The next day, Ryūjin clocked in, reported for duty, and began his patrol as usual. The work was monotonous, but trading jokes and casual chatter with his clansmen kept the hours from dragging.
"Did you hear? Leaf and Mist ninja clashed again yesterday—casualties on both sides," one remarked.
"Of course I heard. Ao led the Mist team himself, trying to stab us in the back, but Shisui scared him off," another replied.
"Ha! Ao—the guy who stole a Byakugan from the Hyuga? He ran the second he saw an Uchiha!"
"That's our Uchiha for you! Konoha still relies on us to keep it standing."
Ryūjin, sensing the conversation might veer into a bitter Uchiha rant against the village, quickly hijacked the topic. "All right, enough gloom. So, who's been voted Konoha's number-one beauty?"
Instantly, the mood shifted. Debate and laughter erupted over the topic of women. Any lingering bitterness vanished. Ryūjin had seen too many vicious cycles of Uchiha resentment spill over into civilian life, and he wasn't about to let that happen again.
"Uchiha Ryūjin—hold it right there!"
A voice cut through the chatter, thick with frustration and anger. From a side street, a teenager stormed toward him. None other than the Hokage's son, Asuma Sarutobi.
"Well, if it isn't young Master Asuma. Bit early for a tantrum, isn't it?" a Uchiha sneered.
"None of your business!" Asuma snapped, glaring.
"Being the Hokage's kid doesn't give you a free pass to act cocky!" another shot back.
It was all bark—no one would truly lay a hand on the Hokage's son.
"Stay out of this—I'm here for Uchiha Ryūjin!" Asuma barked, eyes blazing. Ryūjin raised an eyebrow. Young Asuma was a hotheaded punk. The older version of him had been easygoing and broad-minded; who knew the he could be such a delinquent?
"He's here for me. I'll handle it," Ryūjin told his partners, stepping forward.
He stopped in front of Asuma. "Speak, or scram."
"Stay away from Kurenai, or I'll make you regret it!" Asuma threatened.
"Want me to stay away? Fine. Get on your knees and beg." Ryūjin's smirk widened.
"You asked for it!" Furious, Asuma threw a punch.
Ryūjin met it head-on, then activated Shinra Tensei the instant their fists collided. A tremendous force erupted, flinging Asuma through the air.
Smack!
Caught off-guard, Asuma crashed hard onto the ground.
Swish!
Using the Body Flicker Technique, Ryūjin appeared above him, planting a foot on his chest. Looking down with contempt, he asked, "You think you can back that up?"
Silence. Absolute silence. Passersby stared, mouths agape, unable to believe what they had just seen. An Uchiha had floored the Hokage's son—this would be huge.
"Ryūjin… when did you get this strong?" his partners gaped. Asuma was a Special Jonin, yet Ryūjin—known only as a Genin—had just one-shot him.
"It's not that I'm strong; he's just trash," Ryūjin muttered, foot still pressing down.
Asuma strained with all his strength, but residual Shinra Tensei kept him pinned. Escape was impossible.
"Someone pinned beneath my foot dares tell me to stay away from Kurenai? Embarrassing." Ryūjin delivered two scornful stomps before walking off.
"No… impossible!" Asuma exclaimed, half-kneeling, staring after him in disbelief. His pride shattered. He was a Special Jonin, second only to prodigies like Kakashi or Shisui, and he had been crushed by a mere Uchiha Genin.
Because of the sensitive identities involved, word of the clash spread like wildfire. Within two hours, every corner of Konoha buzzed about the Uchiha who had beaten Asuma like a stray dog.
Ryūjin became an overnight sensation and a hero within the Uchiha Clan. Humiliating the Hokage's son was a badge of honor, particularly among the younger generation. The elders, like Uchiha Fugaku, groaned. The Uchiha were already tense with the Village, and this only widened the rift, making life harder for their clan.
The moment Fugaku heard the news, he summoned Ryūjin.