"You're telling me to go, but then asking me to stop. This is really hard for me." Mokgetsu looked at Asuma with a half-smile.
"Can't you just work with me a bit? How about we compromise; I won't set the bar so high, and in return, you'll listen to me during class." Asuma suggested to Mokgetsu.
It's not that he was unwilling to be taught; he was just a bit rebellious and didn't want to follow his father's arrangements.
"No, no, the high standard isn't your fault. It's my lack of ability that can't meet your standards, so I might as well leave." Upon hearing Asuma's proposal, Mokgetsu turned around to leave.
"Alright, you don't have to listen to me, just don't leave yet." Asuma hurriedly stopped Mokgetsu, who was about to walk out of the backyard, feeling quite resigned.
"So can we start the class now?" Mokgetsu cheerfully asked.
Dealing with a rebellious student like Asuma required being more rebellious than him, using magic to defeat magic.
"Fine, let's just get on with it. What are you going to teach?" Asuma was momentarily at a loss.
In his original plan, he was supposed to persuade Mokgetsu to leave while negotiating with him, allowing Asuma to maintain control.
Although he had mixed feelings about his identity, even finding it somewhat detestable, he couldn't deny that being the Son of the Hokage had given him many advantages.
Mokgetsu glanced around and then said, "Let's train outside; it's not very convenient here."
Mokgetsu mentioned it to Biwako and then took Asuma out for training, leading him to a grove with a river.
"First, let's test your chakra control ability. Try climbing a tree," Mokgetsu said to Asuma, pointing to a tall tree.
"Climb a tree? That's easy, I'll climb it for you." Asuma's eyes darted around, and with a cheeky grin, he thought of a clever approach.
He went to the sturdy, tall tree and climbed to the top like an agile monkey without using any chakra.
Asuma, wearing a triumphant expression, shouted, "See how fast I climbed the tree."
Of course, he understood what Mokgetsu meant by 'climbing a tree,' but he just didn't want to cooperate, doing it on purpose.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, who was observing through a crystal ball to see how Mokgetsu would teach Asuma, was silent, rubbing his forehead in exasperation.
Though he used to be nicknamed 'Monkey,' he had never done anything like this. What kind of child had he raised?
"Climbed it quickly, good limb strength," Mokgetsu didn't react with frustration as Asuma imagined, but instead smiled and praised him.
Mokgetsu then found a slender tree, chopped off its branches, poured oil over it, and smiled at Asuma, saying:
"Consider that warm-up, now let's start the real tree climbing."
Asuma looked at the slick, bare tree, like a wooden pole, with oil oozing down its surface, and he twitched his mouth. No matter how good he was at climbing, he couldn't do it barehanded on such a tree.
"It's okay if you can't climb it. Admitting one's shortcomings is also a sign of courage." Mokgetsu said leisurely.
"Who says I can't climb it, don't underestimate me!" This nine-year-old kid just out of the academy couldn't take this provocation. He instantly gathered chakra on his feet and steadily walked up to the tree's top.
"Your control ability isn't bad," Mokgetsu nodded in approval, not too surprised.
Then Mokgetsu led Asuma to the riverbank.
"Since tree climbing isn't an issue, let's see if you can walk on water," Mokgetsu pointed to the riverbank, continuing to test Asuma's chakra control ability.
After all, except for those with extraordinary talent, ordinary people have just so much chakra, and improving efficiency is a great way to strengthen one's skills.
"If you can stand on the water for ten minutes without falling in, you can train however you like." Mokgetsu offered Asuma an incentive.
"You said it, no backing out." Asuma said with a pleased expression. He was thinking of ways to deal with this annoying teacher, and now Mokgetsu was offering a loophole himself.
Walking on water might be a challenge for other fresh genin, but for Asuma, it's generally manageable.
Asuma confidently gathered chakra on his soles and walked onto the water, strolling leisurely as the river was not very wide, twenty meters across.
"That annoying old man, he's too controlling. Even after I've graduated and become a ninja, he still needs a tutor." Asuma mumbled.
He looked forward to the expression of the third Hokage when he told him his tutor had agreed to let him train freely.
Suddenly, Asuma sensed something amiss. He looked down to find the calm river surface rapidly becoming turbulent.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bomb Jutsu!"
Asuma saw Mokgetsu on the riverbank performing a Water Release Ninjutsu, creating a water dragon that dashed back and forth in the river, causing the water to surge violently.
"Hey, what are you doing?" Asuma almost lost control under the splash of water and couldn't help but speak out.
"Helping you simulate a combat scenario. In a fight, the river won't stay calm like this," Mokgetsu said with a laugh.
"Besides, I'm also practicing Water Release here. This spot with a river and trees is perfect for Water Release cultivation."
"Of course, if you think it's too much, Asuma, I can stop. It's wise to acknowledge one's limits." Mokgetsu applied the same tactic.
Asuma swallowed the words he wanted to say.
He just wanted to prove that he could do it without tutorials and without the arrangements of the third Hokage, and of course, he wouldn't admit defeat.
So Asuma concentrated on controlling his chakra, making sure he wouldn't fall into the water.
But mastering chakra control isn't something instant and sudden water surges also test one's body technique.
Asuma struggled to stay on the water for five minutes before finally, he fell into it, only to be immediately fished out by Mokgetsu.
"It seems your chakra control ability still needs improvement; you can't start free training." Mokgetsu said with an expression of regret.
"If it wasn't for you disrupting with Water Release, I wouldn't have fallen in," Asuma retorted a little discontentedly.
"Do you expect your enemies not to use Ninjutsu when fighting you?" Mokgetsu said blandly.
"No way, I want to try again!" Asuma got more and more agitated and decided to prove himself.
Facts showed that rushing doesn't always help with math problems, but intense situations do spark breakthroughs in battles. This time, Asuma held on for seven minutes, just three shy of the ten-minute goal.
After a short rest, Asuma eagerly called for Mokgetsu to start again, and on the third attempt, he lasted seven and a half minutes.
Finally, just as the sun began to set, Asuma managed to keep his balance for ten minutes.
"I did it!" Asuma shouted excitedly, then, failing to control his chakra, he plunged into the river and swallowed a mouthful of water.
When Mokgetsu pulled Asuma out, his face was still filled with excitement.
"Now I can train whatever I want," Asuma wiped the water off his face and said joyfully.
"Who said that?" Mokgetsu looked at Asuma quizzically.
Asuma's smile froze, and then he questioned, "Didn't you say that standing for ten minutes would allow me to train freely?"
"Yes." Mokgetsu nodded and said, "But I said 'this time,' referring to your first attempt. And you didn't succeed on your first try."
Asuma recalled and realized that was indeed the case!
Then what was all the effort for?
Physical exhaustion combined with mental shock made Asuma almost faint.
Passed out from the rebellious teacher's antics.
Occasionally peeping, Sarutobi Hiruzen rubbed his chin, finding Mokgetsu's teaching skills immensely impressive.
In just one afternoon's cultivation, Asuma's body technique and chakra control ability both improved.
"Tomorrow, I'll definitely hit back!" Asuma secretly vowed, feeling he'd been put through the wringer the whole afternoon.