Chapter 18: Training Direction

At sunset.

In Konoha, within the Senju clan territory.

Due to wars and various accidents, the top clan of the ninja world, the "Senju Clan of the Forest," has drastically weakened, leaving only Tsunade Senju as the direct bloodline descendant.

The vast clan territory had been uninhabited for a long time. The walls were old and mottled, the roofs and stone steps were cracked, and only the massive statues of Hashirama Senju testified to the family's former glory.

However, today, the long-deserted Senju territory was brimming with new life.

Boom!

A loud explosion erupted from the back mountain of the Senju territory. Several large trees were easily snapped by monstrous strength, and the flying trunks cut through the forest, leaving a dragon-like trail of dust.

Such slender and fair arms could unleash such terrifying power.—With just her "Chakra Enhanced Strength," Tsunade could firmly stand among the Jonin.

Yuto, panting heavily, hid behind a huge rock. Since the "bell-stealing game" started, several hours had passed. He had used every method, set traps, launched sneak attacks, and even used explosive tags.

But even with the advantage of his Byakugan, the gap between him and Tsunade was still too great.

"Yo! My dear disciple! Are you too shy to meet your teacher?" The golden-haired woman stood on a large tree in the sunset's afterglow, her arms crossed, overlooking the surroundings, "Don't forget, your task is to steal the bell from my waist~"

Tsunade shook a bit, and the bell moved, making a crisp sound.

Yuto took a deep breath and said helplessly, "Tsunade-sensei, for someone like me, challenging a Sannin-level opponent is really too early... Although it's quite embarrassing to say this, sensei, can you go a bit easier on me?"

Tsunade laughed, "With your current abilities, you indeed can't even touch me, so... I'll lower the difficulty for you."

She took off the bell and threw it high into the sky.

"For five seconds, I won't go after the bell. If you catch it within this time, you pass."

With the 360-degree vision of the Byakugan, the woman's spread fingers were clearly visible.

The bell would probably stop at the highest point in about three seconds and then fall freely... There was still time!

Yuto focused the remaining chakra in his eyes and legs and dashed out from behind the rock.

The Byakugan's terrifying insight allowed him to take in every detail within a kilometer, including the dirt he stepped on, the shallow traces left by the wind on the leaves, the slight curve of the golden-haired woman's mouth, and the bell glowing golden in the sunset...

Boom!

Yuto instantly covered over a hundred meters and jumped onto a tree in a few leaps.

Above him, the bell lost its speed, paused in the air, and then fell freely.

"Time's up!" At this moment, Tsunade suddenly spoke and disappeared from her original spot in a flash.

Body Flicker... Yuto thought to himself and made a quick decision. He jumped forcefully, aiming to grab the bell first.

Almost simultaneously, Tsunade's fist hit Yuto's back, and Yuto's hand touched the bell.

The branch family boy was spun away like a top. Fortunately, Tsunade had held back; otherwise, this blow could have snapped his spine.

"The bell..." Yuto lost his balance and felt dizzy. The bell was within reach, but he couldn't grab it.

Fortunately, he still had a sense of space. As he was about to hit the ground, he kicked a nearby tree, adjusted his posture, and managed to land on his feet at the last moment.

"I must get the bell!"

Yuto stretched out his left hand to grab the bell while blindly striking backward with his other hand, focusing all his chakra on his fingertips.

With a bang, Tsunade and Yuto landed simultaneously.

A tenth of a second later, a crisp sound echoed through the mountains—the bell fell to the ground, and Yuto ultimately failed to catch it.

Behind the branch family boy, the golden-haired beauty caught his right hand and effortlessly pinned him down.

"You're very smart, Yuto," Tsunade praised her disciple:

"At the last moment, you guessed the direction of my attack and used Gentle Fist to block it in advance... Although you didn't succeed, it was still a brilliant tactic."

Yuto shrugged and winced, "The blind spot of the branch family Byakugan is directly behind the first thoracic vertebra. Anyone who knows this would naturally attack there. Unfortunately, your taijutsu skills are far superior to mine, sensei."

Tsunade released him and flicked the dust off the bell with her foot, picking it up.

"Yuto, the blind spot of the branch family Byakugan is not a fatal weakness. What's the difference between a 360-degree view and a 359-degree view? Many clever people, like you just did, use that blind spot as a trap to lure enemies, turning a weakness into a strength."

Yuto stood respectfully, listening to his teacher's guidance.

"Ignore the blind spot of the Byakugan, Yuto. Your biggest weakness now is Gentle Fist."

"Gentle Fist, the proud taijutsu of the Hyuga clan, is strong in its own right. Often, it can injure enemies internally and target their acupoints."

"But the core of Gentle Fist is 'injecting your own chakra into the enemy's most vulnerable parts'. Ultimately, most of your attacks must be executed through physical contact with the enemy."

"What if you encounter someone using an 'iron shell'?"

"Even a C-rank defensive Earth Release could render you helpless!"

"On the battlefield, Hyuga shinobi often pair with explosive squads to compensate for their long-range weaknesses and inability to break through tough defenses."

"On the battlefield, complementing each other is fine, but you are different, Yuto."

"You are my disciple. Reputation is a double-edged sword. 'Beheading the genius of the Hyuga branch family' and 'taking the life of one of the three Sannin- Tsunade's disciple' have entirely different strategic significances."

"Moreover, if you truly aspire to become Hokage, you must achieve perfection in your combat skills."

"Yuto, what was that technique you used at the banquet?"

Yuto replied respectfully, "Lion's Fang Bite, Tsunade-sensei."

"A great attempt. I see a lot of potential in this technique... You probably realized the issues with Gentle Fist and are already working to overcome your weaknesses."

"Yuto, from now on, we'll focus on two things... First, I'll teach you medical ninjutsu. Don't underestimate or resist it; learning medical ninjutsu can greatly enhance your chakra control."

"Second, I'll teach you Chakra Enhanced Strength and help you perfect Lion's Fang Bite. Jiraiya and Minato are experts in Shape transformation ninjutsu. We can often consult them."

"As for other jutsu, like the 'Yin Seal' on my forehead, I'll teach you, but not now. Yuto, getting stronger can't be rushed..."

Yuto nodded, fully agreeing with his golden-haired teacher, "Sensei, I understand. Biting off more than you can chew is futile."

"What a sensible child..." Tsunade chuckled, patting the boy's head.

At this moment, the sun had completely set, and the back mountain of the Senju territory was enveloped in darkness.

"Let's go, Yuto," Tsunade stretched lazily, "I'm so tired. Let's go have some ramen!"

"Whatever you say, Tsunade-sensei."

"Yuto, you pay. Your sensei has lost all her money, hahaha..."

(End of Chapter)

If you want, support me on Patreon and get access to all of the translated chapters in advance:

p@treon.com/IHaveNoNamingSense