The next morning.
Su Yu got dressed in his Anbu gear early and left home.
Many ninja would be coming to Konoha today, giving him a good chance to draw abilities.
As long as he drew a bloodline that wasn't too important, he could upgrade his Sharingan.
Su Yu hid on a rooftop, keeping track of how many people arrived from each village.
He didn't need to watch everyone. The task was just to keep him from getting bored; the Anbu Ninja in the Intelligence Division were much more professional.
Su Yu spotted ninja from Sunagakure, Karin Uzumaki, and a Kusagakure ninja disguised as Orochimaru.
Orochimaru seemed to sense Su Yu's gaze and looked up at him.
Su Yu stared straight back at Orochimaru.
A few seconds later.
Orochimaru grinned and continued on his way.
Su Yu watched Orochimaru's back and kept observing.
After Orochimaru had gone some distance, he spotted Yakushi Kabuto.
Kabuto glanced at Orochimaru, raised a hand to push up his glasses, then turned and left.
Orochimaru watched Kabuto's retreating figure. Rather than approach him immediately, he went to an inn first.
Then, using Earth Release, he made his way to the room Kabuto had arranged.
Kabuto saw Orochimaru and bowed.
"Lord Orochimaru."
"Kabuto, when I entered the village just now, an Anbu Ninja kept watching me. Was that Su Yu you mentioned?" Orochimaru asked.
"Most likely. But could he really have sensed Lord Orochimaru?" Kabuto asked, puzzled.
"Don't forget, he's from the Uzumaki Clan," Orochimaru reminded him.
Kabuto suddenly understood. He remembered that when Su Yu had come to see him, he'd mentioned having Uzumaki blood.
"Looks like he's talented. The Uzumaki Clan can produce Jinchuriki. Once I find the Three-Tails, he might be able to become its Jinchuriki," Orochimaru mused.
Kabuto opened his mouth, then closed it.
If that happened, Su Yu's position might end up second only to his own.
"When you leave Konoha, take him with you. You can decide where to go," Orochimaru told Kabuto.
"Yes." Kabuto felt relieved.
From this order, it seemed Orochimaru still trusted him more as his assistant.
"By the way, Lord Orochimaru, would you like to test Su Yu's strength yourself?" Kabuto remembered the real reason for his visit.
"There's no need to test him. Passing the Anbu Chunin assessment already proves his strength." Orochimaru shook his head.
"Understood." Kabuto lowered his head.
He was only curious about Su Yu's strength.
At noon.
Su Yu changed back into his usual clothes and went to the Hyuga Clan.
Hyuga Hiashi, standing in the courtyard, nodded at Su Yu.
Su Yu bowed respectfully, then watched Hinata Hyuga and Hanabi Hyuga sparring.
Hanabi's legs were trembling. She was clearly exhausted.
Hinata's breathing was steady as she took up the opening stance of the Gentle Fist.
"That's enough," Hyuga Hiashi said.
Hinata and Hanabi heard him and stopped at the same time.
Su Yu went over to Hinata and patted her on the head.
Hinata blushed and lowered her head.
"Ahem. Su Yu, it's been a long time. Let me see how strong you've become." Hyuga Hiashi cleared his throat.
"Of course." Su Yu smiled and took his place opposite Hiashi.
When he assumed the Gentle Fist's opening stance, Hiashi froze for a moment.
The moment they began exchanging blows, Hiashi's expression changed.
Su Yu was using the Gentle Fist!
And it was the most authentic form of the Gentle Fist!
Though he lacked the Byakugan, Hiashi could tell that being struck by Su Yu's Gentle Fist had the same effect as being struck by the Hyuga Clan's own Gentle Fist.
Gentle Fist against Gentle Fist.
Hiashi wasn't the only one shocked.
Hinata and Hanabi looked just as astonished.
How did Su Yu know the Hyuga Clan's Gentle Fist?
Hiashi had intended to use the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms, but Su Yu deliberately kept him engaged, preventing him from using the technique.
This left Hiashi even more incredulous.
With Gentle Fist against Gentle Fist,
Su Yu could still overpower his technique and stop him from using the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms. It was obvious that Su Yu understood the Gentle Fist even better than he did.
Hiashi's feelings were complicated.
Imitating the Gentle Fist was useless for an ordinary person, yet Su Yu had mastered it to this extent. If he had a pair of Byakugan, he would absolutely become a new prodigy of the Hyuga Clan.
With that thought, Hiashi gradually backed away from Su Yu.
Su Yu realized Hiashi didn't want to continue, and slowly stopped his attack as well.
At last, they both stopped.
"Su Yu, you know the Gentle Fist?" Hiashi asked, his expression complicated.
"I memorized Hinata's Gentle Fist before. While studying Medical Ninjutsu, I realized that the Gentle Fist could target many parts of the body. After asking Hinata about it, I learned of the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms," Su Yu explained.
"Studying Medical Ninjutsu?" Hiashi asked, caught off guard.
Wasn't Su Yu an Anbu member?
"I wanted to learn more, so I studied Sealing Jutsu and Medical Ninjutsu. I secretly learned the Gentle Fist from Hinata. I won't teach it to anyone else," Su Yu said earnestly.
"That's all right, Su Yu. Knowing you can learn the Gentle Fist puts my mind at ease. Someday, you can teach it to your children. I'm sure you'll make a good teacher," Hiashi said meaningfully.
Su Yu paused and looked at Hinata.
Feeling his gaze, Hinata lowered her head shyly.
"Hanabi, come with me." Hiashi glanced at Hanabi and left.
Hanabi followed him. As she passed Su Yu, she hesitated for a moment but didn't stop.
After the two had left completely,
Su Yu went up to Hinata and took her hand.
"I'll make sure to teach our children well someday."
Hinata lowered her head even further.
"I'm hungry. Go make me lunch," Su Yu said, lightly kissing Hinata's forehead.
"Y-you wait in the room," Hinata whispered, heading toward the kitchen.
Without hesitation, Su Yu went to Hinata's room and sat down at the low table.
Before long,
Hinata arrived with lunch.
The Hyuga Clan's cooking was, of course, excellent.
After finishing his meal, Su Yu stood up and closed the door.
Hinata's cheeks warmed at the sight.
Su Yu went behind her, sat down, and gently embraced her.
"S-Su Yu..."
"I really like how shy you get."
At those words, Hinata's face turned crimson, and she couldn't say a thing.
Su Yu held her without doing anything else.
After all, they were both still too young.
A long while later,
Su Yu kissed Hinata's cheek, then let her go.
"I have another mission, so I'll be off."
"C-could I come see you tonight?" Hinata couldn't help asking.
Su Yu froze.
Then he smiled.
"Of course."
Before you continue