Naruto: The Favorability-Devouring Uchiha

"White Fang is not trash—he's a hero of Konoha!"

Two voices rang out in unison.

Haneda and Obito stood side by side, glaring at Asuma.

Obito turned his head awkwardly.

- "You go first."

Haneda nodded slightly, though the momentum had already dulled a bit.

Still, he took a deep breath and raised his voice so everyone could hear:

- "In my eyes, White Fang is a hero!"

---

Asuma snorted, his pride wounded but refusing to back down.

- "A hero? A hero who abandoned his mission? Don't make me laugh!"

Desperation laced his words.

This wasn't about right or wrong anymore—he was cornered, his reputation on the line, and Hong was still watching.

If Dad were here, he'd beat me for this, a small voice muttered in the back of his mind.

But he kept going, blind to reason.

Haneda's lips curled into a sharp sneer.

- "Sakumo Hatake—White Fang—completed countless S-rank missions for Konoha. You're the Hokage's son, and you don't even know that?"

Haneda's tone sharpened like a kunai:

- "And you? You can't even finish a simple D-rank mission—you're not even a real shinobi yet! What gives you the right to insult him?"

Then, twisting the knife, he added with a mocking grin:

- "Oh, wait. I forgot. You're not even a ninja."

A sharp laugh broke from his throat as he mimicked Asuma's earlier arrogance:

- "Hahaha! Trash, huh?"

The crowd murmured.

Asuma's face burned red-hot. He wanted to spit back, to tear Haneda apart with words—but deep down, he couldn't deny it.

White Fang was a hero by any measure.

His failure on one mission didn't erase everything else.

But why… why was this loser—this Uchiha who ranked near last—talking down to him?!

Why was everyone looking at him and not Asuma?!

---

Asuma's fists clenched, his voice cracking as he roared:

- "You think you're better than me?! You—an Uchiha coward who gave up without fighting?!"

Haneda's expression didn't waver. His voice dropped into a cold tone that cut through the tension:

- "You think you won?"

The words froze Asuma in place.

Haneda's dark eyes bored into him like a challenge carved in steel.

- "Want me to prove it?"

The teacher's brows knit together. Things were getting out of hand. But the room was thick with anticipation, and this fight had been inevitable from the start.

Haneda raised his voice so everyone heard:

- "Sensei, I want a match with Sarutobi Asuma."

The teacher hesitated—then nodded.

- "Fine. Uchiha Haneda versus Sarutobi Asuma!"

---

Asuma smirked and cracked his knuckles, masking his unease with bravado.

- "Don't cry when you lose, loser."

Haneda's reply was flat and cold:

- "You won't even touch me."

The teacher raised the flag.

- "Begin!"

---

Asuma bolted forward like a bull, kunai flashing in his grip.

He aimed straight for Haneda's chest, every muscle screaming for payback.

CLANG!

The kunai spun out of his fingers as Haneda's left hook knocked it clean away.

Before Asuma could react, Haneda's hand clamped onto his wrist—then twisted.

The next thing Asuma knew, he was slammed to the ground, his arm pinned and pain shooting up to his shoulder.

---

- "What…?! How—?!"

Asuma's eyes widened in disbelief.

The fight had barely started, and it was already over.

Haneda's voice, cold as steel, drifted above him:

- "It's over, loser. Unlike Kakashi, I'm not holding back."

He tightened his grip just enough to make Asuma wince before releasing him.

Asuma collapsed, his limbs trembling. He couldn't even lift himself.

Haneda turned his back and started walking away.

His words floated over his shoulder like a blade:

- "Now tell me—White Fang. Hero or not?"

Asuma's lips moved, but no sound came out.

Images of Kakashi's instant victory—and Haneda's crushing dominance—flashed in his mind.

His father's stern lectures echoed in his ears.

He had no answer.

Not one he could say out loud.

---

Haneda looked past the crowd—at Kakashi, standing silently in the corner.

Their eyes met.

Haneda's voice carried across the field:

- "You hear that, Kakashi? White Fang… is a hero."

Obito jabbed a thumb at his chest, grinning wide:

- "That's right! Stupid Kakashi, your old man's a legend, not the trash this idiot said he was!"

Kakashi's mouth opened slightly, but no words came.

The whispers, the stares, the weight of every insult against his father crushed down on him again.

His mind flashed with painful images:

The villagers pointing, the whispers behind his back, his father's weary smile as he said, "It's nothing, Kakashi."

The betrayal of the comrades Sakumo saved—turning on him without hesitation.

And then… that question.

The one that never stopped gnawing at him:

"Ninja… which is more important? The mission, or your comrades?"

---

Kakashi's voice came out low, almost trembling:

- "You think… this changes anything? You beat him with strength, but their thoughts haven't changed, Haneda."

Haneda turned, meeting his gaze head-on.

His expression was calm, unwavering.

- "Haven't they?"

For a heartbeat, Kakashi froze.

Because deep down, he remembered…

Earlier, at the yakiniku shop—Haneda changing the minds of villagers with nothing but words.

Haneda's voice pulled him back:

- "Remember what I told you?"

His tone softened slightly.

"When you ask that question… you already have an answer in your heart."

Then Haneda stepped forward, extending his hand with a thin smile.

- "So… how about it, Kakashi? Fight me. Maybe then, you'll know for sure."

The teacher hesitated, then nodded.

Kakashi's hand closed into a fist. His eyes sharpened.

- "…Alright."

---

The flag rose again.

- "Uchiha Haneda versus Hatake Kakashi—begin!"

The ground cracked under their feet as they lunged forward, fists colliding in a blur.

BAM! BAM! BAM!

Air whistled as punches and blocks flowed like water.

Obito's jaw dropped.

- "Wha—?! When did Haneda get this strong?!"

Asuma, still sitting in the dirt, stared wide-eyed.

These two weren't just academy students anymore.

Their speed, their precision… even some Genin couldn't keep up.