12 Hinata and Kurenai

The following day, Shiki attended his classes at the academy himself and didn't use a shadow clone. The reason was that today after classes, he would be training with Hinata and her sensei and it would be sort of rude to use a shadow clone for this kind of first meeting.

As Hinata and Shiki walked together after classes, he noticed they were not heading for the Hyuga compound.

'I'm pretty sure she still lives there but I guess after she was disinherited, her training was entrusted to Kurenai.'

As they arrived at one of Konoha's training grounds, Shiki spotted someone waiting for them, Hinata probably didn't notice because she was too busy staring at her feet.

She was a fair-skinned woman of slender build. She had long black untamed hair reaching her upper back, and very unique eyes that are red in colour, with an additional ring in them. The kunoichi was wearing the standard Konoha shinobi outfit with a flak jacket and a simple sleeveless red outfit underneath it.

'Hmm, she's wearing the Konoha flak jacket. That's too bad, It somewhat hides her curves." It was a good thing indeed that both Hinata and Kurenai had no mind reading capabilities.

Meanwhile Kurenai evaluated the approaching boy and girl.

'It's somewhat surprising Hinata made a friend so fast, from what she told me about him, it seems she has a little crush on him, how cute. With how shy Hinata is, they only became as close as they are due to how insistent he was. They make a nice pair.'

As they they got closer Kurenai finally introduced herself to Shiki.

"Hello! You must be Shiki, I heard a lot about you from Hinata! I'm Yuhi Kurenai, Hinata's sensei."

"Kurenai-sensei!" Hinata protested while blushing.

"Ah good things only I hope!" Replied Shiki while giving Hinata a side look making her even redder.

"And of course it's always a pleasure to meet such a great beauty like yourself! How about a date after training?" Continued Shiki making the two girls slightly dumbfounded.

"Hinata, just so you know, once you get a little older I'll ask you out too!" Added Shiki with a bright smile nearly making Hinata faint.

"You're, an interesting kid to say the least!" Kurenai finally responded.

"In case you're at a loss about how to deal with me, I'll share the advice the neechan that takes care of me usually gives to people that meet me for the first time." Shiki said helpfully.

"Advice?" Both girls questioned.

"Yes! The advice is, quote "You'll get used to it"" The boy said while putting both of his hands on their shoulders making them speechless once again.

After the introductions were finished they went straight into training.

"Ok Hinata, do you consider me a friend?" Shiki started with a question.

"Of course!" Hinata answered with unusual seriousness as she misunderstood her felling were being doubted.

'I wonder where he is going with this?' Kurenai thought but remained quiet.

"Great! Now I want you to use all your skill to attack me as if you wanted to kill me!" Said Shiki with a bright smile despite his dark words.

"S-Shiki-kun, I-I don't want to hurt you!" Hinata protested.

"Uh oh. Am I being underestimated? Don't worry you'll fail miserably! In fact, I'd be extremely impressed if you actually managed to graze me." Shiki countered making Hinata look down at her feet.

"Shiki-k . . ." Kurenai attempted to interrupt but Shiki held out his hand to stop her.

"Remember what I told you Hinata? Although it may feel bad to hurt someone, It will feel worse if someone you care about gets hurt due to your hesitation."

After a slightly long silence Hinata finally looked up and answered.

"Okay!" And with that single word she activated her byakugan took her stance.

'I knew she had it in her!' Thought Shiki as he got into his fighting stance, knowing no more words were needed.

Kurenai looked on with surprise and satisfaction at the event.

'To think Hinata would take such an important step with just a few words from this boy! I guess he means more to her than a simple crush, she must really want him to acknowledge her . . .'

Hinata carefully observed Shiki but even with her byakugan she could find no openings in his guard.

'I got to go on the offensive and make an opening' As she thought this Hinata move in swiftly throwing out a palm strike.

Shiki flawlessly dodged, keeping a slight smile on his face even as Hinata continued to attack. Frustrated at not being able to touch the redhead, she showed a slight opening and Shiki mercilessly used it to strike her solar plexus completely knocking the air out of her lungs.

As Hinata tried to pull herself together the boy once again started speaking.

"I learned taijutsu just like this. Being mercilessly pummeled until I closed the opening in my defence then, if I got too defensive, my sparring partner would continuously put more strength in her blows until she either blew me away or I started attacking myself. Of course, if my attacks weren't up to her standards, the only thing I'd be rewarded with for trying, was a solid counter that knocked me into next week!" As the two girls started getting surprised at such spartan training, Shiki added the cherry on top.

"The only problem is, that she's also one of the best medical ninja in the world. You'd think that's good because she can heal the wounds from training but that only meant she could ruthlessly pummel me, then heal me, then pummel me again and we kept going until I couldn't get up anymore even after being healed. And when I say that I meant really couldn't, if she thought I was only lacking in resolve and could still go on the beatdown would only get worse."

"But that is precisely why I'm as strong as I am today!" With those words lighting a fire in Hinata's heart and they kept going at it until she finally crumbled.

After she started to fall down, Shiki caught her and after a couple of hand seals he started using the Mystical Palm jutsu to heal her scrapes and bruises.

"You've done really great! I'm super impressed!" Announced Shiki to the tired Hinata.

"Yes!" She responded with tears in her eyes, happy for having her effort recognised and praised.

'He's really a great kid, he'll go far!' Thought Kurenai as she approached them.

"Good work both of you! How about we finish for today?" She asked them.

Hinata cutely looked to Shiki for an answer.

"How about a little spar between Kurenai-nee and me while Hinata gets some much deserved rest?" Shiki suggested in response.

"That's okay, if you're not to tired." Kurenai answered.

"No problems there!" Shiki declared.

"Well come on then!"

"As you wish!"

And so Shiki dashed towards Kurenai with body flicker and delivered a powerful blow. Being an experienced Shinobi Kurenai expertly blocked while still feeling shocked at the strength of the boy's blow.

After a few more taijutsu exchanges, Kurenai backstepped and after making a hand sign she started to fade away from existence.

'Let's see how you deal with this.'

'She's holding back way too much." Thought Shiki. 'Genjutsu Release!'

After releasing the genjutsu he quickly realised Kurenai was approaching from behind with his Mind's Eye of the Kagura and made a front flip almost catching the kunoichi in the chin with his heel.

'That's not a move I'd expect from an Academy student!"

Taking advantage of Kurenai's momentary pause due to surprise Shiki quickly made a few hand seals.

'Earth Style: Rupturing Earth Palm'

Shifting the earth beneath the black haired kunoichi's feet putting her out of balance Shiki dashed in for a powerful attack, boosting his speed with body flicker and using large amounts of chakra to strengthen his kick.

Being caught out of balance left Kurenai no other choice besides blocking but blocking without her footing led to her being kicked away.

Shiki didn't stop his string of attack making a single hand seal.

'Wind Style: Great Breakthrough'

Wind being his natural affinity meant he could afford to use less hand seal without compromising the jutsu's power and only slightly increasing its cost in chakra.

The wind jutsu hit Kurenai head on alarming Hinata but in the next instant a log could be found in the kunoichi's previous position.

Shiki them heard a voice behind him.

"I'm very impressed! Those are not the skills of a mere Academy student but you're still too green!"

Said Kurenai as she held a kunai to his throat.

"Is that so?" Retorted Shiki while facing forward with a devious smirk on his face.

With those words Kurenai felt something prickling her back.

"Then how impressed are you now, Ku-re-na-i-nee?" Asked Shiki from behind Kurenai as he poked her with a kunai while the Shiki in front of her disappeared in a cloud of white smoke.