Naruto's current arsenal of techniques could be summarized into several categories:
Ninjutsu:
• Sexy Technique
• Shadow Clone Technique
Taijutsu:
• Leaf Tornado
• Leaf Great Tornado
• Leaf Strong Tornado
Pseudo–Nintaijutsu:
• Wind Body Vibration Technique
• Wind Release: Storm Palm
• Wind Style: Whirlwind Fist
This was everything Naruto had mastered at the moment.
The reason the last category was called pseudo–Nintaijutsu was simple: they weren't true Nintaijutsu yet.
True Ninjutsu required chakra refinement and hand seals.
Pure Taijutsu required neither chakra refinement nor hand seals—although many practitioners enhanced their bodies with chakra unconsciously.
Nintaijutsu, however, required chakra refinement but not seals. The most iconic example was the Raikage's Lightning Release Chakra Mode. He infused his body with high-density lightning chakra, gaining incredible speed and strength, while every attack still counted as Taijutsu.
Practitioners like Rock Lee, paragons of traditional Taijutsu, used no chakra molding or seals at all—aside from opening the Eight Gates.
Naruto's hybrid techniques were still incomplete. They required both chakra refinement and hand seals, yet the attacks themselves were executed physically. It was a clumsy mixture—half Ninjutsu, half Taijutsu, and not fully either.
It was nothing more than a prototype of the true form of Wind Chakra Mode.
A real Wind Release Chakra Mode should activate every cell in the body, allowing the user to move with blinding speed and overwhelming power—a state that surpassed the limits of conventional ninjas and ninjutsu.
For now, Naruto was only using wind chakra to explosively push his own body. It boosted his speed and strength, but it was primitive.
Still, thanks to Asuma's personal training, Naruto's grasp of Wind Release had improved dramatically. His power had risen sharply, and the system had rewarded him for successfully completing the ten-day Wind Release training mission.
His Wind-based techniques had grown noticeably stronger.
But then came the next system prompt:
[Host, please increase your chakra reserves to 1000 points before the end of summer vacation!]
Naruto nearly choked.
1000 chakra points?!
That was practically elite jōnin level!
Many jōnin probably didn't even reach that much…
During the Chunin Exams, Naruto had around 360 points.
Now, halfway through summer, he was slightly above 500.
At this rate, by summer's end he might reach 600 or 700—still far from the system's brutal requirement.
He exhaled, clenched his fists, and made up his mind.
"Looks like I need to intensify my chakra training… while keeping up all my other training!"
His days would now revolve around two goals:
1. Rapid chakra development
2. Improving his academic performance
If Hinata came over, he'd tutor her.
If she didn't, he would devote his time entirely to training.
This summer vacation was the busiest he had ever experienced.
---
Meanwhile, at the Hyuga Compound…
Hinata quietly changed into fresh clothes, adjusted her sun hat, and prepared to head out. Her mind was peaceful, and she hummed softly, thinking about today's studies with Naruto.
Just as she reached for the door—
A sharp, authoritative voice froze her in place.
"Hinata. Going out again?"
She flinched and turned around.
Her father, Hyuga Hiashi, stood behind her with his hands clasped behind his back, his expression stern.
"F-Father…!"
His footsteps were steady and heavy as he walked toward her.
"Don't think I don't know what you've been doing."
Hinata lowered her head immediately.
As the Hyuga Clan's eldest daughter, she was always followed by unseen bodyguards. They never interfered unless necessary, but they saw everything.
Hiashi's eyes sharpened.
"Neden o velet Uzumaki Naruto'ya yardım ediyorsun?"
Why are you helping that brat Uzumaki Naruto?
Hinata's heart skipped a beat.
"Father, I… I—"
Hiashi continued, voice low and heavy.
"You may not know the full truth, but you must have sensed that the boy carries many secrets. His identity and status are… delicate."
Hinata certainly sensed it.
Naruto always felt special—different from everyone else.
But she shook her head.
"Father… that has nothing to do with why I'm helping him."
"Naruto-kun's identity… his secrets… none of that matters to me."
Hiashi's brows drew even tighter together.
He was an experienced clan leader—he could already see where this was going.
"…You like that boy, don't you?"
Hinata's face exploded with color.
She squeezed the hem of her clothes, fingers trembling, unable to speak.
Hiashi sighed deeply.
"Why him?"
Hinata hesitated, then whispered, "…There is no reason."
But her faint voice practically admitted everything.
Yet Hiashi refused to let it go.
"There must be a reason."
Hinata fell silent.
Then slowly—very slowly—she spoke the truth she had hidden for so many years.
"Because… Naruto-kun once saved me. And since then, I've always watched him. I saw his strength… his effort… his refusal to ever give up…"
" Naruto-kun… inspired me. He made me want to change myself… to become stronger… to become someone better."
Hiashi blinked.
"So that's why you've been training harder than ever?"
He recalled the past.
When Hinata was the heiress, he had pressured her relentlessly.
But no matter how hard she tried, her strength never matched his expectations. She even lost to Hanabi in a formal match.
Yet recently, ever since she drifted closer to Naruto, Hinata's growth had been astonishing.
Her techniques sharpened.
Her confidence grew.
Her chakra control improved.
All because of that boy?
"Does that mean your father's teachings were inferior to the boy's so-called 'inspiration'?" Hiashi asked stiffly.
The old Hinata would have panicked and apologized repeatedly.
But the current Hinata stood straighter.
"Father… that's not it."
"My training used to be slow not because of your teachings… but because I never wanted to be the heir of the Main House."
Hiashi's expression froze.
Hinata continued, trembling but determined.
"And when I lost to Hanabi… yes, she was stronger. But also… I-I didn't want to fight her."
"As for Naruto-kun inspiring me—this strength comes from my own will. It's different from before, when I only trained out of obligation."
Hiashi's stern mask cracked slightly.
Hinata had more to say.
"Father… I never liked the Main House and Branch House system."
Hiashi's eyes widened.
Hinata gathered her courage.
"Because of this system… you and Uncle Hizashi stopped being brothers and became enemies."
"Because of this system… Hanabi and I were forced to compete."
"And because of this system… Neji-nii ended up hating us—hating the Main House—down to his very bones."
"Within the clan, it creates conflict, resentment, and so much suffering… I don't see any good in it."
Hiashi stood stunned.
He had always assumed Hinata was gentle, timid, and obedient.
But in truth, she had understood far more than he ever realized.
Hiashi himself despised the Main–Branch system.
But changing such an ancient, deep-rooted structure was nearly impossible.
He inhaled slowly, turned away, and spoke in a softer tone.
"…Go on, Hinata."
Hinata watched his back as he walked away.
Her heart pounded wildly—but she felt relieved.
She had finally spoken her true feelings.
Even if her father grew to dislike her for it… she didn't regret it.
Suddenly—
Hiashi stopped.
Without turning fully, he glanced back over his shoulder.
"By the way… I heard you ranked first in the Academy evaluation."
His voice lowered just slightly.
"Well done. As expected of my daughter."
Hinata froze.
For a moment, she couldn't breathe.
Her eyes widened.
Her world went blank.
Her father… praised her.
For the first time in her entire life.
As his silhouette retreated down the corridor, Hinata's vision blurred with tears.
---
A Father and Daughter, Finally Honest
Hinata had finally opened her heart.
Though their conversation had been brief, it was the most genuine exchange father and daughter had ever shared.
In truth, many conflicts—even deep, painful ones—stemmed not from hatred, but from silence. From misunderstandings left unspoken. From feelings buried too deep.
Especially in clans like the Hyuga, where tradition discouraged emotional honesty, distance grew naturally between family members.
Secrets piled behind stern expressions.
Pain was swallowed quietly.
And love went unspoken.
But today, a fragile bridge had formed between them.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)