Chapter 216: The Hyuga Sisters
Since Ino had already leaked the exam questions to Choji, she naturally didn't forget about Hinata.
Hinata's academic performance wasn't originally a problem, but after becoming a Genin and as Ino and the other "Konoha's Four Rookies" gradually made a name for themselves, her pressure suddenly increased dramatically. She trained diligently every day, practicing Taijutsu until her mind went blank. As for the academic subjects, after not looking at them for a while, they were on the verge of being forgotten.
Ino visited the Hyuga compound to see her for two consecutive days and found her buried in her old textbooks, studying intensely. Her small frame and large head, bent over thick books, gave the impression of a sports specialist having to repeat a grade – a truly pitiable sight.
Poor dear, Ino thought. Don't strain yourself like this. I'll just tell you the exam questions directly.
"Ah? No, no!"
"You can't do that!"
"Ino, don't!"
After receiving the leaked test questions from Ino, Hinata was filled with trepidation. Even in her own home, she kept glancing back nervously, as if she had done something unspeakable.
"What are you afraid of? You're too timid! It's fine. They even allow live cheating during the exams, let alone at this point!" Ino patted her on the shoulder repeatedly, trying to reassure her.
"Big Sister Ino!" Hanabi Hyuga, Hinata's younger sister, was also very familiar with Ino. The seven-year-old girl was open and polite, greeting Ino respectfully upon seeing her, and then politely bowing to her own sister.
"Oh, little Hanabi," Ino said in an older-sister tone. "Have you started at the Ninja Academy? How is it? Is the study load heavy?"
Hanabi was far more confident than her sister. Her chin lifted slightly. "The school is full of little brats who don't understand anything. That kind of studying is a complete waste of time. Sister, please use that Genjutsu on me again from yesterday. I want to see if I can break it!"
Ino smiled. "Alright."
Following Tayuya's Demonic Flute: Illusionary Sound Chains method, she whistled, using the sound to confuse and manipulate Hanabi's chakra, instantly pulling the little girl into a world of illusions. Her "Illusion" stat was now at 6, making dealing with a child like Hanabi effortless.
Hanabi stood still, her eyes losing focus. Hinata watched her sister with a bit of worry, temporarily forgetting about the exam questions.
A minute later, the little chakra Ino used for whistling ran out. Hanabi awoke from the Genjutsu, having failed to break it. She looked at Ino with eyes full of admiration.
To be able to do this without any hand seals or a Kekkei Genkai was truly incredible!
"Sister, Sister, again, please?"
"Sister, just one more time, please! I'm sure I can break free from this Genjutsu this time! Byakugan!"
Ino played with the little girl for a while, receiving abundant praise.
Not all Byakugan were the same. While they didn't have the stages of the Sharingan—one tomoe, two tomoe, three tomoe, Mangekyo—as eyes from a legendary lineage and direct descendants of the Otsutsuki clan, the Byakugan also varied in terms of eye power. Kaguya Otsutsuki had the Byakugan, and Hiashi Hyuga also had the Byakugan. Their eyes looked exactly like Hanabi's Byakugan, but in reality? Could you say Kaguya Otsutsuki's Byakugan was the same as Hanabi's Byakugan? There was a vast difference in their eye power, like heaven and earth.
"Sister, goodbye!"
"Little Hanabi, goodbye."
Ino glanced left and right to make sure no one was around and whispered, "The little rascal is gone. I'll tell you about the second phase exam questions again. Although I'm in charge of the second phase, I can't openly help you cheat. You still need to put in some effort yourself."
Isn't this already cheating?! Honest Hinata's thoughts shifted from her sister back to the exam. Although she felt like she had just violated dozens of village regulations, as she memorized the questions, a sense of thrill welled up from the bottom of her heart. Wow, how exciting!
After discussing the exam, Ino sparred with Hinata in Taijutsu as was their custom.
Ino's Taijutsu stat was currently 7. She estimated Hinata was probably around 6. Ino lacked sophisticated martial arts like the Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Palms, which had been refined through generations of rigorous training. However, she had extensive combat experience and could often adapt spontaneously, countering moves as they came. By slightly holding back her strength, their spars were always comfortable and enjoyable.
"Watch out!" This time, Ino deliberately picked up a samurai sword and used the Leaf Style Kenjutsu she had learned from Yugao Uzuki, taking a starting stance.
Hinata placed her hands one in front of the other, activated her Byakugan, and focused intensely on Ino's every movement.
Ino used the tip of her blade to flick up a handful of dirt, then advanced straight to the center! Hinata saw through her intent a step ahead, moved to the side, and struck towards Ino's sword-holding wrist with an open palm.
Ino flipped her wrist, the blade rotating to slash at Hinata's fingers. Hinata pulled back, and Ino flicked and shook her wrist in quick succession, launching three strikes targeting her arm, shoulder, and throat respectively. This was the Taijutsu "Dance of the Camellia" she had extracted from Kimimaro's brain. While the Shikotsumyaku ability couldn't be used, some of his Taijutsu secret techniques could be imitated with a sword.
Kimimaro was still a child when he left the Kaguya clan, and Orochimaru's own Taijutsu was only average. But Orochimaru was extremely knowledgeable, managing to obtain all sorts of secret techniques and forbidden arts. Through his synthesis and analysis, Kimimaro's Taijutsu had reached a very high level. Ino could currently only imitate the outer form, but even just the form put immense pressure on Hinata.
With a crack, Ino drew her soft whip, swung her right arm in a full circle, and following the pattern of the "Dance of the Clematis," whipped a strike at a weak point in Hinata's Eight Trigrams Thirty-Two Palms. Her defense instantly crumbled.
"Again."
Hinata had lost the round. Ino waited for her to recover for a few seconds before attacking with the sword once more.
From the viewing platform on the third floor, Hiashi Hyuga, the head of the Hyuga clan, stood with his arms crossed, watching Ino and Hinata spar from a distance. Hanabi watched alongside him.
"Father, what move is Big Sister Ino using now? It looks so complex."
Hiashi watched intently for a couple of moments. "It seems to have some moves from the Kaguya clan's Taijutsu, a bit of a foundation from Leaf Style Kenjutsu, and even traces of the Cloud Village's Nin-Taijutsu. That little Yamanaka girl is learning quite a mix. You shouldn't learn like that. Just specialize in the family's Eight Trigrams Palms."
Hanabi at this age was full of curiosity. Having to practice the family's Gentle Fist day after day for years felt tedious to her. For a moment, she thought, Big Sister Ino is amazing! She's learned so many things!
She asked hesitantly, "I heard Big Sister Ino is best at Ninjutsu?"
Hiashi had personally witnessed the scene where Ino clashed Ninjutsu with Kisame Hoshigaki. There was no arguing with that. He nodded. "She is indeed a Ninjutsu genius. That Inoichi Yamanaka is truly lucky..."
He brought the conversation back to the present. "Do you know why a ninja who specializes in Ninjutsu is sparring with your sister in Taijutsu?"
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