A stir

Six hundred meters behind the Konoha Ninja Academy lay a Training Forest reserved for the academy, where students learned the Forest Concealment Technique and various Trap Techniques.

Tianyun Hyuga brought the entire class to the forest, found a moderately sized clearing, and had his classmates spread out before he began teaching them.

The principles of Tai Chi Fist were not difficult to learn, but mastering it took a great deal of time. After explaining a few key points to his classmates, Tianyun Hyuga left them to practice and went over to Tenten, teaching her how to use Tai Chi Fist one move at a time.

"Raise your arm a little higher."

"That's right. Move your leg back a little."

"Bend your arm a little more."

Tianyun Hyuga kept instructing Tenten, occasionally correcting her movements himself. With all their classmates watching the two of them as well, Tenten's face began to turn bright red.

Still, Tenten wanted to learn the fighting art Tianyun Hyuga was teaching. She had discovered that it suited a ninja like her, whose close-combat abilities were weak and who knew few ninjutsu or genjutsu.

So, although she felt terribly shy, she still did not want Tianyun Hyuga to leave. With an expert like him guiding her, she could learn much faster than everyone else.

That was also why all their classmates envied Tenten.

It was not as though no one else wanted Tianyun Hyuga to teach them personally. But the moment they asked, he held out both hands and said, "Pay extra." All they could do was walk away in frustration.

They figured that since they had already learned the basics of Tai Chi Fist, they could simply practice at their own pace. Why waste more money?

The Hokage Office, inside the Hokage Building.

The Third Hokage received another report from the Anbu: Tianyun Hyuga had actually sold his New Gentle Fist to the entire class for five hundred thousand. Even the Third Hokage was dumbfounded. He had never encountered anything like this before.

After a moment of silence, the Third Hokage asked the Anbu ninja who had come to report, "Lan Xing, you said you watched Tianyun Hyuga teach his classmates the techniques of his New Gentle Fist. What rank of ninjutsu do you think it is...?"

The mask worn by the Anbu ninja Lan Xing completely hid his expression, but his tone was solemn. "Lord Hokage, in my judgment, that nintaijutsu is at least A-rank. It would be very useful to any taijutsu specialist. I recommend immediately restricting its dissemination."

"It's actually A-rank..." The Third Hokage was somewhat shocked. After thinking it over, he said, "You're right. This technique cannot be freely shared. Notify the clans that have already paid to learn it that they must not pass this nintaijutsu on. Anyone else who wants to learn it must first obtain approval from Konoha's leadership..."

Lan Xing said, "Lord Hokage, two children from the Uchiha Clan are there as well. It would be difficult for us to approach their clan with this notice..."

The Third Hokage understood the Anbu's predicament and nodded. "You don't need to worry about the Uchiha Clan. I'll send someone else to notify them..."

Then the Third Hokage added, "While you're at it, notify Clan Head Hiashi as well. Ask him whether Meicun Hyuga's family is short of money. If she needs financial help, Konoha is willing to provide it."

Lan Xing was rather speechless. Wasn't the Third Hokage effectively handing Tianyun Hyuga over to Hyuga Hiashi by doing this?

Of course, the Third Hokage would not explain his reasoning to an Anbu ninja. His purpose was to have Hyuga Hiashi give Tianyun Hyuga's family some benefits, so Tianyun Hyuga would not sell an A-rank ninjutsu everywhere just to make money. The resulting unrest in Konoha was giving him quite a headache.

The Third Hokage had considered subsidizing Tianyun Hyuga's family himself, but he knew that doing so would violate the agreement between the Hyuga Clan and Konoha. He therefore decided to do Hyuga Hiashi a favor instead.

Finally, as Lan Xing was about to leave, the Third Hokage said, "Lan Xing, Iruka is still downstairs waiting to see me. Go tell him that I want to meet Tianyun Hyuga. Have him bring Tianyun Hyuga here, and then I'll discuss matters with him..."

Having received the Third Hokage's orders, Lan Xing vanished in a puff of smoke.

At nine that morning, at Clan Head Hyuga Hiashi's residence within the Hyuga Clan compound.

Hyuga Hiashi was teaching his daughter, Hinata Hyuga, the Gentle Fist when a guard suddenly came to report that Lan Xing, an Anbu ninja serving directly under the Hokage, had requested an audience and had something to report.

Since the Third Hokage had sent him, Hyuga Hiashi could hardly keep him waiting. He left Hinata Hyuga in the guard's care for further instruction and hurried back to his residence to meet the Third Hokage's envoy.

When Hyuga Hiashi returned to the main hall and saw Lan Xing, he immediately asked, "What matter has prompted Lord Hokage to send someone here despite his busy schedule?"

Anbu ninjas did not engage in veiled exchanges. Lan Xing spoke plainly. "Lord Hiashi, Lord Hokage sent me to ask whether your Hyuga Clan has failed to provide Meicun Hyuga's family with sufficient living funds. Her son, Tianyun Hyuga, is now selling an A-rank ninjutsu at the academy, and he has already sold it to many clans. It is giving Lord Hokage quite a headache..."

Hyuga Hiashi looked utterly bewildered. He stood stunned for a full minute before answering, "Please inform Lord Hokage that I will send someone to investigate immediately. I will give him an answer in two hours."

With his task complete, the Anbu ninja nodded calmly. "Lord Hiashi, I'll take my leave..."

"Please," Hyuga Hiashi said.

After watching the Anbu ninja walk away, Hyuga Hiashi immediately frowned and called out, "Nisshu, come out here. Investigate what exactly happened at the Ninja Academy right away. Also, check on Meicun Hyuga's family and see whether they're having any problems..."

Nisshu Hyuga stepped out from behind a pillar in the room. "Clan Head, could there be some mistake? How could Tianyun Hyuga possess an A-rank ninjutsu, much less sell it everywhere...?"

Hyuga Hiashi shook his head and said firmly, "The Third Hokage is no ordinary man. If he sent someone to inform us, there must be no mistake. The only possibility I can think of is that the New Gentle Fist Tianyun Hyuga used yesterday may be an A-rank ninjutsu."

Nisshu Hyuga also understood the seriousness of the matter and immediately said, "I'll take some people to investigate right away. I'll return with a report in an hour..."

"Go, and investigate thoroughly," Hyuga Hiashi said, waving him off.

Nisshu Hyuga wasted no more time. He quickly summoned a group of Hyuga clansmen and divided them into two teams to investigate Tianyun Hyuga and Meicun Hyuga's circumstances.