Testing

Whoosh!

Shino Aburame reflexively leaped several meters backward. Because he wore a pair of small dark glasses, his expression could not be seen, but judging by the defensive stance he had assumed, he had clearly been startled.

"Shino, what's wrong with you?" Kiba Inuzuka looked at his companion in confusion.

Though Hinata Hyuga said nothing, she too cast him a puzzled look.

At that moment, Shino Aburame had no mood to explain. He did not even dare take his eyes off Ye Fan.

In that instant just now, the signal his insects had sent him had been far too intense—so intense that even his soul had been affected.

"Not bad, not bad. Looks like you're the strongest one on this team." Ye Fan smiled at Shino Aburame.

He had merely released an aura expressing his desire to study those insects. He had not expected the other party to be so sensitive.

"Who exactly are you?" Shino Aburame's voice was unusually tense.

"Inuzuka Ye Fan. Didn't I introduce myself last time? Did I leave too little of an impression for you to remember me?" Ye Fan said jokingly.

But Shino Aburame could not laugh. His impression of Ye Fan was far too deep. With last time and this time combined, he would probably find it difficult to forget him even if he wanted to.

"Brother Ye Fan, don't mind Shino. He just talks strangely. Brother Ye Fan, hurry up and create some taijutsu for me—I can barely wait any longer!" Kiba Inuzuka said excitedly.

"You think taijutsu is that easy to create?" Ye Fan chuckled softly.

Although creating taijutsu truly was not difficult for him, he did not want Kiba Inuzuka to think so, because that would make Kiba dependent on him.

The best outcome would be for Kiba Inuzuka to comprehend and create his own techniques, then have Ye Fan correct them. Only then could he gradually grasp the true essence of martial arts.

"Brother Ye Fan, I don't need any overly complicated taijutsu. As long as it's practical, that's enough!" Kiba Inuzuka hurriedly said.

Ye Fan nodded and began testing Kiba Inuzuka.

First came the most basic things: strength, speed, explosive power, and reaction speed. Then came the degree of coordination between him and his Ninja Hound, Akamaru.

Although Ye Fan looked absent-minded, Kiba Inuzuka diligently displayed every one of his abilities. He knew that was simply how Brother Ye Fan was. He appeared indifferent, yet he understood everything perfectly.

"Alright, stop for now and take a break!"

Ye Fan called out to the high-spirited Kiba Inuzuka.

"Brother Ye Fan, I haven't even fully displayed my true skills yet!" Afraid that Ye Fan would underestimate his abilities, Kiba Inuzuka thumped his chest as he spoke.

"That was only a warm-up. Let me see your actual combat ability!" Ye Fan seemed to think of something, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.

"Actual combat? Sure!" After speaking, Kiba Inuzuka looked toward Shino Aburame, who was still on guard.

"I don't want to be your opponent!" Shino Aburame seemed to know what Kiba Inuzuka wanted to say and hurriedly refused.

"Tch!"

Kiba Inuzuka curled his lips, then turned to Hinata Hyuga.

Hinata Hyuga had her head slightly lowered. Her voice was so soft that it seemed as though she were afraid of something. "Kiba, I... I can help you!"

"Hinata Hyuga, right?" Ye Fan suddenly interjected, his gaze fixed on the somewhat uneasy girl.

"Yes!"

As Hinata Hyuga answered, her face inexplicably turned red.

"Are you usually like this?" Ye Fan asked curiously.

His gaze was so sharp that it seemed to possess a Kekkei Genkai, as if it could see straight through a person!

"Ah?"

Hinata Hyuga instinctively raised her head, but the moment her eyes met Ye Fan's, she quickly looked away.

"How can someone who lacks confidence in herself surpass herself?" Ye Fan said.

Hinata Hyuga abruptly raised her head and stared blankly at Ye Fan. His words just now seemed to have struck something within her.

Ye Fan said no more. Many truths had to be pondered over personally before they could be thoroughly understood.

"Brother Ye Fan, Hinata is just like that. She's a little frail, but she's not a bad person," Kiba Inuzuka said from the side.

"Alright, if you're ready, begin!" Ye Fan wanted to see Kiba Inuzuka's actual combat ability so he could decide what cultivation technique to teach him.

The spar began. Hinata Hyuga had already assumed the stance of the Gentle Fist. Once she activated her Byakugan, veins bulged around her temples.

"Hinata, to make this test effective, I won't go easy on you this time!" Kiba Inuzuka reminded her.

"Please guide me!" Hinata Hyuga nodded to show that she understood.

"Akamaru, let's go!"

Kiba Inuzuka planted both palms on the ground, taking on a posture that only a beast would assume.

Akamaru, his Ninja Hound, also entered a combat stance at once.

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

Kiba Inuzuka and his Ninja Hound charged toward Hinata from the left and right at tremendous speed.

Hinata Hyuga extended her palms and began using the taijutsu she had mastered, the Sixteen Palms of the Eight Trigrams.

The Sixteen Palms of the Eight Trigrams fell far short of the Thirty-Two Palms of the Eight Trigrams. In terms of palm speed alone, it was vastly inferior to the latter, let alone its power.

Fortunately, Hinata Hyuga still managed to barely block Kiba Inuzuka's first wave of attacks.

Oh, even her palm technique is a watered-down version. It seems this older sister is quite a bit inferior to her younger sister!

After seeing the technique Hinata Hyuga used, Ye Fan had already formed his assessment.

He was quite curious why someone with such a weak and timid personality as Hinata Hyuga had chosen to become a ninja.

He could not even understand what was so good about being a ninja.

Not only did one have to carry out missions frequently, but one also had to obey others. More importantly, some missions even came with the danger of death!

If Ye Fan had not wanted certain privileges available only to ninjas, he would have had no interest whatsoever in taking the Ninja Academy graduation exam.

"Hinata, be careful. I'm going to use that move!" At that moment, Kiba Inuzuka kindly gave her another warning.

He bent his body slightly and formed a hand sign with both hands. At the same time, Akamaru, his Ninja Hound, jumped onto his back.

Fang Over Fang!

Kiba Inuzuka shouted as the hand sign was completed.

With a puff, Akamaru on his back abruptly transformed into an identical copy of Kiba Inuzuka. This was the Beast-Man Clone.

Then Kiba Inuzuka and his clone spun rapidly, taking the form of two tornadoes as they attacked Hinata Hyuga.

"Ah!"

With a cry of alarm, Hinata Hyuga was sent flying.

Ye Fan saw it clearly. At the crucial moment, his younger brother had still held back.

"Hinata, are you alright?" Kiba Inuzuka steadied himself and hurriedly asked.

"Kiba, I'm sorry!" Hinata Hyuga climbed up from the ground, her voice sounding as though she were about to cry. She was apologizing for her own weakness.

"Forget it. Don't push yourself too hard!" Kiba Inuzuka scratched his head awkwardly.