Punching a Hyuga

The next day.

Kazan got up and headed back to the Forest of Death to practice his punches. He sought out the thickest trees and hammered them relentlessly, training his fists of iron!

His Shadow Clone, meanwhile, practiced the Six Powers.

Fortunately, the Forest of Death was far from the village. Otherwise, there would have been no hiding the racket he made.

Hiruzen Sarutobi learned almost immediately that Kazan had gone to the Forest of Death to punch trees.

Kazan's talent for Taijutsu—or rather, his physical abilities—exceeded Hiruzen's expectations.

For all Hiruzen had seen, he had never encountered a child who had honed his body to such a degree before turning ten.

What's more, the techniques Kazan's Shadow Clone was practicing were unusual. Hiruzen had never seen them before. They were clearly Taijutsu techniques Kazan had created himself.

It showed just how gifted Kazan was at Taijutsu.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had given it a great deal of thought lately and decided that having Tsunade train Kazan would be a good choice.

Unfortunately, during the Second Shinobi World War, Tsunade had witnessed the deaths of her lover and her younger brother. Both had left her deeply traumatized.

Despite being a Ninja—and the finest medical Ninja in the entire Shinobi World—Tsunade had developed Hemophobia!

She had since left Konoha and was traveling the Shinobi World with Shizune Kato. No one knew where she was.

"If Kazan learns Tsunade's Monster Strength Fist, Konoha might gain a top-tier fighter."

Kazan had already proven the strength of his fists.

They were fast enough, and they were hard enough!

But they could be harder still!

If he mastered the Senju Clan's Monster Strength Fist, his punches would be more formidable than any Ninjutsu.

"We'll leave things as they are for now. If Tsunade refuses when the time comes, I'll teach Kazan the Monster Strength Fist myself."

As Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi believed he had that authority.

After all, he was thinking of the village's future.

The Monster Strength Fist?

Kazan had his eye on that technique too. Otherwise, he would never have played along with Hiruzen Sarutobi.

The original story made it clear: the technique originated with the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju.

Unlike Tsunade, who treated the Monster Strength Fist as a finishing move, Hashirama Senju used it for ordinary punches.

The difference was fundamental.

Garp's Template had given Kazan an astonishing physique and vast Chakra reserves. As he grew stronger, the cells in his body would keep producing more Chakra.

Letting all that Chakra go unused would be a terrible waste.

He had to get his hands on the Monster Strength Fist.

When that day came, Kazan intended to surpass even Garp at his peak.

Otherwise, how could he face the Six Paths level figures who appeared during the Fourth Shinobi World War, or the Otsutsuki in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations?

And that wasn't all. He wanted the Eight Gates Released Formation too.

Garp's memories also held another technique: Life Return.

It would let Kazan freely control every part of his body, including his internal organs.

Plenty of Pirate fans had speculated that Luffy had mastered it too.

As long as he had enough food, Luffy could digest it rapidly and draw life energy from it in a short time.

"Worth a try."

When Kazan tired of punching, he sat down, picked up a roasted deer leg, and took a huge bite.

He could get the Monster Strength Fist through Hiruzen Sarutobi. How to obtain the Eight Gates Released Formation, though, would take more thought.

"Even though I'm close with Might Duy and his son, it's still the family Secret Technique he spent decades mastering..."

Kazan wasn't sure Might Duy would be willing to teach him the Eight Gates Released Formation.

"One step at a time. I'll go beat up Asuka Hyuga this afternoon and see if that completes another achievement. I can worry about the rest afterward."

Kazan was going to beat up Asuka Hyuga, and not even Jesus could stop him. Kazan had spoken.

"Full belly. Time for a nap."

Kazan lay down against Hakimi and fell asleep.

By the time he woke, the Ninja Academy was nearly out for the day.

Kazan reached a spot along Asuka Hyuga's route home ahead of time and waited. Soon, Asuka came into view.

These kids weren't called geniuses for nothing.

Besides their outstanding natural gifts, they worked hard.

The likes of Jing Uchiha and Asuka Hyuga continued their training after school.

"You're here, Kazan!"

Asuka Hyuga did not seem surprised to see him.

"Oh? You knew I'd come?"

"Of course. Kakashi and Jing Uchiha both lost to you. Naturally, I, Asuka Hyuga, was bound to be your next target."

Asuka didn't know what Kazan was after, but if he had sought out both Kakashi and Jing Uchiha, then Asuka—one of the strongest of their generation—was bound to be next.

He was that confident!

Asuka Hyuga was delighted Kazan had come for him. Otherwise, people might think he was inferior to that Uchiha.

"But don't lump me in with Kakashi and Jing Uchiha. The Hyuga Clan's Kekkei Genkai is the strongest!"

People said the Uchiha Clan was arrogant to the bone, but the Hyuga Clan was no different.

Members of the great Shinobi Clans were born with Kekkei Genkai, giving them a head start over everyone else. Every one of them was proud of it.

"We'll find out whether it's the strongest when we fight."

Kazan grinned and flexed his fists. Then he suddenly sprang forward.

"Shave!"

His feet struck the ground dozens of times in 0.36 seconds. The resulting force sent him in front of Asuka in the blink of an eye.

"So fast!!!"

Asuka Hyuga wore the same shocked expression Jing Uchiha had.

Kazan's speed was simply staggering.

Body Flicker Technique? But I didn't see him make any Hand Seals!

Asuka had no time to think further. Kazan's fist was already hurtling toward him with crushing force.

He quickly crossed his arms in front of him to block it.

Boom!

Kazan's punch sent Asuka Hyuga flying.

That hit hard!

Both of Asuka's arms felt numb. The force of that punch made him think of the Konoha Princess Tsunade's Monster Strength Fist.

If he hadn't used Chakra to protect himself, both arms would have been ruined on the spot.

Before he could collect his thoughts, Kazan's next punch tore through the air toward him.

Byakugan!

He cried out inwardly. Veins bulged around his eyes, twisting beneath his skin like worms.

In an instant, Asuka Hyuga had no blind spots. His gaze pierced Kazan's skin, revealing the flow of Chakra inside his body.

And then.

He was stunned again.

Pure physical strength? There's no Chakra behind this punch at all!?

Asuka could hardly believe it. Kazan wasn't using Chakra to aid his movements. Everything came from raw physical strength.

What kind of human is he? He's a beast!