"Whether you want me to leave or stay, it's really difficult for me to handle." Mutsuki looked at Asuma with a somewhat ambiguous smile.
"Can't we discuss this? How about we compromise? I won't have such high expectations, and during class, you'll have to listen to me." Asuma negotiated with Mutsuki.
He wasn't unwilling to be taught; he just had a rebellious streak and didn't want to accept his old father's arrangements.
"No, no, no. It's not about your high demands; it's my lack of ability. I can't meet your requirements, so I'll just leave." Upon hearing Asuma's proposal, Mutsuki turned around and walked away.
"Alright, forget about listening to me. Just don't leave for now." Asuma, seeing Mutsuki about to leave the backyard in a hurry, hastily called out again. He couldn't help but admire Mutsuki.
"Can we start the class now?" Mutsuki asked with a cheerful smile.
Dealing with rebellious students like Asuma required being even more rebellious than him, using fire to defeat fire.
"Forget it, let's just go with this. What do you want to teach?" Asuma was momentarily at a loss.
In his plan, he should be the one to suggest Mutsuki leave, and then Mutsuki would negotiate with him. He should be in control.
Although he felt indifferent and even somewhat averse to his own identity, he couldn't deny that being the son of the Hokage did provide him with many conveniences.
Mutsuki glanced around and said, "Let's train outside; it's not convenient here."
Mutsuki took Asuma outside for training, leading him to a small forest with a river.
"Let's test your Chakra Control first. Try climbing the tree." Mutsuki pointed to a tall evergreen tree and said to Asuma.
"Climb a tree? That's easy. Watch me climb." Asuma's eyes flickered, and he chuckled, thinking of a clever way.
He walked up to a robust and tall evergreen tree, without using Chakra. Instead, using both his hands and feet, he climbed to the top like an agile monkey.
Asuma, with a smug expression, shouted, "See how fast I can climb this tree."
He certainly knew what Mutsuki meant by climbing the tree, but he just didn't want to cooperate, doing it deliberately.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, observing Mutsuki's teaching methods through a crystal ball, fell silent, rubbing his forehead with some resignation.
Although he used to be nicknamed the monkey, he had never done something like this before. What was his son thinking?
"You climbed fast, and your limb strength is good." Mutsuki didn't react as impatiently as Asuma had imagined. Instead, he smiled and praised.
Then Mutsuki found a slender tree, cut off its branches, splashed it with oil, and smiled at Asuma, saying:
"Consider the earlier climb a warm-up. Let's start the official tree climbing now."
Asuma looked at the slender tree, bare like a stick, with oil dripping down. His mouth twitched involuntarily. With a tree like this, no matter how skilled he was at climbing, it was impossible to ascend it barehanded.
"It's okay if you can't climb. Acknowledging your shortcomings is also a manifestation of a noble spirit," Mutsuki said casually.
"Who can't climb? Don't underestimate me." Asuma, this freshly graduated nine-year-old kid, couldn't bear the provocation. He immediately infused Chakra into his feet and steadily walked to the top of the tree.
"Your control ability is not bad," Mutsuki nodded, not particularly surprised.
Then Mutsuki took Asuma to the riverside.
"Since tree climbing is no problem, let's see if you can walk on water." Mutsuki pointed to the riverbank, continuing to test Asuma's Chakra control ability.
After all, except for those with exceptional innate talent, ordinary people have limited Chakra. Improving efficiency is a good way to enhance one's strength.
"If you can stand steadily on the water for ten minutes this time, you can train whatever you want in the future." Mutsuki presented a condition to motivate Asuma.
"This was your idea, don't go back on it," Asuma said with a delighted expression. He had been thinking about how to deal with this annoying sensei, and unexpectedly, Mutsuki willingly offered a loophole.
Walking on water? For other newly graduated Genin, it might pose some difficulty, but for Asuma, it was fairly straightforward.
Confidently concentrating Chakra on the soles of his feet, Asuma walked onto the river surface, leisurely strolling along the not-so-wide river, which was only twenty meters across.
"That annoying old man has an overpowering need for control. We've already graduated as Ninjas, and he still wants to hire a private tutor," Asuma muttered under his breath.
He looked forward to going home and telling Lord Third about Sensei's agreement for him to train freely.
Suddenly, Asuma sensed something amiss. He lowered his head and saw the previously calm river now churning violently.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Jutsu!"
Asuma looked again and realized that Mutsuki, from the riverbank, had unleashed Water Release Ninjutsu, creating a water dragon that maneuvered through the river, causing the water to surge and boil.
"Oh, why did you do that?" A splash of water rose, and Asuma almost lost control, nearly falling into the water. He couldn't help but exclaim.
"I'm simulating a combat scenario for you. During a real fight, the river won't stay as calm as usual," Mutsuki said with a cheerful smile.
"Besides, I can practice my Water Release here. With a river and trees, it's an ideal environment for Water Release training."
"Of course, if you feel it's too much, Asuma, I can stop. Admitting one's shortcomings is a sign of wisdom," Mutsuki repeated his tactics.
Asuma swallowed the words he had originally wanted to say.
He just wanted to prove that he could do it on his own, without a private tutor or Lord Third's arrangements. Therefore, admitting defeat was out of the question.
So, Asuma focused all his attention on manipulating Chakra to avoid falling into the water.
However, mastering Chakra control isn't something that improves instantly, and the sudden waves also tested his agility.
Asuma struggled for five minutes but eventually, he accidentally fell into the water. Mutsuki instantly pulled him out.
"Seems like your Chakra control needs improvement; we can't start free training yet," Mutsuki said with a regretful expression.
"If you hadn't used Water Release to interfere, I wouldn't have fallen into the water," Asuma retorted, feeling a bit indignant.
"Do you expect your enemies not to use Ninjutsu against you in a real fight?" Mutsuki said calmly.
"No, I can't accept this! I want to try again!" Asuma, getting more and more frustrated, decided to prove himself.
As it turned out, getting agitated doesn't always lead to solving math problems, but it can indeed lead to a breakthrough in combat. This time, Asuma persevered for seven minutes, just three minutes short of the ten-minute achievement.
After a short break, Asuma couldn't wait and called out to Mutsuki for another round. On the third attempt, he held on for seven and a half minutes.
In the end, as the sun was about to set, Asuma successfully endured for the full ten minutes.
"I did it!" Asuma shouted in excitement, then lost control of his Chakra and splashed into the water, taking a gulp of river water.
When Mutsuki pulled Asuma out of the water, Asuma's face still bore the expression of excitement.
"From now on, I'll train whatever I want on my own," Asuma wiped the water off his face and said happily.
"Who told you that?" Mutsuki looked at Asuma with a strange expression.
Asuma's smile froze, then he questioned, "Wasn't it you who said that if I endured for ten minutes, I could train freely?"
"Yeah," Mutsuki nodded, then added, "But what I meant was 'this time,' as in your first attempt. You didn't succeed the first time."
Asuma thought back and realized that was indeed the case!
Then, what was the point of his strenuous effort to endure to the end?
With physical fatigue and a wounded spirit, Asuma almost fainted on the spot.
Knocked out by his rebellious sensei.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, who had been occasionally peeking, stroked his beard, thinking that Mutsuki's teaching ability was indeed formidable. In just one afternoon of training, Asuma's agility and Chakra control ability had been thoroughly exercised.
"Tomorrow, I must counterattack!" Asuma silently vowed in his heart, feeling like he had been played for the entire afternoon.
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