.
"That's amazing."
Rin openly admired Kurenai. As a fellow girl, she knew she still had a long way to go.
"That's only natural. All three of them were trained by Dai."
"You know Matt Dai, right?" Obito cut in, his eyes filled with slight envy.
"Heard of him? He was the Taijutsu expert who shone during the Second Shinobi World War!"
"An absolute legend," Rin added, believing even 'expert' wasn't enough to describe Dai's strength.
"Now it's going to get interesting. That guy might not come out on top after all." Obito also didn't hold Asuma in high regard; relations between the Uchiha and Sarutobi clans were far from friendly.
As they spoke, Kurenai and Asuma had already exchanged several blows.
Although Kurenai was a girl, she certainly hadn't slacked off when it came to Taijutsu training.
She wasn't quite as skilled as Kakashi or Gai, but she was still formidable.
From their first clash, Asuma had already fallen into a disadvantage.
"Just try underestimating me again," Kurenai said, creating some distance between herself and Asuma. While she lacked slightly in raw strength, she held a slight edge in speed.
"I was reckless," Asuma muttered, stubbornly brushing away the footprint on his chest, though inside, a storm of emotions churned.
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