It happened so quickly.
With a loud bang, Guy's powerful kick landed on Kakashi's arm. Kakashi blocked the blow, his foot sinking several inches into the ground from the impact. With his free hand, he swung to grab Guy's leg.
"I won't fall for the same trick twice," Guy declared, his tone firm. He had learned the hard way—he'd lost count of how many duels it had taken to understand Kakashi's tactics.
But it was too late. Kakashi's grip tightened around Guy's leg, and the duel tipped in his favor. A flurry of precise, small combos followed, landing cleanly. Guy, unable to counter in time, lost his composure.
"You've learned your lesson," Kakashi said calmly, unfazed by the initial setback. If his first failed attempt had caused any frustration, he didn't show it. He knew the value of these duels—without a worthy rival, improving would be dull.
"Guy, well done," Kurenai remarked later, recalling the swift and intense exchange. The entire duel had lasted less than 30 seconds, leaving Guy defeated in a chaotic flurry of strikes.
"My turn," Kakashi said, shifting to offense. The moment the words left his mouth, he charged forward like an arrow loosed from a bow. The ground beneath him, already slightly indented, deepened into a small pit from the sheer force of his movement.
"Not bad explosive power," Osamu Suzuki observed quietly, his eyes narrowing with interest. In his mind, he acknowledged, No wonder he's Lord Sakumo's son.
"So strong," Asuma murmured, recognizing how far he was from Kakashi's level.
As Kakashi closed the distance, he unleashed a series of fluid, relentless combos. Both he and Guy, disciples of Might Duy in Taijutsu, displayed an exceptional understanding of each other's techniques. Their mastery ensured that mistakes were rare, making it difficult for either to outmaneuver the other.
This duel was electrifying. It captivated their classmates, who watched in awe as the two clashed. The battle revealed the significant gap between them and the "genius" they all admired.
But this time, Guy wasn't the bottom of the class. In Taijutsu, he was unmatched except by Kakashi. At this stage, no one else could hope to rival him.
After a grueling half-hour battle, Kakashi emerged victorious. He had held back just enough to keep the fight engaging, allowing Guy to endure longer than expected. Without that restraint, the match would have ended far sooner.
"Let me know when you're ready to duel me again."
Kakashi reached down and hauled Guy to his feet, who was sprawled on the ground in a dramatic "Y" shape.
"It's really refreshing."
"After I recover, I'll fight you again." Guy slung an arm over Kakashi's shoulder, and the two walked off the stage as if they owned the place. They came to a stop next to Kurenai.
"I really want to beat you to death," Kakashi muttered, glaring at Guy, clearly fed up.
"Haha~" Guy laughed, completely unfazed by Kakashi's irritation.
"Kakashi wins," Osamu announced, his voice carrying over the murmurs of the spectators. He hadn't expected two five-year-olds to display such incredible skill. In terms of Taijutsu, they were far above the average Genin.
When I was five, I was still playing with mud, Osamu thought, shaking his head. Comparing yourself to others really is a path to despair.
"Who's next?" Osamu asked, brushing aside his stray thoughts as he resumed the practical combat assessment.
"I'll do it," Asuma declared, stepping confidently into the center of the field. He paused, scanning the crowd to see who might challenge him. His expression made it clear he didn't believe anyone could beat him.
"Who wants to fight Asuma?" Osamu asked again when no one immediately came forward.
"Why don't you go? Look at that guy—he's so full of himself," Guy grumbled to Kurenai, clearly irritated with Asuma for reasons he couldn't quite put into words.
"You're always full of bad ideas," Kurenai shot back, rolling her eyes at him.
"That guy doesn't look like someone to be trifled with."
"Kurenai, don't listen to him," Kakashi interjected, giving Guy a pointed look. Deep down, he didn't want Kurenai stepping into the ring against Asuma. If she got hurt, he'd feel responsible.
Even though he knew Kurenai's Taijutsu was polished—having trained alongside him and Guy—she hadn't yet reached the level to begin learning Genjutsu from her father.
"I think this is a good idea," Kurenai said. She had her own thoughts and wasn't trying to go against Kakashi. As a kid, she wanted to show her strength—she couldn't let those two steal all the attention. Otherwise, everyone would think she was just a follower.
"What's so good about it? It's a stupid idea!" Kakashi protested, a bit anxious. He knew that once Kurenai made up her mind, there was no stopping her.
"What's stupid about it? I think Kurenai can beat this guy up," Guy chimed in, furiously brandishing his fists. To anyone watching, it might have looked like he had a personal grudge against Asuma.
"Then I will be merciful and grant your wish," Kurenai said with a grin, stepping forward.
"I'll do it."
Before Kakashi could find the words to stop her, Kurenai had already accepted the challenge.
"Very well, admirable courage," Osamu said, his eyes full of appreciation. It was unexpected for a young girl to step up and take on the challenge.
"You?" Asuma frowned.
"What's the matter? Do you have something against girls?" Kurenai asked, stopping a few steps away from him.
"You can go down. I don't fight girls," Asuma replied. He didn't want to be labeled a bully on the first day of school. Even if it was just sparring, it didn't sit right with him. Plus, he underestimated Kurenai. He might not have matched the two boys beside her, but he was confident he could still beat a girl.
"Say that again when you can actually beat me."
Kurenai, spoiled by Kakashi's encouragement, refused to tolerate such arrogant words. She also felt that Guy's judgment was spot on—someone as obnoxious as Asuma wouldn't change until he was knocked down a peg.
"There is no distinction between men and women in battle. If you don't want to fight, then get off," Osamu said sternly. He didn't show Asuma any favoritism, even though he was the son of Hiruzen Sarutobi. On a real battlefield, would Asuma hesitate to kill an enemy just because they were a woman?
"..." Asuma opened his mouth but couldn't find the words to argue. Backing down wasn't an option.
"Let's begin, Sensei," Kurenai said impatiently, eager for Osamu to start the match.
"If you're not going to go down, I'll start counting," Osamu warned. He gave Asuma a few seconds to decide before beginning the countdown.
The moment he called "1," Kurenai surged forward, covering the ground in a few quick strides.
Asuma's expression hardened as he took in her aggressive advance. He realized he had underestimated her—this girl was a serious opponent.
"Amazing," Rin said in awe, unable to hide her admiration. As a fellow girl, she couldn't match Kurenai's level of skill.
"That's normal. The three of them were trained by Lord Duy," Obito said, his tone tinged with envy. "You've heard of Might Duy, haven't you?"
"I've heard of him," Rin replied. "He was a Taijutsu master who shined during the Second Shinobi World War."
"A super master," Rin added, feeling that the word "master" didn't fully capture Duy's greatness.
"This will be interesting to watch. That boy might actually lose," Obito commented. His dislike for Asuma was clear, likely influenced by the strained relationship between the Uchiha and Sarutobi Clans.
While they talked, Kurenai and Asuma had already exchanged a few moves. Kurenai, though not as skilled as Kakashi or Guy, had put significant effort into her Taijutsu. Her abilities weren't to be underestimated.
In their initial clash, Asuma found himself at a disadvantage.
"Let's see if you still dare to underestimate me," Kurenai said as they stepped back from each other. While she was slightly outmatched in strength, her speed gave her a slight advantage.
"I was careless," Asuma admitted stiffly, brushing off the footprint on his chest, his expression was conflicted.