Asuma's eyes were cold and vicious as he glared at the Uchiha standing before him.
"Two-tomoe Sharingan?" he scoffed.
"You think that's enough to lecture me?"
"You're overestimating yourself."
He lowered his stance and stepped forward.
"Let's see if those eyes can keep up with my moves."
The moment he finished speaking, he burst forward with explosive speed.
His chakra blades swung downward, aimed straight for Ryōsuke's arm.
But Ryōsuke saw everything clearly.
The Sharingan… truly lived up to its title as the eye of insight.
He raised a kunai and blocked.
Clang!
Sparks scattered as metal collided with chakra-coated steel.
Asuma blinked in surprise.
This brat actually kept up?
So it was the damned Sharingan…
Still—Ryōsuke's defense felt shaky.
Asuma's right leg snapped upward in a sharp kick.
Ryōsuke predicted it—but his body wasn't fast enough.
His physical stats were simply too low.
Bang!
The kick hammered into his chest, sending him tumbling across the ground.
Asuma snorted, voice dripping with disdain.
"Is this the strength of the Uchiha? Pathetic."
"Next time, don't stick your nose in my business."
But Ryōsuke didn't hear a word—
Because the instant he hit the ground, a mechanical voice echoed in his mind.
"Your body feels severe pain. Increasing training efficiency."
"Strength +2. Speed +2. Physique +2."
A wave of heat surged through his abdomen, followed by a cool, soothing rush.
His pain evaporated.
His limbs felt lighter—stronger—alive.
Ryōsuke's eyes widened.
The system… could do this too?
Not only did it boost his strength, speed, and physique—
It healed him.
Physique didn't just mean toughness, he realized—
It meant enhanced recovery, improved endurance, resistance to pain.
If that was the case…
Did getting beaten up make him stronger?
A dangerous thought flashed through his mind.
Part of him wanted to shout:
"Come on! Hit me again!"
But one look at those crackling chakra blades killed the idea immediately.
Getting stronger was great—
Losing an arm was not.
He pushed himself up, glaring coldly at Asuma.
"Attacking someone in the street… you're lawless."
"Konoha doesn't need someone like you running around."
The crowd gasped.
Was this Uchiha kid suicidal?
Sarutobi Asuma wasn't known for holding back—especially when insulted.
Asuma's expression contorted.
"You said… Konoha can't tolerate me?"
He funneled more chakra into his blades.
The blue glow intensified, crackling aggressively.
This time, he planned to carve a lesson into the brat's body.
His father was the Hokage.
Cleaning up the aftermath would be easy.
Ryōsuke's eyes narrowed.
He could see it clearly—
Asuma was about to strike.
Thankfully, his boosted strength, speed, and physique meant he could at least block the next attack.
As Asuma bent his knees to charge—
Someone stepped between them.
"ENOUGH!"
Asuma froze mid-motion.
"Kurenai…? Why are you stopping me?"
Kurenai's anger was unmistakable.
"Do you even realize what you're doing?
You're about to seriously injure someone in public!"
"Look around you!"
Asuma followed her gaze.
The crowd stared back—
fear in their eyes, but disgust too.
His stomach twisted.
Maybe he had gone too far.
But hearing Kurenai scold him in public only made it worse.
A heavy pressure built in his chest.
Why was she siding with the Uchiha?
"What's wrong with you?" she snapped.
"You're completely out of control!"
For the first time, a real threat appeared in her eyes.
If he kept this up, she wouldn't just refuse him—
She'd cut ties entirely.
Asuma clenched his jaw.
Her words stung like a blade.
Everyone else could criticize him—but her?
His future girlfriend?
Absolutely not.
He made his decision.
He ignored her completely, surged forward, and leapt past her—
chakra blades raised high.
This time, his speed was even greater—nearly explosive.
But—
Clang!
Ryōsuke blocked again.
Asuma's eyes widened.
Impossible.
He had moved faster than before.
By all logic, Ryōsuke shouldn't even be able to react.
"Did you… hide your strength earlier?" Asuma growled.
That had to be it.
There was no other explanation.
Ryōsuke said nothing—
he didn't have the luxury.
He was barely keeping up with the barrage of strikes.
The chakra-infused blades sliced through the air, generating wind pressure with every swing.
The Sharingan caught every motion—
And only because of that was he surviving at all.
Asuma's strength was at least that of an elite chūnin—possibly bordering on jōnin.
Even with his boosted stats, Ryōsuke was still just a lower-mid chūnin.
Blocking Asuma was already a miracle.
Kurenai watched with horror and fury.
Asuma's attacks were vicious—far too vicious for a spar.
He was genuinely trying to maim the other boy.
This wasn't the Asuma she used to know.
This was someone reckless, blinded by emotion, completely out of control.
And yet…
This young Uchiha was still holding his ground.
Barely.
One misstep, and his face would've been sliced open.
Kurenai felt something snap inside her.
Asuma had crossed the line.
She drew a kunai, body flashing forward.
In the brief opening, she planted herself between the two fighters—
"Enough! If you take one more step, I'll be your opponent."
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