Chapter 35: Hinata: What Are You So Smug About, You Peeping Tom?!
Early morning in the Hyūga Clan Grounds, exceptionally quiet.
But when Hyūga clansmen passed by the clan head's residence, they would unconsciously glance towards the courtyard, their expressions slightly strange.
Bang! Bang! Bang!!
From deep within the courtyard came the rapid, forceful sound of a wooden post being struck.
And whenever a passing clansman shifted their gaze into the courtyard, the striking sounds would become even more intense.
The sound seemed to say:
-- Huh? What are you looking at? Looking for a beating?!
"Lady Hinata... sigh, such a good, obedient child, forced into this state by Lord Clan Head..."
Hearing the sounds, the clansmen showed expressions of pity and confusion. After sighing inwardly, they quickened their pace and left the residence entrance.
Meanwhile, inside the courtyard, flying wood chips and fragments were everywhere.
Even more startling, wooden posts all around were broken, and the well-kept lawn was covered in cuts and bruises, pitted and uneven.
Some post remnants were even stained with still-wet blood.
Little Hinata, dressed in a black training uniform, stood silently in the center of the courtyard, eyes closed.
Some post remnants hung suspended in mid-air, countless sharp, pointed ends all aimed directly at her.
Swish!!
Hinata gently released the thin string connecting all the wooden post mechanisms.
Instantly, one sharp wooden post remnant after another, accompanied by piercing whistles of tearing wind, flew towards little Hinata from all directions at astonishing speed.
With such visibly powerful impact force, it was enough to directly pierce through her small, delicate body.
"Hinata, you..."
Just as little Hinata released the string, Hiashi happened to walk over from the other side of the residence.
"Not good!!"
Seeing the horrifying scene before him, the words Hiashi intended to say instantly caught in his throat.
His expression turned terrified, veins bulging around his eyes, as he rushed towards Hinata.
And at the same time.
Little Hinata, facing the lethal wooden posts flying towards her, finally opened her tightly shut eyes.
Bulging veins almost covered the upper half of her face, making her look somewhat ferocious combined with her determined expression.
But within her normally snow-white eyes, a sky-blue light bloomed deep within the pupils, shimmering with soul-stirring brilliance.
Boom!!
Hinata's figure moved, incredibly swift.
Her entire person became an afterimage, accompanied by the sound of breaking wind, actually charging proactively towards the incoming sharp wooden posts.
Although the posts' speed was fast, from Hinata's perspective, their trajectory and angle were clearly visible.
Hinata looked directly at the posts smashing towards her, her gaze calm, yet revealing a hint of excitement.
Narrowly sidestepping the sharp end, her palms enveloped in blue chakra, her arms became afterimages, lashing out fiercely with wind pressure.
Directly smashing into the right side of a post.
Bang!
The wooden post instantly exploded from within, wood chips scattering everywhere.
Bang bang bang!!
In the blink of an eye, over ten sharp wooden posts were blasted apart one after another, shattering into pieces.
Hinata's movements flowed like moving clouds and flowing water.
Though using Gentle Fist, there was an air of rigid dominance about it.
Swish!
At that precise moment.
Two wooden posts with vicious spikes shot towards Hinata from exceptionally tricky angles.
"Hinata!!"
Seeing Hinata seemingly unaware, the arriving Hiashi's eyes nearly split with rage. He clenched his teeth, chakra rapidly gathering within him.
"Eight Trigrams... Vacu—"
"Gentle Step: Twin Lion Fists!!"
A flash of azure light passed through Hinata's eyes. Large amounts of chakra gathered in her hands, transforming into the shape of two fierce lions.
Boom!!
This technique possessed greater attack power and range; the two wooden posts were directly blasted to pieces!
And one of the flying fragments even slapped (smack) Hiashi right across his stunned face.
But he paid it no mind, simply staring blankly, murmuring:
"Gentle Step: Twin Lion Fists... How is that possible..."
This was one of the Hyūga main family's secret, high-level Gentle Fist taijutsu techniques.
Compared to ordinary Gentle Fist, it added shape transformation to the chakra in the palms, greatly increasing the strike range and destructive power, capable of completely devouring the target's meridian system.
Furthermore, it was extremely difficult to learn; even the slightest error in chakra control would lead to failure.
It required superb chakra control skills and Byakugan ability to use.
Some Hyūga Jōnin struggled to learn it, so... how did Hinata learn it...?
Wait! That's not the most important thing!!
Although shock still lingered in his heart, Hiashi snapped back to reality.
"Hinata!!"
The usually calm and composed main family head had completely lost his cool at this moment, roaring furiously at Hinata: "What on earth are you doing?!"
"Breaking wooden posts is one thing, but you actually... actually dare!!"
Hiashi gasped for breath, his chest heaving, staring deadly intently at the unfazed Hinata, his heart filled even more with fear and anger.
Some time ago, after Hinata came into contact with that masked man, the Hyūga checked her body several times but found no issues.
Eventually, they went to the Konoha Hospital Director and the Third Hokage, but neither could detect any problems.
On the contrary, the chakra within her body actually grew denser day by day.
"Rest assured, Hiashi. For now, there seems to be no harm. We will also do our best to find the masked man who infiltrated Konoha."
Sarutobi Hiruzen had patted his shoulder back then, saying there was no problem and promising to capture the masked man as soon as possible.
What else could Hiashi do?
He could only nod and indicate that Lord Hokage could do as he pleased.
Hiashi originally thought the matter was closed.
But just recently, during a routine sparring session between Neji and Hinata,
Hinata spent the first half fighting defensively, timid and overcautious, while Neji pressed forward aggressively, seemingly venting his emotions, though his strikes were measured.
Just as Hiashi frowned and sighed inwardly, Hinata, unsure what provoked her,
"Tch! What are you so smug about, you peeping tom?!"
Her normally timid expression suddenly turned dissatisfied. After muttering this, veins bulged around her eyes, covering the upper half of her face.
Her entire aura changed dramatically, her speed and strength surged, and her strikes became incomparably fierce and domineering, gradually turning the tables.
That forward-charging momentum, as if wanting to crush anything in her path, made a strange brilliance flash in Hiashi's eyes as he watched.
After a stalemate lasting half an hour, she actually found an opening in Neji's defense and struck him down with a single palm.
"What happened?"
Neji was completely bewildered, not yet recovered from that last palm strike.
But when he looked up at Hinata, he saw the disdainful expression on her face.
I... lost?
Lost to this weak main family young lady?
Neji's fragile, sensitive heart was instantly pierced.
"Impossible! How could I lose to her! She must have used a sneak attack to disrupt my offense!!"
His expression twisted. After standing up, he wanted to charge at Hinata again.
This time, he held nothing back, even intending to use the Eight Trigrams Thirty-Two Palms, his killing intent completely undisguised.
"Good!!"
A battle-hungry excitement flashed in Hinata's eyes. She took her stance, ready to meet him head-on.
"Ah!!"
Neji suddenly clutched his head, collapsing to the ground, wailing in agony.
"Neji, you dare to..."
Nearby, Hiashi's expression was grave, one hand forming a seal, clearly having activated the Caged Bird.
But before he could say anything, Hinata turned her head, face full of anger, and shouted:
"Old man! My fight doesn't need your interference! And it certainly doesn't need this shameful cursed seal!!"
(End of Chapter)
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