Hyuga Hiashi's personal guards sprang into action.
Some followed Hyuga Hiashi, while others went to the Hyuga Branch Family to report that the Main Family Head and his daughter were about to battle—a major event of fatherly love and filial devotion!
Still others went to the residences of the Hyuga Main Family Elders to fully report the matter of Hinata and Hiashi's imminent battle.
Before long, the entire Hyuga Clan was shaken!
The Hyuga Clan Elders all used the Body Flicker Technique to rush toward the training grounds, conversing as they traveled:
"Hinata had not left her home for seven days straight. She had even abandoned her training, indulging in men all day long... That was absolutely wasting her talent. This absolutely could not continue!"
"Fortunately, under our urging, Hiashi finally took action!"
"Hiashi's strength is quite formidable. Even among Jonin, he is one of the best. His young daughter is absolutely no match for him."
"Hiashi is guaranteed to win! I hope that after this defeat, Hinata will understand that there are always greater people and higher heavens, then devote herself to training. She should strive to become the next Hyuga Celestial Ninja within thirty years and lead the entire Hyuga Clan to rise!!"
"Yes, yes, yes! Exactly!"
The Hyuga Main Family Elders stroked their white beards, discussing the matter with immense excitement.
Meanwhile, at the Hyuga Branch Family grounds, Hizashi Hyuga was training Neji Hyuga when he learned from a personal guard that his elder brother, Hyuga Hiashi, was going to formally fight his daughter. A trace of surprise flashed through his eyes:
Big Brother Hiashi was going to fight Big Brother's daughter!
Wasn't the outcome of this battle already decided?!
The only possible victor was Big Brother Hiashi. After all, Hiashi was the Main Family Head. He had enjoyed the best treatment, consumed countless secret medicines... and obtained innumerable secret Nintaijutsu arts of the Hyuga Main Family!
Such a big brother, against the inexperienced Hinata.
Hinata could not win.
After thinking this through, Hizashi Hyuga lowered his head and said to his son, Neji Hyuga, "I'm going to the training grounds. Neji, stay home and practice the Gentle Fist."
"I don't... I want to go to the training grounds too, to watch the battle between Uncle Hiashi and Lady Hinata!"
As Neji spoke, light appeared in his eyes. He clenched his fists and repeated himself, "Father, I have to go."
Hizashi Hyuga was slightly stunned by those words. He carefully observed his son Neji's expression, immediately noticing the unusual look in his eyes and understanding at once:
His son, Neji Hyuga, believed Hinata had a chance to win?
But how could that be possible?
Hinata's opponent was Hyuga Hiashi, the current strongest member of the Hyuga Clan and the Main Family Head who had mastered the greatest number of Hyuga Clan secret arts.
Hinata's chance of winning was 0%.
Of course, Hizashi Hyuga did not say any of this. Instead, he brought Neji along, intending to let him personally witness the gap in strength between adults and children—just like the unbridgeable divide between the Hyuga Main Family and Branch Family!
Hizashi Hyuga picked up Neji Hyuga, used the Body Flicker Technique, and raced toward the training grounds.
At the same time, on the other side, Hinata's mother encountered the Main Family Elders on the road. After learning from them that her husband was going to fight their daughter, intense worry arose in her heart.
Of course, she was not worried about Hyuga Hiashi, but about her daughter, Hinata.
No matter what, Hinata was still far too young. Perhaps her talent was peerless, and perhaps in the future she could become someone comparable to the Hyuga Celestial Ninja the Main Family Elders spoke of!
But the current Hinata could absolutely not defeat Hiashi!
No, I have to go to the training grounds and try to stop this battle between father and daughter. If I really can't stop it, I must at least prevent Hiashi from losing control... and seriously injuring our daughter!
After thinking this, Hinata's mother gritted her teeth and hurried toward the training grounds.
With the sun high in the sky, at the Hyuga Clan's training grounds.
Members of the Main Family and Branch Family gathered one after another.
Branch Family members, Main Family members, Main Family Elders... hundreds of people had assembled, all focusing their gazes on Hinata and Hyuga Hiashi, the Main Family Head.
Among them was Neji Hyuga, sitting on Hizashi Hyuga's shoulders. His gaze toward the training grounds was filled with seriousness as he clenched his fists and silently thought:
Lady Hinata, you have to do your best!
Defeat your father!
Defeat fate!
Gain the freedom to no longer be watched!
As for Hizashi Hyuga, with Neji Hyuga sitting on his shoulders, his gaze toward the training grounds was vacant and calm. In his view, the outcome of this battle had already been decided.
After all, his elder brother Hiashi's eyes were filled with seriousness. He was clearly prepared to teach his rebellious daughter a harsh lesson.
At the same time, Hinata's mother looked at Hinata with even greater worry.
The reason was simple. She had already said everything she could, but whether it was Hinata or Hiashi, both insisted on having this battle.
"When this leaf falls to the ground, the battle begins!"
Hiashi calmly watched his daughter as he spoke, then tossed away the leaf in his hand.
Whoosh...
A gust of wind blew, and the leaf drifted to the ground.
Whoosh!
Hiashi instantly activated his Byakugan and used the Body Flicker Technique to appear behind Hinata Hyuga. He reached toward her body, preparing to seal her Chakra.
Yet at that very instant, Hinata's figure vanished, and Hiashi's attack missed.
It didn't hit?!
Hiashi was slightly stunned. Then, with his Byakugan active, he instantly discovered that Hinata had reappeared where she had originally been standing. More importantly, she held an A-rank ninjutsu, the Rasengan, in her hand.
More importantly, because Hinata was still young and not very tall, the Rasengan she held was roughly level with Hiashi's waist and abdomen. That meant if Hiashi had not used the Body Flicker Technique or another technique to evade just now, the Rasengan would have struck his kidney and crippled him... He would not be able to have a second child, and the name Hyuga Hanabi he had prepared long ago might never be used...
Huff.
Hiashi took a deep breath and looked at his daughter Hinata.
"When did you train your Body Flicker Technique? You're so skilled at it that you're no worse than I am."
Hinata withdrew her hand. As the Rasengan slowly vanished, she spoke as well:
"Father, I told you. I have been training hard these past seven days. This Body Flicker Technique, refined to the utmost degree, is the result of my hard training."
At those words, the corner of Hiashi's mouth twitched slightly as he silently thought:
If I hadn't heard the collective reports from the guards assigned to protect you... and if I hadn't secretly gone there today to observe with my Byakugan, I really might have believed your nonsense.
At that moment, the Main Family Elders watching from nearby, Hizashi Hyuga, and even Hinata's mother were all somewhat dazed.
The reason was simple. Hinata's Body Flicker Technique just now had been far too refined. That extremely practiced flicker, coupled with the Rasengan in her right hand, reminded them of someone!
The former Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze!
The current Hinata possessed a faint trace of Minato Namikaze's bearing!
This made the Main Family Elders believe even more strongly that Hinata possessed the potential of a Hyuga Celestial Ninja.
Of course, they still did not believe Hinata would win. After all, Hinata was only proficient in the Body Flicker Technique. In terms of Nintaijutsu and even Chakra reserves, there was a huge...
Wait, what was going on with that amount of Chakra?!
Happy New Year, readers! May you all be happy in the new year and have wealth pouring in!!
Before you continue