The moment Yuuma stopped walking, Asuma's face twitched in confusion.
"You tell me to stop, but you also tell me to go. Make up your mind."Hanyū Yuuma smiled, the calm, gentle kind that somehow cornered people more effectively than a kunai at the throat.
Asuma clicked his tongue and folded his arms."C'mon, can't we… talk this out? We each take a step back. I won't make ridiculous demands, and you—you teach me normally."
He wasn't refusing to learn.He just hated being told to learn.
Yuuma shook his head lightly."No, no. Your demands aren't the issue. It's my lack of ability. If I can't meet your standards, I should withdraw."
He turned around again.
Asuma panicked instantly."Hey—hey! Don't go! Fine, fine, I'll cooperate!"
Yuuma paused mid-step, face serene.
"Then shall we begin class?"
Asuma stared at him.Something about this teacher was… off.Completely uncontrollable.And somehow even more rebellious than him.
This guy didn't play the game.He flipped the board.
"…Fine. Whatever. Just teach." Asuma muttered, finally surrendering.
Yuuma scanned the backyard."Not ideal for training. Let's move."
He informed Lady Biwako briefly, then guided Asuma toward a quiet forest with a narrow river running through.
When they arrived, Yuuma pointed at a tall tree."Let's start by testing your chakra control. Tree climbing."
Asuma smirked."Tree climbing? Easy."
He approached a large trunk, grabbed onto it like a monkey, and scrambled up using only his hands and feet, showing off deliberately.
Perched at the top, Asuma yelled, "Hey, old man's tutor! Look how fast I can climb!"
Far away in the Hokage's office, Sarutobi Hiruzen watched through a crystal ball… and buried his face into his hands.
("This brat…! Even when I was young, I wasn't this ridiculous.")
Yuuma called up to him with a serene expression.
"Good grip strength. Excellent limb coordination."
Asuma blinked.…He's praising me?
Until Yuuma dragged over a thin sapling, stripped the branches, and coated the trunk with oil until it gleamed.
"Warm-up is complete." Yuuma smiled."Now climb this one."
Asuma's jaw dropped.
The tree was practically a waxed bamboo pole.No one was climbing that with raw strength.
Yuuma spoke softly, voice like a dagger wrapped in silk."It's fine if you can't do it. Acknowledging your own shortcomings is courage."
That did it.
"What do you mean can't?! Watch this!"
Asuma planted chakra at his soles and dashed straight up the slick trunk, reaching the top with ease.
Yuuma nodded."Control ability is solid."
Then he led the boy to the river.
"If trees are no issue, let's try surface walking. I want you to stand on the water for ten minutes straight."
Asuma smirked."That's it? Easy."
Yuuma added casually:"If you succeed on your first attempt, I'll let you train however you want."
Asuma's eyes sparkled.He walked onto the river confidently—only twenty meters wide and perfectly calm.
"This is nothing. Honestly, that old man just wants to control everything. Tutor, training schedule, breathing patterns…"
He muttered under his breath, imagining the look on his father's face when he bragged later.
Then—
R O A R
The water beneath him trembled violently.
Asuma glanced down, confused.
A massive serpentine shape churned under the surface.
Yuuma stood at the riverbank, hands forming seals.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet."
A dragon of water tore through the river, whipping the surface into wild turbulence.
"Asuma," Yuuma said pleasantly, "I'm simulating a battle environment. Water is rarely calm in real combat."
"And I'll train my own Water Style while I'm here. Convenient, isn't it?"
"If this is too difficult for you, I can stop. Admitting one's limits is wisdom."
Asuma swallowed his rage.
Oh, he understood now.
This man wasn't teaching him.He was provoking him.
If Yuuma wanted a fight, Asuma would give one.
He steadied himself, chakra fluctuating.The waves crashed into him, forcing him to adjust constantly.Five minutes.He lasted five minutes—
Then fell in.
Yuuma fished him out with perfect timing.
"It seems your control needs improvement," Yuuma said with mild regret."No free training today."
"If you hadn't blasted the river like a madman, I wouldn't have fallen!" Asuma sputtered.
Yuuma's answer was ice-cold calm.
"Do you expect an enemy to politely avoid ninjutsu during battle?"
Asuma clenched his fists."…Again."
The second attempt: seven minutes.Third attempt: seven and a half.
Twilight colored the river red by the time he hit ten minutes—only to immediately slip, choke on a mouthful of water, and flail desperately.
Yuuma pulled him out again.
Asuma's face glowed with triumph."I DID IT! Ten minutes! Now I can train however I want!"
Yuuma gave him a puzzled look.
"…Who said that?"
"You did!"
"I said 'this time'. Meaning the first attempt. You failed that one."
Asuma froze.His soul left his body.His spirit ascended, then crashed back down.
He had worked himself to death…for nothing.
The Third Hokage watched through his crystal ball, stroking his beard.
"…This child has met his match."
Asuma lay on the grass, drained physically and emotionally.
I'll get him tomorrow…He swore silently.
This time I'll win.
Yuuma only smiled.