Kurenai Yuhi

Laiyun ran two laps around the open field before coming to a stop.

Hanabi Hyuga wore an excited expression. Especially after seeing the envy in her classmates' eyes, she could not help but smile.

As the second young lady of the Hyuga Clan's Main House, Hanabi Hyuga had always been held to strict standards. Her father, Hizashi Hyuga, had especially high expectations for her. Under such circumstances, she rarely had spare time to play like other children, which was why she usually seemed so serious.

But this time, she smiled like a child. Her smile was innocent and pure, without the slightest impurity. This was how a child ought to be.

"This place is still too small. Next time, I'll take you outside the school so you can really experience it." As Ye Fan climbed down from Laiyun's back, he reached out and rubbed Hanabi's little head.

"Thank you, Senior." Hanabi flashed Ye Fan a brilliant smile. She had not been this happy in a long time.

Ever since meeting Ye Fan, she had become much more cheerful than before.

Next, as usual, Ye Fan began guiding Hanabi through her daily training. In just a few days, her progress had become obvious to all. She could now smoothly perform the Thirty-Two Palms of the Eight Trigrams, and the three previously disconnected portions had also become seamless.

"Hanabi, you're very talented. The Thirty-Two Palms of the Eight Trigrams you're using now only have a few minor flaws that need to be refined slowly. You no longer need my guidance for those." Ye Fan paused before continuing, "I won't be coming to the school anymore. If you run into any problems, you can come find me anytime."

At Ye Fan's words, Hanabi Hyuga immediately showed a reluctant expression.

She was a clever child and naturally understood the reason. If nothing unexpected happened, Ye Fan would become a Genin after passing the make-up exam, and he would surely have many things to do.

"Thank you for your guidance during this time, Senior!" Hanabi Hyuga solemnly bowed. Her gratitude came from the bottom of her heart.

Without Ye Fan's guidance, who knew how long it would have taken her Thirty-Two Palms of the Eight Trigrams to reach its current level? Even her father had been surprised by her recent progress.

Ye Fan smiled softly, bent down, and leaned close to Hanabi Hyuga's ear. In a quiet voice, he said, "Although Eight Trigrams Palm is a 'Gentle Fist,' it's still too forceful for a girl to use. When there's a chance, I'll teach you the real Gentle Fist."

"The real Gentle Fist?" Hanabi Hyuga stared at Ye Fan in disbelief.

"The next few days probably won't work." Ye Fan straightened up and continued, "I may have a lot to prepare. How about this? Once my make-up exam is over, I'll show you what the real Gentle Fist should look like."

Ye Fan's deliberately mysterious manner immediately stirred Hanabi Hyuga's curiosity. Her cute little face was filled with anticipation.

Iruka, standing nearby, was completely confused, but he did not interrupt to ask. Instead, he curiously examined Laiyun beside them.

"Iruka-sensei, the next time we meet will probably be on the day of the make-up exam. I'm looking forward to it." Ye Fan smiled as he bid Iruka farewell.

But Iruka called out to him. "Ye Fan, is your Ninja Hound injured?"

He had noticed the bandages wrapped around Laiyun's foreleg and was worried that its condition might affect the make-up exam.

"It is." Ye Fan did not hide it. "It's only gotten a little better these past two days. Some time ago, Laiyun could barely even stand."

"If that's the case, won't fighting worsen its injuries?"

Iruka truly was a responsible teacher. Even when something had nothing to do with him, he would not simply stand by and watch. Just like now, he did not want Ye Fan to risk his Ninja Hound merely to pass the assessment.

"Iruka-sensei, don't worry. On the day of the make-up exam, Laiyun will only be there to set the stage. The real main force will be Dark Shadow." Ye Fan smiled. The little Ninja Hound, Dark Shadow, at his feet barked twice and wagged its tail.

Iruka looked somewhat stunned as he mulled over Ye Fan's words.

"Let's go!" Ye Fan said nothing more and rode Laiyun away.

Only then did Iruka realize the implication behind Ye Fan's words: his opponent in the make-up exam was not even worthy of Laiyun taking the field. That little Ninja Hound would be enough.

Did this Ye Fan not know how formidable Neji Hyuga was? How could he still be so overconfident?

If Ye Fan had not left so quickly, Iruka would definitely have tried to persuade him at length and make him abandon that idea.

"Senior Ye Fan will definitely pass the assessment!" Hanabi Hyuga murmured with certainty as she watched Ye Fan's receding figure.

Iruka turned to look at Hanabi Hyuga. The way she gazed at Ye Fan reminded him of how those girls had once looked at Sasuke Uchiha.

Kids these days—why were they all maturing so early?

After leaving the Ninja Academy, Ye Fan headed toward the place where Kiba Inuzuka often trained. First, he wanted to see whether Kiba Inuzuka had improved. Second, he wanted to test Laiyun's overall strength.

He had promised Laiyun that he would help it rapidly increase its strength. Without properly understanding its abilities, it would be difficult to create the perfect plan.

By a small river, Kiba Inuzuka and his Ninja Hound Akamaru had their heads submerged in the water, practicing Breath-Holding Training.

On the riverbank, Hinata Hyuga and Shino Aburame were each carrying out their own training.

"Hinata, Shino!" A magnetic female voice suddenly rang out, interrupting their training.

"Kurenai Yuhi-sensei!" Hinata Hyuga was the first to speak.

Not far away, Hyuga Shino also turned his gaze toward the newcomer at the same time.

At that moment, a woman emerged from the woods. She had black curly hair and ruby-like crimson eyes. It was their squad leader, Kurenai Yuhi.

Kurenai Yuhi had only recently been promoted to Jonin, so she had many matters to handle and rarely appeared. No one had expected her to show up here today.

"What is Kiba doing?" Kurenai Yuhi looked toward Kiba Inuzuka, who was sticking his rear in the air with his head submerged in the river.

"Kiba is practicing Breath-Holding Training," Hinata Hyuga hurriedly explained.

When Kiba Inuzuka had first displayed this method of training, both she and Shino Aburame had thought he was joking. But after all these days, they had come to realize that Kiba Inuzuka was serious.

"Practicing holding his breath?" Kurenai Yuhi froze for a moment, then laughed.

That Kiba Inuzuka was usually so rash and restless. Why had he suddenly come up with such a strange form of training?

"Kiba!" Kurenai Yuhi called out.

Just then, Kiba Inuzuka had reached his limit. He abruptly lifted his head from the river and drew in huge breaths, but there was a smile at the corner of his mouth.

During that Breath-Holding Training just now, there had been an instant when he seemed to grasp the key. The pores all over his body had seemed to be breathing.

Though it had only lasted an instant, Kiba Inuzuka knew it was not an illusion. He was beginning to understand the things Ye Fan had told him.