Stance

Toru Kujyo assumed no particular fighting stance. He simply stood at ease, his arms hanging naturally at his sides. He seemed full of openings, but his calm gaze kept Hinata from letting her guard down in the slightest. "Come on. Show me the Gentle Fist," Toru Kujyo said.

Hinata hesitated no longer. With a sharp cry, she pushed off the ground and shot toward Toru Kujyo like an arrow loosed from a bow, her right index and middle fingers pressed together as she thrust straight at the chakra point on his shoulder! The Hyuga Clan's taijutsu focused on striking chakra points and blocking pathways, emphasizing precise attacks that disrupted an opponent's chakra flow. This strike was fast and came from a tricky angle, clearly the product of rigorous training.

Yet just as Hinata's fingertips were about to touch his shoulder, Toru Kujyo shifted slightly to one side, avoiding the strike by a hair's breadth. At the same time, his right hand darted out like a snake striking from its hole, lightning-fast, and rested lightly on her advancing wrist.

Hinata felt her wrist go numb. A deft force instantly redirected her forward momentum, and she staggered several steps sideways despite herself. Startled, she hurriedly steadied herself, changed her left palm into a finger strike, and attacked beneath Toru Kujyo's ribs.

Rather than retreating, Toru Kujyo stepped forward. With a light shift of his feet, he avoided her attack again as easily as if he were taking a leisurely stroll. His left hand deflected her arm while his right followed through with a seemingly weightless palm strike that landed squarely on her abdomen.

"Urgh!" Hinata felt a gentle yet irresistible force surge into her. She stumbled backward uncontrollably, only stopping when she hit a tree behind her. The blow left her winded, but it did not hurt.

"Good reactions, and your speed is sufficient, but your power and accuracy still need work," Toru Kujyo said calmly, withdrawing his hand. "The key to the Gentle Fist is hitting the chakra points. I easily avoided both of your attacks just now. In a real fight, your enemy won't give you many chances to adjust."

Holding her abdomen, Hinata took a few breaths and stared at Toru Kujyo, her eyes filled with shock. She had known he was strong, but she had never imagined he would be this strong.

Her all-out attacks had been like child's play to him. He had neutralized them effortlessly, and she had not even touched the hem of his clothes. What was more, that palm strike could easily have injured her, yet he had controlled it perfectly, only pushing her away.

The gap between them left her a little discouraged, but more than anything, it stirred her competitive spirit. "A-again!" Hinata gritted her teeth and assumed her stance once more.

For the rest of the session, the same scene played out over and over on the training ground: Hinata attacked, only for Toru Kujyo to effortlessly counter her and knock her back.

Toru Kujyo never took the offensive. He only blocked, dodged, and countered when she attacked, always stopping short of hurting her while pointing out her shortcomings.

"You hesitate too much when you strike. The Gentle Fist demands that you land your blow in a single attempt and instantly damage your opponent's chakra pathways. Hesitation only costs you opportunities."

"Your footing is unstable. You focus only on attacking with your hands, so I can easily throw you off balance."

"Your chakra flow isn't smooth enough. You aren't concentrating enough force when you strike the chakra points, so you can't penetrate your opponent's defenses."

Every time she was knocked back and heard Toru Kujyo's advice, Hinata felt frustrated, yet her determination only grew stronger. She could clearly feel that, through these practice exchanges that came close to real combat, her understanding and use of the Gentle Fist were improving at a pace she had never experienced before.

And so their summer vacation began.

Every morning, Toru Kujyo used the Transformation Technique to take on Ino Yamanaka's appearance and arrived punctually in the alley outside the Hyuga Clan Compound. Under her family's watchful eyes, Hinata would then leave the compound with "Ino" and head to the abandoned Training Ground No. 3.

At first, Hinata was still a little nervous and awkward, but as time passed, she gradually grew accustomed to this double life. By day, she was the Main Family's young lady, playing with her "good friend Ino" and occasionally enjoying some "friendly sparring." Inside the training ground, however, she was a diligent student undergoing Toru Kujyo's strict training and constantly pushing past her limits.

She had already fully mastered Tree Climbing and could even run and leap swiftly along tree trunks. As for taijutsu, Toru Kujyo's relentless practice attacks and meticulous guidance made her Gentle Fist faster and more precise, and she struck far more decisively. Although she still posed no real threat to him, she was worlds apart from where she had been at the start of summer vacation.

The change in her went beyond her strength. The little girl who had once spoken in a tiny voice, blushed at the slightest provocation, and avoided people's eyes was still somewhat introverted, but now there was confidence and resolve in her expression. She stood straighter when she walked and dared to meet others' gazes. Occasionally, during sparring sessions within the clan, she could even put pressure on some of the branch family children her age.

Naturally, such a startling transformation could not escape the notice of the Hyuga Clan's leader, Hinata's father-Hyuga Hiashi.

Initially, Hiashi had paid little attention to Hinata going out with "Ino Yamanaka" every day. He knew his daughter was introverted, and it was rare for a friend her age to approach her of their own accord, so he was glad to see it. Besides, the Yamanaka Clan was a distinguished clan as well. There was nothing wrong with his daughter spending more time with Ino.

But as time passed, Hiashi keenly noticed the changes in his daughter. She was not merely becoming more cheerful; her strength and bearing were undergoing a transformation. Her progress with the Gentle Fist far outstripped what the clan instructors' methodical lessons could achieve. The light in her eyes was no longer timid, but carried a resolve tempered by hardship.

This was certainly not something that simple play and roughhousing could bring about!

Without revealing his suspicions, Hiashi sent out the clan's ANBU to follow Hinata secretly.

Soon, the ANBU returned with startling information: the person training alongside Hinata was not Ino Yamanaka at all, but a boy they had never seen before! His strength was unfathomable. Not only did he guide Hinata's Gentle Fist training with ease, he also demonstrated Chakra Control skills far beyond Genin level, along with ninjutsu that appeared to be Wind Release!

Hyuga Hiashi stood at the edge of the training area, watching his daughter practice the Gentle Fist with painstaking care, a complicated look flickering in his eyes. Who was that boy? What did he want with Hinata?

While Hiashi observed in secret and considered his next move, the corners of Toru Kujyo's mouth lifted slightly inside the training ground. He had long since noticed the gaze concealed in the shadows. For several days now, a faint sense of being watched had accompanied their training. Without a doubt, it was someone from the Hyuga Clan.

Looks like it's time to put this Hyuga Clan leader's mind at ease, Toru Kujyo thought.

That day, while teaching Hinata an advanced Tree Climbing exercise-walking upside down-Toru Kujyo deliberately made a "mistake." His foot slipped, and he fell toward the nearby stream.