Chapter 22: A Sparring Session with the Third Hokage

Chapter 22: A Sparring Session with the Third Hokage

The Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms is a secret taijutsu technique passed down through the Hyuga Clan. 

It strikes with incredible speed, targeting the enemy's sixty-four chakra points to seal their chakra flow. This technique not only immobilizes the opponent but also inflicts internal damage to their chakra network.

The technique itself isn't overly complex; the key lies in mastering the locations of the body's chakra points. With the aid of the Byakugan and a deep familiarity with the Gentle Fist's movements, success becomes possible. However, a certain level of physical conditioning is required to execute all sixty-four strikes in quick succession.

Once these conditions are met, using the Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms becomes second nature.

After several days of intense training under Hiashi Hyuga's guidance, Hinata Hyuga had fully grasped these principles. Today would be her first time using this technique in actual combat.

"Remarkable," Sarutobi Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't help but exclaim as he witnessed the scene before him.

Hinata had surprised him several times today, each more impressive than the last. At first, when Sarutobi Hiruzen saw Hinata about to be attacked, his instinct was to intervene and subdue the assailant. But in that moment, he noticed a drastic shift in Hinata's aura—a far cry from her usual calm and gentle demeanor. This new presence was sharp and menacing.

Curiosity overtook Sarutobi Hiruzen , and he held back, eager to see how she would respond. Even though he'd already been surprised by her multiple times today, what he saw next was beyond his expectations.

Hinata, so young, had mastered the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms. Her physical abilities weren't lacking either—her movements were swift, her breathing steady, and her chakra control precise. Sarutobi Hiruzen could easily deduce that her strength was already on par with that of an average chunin.

A young girl with such talent, excelling not only in medical ninjutsu but also in combat prowess, was truly extraordinary.

As Sarutobi Hiruzen processed this, he felt a wave of amazement wash over him.

Meanwhile, Kurama Yuu felt as if time had slowed down. His thoughts seemed to be moving in slow motion, and though he was aware of what was happening, his body felt disconnected from reality. His breathing felt sluggish, as if he were suffocating—not physically, but mentally.

Suddenly, he realized that he shouldn't have taken that step forward, but it was too late—his foot had already touched the ground, and his fist was raised. He could no longer control his body.

The moment his foot landed, he felt as though he had entered another world. The familiar operating room around him seemed to vanish, leaving him isolated in a strange new place. Yet, Hinata remained, ready to strike.

Without warning, she moved! She took a step forward, leading with her palm, her fingers following closely behind. Slowly but surely, she advanced towards him.

"Thud!"

At first, her attacks felt light, like a gentle breeze brushing against his skin. Kurama Yuu couldn't help but smirk, finding it laughable. But in the next instant, her movements sped up dramatically. A palm strike landed, followed immediately by a precise finger jab.

"Wham! Wham! Wham!"

Before he could react, his body felt like it was exploding, as if firecrackers were going off inside him. A series of rapid strikes left him reeling, disoriented, and in pain. In just a split second, everything changed.

Pain surged through his body as chakra began to infiltrate deeper into his chakra network. His meridians throbbed with sharp pain, and he realized that most of them had already been severely damaged. As a medical ninja, Kurama Yuu knew all too well that this kind of injury would leave lasting scars—physical pain that would haunt him even after healing.

He wasn't a combat expert; his battlefield was the operating room. But now, he had made a grave mistake, and the consequences were inevitable.

Yet, despite the overwhelming pain, Kurama Yuu couldn't accept it. He resented Hinata's ruthlessness. His heart sank as he realized that his life was ruined.

Strikes continued to rain down on him, and soon, the pain became a dull numbness. Though his vision began to blur, and darkness crept in at the edges, the malevolent glint in his eyes never faded.

His consciousness started to slip away, though he wasn't sure whether it was due to the poison coursing through his veins or the excruciating damage his body had sustained.

So, this is the power of the Gentle Fist...

"Calculating target position..."

"Position change detected. Adjusting attack plan."

"Current speed meets execution criteria."

"Current force meets execution criteria."

"Warning! Change in plan detected."

Hinata, in the midst of her relentless assault, suddenly noticed a terminal message pop up in front of her. As her vision briefly flickered, she realized that a new figure had appeared in her attack path. If she continued, this person would undoubtedly be the first to bear the brunt of her attack.

The speed at which this person had moved was astonishing. It wasn't until after she had thrown her punch that her terminal alerted her to their presence. They had closed the distance in the blink of an eye.

Perhaps it was time to stop?

But when Hinata instinctively shifted her gaze and saw who was standing in front of her, her determination only grew stronger. She increased the force behind her attack.

Originally, she had been holding back, afraid of accidentally killing Kurama Yuu. She only wanted to make him suffer as a form of punishment. But now that Sarutobi Sarutobi Hiruzen had personally intervened, she felt a sudden surge of excitement. She couldn't resist the urge to test the strength of the Third Hokage and see how she measured up against him.

"Stop," Sarutobi Hiruzen called out as he quickly stepped forward to intervene. His plan was to restrain Hinata, but to his surprise, she redirected her attack towards him.

Sarutobi Hiruzen could see the fierce determination in her eyes. Oddly enough, he didn't dislike this fiery spirit. In fact, he felt a similar urge to indulge in this impromptu sparring session.

Hinata had already surprised him enough for one day, and Sarutobi Hiruzen cherished such talent. With new generations like this, he was confident that the future of Konoha would be bright.

So, when Hinata actively sought to engage him, Sarutobi Hiruzen chose not to stop her. Instead, he joined in.

"Ha!"

With a spirited shout, Sarutobi Hiruzen threw a punch towards Hinata, making sure to hold back just enough to avoid causing her serious harm.