Whoosh!
With a furious roar, Asuma unleashed a powerful punch aimed directly at Kouki.
"Looking for death," Kouki muttered dismissively, a hint of contempt in his voice.
Employing the same technique he had used before, Kouki seemingly countered with simple taijutsu, but secretly integrated the force of "Almighty Push".
Asuma was once again sent flying, a near-perfect repeat of their encounter a year prior.
"How… how is this possible…?" Asuma couldn't believe it, his disbelief palpable. He had been utterly outmatched by Kouki even as a Special Jōnin; now, as a full-fledged Jōnin, the result was unchanged. He was utterly confounded.
Kouki, composed and unhurried, walked up to Asuma, brushing dust from his clothes with a nonchalant gesture. He spoke calmly, "Stay away from Kurenai, or I'll beat you every time I see you."
Bang!
With that seemingly casual statement, Kouki delivered a swift, powerful punch to Asuma's abdomen.
Asuma crumpled to the ground, clutching his stomach, curled into a fetal position, unable to even rise.
"Problem solved," Kouki stated, as if it were the most insignificant of tasks, then approached Kurenai.
"Kouki, was that… really necessary?" Kurenai asked, expressing her concern.
"What's wrong? I was merely acting within the bounds of my duties as a Military Policeman!" Kouki responded, a dismissive air surrounding him.
Kurenai reflected on the events; Asuma had indeed initiated the attack, so Kouki's actions were technically justified.
"Hopefully, this will finally get rid of Asuma," Kurenai thought to herself, a silent wish for respite from Asuma's persistent pursuit.
"Say, Kurenai, I think I heard you mention you have someone you like?" Kouki asked slyly, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"It's none of your business!"
Kurenai froze, her face flushing, before fleeing the scene like a startled thief.
"Asuma, what a sorry sight,"
A voice suddenly echoed from behind them, causing Kouki and the other Military Police officers to instinctively turn, their expressions shifting to surprise.
The other two officers, in particular, exhibited a mixture of surprise, shock, and palpable nervousness.
"J-Jiraiya-sama!"
Their eyes fell upon the wandering ninja with long white hair and a forehead protector bearing the word "Oil," a wave of anxiety washing over them.
Even the most arrogant Uchiha would find themselves humbled in the presence of a Sannin. This was particularly true for ordinary, lower-ranking Uchiha members.
The situation was undeniably awkward: Jiraiya was the Third Hokage's student, yet Kouki had just beaten the Third Hokage's son. The potential for repercussions was significant.
"Jiraiya-sama!"
Asuma, his face flushed with shame and embarrassment, hastily scrambled to his feet, wishing he could simply vanish from the scene.
"So you got beat up. Big deal. Everyone gets beat up when they're young," Jiraiya chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
He seemed to be recalling his own youthful misadventures.
He remembered his own youthful arrogance and the numerous beatings he had received at the hands of Tsunade.
He also recalled his many unsuccessful attempts to challenge Orochimaru, the "genius" of the Sannin, resulting in repeated, humiliating defeats.
"But you're an interesting young man. Your taijutsu is surprisingly impressive," Jiraiya remarked, his curiosity piqued, as he approached Kouki.
Kouki's two companions visibly tensed, their nervousness escalating.
Kouki, however, remained calm and composed. "I've dedicated all my time to taijutsu training; naturally, I've achieved a certain level of proficiency."
"An Uchiha specializing in taijutsu… interesting," Jiraiya mused, then chuckled dismissively. "Carry on; don't mind me!"
With that, he turned and walked away, seemingly unconcerned about the incident involving the Konoha Military Police and Asuma.
In truth, this was indeed the case. While Kouki had beaten his teacher's son, it was, in Jiraiya's eyes, merely a childish squabble; given his seniority, he would not interfere in such matters.
"Jiraiya-sama, please wait!" Kouki called out, stopping Jiraiya.
"Um… Jiraiya-sama, do you happen to have any autographed copies of Icha Icha Paradise left?" Kouki asked, approaching Jiraiya with a hopeful expression.
As a devoted fan of the Naruto series, encountering Jiraiya presented a unique opportunity; he couldn't resist the chance to obtain a signed copy of the legendary book.
It would be a highly valuable collector's item.
"Oh haha, so you're a fan of mine, eh?"
Jiraiya, taken aback but clearly delighted by this unexpected encounter with a fan, responded with a triumphant grin.
"While I'm pleased to meet a fan, are you sure it's appropriate for someone your age to be reading Icha Icha Paradise?"
Jiraiya reached out, playfully ruffling Kouki's hair.
Kouki, displaying a look of clear displeasure, swiftly swatted Jiraiya's hand away. "Jiraiya-sama, with all due respect, your driving skills are far inferior to mine. When it comes to being a seasoned veteran, I'm number one in the entire ninja world; no one dares claim second place!"
"Driving? Seasoned veteran?"
Jiraiya, although somewhat bewildered by Kouki's sudden shift in topic, detected a distinct undercurrent of disdain in Kouki's eyes.
And… a sense of shared understanding, a kinship between two kindred spirits.
"Hmm, you're a teenager; it's not inappropriate."
Perhaps sensing a connection with this unusual young Uchiha, Jiraiya shifted his demeanor.
"However, I don't have any signed copies on me right now. But don't worry; I'll be in Konoha for a while. I'll get you a signed copy another time."
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