While laughing, they didn't forget to point at Hasumi lying on the ground, all kinds of teasing remarks coming out of their mouths.
As the focus of the whole field, Sarutobi Hiruzen retracted his right foot and even patted the non-existent dust off his trouser leg.
As if the man who had just kicked away the entire midsummer with one kick wasn't him.
He looked at his distant grandnephew who was burying his head deep in the grass, wishing he could die on the spot, and laughed secretly in his heart.
As for Sarutobi Hasumi lying on the ground, he had only one thought now.
Die.
Find a crack in the ground to crawl into, immediately, right now.
It was too embarrassing.
This was ten thousand times more embarrassing than being knocked unconscious by the Clan Head with a single punch.
He could feel the gazes full of sympathy and schadenfreude behind him, piercing his back like needles.
He could even imagine that from today on, for at least the next ten years, his nickname in the clan would change from "Calm Navigator" to "Flying Butt."
Shame, grievance, despair... all kinds of emotions intertwined, making his face flush red, redder than a ripe tomato.
Just as he was about to perform Earth Release: Hiding Like a Mole Technique on the spot and merge with this patch of grass forever.
Footsteps stopped beside him.
Immediately after, a gentle voice sounded above his head.
"So, do you concede?"
Hasumi's body stiffened violently.
He knew who it was without looking up. He hurriedly buried his face a few inches deeper into the grass and answered in a muffled voice like a mosquito:
"I... I concede!"
He lost completely and utterly.
"...Concede."
"Good, as long as you concede." Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded with a smile.
Young people, having a bit of arrogance is a good thing. But if this arrogance isn't polished away and turned into true pride, they will suffer a big fall sooner or later.
For a proud genius like Hasumi, simply crushing him with power might make him fearful, but it wouldn't make him truly convinced.
Only by shattering his pride in this skill-filled way could he restrain his frivolous and impetuous state of mind.
"You think too much and do too little."
"The ultimate in combat is not faster speed, nor stronger power."
Sarutobi Hiruzen put his hands behind his back and began to teach slowly.
"It is control."
"Absolute control over every muscle in your body, every bit of chakra, and even every breath."
"When you can achieve this, every move you make is in itself the most perfect technique."
The boy listened mesmerized, feeling a door to a new world slowly opening for him.
Sarutobi Hiruzen reached out and patted Hasumi's back.
"A man should be able to take a fall, what's so embarrassing about it."
"Back in the day, I was punished even worse by Lord Second. He made me run fifty laps around the village while shouting 'I'm an idiot.' Now that was embarrassing."
Hearing the Clan Head take the initiative to expose his own shortcomings to comfort him.
A warm current surged in Hasumi's heart.
He slowly raised his head, his face still bearing a few clear grass marks, looking wretched and comical.
Looking at the Clan Head smiling at him, those deep eyes held no mockery, only the care and expectation of an elder for a junior.
Hiruzen waved to the clansmen who were still laughing.
"That's it for today's training."
"Alright, stop laughing."
Sarutobi Hiruzen turned around and put on a serious face to the young clansmen who were still rolling on the ground laughing.
Although he also thought the scene just now was quite funny, as the Clan Head, he still had to maintain his image.
The laughter stopped abruptly.
"Did you all see?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze swept over everyone present, his voice becoming serious.
"The mistakes Hasumi made just now, every one of you has them, more or less."
"A taijutsu duel is not a simple collision of strength. It emphasizes the precise control of every muscle and strength of oneself; the meticulous observation of every movement of the enemy; and the grasp of the fleeting moment of opportunity."
"Your attacks are full of brute force but lack skill; your defenses seem tight but are full of flaws."
Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't save any face and pointed out everyone's problems sharply.
He walked to the center of the training ground and began a post-battle summary for everyone.
"For example, just now, a dozen of you besieged me. Although the formation was good, the cooperation between you was almost zero."
"Those responsible for the main attack only knew how to charge headlong, completely ignoring the attack rhythm of teammates on the flanks. Those responsible for sneak attacks came in too late, sending yourselves one by one..."
"You are not a team, just a scattered sand."
Every word of his struck the hearts of these young people.
The young clansmen on the field lowered their heads, ashamed looks on their faces.
Indeed, in the battle just now, although they seemed to have the advantage in numbers, they actually didn't form an effective joint force at all.
However, just when everyone thought Lord Hokage would continue to reprimand them severely, Sarutobi Hiruzen's tone suddenly softened.
"However, your courage to challenge the strong is still worthy of affirmation."
He looked at these dejected young people and said with a smile, "Failure is not terrible. What is terrible is not being able to recover after failure."
"Take today's failure as food for your growth. After you go back, summarize well and think hard. Next time, I hope to see a different you."
With that, Sarutobi Hiruzen formed hand seals rapidly.
"Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Poof! Poof! Poof!
A dozen figures identical to him appeared on the training ground instantly.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's main body put his hands behind his back again and walked to the side.
And those dozen shadow clones walked up to the young clansmen who were exhausted and lying on the ground.
"Come, let me see your injury."
A shadow clone walked up to a girl who had sprained her ankle in the sparring just now, crouched down, and his hands glowed with a soft green light.
"Mystical Palm Technique."
Warm chakra slowly injected into the girl's ankle.
The swelling pain was subsiding at a speed visible to the naked eye.
"Wow... so comfortable..."
A surprised and enjoyable expression appeared on the girl's face.
More shadow clones started directly, beginning treatment and professional muscle relaxation for the boys who had collapsed on the ground.
"Your muscles here are too stiff, it must not be smooth when exerting force. Come, relax, let me rub it out for you."
"Mmm... Ah! It hurts, it hurts! Lord Clan Head, gently!"
"Bear it, this is good for you."
For a time, various comfortable groans and screams of pain mixed with pleasure rang out across the entire training ground.
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