Hinata lowered her head, her two index fingers nervously poking at each other in front of her chest.
Her delicate little face was as red as a ripe apple, almost dripping with moisture.
She finally managed to squeeze past the other test-takers who were scrambling to buy barbecue.
He walked up to Kenya, who was flipping over grilled meat skewers, and spoke in a voice barely audible.
"Um... Lord Kenya..."
"Um?"
Kenya himself with his palm leaf fan and turned his head.
He raised an eyebrow at the shy girl who looked like she was about to faint.
" The Hyuga Clan's little girl? She wants to see me?"
Hinata took a deep breath, mustered up immense courage, and handed over a neatly folded, clean handkerchief.
"This... this is for wiping your sweat."
She stammered, lowering her head even further.
"Oh... there's more, thank you."
"Thank you... for saving Uncle Hizashi."
Although the Hyuga Clan kept the news that Hizashi was still alive very tightly under wraps.
However, as the eldest daughter of the Main Family, Hinata still learned the truth from her father, Hiashi.
They knew it was this somewhat burly man in front of them who had rescued Uncle Hizashi from the clutches of the Kumogakure Village.
They even threatened to smash the Caged Bird Seal Branch Family.
This filled the kind-hearted Hinata with deep gratitude and awe for Kenya.
Kenya took the handkerchief that smelled faintly of soap.
He casually wiped the sweat from his forehead.
It's nothing, don't worry about it.
He looked Hinata up and down.
Although the little girl was pretty and cute, her timid and submissive demeanor, as if a gust of wind could blow her away, really didn't resemble a ninja.
"Your name is Hinata, right?"
Kenya stuffed the handkerchief into his pocket, his gaze falling on Hinata's delicate, fair hands, which clearly hadn't undergone much rigorous training.
"I've seen the Gentle Fist of your Hyuga Clan."
"Acupressure and meridian sealing, there's definitely some skill involved."
"But the problem is, your boxing style is too effeminate; it only targets the meridians."
Kenya curled his lip, his tone carrying a hint of disdain.
"When you encounter an opponent with thick skin and thick flesh, or an astonishing amount of Chakra, your Gentle Fist won't even be able to break through their defense. How are you supposed to fight?"
Hearing Kenya's merciless assessment...
Hinata lowered her head even further.
She knew she wasn't talented and had a weak personality, so she could never meet her father's expectations.
Hearing Kenya's words, she felt even more ashamed.
"I... I'm too stupid, I can't learn Gentle Fist..."
The little girl looked like she was about to cry.
Kenya sighed.
"Who said you have to learn that soft, weak Gentle Fist?"
He grabbed Hinata's soft, white hand.
"Girls, when you're out and about, you need to learn how to defend yourself using physical strength."
"Only when you hurt others and make them afraid will they not dare to bully you."
As he spoke, Kenya ignored Hinata's surprised gaze.
He slowly closed his eyes, mobilizing the Chakra and Wood Release Cells within his body.
Wood Release!
A mass of pitch-black, woody substance instantly surged from his palm.
These substances did not grow into thick tree trunks.
Rather, it was under Kenya's exquisite Chakra control.
It quickly solidified and deformed, transforming into two extremely delicate and small objects.
After the black substance had fully formed.
Kenya opened his palm.
A pair of knuckle dusters, entirely black and gleaming with a cold metallic sheen, lay quietly in his palm.
These brass knuckles were custom-made by Kenya using the highest density Black Iron Wood.
Not only is it lightweight, but it is also as hard as stainless steel.
On the front of the brass knuckles, two Haki characters are carved in cursive script: " Iron Fist "!
"Here, try it on."
Kenya shoved the pair of " Iron Fist Knuckles " into Hinata's hands.
Hinata stared blankly at the pair of weapons in her hands, weapons with a rough appearance and a violent aesthetic.
This art style.
That's the complete opposite of her gentle and delicate personality!
"Lord Ken... Lord Kenya, this... this is too precious, I can't accept it."
Hinata panicked and tried to refuse.
"Just take it if I give it to you, stop with the nonsense."
Kenya waved his hand impatiently.
"Put these on and concentrate the Chakra Hyuga Clan at the tip of the brass."
"Forget about acupoints or anything like that, when you see an enemy, just shoot them in the face!"
Kenya spoke, he even struck a standard right hook pose as a demonstration.
"Like this, one punch, and who cares about Ice Release or Water Release, just smash it to pieces!"
"This is the true essence of Gentle Fist —physical salvation!"
Listening to Kenya's teaching, which could be described as "heretical".
The Konoha examinees who were eavesdropping nearby were all speechless.
Big brother!
You're setting a bad example for children!
Who would raise the Byakugan princess of the Hyuga Clan to be a violent maniac?!
Hinata listened very attentively.
She looked at Kenya's confident and flamboyant smile.
The suppressed inferiority complex in my heart seemed to be largely dispelled by this brutal force.
"Thank you... thank you Lord Kenya."
Hinata took a deep breath.
She carefully slipped the pair of black metal knuckle dusters onto her fair fingers.
The cold touch gave her an unprecedented sense of security.
"Talk is cheap."
Kenya pointed to a solid iron pillar next to the rest area, which was used to support the ceiling.
"Go, throw a punch at that pillar and let me see the effect."
Hinata hesitated.
She looked at the solid iron pillar, which was thicker than her waist.
Normally, when she hits someone with her Gentle Fist, it only leaves a white mark at most.
Now that I'm wearing these black iron knuckle dusters, will they really have the power the old man described?
But under Kenya's encouraging gaze.
Hinata gritted her teeth and walked to the iron pillar.
She took a deep breath, and the veins around her pure white eyes bulged.
Byakugan, open!
The Chakra within his body flowed along his meridians and quickly gathered in his right fist, which was adorned with brass knuckles.
"Hey!"
Hinata let out a delicate shout.
She closed her eyes.
Hinata, wearing brass knuckles, somewhat embarrassedly gave the iron pillar next to her a light tap, instantly denting a large chunk of it.