Chapter 14: Great Fireball Technique
"Nar... Naruto-kun..."
A timid voice and movements.
Hinata mustered her courage, and it took a while before she finally stepped in front of Naruto.
When she learned she was to spar with Naruto, her mind went blank.
The thing she had been most worried about had finally come to pass.
"Hinata."
Naruto smiled. Seeing her look as though she were about to cry, he asked, "Why do you want to become a Ninja?"
It was a sudden question.
It eased Hinata's tension.
She met his gaze blankly.
It was full of encouragement.
Completely different from her father, Hyuga Hiashi.
Since she was a child, she had only ever sparred with two people.
Hyuga Hiashi and Hyuga Neji.
But their eyes were always filled with nothing but cold severity.
Becoming a Ninja was also because of her father's arrangement.
She had never thought about this question before.
"The so-called Way of the Ninja is to keep moving forward."
Naruto raised his hand and smiled. "Hinata, let me see the Hyuga Clan's Gentle Fist."
Hinata felt an unprecedented warmth.
Her gaze became firm.
"Naruto-kun, please be careful."
Hinata stepped forward with her left foot and spread her hands, taking the Gentle Fist stance.
Unlike Ninjutsu, Taijutsu can be performed without Chakra.
In the early stages, it undoubtedly holds an advantage.
Even though Hinata had not yet awakened her eyes, the Gentle Fist, known as the number one Taijutsu, was not to be underestimated.
Naruto watched Hinata intently.
In the original work, she lacked confidence and gave up easily in the early days, only changing after the Chunin Exams.
He hoped he could be of some help to her.
Hinata took a deep breath and instantly closed in on Naruto, throwing five consecutive punches.
Bang!
Naruto blocked her Gentle Fist with his arms.
The power was a bit lacking.
He evaluated in his mind.
Seeing this, Hinata took a half-step back with her right foot, using it as a pivot, and spun her left foot into a high kick.
Naruto leaned back directly, arching his waist to avoid her left leg.
In the moment her footing became unstable as she withdrew her leg, his right punch blasted toward her side.
Hinata couldn't react in time and was hit, but there was no pain.
Naruto pulled back. Before she could admit defeat, he said, "Continue, don't stop. The Gentle Fist is all about changing palm techniques. You must stay calm in battle and carefully observe your opponent's weaknesses."
He had always felt that the Gentle Fist was very similar to Baguazhang.
It gives a sense of versatility, but when combined with the Byakugan, it poses an immense threat.
These characteristics make the Gentle Fist suitable for calm-headed Ninjas.
In the original work, Neji's battle against Kidomaru of the Sound Village was quite spectacular.
It perfectly demonstrated the utility of the Gentle Fist.
Hinata, who had originally wanted to give up, took her stance again after hearing Naruto's words.
She couldn't let him down.
And she had to stay calm.
From their brief exchange, Naruto felt very strong to her, somewhat like Neji.
Her Gentle Fist was still a bit lacking in refinement.
Hinata thought of the pressure points her father had told her about.
She rushed forward to engage Naruto.
Fists clashed against fists.
With Naruto intentionally holding back, the two fought on equal terms for nearly ten minutes.
Right then, Hinata's left fingers silently aimed for a pressure point on his side.
Naruto's body went numb, and he was pushed back several steps.
The timing of that Tenketsu strike was far superior to any of her previous attacks.
He rubbed his waist.
Fortunately, he dodged in time and wasn't hit squarely; otherwise, half of his body might have been paralyzed.
How could this little girl strike the waist?
The Gentle Fist isn't just hype.
As long as they get close, the Hyuga Clan can be called invincible.
But unfortunately, in the later stages, it turned into piloting Gundams and blasting each other.
Aside from the Eight Gates, Taijutsu hardly has any effect.
The Hyuga Clan basically exited the stage.
Naruto felt they had taken the development of the Byakugan in the wrong direction.
Like the Sharingan, they should have focused on long-range Ninjutsu.
"I give up."
Naruto raised his hand and said.
If it were a real fight, he would certainly be the one to win in the end.
But there was no need for that in a spar.
He was a gentleman, after all.
A gentleman should let a girl have her way.
Especially a pretty girl.
"Naruto-kun... I..."
Hinata clearly hadn't expected Naruto to admit defeat.
In her eyes, she was clearly at a disadvantage.
Naruto didn't explain, nor was it easy to explain. He just took Hinata's hand and led her back to the line.
Iruka didn't get angry when he saw this.
On the contrary, he was very happy.
Judging from the fight between the two, they were definitely top-tier geniuses.
He knew about Hinata, but he hadn't expected Naruto to possess such strength as well.
One of his students had unexpectedly turned out to be a genius.
Naturally, he was in a good mood.
"Next."
Hinata's heart was beating very fast.
She didn't even know when she had returned to her spot.
Not until Naruto's hand left her wrist.
Did she gradually come back to her senses.
But her flushed face made her head feel dizzy.
She gently rubbed the spot on her left hand where he had held her.
She murmured to herself, "Don't faint, don't faint."
Naruto glanced at her.
The strong Hinata from the spar just now seemed like an illusion.
Why is she socially anxious again?
He didn't say anything, lest he worsen her symptoms.
Huh?
Naruto noticed a scrutinizing gaze.
It was actually Sasuke?
He looked back curiously.
Sasuke was slightly taken aback and turned his head away coldly.
Naruto rubbed his chin.
This guy is usually so arrogant he wouldn't even spare me a glance.
My performance just now must have piqued his interest a little.
The only way to conquer the Uchiha Clan is through force.
For example, the love-hate relationship between Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara.
In Sasuke's case, what might provoke him most isn't the night of the massacre, but Naruto's strength significantly surpassing his own.
Of course, the Ashura and Indra Chakra factors probably play a role too.
As they say, Stand Users are drawn to each other.
A day passed.
The practical combat class ended.
The one who took first place was undoubtedly Sasuke.
He even used the Great Fireball Technique in his match against his drawn opponent.
It was truly an astonishing display.
Naruto could only sigh at this. Damn, he managed to show off again.
Other than that, there was nothing else.
He couldn't possibly be jealous of a little kid.
As they say, there's a long way to go; a momentary success or failure means nothing.
"Hinata."
Naruto called out to her. Under her expectant gaze, he asked, "Do you know which class Neji is in?"
"?"
Hinata was stunned for a moment and asked, "Does Naruto-kun know Brother Neji?"
"You could say that."
Naruto thought to himself: We've met once, I used my Talk-no-Jutsu on him and got him into science. That should count as knowing him.
"He's one grade above us."
Hinata hesitated; Neji didn't exactly like her.
But she still led Naruto to his classroom.
"Neji."
Naruto shouted when he saw him.
Neji turned his head and, noticing Hinata, immediately frowned.
"Naruto."
He stepped outside, nodded to Naruto, and then looked at Hinata, saying, "Lady Hinata."
"Brother Neji, you can just call me Hinata."
Hinata's expression darkened upon hearing that title, and she couldn't help but correct him again.
Seeing things taking an awkward turn, Narutodirectly put his arm around Neji's shoulder and asked, "How've you been lately?"
Hinata didn't quite react to this scene.
Since when were Naruto-kun and Brother Neji on such good terms?
Watching the two talk, she felt like an outsider for some reason.
[Congratulations to the host for achieving the 'A Movie for Three' achievement. You have received one normal card draw.]
Holy crap!
System, you're just looking for trouble, aren't you?
Naruto felt terrible upon hearing the sudden system prompt.
Thanks to'Square' and 'Paper' for the tips.