Ice Release Kekkei Genkai

Fūka smiled faintly.

"Did you notice? That I possess the special release nature, Ice Release."

Kanami rolled his eyes at her.

She had used Ice Release so obviously. Who wouldn't notice?

When she threw the Ice Shuriken, he had merely suspected it, but after seeing her Clone Technique, he became almost certain that she possessed a Kekkei Genkai.

An ordinary Clone Technique was E-rank and produced only an illusion. Anyone who looked closely could distinguish the real one from the fake.

What had made Kanami's pupils contract at the time was that her clone had substance!

And a clone with substance meant chakra nature transformation had been added to it. It was most likely the Ice Clone Technique.

Once chakra of the corresponding nature was added to a basic Clone Technique, it produced a physical effect, making it difficult to distinguish with the naked eye.

"One of your parents had Ice Release too, right?"

Fūka shook her head. "I've never met my parents.

"My sister and I were raised by our grandmother since we were little."

Kanami nodded.

In his memory, only Haku had used Ice Release. It was an exceptionally powerful Kekkei Genkai as well.

It simply had not been reflected in Fūka's use of it.

She had probably thought of using Ice Shuriken only because she did not have any actual Shuriken on hand.

Fūka asked, "What about you? What are you good at?"

After thinking for a moment, Kanami answered, "I'm good at Fire Release and some basic ninjutsu."

He had long decided to show himself as a Fire Release user. His other natures could serve as support. Although people with seven chakra natures did exist, he did not want to draw too much attention before he was strong enough.

The three chatted for a while longer. Seeing that it was getting late, they went their separate ways.

Elsewhere, under Kurenai Yuhi's intense training, Hinata was drenched in fragrant sweat.

After finishing their training, Kiba Inuzuka and Shino Aburame sat off to the side to rest.

Kiba complained, "What's up with Kurenai-sensei today? Why is she suddenly being so harsh on Hinata...?"

Shino Aburame raised a finger, and a flying insect in the distance landed on his hand.

The man and insect seemed to be communicating.

After a moment, Shino said, "The insect told me it smelled emotions of anger and resentment intertwined on Kurenai-sensei."

"What?"

Kiba Inuzuka abruptly stood up.

"You're saying Kurenai-sensei is taking her anger out on Hinata?"

Shino said, "I didn't say that."

Lost in his own world, Kiba Inuzuka did not hear his reply.

Damn it!

I should have noticed sooner!

Gentle and kind Kurenai-sensei would never treat Hinata like this.

He pressed his fists together. "I'm going to stop this inhumane devil training."

"Akamaru, let's go!"

Woof!

"Beast Human Ninja Technique, Beast Human Clone."

Akamaru leaped from his arms and transformed into the exact likeness of Kiba Inuzuka.

"Fang Over Fang!"

Kiba Inuzuka and Akamaru instantly became two black whirlwinds as they charged at Kurenai Yuhi.

Seeing this, Kurenai Yuhi jumped backward and evaded the attack.

Her brows furrowed.

"Kiba, what are you doing?"

Kiba Inuzuka shouted, "Give me back my gentle Kurenai-sensei!"

"Fang Over Fang!"

Two more black whirlwinds immediately swept toward her with tremendous force.

"What nonsense is this?"

Kurenai Yuhi swiftly leaped back and formed hand seals.

"Genjutsu: Fox Mind Reading Technique."

Those caught in this technique felt as though they were wandering through a maze they could never escape. It was mainly used to exhaust an enemy's stamina.

Then, Kiba Inuzuka and Akamaru attacked an empty patch of ground before wandering back and forth across it with bewildered expressions.

Kurenai Yuhi glanced at Kiba. "No idea what he's babbling about."

Only then did she notice that under her intense training, Hinata seemed to be running out of stamina.

She hurriedly told her to rest.

Only after receiving Kurenai Yuhi's permission did Hinata stop moving and disperse the chakra sustaining her Byakugan.

She collapsed onto the ground, her chest rising and falling unevenly.

"I'm sorry. I was so focused on making you train that I forgot how taxing the Byakugan is."

Kurenai Yuhi looked at Hinata with guilt on her face.

She had been thinking of improving Hinata's strength to keep her from being bullied by Kanami, yet she had forgotten that the most important thing in training was gradual progress.

Hinata wiped the fragrant sweat from her forehead and shook her head with a smile.

"It's not Kurenai-sensei's fault. The Chunin Ninja Exams are coming soon, and I want to perform well too."

With Kurenai Yuhi's external pressure, she pushed herself twice as hard as she would alone.

Kurenai Yuhi's sudden strictness had made her somewhat uncomfortable, but she also deeply wished to become stronger.

She did not want to hold everyone back and prevent her teammates from becoming Chunin.

Hinata asked, "I haven't seen Kanami all day... Kurenai-sensei, is he still looking for teammates?"

Hearing Hinata mention Kanami made Kurenai Yuhi a little angry again.

But she could hardly tell Hinata that Kanami had found two female teammates.

She could only stew in her anger alone.

Kurenai Yuhi said irritably, "You don't need to worry about him. That brat found his team ages ago."

"Really? That's great..."

Hinata's face was filled with both excitement and shyness.

The next day.

Kanami met the two sisters at their agreed meeting place.

Fūka was the first to ask, "What are we doing today?"

Kanami replied, "What else? Sparring, training, and building coordination."

"No way. I still want to go shopping with my sister."

Fūka wrapped an arm around Yuzuki and rested against her shoulder.

Kanami rolled his eyes at her.

Perfect. He could not be bothered with coordination either. He was practically taking an open-book exam here. What was there to coordinate? It was all just for appearances.

Since they did not want to, that worked out perfectly. He could go find his Little Hinata.

"Fine, then. Go shopping."

Kanami turned to leave.

Yuzuki hurriedly called out, "Wait!"

"? What is it?"

He turned around, looking somewhat puzzled.

Yuzuki scratched her little cheek and tilted her head.

"Let's go shopping together? Th-this way, we can get to know each other better. It's also a way to build coordination."

Kanami grumbled inwardly.

Do women all like shopping this much? Even teams have to shop to build coordination?

Hinata was probably practicing team coordination with Kiba and the others too, right?

Forget it. He would not disturb them. He would treat it as a day off for himself.

His expression did not change in the slightest as he nodded calmly.

With the two girls in front and the boy trailing behind like a bodyguard, Team of Courage began its coordination training.

Seeing that everyone had been training hard lately, and feeling somewhat guilty for being too harsh on Hinata yesterday, Kurenai Yuhi decided to let them rest today.

"Let's take a break today. How about we eat, drink, and relax?"

Kiba Inuzuka immediately beamed. "Kurenai-sensei is wise!"

The last time they rested, he had barely returned home before his sister ordered him around to do housework. He had not rested at all.

This time, with Kurenai Yuhi leading them, he would not have to do anything, and he would not need to pay for it himself either.

How could he not be happy?

After Hinata nodded as well, Kurenai Yuhi led the three of them toward the commercial street they had visited last time.

Of course, Konoha basically had only this one relatively bustling commercial street, so they had no choice but to come here.

As Kurenai Yuhi led the three around the streets.

Hinata suddenly spotted a figure ahead that looked very familiar.

Kanami?

Just as she wanted to greet him, she saw that Kanami was walking together with two cute girls.

Seeing them chatting and laughing together, Hinata's heart suddenly clenched in pain.