Asuma and Nara Shinen hadn't teamed up because they feared Ren.
That was the truth.
In a one-on-one fight, neither of them believed they would lose easily.
But this wasn't a duel.
This was an exam.
A battlefield simulation.
And in that context—
Efficiency mattered more than pride.
---
Hyūga Homon's Byakugan gave their team a massive advantage.
A near 360-degree field of vision.
No blind spots.
Perfect tracking.
---
Compared to that—
Fighting Ren individually was a waste of time.
So their plan was simple:
Eliminate Ren first.
Then regroup.
Then take the platform.
Then win.
---
Of course…
There was another reason.
A quieter one.
---
Asuma and Shinen both believed something.
That Ren's previous first-place ranking…
Was inflated.
---
Because he hadn't faced them.
---
The "strongest."
And the "second strongest."
---
But now—
That confidence had taken a hit.
---
Because of one thing.
---
That Great Fireball.
---
Their intelligence had been wrong.
Completely wrong.
---
Wasn't he only supposed to know the Three Basic Techniques?
---
Shinen's expression hardened.
He spoke quickly, decisively.
"…Information was inaccurate. Stick to the plan—take him down fast!"
"He's already used a C-rank technique. His chakra can't be high!"
---
Asuma didn't hesitate.
He moved.
---
Shinen's shadow split.
Branching outward.
Covering angles.
Cutting off escape routes.
---
Asuma charged in—
Searching for close combat.
---
The three figures clashed across the terrain.
Leaping.
Dodging.
Striking.
---
Like hunting predators circling their prey.
---
The sounds of impact echoed rapidly—
Thuds.
Clashes.
Sharp bursts of movement.
---
And gradually—
Ren was pushed back.
---
Cornered.
---
"Got you!"
---
Asuma seized the moment.
His hands blurred through seals.
---
"Fire Release: Flame Bullet!"
---
A concentrated blast of fire shot forward.
Fast.
Precise.
Deadly.
---
At the same time—
Shinen shifted his focus.
---
His shadow stretched again—
Not toward Ren directly—
But toward multiple positions.
---
He was waiting.
---
Waiting for the moment Ren used Substitution.
---
The instant Ren swapped—
He would be captured.
---
The trap was set.
Perfect.
---
But—
---
Ren didn't move as expected.
---
He didn't use Substitution.
---
Instead—
---
"Water Release: Rampaging Water Waves!"
---
WHOOSH—!
---
A surge of water erupted out of nowhere.
Crashing forward.
---
Fire met water.
---
The Flame Bullet—
Extinguished instantly.
---
Steam exploded outward.
---
Thick.
Blinding.
---
The battlefield vanished into white.
---
Vision—
Gone.
---
Silence—
Broken only by movement.
---
Shinen's heart tightened.
He pulled out a wooden kunai.
Eyes sharp.
Senses stretched.
---
Then—
Footsteps.
---
A figure rushed toward him.
---
He didn't hesitate.
---
He lunged forward—
---
Stab!
---
The kunai pierced straight into the opponent's chest.
---
But—
---
Splash.
---
The body dissolved.
---
Water-like.
Unreal.
---
"Clone Technique?!"
---
Shinen's eyes widened.
---
A mistake.
---
A fatal one.
---
He turned—
Too late.
---
A white figure had already appeared behind him.
---
Before he could react—
---
Chop.
---
A precise strike landed on his neck.
---
"…gh—"
---
His vision went dark.
---
He collapsed instantly.
---
Unconscious.
---
The battlefield shifted again.
---
Ren exhaled slowly.
"Phew…"
---
His chakra reserves were running low.
That much was obvious.
---
At this age—
Even talented academy students could only use two or three C-rank techniques in succession.
---
Ren had already used:
Fire Release.
Water Release.
Multiple substitutions.
Continuous taijutsu.
---
He was reaching his limit.
---
That was why—
He hadn't used Water Clones.
Too expensive.
Too inefficient.
---
Instead—
He used the simplest tool available.
---
An E-rank Clone Technique.
---
Cheap.
Disposable.
Effective.
---
Enough to create one opening.
---
And that was all he needed.
---
Now—
Only one opponent remained.
---
Through the fading mist—
Asuma's figure emerged.
---
Ren straightened.
Took a breath.
---
"Let's finish this."
---
His voice was calm.
Steady.
---
"You and I have both used two C-rank techniques."
---
He raised his hand slightly.
---
"No more tricks."
---
"Let's decide this—"
---
"With taijutsu."
---
Asuma stared at him.
Then—
He nodded.
---
"…Fine."
---
He pulled out a kunai.
Adjusted his stance.
---
Then—
Charged.
---
Clang!
---
The two collided.
---
Wooden kunai struck each other—
Yet sparks still flew.
---
The intensity—
Was real.
---
---
Above the Battlefield
On the rooftop—
Minato Namikaze and Hiruzen Sarutobi watched silently.
---
"…Incredible."
Minato spoke first.
---
"That boy—Ren—is only nine, right?"
---
"And yet…"
---
"Great Fireball."
"Water Release."
"Fluent execution."
---
His gaze sharpened slightly.
---
"It's not surprising for Asuma."
---
"But for him to achieve this…"
---
Hiruzen exhaled slowly.
Smoke curled into the air.
---
"He likely learned from his father."
---
Mikami Tajima.
A Fire Release ninja.
Currently stationed at the border.
---
The Great Fireball—
Made sense.
---
As for the Water Release—
That had already been investigated.
---
Rin's father.
Nohara Hiroshi.
---
He had provided the scrolls.
---
But—
That was all.
---
The mastery?
---
That came from Ren himself.
---
Minato continued, voice thoughtful.
---
"It's not just ninjutsu."
---
"His taijutsu output is impressive."
---
"He defeated Hyūga Homon head-on…"
---
"And still has enough stamina to fight Asuma."
---
He paused.
Then added—
---
"And his tactical thinking…"
---
"Perfect timing."
"Correct counters."
"Environmental control."
---
"Fire against wind."
"Water against fire."
---
"And using the mist…"
---
"To eliminate the more dangerous opponent first."
---
His eyes narrowed slightly.
---
"It's as if everything was planned in advance."
---
Even if Ren lost—
His performance would already stand above everyone else.
---
But Minato didn't think he would lose.
---
In fact—
-
He thought Ren might win.
A complete victory.
Against all three.
For a civilian-born child—
That was extraordinary.
---
Minato smiled faintly.
---
"He may not be suited for space-time techniques…"
"But he has the potential—"
"To become a Jonin."
---
Hiruzen took another slow puff.
---
His gaze deepened.
"…Another genius."
"Like Kakashi."
A rare talent.
From no great clan.
Yet—
Sharp.
Disciplined.
---
And most importantly—
He understood the Will of Fire.
Hiruzen's eyes lingered on Ren.
"…This child…"
---
"…may one day become a pillar of Konoha."
---
---
Back on the Battlefield
---
The fight continued.
Ren.
Asuma.
---
Close range.
---
No tricks.
No support.
Just skill.
Asuma was strong.
Balanced.
Reliable.
No glaring weaknesses.
No obvious flaws.
A true all-rounder.
---
Ren attacked twice—
Aggressively.
---
Both times—
Blocked.
---
Countered.
---
Wasted effort.
So—
He stopped rushing.
Instead—
He adapted.
Measured.
Waited.
Observed.
Both of them were exhausted.
Breathing heavier.
Movements slower.
At this point—
Victory would be decided in a single move.
Asuma knew it too.
His grip tightened.
His teeth clenched.
He could not lose.
Not here.
Not in front of everyone.
Not as—
---
The Hokage's son.
And so—
Both fighters stepped forward—
At the same time.
--------------------------------
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