Ninjutsu

"Ah!"

Hinata cried out in pain.

Yet she still didn't fight back, only letting teardrops as big as beans spill from her eyes.

It was a pitiful sight.

Clearly, that fat kid had a strong grip!

"Let her go!"

Nanfeng's expression turned cold.

Hearing this, the little fatty's face darkened. He did release Hinata, but instead turned toward Nanfeng, cracking his knuckles. "Who do you think you are?! Yelling at me like that? You're just a parentless wild—"

Before he could finish, bang.

His abdomen took a heavy blow, and his upright body curled up like a shrimp, folding into a ball.

Both hands clutching his belly, eyes bulging, struggling to breathe... he couldn't even manage a scream.

"What did you say?"

Nanfeng clenched his fist, his gaze icy as he stared down at the guy lying at his feet, his words dripping with cold.

Under that stare, the little fatty, already writhing in pain, shook his legs in terror.

"Tch!"

Nanfeng scoffed, dismissing the display with contempt. He stepped over the kid's body and walked toward Hinata.

"He... he attacked from behind!"

"Don't be scared—we outnumber him!"

"Get him!"

The remaining kids were clearly shaken by what they'd just seen, fear showing on their faces, but emboldened by their numbers, they still wanted to take Nanfeng on.

With a few shouts, they swarmed him.

Slap, slap...

"Ow!"

"Ah!"

Nanfeng's ankles flickered as he dodged each attacker with agile grace. Every time their bodies crossed, he struck in an instant—fists fast and precise, hitting vital points.

In just over ten seconds, amid a chorus of cries, by the time he reached Hinata, no one behind him was still standing. All had collapsed to the ground.

Beaten so badly they couldn't get up...

These kids' movements were far too sluggish.

They couldn't even touch the hem of his clothes.

"You okay?"

Looking at Hinata with her light purple hair, her face still carrying that cute childishness from her young age, crying like pear blossoms in the rain, Nanfeng extended his hand to her.

"Don't cry... if you keep crying, you won't look pretty."

Meeting Hinata's gaze, Nanfeng flashed a row of clean, small canine teeth, his smile bright.

Hinata froze for a moment, then quickly blushed, lowering her head shyly.

Movement came from behind—the few brats had struggled to their feet, casting fearful, panicked glances before helping each other up and running off. Nanfeng had held back, after all.

"Th... thank you."

Hinata grabbed Nanfeng's hand and pulled herself up from the ground.

Her voice was as faint as a mosquito's buzz.

So quiet Nanfeng almost didn't catch it.

Right... this was Hinata's personality right now...

"She's so cute—why would anyone think she's ugly?" Nanfeng mused to himself.

He couldn't quite understand the aesthetic sense of people in this world.

At first glance, Hinata's eyes did feel a bit jarring—no distinction between iris and white—but that slightly chubby little face, her timid expression, her kind and gentle aura—no matter how you looked at it, she was easy on the eyes...

At the very least, she had nothing to do with the word "ugly."

Nanfeng kept staring at Hinata's face, making the little girl even more embarrassed.

Still, she bowed at the waist.

"It's so late—why are you dressed like that?"

Seeing her in a kimono, Nanfeng asked curiously.

"I... I came out... to buy something..."

Hinata stammered.

Nanfeng also noticed a trampled plastic bag on the ground nearby, containing some items that looked like a gift box...

The Hyuga Clan's discipline was very strict, not to mention that Hinata was the eldest daughter of the Main Family.

Her father, Hyuga Hiashi, wouldn't make such a mistake.

So... it could be concluded that Hinata had sneaked out on her own for some reason.

"Come to think of it, we've met before, but it was in winter. I remember you were being bullied back then too, by that... what was his name... oh right, Naruto saved you... I didn't get a chance to step in."

"Who would've thought we'd meet again like this, and I ran into it once more!"

"You can't keep going like this... if someone bullies you, you have to fight back, otherwise they'll just keep pushing further."

Nanfeng said a few words.

"Mm..."

Hinata lowered her head, nervously fidgeting with her fingers.

"If I remember correctly, you're Hyuga Hinata, right? The eldest daughter of the Hyuga Clan!"

"I'm Akiya Nanfeng, nice to meet you!"

Nanfeng introduced himself.

Hinata raised her hand and shook his.

Nanfeng's hand was warm, very hot, while Hinata's hand was a bit cold and chilly.

Held by the boy's hand, Hinata's little heart pounded wildly.

It unconsciously reminded her of Naruto's face.

For a moment, the two figures overlapped.

"You're bleeding?"

Suddenly, sharp-eyed Nanfeng noticed a scraped wound on Hinata's arm, grabbed her hand, and cast a Healing Technique.

Specks of fluorescent light scattered, and in an instant, the scab fell off, and her skin returned to its original state.

"Ninjutsu?"

Hinata's mouth opened slightly, a little surprised.

"Keep it a secret for me!"

Nanfeng shushed her.

"Mm."

Hinata nodded in agreement.

The reason he used ninjutsu in front of Hinata was that Nanfeng was very sure she wouldn't talk.

System: Ding! Congratulations to the host for treating a patient, gained Attribute Point +1!

At the same time, the system's sound rang in his mind.

"As expected... as long as I treat someone, I get attribute points, regardless of the outcome..."

Nanfeng's heart stirred, extremely excited.

Ridiculous!

"If anyone bullies you again in the future... if you're scared, you can tell me, and I'll teach them a lesson, I guarantee they won't dare mess with you!" Nanfeng added.

Like a big brother from next door.

He had no particular feelings for Hinata; in his eyes, she was just a kid. His body housed an adult soul, and he just found Hinata a bit pitiful...

But after saying that, he noticed Hinata looking at him with sparkling eyes.

For a pure and simple child, especially Hinata, at this moment, he must have looked pretty cool...

No help for it, being cool is a lifelong thing, can't be careless.

Then, Nanfeng bent down and picked up Hinata's plastic bag, taking her hand without any hesitation: "Come on, I'll take you home!"

Being held by a strange boy so naturally, Hinata clearly hadn't reacted, her expression frozen.

She followed along instinctively.

Her face turned as red as a hot kettle.

"You're not safe alone. Those brats might circle back and try to corner you again, and it wouldn't be good if someone else saw you by yourself," Nanfeng explained.

"Mm..."

Hinata's face was almost buried in her chest.

The two figures, one in front and one behind, disappeared at the end of the road.

"Was that just now..."

However, in the darkness... a gaze fixed on Nanfeng's retreating back, a tone of surprise in its voice.

If you can't find it by searching the book title, try searching the author—maybe it just changed its name!