Practical Combat Class

Classes A and B were basically taught separately. Even for practical combat classes, their schedules were staggered. As a result, Hyuga Mirai rarely saw the state of Class A's students at school—unless he skipped class.

But there was no need to guess. Hyuga Mirai knew that Class A's students had to be stronger than Class B's. When the classes were assigned, the Ninja Academy teachers had taken every factor into full consideration, with physical fitness and theory carrying considerable weight.

Might Guy was practically a novice when it came to theory, but his solid Taijutsu foundation had gotten him into Class A. At the time, Might Duy was still a Konoha Genin with no connections whatsoever. It could be said that Might Guy had entered Class A entirely on his own strength.

Looking back at his own classmates, Hyuga Mirai felt that Class B had no hope of winning the upcoming practical combat class.

They were never even serious when throwing Shuriken at school. Could anyone expect them to train diligently once they went home?

There were only a few border skirmishes right now, and even the White Fang had not committed suicide yet. It was safe to say that almost no one in Konoha could have foreseen that the Third Shinobi World War would break out a few years later.

Under such circumstances, Ninja Academy students could not feel any sense of tension, so naturally they would not train wholeheartedly.

Children from great clans had strict training schedules. Ninja Academy students from Civilian families would not be urged by their parents after returning home, so naturally they could not keep up with the children of renowned Ninja Clans.

Before long, after the two Chunin teachers discussed matters, the practical combat matches began.

"First match: Might Guy of Class A versus Kimura Shin of Class B."

After hearing Teacher Ishii's call, Might Guy and Kimura Shin quickly stepped into the field. Upon hearing Might Guy's name, Hyuga Mirai also turned his gaze toward him and examined him carefully.

Other than knowing that Might Guy would nearly kick Six Paths Madara to death in the future, Hyuga Mirai's deepest impression of him was from the entrance Physical test, when the boy in the jumpsuit had shouted as he ran and still made it into the top ten.

"Form the Opposition Seal!"

After both sides formed their hand seals, the two Chunin teachers stepped aside.

It was Kimura Shin's first time sparring with someone before so many classmates. This was completely different from the Ninja Game he had played before, and his blood boiled with excitement.

"Take this!"

Kimura Shin shouted excitedly, then immediately pulled out a training Kunai. He ran forward while throwing the Kunai at Might Guy.

Whoosh!

The Kunai passed more than ten centimeters from Might Guy's head, flying by with a wide miss.

Seeing that his Kunai had missed, Kimura Shin threw a punch at Might Guy's head.

But the intent behind that punch was far too obvious. Kimura Shin only wanted to attack stylishly and had no awareness of defense at all. Ishii Ichiro, watching from the side, had a dark expression.

"Leaf Whirlwind!"

Might Guy shouted as he closed in, then flipped his body. He dodged Kimura Shin's fist while launching a low kick that sent Kimura Shin flying.

His jaw had suffered a heavy blow. Even though Might Guy had not used his full strength, Kimura Shin could no longer continue the fight.

The victor had been decided in an instant!

Seeing Might Guy's crisp and decisive Taijutsu, Kimori Inaka, Class A's teacher, could not help nodding inwardly in approval.

"Might Guy wins! The next match: Yuhi Kurenai of Class A versus Koharu Junko of Class B."

Match after match followed, and Class B did not win a single one. Their best result was merely lasting a few more exchanges. Hyuga Mirai, watching from the side, gained quite a bit instead.

He watched more than ten matches. Among them, nine Class A students used the Three-Body Technique, and Hyuga Mirai could not help nodding to himself. Clan children completely crushed Civilian Ninja; they were not even starting from the same line.

If Civilian Ninja did not work hard themselves, then there was no point in competing at all.

Although Hyuga Mirai had a Three-Body Technique training scroll at home, he had not started practicing it yet, and the Ninja Academy had not begun teaching it in class.

After I get home, I should practice the Three-Body Technique. Besides daily Taijutsu training, Chakra control training needs to be put on the schedule as well.

"Next match: Hyuga Kiyomi of Class A versus Hyuga Mirai of Class B."

The one calling out was Kimori Inaka from Class A. Hearing both his own name and Hyuga Kiyomi's, Hyuga Mirai froze for a moment. But he quickly came back to himself and walked onto the fighting field.

Hyuga Kiyomi, the granddaughter of a Main House Elder. If Hyuga Mirai remembered correctly, she should have been Fourth Elder's only granddaughter, the Young Miss of the Main Family.

Hearing this matchup, Ishii Ichiro could not help frowning slightly and pursing his lips. But he still said nothing, merely picking up his notebook to record the match carefully.

After they formed the Opposition Seal, Kimori Inaka announced the start of the match.

"Make your move."

Hyuga Kiyomi spoke calmly. Though she was only five or six, the Main Family's etiquette training had already given her the beginnings of a deadpan expression.

"Yes, Miss Kiyomi."

Hyuga Mirai spoke, then assumed the stance of the Gentle Fist. He did not know who had arranged this match, but he had no option to win.

The hierarchy between the Main Family and the Branch Family was a clear chasm that could not be crossed in the slightest, not even in a practical combat class.

Neither of them took out Kunai or Shuriken to test the other. They might have done so against someone else, but between two Hyuga Clan members, the Gentle Fist was how they fought.

Hyuga Mirai struck first. He rushed toward Hyuga Kiyomi, lightly coating his palm in Chakra as he struck at her.

Smack!

Hyuga Kiyomi stepped back half a step and struck as well, deflecting Hyuga Mirai's palm before immediately counterattacking with two extended fingers.

With an adult's mentality and the Gentle Fist scroll left behind by Original Father, Hyuga Mirai was certainly no weaker than Hyuga Kiyomi in Gentle Fist training. He saw through the intent behind her move at once.

Pressure Point Strike. As expected of the Main Family—she had learned this much so early.

Thud!

Hyuga Mirai twisted aside to evade, then counterattacked with a palm strike of his own.

Their fighting styles were extremely similar, and after using Chakra, they were far faster than the students in the previous matches.

The Gentle Fist targeted the body's acupoints, Meridians, and internal organs. Since the inside of the body was difficult to train, injuries were hard to treat once sustained. Thus, the Gentle Fist was also known as a "vicious fist style."

The surrounding students were seeing the Hyuga Clan's Gentle Fist for the first time. Combined with the fact that Hyuga Kiyomi and Hyuga Mirai were somewhat stronger, their attacks were much faster than those of ordinary students, leaving many spectators unable to look away.

But Hyuga Kiyomi was only five years old. Even if she had trained since childhood, she would still grow tired after fighting for so long, especially since she was a girl.

Smack!

After blocking Hyuga Mirai's attack once again, Hyuga Kiyomi turned sideways and deliberately exposed an opening. But Hyuga Mirai saw through it instantly.

The left side of her body is slightly stiff, and she failed to conceal the Chakra coating her right palm.

But Hyuga Mirai did not intend to continue fighting either. Even though Hyuga Kiyomi's opening was rather obvious to him, he still pretended not to notice and attacked.

Thud!

Hyuga Mirai was struck on the shoulder by a palm and sent flying two meters.

Damn it, that actually hurt a little.

Hyuga Mirai cursed inwardly as he lay on the ground. Only after two seconds did he slowly sit up and speak to Hyuga Kiyomi.

"I lost. I'm still not as good as you, Miss Kiyomi!"

Hyuga Kiyomi took several deep breaths and recovered some of her stamina. A trace of delight flashed through her eyes, but she still tried to remain composed. She pursed her lips and spoke calmly to Hyuga Mirai.

"You performed well. When you practice the Gentle Fist in the future, you may come to the training grounds in the clan compound."

"Yes, Miss Kiyomi."