Asuma glared viciously at the Uchiha before him.
"Two-tomoe Sharingan, and you think you can lecture me?"
"You're overestimating yourself."
"Let's see if your eyes can keep up with my speed."
The moment his words fell, he launched forward, legs pounding against the ground as he closed the distance with incredible speed. His chakra blade slashed toward Ryosuke's arm in a swift arc.
But Ryosuke clearly saw the motion.
The Sharingan truly was an eye of perception.
With a swift swing, his kunai intercepted the strike.
Clang! Sparks flew as metal clashed against metal.
Asuma's eyes widened in surprise. This young man could actually follow his movements—thanks to those crimson eyes.
So this was the power of the Sharingan. A shame, he thought, that the Uchiha were a liability to the village, always resisting authority.
Still, the Uchiha's defense looked strained.
Asuma snapped his right leg up, aiming a sharp kick at Ryosuke's chest.
The Sharingan caught the motion, but Ryosuke's body was far too slow to react. His physique simply couldn't keep up.
The blow sent him flying.
Asuma sneered, watching him crash to the ground.
"So this is the might of the Uchiha clan?"
"Next time, stay out of Sarutobi Asuma's business."
But Ryosuke wasn't listening.
In his mind, a mechanical voice rang out:
"Your body feels intense pain. Training speed has increased."
"Strength +2, Speed +2, Constitution +2."
A surge of warmth coursed through his abdomen, followed by a refreshing coolness. The pain ebbed away, replaced by newfound vigor. His body felt lighter, stronger.
So the system worked like this?
Not only had his strength, speed, and constitution improved, but even his injuries had been alleviated.
He flexed his hands and legs—they were sturdier, quicker than before.
Constitution, he realized, must have raised his resilience and recovery speed.
A body with high constitution could endure heavier damage and recover faster. A weak one… would be left broken.
So then… did this mean he could grow stronger just by being beaten?
He almost wanted to taunt Asuma:
"Go on, hit me again if you dare."
But one glance at the gleaming chakra blade, and his courage faltered.
That blade had been aimed to maim. If not for the Sharingan, he might already be missing an arm.
Still, Ryosuke pushed himself to his feet and barked out coldly,
"Assaulting someone in the street—you're lawless."
"Konoha won't tolerate thugs like you."
The crowd gasped in shock.
This Uchiha was fearless—too fearless.
Sarutobi Asuma, son of the Third Hokage, wasn't someone to provoke lightly.
But Ryosuke's words had struck a nerve.
Asuma's hands gripped his chakra blades tightly, his face twisting with fury.
"You dare say Konoha won't tolerate me?"
He poured even more chakra into his weapons.
The blue glow blazed brighter, humming with lethal energy.
This time, he resolved, he'd teach the Uchiha a lesson he'd never forget.
After all, his father was the Hokage.
This village belonged to the Sarutobi.
His knees bent, muscles coiling—ready to strike again. This time, he would leave Ryosuke with a wound to remember for life.
Ryosuke's eyes narrowed, catching the murderous expression.
He knew what was coming.
Fortunately, Ryosuke's speed, strength, and physique had all improved. Even if he couldn't overpower Asuma, he could at least block him.
Just as Asuma was about to strike, a woman stepped in front of him, blocking his path.
He halted his attack and demanded,"Kurenai, why are you stopping me?"
Kurenai snapped angrily,"Do you even realize what you're doing right now?"
"Are you really planning to go all out?"
"Can't you see how everyone around you is reacting?"
She was truly worried that he was about to cross a line he could never come back from.
She didn't want the person who had stood up for her to get hurt because of her—that would leave her with guilt she could never shake.
Following Kurenai's gaze, Sarutobi Asuma looked around and saw the villagers staring at him with fear in their eyes.
A dark expression crossed his face.
Perhaps he had been too rash.
But Kurenai choosing this moment to call him out only made it worse.
It felt like a heavy stone was pressing on his chest.
Seeing Asuma still hesitate, weapon in hand, Kurenai raised her voice in fury:
"You bastard, you won't even listen to me now?"
If he kept acting so recklessly, then forget being a couple—they couldn't even remain friends.
She would never stand beside someone this impulsive.
Asuma's rage boiled over at the sight of her expression.
Sure, Kurenai had a point, but in his eyes, she was supposed to be his future girlfriend.
Anyone else might criticize him, but not her.
In one reckless moment, he decided to ignore her altogether. His figure blurred past her, chakra blades flashing as he lunged at Uchiha Ryosuke.
This time, his speed exploded beyond what it was before.
But to his shock, the Uchiha brat raised his arms and blocked the strike.
Asuma's eyes widened. Impossible.
His attack had been faster than before—there was no way the other could have defended against it.
"You bastard… were you hiding your strength just now?"
If Ryosuke could keep up with this speed, then he must have been concealing his true ability earlier.
Seeing his opponent stay silent only enraged Asuma further.
He's not even bothering to answer me? Too arrogant!
"I'll show you just how strong I am!"
His blades moved even faster now, cutting the air so sharply that gusts of wind followed each slash.
But the Sharingan saw through it all—Ryosuke could only just barely keep up, forced into desperate defense.
He had no chance to reply, too busy fending off Asuma's serious, relentless attacks.
Right now, Asuma's strength was at least that of an elite chūnin.
For a slightly enhanced but otherwise ordinary chūnin like Ryosuke, managing to block him at all was already a miracle.
Kurenai's face burned with fury as she watched.
To strike at a comrade with such killing intent—this was far too reckless, completely without discipline.
The old Asuma had been brash, yes, but still someone one could call a friend.
Now, he looked as if he had lost all reason.
Their clash was dangerously close. Ryosuke fought desperately, barely avoiding having his face cut open by a blade.
He's serious…
Kurenai couldn't help but feel a flicker of surprise at the Uchiha boy.
That he could withstand Asuma's onslaught at all was impressive—after all, Asuma's raw talent was unquestionable.
And yet, despite his overwhelming advantage, Asuma still hadn't landed a decisive blow.
As a Konoha kunoichi, she couldn't stand by any longer.
If this continued, Asuma would commit a grave mistake—injuring his own village comrade.
Her hand flashed, and in the blink of an eye she drew a kunai. Seizing the opening, she stepped firmly between them.
"That's enough. If you make another move—then I'll be the one to face you."