D: The Morning Surprise
Hayashi's life had fallen back into its comfortable routine over the past two weeks. His days were filled with daily tasks, meditation with his sword, and pushing himself to new heights in the spiritual realm.
He'd made significant progress, taking down three Rain Shinobi and eliminating the Sound spy Yoroi. He'd also made steady progress on Hawkeye's template, now sitting at 52.2% completion.
While he knew he still had a way to go, he wasn't worried - he'd already mastered over half of Hawkeye's swordsmanship.
The only thing holding him back was his inability to hear the Breath of all Things. But Hayashi was patient, knowing that breaking through this bottleneck required time and consistent effort.
With five years to go before the Fourth Great Ninja War, he was confident that by sticking to his daily tasks, he could unlock more than 80% of Hawkeye's template.
At 80% progress, he believed his strength would become that of a great swordsman. And once he reached that realm, he was convinced he'd be able to hear the Breath of All Things, achieving true mastery of the sword.
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Back at home, Hayashi dove headfirst into his training, driven by the absence of Hinata by his side. Despite his packed schedule, he still managed to carve out time to perfect his Body Flicker Technique.
After witnessing the Eight Inner Gates, Hayashi realized his biggest flaw: his speed. As a ninja without exceptional physical abilities, he relied heavily on Armament Haki to boost his defense and strength.
But what if his opponent was faster and stronger? His swordsmanship would be useless against someone who could outmaneuver him.
While there were few physical powerhouses in the Naruto world, like the Fourth Raikage, Guy, and Tsunade - two of whom were from Konoha - Hayashi knew he might never face them.
Still, recognizing his weaknesses meant he had to work tirelessly to overcome them, or risk being exploited in the future.
For the past month, Hayashi had been pushing himself to the limit. He'd been climbing trees and treading water with weights, pushing his limits to master the Body Flicker Technique under the most challenging conditions.
As his body adapted to the weights, he made it even tougher by balancing with one foot heavily weighted and the other light – a feat that demanded precise chakra control, especially during tree climbing and water walking.
This imbalance tested his concentration to the limit, making it easy to fail if his chakra was not well-managed.
But Hayashi persisted, and his hard work started to pay off. His reaction speed improved dramatically, and his movements became smoother and more instant.
His goal was to make these responses automatic, so they became second nature. The intense and focused practice flew by in a blur, and before he knew it, the month was over.
It's hard to believe that a month can make a significant difference in someone's strength. Even Hayashi, who's been practicing his Body Flicker Technique, has only seen some improvement.
But this generation's Ashura and Indra have made astonishing progress.
As he walked through Konoha's bustling streets, the energy was high. The Chunin Exam was about to start, and the crowd was lively. People had gathered early at the exam venue, eager to catch the action.
Suddenly, fireworks erupted, marking the official start of the exam.
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In that morning, Hayashi and Hinata finally reunited after a month apart. Hinata, usually reserved, threw herself into Hayashi's arms, revealing just how much she'd missed him.
The two had been inseparable for six years, and a month felt like an eternity. Before leaving, he had teased Hinata, and now, without warning, she leaned in and pressed her lips to his.
He was taken aback. He stood there, frozen in shock, as her soft lips moved against his.
Hinata giggled as she pulled back to gaze up at him.
"You're so surprised," she teased with a smile.
Hayashi's eyes snapped back into focus, and he stared at Hinata.
He opened his mouth to speak, but words failed him. His mind went blank.
Hinata's giggles grew louder, and she looked up at him with a radiant smile.
"I've missed you, Hayashi."
As Hayashi gazed at Hinata, he noticed how much she'd changed. She looked more mature, her features more defined. He pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her.
"You've grown up, Hinata," he said, his forehead touching hers.
"You're beautiful, inside and out."
Hinata's cheeks flushed, and she looked down, her smile still plastered on her face.
"You're making me blush, Hayashi," she whispered.
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As Hayashi stepped out of the bathroom, the smell of sizzling vegetables and meat drifted from the kitchen, where Hinata was busy cooking. The sizzle of the pan and the gentle clinking of utensils against the countertop created a cozy atmosphere, a stark contrast to the tension that awaited them at the exam venue.
After they finished eating and spent some quality time together, they headed out to join the other candidates who had made it past the knockout rounds. Even Naruto, who was usually running late, had managed to arrive on time for a change.
As soon as Hayashi arrived, Gaara shot him a deadly glare.
Hayashi's eyes swept the crowd, landing on a familiar figure standing off to the side. Megumi stood with his arms crossed, his gaze fixed on Hayashi.
As Hayashi walked past Megumi, he gave a slight nod, but Megumi's expression remained unreadable. Yet, Hayashi caught a flicker of interest in his eyes.
The silence between them was heavy. It was clear Megumi had been waiting for Hayashi, and their paths would soon clash in the arena.
Hinata, walking beside Hayashi, seemed oblivious to the tension. As they strolled together, they caught the attention of two people in the audience.
Hanabi turned to her father, confusion etched on her face.
"Father, why is my sister here with that person?" she asked.
"Didn't she leave early this morning? Why are they just arriving now?"
Hiashi's gaze lingered on Hayashi, his brow furrowed in concern. The reports from his servants about Hinata's frequent absences flashed through his mind.
At first, he had dismissed them, thinking Hinata's temperament and talent were better suited to a secondary role in the clan. As long as she didn't bring shame to the Hyuga name, he didn't bother himself with her affairs.
But now, he was starting to realize that things might not be so straightforward. Hiashi's expression turned serious as he continued to study the boy beside Hinatas.
Unbeknownst to Hayashi, he had caught the attention of the Hyuga patriarch.
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The proctor stepped forward, a senbon clenched between his teeth.
"Alright, listen up, everyone! I'm Genma, your proctor for this round."
His gaze swept over the candidates before him.
"Dosu's out of the running, but that's not going to change a thing."
He paused for a moment, then continued, "The rules are simple: it's every ninja for themselves. Let's get started and see who comes out on top!"