"I'm home!" Boruto called out as he pushed open the front door.
"Welcome back," Hinata replied instinctively. But when she saw it was Boruto, she couldn't help asking, "Boruto, weren't you supposed to meet up with Team 7? Why are you back so early?"
"Konohamaru gave us the day off because of a mission. Mom, I've already activated my Byakugan, but I don't know Gentle Fist. Can you teach me?" Boruto explained why he had returned home so early and asked Hinata to teach him the Hyuga clan's signature fighting style.
"You've activated your Byakugan? Show it to me," Hinata said, rushing over to Boruto and fixing her gaze on his eyes.
"Uh… okay," Boruto replied mechanically, caught off guard by her sudden action.
"Hmm? Boruto, what's wrong?" Hinata asked with concern when she noticed he wasn't moving after responding.
"Oh, nothing. I just got distracted," Boruto said as Hinata brought him back to reality.
After answering, Boruto fully opened his Byakugan. Hinata carefully examined his eyes from left to right, then nodded approvingly. "This is indeed a Byakugan. Boruto, how did you activate it? Did you feel any discomfort when it happened?"
"Nothing unusual. I don't know why it awakened all of a sudden, and I didn't feel any discomfort," Boruto said, scratching the back of his head shyly.
"That's a relief," Hinata said, patting her chest. "If you want to learn Gentle Fist, I can teach you personally. Once I finish the housework, we can practice in the yard."
"Got it," Boruto replied, hearing Hinata's instructions.
Boruto and Hinata stepped into the yard and faced each other. Hinata activated her Byakugan and said, "Boruto, you open your Byakugan too. Watch my movements and chakra control carefully."
Boruto immediately activated his Byakugan, focusing intently. Seeing him ready, Hinata began demonstrating the basic techniques of the Hyuga clan's Gentle Fist. Gentle Fist emphasizes speed, precision, and ruthlessness. For example, the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms requires striking all sixty-four chakra points on an opponent in rapid succession.
This technique demands not only a strong body but also precise chakra control, as the Hyuga concentrate chakra in their fingertips to penetrate an opponent's chakra network. If the control isn't exact, some points may be missed during rapid strikes, weakening the technique.
Although Hinata's physique wasn't especially robust, and she had stopped active ninja missions after marrying Naruto, she had developed her own mastery of Gentle Fist during her ninja career. Her demonstration of the style to Boruto was fluid and precise, proving her natural talent. If she had continued training, she could have achieved even greater feats. Reality, however, allowed no "ifs."
"Boruto, did you see everything clearly? Should I demonstrate it again?" Hinata asked after finishing the basic sequence, noticing Boruto still watching intently.
"Yeah… I saw it. But it seems kind of simple," Boruto commented.
"This style is only for clan members to train their bodies. If your physical condition isn't strong enough, you won't be able to use Gentle Fist effectively," Hinata patiently explained.
"Then can I learn more advanced Gentle Fist techniques now?"
"First, practice the sequence I just demonstrated. Once I see that you've mastered it, I'll teach you more advanced techniques."
Hearing this, Boruto realized that Hinata wouldn't continue teaching unless he proved his capability. With determination, he immediately activated his Byakugan and began practicing the techniques Hinata had just demonstrated.