Direction of Training

At sunset.

Hidden Leaf Village, Senju Clan Grounds.

Due to war and various accidents, the ninja world's once-great clan, the Forest of Senju, had declined to the extreme. Of its direct bloodline, only Tsunade remained.

The enormous clan grounds had been uninhabited for a long time. The peeling walls were old and mottled, cracks webbed across the roofs and stone steps, and only the massive statue of Hashirama bore witness to the clan's former glory.

Yet today, the long-abandoned Senju Clan Grounds had been revitalized.

Boom!

A tremendous blast erupted from the rear mountain of the Senju Clan Grounds. A tree so thick it would take several people to encircle it was effortlessly snapped by Monster Strength. The airborne trunk tore through the forest, kicking up a dragon-like trail of dust.

Such a slender, fair arm could unleash such terrifying power. With Monster Strength alone, Tsunade could firmly establish herself among the jonin.

Hyuga Yuto panted heavily as he ducked behind a huge boulder. Several hours had passed since the "bell-snatching game" began. He had used every method he could think of—setting traps, launching sneak attacks, even using explosive tags.

But even with the Byakugan's enhancement, the gap between him and Tsunade was still far too vast.

"Yo! My dear disciple! Are you so shy that you don't dare show yourself before your teacher?" In the fading glow of the sunset, the blonde woman stood atop a large tree, arms folded as she looked down in all directions. "Don't forget, your mission is to snatch the bell hanging behind my waist~"

Tsunade gave herself a little shake, setting the bell swinging with a crisp chime.

Hyuga Yuto took a deep breath and said helplessly, "Teacher Tsunade, challenging an opponent at the level of one of the Sannin is really too early for me right now... Though it's embarrassing to say this, Teacher, could you go a little easier on me?"

Tsunade grinned.

"You really can't even touch me right now, so... I'll lower the difficulty for you."

She removed the bell and tossed it high into the air.

"For five seconds, I won't try to snatch the bell. If you catch it during that time, you pass."

Within the Byakugan's three-hundred-and-sixty-degree field of vision, every detail of the woman's spread fingers was crystal clear.

The bell would probably stop at its highest point in three seconds, then fall freely... I can make it!

Hyuga Yuto gathered his dwindling chakra in his eyes and legs, then burst out from behind the boulder.

The Byakugan's terrifying perception allowed him to take in every detail within a kilometer—the indented earth beneath his feet, the faint marks left on the leaves by the wind, the slight curve of the blonde woman's lips, the bell in the sky gleaming gold beneath the sunset...

Boom!

Hyuga Yuto shot forward over a hundred meters in an instant, bounding several times before leaping into a tree.

Directly above him, the bell lost its momentum, suspended in midair before beginning its free fall.

"Time's up!" At that moment, Tsunade suddenly spoke and vanished from where she stood with a flash.

The Body Flicker Technique... Hyuga Yuto thought. He made his choice instantly, leaping hard toward the bell.

Almost at the same moment, Tsunade's fist struck Hyuga Yuto's back, while his hand brushed the bell.

The branch family boy was sent flying like a spinning top. Thankfully, Tsunade had held back; otherwise, that blow would have shattered his spine.

"The bell..." Hyuga Yuto lost his balance, feeling the world spin around him. The bell was right by his hand, yet no matter how hard he tried, he could not grasp it.

Fortunately, his sense of height remained. The instant before he hit the ground, he violently kicked the nearby tree, adjusted his posture, and successfully landed on his feet at the last second.

I have to get the bell!

Hyuga Yuto stretched his left hand forward, trying to seize the bell, while his other hand swung backward without even looking. All his chakra gathered at his fingertips.

With a boom, Tsunade and Hyuga Yuto landed at the same time.

A tenth of a second later, a crisp sound rang through the forest—the bell hit the ground. In the end, Hyuga Yuto had failed to get it into his hand.

Behind the branch family boy, the blonde beauty seized his right arm and effortlessly twisted it behind his back.

"That was clever, Yuto." Tsunade was very pleased with this disciple of hers. "At the final moment, you guessed the direction of my attack and used the Gentle Fist to block it in advance... You didn't stop it, but it was still a beautiful tactic."

Hyuga Yuto shrugged.

"The area directly behind the first thoracic vertebra is the blind spot of the branch family's Byakugan. Anyone who knows that would have no reason not to attack there. Unfortunately, Teacher, your taijutsu is far above mine."

Tsunade released him, flicked the bell onto her hand with the tip of her foot, and blew away the dust clinging to it.

"Yuto, the Byakugan's blind spot isn't a fatal weakness. What real difference is there between a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree field of vision and a three-hundred-and-fifty-nine-degree one? Many clever people do just what you did, turning that blind spot into a trap to lure enemies in. A weakness can also become a strength."

Hyuga Yuto stood with his hands at his sides, listening to his teacher's instruction.

"You don't need to worry about the Byakugan's blind spot, Yuto. Your greatest weakness right now is the Gentle Fist."

"The Gentle Fist is the Hyuga Clan's proud inherited ninja taijutsu. It follows the heart and channels the chakra. This secret technique is powerful, often allowing you to injure an enemy with a single touch by striking their internal organs and chakra points."

"But the core of the Gentle Fist is [driving your chakra into the enemy's most vulnerable area]. In the end, most of your attacks must be carried out through physical contact with the enemy."

"What if you encounter someone with a turtle shell?"

"Even a C-rank defensive Earth Release might leave you helpless!"

"That's why, on the battlefield, Hyuga ninja often work alongside demolition teams, making up for their weakness in long-range combat and their inability to break through turtle shells."

"There's naturally nothing wrong with complementing one another on the battlefield, but you're different, Yuto."

"You're my disciple. Fame is a double-edged sword. [Beheading a genius of the Hyuga branch family] and [taking the life of Tsunade of the Senju, one of the Sannin's disciple] have completely different strategic significance."

"And if you truly want to become Hokage, then becoming flawless in combat is something you must achieve."

"Yuto, what was the technique you used at the banquet called?"

Hyuga Yuto replied respectfully, "Lion Fang Severance, Teacher Tsunade."

"A very good attempt. I can see tremendous potential in that technique... You probably recognized the Gentle Fist's weakness and have already begun addressing your own shortcomings."

"Yuto, from here on, we'll focus on two things... First, I'll teach you medical ninjutsu. Don't underestimate or resist it. Learning medical ninjutsu can greatly improve your chakra control."

"Second, I'll teach you Monster Strength, and we'll work together to perfect Lion Fang Severance. Jiraiya and Minato Namikaze are both experts in this kind of chakra-release ninjutsu, so we can ask them for advice more often."

"As for other ninjutsu, such as this Yin Seal on my forehead, I'll teach it to you as well—but not yet. Yuto, you can't rush becoming stronger..."

Hyuga Yuto nodded, fully agreeing with the blonde woman.

"Teacher, I understand. Trying to learn too much at once means mastering none of it."

"What a sensible child..." Tsunade said with a grin, rubbing the boy's head.

By then, the sun had completely dipped below the horizon, and the rear mountain of the Senju Clan Grounds had grown dark.

"Let's go, Yuto." Tsunade stretched lazily. "I'm exhausted. Let's go eat ramen!"

"I'll follow Teacher Tsunade's lead."

"Yuto, you're paying. Your teacher here lost all her money, hahaha..."