Shindai and Sarutobi Asuma were fighting purely with taijutsu. Hikaku Uchiha watched with a complicated and hard-to-describe expression, thinking to himself that their taijutsu was far inferior to what ninja used to practice back in his time.
Shindai and Sarutobi Asuma were locked in an intense battle.
Overall, though, Shindai seemed to be at a disadvantage.
Sure enough, Shindai's face got punched, and he staggered backward several steps.
Sarutobi Asuma blew on his fist and said, "Ah! That felt awesome!"
Shindai held his cheek, his face contorted with clenched teeth as he scowled at the smug Sarutobi Asuma, snapping, "That was just luck! What are you so proud about?!"
Sarutobi Asuma bounced up and down a couple times excitedly before beckoning toward Shindai, "Come at me again! If I don't beat you so bad you're picking your teeth off the floor, then my name ain't Sarutobi Asuma!"
"Fine then! Bring it on!"
Shindai charged straight at Sarutobi Asuma with a defiant glare.
Sarutobi Asuma had already readied his punch and swung toward Shindai's face again.
However, much to his surprise, Shindai didn't seem to want to dodge this time.
What did that mean?
Had he given up?
Well...who cares! As long as he could land a punch on Shindai, it was a good punch!
Sarutobi Asuma's punch landed successfully on Shindai's face.
But unexpectedly, Shindai revealed a strange smile.
Staring fiercely at Sarutobi Asuma, Shindai sneered, "Felt good hitting me? Now let me make you feel even better."
The next second, Sarutobi Asuma turned pale with pain, his entire back arching.
"L-Let go!"
"Let go? I haven't even started squeezing yet!"
"You dirty bastard! You're pulling dirty tricks again!"
"Dirty tricks? Did I use ninjutsu? Did I use genjutsu? Isn't this still within the rules of taijutsu? Grabbing your crotch—it's not cheating at all!"
Indeed, Shindai had deliberately taken Sarutobi Asuma's punch in order to get him off guard and allow himself to land that cheap low blow.
Despite the pain, Sarutobi Asuma tried swinging his fist again.
"Huh? Still daring to fight back?!"
Shindai tightened his grip once more, and Sarutobi Asuma's expression instantly twisted in agony.
"Ahhh~"
Hikaku Uchiha couldn't bear watching anymore and turned his head away.
Shindai chuckled darkly, "Are you gonna beg for mercy?"
Sarutobi Asuma trembled all over, gritting his teeth, "N-No way!"
"Oh? Then I'm really going to start squeezing now. Tch, maybe later people will call you 'Asuma No-Balls' Sarutobi. I heard you've been getting close with Kurenai lately—you must have feelings for her, right? Too bad, from now on, you can only be best friends with Kurenai~"
"W-Wait a minute!"
Sarutobi Asuma's face turned blueish purple with frustration. He choked out, "I—I surrender!"
Shindai said with a teasing grin, "Oh? Giving up already? But your surrendering attitude still needs work~"
Asuma Sarutobi frowned and reluctantly apologized, "I-I sincerely apologize, Shindai. Please forgive me!"
"Why didn't you just apologize like this from the start? Oh well, I'll be generous and forgive you anyway."
Shindai released his grip.
In that instant, Asuma Sarutobi suddenly lunged forward, launching himself toward Shindai with a kick.
"Kid! Take this kick!"
A smirk formed on Shindai's lips. "I've been watching for you all along!"
With a loud *puff*, smoke engulfed the spot where Shindai had stood, revealing a wooden stump in his place.
Asuma's expression changed instantly. "Substitution Jutsu?!'
"I'm right beneath you!"
Still midair, Asuma looked downward and spotted Shindai waiting at his landing point, hands forming the Tora seal.
"Fire Release?! We agreed no Ninjutsu!"
"That's not Fire Release! This is a secret Taijutsu Ultimate Art passed down in Konoha, taught to me by Kakashi! [One Thousand Years of Death!]"
With his hands still in Tora seal, Shindai thrust his fingers upward forcefully.
Asuma's face turned bright red immediately.
"Ahh!"
A piercing scream echoed throughout the grove.
Hikaku Uchiha witnessed everything and couldn't help but clench his own butt instinctively.
What a vicious technique!
Asuma lay sprawled on the ground like a dead dog, his body twitching involuntarily.
Shindai approached him smugly and stood over him triumphantly. "Trying to ambush me? Dream on! The outcome has been decided—I am the victor!"
Leaning against a tree with his backside sore, Asuma muttered bitterly, "You really are just as underhanded as ever!"
Shindai shrugged. "So what if I'm underhanded? Winning is all that matters. Do you want to end up like you did—losing instead? Anyway, we're pretty far from Konoha now. Are you really not going back home?"
Asuma answered resolutely, "No way. I must forge my own path out here. I refuse to live forever in his shadow!"
Shindai shook his head. "You sure are stubborn. I'd rather someone protected me."
"Hmph, you wouldn't understand," Asuma grumbled. "When I pour my heart into accomplishing something, hoping for others' recognition, and instead they simply say offhandedly, 'Not bad—he *is* the Hokage-sama's son,' do you know how that makes me feel? My efforts get erased by just one sentence."
After thinking for a moment, Shindai nodded. "That does sound kind of frustrating."
Asuma glanced at Shindai with some surprise, not expecting him to actually understand.
"Smoke?"
Asuma dug out some cigarettes and offered one to Shindai.
Looking at the cigarette Asuma Sarutobi offered, Shindai raised an eyebrow. "You're kidding, right? Since when is there an age limit? I'm lighting up anyway. If you're too scared to try, just say so—I'll save a smoke."
"Who's scared?!"
Shindai, practically defenseless against such reverse psychology, took the cigarette from Asuma and lit it with Asuma's lighter.
"Cough, cough!"
Took one puff and immediately started coughing his lungs out. "What the hell is this? It hits way too hard!"
"Heh, real men can handle the heavy stuff."
Asuma Sarutobi let out a satisfied puff of smoke.
Hikaku Uchiha watched in confusion as Shindai and Asuma puffed away like chimneys—weren't they just trying to kill each other a second ago? Why did things seem so peaceful now?
Asuma turned toward Hikaku. "Works for me. Once you're there, don't mention you saw me. You never laid eyes on me—I'm history. Oh, and here, call this a little thanks for keeping your mouth shut."
Asuma tossed the remaining cigarettes and his lighter to Shindai, then struggled to his feet. Favoring one leg, he limped off toward Ōmaki Village.
Watching Asuma walk away, Shindai rubbed his chin and muttered to himself, "Is this one of those spoiled rich brat startups? No, wait—this is more like a political prince deal. The Third isn't exactly rolling in cash; his investment was only 200,000 ryō anyway."
Turning back, Shindai said to Hikaku Uchiha, "Hey Nameless, sorry I kept you waiting. Let's go."
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