The next morning, Hinata Haruki woke early and resumed training with Mizuki. Today, she began teaching him the Gentle Fist—Jūken.
Unlike a Steel Fist that targets muscles and bones with brute force, the Gentle Fist targets the chakra network—specifically, tenketsu (chakra points) and internal organs. With Byakugan visual assistance, a Hyūga shinobi channels chakra into the index and middle fingers to create a fine chakra needle. This needle can puncture tenketsu, disrupting chakra flow. Alternatively, the user can imbue a palm strike with chakra to deliver a concussive force that damages an opponent's organs from within.
Guided by her Byakugan, Mizuki explained the anatomy. Haruki observed carefully: the human body in the shinobi world is structurally identical to that in his former life. There are still 720 neural tenketsu sites throughout the body, and the blood vessel and meridian layout is much the same—just under different names.
The key difference lies in those who can become shinobi: they possess chakra-conducting meridians. There are 361 chakra tenketsu, most of which overlap with the 720 neural points. A few, like the Eight Gates from the Eight Gates training, are unique exceptions.
Haruki theorized: when Hagoromo (the Sage of Six Paths) founded ninshū, he created these extra chakra pathways with Yin–Yang Release to grant chakra access to humanity—a subtle deviation from earlier systems. Yet this chakra network still overlaps the traditional meridians.
Haruki sensed that, with his extraordinary insight into meridians, he could innovate the Gentle Fist, perhaps even invent new techniques.
Gentle Fist demanded speed, accuracy, finesse, ruthlessness, and adaptability. A single precise strike could fell even a formidable opponent.
Different methods were possible:
Blocking a tenketsu prevented chakra flow.
Stimulating a tenketsu suddenly increased chakra flow, potentially causing uncontrolled jutsu or internal rupture in unwary enemies.
Destroying a tenketsu completely disabled that channel.Depending on the target point, the effects ranged from internal injuries, paralysis, shock, intense pain, or even instant death.A chakra-infused palm strike could sever or damage organs with concussive pressure—any one of which could be fatal.
"Haruki, let's begin our Gentle Fist training!" Mizuki called.
Under her guidance, Haruki quickly learned to identify tenketsu, execute chakra needles, and perform palm strikes. His resolve strengthened: if the main family wouldn't teach him their secret arts, he'd innovate and make them beg him for instruction later.
His training routine became grueling: in addition to strength conditioning, shuriken throwing, clone technique, hand seals, and chakra control, Haruki practiced both the Byakugan and Gentle Fist every single day. He scheduled four Byakugan activations daily—morning, noon, afternoon, and night—each precisely six minutes long. During each activation, he sharpened his perception, overlaid chakra vision, and sparred on Gentle Fist techniques with Mizuki.
To refine precision, Haruki commissioned a wooden mannequin carved with all 361 chakra tenketsu, 720 neural points, and even internal organs. He practiced targeting them with bare fingers to master accuracy without relying on chakra needles.
His eventual goal: strike tenketsu accurately even blindfolded. Even if opponents had anomalies in their chakra points, he'd only need a few seconds of Byakugan to identify and target them reliably. After all, mist ninjas like Sai could strike precise targets from afar using just their ink constructs—Haruki had an iris viewer at his disposal; he aimed to surpass that.
A week passed. Haruki's progress accelerated. But Mizuki received news of a new mission: the war was intensifying, and she had been assigned to escort supplies to the battleground at the border of the Land of Fire.
At the gates of Konoha, Mizuki was packed and ready. A supply caravan was stationed nearby for final checks.
"Stay safe, Mizuki-neesan. Transport convoys are often ambushed… be careful," Haruki warned anxiously.
"Don't worry. Lady Tsunade is in charge of logistics. She'll send reinforcements to escort us," Mizuki assured him with a smile.
"Okay," Haruki nodded. He had confidence in Tsunade's ability.
"I'm off now. I'll return soon. Bye!" Mizuki waved farewell.
As she turned, Haruki noticed that her backpack zipper was slightly open, revealing half a letter inside. The envelope bore the crest of a red war fan—no, the Uchiha clan symbol.
"Uh… Mizuki-neesan, your zipper's open," Haruki called gently behind her.
"Huh? Oh no!" Mizuki spun, mortified. She quickly sealed the zipper, stuffed the letter back, and hurried onward, too embarrassed to look back.
"See you later, Mizuki-neesan... Is that a love letter?" Haruki called loud enough for her to hear, waving awkwardly.
Mizuki froze mid-step, her face flaming crimson as she fled into the caravan.
As he watched her retreating form, Haruki repressed a chuckle before letting it slip.
For her to get embarrassed… that must've been it. He smiled.
He watched until the caravan vanished, wishing to grow strong soon—strong enough to protect those he cared for.
Haruki continued intensifying his training. The massive chakra drain from the Byakugan didn't weaken his spirits—it fueled his determination. He reflected on how shinobi gifted with Kekkei Genkai often grew dependent on them—but he refused to follow that path.
Whether his Byakugan was active or not, he trained himself to fight— not relying on dōjutsu, but honing his mind and body. The Byakugan was just a tool—it was how he wielded it that mattered. Paradoxically, restricted usage taught him independence. With less reliance on the Byakugan, his other abilities strengthened—his reaction and perception became keener than the average genin, and his tenketsu strikes more precise.
Fate had closed one door—his Byakugan's inefficiency—but Haruki opened a window. Even without his special eyes, he became a formidable Gentle Fist user.
As he mastered the foundations, Haruki began thinking of enhancements. He reasoned that finger strength could compensate for the sharpness of a chakra needle. After all, fingertips cover a larger area—strong enough grip and precision could significantly increase accuracy and damage. That belief anchored his mannequin practice.
Haruki believed his knowledge of human anatomy from his past life gave him an edge. He knew that there are 36 fatal tenketsu—for example, striking the temple can disrupt the vagus nerve, stopping the heart. That's how body functions worked in the shinobi world too.
There were other unique tenketsu too: one to induce unbearable pain and incapacitate an enemy; another to paralyze limbs; others to sever muscle control or constrict blood flow. Some could even induce fainting or mimic death.
Haruki trained to strike tenketsu to stop bleeding; use chakra needles as anesthetic; immobilize captives; manipulate their emotional centers (pain, laughter, nausea) for interrogation with minimal harm; or even simulate death. These were advanced techniques beyond the original Gentle Fist script—skills rumored to exist in the shinobi world, but not widely developed. Haruki's past-life expertise elevated him to a new level.
He also incorporated principles from his knowledge of Tai Chi. Though not a martial master, he borrowed the concept of combining softness and hardness. Gentle Fist was all soft power; Tai Chi was soft before hard. The fusion could yield balanced, powerful techniques.
Footwork was another crucial component. Haruki practiced hores stance for hours to strengthen stability, posture, and control. Then he studied Tai Chi footwork—light, silent, yet grounded like a cat's tread—and Bagua footwork—fluid, circular, graceful. He planned to meld those into his Gentle Fist style: footwork that's agile yet stable, ever-shifting yet unwavering—like a still figure that can pounce like a springing rabbit.
He knew he had many ideas, but progress needed time. First, he'd build a strong foundation. Then he'd innovate. Quantity became quality.
Six months passed—and Haruki turned five.