Chapter 9 White Fang is a Hero
"The White Fang is not a failure—he's a hero of Konoha!!" Haneda and Obito shouted in unison.
"You go first," Obito glanced at Haneda and turned his head.
"Alright."
Haneda nodded awkwardly, feeling like the dramatic atmosphere they had built was now somewhat ruined.
"In my heart, the White Fang is a hero!" Haneda declared loudly, thumping his chest.
"A hero? A hero who abandons missions? That's laughable!" Asuma retorted, desperate to save face, regain his pride, and win Kurenai's approval. He was willing to say anything at this point.
If his father, the Third Hokage, were there, he would have smacked him upside the head on the spot.
It was one thing to run his mouth recklessly at home, but how could he be so bold at school?
Did he think the White Fang's blade had dulled?
Haneda sneered and said coldly, "The White Fang completed several S-rank missions. And you, as the Hokage's son, don't even know that?"
"A failure who hasn't even completed the lowest D-rank mission—what right do you have to mock the White Fang?"
"Oh, right, I almost forgot—you're not even a ninja yet."
"Ha ha ha!!!"
Haneda imitated Asuma's mocking laughter.
Hearing this, Asuma was left speechless for a moment, unsure how to respond.
It was true that the White Fang, given his accomplishments, did deserve the title of hero.
There was no denying that.
As for failing a mission…
No ninja could guarantee they'd succeed in every mission, not even the legendary Sannin or his own father, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.
But…
How dare Haneda, a dead last, speak to him like this?
And how dare he mock him so openly?!
Asuma sneered and said, "A pathetic Uchiha who forfeits before even fighting—how dare you speak to me, a winner, like that?!"
"Oh? You think you've won?" Haneda replied coldly, his expression emotionless.
"Do you want to fight? Defeating a worthless Uchiha like you is nothing. Even if you and that other failure, Obito, team up, you won't be able to stand against even one of my fingers!"
Asuma shot back, fully confident.
Sure, he couldn't beat Kakashi, but was Haneda, the second-to-last in class, really a challenge?
As for dragging Obito into it, it was simply because of his disdain for the Uchiha name.
"Sensei, I want to face Asuma Sarutobi again," Haneda said, turning toward the teacher.
"Alright."
With the tension in the air, the teacher couldn't refuse. Besides, he had originally intended for Haneda to fight Asuma anyway.
"Well, 'Shadow Leader's Son,' are you ready for this?" Haneda taunted coldly, with no effort to hide the sarcasm in his voice.
"Why wouldn't I be?" Asuma spat back, forming a seal to signal his readiness, while Haneda remained motionless.
"Do you even know the rules, you worthless Uchiha?" Asuma mocked.
"Worthless opponents aren't worthy of my time," Haneda responded icily.
As the tension between the two rose, the teacher lifted his flag and announced the match:
"Haneda Uchiha vs. Asuma Sarutobi… Begin!"
The flag dropped, and Asuma charged forward immediately.
Gripping his kunai tightly, his eyes locked onto Haneda, determined to teach this "evil Uchiha" a lesson.
*Thud!*
A quick left hook knocked the kunai out of Asuma's hand, and in a flash, Haneda grabbed his arm.
In an instant, Asuma was completely overpowered.
"Impossible?!" Asuma stared at Haneda's emotionless face in disbelief.
How could the dead last defeat him so easily?
The fight had just begun!
"It's over, failure. Unlike Kakashi, I'm not going to go easy on you."
Haneda tightened his grip, and Asuma let out a cry of pain.
He fell to the ground, sitting in defeat, looking up at Haneda as he walked away.
Asuma tried to stand, but his body refused to respond.
With one blow, Haneda had drained him of all his strength.
"Now tell me—wasn't the White Fang a hero?"
Haneda, facing away from Asuma and bathed in sunlight, asked without turning around.
Asuma wanted to argue, but the memory of being effortlessly defeated by Kakashi and Haneda silenced him.
And then his father's stern warnings echoed in his mind.
He couldn't say a word.
"See, Kakashi? The White Fang is a hero of Konoha!" Haneda called out to Kakashi, who stood alone in the corner.
"That's right! Hey, Kakashi, your dad, Sakumo, is a hero! He's not a failure like Asuma said!" Obito chimed in, his voice loud and brash.
"I…" Kakashi's lips parted slightly as he listened to their words.
But then, memories of the villagers' whispers and his father's comrades' criticism flashed in his mind.
"For a ninja, what's more important—completing the mission or saving your comrades?"
This question was no longer just in his thoughts; it escaped from his mouth.
"You're just using force to silence people, Haneda. But have you really changed their hearts?" Kakashi continued, challenging him.
"Are you sure they haven't changed?" Haneda asked seriously.
As Haneda said this, Kakashi recalled how Haneda had swayed the villagers' opinions back at the barbecue restaurant.
He hesitated.
"Remember what I said earlier during lunch?"
"When you ask that question, it means you've already made your decision."
"Isn't that right?" Haneda said softly.
He looked into Kakashi's eyes and then extended his hand with a smile:
"How about a fight, Kakashi?"
"When the fight's over, maybe you'll have your answer."
Haneda had a plan in mind for challenging Kakashi.
Hadn't Naruto always beaten his opponents before talking them into submission? Victory always made your words more convincing.
Besides, in the end, didn't Kakashi always choose his comrades?
"Alright." Kakashi nodded slightly.
Maybe he had already made his decision, but he just needed someone to push that final button.
The teacher, sensing that Kakashi might come to a realization through this, gave his approval.
"Haneda Uchiha vs. Kakashi Hatake."
The teacher raised the flag high as Haneda and Kakashi formed their seals.
"The match begins!"
As the words and the flag dropped, the two moved simultaneously.
Haneda charged forward with his fists raised. Supported by his strong taijutsu, each punch he threw was backed by a powerful force.
The air filled with the sound of fists cutting through the wind.
*Bam! Bam! Bam!*
Fists and arms collided, offense and defense seamlessly intertwined.
Each punch, each block, was so fast that it was already at the level of a genin.
Obito, standing nearby, was stunned. How was Haneda, another dead last like him, this strong?
And why did his movements feel oddly familiar?
Suddenly, Obito blurted out:
"Go, Kakashi! Beat that jerk Haneda!!"
Unlike Obito, Asuma, who was still sitting on the ground, was left speechless.
He couldn't believe how insanely strong.
'This level of speed and Taijutsu skill, can an ordinary genin even reach this level!?'
Not to mention those two students were the same age and frim the same class as him!
***
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