Shihui Aburame finished watching Sasuke Uchiha's high jumps.
But he received no achievement.
Were there too few people watching?
He turned around and looked at Hinata Hyuga.
"Hinata, activate your Byakugan."
Shihui Aburame spoke directly.
Hinata Hyuga froze slightly, a little puzzled, but did as he said.
Veins immediately appeared around her eyes.
Under her gaze, Shihui Aburame had the illusion that he wasn't wearing any clothes.
The Byakugan had many uses.
The most important was seeing through the body to the pathways through which chakra flowed and the chakra points that released it.
Combined with the Gentle Fist's ability to strike chakra points, it could produce an effect greater than the sum of its parts.
Among ordinary ninja, it was unquestionably top-tier.
But beyond that level, the Byakugan seemed powerless.
When everyone in the Uchiha Clan fought in Gundam form, how were you supposed to strike their chakra points?
Unless it advanced into the Tenseigan, allowing its wielder to stand high in the heavens.
"What do you see?"
Shihui Aburame gathered his wandering thoughts and asked.
"I... I..."
Hinata Hyuga suddenly blushed slightly and lowered her head.
What are you blushing for?
"My chakra."
Shihui Aburame reminded her.
"I can see it."
Hinata Hyuga poked her index fingers together and said softly, "It's the same as other ninja's."
It seemed the Byakugan still couldn't detect his aperture.
With a thought, Shihui Aburame mobilized his primeval essence and poured it into the White Jade Gu.
Soon, his skin took on a pale, jade-like sheen.
"What about now?"
Shihui Aburame asked again.
Hinata Hyuga raised her head again and couldn't help staring blankly.
Shiki-kun was glowing.
So pretty! I love looking at him!
She stood still and watched for two seconds, then murmured, "Amazing."
"What?"
Shihui Aburame pressed.
"Shiki-kun's chakra covers the surface of his body evenly."
Hinata Hyuga's voice was full of wonder.
It was her first time seeing such evenly distributed chakra.
It covered every inch of his skin, without a single weak spot.
Shihui Aburame nodded slightly.
It was just as he had expected.
"Can you see the chakra points?"
Shihui Aburame continued asking.
"Yes."
Hinata Hyuga answered.
The Byakugan certainly lived up to its reputation.
But being able to see them didn't mean it would be useful.
Shihui Aburame held out his arm and said, "Strike a chakra point."
"Huh?"
Hinata Hyuga hurriedly shook her head and said, "It'll feel really unpleasant."
"You reminded me of something."
Shihui Aburame looked at her fingers.
They were fair and slender, their skin faintly pink, like the tips of bamboo shoots newly emerged after rain.
With him staring at her, Hinata Hyuga's heart trembled.
Her delicate fingers seemed to flush even more pink beneath their fair skin.
She instinctively withdrew her hands and hid them behind her back.
"Gather chakra in your fingers before you strike."
Shihui Aburame thought for a moment, then said, "Protect your fingers as much as possible."
"Huh?"
Hinata Hyuga looked utterly bewildered.
This was completely different from what she had imagined.
"Don't worry. Go ahead and strike."
Shihui Aburame said with a smile.
Looking at his smile, Hinata Hyuga couldn't help nodding.
By the time she realized it, it was already too late.
Shiki-kun felt so utterly bewitching.
Hesitantly, she held out her hand and pressed two fingers together as chakra appeared and coiled around them.
Although she didn't understand Shihui Aburame's intentions, she trusted him unconditionally.
Hinata Hyuga's fingers stopped just short of his arm.
She looked at Shihui Aburame and received an encouraging look.
The next second, she struck sharply.
Hinata Hyuga felt as though she had struck a rock. It was frighteningly hard.
She instinctively shook her fingers. They hurt a little.
"Are you all right?"
Shihui Aburame took her wrist and examined it carefully.
"I... I'm fine."
Hinata Hyuga felt a little dizzy. The pain in her fingers turned into the warmth of Shihui Aburame's large hand.
She felt as though her brain was about to lose its ability to think.
"That's good."
Shihui Aburame released her hand and said, "Thank you for your help."
He had confirmed the White Jade Gu's power.
To successfully strike his chakra points, someone would first have to break through its defenses.
"I..."
Hinata Hyuga clutched the hem of her clothes tightly, not knowing what to say.
But she was very happy inside.
I finally helped Shiki-kun!
She had thought she was no use for anything besides giving him money.
"Wait here for the food."
Shihui Aburame rubbed her head.
He turned and went into the kitchen.
Hinata Hyuga raised her hands and placed them on her cheeks.
So hot!
She didn't understand why this happened.
Whenever she spent time with Shiki-kun, she became especially shy.
Half an hour later, the food was on the table.
Twice-cooked pork, shredded pork with green peppers, and chicken in chili sauce.
"You start eating."
Shihui Aburame went to the front of the wooden house.
Sasuke Uchiha immediately stopped his high jumps and stood there, a little embarrassed.
He had followed him here, after all.
"I'll only teach you once."
Shihui Aburame walked over to the parallel bars.
Apart from earning achievements, he had made these facilities to improve Sasuke Uchiha's chakra control.
Chakra gathered in the soles of his feet.
He stepped onto the parallel bars and gradually walked upward.
Sasuke Uchiha's eyes widened.
So that was how you used them?
He suddenly felt a sense of familiarity.
Tree Climbing and Water Walking.
But this seemed more difficult.
Because the footholds were narrower.
Sasuke Uchiha watched the whole process in a daze.
Shihui Aburame's chakra control was unbelievably strong.
By comparison, he was practically worse than a dog.
Sasuke Uchiha thought of his older brother, Uchiha Itachi.
"Come practice whenever you have time."
Although Shihui Aburame had made Uchiha Mikoto a promise, he really didn't have time to teach Sasuke Uchiha.
After some thought, he had decided to start with chakra control.
It was too early for Sasuke Uchiha to awaken his Sharingan.
And Shihui Aburame didn't know any Lightning Release Ninjutsu.
But if he had the opportunity, he could approach Kakashi Hatake.
"Come in and eat."
Shihui Aburame returned to the dining table.
A moment later, Sasuke Uchiha followed him inside.
What dishes were these?
Uchiha Mikoto was deft and skilled, and could cook many dishes.
But they were all different from those on the table.
Curiously, Sasuke Uchiha picked up a piece of meat with his chopsticks.
He chewed twice, and his eyes brightened slightly.
It tasted pretty good.
How did Shihui Aburame know how to do everything?
Was he a master of time management?
Where did he find so much time to learn all these miscellaneous things?
Sasuke Uchiha glanced at him, his face full of puzzlement.
But soon, something even more puzzling appeared.
He stared at Hinata Hyuga, dumbfounded.
How did nine bowls of rice fit into such a tiny body?
"Go train."
Shihui Aburame spoke as he cleared the table.
Sasuke Uchiha came back to his senses, stood up, and headed outside.
"I'll walk you home."
After finishing the dishes, Shihui Aburame headed outside with Hinata Hyuga.
He raised his eyebrows slightly.
Sasuke Uchiha fell straight off the parallel bars, but quickly got back up.
He had to admit that this perseverance was pretty good.
I'll bring Naruto Uzumaki over to try it another day.
Awakening and advancing the Sharingan required a great deal of emotional stimulation.
But judging from the original story, what Sasuke Uchiha needed wasn't hatred over his clan's massacre, but the frustration of being surpassed by Naruto Uzumaki.
"Sasuke."
Shihui Aburame pointed at the wooden cabin and said, "Rest if you're tired. In return, keep watch at the door for me."
He suddenly let out a soft "Huh?"
Something about that phrasing felt a little off.
Sasuke Uchiha did not answer, merely giving a cool nod.
Once the two of them disappeared, he resumed his training.
(End of chapter)