Chapter 14: Chapter 14: A Fierce Girlfriend
Chapter 14: A Fierce Girlfriend
After landing, both Genma and Kakashi's hands were still locked together. Although Genma was at a slight disadvantage, Kakashi unexpectedly released his grip.
Seizing the moment, Genma quickly stood up and looked at him in surprise.
"It's just that grappling like that felt uncomfortable," Kakashi said nonchalantly.
"Uh, yeah, two guys grappling isn't exactly ideal…"
Genma, slightly embarrassed, assumed his fighting stance again, while Kakashi quickly formed hand seals.
The moment Genma saw the seals, he immediately recognized what was coming and hurled four shuriken at Kakashi. However, Kakashi effortlessly dodged them while continuing to form seals.
He can multitask so well! Although Genma had also trained to use both hands independently, it was something that required prolonged practice.
As Kakashi finished the sequence, four identical clones appeared beside him.
It was the Shadow Clone Jutsu, which creates solid clones. Though the clones are slightly weaker than the original, they can still use some jutsu.
Facing four opponents at once increased the pressure on Genma, making the atmosphere tense. Yet, Obito's untimely outburst rang out once again:
"Hey! Ganging up on him with clones? That's so unfair, Kakashi!"
Having finished his own match, Obito had rushed over to stand beside Rin.
Rin sighed, frustrated by Obito's lack of understanding, and gently corrected him. "That's Shadow Clone Jutsu, Obito. In a ninja battle, tactics like using clones to gain an advantage are perfectly legitimate."
"But isn't this supposed to be a one-on-one fight?" Obito scratched his head, clearly struggling to comprehend.
Meanwhile, Kakashi and his clones began closing in on Genma from all directions.
To neutralize Kakashi's numerical advantage, Genma quickly targeted one of the clones, throwing four shuriken in rapid succession. After destroying the clone, he swiftly retreated to maintain distance.
One down. Three to go.
The remaining Kakashi clones pressed the attack. Genma couldn't rely on shuriken alone, as the clones were closing in fast and each held two shuriken of their own.
Knowing he couldn't afford to focus solely on offense, Genma formed hand seals with practiced speed. Just as the Kakashi clones threw their shuriken, two earthen pillars burst from the ground, impaling two of the clones and dispersing them.
However, the remaining shuriken were already upon him. Genma dodged them with calculated precision, but as he moved, one of the Kakashi clones vanished, sending a chill down his spine.
Thud!
A shuriken stabbed into Genma's back.
"Ahhh! Kakashi killed Genma!" Obito shouted in panic, his voice echoing across the training grounds.
Rin gasped in alarm, her lips turning pale with worry.
Poof!
The "dead" Genma transformed into a wooden log. Kakashi frowned slightly and dropped the log, scanning his surroundings warily.
To everyone's surprise, Genma emerged from the front, hands raised in surrender.
The class murmured in confusion, but Genma, visibly exhausted, made an unexpected decision.
"I forfeit. I don't have the stamina to continue fighting. Evading Kakashi's last strike was already my limit."
"What? He gave up? I thought that guy was pretty strong," one classmate muttered.
"Hmph, my Kakashi is the best!" a fangirl declared.
"Hey, what do you mean 'your' Kakashi? He's my Kakashi!" another retorted.
Meanwhile, Asuma, watching from the sidelines, wore a serious expression as he remarked to Yamashiro Aoba, "It seems there are quite a few strong people in our class."
Aoba adjusted his glasses and nodded in agreement. "True. But that's not a bad thing. The more pressure, the more motivation we'll have."
The teacher, however, saw things from a completely different perspective. If anyone had looked closely, they would have noticed the approval in his eyes.
While the students thought Genma's surrender was an act of cowardice, the teacher saw it as a sign of maturity. Knowing when to fight and when to retreat was a mark of a capable ninja, a trait expected of chunin-level individuals.
Despite Genma having repeated two grades, his prior teachers had always spoken highly of his intellect and ability to grasp theoretical concepts. His low grades were due to his lack of physical development, not a lack of effort or talent.
Now, his skills had advanced to the point where he was close to genin-level. With his diligent attitude, it was likely he could graduate within two more years, perhaps even earlier.
Suppressing his admiration, the teacher cleared his throat and formally announced, "Kakashi wins."
The two opponents walked toward each other and performed the Seal of Reconciliation.
"You're strong. I look forward to sparring with you again," Kakashi said unexpectedly.
Genma, momentarily stunned, managed a smile and replied, "Likewise. I'll be ready."
As they returned to the lineup, the teacher continued calling names for the next matches. Genma, now excused from further activities, took the opportunity to join Kurenai.
"Kurenai, I did well, didn't I?" he asked, his tone lighthearted.
Kurenai gave him a sidelong glance, her lips pursed. "You did… okay. But you scared me half to death. Don't do anything so reckless next time."
"Hey, I surrendered, didn't I? Not just because I couldn't keep going, but also because I saw how worried you were. Seeing you upset was too much for me to bear," Genma said with a teasing grin.
Kurenai's cheeks flushed slightly, and she gave him a playful glare. "Who said I'm yours? And I'm not some ordinary girl—I'm strong!"
She flexed her arm, trying to show off her strength, making Genma laugh.
At that moment, the teacher called out the next match.
"Next match: Kurenai Yuhi versus Anko Mitarashi."
Hearing her name, Kurenai froze momentarily before quickly regaining her composure. She shot a warning look at Genma, then stepped forward.
The contrast between Kurenai's raven hair and red eyes and Anko's bold, stylish demeanor was striking. The two stood opposite each other, their presence captivating the class.
As Kurenai prepared for battle, Genma, unable to contain himself, whispered to Obito, "Come on, cheer for her! Let's support Kurenai together!"
"Go, Kurenai! Beat that showoff!" Obito shouted without hesitation.
Kurenai gave Genma a puzzled look, and he quickly pulled Obito behind him. "Uh, just do your best, Kurenai! You've got this!"
"Hey, Genma, that's too weak! You should just call her opponent ugly or something!" Obito suggested.
Smack!
Rin, fuming, delivered a sharp blow to Obito's head. "Stop it, Obito! They're all our classmates. Be respectful!"
Obito clutched his head, tears welling up, while Rin turned to Kurenai with a warm smile. "Just do your best, Kurenai. Don't mind him!"
Kurenai received encouragement from Genma and her friends, while Anko had a strong following among the girls. Even Asuma, emboldened, joined the cheers for Anko.
Eventually, the teacher silenced the crowd and announced the start of the match.
Kurenai readied her shuriken, her eyes sharp and focused, while Anko, seemingly casual, stretched her neck and cracked her joints. "Such a pretty face and those beautiful red eyes… But your messy hair—are you trying to live like a boy?"
Kurenai's gaze turned icy. "What does my appearance have to do with you? This is a fight. Take it seriously."
"True, it doesn't matter. But beware, pretty girls can be dangerous," Anko teased, pulling several senbon from her pouch.
As she revealed her weapons, the boys in the audience tensed. Thin, sharp, and painful—senbon were enough to make anyone uneasy, especially in large numbers.
Whoosh!
Anko hurled her first senbon, aiming straight for Kurenai, who dodged effortlessly and countered with a swift charge.
Whoosh, whoosh!
Two more senbon followed, but Kurenai avoided them with a graceful backflip. As she landed, Anko seized the moment to unleash several more while sprinting to reposition herself.
Kurenai, noticing her opponent's movements, flipped repeatedly to dodge and, in one fluid motion, threw her shuriken at Anko.
Caught mid-motion, Anko had no time to grab more senbon and was forced to sidestep to avoid the shuriken.
In that brief opening, Kurenai closed the distance and struck with a powerful punch.
Thud!
Anko was sent flying several meters. Genma's jaw dropped in astonishment.
My girlfriend is… surprisingly fierce…
Anko struggled to rise, but Kurenai didn't give her a chance. In a flash, she held a shuriken to Anko's throat.
"This match goes to Kurenai Yuhi," the teacher declared.
"Wow, Kurenai! That was amazing!" Obito cheered, oblivious to the growing hostility around him. "I knew that showoff didn't stand a chance! Kurenai crushed her!"
The other students glared at him with ill intent, prompting Rin to tug on his sleeve. "Obito, calm down! That's too much. They're all our classmates."
Remembering Rin's earlier reprimand, Obito managed an awkward smile and quickly quieted down.
As Kurenai walked back to the lineup, Genma met her halfway, grinning from ear to ear. On the other side, Asuma nervously helped Anko to her feet.
After a few more rounds of sparring, the one-on-one combat drills came to an end.
End of Chapter 14